Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 159: "That One Has No Expectations for the Land of Wind"

Black Zetsu 2.0 was about to continue speaking but was stopped by White Zetsu's sharp gaze. Reluctantly, he handed over the intelligence and left.

Their current task was to liaise with Uchiha Obito, leaving no time to monitor Ōtsutsuki Shinichi. Regular White Zetsu units would be discovered easily, making Black Zetsu the perfect fit for the job.

As the pair departed, Black Zetsu quietly confirmed Shinichi's direction and sank into the ground, disappearing.

…

"It's been years, but this place hasn't changed much. Despite some differences, it still feels just like I remember."

Standing atop a high building, Pakura gazed down at Sunagakure. Her eyes swept over the mix of familiar and unfamiliar buildings and surroundings as she silently reflected.

Surrounded by endless desert, Sunagakure baked under intense sunlight. The sky was a clear, piercing blue, with hot winds carrying fine sand that gave the air a dry, gritty texture.

Because of the harsh environment, the village's buildings were made of heat-resistant and sand-proof materials like adobe, stone, and wood. Their flat roofs prevented sand accumulation.

Sunagakure also had water storage facilities scattered throughout, as water was an invaluable resource in the desert.

While vegetation was sparse, some drought-resistant plants like cacti and hardy shrubs could still be seen. At the edges of the village, a few oases provided water for the villagers and supported small-scale agriculture.

Though it couldn't compare to a place like the Land of Fire, Sunagakure was far better off than the smaller nations.

After all, the Five Great Nations were the ultimate victors of the Warring States period, having consolidated their power during that era.

As one of those nations, the Land of Wind lacked water resources but was rich in minerals, including oil, gold, silver, and copper. In truth, it wasn't a poor country.

However, the Land of Wind and Sunagakure were not the same entity, especially in times like these…

Pakura's gaze shifted to the streets below, her eyes narrowing.

On the streets, villagers in traditional attire and shinobi in ninja uniforms moved briskly, clearly occupied with various tasks.

Economic sanctions—or perhaps a more accurate term would be "pressure tactics"—were at play. The daimyo of the Land of Wind was leveraging his position to bring Sunagakure to heel.

With some shinobi already aligning with the daimyo, the number of holdouts resisting his authority was steadily dwindling.

Behind Pakura stood two shinobi. One of them spoke softly, recounting recent events in Sunagakure:

"The daimyo appears intent on turning Sunagakure into a fully militarized zone under his control, eliminating the previous employment-based system entirely. He wants total control over military expenditures and operations. To this end, he's restructured the mission commission system so that all tasks now require his approval."

This shift allowed the daimyo to manipulate the actions of rank-and-file shinobi.

While the opposition came from elite jōnin and above, lower-ranking shinobi, unfamiliar with the broader implications, continued their routines unless someone rallied them to resist the daimyo.

"What about Elder Ebizō? Has he done anything to counter this?"

"He hasn't intervened. Some members of the council have already aligned themselves with the daimyo, leaving him little room to act. It seems he intends to go along with the tide and let Sunagakure be fully integrated into the Land of Wind."

Pakura sneered. "How calculated of him. Folding Sunagakure into the Land of Wind is certainly one way to resolve the situation—an approach that aligns well with the mindset of the older generation."

She could see through Ebizō's tactics. On the surface, he rallied support under the guise of preserving the one-nation-one-village system, yet he turned a blind eye to the daimyo's undermining actions. His true intentions were clear.

As the leader of the opposition, Ebizō could manipulate the shinobi under him, making the daimyo's takeover of Sunagakure even smoother.

With no Kazekage in place, this might seem like a viable solution for Sunagakure.

But…

"Sunagakure is far too weak now. Who would give them the time to recover?"

Pakura's voice turned cold as she addressed the shinobi behind her. "Have you reached out to the shinobi you're familiar with, Baki?"

Baki flinched at her tone and quickly lowered his head. "Some have agreed to join us."

After surviving their previous battle in disgrace, Baki had no choice but to comply with Pakura's orders.

"Oh?" Pakura's brows furrowed, her voice growing colder. "It seems you've convinced them rather quickly for someone who abandoned their Kazekage and returned alone. Impressive."

"They agreed only because of you, my lady!" Baki replied hastily. "I sought out those who were once your supporters…"

Hearing this, Pakura's hands paused mid-motion, and a flicker of complex emotions crossed her eyes.

To think there were still those in Sunagakure who had supported her all this time. It reminded her of her conversation with Hyuga Fuji.

"Lord Fuji, I've secured the Fourth Kazekage's body, keeping it as intact as possible. How would you like to handle it?"

"As a miner, perhaps, though that won't be necessary for now. You're a hero of Sunagakure—don't you have more confidence in yourself?"

She had preserved Rasa's body out of rationality, thinking Fuji might need it. Yet his casual reply had caught her off guard.

To think the great Fourth Kazekage was worth no more than a miner in his eyes…

Pakura chuckled to herself and took a deep breath to calm the surge of emotions within her.

She had assumed that leaving Sunagakure would mean the end of her supporters, but Baki's words offered a glimmer of hope.

"Baki, these people you've contacted—what's their current status?" Pakura's tone carried a faint trace of concern.

Unsure of Pakura's attitude, Baki continued cautiously, "Some still hold influence within the village, while others maintain connections in secret.

"When the news of your death first spread, some of them had doubts. They even formed small groups to investigate.

"The village leadership handled the situation well, allowing these investigations to continue. Over time, their doubts faded, though the connections they formed have persisted."

Now, with Pakura's return, revealing the truth would likely bring many of them to her side.

Baki sighed inwardly.

The Third Kazekage had vanished under mysterious circumstances, and now the Fourth Kazekage had suffered a similar fate.

Was the role of Kazekage cursed to end in death?

And this time, the one responsible was Sunagakure's former hero.

Facing Pakura, once a figure he had deeply respected but who had been betrayed by the village, Baki couldn't bring himself to judge her.

All he could do was acknowledge the poetic justice of it all.

"So that's how it is…" Pakura murmured. She glanced at Baki and said, "Continue reaching out to them. You're dismissed."

"Yes!"

After Baki left, the remaining shinobi frowned. "Lady Pakura, will intervening now conflict with Lord Fuji's plans…?"

"That one has no expectations for the Land of Wind," Pakura interrupted coldly, a glint of disdain in her eyes. "And neither do I for Sunagakure."

(End of Chapter)