Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of the peace talks arrived as scheduled.
A wide-open space was cleared in the neutral zone between the two armies, with no obstructions around, allowing both sides to observe each other's movements at any time.
Asuka stood casually on one side of the clearing, his tall figure straight, hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm, even carrying a hint of ease.
Rasa stood on the other side, his face grim, brows tightly furrowed, eyes fixed on Asuka, filled with seriousness and apprehension.
A gentle breeze swept across the field, stirring dust into the air between them.
The silence lasted for a long while before Rasa finally broke it.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the complex emotions in his heart, and said,
"Lord Asuka is truly young and promising, possessing such formidable strength at such an age. It is admirable."
Asuka, however, showed no reaction to the flattery. His gaze didn't even waver as he replied calmly,
"Rasa, you went to great lengths to arrange these peace talks. It can't just be to exchange pleasantries, can it? If you have conditions, state them directly. I don't have time for games."
Hearing such a blunt response, Rasa's expression stiffened slightly.
He knew that in the face of absolute power, flattery was meaningless. Since Asuka had no interest in small talk, he stopped beating around the bush and stated Sunagakure's conditions for peace.
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to both sides.
The Sunagakure Ninja looked grim upon hearing the harsh terms, yet none dared object.
After all, they had no leverage left.
The Hidden Mist Ninja, on the other hand, showed satisfaction and all turned their attention to Asuka, waiting for his decision.
After listening, Asuka nodded slightly, his expression unchanged.
"I can agree to these conditions."
Rasa had just begun to relax when Asuka added calmly:
"However, I have one additional condition."
Asuka's gaze swept across the Sunagakure ranks before settling on a figure in a black bodysuit. His tone remained calm, yet carried absolute authority.
"Your Scorch Release Ninja, Pakura, will return to the Hidden Mist with me as part of the exchange."
"Impossible!" Rasa rejected instantly.
"Bunpuku is the Ichibi Jinchuriki—he represents the foundation of Sunagakure. Exchanging him for land, reparations, and supplies is reasonable. But Pakura is a core combat force, a rare Bloodline Limit wielder. She cannot be traded!"
In his eyes, this demand was excessive. Losing Pakura would further weaken Sunagakure's already fragile strength.
"My condition stands," Asuka replied evenly.
"Accept it and take Bunpuku back, or refuse—and we meet again on the battlefield. You have one day to decide."
Without waiting for a response, Asuka turned and walked away, his steps calm and unhurried.
Watching his retreating figure, Rasa clenched his fists in frustration, yet felt powerless. He knew Asuka had the strength to back his words.
In the end, he could only suppress his anger and return to camp, immediately reporting the additional condition to the Sunagakure elders.
---
Inside Sunagakure, the elders fell into heated debate once again.
"He's going too far! He even wants Pakura! This is outright exploitation!" one elder slammed the table angrily.
Another frowned.
"But we have no choice. Bunpuku must be rescued. If the peace talks fail, Sunagakure could collapse entirely."
"But Pakura is vital to our combat strength! Losing her will severely weaken our defenses."
The arguments dragged on endlessly.
At the head of the table, Ebizo remained silent, carefully weighing the situation.
Just as the discussion reached a stalemate, Pakura stepped forward on her own and volunteered to be exchanged for Bunpuku.
Her decision immediately ended the debate.
---
The news reached the negotiation site, and the peace process accelerated.
Officials from both sides argued fiercely over the details, refining each clause to maximize their respective interests.
By sunset, all terms were finalized, and the peace agreement was signed.
Afterward, Bunpuku was returned to Sunagakure, while Pakura took her place among the Hidden Mist ranks.
Asuka didn't restrain her in any way. He simply glanced at her once before ordering the army to withdraw.
---
On the return journey, the army advanced steadily.
Pakura followed not far behind Asuka, her green hair standing out among the ranks.
Her steps were steady, her expression calm—no sign of resistance or escape.
Asuka treated her existence as if it didn't matter, neither assigning guards nor placing restrictions on her.
He simply let her walk freely.
As they traveled, the scenery gradually shifted from barren desert to lush greenery, and the air became noticeably more humid.
---
Finally, Pakura could no longer remain silent.
She quickened her pace and walked up beside Asuka, stopping him.
Looking up at him, she asked with a hint of suspicion,
"Why did you exchange for me? With your strength, someone like me isn't necessary. The land and reparations were already more than enough. Why go further?"
Asuka paused, then turned to look at her, a faint, meaningful smile appearing on his lips.
"If I said I did it to save you, would you believe me?"
"Hmph!"
Her brows immediately furrowed.
"If you don't want to answer, then don't. There's no need for excuses like that."
With that, she stepped back and fell silent again.
Asuka watched her retreating figure and simply shook his head, offering no explanation.
He naturally wouldn't tell her that he knew her future—that she would be betrayed by her own village and die at the hands of her comrades.
He brought her back not only to prevent that fate, but also because he valued her Scorch Release and intended to bring her under his command.
As for the rest… she would understand in time.
---
The army continued its steady march toward the Hidden Mist Village.
The setting sun stretched long shadows across the ground, and among them, Pakura's figure looked especially solitary—
while the questions in her heart quietly grew, spreading like vines.
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