"One ryo?" Pakura stared, then stamped her foot. "You mean my first kiss isn't even worth one ryo?"
"That's what you said," Kai replied, shaking his head with a smile. "How about two kisses for two ryo?"
"You!"
Pakura glared, but her expression shifted abruptly as she spotted several figures rapidly approaching in the distance.
"Kirigakure ninjas!"
Seeing their forehead protectors, Pakura visibly relaxed, then glared at Kai. "Don't worry, even though I've made contact with the Kirigakure ninjas, I won't cancel the contract. You're coming with me to Kirigakure."
"It seems my team is dead. Otherwise, they would have met me here already."
"I told you, I'm not that cheap," Kai said, rolling his eyes.
"Didn't it strike you as odd that, after an ambush and your team's deaths, Kirigakure ninjas showed up so quickly? This whole situation is suspicious."
"Careful you don't get sold and still count the money!"
Suspicious?
Pakura frowned, shaking her head.
"That's unlikely. Only the Fourth Kazekage knew about this mission. It concerns Sunagakure's safety, and Kirigakure wants a ceasefire; there shouldn't be any problems. Besides, this is the border of the Land of Water, where we were supposed to meet. The commotion from the fight would have easily been noticed."
Seeing Pakura's self-assured explanation, Kai decided against further argument.
The approaching Kirigakure ninjas landed on the hill. Their leader looked vaguely familiar.
"You are Pakura of Sunagakure, correct?" The leader, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy with sky-blue hair and prominent canines, carried a large scroll.
"I am Pakura. And this is...?" Pakura nodded, realizing she hadn't asked Kai's name.
"Chunin," Kai smoothly replied. "Sunagakure chunin."
Chunin?
The Kirigakure leader paused. "I didn't expect a chunin to survive such a large-scale battle. I'm not mocking you; please don't misunderstand."
"Of course not," Kai replied with a dry laugh, unconcerned. "I'm just deathly afraid. Perhaps Lady Luck was on my side." He recognized the boy: Hozuki Mangetsu, likely related to the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu—a formidable young ninja rumored to master all seven swords.
"Really? You're lucky then," Mangetsu grinned, turning his attention to Pakura. "Hozuki Mangetsu, temporary team leader for this operation. Are you injured? I have a healing pill."
He offered Pakura a dark-colored pill, which she politely declined.
"Very well, let's proceed then." Mangetsu put away the pill and gave orders to his team.
Kai frowned, noticing Pakura's slightly flushed cheeks. He remembered the poisoned tea at the teahouse. Even with the antidote, complete detoxification was unlikely.
"Don't you need a rest?" Kai asked.
Pakura shook her head. "No need. Kirigakure isn't far. I can manage. Don't forget, I'm a Sunagakure hero."
As Pakura prepared to leave, a battered figure rushed towards them.
"Hesha! You're alright?" Pakura exclaimed, relieved.
Mangetsu cautiously stepped back. "Another Sunagakure ninja? They seem lucky too."
"Captain Hozuki," Pakura said, hurrying to meet Hesha.
Hesha, regaining his composure, said, "Pakura-sama, I'm glad you're safe. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to explain this to the Kazekage."
"This is Captain Hozuki? Thank you for meeting us. It's getting late. Let's go, Pakura-sama, before anything else happens."
Pakura nodded. "Hesha's right. Let's finish the mission."
"Let's go!"
Mangetsu, without objection, glanced at Kai before leading the way. Kirigakure was easily accessible from this location on the border of the Land of Water.
"It's foggy," Pakura said, noticing the thickening mist as she landed on a tree.
"Pakura-sama, don't worry. This is normal near the river in the Land of Water," Hesha explained. "We're near Kirigakure's entrance."
Mangetsu nodded. "The mist is a natural barrier. Without a map, finding the entrance takes time." He glanced at the sky and his compass.
"It's getting late. The Mizukage is waiting. Let's enter the village to avoid another ambush."
"Let's go," Pakura agreed, glancing at Kai and falling back beside him. "Why so quiet? You were quite sharp-tongued earlier," she whispered.
"A straight path leads to its end. You'll soon see that this million ryo wasn't a gift," Kai said with a smile.
As they talked, Mangetsu led them to a path opening in the rocky mountains.
"Through here, we reach the docks and can take a boat to the village," Mangetsu said, looking back at Pakura.
Pakura nodded and followed, but as they entered the canyon, something unexpected happened.
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