A green glow flickered as pure life energy flowed continuously from Chiyo's body into Rasa's.
Soon afterward, Rasa's body gradually regained its vitality, and his previously shattered skull was restored to its original form through the technique.
After a moment, Rasa opened his eyes and stared in shock at Chiyo, who now lay collapsed on the ground.
"Lord Chiyo, what is going on?" Rasa asked, puzzled.
Hadn't he already been killed by Mirai Uchiha?
Why was he alive again?
"Rasa, you are the Fourth Kazekage whom I have chosen."
"The war has been lost. I employed a kinjutsu to resurrect you—swear to protect this village."
With those final words, Chiyo's body went limp, devoid of all life.
Quietly, Rasa closed her eyelids, his heart filled with complex emotions.
He realized he had never truly understood Chiyo.
This was a person who once wielded supreme power, willing to ignite a war against Konoha for personal ambition.
Yet after the war, instead of passing the blame, she bore every accusation and gave her life to bring him back...
Sighing deeply, Rasa picked up Chiyo's body and carried her toward the exit.
As soon as he opened the door, an excited voice called out, "Lord Chiyo, you..."
The voice abruptly stopped.
Looking at the shocked Pakura, Rasa spoke calmly, "From today onward, I am the Fourth Kazekage. Our past grievances are forgotten. The village comes first."
With that, he walked outside.
Chiyo was dead, and he needed to find Ebizou first—to claim everything she left behind.
Pakura stood motionless, watching Rasa's retreating figure, her heart plunging into depths of despair.
She knew then that her dream of becoming Kazekage was utterly destroyed.
————
Pakura wandered aimlessly through the desert.
Compared to the scorching heat around her, the coldness inside her felt unbearable.
Chiyo had preferred sacrificing herself to revive Rasa rather than choosing Pakura as the next Kazekage.
The realization devastated her.
Could it be...
Was she really that inadequate?
Or was it simply because Magnet Release meant everything?
"I've done so much for this village too—who gave me no chance?"
Damn it!
Clutching her fists, Pakura hurled several fireballs of extreme heat forward.
Boom!
The fireballs exploded, intensifying the surrounding heat even further.
["Clap! Clap! Clap!"]
"Who's there?!"
Startled by the sound, Pakura spun around quickly, but before she could react, a katana blade was already pressed against her throat.
"Don't move. Any movement means death."
Looking at Mirai Uchiha's cold expression, Pakura felt beads of cold sweat form on her face.
What was this killer doing here?
"It seems like you're not in a good mood."
Mirai Uchiha put away her long katana, watching Pakura with interest.
In the original story, this woman known for her alluring back had little prominence. Mirai Uchiha only knew that eventually, she would fall victim to Rasa's scheme—used as a bargaining chip and killed by ninja from Kiri.
But now Rasa was already dead. During this power vacuum in Sunagakure, why would Pakura appear here by herself?
"Why are you here?"
Even though Mirai had put away her weapon, Pakura dared not move even slightly.
Pakura knew that killing her would be effortless for her opponent.
"I'm just here to collect some Gold Dust."
Upon hearing Mirai Uchiha's words, Pakura suddenly realized that the latter could also use Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai.
"Not willing to say?"
"Then it looks like I'll have to take matters into my own hands."
Mirai Uchiha activated her Mangekyo Sharingan. [Horrific ocular power surged outward.]
Pakura felt ice-cold all over, as if her blood had frozen solid in that instant.
Those eyes...
Eyes symbolizing slaughter and death—the evil eye!
In an instant, Pakura felt her mind go dizzy and disoriented.
When she came to her senses again, shock and despair filled her gaze.
Before Mirai Uchiha, she felt like an ant that could be crushed at will.
Whatever the other wanted from her, she couldn't resist at all.
"So that's how it is..."
After obtaining Pakura's memories through genjutsu, Mirai Uchiha silently stroked her chin.
He hadn't expected that Chiyo would choose to use her own life to resurrect Rasa.
According to logic, her Self-Rebirth Jutsu was originally developed to revive Sasori's parents.
And yet she had used it on Rasa, while Sasori hadn't even died—it was quite unexpected.
Still, this might not be a bad thing.
Suddenly, a plan formed in Mirai Uchiha's mind.
When Mirai Uchiha conquered the ninja world later, he would need many subordinates. Convincing Pakura to join forces now would be a wise move.
Thinking thus, Mirai Uchiha slowly spoke: "Pakura, I can let you become Kazekage."
Pakura immediately became alert: "What do you intend to do?"
"Your strength and achievements aren't any less than Rasa's. Why should he—a dead man—deserve the position of Kazekage?"
"Speak the word, and I will help you kill Rasa."
At those words, Pakura quickly stepped back. "Don't think you can drive a wedge between me and the village. I won't betray it."
"Hahahaha…" Mirai Uchiha laughed loudly. "Naive, as expected."
"I've already seen your ending through your memories."
"Even if you're loyal to the village, in the future you'll still become a casualty of the village's power struggles."
After hearing Mirai Uchiha's words, Pakura replied solemnly, "If you think mere words like these could make me betray the village, you're gravely underestimating me."
"Even if you kill me, I won't submit to someone like you!"
Seeing Pakura's expression, Mirai Uchiha shrugged indifferently. "If you don't believe me, let's just wait and see."
"This is a custom-made kunai. If you find yourself in danger, channel your chakra into it and I'll sense it right away."
"Make sure to keep it on you always. I'd hate to hear of your death the next time we meet."
After catching the kunai tossed by Mirai Uchiha, Pakura held it silently for a moment before quietly asking, "Just what exactly do you hope to achieve?"
"A goal?"
Mirai Uchiha pondered briefly. "If I have to name one, then it would be bringing true peace to the ninja world."
"This world has been decaying for too long. I intend to establish an entirely new order!"
After hearing Mirai Uchiha's words, Pakura's mouth fell open in shock.
She never imagined that Mirai Uchiha's ambitions would be this grand.
Establishing a brand-new order and achieving true peace?
Had anyone else said such things, Pakura would've scoffed without hesitation.
But when she recalled Mirai Uchiha's terrifying strength, she couldn't help but feel his words carried weight.
"Remember what I've said."
Mirai Uchiha waved his hand slightly. "Good luck."
Watching Mirai Uchiha vanish, Pakura slowly sank down onto the ground.
Only now did she realize her back was completely soaked with cold sweat.
After hesitating for a while, Pakura still placed the kunai given by Mirai Uchiha into her personal ninja tool pouch.
Setting aside their status as enemies, Mirai Uchiha had genuinely sparked her curiosity.
After all, it was only a single kunai—carrying it wouldn't hurt.
She wanted to see for herself whether the things Mirai Uchiha had spoken of would truly come to pass!
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