Chapter 379: Chapter 379: I Only Captured Pakura, Not the Third Kazekage
Chapter 379: Chapter 379: I Only Captured Pakura, Not the Third Kazekage
"I'll give you one hour to think about it: cooperate with me or keep resisting. I've got all the time in the world to play this game with you. To be honest, even without your intel, Sunagakure is destined to lose this war. I'm just trying to avoid making a big fuss. Sunagakure doesn't even register as a real threat to me."
"From the moment you were captured, Pakura, you became tainted. Your life can never go back to what it was. But if you can convince me of your sincerity, perhaps I could offer you a brand-new life."
"And if I refuse to cooperate?"
"If you refuse?"
Takuya folded his left arm across his chest, propped his right hand under his chin, and tilted his head as if deep in thought. Then, suddenly, he clapped his hands: "If you don't cooperate, then you don't. I'll take you back to camp, lock you up, and eventually send you to Konoha. I believe the higher-ups wouldn't mind having someone they can control who possesses Scorch Release. After all, it's a powerful Kekkei Genkai."
"You're shameless!"
"Thanks for the compliment. Remember, you've got one hour. After that, the offer expires." It's best to return sooner rather than later; otherwise, Hatake Sakumo and Nara Shikashige will keep nagging me. Tsunade, you really gave me a troublesome task this time.
"But still..."
Turning Pakura into someone loyal to Konoha wouldn't be easy.
Takuya genuinely admired Pakura's potential. With her growth in the Scorch Release, she could very well become a Kage-level powerhouse in the future, capable of holding her own. She had that potential.
However, the question was how to keep her and have her willingly stay in Konoha. That would be quite a challenge.
Instead of leaving her in Sunagakure, where they'd likely sell her out and send her to her death, it was better for her to stay in Konoha.
Takuya wasn't just interested in her abilities-he wasn't merely coveting her. Though he admitted Pakura was quite attractive, and her figure... well, it was tempting.
An hour later, Takuya returned to the cave with two wild rabbits.
"Will you really let me go?"
"Yes, as long as you cooperate with me. When the war ends, I will personally release you and even escort you back to Sunagakure."
"Put me down. I need to go to the bathroom."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
She had given in.
Not bad.
This was a good start.
After untying her, Pakura stumbled on her numb legs as she made her way into the woods. Meanwhile, Takuya stood at a distance, basking in the sunlight, thinking about what to do with Pakura next.
But this crafty woman-these so-called pieces of intel were things anyone could find out by interrogating just a few people. Did he really need her to tell him?
Indeed, convincing a powerful shinobi to betray their village was no simple task-especially one as stubborn and determined as Pakura.
Ten minutes later, Pakura emerged from the woods, her face returning to its usual color as she shot Takuya a sharp glare.
Takuya teased her: "I thought you might've pulled up your pants and run away."
"Don't look at me like that. Anyone would think I did something bad to you."
"I'll give you two options. First: stay by my side and help me with some tasks. When the war is over, I'll let you go."
"Second: I'll have someone take you to the village and lock you up. Once the war ends, we'll let you go."
I don't want either of those! I want to go back to Sunagakure!
Pakura clenched her fists weakly, her face expressionless as she asked: "What do you mean by staying by your side? Are you saying you won't restrict my freedom?"
"Are you dreaming?"
Pakura glared at him, her face darkened: "If you're going to restrict my freedom, then what's the point of staying by your side?"
"Let me think."
Given Pakura's situation, Takuya certainly wouldn't let her roam freely.
But directly imprisoning her would easily worsen her impression of him, making it harder to win her over later, and others wouldn't easily trust her.
So, Takuya's idea was to keep her by his side for a while.
"How about you make tea, do the laundry, and cook? You can do those things, right?"
A woman of your age-if you can't even make tea, do the laundry, or cook, I'd really have to scold you. Let's hope you're not another Tsunade.
Remembering Tsunade's messy lifestyle, Takuya eyed Pakura with a strange expression for a while: "Don't tell me you can't even do basic chores like making tea, doing laundry, or cooking."
...
Pakura gritted her teeth and held back her anger. With her chakra sealed, and knowing she couldn't beat this bastard, she had to endure!
In the end, Pakura chose the first option. Compared to being locked in a Konoha prison, she'd rather stay in Konoha's camp, staying by Takuya's side.
She was curious about where Takuya got such confidence, daring to dismiss Sunagakure like that, as if defeating them was no big deal.
"Sir, she..."
The camp guards were happy to see Takuya return, but their faces changed when they saw Pakura, who still wore her Sunagakure forehead protector.
"Don't mind her. She's just a captive I caught."
"Yes, sir! You really are amazing, capturing even Pakura, an elite jonin from Sunagakure."
...
Hearing the guard's flattery, Pakura felt mocked.
Even worse, Takuya waved it off indifferently: "It was nothing. I only caught Pakura, not the
Third Kazekage."
Bastard, can you be any more excessive?
Pakura began grinding her teeth.
Takuya glanced back and asked nonchalantly: "What? You still not convinced? Did I say
anything wrong? Aren't you my captive?"
As a captive, she had to act like one.
Pakura, your mindset really needs some work.
...
In the end, Pakura clenched her fist, then released it in resignation. She lowered her head and obediently followed behind Takuya.
Upon arriving at the command center, Nara Shikashige, who had been stressing over things, leaped up from his chair the moment he saw Takuya, grabbing him:
"You brat! You dumped all the work on me and ran off. Do you think you deserve Tsunade's trust in you? You leave all the trouble to an old man like me, and your conscience feels no
guilt?" Faced with Shikashige's rebuke, Takuya could only roll his eyes.
Realizing he might have overdone it, Shikashige cleared his throat, turning serious:
"Takuya, while I can handle many of these things for you, the responsibility ultimately falls
on your shoulders. You can't just wander around, got it?"
"By the way, who's this?"
Only then did Shikashige notice Pakura standing behind Takuya: "Green hair, Sunagakure
forehead protector... Is this Pakura?"
Though he was retired, Shikashige had kept tabs on Sunagakure's shinobi.
Pakura had been one of his primary subjects of interest. But why was she here, following
Takuya around like some kind of assistant?
Care to explain?
Shikashige blinked in confusion.
Little did he know, at that very moment, Pakura's mind was in turmoil.
She knew Takuya was Konoha's prodigy, a powerhouse. It wasn't just hearsay he had used
genjutsu to control the Third Kazekage when he was only a few years old.
Such achievements weren't something ordinary people could accomplish.
He'd executed numerous dangerous missions with an impressive success rate. The only downside was his laziness-he didn't like leaving the village.
He had rampaged through Kirigakure, almost wiping out the Kaguya Clan by himself.
He defeated the Three-Tails with just a few strikes-these were Takuya's glorious feats. But never in her wildest dreams had Pakura thought Konoha would assign him to lead the
fight against Sunagakure.
-PowerStone
Next Bonus: 200 power stone
(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 450+ at Patreon com/ Emiko1.