Chapter 67: Pakura.

I changed the fanfiction name, since it'd be more than just Kizaru's template in the future. __ The Kingdom of Water, in a canyon. Amidst the mist, a woman in smart clothing walked slowly from the distance. "Pakura of the Hidden Sand Village?" A deep voice rang out, and Zenkichi slowly stepped forward toward the well-dressed woman. "It's me! Zenkichi from the Hidden Mist Village?" Pakura looked at Zenkichi with a hint of curiosity and wariness in her eyes. Zenkichi's strength made her uneasy; her mission made her defensive. "By order of the Fourth Kazekage, I've come to negotiate with your Hidden Mist Village. Please rest assured—I have the full authority to speak on behalf of Sunagakure." Pakura's voice was calm. The Fourth Kazekage had ordered her to secretly negotiate with Kirigakure. "Negotiate? That guy Rasa really sent someone for this nonsense? You're naive. Don't you think this task is ridiculous?" "What right does Sunagakure have to negotiate with Kirigakure right now? He sent you here to die!" Zenkichi shook his head and chuckled, then said casually. "Nonsense!" Pakura's expression changed, and several fireballs suddenly materialized around her. The fireballs radiated a blazing orange light, their high temperatures warping the air. "Scorch Release fireballs? Interesting." Zenkichi commented indifferently. A faint golden glow enveloped his body—the elemental form ignored the extreme heat. Pakura didn't attack immediately, instead stepping backward. The burning orbs orbited around her like vigilant guards. "Scared? Trying to run?" Zenkichi gave a lazy smile, his right index finger glowing with a brilliant golden light. "Fireball!" Pakura's eyes flickered as the Scorch Release fireball surged toward Zenkichi. "Scorch Release—Steaming Kill!" This technique could evaporate water within a human body—a deadly Kekkei Genkai. But Zenkichi didn't move. He stood firm, letting the fireball strike his body. The fireball hissed and flared, engulfing him in blistering heat—but it had no effect. "It's useless." "I am light. Light can't be burned." "And light contains no moisture." Zenkichi stated calmly, raising one hand and firing a laser from his finger. The golden beam shot toward Pakura. Pakura reacted quickly, displaying impressive physical agility as she narrowly dodged the laser. Boom! Zenkichi's laser struck the cliff behind her, blasting rock into the canyon and blocking her escape. "Do you really intend to kill me?" "You agreed to negotiate and now want to break your promise?" "You'd tarnish Kirigakure's name just to eliminate me? Is my life that valuable?" Pakura's voice was cold and composed now, her anger contained. "Do you think this is about a broken promise? Naive." "Your fate was sealed the moment the negotiation was proposed." "Sunagakure abandoned you. They sent you here to die—so I could vent my rage. Understand?" Zenkichi's words darkened Pakura's expression. "Are you joking?" Pakura asked, keeping her tone steady. "What do you think?" Zenkichi replied lazily, studying her with amusement. Pakura fell silent. Zenkichi laughed. "So you're starting to believe me. Did Rasa show his hand too early? What a joke." Pakura answered coldly, "Whether you're telling the truth or not, I'll confirm it myself." "For now, killing you is all that matters." Zenkichi smirked. "Kill me? How terrifying. Female shinobi from Sunagakure sure are bold—brash, even. I like it." Pakura snorted and drew a long scroll from her body, flicking it open with a snap. The scroll lunged toward Zenkichi like a serpent. "This is... a sealing technique?" Zenkichi recognized it instantly. It was a type of ninja tool reinforced with sealing arts—similar to what the Shinobi Alliance used to suppress reanimated foes with red talismans during the Fourth Great Ninja War. "Pakura, you really did your homework." "Sealing techniques do work on me, but..." "Your attack speed isn't enough. I move at the speed of light." With a casual sigh, Zenkichi's body scattered into particles of light and reformed behind Pakura, his hand gently landing on her shoulder. "Don't panic." "I'm not here to kill you. I believe we can still talk." He spoke slowly, his palm holding her in place without hostility, though she didn't dare move. "What are you trying to do?" Pakura asked coldly, a trace of panic in her voice. "You still think there's a chance, right?" "You believe I'm lying and that Sunagakure didn't betray you." "Then how about I give you a chance to find out?" "Just disappear. Don't take action. Just watch." "I'm betting—soon enough, Sunagakure will publicly declare you dead." "They won't need a body. All they'll need is Kirigakure's confirmation." "Think about it." Zenkichi's eyes gleamed as he looked at her with a mischievous edge. Pakura's tone hardened. "What kind of confirmation?" Zenkichi grinned. "Only three words... 'Everything goes well.'" "Sunagakure will announce your death, but they'll never mention you died in the Land of Water." "After all, this was a covert mission. No one knows where you went—except for you and the higher-ups." Pakura's face turned pale. After a long pause, she murmured, "None of what you said is confirmed. Everything could be a lie." Zenkichi answered evenly, "Could be. Then wait and see." "But in the meantime, come back to Kirigakure with me. Use a transformation jutsu—don't show your real face." "And don't try anything foolish. If you do, I'll kill you myself. Believe me... you can't beat me." Zenkichi's words were calm, but left no room for doubt. Pakura nodded silently, signaling her compliance. ---