Pakura chased Sasori of the Red Sand through the raging sandstorm.
Unfortunately, the Third Kazekage puppet flew far too fast. To keep Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder from touching him, iron sand kept forming defensive walls to block the aftershocks.
Those iron sand barriers turned into one obstacle after another, stopping Pakura cold.
When she finally returned to Byakuya with bloodshot eyes, she took several deep breaths to steady herself. "The higher-ups have accepted Konoha's gesture of goodwill and agreed to form an alliance. Do you still want to return to the village with me?"
Byakuya wanted to comfort her, but the words died in his throat.
Sunagakure's Kazekage had been assassinated by one of their own shinobi and turned into a human puppet. For someone as fiercely loyal to her village as Pakura, this kind of desecration felt like the sky itself had collapsed.
"When will the alliance treaty be signed?"
"The timing isn't set yet. Konoha needs to send negotiators with enough authority."
Byakuya fell silent for a moment, then said, "I understand."
Pakura's eyes were red as she forced herself to look at him. "Do you really?"
"Yeah."
"Are you sure you don't want to come back to Sunagakure with me?" She said it loud enough for Yahiko and the others to hear.
"No. With Sasori assassinating the Kazekage, Sunagakure is definitely going to make a huge scene. I won't add to the chaos."
Yahiko opened his mouth.
Byakuya looked at the young leader of Akatsuki. "Akatsuki helped me. I won't forget. Akatsuki will receive my goodwill."
Konan stepped past Yahiko and stood in front of Pakura, speaking urgently. "Senior Pakura, hello. I'm Konan from the Land of Rain. Konoha and Iwagakure keep fighting in our country, forcing countless civilians to flee their homes. Can you help the Land of Rain by speaking to Konoha and Iwagakure? Ask them to sit down for peace talks?"
Pakura frowned. "You... are you serious?"
"Hello, Senior Pakura. I'm Yahiko, leader of Akatsuki. Our organization believes in achieving peace through dialogue."
"Achieving peace through dialogue?"
Pakura stared at him in shock, momentarily unsure if he was crazy or if she was.
After a long pause.
She said softly, "Don't be naïve. I can't do something like that, and Sunagakure won't do it for the Land of Rain either. Take care of yourselves."
"Senior! Senior!"
"Sorry, I have more important tasks. Farewell."
Pakura led the other grieving Sand ninja back toward the village.
There was one thing Byakuya still hadn't asked, but it needed a private conversation.
He immediately ordered Tagorihime to catch up with Pakura.
"Tagorihime, can Senior Pakura stand on your head?"
"No way!!!!"
Byakuya could only shout, "Senior Pakura, wait!"
"What is it?"
Wiping the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand, she looked toward the masked Shuten-doji.
"Let's talk in private."
"Fine."
This uncontrolled pawn that Danzo had sent to carry out his open scheme must have something important to say if he was making this request.
The two stood side by side on a sand dune.
Sand dunes were like waves—common everywhere in the desert.
Byakuya told her everything: how he had entered Sasori Town, encountered Sasori of the Red Sand, the whole story.
Pakura was shocked to the point of disbelief.
"You're saying Sasori Town is already under Sasori's control."
"Yes. And from what I can tell, there are still many of Sasori's spies hidden inside Sunagakure."
Pakura took a moment to process it, then said, "Thank you. I understand."
After another pause.
"Also, the intelligence I received said Sasori Town is very peaceful. It's an important tax collection area for Sunagakure in the Land of Rivers. The Sand ninja there are mostly tax collectors. You waiting for my reply in Sasori Town seemed perfect. It looks like the intelligence I had was false—or someone tampered with it."
"Someone is working with him from the inside to create an information smokescreen in Sasori Town."
"Yeah, that's what I think too."
Byakuya's questions seemed fully answered. Pakura's look of utter disbelief couldn't be faked.
Pakura said slowly, "Also, Rasa proposed immediately mobilizing elite Sand ninja for a lightning strike on Konoha, with him leading the charge. His words convinced most of the Jonin at the meeting."
"As expected. After all, Konoha releasing goodwill at a time like this shows they're too weak to fight Sunagakure."
"Some people raised doubts, but Rasa shut them down hard." Pakura sounded disappointed.
Byakuya reached out and patted her shoulder.
"You little brat, is that gesture appropriate?"
"We're comrades who fought side by side. What's inappropriate about it?" he countered.
"Hmph. I'm still a Sunagakure shinobi, and you're from Konoha—"
"We're comrades. Our villages don't matter right now."
"..."
Byakuya said, "Someone as simple-minded as Rasa won't be able to lead Sunagakure to greatness even if he becomes Kazekage. Chiyo's grandson Sasori overthrew the Third Kazekage and assassinated him. Chiyo and her brother Ebizo have also lost any chance of becoming Kazekage. Pakura, you're almost there—don't give up and make a disappointing decision."
"Almost there, huh? That's a good way to put it."
"Pay close attention to Ebizo. He's in charge of Sunagakure's intelligence and espionage. He might be the one who helped Sasori create the information smokescreen in Sasori Town."
"I was worried about Ebizo-senpai losing his edge with age too."
"That's all for now. I'll return to Konoha to report as soon as possible. Danzo will probably send me to sign the alliance treaty, but it doesn't matter anymore. War between Konoha and Sunagakure is inevitable. It all depends on how many elite Sand ninja Rasa mobilizes. If it's fast, they might catch Konoha off guard, but the result will still be the same—Rasa will lose."
Pakura let out a heavy sigh.
She knew it was impossible, yet some fool in the village was forcing it to happen. She was truly helpless.
Still, Pakura understood clearly that the powder keg inside Sunagakure was about to explode. Attacking Konoha was indeed the best way to divert internal conflicts.
"Farewell. Until next time."
The blue-black serpent lowered its head. Byakuya jumped onto it and sat down.
Pakura commented, "You two get along well."
The terrifying, eerie blue-black serpent was like his personal mount.
Byakuya patted Tagorihime's head. "We're good friends, after all."
The two parted ways.
Returning to the dejected Yahiko's side.
"Are you still going to try your luck in Sunagakure?"
Konan pointed at him angrily. "You just promised us—"
Byakuya cut her off roughly. "I can't help it if I can't."
"But we helped you fend off Sasori's pursuit."
"I said Akatsuki will receive my goodwill."
Konan shook her head. "We won't believe you anymore. You're all talk."
Byakuya had Tagorihime lower her head slightly. "Then let me give Akatsuki a little down payment first."
Yahiko tossed aside his dejection and smiled brightly. "What kind of down payment?"
"Never trust Hanzo, the leader of Amegakure. He's old, his will is gone. All that's left is compromise and clinging to his own power.
Yahiko, right now you're just the leader of a three-person Akatsuki. When your organization grows, when more and more like-minded people gather, and you truly become the leader—please put away your naïveté. Achieving peace through non-violent means isn't impossible, but you need the military power to force the other villages to abandon war."
Nagato and Konan's eyes lit up.
Yahiko, however, kept smiling brightly, and it was impossible to tell if he had really taken it to heart.