"[Ding! Special bloodline detected among the host's clan: Scorch Release Bloodline Limit. Reward obtained: Scorch Release Bloodline Limit!]"
"[Current Scorch Release Bloodline Limit Evolution: 1%!]"
Hearing the system notification echo in his mind, Yuzuru Uchiha shivered pleasantly.
Scorch Release, huh?
Not bad at all.
A moment later, Pakura slowly stood up and moved behind Yuzuru, gently placing her hands on his shoulders. Her voice was soft.
"Yuzuru, do you believe me now?"
Yuzuru took a sip of water and nodded with a smile.
"Of course. You've already shown your loyalty through your actions."
Then he asked, "Pakura, do you want to become the Kazekage?"
"Kazekage?" Pakura froze, her expression immediately turning puzzled.
"Yuzuru… I'm already a wanted rogue-nin hunted by Sunagakure. How could I possibly become Kazekage…?"
Yuzuru waved his hand dismissively.
"Just tell me whether you want it or not."
Pakura could only give a bitter smile.
"Of course I want to be Kazekage. That's been my dream since I was young."
If she hadn't wanted that, how would she have become a thorn in Rasa's side?
"Then after I kill Rasa, I'll reveal to the public how he murdered his own comrades and framed you. After that, I'll work behind the scenes to push you forward as the next Kazekage."
"Eh?" Pakura stared at him in shock.
"Even if Rasa dies, I'd never be considered for Kazekage… The village elders of Sunagakure would never allow it."
"Then I'll just kill all of them," Yuzuru said casually.
"I want a village that obeys me without question."
Only now did Pakura finally understand.
She looked at him in disbelief.
"Yuzuru… are you seriously planning to unify the entire ninja world?!"
Back when Kumogakure attacked the Land of Iron, the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Frost, and several other countries, people had speculated about their ambitions.
But most believed Kumogakure simply wanted more territory—after all, small nations could never compare to the Great Nations.
But now Pakura finally saw the truth: Kumogakure's target was the entire ninja world!
Too insane.
Yet she couldn't help but ask,
"Yuzuru… the Land of Wind is just endless desert. There are practically no valuable resources…"
"Even if you conquer it, it'll be a loss."
Even as a Sunagakure kunoichi, she had to admit her homeland's poverty.
Attacking a desert nation was not profitable in the slightest.
And she definitely wasn't narcissistic enough to believe Yuzuru was doing this for her.
Killing Rasa on her behalf was already more than she had hoped for.
Seeing her confusion, Yuzuru asked lightly,
"So in your eyes, am I only capable of thinking about money and profit?"
"Ah…" Pakura suddenly didn't know how to answer.
Wasn't that the case?
Seeing her silence, Yuzuru snorted softly.
"I left Konoha—my own clan's birthplace—because I saw its darkness."
"On my journey, I saw countless tragedies across the ninja world. That's why I overthrew the daimyo's corrupt rule."
"The more I do, the more I realize that under the current system, darkness has already seeped into the bones of this world."
Yuzuru met her eyes.
"So I must unify the ninja world, break the current structure, and give it a brighter future."
Pakura's mouth slowly fell open.
She had imagined many reasons—but never this.
After the shock faded, she felt something entirely different: admiration.
As someone who had just suffered from political schemes, she understood this darkness all too well.
She then asked,
"Yuzuru… after you unify the ninja world, what will you do? People living in the Land of Wind and people living in the Land of Fire will never understand each other. Won't conflict over resources still continue?"
"Small. Your perspective is too small."
Yuzuru lifted a hand.
"After the ninja world is unified, I can redistribute all resources across all nations."
"At that point, no country will need to fight for necessities. Everyone will be able to get the supplies their homeland lacks from elsewhere."
"Moreover, once unified, we can build highways connecting every nation. Travel and transport will become far easier…"
After explaining the basics, he concluded,
"When people live comfortably, and combined with overwhelming deterrence and a shared identity, war will disappear forever. True peace will come."
"Pakura, will you offer your strength for this future?"
"I will!"
Pakura dropped to her knees, voice heavy with resolve.
This time, she submitted from the bottom of her heart.
The future Yuzuru described was too beautiful.
If it could truly be achieved, she would gladly give everything.
Thinking of her earlier assumptions, Pakura felt ashamed.
Compared to Yuzuru's ambitions, her desire for vengeance and justice seemed far too narrow.
His vision wasn't limited to a clan or a village—he was looking at the entire world…
Too charismatic.
Seeing her expression, Yuzuru's lips curved upward.
In the world of shinobi, slogans like "friendship," "bonds," and "peace" really did work wonders.
"Pakura, although my goal is to unify the ninja world, I don't yet have enough manpower. The next step is invading the Land of Fire. So attacking Sunagakure may take several years."
"Until then, stay at my home."
At this point, there was no need for defensiveness—they already knew what kind of people the other was.
Pakura nodded obediently.
"Yuzuru, I'll follow whatever you say."
——
——
Kumogakure.
Raikage Building.
Inside the Raikage's office.
Seeing the Scorch Release kunoichi Pakura walk in behind Yuzuru, the Third Raikage felt completely numb.
Once, he had traveled far and wide just to capture a single bloodline child… and he rarely succeeded.
But ever since Yuzuru arrived, talented people just poured endlessly into Kumogakure…
Was this kid planning to empty not only Konoha, but the entire ninja world?!