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American Fast & Furious NSFW
America's #1 Scumbag NSFW
"I have a student named Maki."
Byakuya listened quietly.
Pakura rubbed her face wearily. "The Sand ninja stationed here in the Land of Rivers actually asked her to tell me that they don't want to die. They just want to live."
"I... I couldn't handle it. The way they looked at me... it was terrifyingly intense. As if I had become their only hope for peace."
"Ever since the Third Kazekage died, too many things have happened to the village and the country. Too many people have died for it."
"The Daimyo sits high above, too lazy to even spare a glance. He dumps all affairs onto the Sand Village while he drinks himself into a stupor."
She poured out a lot, seemingly speaking from the heart.
But it left Byakuya completely bewildered.
Just a short while ago, they were fighting to the death. He had to exert every ounce of effort just to escape her clutches.
Now, in the blink of an eye, she was venting her grievances to him.
The wonders of fate were truly unbelievable.
After venting, Pakura realized her impropriety and sighed. "I'm under too much pressure. To think I'd complain to an enemy."
"I understand you."
"You understand me? You're just a kid... Ha... what do you know?"
Byakuya was indeed a child physically, but his soul was older than Pakura's current age.
"Cooperating with the Leaf actually has no downsides for the Sand."
"No downsides? Being subservient, enduring humiliation... I'll definitely be cursed for doing this."
"Once they see the benefits, they won't curse anymore. Most people won't act until they see a profit. Once they have tangible benefits, they will naturally become your loyal subjects."
"And the Leaf? The Leaf will be arrogant and domineering over the Sand!" Pakura argued.
Byakuya laughed. "The Leaf wouldn't dare. The Sand will no longer be an enemy waging war on the Leaf, but a comrade fighting alongside us. Whether it's the Third Hokage or the future Fourth, they'll have to coax you and praise you."
"What do you mean?" Pakura was confused.
"You're too deep in the game to see the board. Let me ask you: I came here to express goodwill and propose an alliance. Why would the Sand high command interpret that as proof of the Leaf's weakness?"
Pakura replied, "The Cloud and Rock are fighting the Leaf simultaneously. The Mist is gearing up on the eastern coast..."
"No, that's not what I mean."
"Then what do you mean?" Pakura was even more puzzled.
Byakuya sighed. "People. Specifically, Leaf ninja. Win or lose, Leaf ninja will suffer heavy casualties in this war. It will take over a decade for a new generation of ninja to grow up."
In the original story, the Leaf didn't fully recover until the Fourth Great Ninja War, when the Konoha 12 had matured.
That showed just how deeply the Third War had scarred the village.
It was precisely the Third War that led to Rin's death, Obito's fall into darkness, the subsequent Nine-Tails attack, and the deaths of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina Uzumaki.
It was also this war that led to Yahiko's death, Nagato's madness, and their transformation into pawns for Black Zetsu.
He continued, "From a cooperative standpoint, it benefits both of us. Onoki of the Rock, the Cloud... uh, the Third Raikage's son and their two Jinchuriki, the Mizukage of the Mist and his twisted policies... these are all our great enemies."
"Is this what you want to say, or Danzo Shimura?"
"Danzo? His mind is entirely fixated on the Hokage seat. Don't listen to his talk about 'for the village' or 'Root exists to protect the great tree of Konoha.' Hmph. High-sounding nonsense!"
What Byakuya needed to do most right now was to separate himself from Danzo Shimura.
To make Pakura trust him, not Danzo.
This was critical!
It was also the "benefit" Byakuya wanted to secure for himself.
With a community of shared interests and sufficient benefits, he could lay low securely.
To survive and thrive in the ninja world, powerful strength and reliable allies were essential.
Even Black Zetsu had to hide beside Madara Uchiha, and later within the Akatsuki.
Pakura was stunned for a moment, then asked, "With your current strength and status in the Leaf, can you guarantee the benefits the Sand wants?"
"Who am I representing here?"
"Danzo Shimura."
"Exactly. I complete the mission, give Danzo an explanation, and everything falls into place."
Pakura was silent for a long time before saying, "You are being generous with other people's money."
"Borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha. Anyway, Danzo will screw you over sooner or later. I won't."
"You're growing up fast."
"I work hard."
"I hope that when the time comes, the person signing the military alliance with me is you."
"It will definitely be me." Byakuya made a promise.
Up until now.
The subject of Pakura's negotiation was no longer the Leaf Village or Danzo Shimura, but Byakuya himself.
She extended her hand.
Byakuya grasped it firmly.
Very smooth.
He let go.
"Alright. Can you help me subdue Tagorihime now?"
Pakura stood up. "I'll go with you, but I won't interfere. Making Tagorihime of Ryuchi Cave your summoning beast by your own strength will be the cornerstone of our cooperation. I need to see your true power."
Objective achieved.
In their first conversation, she was merely considering it, and the potential partner was the Leaf Village and Danzo.
This conversation was about Byakuya personally.
The blue-black snake he kept mentioning had shifted from a favor he asked of Pakura to proof of Byakuya's capability to cooperate with her.
The result wasn't bad.
Barely acceptable.
"Let's go."
Byakuya took the lead, rushing toward the location of the blue-black snake.
Pakura was slightly dazed.
This young man from the Leaf was more steady and cunning than she had imagined.
Yes, steadiness and cunning—two contradictory traits—coexisted within one person.
"Hey, Senior Pakura! Let's go!"
He stood atop the canopy of a large tree, waving at her.
Pakura immediately used her Scorch Style Body Flicker to catch up.
Byakuya sensed it clearly this time. She unleashed a burst of scorching chakra to evaporate the air in front of her, creating a momentary vacuum that drastically increased her acceleration. Upon landing, she breathed and repeated the step.
He had to admit, Pakura used her Kekkei Genkai with perfection.
"What is it?" she asked, puzzled.
"Senior's use of the Body Flicker Jutsu is impressive."
"Heh. Cut the flattery. You too. Your Kekkei Genkai is very practical. The speed at which you release jutsu is the fastest I've ever seen."
"Storm Style. A Kekkei Genkai formed from Lightning and Water."
"Scorch Style. Wind and Fire."
"What about Rasa's Magnet Style?"
"The Gold Dust he controls... simply put, it's sand mixed with gold."
"In your opinion, whose Magnet Style is stronger? Rasa's or the Third Kazekage's?"
Pakura said confidently, "Undoubtedly the Third Kazekage's. His power surpassed even the First and Second Kazekage."
They sped along side by side.
"Have you found any clues about the Third Kazekage's disappearance?"
Pakura shook her head. "No."
He coaxed her gently. "Who else has gone missing from the Sand Village?"
"Missing? A lot of people have suddenly disappeared."
"I mean high-level personnel."
Pakura said, "Lady Chiyo's grandson, Sasori. His puppet technique is very powerful."
"Sasori's parents were killed by the Leaf's Sakumo Hatake, right?"
"You know that, yet you ask me?"
"If Sasori wanted revenge, but received news that Sakumo Hatake committed suicide... would he resent the Third Kazekage for failing to protect them?"
"..."
Pakura stared at him dumbfounded, involuntarily stopping in her tracks.
"Is... is this information you know, or a guess?"
"A guess."
"I don't believe you. You must have an intelligence source."