"Sentaro!" Pakura's fury surged. "You—killed him?!"
The Suna shinobi reeled. They'd gamed a hundred outcomes; none ended with a neck snapped in the street.
He'd done it under Pakura and Karura's noses.
"Why the look?" Sogetsu blinked, honestly puzzled. "He tried to kill a Leaf child. I killed him. Where's the problem?"
"You saved that boy!" Karura's eyes shone red at the rims. "He's alive—so why kill Sentaro anyway?"
"That only makes it stranger that you didn't." Sogetsu nudged his glasses, eyes soft. "I could save the child because I could. You didn't because you wouldn't?"
The retort jammed in their throats, anger snagging on truth.
It wasn't that they refused. They simply couldn't—not in time.
"Is this how Konoha treats guests?" Karura's breath hitched. She glared, voice shaking.
"This is how Konoha handles business." Sogetsu dropped the cloth—covering Sentaro's face—and spoke evenly. "If you have complaints, the Hokage will hear them."
"Good!"
"Let those Suna whelps learn what the strongest village looks like!"
"Leaf is number one!"
The peanut gallery erupted. Even the Uchiha fan looked pleasing today. Pride vented like steam; it felt good.
Suna's jaws tightened. If looks could kill, Sogetsu would be paste.
"I've heard Uchiha are all swagger," Pakura said coldly. "Let's see the substance. Dare you fight me?"
She'd grown up on stories of Konoha's peacocks. She wanted proof.
"On a battlefield, perhaps," Sogetsu replied, unruffled. "But this is Konoha. Are you sure?"
"What's wrong? Afraid?" Pakura folded her arms, chin high. "A proud Uchiha dodging a challenge?"
"Your provocation is clumsy," he said, smiling. "But if it's your heart's desire… I can indulge you."
Tension sang. Air thinned.
"Don't," Karura cut in, voice low. "It's a trap, Pakura."
She was livid too—but not blind. They were here to probe Konoha, not set it ablaze. Pakura's Scorch Release could turn a street to bone-white mummies. No matter who "won," Suna would lose.
She faced Sogetsu with frost. "We'll report this to the Kazekage."
"As you like." Sogetsu's eyes drifted over the Suna line, amusement tucked in the corners. "Ah, and mind your tongues. We don't need a repeat."
Smiling while snapping necks… Both women fixed his face in memory.
Karura puffed her cheeks, furious and—annoyingly—still faintly adorable for it.
"Between the two of you," Sogetsu murmured, eyes dipping to hers, "you interest me more."
He left them that and a knowing smile, then walked away.
"???"
"Was he… flirting with you?" Pakura's look went odd. The line sounded like a taunt—but also not.
"Pfah!" Karura spat, cheeks hot. "He's a bastard, that's what he is!"
The ruckus died. They followed, notably better-behaved.
All visiting teams were stabled near the back mountain; ANBU webs stitched the area, eyes everywhere.
Back in their room, Karura rounded on Pakura. "You were too hot-headed. If you'd fought him here, we'd eat the consequence."
"I know," Pakura hissed, then bit her lip. "I just—can't swallow it. He killed Sentaro right in our faces!"
"I'm angry too," Karura said more softly, sitting beside her. "But remember the Kazekage's orders."
Pakura drew three slow breaths. Calm returned, cool and sharp. "I remember. I'll behave."
"What do you make of Uchiha Sogetsu?" Karura ground out the name, teeth clicking. "Young for a jonin. Fast with the Body Flicker. He's clearly one of Konoha's new pillars."
A single instant had been enough to speak volumes.
"Tricky—but not a problem," Pakura said, confidence sliding back into place. The corner of her mouth lifted. "Don't forget, Karura—I wield Scorch Release (Shakuton). If we did fight, he wouldn't be my match."
Shakuton—wind and fire braided into a bloodline limit—boiled water out of bodies, leaving crackling mummies where men had stood. On its strength, Pakura was already a star in Suna's rising generation.
"This joint Chūnin Exam won't be simple…" Karura's gaze clouded. "Sentaro had the most promise. If not for that man—too hateful!"
Not only had he killed Sentaro—he'd toyed with her.
Karura clenched her fists. In her mind, "Uchiha Sogetsu" was carved right next to "payback."
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