Hiruzen persuaded me to die

Land of Wind – Somewhere in the Great Desert

The sun beat mercilessly on the dunes. Sand whipped across the air like blades.

Pakura, hero of Sunagakure and mistress of Scorch Release, darted through the desert with three shinobi flanking her.

"Keep the scroll secure. If it's lost out here, there's no recovering it," she warned.

One shinobi nodded, eyes sharp. "Understood."

But as he exchanged subtle glances with his comrades, it was clear: that scroll wasn't their only concern.

Then—

"Wait… what is that?!"

A light-blue streak blurred across the golden sky, heading straight toward them.

"Is that… a person?" Pakura squinted.

It landed before them—calm, composed, dangerous.

Hyūga Naraku. Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure.

The red flame patterns on his white cloak flared gently in the wind. He eyed them with amused curiosity, then fixed his gaze on her.

"You're headed to the Land of Water?"

One of the Sand shinobi stammered, "Y-Yes, Hokage-dono!"

Pakura narrowed her eyes. "To what do we owe the honor of your presence in the Land of Wind?"

The three behind her, however, silently retreated.

They weren't fools.

The White Fang once warranted full retreat.

The Yellow Flash? Same treatment.

Even Uchiha Shisui was considered a mission-ending encounter.

Now—Naraku stood before them.

Fifth Hokage. Stronger than any of them combined.

Fleeing… wasn't cowardice. It was strategy.

"You're retreating?" Naraku's lips curled slightly.

A pulse.

Gravity warped.

The desert groaned as sand lifted unnaturally. The retreating trio suddenly screamed—dragged backward like puppets yanked by invisible strings.

"W-What's happening?!"

"I can't move!"

With a burst of force, black chakra rods speared their limbs—pinning them to the desert floor.

Pakura's kunai flashed into her hand. "What's the meaning of this?"

"I was curious," Naraku replied calmly. "Heading to Kirigakure for a peace treaty?"

She nodded hesitantly, eyes locked on him.

But Naraku wasn't looking at her anymore.

He reached down and touched one pinned ninja's temple.

A shimmer of pale blue chakra danced across his hand.

Memory Extraction.

The shinobi twitched violently.

Naraku smiled coldly. "No surprises. Their real mission is to hand you over to Kirigakure. As a peace offering."

Pakura stiffened. "What?"

Her teammates—silent.

No immediate denial. No outrage.

Just stunned expressions and sweat.

"Say something!" she snapped.

One finally blurted out, "W-We'd never betray you, Captain! You're our hero!"

The second added shakily, "You led us through the war—we would never…"

The third said nothing—still paralyzed, wide-eyed from what Naraku had pulled from his mind.

Their silence stung more than words.

Naraku raised a brow. "Fascinating, isn't it? The same Kazekage who let your legend grow... now sends you to your death. Makes me wonder—why?"

He paced, thoughtful.

"Mist just lost to us. Iwagakure is clashing with Kumogakure. Kiri is unstable after the coup. And yet... your Fourth Kazekage chooses now to offer you to them?"

He shrugged. "Your death would rally the village. Classic scapegoat tactic."

"You lie!" one of the pinned ninja roared. "Lord Rasa would never!"

Pakura's hand trembled.

"Enough."

Her kunai lashed out—clean, fast.

Blood sprayed into the sand. One traitor dead.

The other two looked up in horror.

"C-Captain, wait! He's manipulating you!"

Her blade flicked again.

Two more thuds echoed across the dunes.

Naraku watched, impassive.

Pakura turned to him, eyes burning with betrayal.

"I'll get answers. Directly from Rasa."

Her voice shook with fury, not fear.

Naraku offered no words. No comfort.

Just a nod.

She had seen the truth for herself.

If they had reacted like she did—denied it instantly—maybe she would have hesitated. But their stunned silence… was all the answer she needed.

And Naraku?

He didn't waste words on lies.