The night was dark as ink. The cold desert wind rolled up fine sand, producing a soft rustling sound.
Chiya's three-tomoe Sharingan glowed crimson in the darkness, locked tightly onto the figure that had suddenly appeared ahead.
The other person clearly had not expected to run into him here.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, she turned and tried to flee.
"Pakura?"
Chiya raised an eyebrow.
"Trying to run?"
The corner of Chiya's mouth curved upward. He activated the high-speed Body Flicker Technique in an instant, his figure appearing behind Pakura like a ghost.
He raised his hand and slapped her on her soft, smooth back.
The sensation was sleek and fine, carrying a faint coolness.
"Ah!"
Pakura was caught completely off guard. She stumbled forward and nearly fell flat onto the sand.
She quickly steadied herself, turned around, and glared at Chiya with blazing fury in her eyes.
"Uchiha Chiya! Are you looking to die!"
Chiya crossed his arms and calmly watched her fuming expression.
"A Scorch Style ninja from the Land of Wind, sneaking around at the border between our two countries in the dead of night. I'd like to ask, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Pakura let out a cold snort. She forced down the panic in her heart and pretended to be composed.
"The Land of Wind and the Land of Fire have a non-aggression agreement right now. Where I appear is my own business! If it weren't for that, I would have already made a move on you!"
After saying that, she even waved the kunai in her hand, trying to threaten Chiya.
Chiya paid no attention to her threat. He activated the high-speed Body Flicker Technique again, and in the blink of an eye he circled behind Pakura once more. He raised his hand and slapped her on her back again.
This time, he deliberately added more force, while still keeping it within a range that would not cause injury.
"You!"
Pakura stumbled and fell facedown onto the sand.
Supported by her legs, her rear end was raised up, making for a very embarrassing posture.
Pakura's cheeks flushed red with anger.
She had been caught off guard by Chiya again!
She quickly adjusted her position, and as she turned around, she swung her kunai toward Chiya.
Her movements appeared especially slow under the observation of the Sharingan.
Chiya easily sidestepped, and at the same time grabbed her wrist and pulled her close.
"Don't be in such a rush to make a move."
Chiya's voice was low and carried a teasing tone.
"I'm just curious. Why are you here? A mission from Sunagakure? Or is it something personal?"
Pakura struggled a few times, found she could not break free, and simply gave up resisting. She glared at him.
"None of your business! Let go of me!"
Chiya did not release her. Instead he leaned close to her ear.
"If you don't tell me, I'll just keep holding you like this. After all, desert nights are long. We have plenty of time."
The warm breath brushed past her ear. The tips of Pakura's ears turned instantly red, but she still clenched her jaw and said nothing.
"My patience has its limits. If you still won't talk, then I'll just use the Sharingan to find out."
Hearing the word Sharingan, her heart began to pound wildly.
She had experienced Uchiha Chiya's genjutsu before.
Pakura could not help but feel uneasy.
'If it's genjutsu, I seem to have absolutely no advantage. Should I use Scorch Style?'
'By the time I try to activate Scorch Style, I'll probably already be caught in the genjutsu.'
"You're not here to investigate the border situation of the Land of Fire, are you?"
"How did you know..."
Pakura blurted it out, then looked back at Chiya's face, which was right in front of her.
A look of understanding flashed across Chiya's face.
Seeing his expression change, Pakura only then realized she had been tricked into talking.
"You! You actually tricked me into saying it!"
"Let go of me right now. The Land of Wind and the Land of Fire are currently at peace, with a non-aggression agreement between us..."
"So you do know about peaceful coexistence and non-aggression!"
Chiya immediately cut her off.
"Then why is Miss Pakura of Sunagakure sneaking over in the middle of the night to investigate the Land of Fire? Are you trying to stir up conflict between Konoha and Sunagakure and start a war again?"
Pakura felt a little dizzy from having such a serious accusation thrown at her.
She was stunned for a moment, then looked at Chiya and said.
"Stop talking nonsense. I only came to check whether there was any activity from the Mist-nin. It was absolutely not intended as any kind of provocation!"
A flash of surprise passed through Chiya's eyes. He released her hand.
'So it's about the Mist-nin!'
'But isn't Kirigakure currently isolated from the outside, killing their own people? Why are they still causing trouble out here?'
Pakura moved her wrist around. She wanted to reach back and feel her back to check for injury.
But because Chiya was right in front of her, she stopped herself.
She took a deep breath and said seriously.
"Kirigakure has been frequently sending ninja out lately. They've been active along the border zone between our two countries!"
"Just yesterday, ten ninja on the border went missing. By the time the village sent people to search for them, all that was left were cold corpses."
"Based on the intelligence gathered, those comrades most likely died from a special kind of ninja tool!"
"A special blade?"
Chiya was intrigued and gestured for her to elaborate.
Pakura shot Chiya an irritated look and continued explaining.
"Every single one of them had wounds on their chest that looked as though they had been pierced through by senbon. And all four limbs had been cleanly severed, with very neat cut marks."
"Pierced by senbon? Could it be the Nuibari, the Long Sword?"
Chiya was somewhat surprised.
He turned his gaze toward Pakura and looked her up and down.
'No wonder Sunagakure sent her over. It looks like those above also know that something may have changed on this side. Her Scorch Style would be a great advantage against these Seven Swordsmen of the Mist who excel in taijutsu.'
Pakura felt a little uncomfortable under Chiya's gaze and turned slightly to the side.
"Do you know who did it?"
Chiya nodded.
"If the situation is as you described, then the special blade is Kirigakure's Long Sword, Nuibari."
"What? You mean the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist? The elite among the elites of Kirigakure?!"
Pakura's face showed immediate shock.
The Seven Swordsmen of the Mist had an impressive track record. Not long ago, they had even joined forces to bring down an entire small country in a single night!
"I need to report this immediately!"
Pakura's heart grew urgent and she was about to leave.
Just before leaving, out of habit, she glanced over at Chiya.
Earlier it was because she had tried to flee that Chiya had attacked her from behind.
"I'm heading out now. And, thank you for the information. I'll remember this."
Seeing that Chiya was not making any moves, Pakura was still not fully at ease, and kept glancing back every two steps.
Only after confirming that Chiya was no longer watching her did the anxiety in her heart finally settle.
She ran far away before turning to shout back at Chiya.
"Chiya, just you wait. Next time I'll make sure you regret it!"
Chiya stood in place and listened to the voice drifting over from the distance.
He could not help but laugh and shake his head.
'Next time?'
'Next time we'll probably be meeting on the battlefield.'
But then, thinking about Pakura's fate.
'Becoming a hero, then being betrayed by her own village, dying pointlessly at the hands of the Mist-nin. What a pitiful person.'
'Should I take this opportunity to pull her to Konoha's side and make her one of our own?'
[Task triggered: Intercept Pakura. Task reward: One random Kekkei Genkai.]
Chiya froze.
Another task?
'System, have you been working overtime lately?'
Chiya raised his hand and brushed the sand off his clothes, then formed a hand seal.
With a puff, the smoke dispersed.
Chiya had transformed into a black-haired ninja wearing a Sunagakure headband.
His gaze fell once more on the direction Pakura had left from.
"When the opportunity comes, I'll give you a hand."
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