Overdrafting the Future, Starting in Naruto

Telling someone what to do directly is not only paternalistic but can also arouse strong feelings of resistance and suspicion. Besides, what is freely given is never as precious as what is asked for.

Kinoshita Genichi was in no hurry at all.

After Pakura had replenished her stamina and calmed down a bit, he led her out of the cave, heading in the direction of the Land of Fire.

"Are we going to Konoha?" Pakura asked, already knowing the answer.

"Do you have anywhere else to go?" Genichi replied. "If you do, that's fine too."

Pakura looked slightly lost, then shook her head. She couldn't go back to the Sand Village for now. The Mist wanted to kill her. The Stone was at war with the Sand, and the Cloud had just finished fighting them. Of course, the ninja world was vast, but was she supposed to become a wanderer? She wasn't willing to accept that.

So, Konoha it was. Perhaps she could use Konoha's power to return to her village and sweep away all those corrupt old men.

Once this idea took root, Pakura immediately felt it was a viable path and began to think quickly. How can I use Konoha's power? Their leaders won't help me for no reason. But if I sell out my village's interests, then what's the difference between me and that bastard Rasa's group? So what do I have that's worth Konoha's investment?

She thought and thought but could find no answer. She couldn't help but recall his earlier words.

Heh, I really did overestimate myself. A self-deprecating thought crossed her mind. Before, she never had to think about these things. She just had to rely on her strength to complete missions, protect the village's interests, and protect her comrades and home. All this time, she had thought she was strong enough, even once being a candidate for the Fourth Kazekage. Only now did she realize how insignificant one person's power truly was.

I'm so… useless! Pakura clenched her fists, her nails almost piercing the skin of her palms.

Just then, Genichi's voice came from ahead. "Have you thought it over?"

"What?" she asked subconsciously.

Genichi turned his head slightly. "Whether or not you're coming to Konoha. But even if you do, you can't join the village. You can only stay there temporarily under political asylum. And the fact that you're in Konoha cannot be revealed."

Political asylum, and it had to be a secret. A chill went down Pakura's spine. "Why?" she asked quickly.

Genichi stopped and turned to look at the beautiful woman, pointing to his own eyes. "You need to learn to look a little further, not just at the Sand Village. Konoha is currently at war with the Mist, Cloud, and Stone villages simultaneously. If your presence is revealed, the Sand Village will find a pretext to declare war. That would be disadvantageous for Konoha. Besides, you didn't think my mission was to save you, did you?"

Pakura was silent, then said, "Your mission was to sabotage the peace talks between the Sand and the Mist, wasn't it?"

"That's right," Genichi nodded. "Their peace talks are not in our favor. I just didn't expect to run into you. I have a similar status to you, so I didn't want to see someone who protects their village die because of dirty politics and compromises. So, I saved you on my own authority."

Hearing this, Pakura's shattered heart felt a warmth spread through it. After a moment of silence, she said, "Thank you. And I'm sorry for causing you trouble." But then she realized she still didn't know his name. "I still don't know who you are."

A smile appeared on Genichi's face. "You should have heard my name. I am… Kinoshita Genichi." As he spoke, the three-tomoe Sharingan appeared in his right eye.

Pakura was stunned. She looked at the man before her, who was taller than her, and couldn't reconcile him with the rumored prodigy who was only eleven or twelve years old. But there seemed to be no reason to lie about such a thing. So…

Pakura's mouth opened. "That's… really hard to believe. I have indeed heard your name. After all, you were praised by the Third Raikage as a genjutsu prodigy who surpasses the Uchiha. And the Third Mizukage put a 500 million ryō bounty on you. It's just…" For a moment, she didn't know how to express her feelings.

Genichi turned and continued walking. "With my status, I can temporarily grant you asylum in Konoha. You'll also have enough time to think about your future."

Pakura nodded, following behind him. Suddenly, she thought of something. "If, and I'm just saying if, you were in my position, used as a sacrifice by the village leadership, what would you do?"

Genichi chuckled. "You learn quickly. That's good. But my methods are not suitable for you. Of course, I can still answer your question, as a reference."

Pakura quickened her pace, moving from behind him to walk beside him, her peripheral vision fixed on his profile.

Genichi glanced at her. "There's no 'if.' Remember I told you before, I have a similar status to you. Someone once threatened me with my family."

Pakura was shocked. She had never imagined he would have had such an experience. She asked eagerly, "What did you do?"

Genichi grinned. "Heh. When I found out, I went straight to him, beat up all his subordinates, and then gave him a brutal beating right in front of them. I was going to kill him, but I changed my mind. The Hokage happened to arrive, so I let him go. But he was still stripped of all his positions by the Hokage. At least, on the surface."

"Why didn't you kill him?" Pakura frowned. "After something like that, he must hate you intensely."

Genichi smiled. "Because in my eyes, he's no longer a threat. Besides, killing him would be too easy, letting him off too lightly. So I want to ruin his reputation, make him lose all hope, and let him die in despair and resentment. That kind of revenge is much more satisfying."

Looking at the man's smile, Pakura couldn't help but shiver. She circulated chakra through her body to feel a sense of security. And thinking about it, such a method really wasn't suitable for her. Her strength alone wouldn't allow it.

"I didn't expect such things to happen in Konoha too," Pakura said with emotion. "Perhaps every village has this kind of darkness. Have you ever thought about changing it?" she asked, remembering his earlier words.

"Of course," Genichi nodded. "Killing is the easiest way, but it also destroys everything. So to change things, you need a little patience, a little skill." He then suddenly asked, "Do you think I can become the Hokage?"

Pakura nodded, then immediately shook her head. "The Fourth Hokage is probably impossible, right? You're too young." Then she realized. "You want to become the Hokage to change these things?"

"As you said," Genichi shook his head, "my age is a disadvantage. It's impossible for me to become Hokage in a short time. So, the best way is to ensure the position of the Fourth falls to a suitable person."

Pakura was shocked by his boldness, then fell into thought. Manipulate the selection of the next Kazekage? But that would take too long. Rasa is very young right now. And with my current situation, it's impossible. If Rasa were to die, could I become the Fifth Kazekage?

She began to rethink this question. But putting aside whether Rasa would die, could she, who had suddenly disappeared and then reappeared, become the Fifth? If so… how could she get rid of Rasa?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but glance at Genichi. It seemed the problem had come full circle. How could she use Konoha's power to get rid of Rasa? Given the current situation, Konoha wouldn't take the risk unless there was sufficient benefit. But Pakura didn't want to sell out her village's interests.

So were there any other methods?

Pakura suddenly remembered something. Kirigakure had proposed that they attack Konoha together. It was precisely because of this that she had let her guard down around them.

A sudden clarity washed over her. If… if the peace talks and alliance with Kirigakure could still proceed, then Sunagakure would definitely attack Konoha. At that time, Konoha would be facing an attack from four villages at once, and their situation would be extremely difficult. At that point, I could use Sunagakure's withdrawal and an alliance with Konoha as a bargaining chip, and with Konoha's help, return to the Sand Village and become the Fifth Kazekage.

Then would her village still make peace and ally with the Mist? Pakura began to analyze the situation.

Genichi noticed the change in her expression and smiled to himself. He knew she had figured it out. He hadn't told her about the Sand leadership's plan to attack Konoha with the Mist, hoping she would come to this conclusion on her own. And even if the Sand hadn't told her, it didn't matter. He could just wait a while. When the Sand attacked Konoha, she would still figure it out.

As for whether the Sand Village would attack Konoha, Genichi felt the possibility was very, very high. And even if they didn't, he could find other pretexts in the future. In short, the initiative was in his hands.

After crossing the Land of Rivers and entering the Land of Fire, Genichi no longer traveled at a leisurely pace. He used the Flying Thunder God Technique to directly fly back to Konoha with Pakura. Their landing point was his bedroom.

"This is…" Pakura was shocked by his speed.

"This is my bedroom," Genichi said. "You'll stay here for the time being. Also, you should take this off." He pointed to her ninja headband.

"Yes." Pakura immediately removed it.

Genichi left a shadow clone behind and then vanished.

Hokage's Office.

After Genichi reported on his mission, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt immense pressure. "So, you believe that Sunagakure will definitely attack the Land of Fire in the future?"

"Yes," Genichi nodded. "Kirigakure and Sunagakure have a common interest. This action can only delay their alliance; it cannot change the final outcome. Of course, we still have time to prepare. Sunagakure needs to deal with the Stone-nin before they have the strength to attack us."

Hiruzen nodded, then asked, "That Pakura, what do you think of her?"

"She would be an excellent candidate for the Fifth Kazekage," Genichi said directly. "And a Fifth Kazekage who is friendly to us."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "Support her to become the Fifth Kazekage? That is indeed a very good idea. However, it cannot be proposed by us."

"You are right, Lord Hokage," Genichi said immediately. "I will guide her step by step."

"Then let her stay in the village for the time being," Hiruzen said with a satisfied nod. "You will be in charge of her arrangements."

Genichi naturally agreed and then took his leave.

Hiruzen smoked his pipe, puff after puff. The next Hokage, Tsunade, is the most suitable. After that, there's Minato, and then the younger Genichi and Kakashi. As for his own two sons, he hadn't even considered them. His eldest son, was naturally very talented, but Minato, who was older, was more talented, and Genichi, who was younger, was even more outstanding. And his younger son, was even less of a consideration.

Thinking that he had such outstanding successors, the pressure from the Sand Village instantly vanished. With their current situation, how could they compare to Konoha?

(End of Chapter)

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