When Chiyo saw Pakura hesitate to speak, saying that the Ninja outside were talking about her, Ebizo, and Rasa, she immediately realized that the discussions were certainly not good.
Chiyo said to Pakura, "Pakura, it's fine, just say it directly!"
Pakura looked troubled, "Lady Chiyo, I'm a bit embarrassed to say it..."
Chiyo said sternly, "They must be speaking ill of us, right? If I ask them, they will definitely hide something. Only from you can I know everything. Speak, Pakura!"
Pakura's expression changed, and she sighed, as if making a difficult decision, and said to Chiyo, "Lady Chiyo, I only overheard it, please don't be angry, then I will speak.
They said that the Fourth Hokage is your illegitimate child with Ōnoki, born during the Second Shinobi World War, when Lord Ebizo gave you to Ōnoki. That's why after the Third Kazekage disappeared, the Fourth Hokage was nominated to become the Kazekage..."
Pakura's very first sentence made Chiyo's face change.
She had a fling with Ōnoki? And her illegitimate child was Rasa? How did she not know about this?
Also, neither she nor Ōnoki could use Magnet Release, so how could they have given birth to Rasa, who possesses Magnet Release?
While speaking, Pakura had been observing Chiyo's expression and continued, "They also said that our Village declared war on Iwagakure, and then Iwagakure let bygones be bygones and cooperated with our Village to attack Konoha because Ōnoki discovered that the Fourth Hokage was your illegitimate child with him, which is why they cooperated.
Furthermore... your grandson Sasori didn't disappear, but rather defected, because Sasori developed Human Puppets using living people, and the disappearance of the Third Kazekage might be related to Sasori, as Sasori also seemed to disappear around that time."
After hearing about Sasori, Chiyo suddenly stood up from her seat, her pupils almost shrinking to a pinpoint, and her arms supporting the table trembled slightly.
Seeing Chiyo in this state, Pakura already had her answer.
Because of the absurd rumors that Chiyo and Ōnoki had a fling, that Ebizo gave her to Ōnoki, and that the Fourth Hokage was an illegitimate child, Chiyo was incredulous but not so agitated.
After all, it sounded fake at first listen.
But after the matter of Sasori was brought up, Chiyo's reaction was overly intense, which already explained a lot.
A deep sense of disappointment arose in Pakura's heart.
She loved the Hidden Sand Village, and she was proud to be a Ninja of the Hidden Sand Village.
However, Shindai, whom she regarded as a younger brother and feared battle, went undercover in Konoha for the Hidden Sand Village, but was ultimately abandoned by Chiyo and the others, taking the blame for Sasori.
After exhaling softly, Pakura, remembering Shindai's instructions to her, did nothing unnecessary and said to Chiyo, "Lady Chiyo, these are clearly slanders and rumors that have greatly affected your, Lord Ebizo's, and the Fourth Hokage's reputations, so I believe measures must be taken to curb these rumors!"
Chiyo sat back in her chair, her face grim as she pondered.
Rumors like her and Rasa being mother and son, or her and Ōnoki having a fling, were too absurd for her to personally clarify; it would be too undignified.
As for Sasori, Chiyo felt this might be the only true thing among these rumors.
Although to others, this matter also seemed quite absurd—Sasori was her grandson, so he was from a reputable background, and Human Puppets were unheard of. Moreover, in their view, this was done by the traitor who was undercover in Konoha, and it had nothing to do with Sasori.
But Chiyo could not think that way.
There was the blood-soaked room at the time, and Sasori's disappearance date was the same as the Third Kazekage's disappearance date.
Even Chiyo felt that the Third Kazekage's disappearance might be related to Sasori.
At that time, Chiyo was struggling with whether to reveal this matter.
However, Rasa intended to maximize the benefit of the useless undercover agent, allowing the Ninja of the Village to raise their morale due to their hatred and anger towards the traitor. He branded the undercover agent as a traitor who helped Konoha lure and assassinate the Third Kazekage, thus severing any connection between the Third Kazekage's disappearance and Sasori.
So Chiyo concealed this matter, which was also due to her personal selfishness, thinking that she might have misunderstood Sasori, and hoping that Sasori would return one day. That's why she hid the bloodstains in Sasori's room and the fact that Sasori disappeared on the same day as the Third Kazekage. Only later, when Ninja were sent to search for Sasori, did she mention the approximate time frame of Sasori's disappearance.
If among these rumors, the one about Sasori is true, then the other party must have seen Sasori, and on the day Sasori and the Third Kazekage disappeared, this person very likely saw it.
Who could it be?
The possibility of that undercover agent suddenly appeared in Chiyo's mind.
But Chiyo immediately dismissed this possibility.
After all, that undercover agent should not have been in the Hidden Sand Village at the time.
Then it must have been someone who was in the Hidden Sand Village at the time.
Also, who is spreading rumors within the base?
Those who can spread rumors at the base are either other Ninja who have infiltrated the base, or they are their own people.
If the rumors are spread by their own people, then they might be the same person as the one who saw Sasori and the Third Kazekage.
Chiyo felt extremely tricky now. After thinking for a moment, she said to Pakura, "These rumors must be suppressed, otherwise, they are very likely to affect morale. Pakura, I'm entrusting this matter to you. It's not appropriate for me to intervene directly.
Also, Pakura, you must find a way to ferret out the person spreading rumors within the base. These absurd rumors cannot be allowed to spread any further!"
Pakura nodded in agreement, "I understand, Lady Chiyo. I will now gather the Ninja at the base to suppress these rumors first, and then find a way to find out who is spreading them!"
Chiyo nodded, "I'm counting on you, Pakura!"
After Pakura left the tent, she immediately gathered all the Ninja in the base and ordered everyone not to spread rumors anymore, stating that anyone caught doing so would face extremely severe punishment.
And then, there was no 'then'.
She couldn't exactly expose herself, could she?
Back in her tent, Pakura's mood was very heavy.
At first, Pakura's mood was very conflicted; she was willing to believe Shindai, but she also hoped it wasn't true, hoping that Shindai was mistaken.
But now... after it was confirmed, Pakura was heartbroken.
Because Chiyo was Pakura's idol, and her idol had done such a thing, which Pakura simply could not accept.
And Rasa, Ebizo... these people, either Kage or high-ranking officials, had treated Shindai, who went undercover for the Village, in such a manner.
They caused Shindai to become a traitor, now exiled, unable to return home, forced to become a Konoha Ninja.
Pakura recalled Shindai's words to her: 'You are just a Ninja. Even if your prestige is high now, you are still just a Ninja, without any power.'
Pakura's eyes flickered.
If she fought harder, killed more Kirigakure, and increased her status and power, would she be able to clear Shindai's name and allow Shindai to return to the Hidden Sand Village one day...?
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