Chapter 188: The Real Kazekage Doesn't Need to Be in Sunagakure!
Nara Keisuke placed his hand on the giant scroll Pakura had brought back.
[B-Rank Ninja Tool Detected: [Large Summoning Scroll]!]
[B-Rank Ninja Tool: Large Summoning Scroll]
[Description: Contains a unique sealing formula! A space-time scroll for storing items!]
[Effect: Possesses a massive internal storage space. Corresponding summoning symbols can be left on the scroll, allowing it to store a vast amount of data, scrolls, special ninja tools, etc.]
[Evaluation: My capacity is beyond your imagination!]
As his research projects had progressed, the number of data scrolls in Keisuke's possession had begun to pile up. He had long wanted to purchase a giant scroll specifically for storage. The moment he received word that he would be returning to the village, he had contacted Lady Cat in the Empty District and asked her to procure this special space-time tool for him.
The reason he bought it from Lady Cat was purely out of habit. Besides...
Keisuke, who already knew the release method, unfurled the scroll and took out all the items stored within. In just a few moments, a small mountain of wooden logs appeared in the research base.
[SSS-Rank Miscellaneous Item: Branch of the Divine Tree]
Due to his continuous Kekkei Genkai experiments, Keisuke's supply of Nature Masks was being consumed at an astonishing rate, especially the Fire Release Masks. Scorch, Explosion, Lava, and Boil Release—all four of these elemental fusions required the participation of fire nature transformation. Even though he had prepared a large stockpile in advance, under this level of consumption, his reserve of Fire Release Masks was nearly empty. He had to replenish his supply to continue his research.
Since he was already placing an order with Lady Cat for the Divine Tree branches, he figured he might as well have her acquire the Large Summoning Scroll at the same time. It was simply more efficient.
'So much wood...'
Pakura, sitting silently to the side, watched him work, only now realizing what she had been carrying. 'What does he need all that wood for? A bonfire?'
However, still thoroughly terrified by his "put you in a jar" threat, she decided to keep her mouth shut and pretend she hadn't seen anything.
Keisuke confirmed his mask stockpile and then created more Shadow Clones and Shadow Doppelgangers. He set the various clones to work on his continuing research projects, designating one specifically to the task of carving wood and organizing scrolls.
He himself beckoned to Pakura, indicating she should follow him upstairs. Back on the ground floor, she tried to hand him back the mask.
"Here, take this back."
"Keep it," Keisuke said, waving her off. "You might need it."
"Why?" Pakura looked at the mask. "I can't go outside."
"Pakura," he said softly. "At least, while I am in Kikyo Castle, I am no longer restricting your movements. You can go out as you please, as long as you don't leave the Land of Fire."
"...You trust me that much?" Pakura clutched the mask tightly. "I'm still a Suna ninja."
Keisuke simply asked, "Are you some kind of vicious serial killer?"
"Of course not."
"Will you randomly murder people on the street for no reason?"
"I'm not crazy."
"Well, there you go," he shrugged. "Given that you are not a sociopath, and given that you already had the ability to escape but didn't... I have decided to grant you your limited freedom. As long as I am in town, you can do as you please."
Though she was his prisoner, Pakura couldn't help but think that he was actually a decent person. But then she heard him add:
"However, it is wartime, and you are the famous 'Pakura of the Scorch Release'." He pointed to the mask in her hand, and the black robe she was still wearing. "So I advise you to use these when you go out, to avoid being recognized. Your features are rather distinctive, after all."
Pakura looked down at the white mask, her thoughts unreadable, and finally just gave a quiet, "Oh."
"Now, one more thing," Keisuke said, changing the subject. "Pakura, do you have any thoughts on improving your own strength?"
He had just triggered two missions from her back-to-back—one C-rank, one B-rank. Although the rewards were just some useless wind jutsu, it was the first time he had ever triggered two different-level missions from the same ninja on the same day. The system rules stated that battle missions had a cooldown, but this cooldown apparently only applied to a specific rank.
For example: if he beat a D-rank ninja, but they suddenly "powered up" to B-rank, he could then immediately farm their B-rank mission, ignoring the C-rank cooldown. And if they powered up again... this meant he could repeatedly farm a single ninja, as long as their power level was in flux. This seemed like another way to trigger extra rewards, and Pakura was the perfect test subject.
"Improve my strength?" Pakura gave him a strange look. "Besides harsh training, is there another way? Though I have no idea how you train..." If she weren't afraid of his reaction, she would have shouted, "All you Konoha ninja are monsters!" Their country was rich, their village was prosperous, geniuses were everywhere, and monsters ran rampant. Sometimes, she truly envied them.
Keisuke rubbed his chin. "Harsh training... that doesn't seem to have any relation to you these days..."
"...That's only because you sealed my chakra!" she argued indignantly. "Back in the village, I was extremely diligent!"
Keisuke said nothing. He just reached out and poked her soft, marshmallow-like stomach.
Pakura fell silent. She gave up. "Just do what you want."
"That's not what I mean," Keisuke said, pulling his hand back. "I just did a sensory check. Your chakra reserves are, how to put this... very average. Just like a normal Jonin."
Pakura stared at him, wide-eyed. Are you even human?
Keisuke ignored her glare and fell into thought. He knew several ways to increase one's power. Going from "Jonin" to "Kage-level," while difficult, wasn't impossible. It all came down to a few categories: Bloodline, Technology, Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, Natural Energy, or a Tailed Beast. He looked at Pakura, and images of the strongest kunoichi flashed in his mind. Kaguya—scratch that. Mito and Kushina—wrong bloodline, not her fate. Tsunade—same. Terumī Mei... there we go.
"Pakura, besides Wind and Fire, do you have any other chakra natures?"
"No..." she shook her head.
"What about Yin and Yang?"
"Probably not. I tried to learn medical ninjutsu and genjutsu, but never made any progress."
"Just Wind and Fire..." Keisuke sighed. "In that case, Pakura, just stay a Jonin."
Pakura: ???
Terumī Mei (the future Fifth Mizukage) was strong primarily because she possessed two Kekkei Genkai: Lava Release and Boil Release. Pakura, with Wind and Fire, theoretically had the base components to develop a second Kekkei Genkai (since Scorch Release was one fusion of Wind and Fire, another fusion was technically possible). But... that was just theory. Besides Keisuke, who was a special case, Terumī Mei was the only person in the entire world known to possess two. This just showed how rare it truly was.
But, seeing Pakura's confused expression, he decided to give her the intel anyway.
"Wind... and Fire?" Pakura held out her hands, gathering wind chakra in one and fire in the other. "You can create two different Kekkei Genkai from the same two natures?"
"Only in theory," Keisuke reminded her. "But, you can think of it as a goal. If one day you really do develop a second bloodline limit, one different from Scorch Release, then perhaps..."
Pakura tilted her head. "Perhaps?"
"No, just forget I said anything." Keisuke shook his head, cutting the topic short. While he thought it would be hilarious to make Pakura the new Kazekage, it was also true that... as everyone knows... the Kazekage always gets solo'd.
"You're so weird," Pakura huffed, but her mind was now fixated on his words. A second fusion of Wind and Fire...
For the next two days, Keisuke lived a simple, two-point life, commuting between Yakushi Nono'o at the orphanage and Pakura at the research lab. He was waiting for the "third point" of his triangle to arrive, but before Tsunade returned, an urgent message came from his great-uncle.
After three full days of stalling, Hiruzen Sarutobi was finally convening the meeting to decide the fate of the Five-Tails Jinchuriki.
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