Pakura's pupils contracted sharply.
She stared at Teizawa, shock and confusion churning in her brown eyes, along with a trace of fear she could not quite explain.
"You… who are you? Where is this? How did I…"
"This is Sunagakure."
Teizawa cut her off, his voice calm, as if he were stating the obvious.
"My name is Teizawa. I am the Sixth Kazekage of Sunagakure. The reason you can stand here is because I revived you with Edo Tensei."
Pakura's mouth opened, closed, then opened again.
Not a single word came out.
She had died.
She remembered it clearly.
She had died in Kirigakure's ambush.
Surrounded by those despicable Kiri shinobi, she had fought until her strength ran out and perished.
She had thought her life ended there.
She had thought her name would be carved onto the memorial stone, then forgotten by those who came after her.
But now, she was standing here.
Standing in an unfamiliar room, facing a young man who called himself the Kazekage.
"Sixth?" Her voice was hoarse, as if sand were caught in her throat. "What about the Fourth? What about Rasa?"
Teizawa shook his head.
"Dead. Killed by Orochimaru."
Pakura fell silent.
She did not know what to say.
She had been away from the village for too long…
No. Not away.
Dead.
She had been dead for so many years.
The village had already changed beyond recognition.
Even if she wanted revenge, her enemy, Rasa, was already dead.
She did not even know who the Fifth had been.
Now it had gone straight to the Sixth.
And she, a person who had already died, had been revived.
"Why did you bring me back?"
Pakura raised her head and looked at Teizawa, scrutiny filling her brown eyes.
"Because Sunagakure needs you."
Teizawa walked up to her and extended his hand.
"Rasa is dead, and the village suffered heavy losses. Iwagakure and Kumogakure are facing off at the border. War could break out at any moment."
"Akatsuki is moving in the shadows. I need helpers—powerful helpers like you, people willing to give everything for the village."
Pakura looked at the hand he offered, then at his young face.
She wanted to ask whether he was using her.
She wanted to ask whether he was worth trusting.
She wanted to ask whether she could still believe in the village that had once betrayed her.
But she did not ask.
"Do you have a way to let me remain in this world forever?" she asked softly. "Or can I only go on like this… alive in an undying body?"
"That isn't important."
Teizawa's hand remained extended.
"What matters is whether you're willing to fight for Sunagakure."
Pakura was silent for a long time.
So long that Teizawa almost thought she would not answer.
Then she shook her head.
"I'm not."
Her voice was soft, but every word landed with weight.
"The village betrayed me. Why should I fight for it?"
Teizawa smiled.
He formed a hand seal.
"That's fine. As long as you obey me."
Pakura's whole body trembled.
She realized her body had been controlled.
Then Teizawa took her hand and helped her down from the stone platform.
"Welcome back to Sunagakure."
Pakura stood in front of him and looked down at her own hands.
They were cold.
There was no warmth, no heartbeat, no breathing.
She knew she was only a summoned soul now.
A soul dwelling in this undying body.
She might vanish again at any moment.
Worse, she was under his control.
"So I'm just your puppet now, right, Teizawa?"
Pakura spoke expressionlessly.
"I remember who you are now."
"A completely ordinary genin back then somehow managed to instantly kill our Kazekage."
"Looks like Sunagakure really has fallen further and further."
"Heh. I'm honored you still remember me."
As Teizawa spoke, he released his control over her.
"That was just to show you I can control you anytime, anywhere. So I don't care whether you're willing to serve Sunagakure."
"But you must obey my orders."
"Otherwise, I don't mind taking direct control of you."
Pakura said nothing.
Her expression became complicated.
But at least, for now, she was alive.
Alive in a very special way.
"What do you need me to do?"
She raised her head and looked at Teizawa.
Teizawa turned, walked to the wall, and took a sealing scroll from the cabinet before handing it to her.
"This is a report on Sunagakure's current situation. Read it first and understand how the village has changed over the years."
"Once you're ready, I'll tell you the next part of the plan."
Pakura took the scroll and nodded.
Teizawa walked to the door and stopped without looking back.
"One more thing. I'll have someone arrange a place for you to stay. Rest for now. There's still a lot to do tomorrow."
The door closed softly behind him.
Pakura stood in the center of the basement, clutching the scroll in her hand.
Her gaze swept over the sealing runes and experimental equipment.
She did not know what this young Kazekage was planning.
But she knew one thing.
She had returned to Sunagakure once more.
…
Teizawa left the basement.
He still held the scroll sealing White Zetsu inside.
As he walked up the stairs, he continued calculating the next step of his Edo Tensei plan.
Pakura had been revived, and the result was even better than he had expected.
As a sacrifice, White Zetsu had perfectly carried the dead person's soul.
Pakura had retained most of her former strength and all of her memories.
If he could get his hands on a few more White Zetsu, he could revive all of Sunagakure's strongest shinobi from past generations.
He could create an immortal elite force.
And the real power of Edo Tensei lay in its infinite life and infinite chakra.
It was practically a suicide squad that could never die.
Before he realized it, he had reached Hinata and Karin's room.
Dim yellow light spilled through the crack beneath the door.
He could faintly hear someone speaking softly inside.
He did not knock. He pushed the door open and walked in.
Inside the room, Hinata and Karin were sitting side by side on the bed.
Both were dressed in light sleepwear.
Hinata's sleepwear was white, made of pure cotton, with a small bow tied at the collar.
Karin's was pale pink, with short sleeves and shorts.
The two of them had their heads lowered, looking at something together.
When they heard the door open, they both looked up at the same time.
The moment Hinata saw Teizawa, her face flushed red.
The color spread from her cheeks to her ears, then down to her neck.
She instinctively shrank behind Karin and clenched the blanket.
"Ka… Kazekage-sama…"
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, carrying panic and nervousness.
Karin reacted more calmly than Hinata.
Even so, a trace of wariness flashed through her blue eyes.
She pushed up her glasses, pressed her lips together, and said nothing.
Teizawa stood in the doorway, his gaze sweeping over them. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"What are you staring at?"
His tone was casual and unrestrained, as if he had walked into his own home.
"Move over."
With that, he walked straight over and sat down between them.
He pulled the bedding up and made himself comfortable.
"Sleep," he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "If you don't sleep in the middle of the night, how are you supposed to have any energy tomorrow?"
Hinata went stiff as a board.
She did not even dare breathe too loudly.
Karin was not much better.
She was frozen in place, her face red and her glasses sitting crooked on the bridge of her nose.
She did not even dare adjust them.
"Kazekage-sama…" Karin's voice was hoarse. "Why… why are you sleeping here?"
Teizawa closed his eyes and let out a comfortable sigh.
"What? Am I not allowed to?"
"No…" Karin's voice grew even more strained. "This is my and Hinata's room…"
"The whole village is mine."
Teizawa's voice came from above, carrying a faint smile.
"So what's wrong with sleeping in your room?"
(End of Chapter)
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