The strategy was simple: wear down Pakura's chakra with long-range attacks, then finish the battle with the Coral Water Cannon.
And it worked.
Yagura thought to himself.
That should do it.
He observed for a few more seconds, ensuring that Pakura hadn't escaped and was truly incapacitated.
Stepping out of the shadows, Yagura cautiously approached her, his guard never dropping.
Pakura's shoulder wound, pierced clean through by the high-pressure water jet, was deep. The heavy scent of blood hung in the air.
Her right arm hung limp, while her left hand, pressing against the injury, was soaked in blood.
Seeing Yagura approach, Pakura struggled to her feet, gripping her shoulder and forcing a smirk.
"Heh, finally brave enough to get closer?"
Yagura ignored her taunting tone.
After all, they had just fought a life-and-death battle. A few words were nothing compared to her Scorch Release.
But now, Yagura hesitated.
Should he kill her? Or...
His steps slowed, indecision clouding his gaze.
As the distance between them closed, the hostility and killing intent in his eyes gradually faded.
What is he planning?
Finally, Yagura stopped a mere meter away.
Pakura—the hero of Sunagakure—was a tragic figure.
Her hands were stained with the blood of Kirigakure shinobi, yet the Fourth Kazekage and the higher-ups of Sunagakure had deemed her a hero.
And under their orders, for the so-called good of Sunagakure, her life had been sold away to Kirigakure without her knowledge—an offering for peace between the villages.
During the Fourth Shinobi World War, after being resurrected by Kabuto's Edo Tensei, she had unleashed her fury upon both Sunagakure and Kirigakure in revenge.
On the battlefield, she encountered her former student.
Watching them fight, witnessing their growth, Pakura ultimately chose to give the Allied Shinobi Forces a chance.
And when Edo Tensei was undone, her soul finally found peace.
...
"Oi, brat. What's with that look?" Pakura scowled, snapping Yagura out of his thoughts. Her voice was cold. "Are you pitying me?"
Yagura shoved aside his thoughts about her fate. A water blade formed in his hand, its tip aimed at her.
"You lost, Pakura."
Pakura glanced at the elegantly crafted and deadly weapon. She showed no sign of panic, as if she had already accepted her fate.
"What do you plan to do with me?"
Her grip on her kunai never loosened.
If Yagura made the slightest wrong move, she wouldn't hesitate to drive it into her own throat.
Ever since Kirigakure adopted its isolationist policies, any foreign ninja captured within the Land of Water met the same fate:
—The Intelligence Division would extract every technique and secret they possessed. Then, they would be executed.
"Honestly, I'd prefer if you surrendered. That would be the best outcome."
Yagura sighed with a helpless smile.
"But we both know you won't make that choice. And Kirigakure would never accept a Sunagakure 'hero' with so much of our blood on her hands."
He was conflicted.
As a shinobi of Kirigakure, as a soldier, he should kill her.
"To be honest, I really don't want to kill you."
Pakura frowned.
She couldn't understand where this sentiment was coming from.
What kind of ninja said things like that?
Yet, there was no killing intent in Yagura's eyes.
And he wasn't lying.
Pakura prided herself on recognizing deception. And that made this all the more ridiculous.
She studied him in silence before slowly reaching into her tool pouch.
Maybe one day, you'll die the same way—offered up as a bargaining chip by your village's leader.
The Fourth Kazekage had never been one to disappoint in that regard.
Yagura took a deep breath and made his decision. "Promise me one thing, and I'll let you go."
"...You want Sunagakure's secrets? Bloodline techniques? Puppet jutsu?"
Pakura scoffed and swapped the kunai in her hidden hand for a smoke bomb.
"Sorry, but I'm not some coward who'd sell out my village just to survive."
"Do I look like I'd ask for that? I'd rather hear about any gossip between the Third and Fourth Kazekage."
Cough. That went off track.
"Just don't come back to the Land of Water. Don't take any missions that put you against Kirigakure. And never kill another mist shinobi."
Because if you do return, it'll likely be as a bargaining chip sent by the Fourth Kazekage himself.
And that time, you'll die an even more meaningless death, sacrificed by your own village's leaders.
"I've warned you now. If you get resurrected again after dying, don't go blaming Kirigakure for it~"
Pakura stared at him for a long moment. "Why?"
"Don't ask so many questions. Just think of it as me taking a liking to you."
Yagura took two steps back, glancing sideways. "If you feel bad about it, next time we meet, wear your shirt inside out for me."
My shirt… inside out?
Pakura's thoughts momentarily short-circuited as the meaning hit her.
Her outfit was a backless design—if she wore it inside out, wouldn't that mean—
"You pervy little brat!"
Realizing she had been teased, Pakura flushed and snapped angrily, "What kind of upbringing do you have?!"
"Heh." :P
Despite saying he'd let her go, Yagura remained cautious, keeping his distance and staying alert for any sudden attacks.
...
Pakura's voice turned serious. "Brat, you're too naive. You're not cut out to be a ninja."
Was it because of his age?
Since graduating, she had only ever seen such naivety in her students.
Yagura shrugged. "Maybe."
But wasn't Naruto Uzumaki just as naive? And yet, he became the strongest ninja in the world.
On the other hand, those who prided themselves on being cold and ruthless—like Zabuza, young Kakashi, and later Obito—had all ended up getting 'talk-no-jutsu'd.'
Sure, his decision to let Pakura go had some personal sentiment to it.
But ultimately, he knew that the Fourth Kazekage wouldn't let her off forever.
Yagura smirked, but Pakura mistook it as him ignoring her warning.
"...I can't promise to follow your conditions."
She felt ridiculous saying it.
Just now, she had scolded Yagura for his naivety, yet here she was, naively considering his request.
"Missions aren't always my choice. I can only promise not to voluntarily take jobs against Kirigakure."
"You sure about that?"
FWHOOOOOSH—!
A hatchet whizzed past, slicing through the air toward Pakura's head!
Yagura reacted instantly, body moving before thought, leaping over her and raising his water blade to block.
With a sharp clang, the force of the impact numbed his grip.
Seeing the attacker, Yagura muttered, "You should go. I'll handle this."
The man roared, "Yagura! Do you even realize what you've done?!"
"I know exactly what I'm doing, Jinin-senpai."
Yagura shot a glance at Pakura.
Since he had let her go, there was no turning back now.
Pakura glanced at Jinin, noticing the bloodstains on the two genin behind him.
Her mission had failed.
Staying here was pointless.
She looked at Yagura one last time. "...Thanks."
Without hesitation, she turned and disappeared into the night.
A close brush with death.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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