-----
-----
A merchant ship bound for the Land of Bears.
Inside the cabin—
The frantic escape earlier had torn open Pakura's wounds again. Combined with the blood loss, the color had completely drained from her once radiant face.
She could feel her life slipping away.
Struggling, she lifted her head and looked at Ken, her eyes carrying a quiet plea.
"Kid… if I die, don't toss me into the sea to feed the fish. Bury me somewhere green instead. I want to lie in the grass, surrounded by life… so I can keep enjoying the scenery."
Sunagakure was nothing but endless desert—sandstorms, dry winds, and barely any greenery.
She had always longed for a peaceful life in lush mountains and fields.
And now, she voiced that final wish.
At the same time, she knew the Mist shinobi had been telling the truth.
Rasa had betrayed her.
That realization hurt more than the wound itself. It left a bitter taste she couldn't swallow.
"Nope. I'll toss you into a forest and let wild beasts eat you," Ken said, shaking his head, clearly unimpressed.
"No way! I refuse! I'm not getting eaten by animals!" Pakura shook her head like a rattle drum. How was that any different from feeding fish?
Ken flicked her smooth forehead, looking far too composed for his age.
"Hey, maybe you'll live. People need dreams, right? Otherwise, what's the difference between you and a salted fish?"
Pakura gave a faint, helpless smile.
She knew how bad her injuries were.
Only a highly skilled medical ninja could save her.
And right now, they were stuck on a merchant ship.
Where were they supposed to find someone like that?
After a brief pause, Ken spoke, his expression calm.
"Let me try."
He had only been practicing the Mystical Palm Technique for a few days. He could handle simple injuries—but Pakura's condition was far from simple.
No guarantees.
He'd just have to leave it to fate.
"You're a medical ninja too?!" Shock flashed across Pakura's pale face.
A boy of eight or nine, with Wood Release, strength rivaling a jonin… and also a medical ninja?
"Genius" didn't even begin to cover it.
He was a monster.
Ken caught her reaction and smacked her lightly on the head.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. I'm not sure I can save you."
"If you die, I'm still throwing you to the fish. Would've been a waste dragging you out of the Hidden Mist otherwise."
Then his tone shifted, turning serious—though a faint smile lingered.
"But if I do save you… you owe me something."
Pakura blinked, confused. "What?"
Ken looked straight at her and said, word by word:
"I want you to submit to me."
He wasn't a good person.
Everything he did had a purpose.
Saving Pakura was no exception.
"…Heh. Fine. I agree." Pakura gave a bitter smile.
She knew he had his motives.
But he had still risked his life, charging alone into the Hidden Mist to save her.
That counted for something.
And besides—he was young, terrifyingly strong, and full of potential.
Following him might not be a bad choice.
Certainly better than the village that stabbed her in the back…
"I'm starting."
Soft green chakra gathered in Ken's hands before settling over the wound at her waist.
As the cool energy seeped in, Pakura felt an intense itch, like ants crawling and biting beneath her skin.
Half an hour passed.
Then an hour.
Then two…
Ken burned through a massive amount of chakra. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and the strain of maintaining such intense focus left him exhausted.
But the wound kept healing.
Closing.
Restoring.
Until it was almost completely recovered—eighty to ninety percent healed.
The treatment was a success.
Suddenly, Pakura's body jerked.
Her eyes snapped open, like she'd just woken from a nightmare. Instinctively, she reached for her ninja pouch, grabbed a kunai, and dropped into a fighting stance.
"Oh? Planning to attack your savior?"
Ken sat cross-legged on the other side of the cabin, recovering his strength, watching her with an amused smile.
Healing her had taken a lot out of him.
But killing her?
Still easy.
Once Pakura recognized her surroundings, she let out a small, awkward laugh and lowered the kunai, offering an apologetic smile.
Without him, she'd have died—twice over.
She wasn't about to repay that with betrayal.
Ken grinned.
"So, big sis… remember our deal?"
If she denied it, no matter how pretty she was, he wouldn't hesitate to send her on her way.
"Submit to you… yeah, I remember." Pakura sighed, staring at the boy behind the black cat mask.
Acknowledging an eight- or nine-year-old as her master…
Yeah. That felt weird.
Sensing the tension fade, Ken's killing intent disappeared, replaced by a playful grin.
"A beautiful big sister like you? How could I bear to hurt you?"
Pakura let out a quiet breath of relief.
For a moment just now… she'd truly believed he might kill her right there.
"Since I'm your subordinate now," she asked, "does that mean I leave with you?"
Sunagakure had already broken her trust. She had no desire to return.
Following him might not be so bad.
Ken thought it over, then shook his head.
"No. You go back to Sunagakure. I'll contact you when I need something."
Pakura was a famous Scorch Release user in the village.
Bringing her back to the Uchiha would be a terrible idea.
It could even give Sunagakure an excuse to start a war with Konoha—and that would hand Konoha's higher-ups the perfect reason to wipe out the Uchiha.
No, he couldn't bring her back.
He had considered hiding her in a village near Konoha…
But that was pointless.
Better to send her back and have her pass along valuable intel.
Besides, she was a hero of Sunagakure.
Even the higher-ups wouldn't dare act against her openly.
And after what happened in the Hidden Mist, she'd be far more cautious.
Decision made.
"…Understood, Master." Pakura accepted the new title, though her emotions were complicated.
Then she asked, "If I go back… aren't you worried I might betray you?"
Ken smiled.
"You think I can't kill you inside Sunagakure?"
In that instant, Pakura felt a chilling killing intent from him.
Cold. Absolute.
She believed him.
"Since I saved you… shouldn't I get a little interest?" Ken suddenly added, eyeing her.
Pakura blinked, then gave him a strange look.
"…You're so young. I doubt you're capable of that."
"I'm not talking about that!" Ken snapped, furious. "I mean—do you have any valuable jutsu on you?"
"Oh." Pakura thought for a moment, then shook her head with a wry smile. "No."
Ken rolled his eyes.
You're broke as hell…
Before long, the merchant ship reached shore.
Ken and Pakura parted ways.
Just before leaving, Pakura leaned in and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Thanks, Master. I won't betray you."
With that, she waved and turned away, heading back toward Sunagakure.
That moment—when Ken had stood in front of her and saved her without hesitation—
It etched itself deep into her memory.
Because when she had nothing left, standing on the edge of death…
He had been the one who stepped forward.
Even if his motives weren't exactly pure.
"....."