[Sunagakure, Kazekage Building]
Inside, Fourth Kazekage Rasa and the upper ranks of Sunagakure gathered by the window, looking down at the commotion below.
Their expressions were not very good.
BANG!
The door was pushed open again. The elder Galo, who had stormed out earlier, strode back in.
"This group has truly rebelled. Without our permission, they actually stirred up such a huge commotion."
"And also…", Galo came to the window, pointing at Pakura of Akatsuki, surrounded by the crowd in the center.
"Why is Pakura not dead? What was Kirigakure doing? Botching the task, and not even sending back a single report?"
"And besides, since she's alive, why didn't she return? Instead she became a rogue ninja, and even joined Akatsuki!"
"We gave her the treatment of a hero, yet she repays us like this?"
Rasa couldn't help but cough violently, "Wasn't it you all who betrayed the hero that caused this result? If I were Pakura, I'd feel chilled too."
But Galo became even angrier, "Rasa, do you think you have the right to sit steady as the Fourth Kazekage? With Pakura alive, how much does your authority drop? We advisors have schemed in the shadows for you for so long, and you turn around and blame me?"
After roaring, Galo calmed a little, then his eyes revealed a murderous gleam, "Now, do you see? Our Sunagakure ninja, even knowing the other side is a rogue ninja, communicated in private, lined up in welcome. This is nakedly slapping the face of you, the Kazekage. If this matter isn't dealt with severely, how will we order these people around in the future?"
"My suggestion is: execute all those involved today, to teach them a long-lasting lesson!"
Rasa's face instantly turned as dark as ink.
'So this is Sunagakure's high command, a nest of parasites.'
He said coolly, "So, you've admitted it?"
Galo: "Admitted what?"
Rasa said sternly, "Admitted that for the sake of internal political struggles, you sacrificed the village's hero?"
Galo sneered, "Rasa, everything I did was for whom, if not for you? If it weren't for you being my dearest daughter's husband, I wouldn't have bothered with you! My daughter is truly unfortunate, to have married such a wolf-hearted, dog-lunged thing like you!"
Rasa's face went pale, 'There it is again. Every time, only this one line to press me down.'
He clenched his fists tightly, "Father-in-law, now, we are going to welcome Akatsuki's guests. They represent the will of Uchiha Madara. I ask you, put aside all your little schemes."
After saying that, he turned without looking back and walked down the stairs.
———
Thanks to Pakura's presence, the Akatsuki group was also surrounded by crowds of villagers, cheering and celebrating.
Yet, after Pakura's initial emotion, her face revealed a trace of worry.
She pulled Makai aside, speaking sternly, "Do you know what you all are doing?"
Makai nodded, "I know."
Pakura said, "You know and still do it? When the Sunagakure leadership sees this, you think they'll let you off?"
But Makai's face showed indifference, "War made me understand one thing. Who actually does work, and who just lies on the merit books like parasites sucking blood."
"Pakura, they are not worthy of praise. Only you are."
Pakura was helpless. But this was exactly the reason that, even after betrayal, she could never bring herself to slaughter the village.
Though Sunagakure had parasites, not everyone was one.
At that moment, Rin, wearing her mask disguised as the mysterious Masked Woman, came over to the mysterious Masked Man Tobi, pointing at a little girl pushing through the crowd not far away.
"Obito, look, she also likes purple face paint. I didn't expect to find someone in Sunagakure with the same taste as me."
As Rin spoke, that little girl, her cheeks also painted purple, somewhat resembling Rin, had already squeezed her way in.
She ran straight to Pakura's side, throwing her arms around her, crying as she said, "Sensei, it's so good you're not dead. I thought I'd never see you again."
Pakura was a bit flustered at first, but in the end she let the girl hug her tightly. She patted the girl's head, "Maki, have you gotten stronger?"
The girl named Maki nodded earnestly, "Sensei, ever since you left, I've been working hard. I want to be like you, a great hero who protects the village."
After speaking, Maki looked up at Pakura's forehead protector. Seeing the scratch down the middle, her mood suddenly sank, "Sensei, can you no longer teach me?"
Pakura's heart suddenly softened. She patted Maki's head again, "That depends on what the higher-ups think."
Just as she finished speaking, from the Kazekage Building not far away, a group walked out, led by Rasa.
At this moment, he wore the Kazekage's ceremonial robes. The majesty of a village shadow instantly hushed the crowd, who quickly gave way.
Rasa walked all the way to stand before Pakura. His expression looked somewhat unnatural, but still he extended a hand, "Welcome back."
Pakura's face instantly grew cold.
Her Akatsuki cloak fluttered in the wind, "Don't misunderstand. I'm only here representing Akatsuki, to discuss business with you."
Seeing this, Rasa suddenly bowed deeply toward Pakura, "I'm sorry. When it all happened, I was fighting at Mount Kikyo, unable to return in time to stop it."
"I hope you can understand, the village's actions then were a helpless choice. We could not endure attacks from both sides."
Pakura suddenly felt deeply disappointed. She raised her head, looking at Rasa, "Actually, if you had told me the truth, every detail, I would still have done it. There was no need for such despicable, vile methods."
At the side, Tobi, watching this scene, couldn't help but recall what White Zetsu had told him about that moment at the Five Kage Summit.
Danzo schemed to use Shisui's Mangekyo to control Mifune, to make Mifune appoint him as commander of the allied forces.
But in truth, even if Danzo hadn't played such a vile trick, Mifune had already intended to appoint him.
Petty men always imagine others' hearts with their own measure, and in the end ruin matters themselves.
Hearing Pakura's words, Rasa gave a bitter smile. After some thought, he said, "Pakura, whatever compensation you need, say it. I will satisfy you as much as I can."
"Compensation?", Pakura felt weary, "Rasa, I only hope you can take care of everyone."
Rasa understood Pakura's feelings.
Toward Pakura, he felt deep guilt.
But toward Sunagakure's people, every day he went out panning for gold, trading hard-won gains for supplies to feed the village. His conscience was clear.
So he only nodded and said one word, "Alright."
Pakura also knew what this Kazekage had been doing recently. From a personal view, she held resentment. But from the village's view, Rasa was indeed a qualified Kazekage.
She said, "Then let's not waste time. I have one chakra converter machine. Fifty million ryo. Cash for goods."
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