The next day, morning light spilled in through the window, chasing away the shadows that lingered in the room.
Yugao slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Obito's face, so close that it filled her vision. His eyes were watching her playfully, as if mocking the panic he knew would come.
"Ma… cough!"
Her cheeks burned red in an instant. She quickly pulled back, hiding her face like a startled cat.
Memories of last night's words and actions rushed through her mind, making her want to crawl under the sheets and disappear.
'Shameless Yugao… shameless Yugao… go to hell!'
She silently cursed herself, slapping her face in her imagination.
Taking a deep breath to steady her racing heart, she finally spoke, her voice tight but steady.
"So… it was you who lied to me all this time."
"Oh?"
Obito raised a brow, amused by her sudden boldness. "You knew me before?"
"Hmph." She pouted, her eyes shifting. "The deceased disciple of the Fourth Hokage… the so-called hero of the Battle of Kannabi Bridge. I've heard the stories."
"Uh…"
For a moment, Obito was caught off guard. The Battle of Kannabi Bridge… of course she would know.
That day had been painted as a symbol of Konoha's endurance, used as propaganda to boost morale in the war against Iwagakure.
A hero, huh?
Even now, his name was still carved into the memorial stone in Konoha, engraved alongside those who had truly fallen. The thought made his lips curl in amusement.
"I'm sorry, I…"
Seeing his silence, Yugao's expression softened. She thought she had stirred a wound better left untouched, and quickly bowed her head.
"You don't have to apologize."
Obito shook his head with a faint smile. "I don't care about that anymore."
And he didn't. For him, Kannabi Bridge was nothing more than an old scar, a past so distant it had lost its weight.
But Yugao didn't believe him. To her eyes, that smile seemed forced, concealing grief he refused to admit.
"…So then." She bit her lip, her tone shifting as she tried to change the subject. "That day you appeared in Konoha… was it to save your teacher?"
"Heh, do you really think I'm such a good person?"
Obito chuckled at her question, clearly amused.
"That's true," Yugao muttered, puffing her cheeks.
"Obviously you're not even a few years older than me, but the first time we met you pretended to be some old uncle, lied to me, abducted me by force, and then threatened me. No matter how I look at it… you're definitely not a good person!"
She nodded firmly, as if stamping a verdict.
"Oh? And now you want to run away from this 'not-so-good person'?" Obito teased, raising a brow.
"Don't be such a fool!"
Her face went red as she buried her head against his chest, her muffled voice betraying both irritation and embarrassment.
Obito's smile softened. He raised a hand and gently patted her head.
"Alright, alright. It's time to get up."
---
Meanwhile, in the dining room, four little kids stared at the empty seat with puzzled expressions.
The usually reliable, always punctual Yugao-san late? Unthinkable.
"Did Yugao-san oversleep?" Hinata whispered.
"She's never late…" Karin added, blinking in disbelief.
Across the table, Pakura and Terumi Mei exchanged a look. Their lips curled into identical sly smiles, the kind that promised trouble.
When Yugao finally walked in, face still faintly flushed, the room went silent for half a beat before
Boom.
Every pair of eyes locked onto her.
Pakura leaned forward, smirking. "Well, well… Yugao-chan finally grew up, huh?"
Terumi Mei covered her mouth with a laugh, her eyes glimmering mischievously. "Ara~ I wonder what could've made her sleep in so soundly…?"
Chihiro gave a soft laugh, her tone calm but edged with warmth only a mother could pull off.
"Yugao, dear… next time at least fix your hair before coming down. Otherwise, you'll make it far too easy for us to guess."
"C-Chihiro-san!" Yugao's face went crimson at her words.
Pakura fanned herself as if it were too hot. "Tsk, tsk. Must've been quite a workout."
Mei winked, her voice honey-sweet. "No wonder you're glowing this morning."
"Y-You three…!" Yugao stammered, burying her face in her hands as the teasing laughter filled the room.
---
Two Days Later — Land of Rain
In the depths of a dimly lit cave, the air was heavy with moisture and silence. The towering silhouette of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path loomed in the darkness, its presence suffocating.
Pakura's eyes flicked toward the golem before she lowered her gaze. With deliberate motion, she tied a forehead protector across her brow, its scratched plate the symbol of a shinobi who had severed ties with their village.
Facing Pain, she spoke firmly.
"Let's make one thing clear. I'll never give up my revenge against the Sand's elders."
"Do as you like," Pain replied flatly, unconcerned.
"And another thing." Her voice hardened. "The Land of Snow gave me shelter. I already made a deal with the masked man, if I join Akatsuki, then Akatsuki will not lay a hand on the Snow Country."
"Yes," Pain answered without hesitation. "The Snow Country holds no interest for us."
He had little trouble understanding how "Madara" had convinced her.
Pakura continued, her tone calm but resolute. "From time to time, I'll return to the Snow Country. That won't be up for negotiation."
Even as she spoke, there was no tremor in her voice, no flicker of doubt. She carried herself like an actress who had lived through too many stages, her acting polished and sharpmasking any sign of lies.
Pain only gave the barest nod.
"It doesn't matter. As long as you fulfill the missions given to you, I won't interfere with your personal affairs."
With that, he produced a ring and a black cloak adorned with crimson clouds.
For him, her attachment to the Snow Country was convenient...it tethered her somewhere predictable. Betrayal would not come from someone already bound by her own convictions.
Pakura took the items in silence. She studied the ring engraved with the kanji for "gyoku" (sign), slid it onto her finger, then draped the Akatsuki robe across her shoulders.
Moments later, Pain performed the Magic Lantern Body Technique, summoning the ghostly forms of the members.
"The organization welcomes a new member," Pain announced. "Pakura of the Sand."
Most of the apparitions remained indifferent, their expressions unchanged. Only two voices broke the stillness.
"Pakura…" The puppet-like figure spoke with a trace of surprise. "I didn't expect it to be you."
Pakura's eyes narrowed, locking on the scarlet glow within the amber.
"…Sasori. It has been a long time."
They had crossed paths before, back when she still bore the Sand's insignia. She was older, more seasoned then but even with her experience, if Obito hadn't warned her, she might never have recognized the boy she once knew hidden behind that eerie shell.
"Hehe… Scorch Release's Pakura. What an unexpected reunion."
Orochimaru's hoarse laugh echoed through the cave, his golden eyes glinting as his tongue flicked across his lips.
Pakura shot him a cold glance, her tone flat. "Orochimaru… hmph."
She didn't need to say more. During the Third Great Ninja War, when Konoha and Sunagakure clashed, they had crossed blades more than once. Old rivals didn't need many words.
At that moment, Sasori's voice cut in, deep and dry.
"Leader, since we have a new member… I want to change partners."
The scarlet glow in his amber eyes turned toward Orochimaru. "I hate this snake. Since Pakura is also from the Sand, it makes far more sense for us to team up."
"It's true," Orochimaru added, lips curving into a sly grin. "I don't get along with him either."
If Obito had been present, he would've rolled his eyes. One wants to turn corpses into experiments, the other into puppets. How the hell could those two ever get along?
But Pain cut their bickering short. His voice carried no room for argument.
"Pakura will remain on her own. As for your partner dispute… I'll deal with it later."
The discussion ended there.
Pakura slid her hands into her new robe's wide sleeves, her expression unreadable. With Pain's words, her status was sealed. She was Akatsuki now...another crimson cloud among the storm.
From then on, she would carry out the missions assigned by the organization… yet still, whenever time allowed, she would return quietly to the Land of Snow, the one place she refused to abandon.
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