Inside a canyon washed by rain.
Mist drifted through the air, like a thin veil covering the entire world.
Pakura stepped carefully across the slippery rocks.
Behind her, Chiya was disguised as an ordinary Sunagakure ninja and silently followed.
His face was hidden beneath a straw hat, revealing only a pair of calm eyes as he observed everything around him.
"This mist... something isn't right."
Pakura said quietly, her brows slightly furrowed.
She could sense traces of chakra filling the air, but she could not determine where it came from.
Chiya did not reply.
He simply nodded slightly.
His gaze swept across the surroundings as he sneered inwardly.
'Hidden Mist Jutsu? It seems they've already prepared the trap.'
Just then.
A series of light footsteps came from within the mist.
A middle aged man dressed in Kirigakure clothing walked out of the fog with a warm smile on his face.
"Lady Pakura, you've finally arrived!"
He quickly stepped forward and respectfully bowed.
"I am Kirigakure's envoy. I was ordered to welcome you here."
Pakura paused briefly before quickly regaining her composure.
"You've worked hard."
She answered calmly, her eyes carrying a trace of caution.
Standing behind her, Chiya deliberately lowered his voice.
"Lady Pakura, Lord Kazekage ordered me to escort you and ensure this mission is completed."
His tone carried a hint of nervousness, just like an ordinary ninja.
The Kirigakure envoy glanced at Chiya.
He saw nothing unusual about him.
A trace of contempt flashed through his eyes before his smile returned.
"And this is?"
"My attendant."
Pakura answered briefly, clearly unwilling to explain further.
"I see."
The envoy smiled even more warmly.
'Just an attendant. I'll dispose of him together with her later.'
"Lady Pakura, it is truly our honor to meet you.
"Even in Kirigakure, your reputation is well known."
Pakura nodded.
But the doubts in her heart only grew stronger.
She always felt there was something hidden behind his smile.
"The mist is too thick. Why don't I guide you?"
"No need. If you're going to lead the way, wait until we've left this canyon first."
Hearing that.
The envoy froze for a moment but said nothing.
Soon his smile returned once again.
He stepped aside and gestured politely.
"Please."
He indicated for Pakura to walk in front.
Pakura hesitated briefly before moving forward.
Chiya followed closely behind her, his eyes never leaving the envoy.
The instant Pakura took several steps forward, the envoy's expression suddenly turned cold.
He instantly pulled out a kunai from his sleeve.
A flash of cold light shot toward Pakura's back!
"Watch out!"
Chiya suddenly shouted.
The moment she heard his warning, Pakura became alert.
She immediately spun around with astonishing speed.
Her body shifted to the side as she reached out to grab the attack.
The kunai brushed across her palm, leaving behind a bloody cut.
Pakura stared at the Kirigakure envoy before her, her eyes filled with shock and anger.
"What are you doing?!"
His attack had failed.
The envoy quickly leaped backward to widen the distance.
The smile on his face had long disappeared, replaced by twisted hatred.
"Pakura, experience the suffering of all the comrades our village lost to Sunagakure!"
He shouted angrily.
Even then, he did not forget to cast a venomous glare at the Uchiha Chiya whom he had completely ignored earlier.
"Attack!"
The moment he gave the order.
The sound of objects cutting through the air echoed from above the canyon.
Countless kunai and shuriken rained down upon Pakura and Chiya!
Pakura quickly formed hand seals.
Chakra gathered within her palm.
"Wind Style, Gale Palm!"
She shouted.
Powerful winds rushed toward the incoming weapons.
Their trajectories were thrown off.
They landed harmlessly at her feet.
As for Uchiha Chiya.
He merely swayed his body slightly.
Every attack missed him with ease.
However.
Even more attacks followed.
Explosive tags.
Kunai.
Shuriken...
Pakura was forced to retreat again and again.
Several new wounds appeared on her body.
Chiya had already used the Body Flicker Technique to leap away.
His eyes carefully observed Pakura's reaction.
He saw not only anger in her eyes.
There was also deep disappointment and pain.
"Why..."
Pakura whispered through clenched teeth, her trembling voice barely audible.
The envoy stood in the distance, sneering as he watched her struggle.
"Don't think this will erase our village's hatred!
"Your sacrifice is nothing more than a tiny release for our anger!"
He shouted mockingly.
"The people of Sunagakure who handed you over probably thought exactly the same thing!"
Pakura's body suddenly froze.
She slowly raised her head, disbelief filling her eyes.
"What did you say?"
"Hahaha!"
The envoy burst into laughter.
"You still don't know?
"Sunagakure's leadership reached an agreement with Kirigakure long ago!
"They traded your life for temporary peace!
"They also believed you had become too troublesome, Pakura!"
Those words stabbed straight into Pakura's heart like a knife.
Her face instantly turned pale.
Her clenched fists trembled.
"Impossible... That's impossible..."
She muttered quietly, as though trying to convince herself.
Watching Pakura's painful expression, Chiya sighed inwardly.
Sometimes the truth was sharper than any blade.
"Pakura. Do you understand now?"
Chiya walked over, his voice becoming much gentler.
Pakura suddenly looked toward him.
Chiya removed his straw hat.
His gaze remained calm and profound.
"The leaders of Sunagakure had already abandoned you. This mission was a lie from the very beginning."
Pakura's pupils suddenly contracted.
For the stability of Sunagakure.
She had given up her chance to compete for the position of Fourth Kazekage.
She had made countless compromises for the village.
Yet in the end...
She had simply become a discarded pawn.
How tragic.
"Uchiha... Chiya. Do you think I've been a complete failure?"
Her voice was filled with confusion and countless emotions.
Hearing that name, the envoy's face changed dramatically.
"Uchiha Chiya?! Why are you here?!"
He hurried backward while shouting into the mist.
"Retreat! Hurry and retreat!"
However.
It was already too late.
The crimson three tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated within Chiya's eyes.
He raised one hand and formed seals.
Then he quietly spoke.
"Fire Style, Majestic Destroyer Flame."
Scorching flames instantly swept through the entire canyon.
The mist completely vanished.
The Kirigakure ninjas hiding in the darkness screamed as they were swallowed by the sea of fire.
The envoy's legs trembled as he desperately ran toward the canyon exit.
Suddenly.
His vision blurred.
Chiya instantly appeared before him with the Body Flicker Technique, blocking his path.
The Kirigakure envoy looked at Chiya in terror.
Whoosh.
Chiya raised his hand.
The kunai in his hand pierced straight through the envoy's throat.
There was no resistance at all.
His eyes remained wide open.
Then he collapsed into a pool of blood.
Silence returned to the canyon.
Only the crackling of flames remained.
Pakura stood where she was, as though all her strength had disappeared.
Her empty eyes stared blankly ahead.
"Why... why..."
Chiya walked over and gently took her hand.
A soft green glow flowed from his palm, healing her wounds.
The injuries on her body quickly disappeared.
But the wounds in her heart could never be healed so easily.
Chiya spoke softly.
"There aren't so many whys. It's nothing more than interests."
"As a Kekkei Genkai ninja, you've been valued by the Third Kazekage since childhood. Now your achievements have become too great.
"You've threatened certain people's positions."
Pakura slowly raised her head.
Tears finally rolled down her cheeks.
"But I already gave up the power that should have belonged to me. Why would they still do this to me?"
"Given up?"
Chiya shook his head.
"You're too naive. As long as you existed, as long as you remained in Sunagakure, you would always be their greatest threat."
"I gave them so much...
But they..."
Her voice choked.
She could not continue.
Chiya released her hand.
He gently placed it upon her soft shoulder.
"Come with me. Leave this place."
Pakura looked into his eyes.
They were filled with pain.
"Chiya. If you're asking me to help you attack the Land of Wind, then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed.
"Even if I leave the Land of Wind, I won't do something like that."
Chiya raised one finger and gently placed it against her lips.
"There's no need. I'll handle the battlefield myself."
Pakura's eyes slowly widened.
As she looked at Uchiha Chiya, a trace of resentment mixed with something else appeared in her gaze.
"Why are you helping me?
"I'm a Sunagakure ninja. If I die, it would benefit both you and Konoha..."
Chiya shook his head.
"It might benefit Konoha. But it brings me no benefit at all."
"I want you to live."
Hearing his answer.
Looking at the serious expression on Uchiha Chiya's face.
Emotion filled Pakura's eyes.
If this wasn't a confession.
Then what was?
She remembered everything that had happened between them.
Every memory became crystal clear.
Logically speaking.
He had bullied her before...
She should have hated him.
Yet every time she saw Chiya.
She simply could not bring herself to hate him.
Looking at the man standing so close before her.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Overcome by emotion.
She threw herself directly into his arms.
Warm.
Comforting.
That was how Pakura felt at this moment.
Thinking about everything that had just happened.
Her vision became blurred by tears once again.
Feeling Pakura quietly sobbing in his embrace.
Chiya did not push her away.
Instead.
He gently placed both hands upon her back in comfort.
"It's all over."
The embrace lasted for two and a half minutes.
"Chiya-kun..."
Only then did Pakura slowly step away from Uchiha Chiya.
The warmth from his hands on her back moments earlier.
Had made her heart feel as though it would leap out of her chest.
Her cheeks were flushed as she timidly looked at him.
"When I came here, I noticed an empty cave behind the canyon. Let's... go there and rest."
Her voice grew softer with every word.
The corners of Chiya's mouth rose.
He had thought growing closer to Pakura would already be a great reward.
He had never expected...
"Sure."
Chiya immediately agreed.
As soon as he spoke.
The two headed toward the cave together.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
The scorching heat mixed with the steady falling rain.
Made the weather feel even more humid and restless.
Tonight.
Only dry firewood and blazing flames.
Could drive away this heavy dampness.
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