Chapter 30: Minato vs. Pakura
A voice echoed—clear and magnetic—even though the man himself had yet to appear.
But the golden hair fluttering like sunlight, that soft, undeniable charisma which not even the mask could fully conceal, and this critical setting—deep within the core of Rōran Nation—it all left Kakashi with no doubts.
This was none other than Namikaze Minato.
And as for the one standing opposite him, with no intention of disguise, wielding a rare and deadly technique—Kakashi recognized her instantly as well.
Pakura of the Scorch Release, one of Sunagakure's few Kage-level elites.
Though her presence in the original timeline had been fleeting, she was among the very few women across the Five Great Shinobi Villages to reach such heights—earning a reputation that rivaled even Konoha's Tsunade. At one point, she had even been considered a serious contender for the title of Fourth Kazekage.
Seeing the devastation around them, it was clear now: these two were the cause of the earlier battle.
Especially Pakura. The destructive force of her Scorch Release was no joke—its power was often instantly lethal upon contact. But for someone like Minato, that mattered little.
His mastery of the Body Flicker Technique already placed him at the pinnacle of the jōnin level. And now, with the Flying Thunder God jutsu under his belt, there were few in the entire shinobi world who could even hope to track him before he ran out of chakra.
Still, in this current timeline, Minato was far from being a household name. The legendary moniker "Yellow Flash" had yet to be earned—something that would only come in the crucible of the Third Great Ninja War.
So at first, Pakura had underestimated him.
But it only took a few short exchanges before she realized how formidable this golden-haired shinobi truly was. More pressing was the problem behind her—her subordinates were being thoroughly outclassed by just two other Konoha ninja.
And this was despite their numerical advantage.
Two of her men were already down—and fast.
'The Aburame and Akimichi clans, huh? Tch. Annoying types,' Pakura thought grimly.
She narrowed her eyes at Minato. "So you're claiming Queen Sara—your so-called invitation—is legitimate? What a joke. More likely you forced her hand, didn't you?"
No matter what words were exchanged, her mission remained unchanged:
Don't let Konoha sink its claws into Rōran.
Sunagakure had been eyeing this desert kingdom for years—particularly the mysterious Dragon Vein, a natural energy source of immense potential. Suna was poor. Even if the Dragon Vein's rumored powers were exaggerated, it was still worth the gamble. They weren't picky.
But more than that—Rōran was a strategic linchpin.
Controlling this region would give Sunagakure unprecedented leverage, whether they marched east or south. It was the perfect buffer zone to counter both Konoha and Kirigakure.
Pakura had originally been deployed at the southern front, clashing with the Mist. She'd only rushed to Rōran after hearing rumors that Leaf shinobi had infiltrated the country.
To her, Konoha represented the greater threat. Who could say they wouldn't kick Suna while they were down?
And then—
"We assure you," a graceful voice rang out, "these Konoha shinobi were indeed invited. Their presence concerns only a private commission and does not involve Rōran's political affairs, nor will it impact the Land of Wind in any way..."
The speaker was a striking red-haired woman clad in flowing crimson formal robes—Queen Sara, current ruler of Rōran. She stood protected behind Minato, her hand gently resting on the shoulder of a younger girl with similar features—her daughter.
Sara spoke each word with calm dignity, her voice soft but unwavering as she faced Pakura.
"No need to worry, Your Majesty," Pakura cut her off coldly. "We, of Sunagakure, will ensure your safety. We will bring you back."
There was no time for diplomacy.
"We gave you a chance, Konoha. But since you've chosen to overstay your welcome... don't expect mercy!"
Pakura's eyes flared with killing intent.
Boom!
A surge of scorching heat erupted from her.
"Scorch Style: Burning Ash Orbs!"
With a sharp slap of her palms, several brilliant red spheres materialized and began to shimmer ominously in the air.
Buzz—
Each orb pulsed with unstable energy. With a flick of her wrist—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
—they hurtled through the sky, aimed directly at Minato's group with blinding speed.
Intent and ideology no longer mattered.
The war was already underway, and Suna had taken the first move. From here on out, everything was about interests and survival.
If something benefited their village, they'd pursue it.
If it posed a threat, they'd eliminate it.
Even if Queen Sara herself opposed them, Pakura wouldn't hesitate. Rōran's wishes meant nothing if they clashed with Sunagakure's goals.
"Go protect Her Majesty!"
Minato barked the order as he and his comrades moved to intercept the incoming attack.
Meanwhile, not far away—
Just like the Hidden Mist ninja crouched behind the ruins, Kakashi stood at the periphery, too far to hear clearly but close enough to see what was happening.
His brow furrowed deeply as another fierce skirmish broke out.
He was at a loss.
This... wasn't right.
In the original storyline, Pakura was long dead before the events of "The Lost Tower." There were no Hidden Sand or Hidden Mist forces involved—not like this. People who should be alive were gone, and those who shouldn't be here were showing up uninvited.
The entire timeline was off.
And Kakashi didn't know what role he was supposed to play in it anymore.
But just then—his sharp gaze caught something.
The Mist ninja who'd previously gone missing from his sight was now creeping along the far west edge—moving closer to the queen's position.
At the same time, Sara had begun to guide her daughter through a narrow corridor at the back of the royal
platform, attempting to quietly retreat amidst the chaos.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
Something's about to happen.