Rasa, kicked stumbling backward, didn't react at all. His eyes were still vacant.
Seeing her once-hated enemy reduced to this state, Pakura felt a rush of satisfaction—as though a long-held grudge had finally been avenged.
If Shimura Takeshi hadn't said this guy was still useful, she would've already turned him into a dried corpse with her Scorch Release.
Well… one more day wouldn't matter.
Pakura narrowed her eyes as she looked at Shimura Takeshi—admiring yet also fearing whatever he planned next.
Wind Country – Daimyō's Mansion
The daimyō was holding a banquet in his own estate, gathering all capable people under his command.
He had been watching the unrest in the Land of Lightning. The overwhelming power of ninja made him grateful that he had always kept strict policies suppressing them.
Even so, Rasa had taken control of the border checkpoints and used staged "accidents" to kill several nobles.
That thing that didn't even look human—did he really think the daimyō was a fool?!
The only reason the daimyō hadn't acted immediately was because he was waiting for his troops to assemble.
More importantly, he had sent people to contact the retired siblings Chiyo and Ebizō, hoping someone inside Sunagakure would deal with that monstrous Rasa.
"The Fourth Kazekage has no decency at all. Has he forgotten that without permission from the daimyō's mansion, they wouldn't even have a place to stand? And now he openly opposes us. I'm preparing to raise troops against them. Does anyone have wise counsel?"
He raised his cup, drank it down in one gulp, halted the dancers, and began discussing serious matters with his ministers.
If not for the example set by Kumogakure, the samurai families would have confidently sworn that they could easily take Rasa's head for their lord.
But Kumogakure had already shown the world what happens when ninja abandon morality—the daimyō's nightmares begin.
So the samurai exchanged uneasy looks, and not one volunteered to help.
The civil officials whispered among themselves, but none dared to step forward either.
The daimyō grew annoyed and slammed his cup down harder than intended. The entire mansion began to shake.
Huh?
Was he really that strong?
He stared at the shaking table, thinking he had awakened some divine strength. But when he saw the sky outside filled with swirling gold sand, he immediately understood the real cause.
"That's… gold dust?!"
The samurai serving him recognized Rasa's technique instantly. They rushed forward to protect the daimyō and escort him out the back.
The ministers forgot all dignity and scrambled away in panic.
"Up there! Shoot!"
The samurai outside began fighting back. Some sharp-eyed ones spotted Rasa riding atop a cloud of gold dust and fired their matchlock guns at him.
The bullets were stopped by the gold dust before they could reach him.
"Gold Dust: Great Burial!"
Rasa didn't waste words. He swept his arms, sending a tidal wave of gold dust to engulf the entire mansion.
The daimyō barely crawled out of the attack range.
The samurai guarding him weren't so lucky—they were crushed into pulp by the sand.
"Damn you! Damn you! Rasa, you mangy dog!"
The daimyō's legs trembled; he didn't care about the wet stain beneath him as he lay on the ground cursing.
"Scorch Release: Departure Flame."
Just when he thought he was about to die, a woman's voice snapped him back to reality.
Two fireballs circled Rasa, forcing him to stop manipulating the gold dust.
A graceful figure stepped between the daimyō and Rasa.
"You vile traitor! You dare raise your hand against the daimyō? Have you forgotten the duties of a Kazekage?!"
The woman with her beautiful back exposed was, of course, Pakura. At this moment, she looked every bit the righteous guardian of the daimyō, condemning the Fourth Kazekage's cruelty.
Rasa didn't answer. He forced the fireballs back and reshaped his gold dust into sharp spikes, thrusting them toward Pakura and the daimyō behind her.
"Scorch Release: Curtain."
Pakura altered the fireballs into a wall of flames, melting the spikes.
When the attack failed, Rasa didn't hesitate—he tried to escape. But suddenly his body dropped out of the air, out of control.
His gold-dust cloud had been melted by the earlier flames, and he himself was hit midair. The water in his body evaporated rapidly.
Only after his final drop of moisture vanished did his confused eyes regain a moment of clarity.
"Damn… Shimura Takeshi…"
At the moment of death, Rasa finally understood Shimura Takeshi's plan—but it no longer mattered.
His dried corpse fell to the ground and shattered into brittle pieces. The daimyō didn't feel fear at all—only a wave of exhilarating relief.
That beast was finally dead!
Seeing Rasa's demise with his own eyes, the daimyō stood tall again. Stepping forward, he kicked Rasa's head several times, not caring that nearly all his samurai and ministers had been killed.
"Forgive me for startling you, my lord. It is my failure."
Once the daimyō was done venting, Pakura spoke at the perfect moment.
"No need for formalities, brave one. You are…?"
Only now did the daimyō carefully study the woman before him.
She was beautiful, but unfortunately—a ninja.
"I am Pakura, formerly of Sunagakure."
She performed impeccable etiquette, leaving no flaws for criticism.
"Pakura…?"
The daimyō felt the name was familiar.
But he cared more about what she said next.
In her story, she had been a hero fighting Kirigakure. After seeing through Rasa's treacherous nature, she was targeted. He conspired with Kirigakure to eliminate her.
She barely survived, killed the Mist ninja, and wanted to return—but her injuries were too severe, and Rasa was backed by the village elders. She had no choice but to hide and heal.
Once she recovered, she rushed to the daimyō to expose Rasa's schemes—only to encounter his assassination attempt.
Hearing Pakura's tale, even the ninja-averse daimyō couldn't help but admire her loyalty.
A loyal retainer! Truly loyal!
Why didn't he suspect a conspiracy?
Rasa was dead. Who in their right mind would use the life of a village kage as part of a scheme?
And he vaguely remembered Pakura's past deeds.
Yes—she truly was a loyal hero who fought against the Mist.
Back then some even recommended her as Fourth Kazekage, but she lacked enough support among the elders.
Now everything made sense. Rasa, afraid of Pakura competing for the Kazekage position, must have formed a dirty alliance with Kirigakure to get rid of her!