Pakura left after lunch.
Uchiha Gen personally escorted her to the entrance of the Konoha camp; since they were now officially boyfriend and girlfriend, he had to show proper care.
Gen's change in attitude and behavior delighted Pakura, and she returned to the Hidden Sand camp in high spirits.
The moment she arrived, Baki and several Sand jōnin came forward to greet her. After food and rest, her usual heroic demeanor was back in full force.
"How did it go?" Baki asked impatiently.
"Seven percent. That's the bottom line Konoha's high council would agree to. I couldn't push them past that."
Baki and the other Sand jōnin exchanged wide grins. This result was already better than expected.
From the start, they hadn't dared to hope for a full ten percent return. In fact, even the elders of Sunagakure had estimated that seven percent would be the ideal outcome. Their actual assignment had only demanded five and a half percent.
"Pakura, you've truly done an excellent job. This is undoubtedly the greatest achievement!" Baki praised, giving her a thumbs-up.
Pakura responded modestly. After some polite chatter, the group dispersed.
The next morning, Baki and Pakura led their delegation to the Konoha camp for the routine 'final negotiation.' But in truth, everything had already been settled; today was just to sign the papers.
At the entrance, Orochimaru was waiting, hands clasped behind his back. His snake-like smile curved as he teased:
"I didn't let you lead those talks for nothing. You even managed to find yourself a girlfriend from another village…"
Today was the official signing, so as commander-in-chief, he couldn't simply skip out—he had to attend.
Gen gave a dry cough. "You're not going to blame me for… abusing my position for personal gain?"
Orochimaru's chuckle was low and amused. "What's wrong with that? I've abused mine countless times. As long as you don't cross the elders' bottom line, what can they say?"
Gen: "…"
As expected of Orochimaru, his brazenness was on another level.
If it were Minato leading instead, such things would never even be considered.
People admire fairness, but very few want their close friend to be fair to them. For your relatives and companions, favoritism is much more welcome.
"Then I'll have to learn more from you in the future," Gen said carefully.
Orochimaru's golden eyes glinted with mischief. "If the chance comes, I'll teach you the art of… reallocating funds. Even as police squadron leader, you'll need a budget, won't you?"
"…Yes."
"Then these tricks will be very useful. Don't be shy. If your Uchiha clan doesn't need the money, you can always hand it over to me. More funding means less traveling, more research time."
Gen could only fall silent. Truly, his teacher's audacity knew no bounds. Still… there were things worth learning.
Just as he pondered his reply, the Sand delegation arrived.
"Orochimaru-sama, Gen-sama." Baki bowed formally.
"Orochimaru-sensei, Gen." Pakura bowed lightly as well.
Baki: "???"
The other Sand shinobi: "???"
All of them turned sharply toward Pakura, eyes wide with confusion.
Seeing this, Gen smiled smoothly. "Pakura and I are together. It's only natural she calls my teacher 'sensei' as well, isn't it? After all, Konoha and Sunagakure are allies. Surely there's no problem with us dating?"
Boyfriend and girlfriend…
Baki and the others froze, their expressions twisting in disbelief. Their eyes begged Pakura to deny it.
But Pakura lowered her gaze, her cheeks faintly flushed. "Yes. We are indeed together."
Crack!
It was as if every man present heard the sound of his heart shattering.
Their goddess… gone. Stolen by an outsider, a shinobi of another village, no less!
When word of this spread back to camp, back to the village, how many men would be devastated?
Still, Baki forced a strained smile. "Very reasonable. No problem at all. Gen-sama is a genius of Konoha, and Pakura-sama is one of our Sand prodigies. The two of you are truly a match made in heaven."
He dared not voice a word of bitterness. The agreement wasn't signed yet; if something went wrong now and Konoha pulled out, Sunagakure would suffer greatly. He had already sent the good news home and if his carelessness ruined things, his career would be over.
A goddess was important, but his own future mattered more.
And so, Baki proved himself a man of ambition, unlike hopeless romantics like Obito. It was no surprise he would one day rise to Sunagakure's council of elders.
Orochimaru chuckled. "Not bad. You speak well. Sunagakure chose wisely, putting you in charge." He turned away. "Come, let's sign directly. No need for unnecessary procedures."
"After the signing, don't rush back. Stay for lunch with me," Gen added casually.
The Sand shinobi stiffened. Their faces betrayed their displeasure, but they didn't dare object. They could only grit their teeth.
Sometimes, the sweetest satisfaction in life was to make others seethe while they remained powerless.
Pakura, thinking Gen simply wanted to share a meal, agreed readily. She had no idea there would be… other things on the menu before lunch.
The group entered the central war council tent. As per custom, all non-essential personnel withdrew, leaving only the commanding officers.
The agreement was finalized quickly; Baki led his people out, while Pakura remained.
"As my disciple's girlfriend, it's only right that I prepare a small gift," Orochimaru said, forming hand seals.
Bang, bang!
Two bursts of smoke later, a pair of green-backed, red-embroidered scrolls lay upon the table.
For once, he refrained from pulling them out of his mouth.
Pakura blinked in surprise and glanced at Gen. "Sensei, what kind of ninjutsu are in those scrolls?"
Gen smirked. "Anything below B-rank isn't even worth mentioning."
Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Naturally. One is a B-rank Wind Release technique, the other a B-rank Fire Release. Together, they can form an A-rank combined jutsu. And with your Scorch Release bloodline, Pakura, you might well unleash something beyond A-rank."
Though rank didn't always equal destructive power, high-level ninjutsu were rarely weak.
Gen raised a thumb. "Sensei, as generous as ever."
"Good. I'll leave military affairs to you until the decisive battle. Pakura, take them."
Pakura accepted the scrolls with both hands and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Orochimaru-sensei."
Without another word, Orochimaru sank into the earth and vanished.
Pakura slipped the scrolls into her pouch, her bright eyes curious. "Do you always speak so casually with your teacher?"
Gen gently caught her hand, toying with her fingers. "Orochimaru-sensei and I aren't just teacher and student. We're also comrades who share the same vision. Naturally, we're less formal."
Pakura tilted her head. "Shared vision? What vision?"
Gen only smiled faintly. "That's not for now. But what about you? What are your dreams?"
Pakura hesitated, then brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Two dreams. First, to become a legendary kunoichi like Lady Chiyo. Second, to one day become Kazekage and lead Sunagakure to prosperity."
Gen nodded, impressed. "Grand ambitions. As far as I know, none of the Five Great Nations has ever had a female Kage."
Indeed, until Tsunade, Mei Terumī, and Kurotsuchi, no woman had worn that title.
It was no wonder Pakura's ambition had marked her for betrayal in the original timeline. A kunoichi who gained too much prestige threatened Rasa's position. Better to eliminate her while appeasing Kirigakure at the same time.
But Gen would not reveal this. Telling her now would only plant suspicion and distrust.
No...better to let her learn the truth herself, when the time came.
Pakura's smile returned as she squeezed his hand.
"You'll have to work hard, then. If I become Fifth Kazekage, you can live off me."
Gen grinned. "Exactly my plan."
She laughed aloud, her smile radiant. The sight stirred Gen's heart. He slipped his arms around her waist and leaned closer.
Pakura quickly turned her head aside, whispering, "Not here."
"Then… my tent?"
Her face flushed crimson. "…Mm."
Gen's joy swelled. Orochimaru's gift, combined with his sweet words, had worked perfectly.
An hour later, Pakura emerged from the tent, cheeks rosy, lips slightly swollen. She pretended nothing had happened. Gen followed, fingers still loosely entwined with hers.
Back in the council tent, they behaved properly, exchanging insights on leadership and ninjutsu while tending to military matters.
At noon, they shared a lavish meal. Then Gen walked her to the camp gates, watching her leave.
Sunagakure's leadership was more than satisfied with the negotiation's outcome. They sent commendations for both Baki and Pakura. As for her becoming Uchiha Gen's girlfriend, they even considered it a benefit, for now.
To interfere would only hurt relations.
Konoha's elders were less pleased. The deal was costly, and Gen's romance with a Sand kunoichi didn't sit well. Still, Orochimaru had overseen everything, and he refused to take responsibility. What could they do?
The Uchiha clan, upon hearing, immediately began plotting to find Gen a proper bride within the clan. How could their bloodline be allowed to spill into another village?
With treaties sealed, both Konoha and Sunagakure shifted focus to the upcoming decisive battle. Supplies flowed to the front lines, shinobi equipped to the fullest.
The movements were impossible to hide from the Iwa–Kusa alliance but then, neither side intended to hide them. This was open strategy.
If Iwa and Kusa refused to face them, they would be forced to retreat first out of the Grasslands, then all the way back to the Land of Earth. Each step back would chip away at their morale until victory became impossible.
Better to strike now, while spirits still ran high.
Seven days later, all was ready. With only essential garrisons left behind, the entire Konoha–Sand coalition assembled.
Beneath their respective headbands, two great formations stretched across the field.
At the order of their commanders, they surged forward—like a great tide breaking upon the shores of destiny.