When Pakura heard those words, it was as if she had awoken from a dream. She quickly opened her eyes and saw Hoshiyomi smiling gently at her — which made her instinctively avert her gaze.
Thinking of the Kirigakure shinobi who had just ambushed her, anger flared in Pakura's heart. Forming hand seals, she unleashed her chakra — with a loud boom, a blazing orange sphere of light appeared in her hand.
With a swift step, her figure shot forward like a nimble cat toward the direction from which the kunai had co. Monts later, several agonized screams echoed through the mist.
The three Hyūga shinobi, who arrived just a bit too late, began whispering explanations beside Hoshiyomi:
"That kunoichi is incredible. What's that strange glowing sphere — so kind of new Kekkei Genkai? Just a single touch and it drains people into mummified husks. Terrifying ability."
"She's so fast too. Judging by the chakra levels of those seven left, they were all at least chūnin or jōnin — yet she finished them off so easily."
Monts later, Pakura erged from the smoke completely unhard — not even a drop of blood on her. One didn't need to guess how miserable the deaths of those eight attackers must have been.
Seeing her return, the three Hyūga instinctively dropped into Gentle Fist stances, but Pakura ignored them. Instead, she turned to Hoshiyomi and said, sowhat awkwardly,
"Thank you for saving just now. Co to think of it, you saved last ti too… I owe you a favor. If there's ever sothing you need my help with, just ask. I'll do everything I can."
After saying that, Pakura bowed to Hoshiyomi and turned to leave. It was clear she was in a hurry — eager to confront Rasa, to demand why he would do such a thing.
But before she could take more than two steps, Hoshiyomi's voice ca from behind her:
"You've given so much for Sunagakure. Yet they repay you like this… Why bother going back?"
Pakura froze mid-step. Lowering her head, she hesitated for a mont before replying angrily,
"I can't just let it go like that! I have to get an explanation!"
Hearing this, Hoshiyomi's lips curved into a faintly mocking smile.
"You've worked alongside Rasa for years. Don't tell you still don't understand what kind of man he is? He is the all-powerful Kazekage — do you really think you'll get any kind of explanation from him?"
Pakura's breathing, which had been harsh and uneven, suddenly faltered. Her tone softened into one of quiet sorrow.
"But… if I don't go back… where else can I go?"
At that, Hoshiyomi thought to himself — Got her.
He seized the opportunity and continued,
"Didn't you just say you owe a favor? In that case, why don't you…"
Before he could finish, Pakura seed to realize what he was implying and quickly interrupted,
"No… that's impossible…"
But halfway through her protest, hesitation clouded her expression.
If she didn't return to Sunagakure, where could she go?
She couldn't possibly join Iwagakure, Kumogakure, or Kirigakure — they'd all been her enemies.
Hiding away in so tiny village to live out her days in obscurity didn't suit her nature either.
What then — beco a missing-nin?
Living like a rat in the shadows, hunted and despised?
That wasn't who she was.
For the first ti, Pakura felt as though the entire world had abandoned her.
A sudden wave of helplessness crashed over her. The strong, proud kunoichi finally broke down — she hugged her knees tightly, buried her face between them, and began to sob softly.
"I never wanted to take his position… I only wanted to protect my family and my friends… But he… he actually…"
Her voice trembled, swallowed by her tears — the sound of a loyal heart finally shattering.
Even the three Hyūga shinobi standing nearby had by now roughly pieced together the truth. They couldn't help sighing quietly to themselves — she had clearly been a hero of her village, yet the higher-ups had turned on her out of fear and jealousy.
As fellow shinobi, they could deeply empathize with such a cruel fate.
At that mont, Hoshiyomi stepped closer and spoke softly:
"Join Konoha.
I can't promise that every corner of Konoha is filled with light…
But I can promise you this — as long as I'm alive, no one will ever treat you the way Sunagakure's leaders did."
Hoshiyomi was already a well-known, respected powerhouse — and he had saved Pakura's life twice now. Combined with the gentle aura he exuded thanks to his attunent with natural energy, his words carried imnse weight.
All of these factors together managed to reach Pakura's heart — a heart that, right now, was at its most fragile.
Gradually, her sobs began to quiet. With red-rimd eyes, she lifted her gaze — and saw Hoshiyomi extending a hand toward her.
She stared blankly at that hand for a mont, hesitated… and then, finally, placed her own hand in his.
Hoshiyomi gently pulled her to her feet. Pakura wiped her tears and said, her voice still trembling slightly:
"But I want you to help fake my death.
I don't want everyone in Sunagakure to believe I betrayed the village.
Rather than live with that sha… I'd rather 'die' once, and then be reborn under a new identity."
That wasn't even a real obstacle to Hoshiyomi — he agreed imdiately.
After all, what he valued wasn't her na — it was her strength.
Whether she was called Pakura or sothing else didn't matter in the slightest.
So he said with a calm smile:
"Since you insist, then from today onward, you are a mber of Konoha's ANBU, codena: Passione. As for your duties... you will be responsible for the protection of the Fourth Hokage, Tsunade. How does that sound?"
Pakura was stunned. It wasn't the codena that shocked her — it was Hoshiyomi's sheer audacity.
Was he insane?
He was assigning a forr Suna shinobi to guard the Hokage herself?
Didn't he worry she might still be a spy from Sunagakure, waiting for the right mont to strike?
And more than that — wasn't Tsunade his wife?
How could he just place her right by her side without hesitation?
The three Hyūga shinobi were equally alard. They had thought Hoshiyomi's motives were simple — that he'd been impressed by Pakura's strength, or perhaps captivated by her beauty, and wanted to keep her close.
But to appoint her directly as the Hokage's bodyguard? That was far beyond what any of them expected.
They hurriedly objected:
"That's not appropriate, Lord Hoshiyomi!
No matter what, she was still a Suna kunoichi not long ago.
Even if you trust her, shouldn't we test her loyalty in another post first?"
But Hoshiyomi rely waved a hand dismissively and said firmly:
"My philosophy has always been: If I choose to trust soone, I trust them completely; if I doubt soone, I don't use them at all.
If I've chosen to believe in you, then even if you betray , I'll have no regrets — because that would only an my judgnt was wrong.
But in your case… I believe my judgnt is right.
I'm certain that soone who once stood against the Third Raikage to protect her village would never betray the people she swears to protect."
Pakura stared at Hoshiyomi in astonishnt.
Compared to Rasa — who had sched to have her killed — Hoshiyomi seed like a being of pure light, radiating warmth and righteousness from head to toe.
And in that mont, the doubts and distrust that had taken root in her heart because of Rasa's betrayal finally lted away.
Now, Pakura was certain — Hoshiyomi was the one truly worthy of her loyalty.
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