Toyoma moved quietly through the forest, his eyes scanning the ground for any trace.
Broken grass.
Disturbed soil.
Then Suki's voice cut through the silence.
"Toyoma, look there."
She pointed at a nearby tree.
A dark streak of blood ran down the bark.
Toyoma stepped closer.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he examined it.
Fresh.
"They're close."
He slowly looked around the surrounding forest.
A few meters away, another patch of blood stained the ground.
Toyoma raised his hand and pointed ahead.
"That way."
Without another word, he began moving forward.
Suki followed right behind him.
The deeper they went, the quieter the forest became.
Even the wind seemed to fade between the trees.
Then—
Two figures appeared in the distance.
One man.
One woman.
Suki froze.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Uncle Genzo!"
Toyoma had already recognised him.
But his gaze quickly shifted to the woman standing beside him.
She wore the uniform of a Uchiha kunoichi.
Toyoma frowned slightly.
Then something clicked in his mind.
His expression turned cold.
Sister Suki doesn't recognise her.
That means she isn't from the clan.
"Sister Suki."
His voice was calm.
"Attack that woman."
"Full strength."
"Don't hold back."
Suki blinked in confusion.
An Uchiha?
Why attack her?
But when the woman turned toward them, Suki noticed something strange.
She didn't recognise her at all.
Not her face.
Not her chakra.
Her hand slowly tightened around the hilt of her sword.
If Toyoma gave that order, then there must be a reason.
A moment later—
She stepped forward.
Across the clearing, Genzo had already noticed them.
When he saw the Uchiha clothing, his shoulders relaxed slightly.
"Toyoma and Suki found us first. That's great."
But Pakura said nothing.
Her eyes carefully studied the two teenagers.
They looked young.
Fifteen.
Maybe seventeen.
So these are the Uchiha children…
She compared them to Pochita in her mind.
They look younger.
Then she heard the name.
Toyoma.
For a brief moment, Pakura felt surprised.
She had imagined someone older.
More experienced.
Instead—
She saw a boy.
So this is Toyoma…
Her gaze shifted toward the girl beside him.
The girl was already drawing her sword.
Pakura's instincts immediately sharpened.
That stance… she's serious.
"What are they doing?" Genzo asked in confusion.
Suki rushed forward.
Sword in hand.
Pakura immediately stepped in front of Genzo.
Her voice remained calm.
But firm.
"Genzo."
"Stand behind me."
Suki rushed forward.
Her sword flashed as it left its sheath.
The distance between them vanished in seconds.
Steel cut through the air.
Pakura moved the moment the blade came down.
Clang.
Sparks burst as Pakura blocked the strike with a kunai.
The impact sent a sharp vibration through Suki's arm.
Fast.
Pakura's eyes narrowed slightly.
For a jonin, the girl's speed was impressive.
But she was still young.
Genzo stared at them in shock.
"Wait! What are you doing?!"
His voice echoed through the forest.
"Suki! Stop!"
But the girl had already moved again.
Her body twisted as she stepped sideways.
"Mist Breathing — First Form."
Her sword cut through the air in a blurred arc.
The blade aimed straight for Pakura's neck.
Pakura leaned back.
The steel passed only inches from her throat.
The air whistled sharply.
Deadly.
Pakura's expression remained calm.
This girl isn't holding back.
Suki didn't stop.
Her eyes flashed red.
Sharingan.
Two tomoe spun slowly within her pupils.
Their gaze locked onto Pakura.
"Genjutsu."
For a brief moment—
The world twisted.
The forest darkened.
Shadows warped.
But Pakura's chakra flared instantly.
The illusion shattered like fragile glass.
Suki's eyes widened slightly.
She broke it instantly…
She recovered quickly.
Her hands moved rapidly.
"Fire Release — Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Flames burst from her mouth.
A massive fireball roared toward Pakura.
Genzo stepped back in alarm.
"Suki! Stop!"
Pakura raised one hand.
The fireball approached—
Then vanished.
The flames shrivelled and collapsed as if their life had been drained away.
The heat died instantly.
Scorch Release.
Pakura stepped forward calmly.
Her palm glowed with faint heat.
Suki's instincts screamed.
Danger.
She jumped back just as Pakura's hand swept past her.
The air where Suki had stood turned dry and lifeless.
The grass shrivelled.
Leaves crumbled.
Suki's heart pounded.
If that had touched me…
I would already be dead.
But she didn't retreat.
Her grip tightened around her sword.
Mist Breathing.
Her movements changed.
Her body blurred through the forest like drifting fog.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Then she appeared behind Pakura.
Her sword thrust forward.
Pakura moved without turning.
Her elbow struck backwards.
Boom.
The hit stopped Suki's attack instantly.
The force knocked the air out of her lungs.
But Suki refused to fall.
She twisted mid-air.
Her blade cut again.
Pakura blocked it easily.
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
The forest echoed with the sound of steel.
Suki attacked relentlessly.
Every strike aimed for vital points.
Throat.
Heart.
Arteries.
Genzo watched in disbelief.
"Suki! Toyoma!"
"Why are you attacking us?!"
No answer came.
Toyoma stood quietly several meters away.
His eyes remained fixed on Pakura.
She hasn't shown killing intent even once.
So she really isn't an enemy.
The fight continued.
Suki's movements grew faster.
Her breathing technique pushed her body to its limits.
Mist-like movements filled the clearing.
But Pakura remained calm.
Every strike was deflected.
Every attack is redirected.
Not once did Pakura counter with lethal force.
She was holding back.
Finally—
Pakura moved.
Her hand flashed forward.
Suki tried to dodge.
Too late.
Pakura struck her shoulder with the back of her hand.
The impact sent a shock through Suki's body.
Her sword flew from her grip.
Before she could react—
Pakura stepped behind her.
One precise strike to the neck.
Suki's body froze.
Her legs gave out.
She collapsed to one knee.
Breathing heavily.
Defeated.
But alive.
Pakura stepped back calmly.
She never once showed killing intent.
The forest fell silent.
Genzo stared in confusion.
"What is going on?!"
"Toyoma!"
"Why are you not stopping?"
Pakura didn't answer.
Instead—
She slowly lifted her eyes.
And looked directly at Toyoma.
Quietly.
Waiting.
Pakura looked calmly at Toyoma.
"Well?"
Her voice was steady.
"Have you tested me enough, kid?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Or do you still want to continue?"
She understood exactly what the boy had been doing.
He wasn't attacking her.
He was testing her.
Testing whether she would try to kill them.
Smart.
Pakura glanced briefly at Genzo behind her.
Me being beside someone like him…
I suppose the boy had no choice but to be cautious.
Genzo stepped forward in confusion.
"Toyoma, what are you doing?"
He gestured toward Pakura.
"Shizuka is on our side. Why are you attacking her?"
Toyoma blinked.
"Shizuka?"
He looked at Pakura again, clearly puzzled.
Pakura sighed quietly.
"Uzuku gave me that name," she said.
"He asked me to pretend to be an Uchiha orphan."
"A kunoichi named Shizuka who supposedly died during the war."
Toyoma's eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the information.
Uncle Uzuku… so that's how they arranged it.
Behind them—
Suki slowly pushed herself up from the ground.
Her breathing was heavy.
Her body still ached from Pakura's strike.
But her hand reached for her sword again.
Pakura noticed immediately.
"Let it go, girl."
Her voice remained calm.
"I'm not your enemy."
Suki grabbed the sword anyway.
Her expression twisted with frustration.
"You're a Sand shinobi."
Her voice trembled slightly.
This was the first time she had lost a fight so badly.
And in such a humiliating way.
Throughout the entire battle—
Pakura had only deflected her attacks.
Not once had she shown even the slightest killing intent.
That only made the defeat feel worse.
Suki gritted her teeth.
Then—
Something changed.
A faint mark slowly appeared on the side of her face.
A cloud-like pattern.
Her breathing steadied.
Her chakra shifted.
The air around her seemed to vibrate slightly.
Toyoma noticed instantly.
Pakura did as well.
Both of them stared at her.
Surprised.
Pakura narrowed her eyes slightly.
Her chakra changed…
Interesting.
Toyoma, however—
Smiled.
A rare expression.
Sister Suki…
So you finally awakened it.
She was the first member of the Uchiha clan to awaken the mark.
The air around Suki shifted again.
Her breathing became slower.
Controlled.
The strange cloud-like mark on her face pulsed faintly.
Pakura watched carefully.
Before anyone could react—
Suki moved.
Her body burst forward.
Faster than before.
The ground cracked beneath her step.
Pakura's eyes widened slightly.
Faster…
Suki's sword flashed toward her.
Clang!
Pakura barely raised her kunai in time.
The impact was heavier than before.
The force pushed Pakura half a step back.
For the first time since the fight began—
Pakura looked genuinely surprised.
But Suki didn't give her time to recover.
"Mist Breathing."
Her body blurred like drifting fog.
One strike.
Two.
Three.
Steel flashed through the clearing.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Each strike carried more weight than before.
Pakura deflected them, but her gaze sharpened.
That mark…
It strengthened her.
Genzo stared in disbelief.
"Suki!"
But Suki didn't listen.
Her Sharingan spun wildly.
Her attacks became even more aggressive.
The forest is filled with flashes of steel.
Pakura stepped back once.
Then twice.
The girl's movements had clearly improved.
But it still wasn't enough.
Pakura's expression slowly changed.
The softness in her gaze disappeared.
Her eyes hardened slightly.
"So that's how it is…"
Her chakra surged.
Heat spread through the air.
Scorch Release.
The atmosphere became dry.
Almost suffocating.
Suki rushed forward again.
Her sword aimed directly for Pakura's chest.
This time—
Pakura moved first.
Her hand shot forward.
Suki barely dodged as scorching heat brushed past her shoulder.
The tree behind her instantly withered.
Leaves shrivelled.
Then crumbled into dust.
Pakura stepped forward.
Her movements were now faster.
Sharper.
One strike.
Suki blocked.
The impact sent shock through her arms.
Two strikes.
Suki staggered back.
Three.
Her defence broke.
Pakura stopped just short of touching her.
Her glowing palm hovered inches from Suki's chest.
One touch—
And the fight would end.
But Pakura didn't move.
She had no intention of killing the girl.
Suki gritted her teeth and tried to attack again.
Then—
A hand grabbed her shoulder.
Suki froze.
Toyoma.
His voice was calm.
"That's enough."
Suki struggled slightly.
"I can still—"
"No."
Toyoma's tone didn't rise.
But it carried absolute certainty.
He looked toward Pakura.
"She is much stronger than you."
Suki slowly lowered her sword.
Her breathing was heavy.
The strange mark on her face slowly faded.
Pakura straightened slightly.
Her eyes moved from Suki—
To Toyoma.
This time, her expression held a trace of interest.
"So."
She spoke calmly.
"Should we talk now?"
Genzo quickly stepped forward.
"Toyoma. Suki."
His voice was firm but calm.
"Don't be so alert around Shizuka."
He gestured toward Pakura.
"She was the one protecting me."
"And she has no connection with the Sand village anymore."
Only then did Toyoma properly look at Genzo.
His injuries were worse than he had expected.
Blood still stained his clothes.
"Uncle Genzo."
Toyoma raised his hand.
A small distortion appeared in the air beside him.
From the swirling space, a small healing pill dropped into his palm.
Suki blinked in surprise.
Pakura's eyes narrowed slightly.
Space–time ninjutsu…?
Toyoma handed the pill to Genzo.
"Take this first."
Genzo accepted it without hesitation.
"What is—"
Before he could finish, Toyoma threw the pill in his mouth.
Moments later—
The effects appeared.
His breathing stabilised.
The colour slowly returned to his face.
Genzo stared at Toyoma in surprise.
Pakura also watched him carefully.
Summoning items from space…
That ability isn't ordinary.
Toyoma then turned toward Pakura.
For a brief moment, he studied her.
Then he spoke.
"I'm sorry… Aunt."
"When we first arrived here, we saw Sand and Mist shinobi nearby."
"So we thought you might have leaked the intel."
He gave a small apologetic nod.
For a moment—
Both Pakura and Suki froze.
Suki stared at Toyoma as if she had just heard something unbelievable.
"Aunt…?"
Her expression filled with confusion.
Pakura was also caught off guard.
A faint crimson colour appeared on her face.
She quickly looked away.
"…Don't worry about it," she said quietly.
"I understand."
Toyoma nodded slightly.
He didn't seem to think much about it.
But Suki kept staring at him suspiciously.
Toyoma ignored her completely.
Pakura then continued.
"Genzo was trying to bring you information."
She glanced toward Genzo, whose condition was already improving.
"The Sand and Mist shinobi set traps along our supply route."
"And somehow… they already knew about our movement."
Toyoma's eyes sharpened slightly.
Pakura continued.
"We eliminated most of the elite shinobi inside the village."
She crossed her arms.
"But a few chunin and jonin managed to escape."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward Genzo.
"If he hadn't been injured, we would have wiped them out completely."
She sighed softly.
"A pity."
"Now, news about us will reach their respective villages sooner or later."
The forest fell silent again.
The situation had just become far more complicated.