Bang!
With a fiery swing of the door, Kushina stormed out, leaving the office in sudden silence.
"Sorry, everyone. Kushina's been stressed lately…"
Minato scratched his head, offering an apologetic smile.
No one responded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned toward Evan with a stern expression:
"Pakura, the Scorch Release kunoichi, has been held in Konoha's prison for a long time now.
Has she revealed any useful intelligence?"
Evan touched his chin, pretending to think deeply.
"Ai… I rushed out so quickly I must've left my brain behind.
Can't remember a thing."
︿(￣︶￣)︿
"You—!" Hiruzen trembled with irritation.
If not for Evan's overwhelming strength, he would have dealt with him long ago.
[Hiruzen Sarutobi hatred value +100]
"Evan, don't go too far," Koharu snapped. "Our patience has limits."
"Hmph."
Homura's face twisted coldly.
"I've said from the start — hand Pakura over so the interrogation unit can handle her.
The Yamanaka clan's mind techniques would extract everything."
"Back on the battlefield, I already saw your nature: selfish, ruthless, cruel."
"How is someone like YOU worthy of being a Konoha ninja?" Koharu added sharply.
[Homura hatred value +100]
[Koharu hatred value +100]
"Ke-ke-ke…"
Evan let out a strange chuckle.
"Bringing up old grudges again?"
"Then let me ask — who was it that ordered our squad to infiltrate behind enemy lines on the Wind front?
Who sent us to die?"
Homura and Koharu froze, speechless.
Hiruzen sighed, face full of forced sorrow.
"At that time, everything we did was for the greater good.
Why must you cling to this?"
"Because your sacrifice helped delay Suna's reinforcements, Konoha was able to strike their base.
Is that not true?"
Evan's eyes darkened, sarcasm flashing.
"Then tell me — why were ALL the squads sent behind enemy lines composed of civilian-born shinobi?"
"Where was the Sarutobi clan?
The Koharu line?
The Homura line?"
"Even worse — while we were struggling behind enemy lines, you were already shaking hands with Sunagakure for peace.
Why didn't you send rescue then?"
"Third Hokage-sama… would you care to explain?"
Koharu quickly retorted:
"Konoha was being attacked on both sides. We had no manpower to rescue anyone."
"Negotiating with Sunagakure reduced our losses," Homura added.
"And besides… you survived, didn't you?"
"Heh… yes. I survived."
Evan suddenly barked out:
"But my teammates didn't."
His expression dimmed, voice hollow for a moment.
"Forget it.
We've argued about this dozens of times.
Hearing the same excuses is tiresome."
Minato's expression grew complicated.
He hadn't been on that battlefield — he'd only heard later.
During the Third War, Konoha had indeed sent over a hundred shinobi behind enemy lines to delay Suna forces…
Only to sign a sudden peace treaty.
Those left behind were abandoned, wiped out.
Only Evan survived — and that day birthed his legend of slaughter.
Silence filled the Hokage's office.
Then—
"Hand over Pakura."
Hiruzen finally spoke.
"Sunagakure's envoys arrived. They propose an alliance — and one condition is the release of Pakura."
He turned to Minato:
"This can eliminate hostility between our villages and prevent future war."
Evan smirked inwardly.
So that's it. Using "the greater good" to box Minato in.
And Minato, of course… listened to reason too easily.
As Evan expected, Minato looked toward him.
"Evan…"
"Whatever. You're the Hokage — you decide."
Evan waved lazily.
He addressed Minato, but his eyes were locked on Hiruzen, full of quiet mockery.
Hiruzen's eyelid twitched, but he pretended not to see.
"Oh, right," Evan added lightly, "Pakura told me something interesting.
She said the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, betrayed her — sent her to Kirigakure to die."
Evan smiled.
"If you release her now… Suna is going to be very lively."
"What?"
"This happened?"
"Impossible… or is it…?"
The Hokage and elders exchanged shocked glances.
Their disbelief filled the room.
"Well, that's all. I won't disturb you further."
Evan turned and walked out.
"Goodbye."
Outside the office—
Evan hadn't even descended the stairs when someone suddenly appeared from around the corner.
The small pregnant woman who had left earlier — Kushina.
She wore a loose maternity outfit, but it couldn't hide her fuller, softer figure.
Her long red hair draped over her shoulders, carrying a gentle warmth.
She had blossomed into a woman radiating maturity and allure —
Minato truly was a lucky man.
Kushina spotted Evan… and her eyes narrowed slightly.
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