Chapter 12: Scorch Release Ninja — Pakura
Chizuki lay prone on the cliffside of the valley, looking down below. His gaze swept across the battlefield before finally settling on the woman at the center, her body riddled with countless kunai.
The woman appeared no older than eighteen. She wore a tight black combat outfit. Her dark green hair was tied up in a head wrap, with two strands of orange-dyed bangs hanging down beside her brows. The black clothing clung to her body, outlining her full chest, while her snow-white back was exposed. Her slender waist—so narrow it seemed one could encircle it with a single hand—was bound with a white sash. She wore gray shorts and matching arm guards that extended to her elbows, giving her a sharp and capable appearance. The ninja headband on her forehead bore a symbol that clearly marked her identity.
"So it's her… the hero of Sunagakure from the Land of Wind—Scorch Release user, Pakura."
Looking at the woman before him, Chizuki couldn't help but exclaim inwardly.
In Chizuki's memories, the first time he learned about Pakura was from the anime, during the Fourth Great Ninja War. She had been revived through Edo Tensei by Orochimaru's subordinate, Yakushi Kabuto. With her Scorch Release techniques, she caused significant casualties among the Allied Shinobi Forces. It was only after Uchiha Itachi dispelled Edo Tensei that her soul was finally released.
Scorch Release was a kekkei genkai formed by combining two chakra nature transformations. Techniques formed from three combined chakra natures were known as kekkei tōta, and above that were kekkei mōra. Each represented progressively more powerful forms of ninjutsu, some of which were not even bound by conventional elemental counters.
Scorch Release itself could be divided into two types. One was Pakura's kekkei genkai—formed by combining Fire Release and Wind Release, also known as Scorch Style. It could evaporate all moisture from a target's body, leaving them in a mummified state, with devastating power.
The other type was a combined attack created by "the second pillar" and "the prince"—a fusion of Uchiha Sasuke's Blaze Release: Susanoo Kagutsuchi and Uzumaki Naruto's Wind Release: Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken. It was once named by Minato as "Scorch Release: Halo Hurricane Jet Black Arrow Style Zero."
From his's memories in the anime, Chizuki also knew why she had appeared here—and that she would soon die here.
Pakura, hailed as a hero of Sunagakure, had thwarted numerous plots by the Iwagakure forces and enjoyed immense prestige within her village. However, toward the end of the Third Great Ninja War, during the decisive battle between Sunagakure and Iwagakure, Sunagakure sought to consolidate its forces and avoid being attacked from behind. They reached a ceasefire agreement with another enemy—the Hidden Mist.
One of the conditions… was Pakura's life.
In the end, she was sent by the Third Kazekage, Rasa, to the Hidden Mist to finalize the agreement—without ever being told that she was being sacrificed. Completely unprepared, she was ambushed and killed by the Mist ninjas. Only in her final moments, as her life slipped away, did she come to understand the truth.
Rasa then used her death to ignite the village's morale and deepen their hatred toward Iwagakure, escalating the war to an uncontrollable level. The final battle between the two villages became exceptionally brutal.
"So her being here means that Sunagakure and Kirigakure are preparing for a ceasefire… and she's going to die here."
At this thought, a trace of sorrow flashed through Chizuki's eyes.
After all, as a veteran gentleman of "secondary dimension culture," he absolutely could not accept that such a beautiful and alluring woman would die so senselessly—especially not after being betrayed by her own village, right before his eyes.
But right now, the priority was protecting himself—and Jack.
If he acted rashly, whether he could save her was uncertain. And if Pakura saw that he was a Konoha ninja and struck him down in retaliation, what then? Even though Sunagakure and Konoha were technically allies, such alliances were fragile at best—torn apart countless times throughout history. It wasn't until Gaara's era that things truly improved.
Beside him, Jack tilted her head as she looked at the conflicted Chizuki, her emerald eyes filled with curiosity.
"Brother, do you know that sister?"
Chizuki nodded and replied in a low voice:
"Yeah. I've never met her, but I've heard of her."
"Then… should Jack go help her?"
Jack's tone carried a hint of excitement. With a flick of her small hand, a scalpel spun out from the blade pouch at her waist and landed neatly in her grasp.
"Don't rush. Don't act recklessly. Let's observe first."
Chizuki bit down on his thumbnail, his gaze returning to the elegant figure in the valley below.
Pakura was currently crouched on the ground, her body pierced by over a dozen kunai. Her once smooth, pale back was now covered in horrifying wounds. Blood flowed from the gashes, staining her clothes and leaving dark patches of red.
Caught off guard by the sudden ambush, she hadn't made any preparations. According to her earlier sensory perception, there had only been a single Mist ninja in the valley, so she had lowered her guard. In her view, killing her would require at least two ANBU squads—this was the confidence of a strong shinobi.
Moreover, she had come here to negotiate peace between the two nations—to sign a ceasefire agreement.
Clearly, she had miscalculated.
Pakura clenched her teeth, hatred flashing in her eyes. Though she had been ambushed without warning, she had immediately counterattacked. With a single Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder, she had drained all moisture from the valley in an instant.
"Damn it… how could they… how dare they do this…"
She spat out a mouthful of blood, fury raging within her. Bracing herself with one hand against the ground, she tried to stand, but staggered and fell again. The tearing pain from her wounds caused her brows to knit tightly.
"Damn it… what exactly is going on… could it be…? Damn you, Rasa… damn you, council of elders… even if I die, I won't let you go…"
Her body trembled slightly as she gathered the last of her strength, forcing herself upright once more.
"This is still within the Land of Water's territory. I need to leave as soon as possible… find a safe place… Even though I'm badly injured, at least… I killed that Mist ninja… I… can still…"
Straightening her body, she staggered forward, her steps unsteady from the searing pain. Thinking back to the Mist ninja who had attacked her, she spat in disdain and dragged her injured body toward the valley's edge.
But before she could finish her thought, her expression suddenly changed. A look of disbelief flashed across her face as she slowly turned her head.
Her eyes locked onto the center of the valley—the very spot where the Mist ninja had stood earlier, where her Scorch Release had detonated. Thick white vapor still lingered there, not yet fully dispersed.
Then—
A slow set of footsteps echoed from within the mist.
"Truly worthy of being Sunagakure's hero… Pakura of the Scorch Release. Even I had to put in some effort just to survive an attack like that."
As the voice rang out, a man with a gentle, almost kind-looking face stepped out from the white steam, smiling as he spoke.