Chapter 268: The Growth of Miss Pakura!
Han was speechless. As an Iwagakure Jinchuriki, even if he hadn't heard much about Konoha's Torture and Interrogation Department, how could he not know the "illustrious reputation" of Root and its leader, the Darkness of the Shinobi World?
"Lord Nara," the White Zetsu chimed in, its voice fawning. "I told Han not to oppose you, but he just wouldn't listen. In my opinion, this place you have here is a paradise—"
"Cut the crap, White Zetsu. Save your energy for molding chakra later," Keisuke interrupted. The wound on his hand had already healed without a scar, thanks to his Yang Release Chakra Mode. "I don't have time to waste on you two."
Han wanted to say more, but Keisuke was no longer interested. He pressed a few buttons on the central control panel, and a cloud of anesthetic gas filled Han's containment unit. Without his chakra, Han was just a burly, ordinary man. He quickly lost consciousness and slumped to the floor. The White Zetsu, seeing this, wisely shut its mouth.
Keisuke did a quick check of his own chakra reserves. After ensuring he had enough to get back to the front lines, he immediately split off a number of Shadow Doppelgangers and set them to their research tasks.
'As the supreme commander, it's bad enough that I've abandoned my post. If I were to sneak off to see Nono'o-nee-san or the fat sheep now... hm, better not to provoke those two.'
He suppressed the urge to go on a secret rendezvous. Sneaking back to Kikyo Castle was already pushing the limits of his professional duties. He absolutely could not show his face in public, let alone go see Tsunade or Nono'o.
'Sneak into the village, no shots fired...' He looked up at the ceiling. 'But as for Pakura... since I'll need to come back to the lab from time to time, I won't deliberately hide it from her.'
While his clones worked, he casually went upstairs to the living quarters. Pakura, who was leisurely sipping tea and reading a book, her guard completely down, didn't even notice him until he placed a hand on her shoulder. She jumped, startled, dropping her book.
"What are you reading that has you so scared?" his voice sounded in her ear.
"Um, 'A Ripe Summer—'"
"That's enough!" Pakura cut him off, scrambling from the sofa to retrieve her beloved book.
"How unexpected, Pakura," Keisuke said, casually wrapping an arm around her as she practically threw herself into his arms. "I thought you'd be diligently studying ninjutsu scrolls in your free time, not... this."
"I! Grabbed! The wrong! Book!" she insisted, snatching it back. "And who says I haven't been studying ninjutsu?"
"Tell me what you've come up with," he said, letting her go and settling onto the sofa. "If you've really discovered something, I might give you a reward."
"A reward..." Pakura's face flushed, and her eyes darted downward, but she quickly chided herself. "I'm not doing research for your reward!" She carefully put the book away and sat down, keeping a safe distance. "When did you get back? Weren't you on the front lines?"
"The war on my front is almost over," he said casually. "I just came back for a bit. I might be back a few more times. By the way, don't tell anyone I was here."
"As if I could tell anyone..." she muttered. "So, is the war really over?"
"I don't know about Suna. I haven't been to the Land of Rain, and I haven't asked about the intel from that front," he explained. "But as for Kumo and Kiri, it should be pretty much over for them."
Pakura's heart was filled with a complex mix of emotions. Though she was a captive, a pet, a lazy bum who read smut... she was still a good girl—no, a good kunoichi—who cared about her village. Ever since the battle at Kikyo Castle, she had given up all hope of Suna winning the war. Now, with the other fronts wrapping up, her village... would probably surrender soon.
It's not that our army wasn't strong enough, she thought, a wave of melancholy washing over her. It's just that Konoha has a monster.
Keisuke, seeing her sudden dejection, instantly guessed the cause. But he couldn't exactly comfort her, since he was the "monster" who had caused Suna's downfall in the first place. "Ahem, where were we?" he said, changing the subject. "What have you researched?"
"I haven't researched any new ninjutsu," she said honestly. "My chakra was sealed, so I couldn't... I just had an idea, based on your earlier hint."
Earlier hint? He wracked his brain and remembered. "That 'the same two nature transformations can produce different Kekkei Genkai'?"
"Yes," she nodded. "My Scorch Release is a fusion of Wind and Fire. You've already figured out the specific fusion process. What if... I just swapped the Wind and Fire ratios? Would that produce a different jutsu?"
Inverting the ratio? Keisuke looked at her in genuine surprise. "You came up with that on your own?"
"What? Is that a problem?" she snapped back, like an orange cat baring its fangs.
"No, it's just..." he glanced at the book she had hidden behind her back. "...very unexpected. I thought you were just... never mind. Let me release your seal. You can do your experiments in the lab downstairs."
Pakura's expression froze. Wait, he actually wants me to do research? Can't I just rest a little longer?
Keisuke, unable to read minds, had already released her seal. He already knew her "inspiration" was correct; inverting Scorch Release would produce Swift Release. But since she had come up with it on her own, he decided to let her figure it out herself. The difference between being spoon-fed and self-discovery was immense.
Pakura, feeling the chakra flowing through her again, wanted to cry. She just knew nothing good would come from him returning.
"You don't seem... very happy," he noted, seeing her expression.
"No! I'm very happy!" she said through gritted teeth. "I'm so happy! I finally have something to do!"
"Well, if you run into any problems, you can ask me," he said with a wave. "Now, should we go 'down'... or should we go 'up'?"
Down to the lab to research her Scorch Release... or up to his love nest to research her.
Pakura, without a word, shot downstairs.
Keisuke, not in any particular hurry, picked up the book she had been reading and began to peruse it with great interest. In the afternoon, he put the book down, went to the lab, and recalled all his clones.
"Pakura, watch the house. Don't let the White Zetsu escape. As for the other one, if he acts up, just give him the anesthetic spray," he said, giving his final instructions. "I'll be back from time to time. Don't fall behind on your research."
With that, his figure vanished.
"He's... gone?" Pakura stared, wide-eyed, and waved a hand through the spot where he had been. "What did he even come back for?"
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