"This is the Kazekage's order."
Hearing those words, Pakura fell into complete despair.
Why?
Why?!
She had always worked tirelessly, never fearing death, staking her very life to protect Sunagakure!
And in the end… this was how she was treated?!
At that moment, she finally understood.
The ambush by Kirigakure's shinobi, the leaked contact codes,
all of it was nothing more than the Kazekage's price for eliminating her, a tribute offered to Kirigakure in exchange for peace!
She suddenly stepped forward and yanked out the blade embedded in her back.
Blood burst forth.
She liked wearing open-backed outfits. Her fair, delicate skin had once been as white as snow, smooth and lustrous,
something rare and unmatched even within Sunagakure.
Now, however, it was completely stained red with blood.
And worse still, it was blood drawn by the betrayal of her own comrades.
At that moment,
The subordinates behind Pakura shouted in unison:
"Kirigakure shinobi, kill her!!!"
"This is the gift our Kazekage offers to the new Mizukage!!!"
Hearing those cries, the very last trace of hope in Pakura's heart was extinguished.
Her vision went dark, as if she were staring into an endless abyss.
So that was it.
All of her comrades had betrayed her.
No,more than that.
Her village itself, the village she had risked her life to protect, had completely betrayed her as well!
What meaning was there left in living like this?!
Pakura couldn't help but let out a sigh, followed by a bitter laugh.
She no longer intended to resist.
The Sunagakure shinobi were overjoyed.
If Pakura were to struggle and fight to the death, they would inevitably have to pay a terrible price to kill her and complete the mission.
But now that she had given up,
Then it wasn't their fault.
"Kirigakure allies, let's strike together and kill her as the beginning of the Sunagakure–Kirigakure alliance!!!"
"Understood,"
the Kirigakure shinobi responded.
And so,
In an instant,
Shinobi from Sunagakure and Kirigakure alike
simultaneously hurled kunai, shuriken, and even explosive tags at Pakura!
In the original story, this was how she died.
Her fair, smooth back pierced full of kunai and shuriken.
However,
This time, something unexpected happened.
The kunai, shuriken, and explosive tags in the hands of the Kirigakure shinobi
did not fly toward Pakura at all!
Instead, they shot violently toward the Sunagakure shinobi behind her!
In an instant,
Bang! Bang! Bang!!!
Rumble,!!!
BOOM!!!!!
In the blink of an eye, the few remaining Sunagakure shinobi were completely annihilated!
Pakura froze, utterly stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
She glanced back at the "comrades" who now lay dead behind her.
Then she turned, her face filled with shock, staring at the Kirigakure shinobi force.
"…Why?"
At that moment, a man stepped out from among the Kirigakure ranks.
He smiled faintly at Pakura.
It was none other than the Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure,
Chiba.
"You… you are,"
Of course, Pakura knew his name.
By now, the entire shinobi world knew of this newly risen Mizukage.
A man who had single-handedly quelled Kirigakure's internal rebellion, recovered the Rokubi Jinchūriki, and ascended to the position of Mizukage.
After that, he governed with diligence and resolve,ending the era of the Bloody Mist, bringing decades of chaos to a close.
He promoted talent, reformed administration, invested in education, and reopened diplomacy.
Under his leadership, Kirigakure rose rapidly.
Pakura had long been curious about this man.
Seeing him in person now, she could feel a strange and undeniable charisma radiating from him.
"Yes," Chiba said with a smile,
"I am exactly the person you're thinking of."
Pakura exclaimed in shock,
"The new Mizukage of Kirigakure… Lord Chiba?!"
"That's right."
"T-Then what exactly is going on?!"
Chiba smiled calmly.
"You should already know the answer."
Pakura fell silent.
She did know.
She knew all too well that she had been betrayed by her village,by the Kazekage himself.
At this point, the entire shinobi world had no place left for her.
Even her very existence had lost its meaning.
"I understand that I was betrayed by the Kazekage and Sunagakure," she said quietly.
"But I don't understand why you didn't kill me."
"Wasn't this supposed to be a joint performance between you and the Kazekage?"
"Or… are you planning to keep me alive just to torture me slowly?!"
Chiba laughed softly.
"I am planning to torture you slowly."
"The method is…"
"Letting you live."
Pakura frowned deeply.
"W-What did you say?!"
Chiba replied evenly,
"Death is easy. One kunai, one shuriken,that's all it takes."
"But living is the truly painful part, isn't it?"
Pakura murmured,
"…That's true."
"Right now, I'm already living worse than death."
Chiba continued,
"But perhaps… it can also be seen as a chance for rebirth."
"Rebirth?" Pakura shook her head faintly.
"I don't have that qualification… nor that kind of fate."
Chiba said firmly,
"I say you do."
Pakura froze.
She was a smart woman,otherwise, she wouldn't have survived this long.
"…Lord Mizukage," she said slowly,
"Y-You want to recruit me?!"
"You really are clever," Chiba replied.
"That would be betrayal."
Chiba looked at her and smiled.
Pakura was stunned.
Yes…
She had already been betrayed by Sunagakure and the Kazekage.
And now she was talking about betraying her village?
"…But I am, after all, a shinobi of Sunagakure, and,"
Chiba waved his hand dismissively.
"The past doesn't matter anymore."
"I only want to know your choice now."
Pakura fell silent for a long time.
Finally, she spoke.
"I…"
"Can I… really?"
Chiba smiled.