"Run!"
There was no time to think.
Pakura grabbed Jun's wrist and shot forward.
No matter how strong she was, facing more than ten elite jōnin at once—
and with Jun dragging her down—
Escape was their only option.
A chaotic chase unfolded through the forest.
"Fire Release: Ash Accumulation Burning!"
"Konoha-ryū Sword Style!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"
"Earth Release: Earth Wave!"
"Scorch Release: Superheated Kill!"
"Wind Release: Net Binding!"
BOOM! BOOM!
Ninjutsu clashed against ninjutsu, taijutsu against taijutsu.
In just minutes, Pakura and Jun were locked in a desperate running battle.
Pakura had already killed several ANBU—
but these men fought like emotionless killing dolls.
Not one hesitated.
After a prolonged pursuit, Pakura landed on a thick tree branch, half-kneeling, chest rising and falling violently.
A short blade she'd stolen from an ANBU was strapped to her back.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the enemies ahead.
Her chakra and stamina were dropping fast.
Jun behind her was in an even worse state—
hood gone, hair a tangled mess, gasping for breath, her curves bouncing uncontrollably with each inhale.
If not for Pakura shielding her again and again,
a chunin like her would've died long ago.
"Pakura! You attacked the Hokage Building, slaughtered Konoha shinobi, killed Elders Koharu and Homura, destroyed the Scroll of Seals—
Even if you flee to the ends of the world, we will not forgive you!"
An ANBU pointed a blade at her, voice cold with fury.
Pakura froze.
I killed Koharu? Homura?
Destroyed the Scroll of Seals?
She couldn't help widening her eyes.
She didn't remember doing ANY of that.
Then it clicked.
…That bastard Evan.
Her teeth ground so hard her jaw trembled.
But surviving came first.
Jun shouted, "Teacher! Forget me—run!"
She knew perfectly well she had become Pakura's burden.
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Pakura barked. "We're going back to Suna together!"
"Kill!"
The ANBU charged again.
Pakura's hands flashed through seals.
"Scorch Release: Superheated Kill!"
A scorching wave burst forth, so hot the very earth turned black.
But Pakura didn't relax.
POOF! POOF! POOF!
The enemies dissolved into smoke.
Shadow clones.
"Ah—!"
A scream ripped through the air.
Pakura's heart lurched.
She turned—
Jun had been struck, sent flying, and two more ANBU were already closing in to finish her.
"Damn it!"
Pakura moved—
but before she could reach Jun—
"Konoha-ryū Sword Style!"
The whisper of blades appeared behind her.
Shing shing shing—
Cold steel flashed.
A cluster of killing strikes pressed against her vitals from all directions.
Pakura was trapped.
She had no time to form hand seals.
Her only choice—
was to defend herself.
But that meant—
she couldn't save Jun.
Do I… abandon her?
Pakura didn't hesitate.
Her hand darted behind her.
The ANBU sneered behind their masks.
"Don't worry—she can't use kenjutsu."
"She's bluffing."
"Cut off her head and give it to the Yamanaka clan."
"Kill her!"
Pakura yanked free the short blade.
Her wrist twisted—
and the blade moved.
Not like a Sand shinobi.
Not like a Scorch Release user.
Not like anything they expected.
CHING! CHING! CHING!
"Ah—!"
Blood sprayed.
Three ANBU screamed as Pakura's knife carved impossibly sharp angles—
parrying and countering multiple sword thrusts in one motion.
She didn't even pause.
Her body flickered—
Body Flicker Technique!
She appeared beside Jun in an instant.
The blade traced another deadly arc.
The ANBU attacking Jun hadn't even completed his hand seal when—
Slice—
His throat opened.
A fountain of blood misted the air.
Silence.
For a heartbeat, even the forest seemed to stop breathing.
Three ANBU lay dead.
Pakura stood protectively before Jun, short blade dripping crimson.
Under every ANBU mask, eyes widened in disbelief.
"I thought you said she couldn't use kenjutsu?!" one shouted.
"T-That wasn't 'can't'—that was mastery!"
"What kind of sword style is that? She deflected Konoha-ryū while counterattacking simultaneously!"
"Damn it—she was hiding her skill!"
"No… don't you feel it? That sword movement—"
"…It looked like Evan-dono's swordsmanship."
"E—No, no! Evan-dono killed the Sand shinobi. He would never teach his sword style to an enemy!"
"If we capture her alive, we'll find out everything!"
The ANBU immediately regrouped, raising their guard.
Because—
a person's reputation casts a long shadow.
A sword technique borrowed from Evan—
was not something they dared underestimate.
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