Chapter 378: Chapter 378: From the Moment You Became a Captive, Your Fate Was Sealed(Bonus)
Chapter 378: Chapter 378: From the Moment You Became a Captive, Your Fate Was Sealed(Bonus)
"It's difficult."
The possibility of keeping her in the dark was not something the Third Kazekage hadn't considered.
But he believed it was highly unlikely.
Konoha was eager for all kinds of information on Sunagakure, and the most likely scenario was that Pakura was being held in the Konoha camp, and she might have already begun being interrogated.
Although Pakura wasn't an ordinary shinobi, and the chances of her betraying the village were slim, the Third Kazekage had to prepare for the worst.
From the moment Pakura was captured, she had become a potential risk for both him and Sunagakure.
"You can go rest now. When you're on a mission, make sure to focus and stay alert to every movement around you. Pakura was ambushed because she let her guard down."
After questioning Pakura's squad members, the Third Kazekage learned how the battle unfolded.
Upon hearing the details, the Third Kazekage felt a storm of frustration in his heart. Foolish!
Absolutely foolish!
The enemy was right under their noses, and they hadn't noticed!
Even though Pakura was one of the village's next-generation elites, the disparity in abilities was glaring.
Once he was sure there were no immediate threats, Takuya returned to the cave.
Inside the cave, Pakura was still hanging in mid-air. Upon seeing Takuya return, she glared daggers at him.
"Don't look at me like that. Unless you're willing to give me the information I need, there's no way I'm letting you down."
"In your dreams!!"
It seemed there was no negotiating.
Takuya shrugged, not particularly concerned, because he had plenty of time to play the waiting game with Pakura.
What the hell is this guy trying to do?
Could he really be after information?
Pakura watched as Takuya ate some dried food, covered the cave entrance, and then leaned back to rest. She was baffled.
She had expected intense questioning or even terrifying forms of interrogation.
But nothing happened. Takuya had simply sealed her chakra, tied her up to prevent her escape, and left it at that.
Time passed, and while Takuya was able to rest comfortably, Pakura was in a far more uncomfortable situation.
Anyone with their hands and feet tied and hung in mid-air would be uncomfortable, not to mention Pakura had been hanging for an entire day.
Pakura's limbs were numb, but she remained resolute. She wasn't going to give in.
Takuya wasn't going to get any information out of her.
Noticing that she was secretly watching him, Takuya's lips curled slightly.
Who said that interrogation was the only way to get the information you wanted?
The game had just begun.
Takuya was curious to see just how long Pakura could hold out.
The next day, Takuya sat casually in the cave, munching on dried food and marking up his map.
Not far away, Pakura, who was still suspended, had a look of discomfort on her face. Hanging for an entire day and night had left her limbs numb and aching. Though she was a shinobi with strong willpower and could endure the pain, hunger, and dehydration without complaint, there were some things even she couldn't control.
The real problem wasn't pain or hunger-those were trivial for many shinobi, especially an elite like Pakura.
The real problem was her body's natural needs...
Late in the night, almost near dawn, Pakura's expression suddenly changed, her pale face flushing bright red. She squirmed in discomfort.
She needed to use the bathroom...
As luck would have it, Takuya woke up right at that moment.
Time passed, and a few hours went by.
After holding it in for hours, Pakura's face was slick with sweat, her complexion shifting from white to red.
Suddenly, Takuya put down his map and said to Pakura:
"You can go ahead. I'll pretend I didn't see anything."
Pakura's expression darkened. He knew?
Was he doing this on purpose?
"No way!!!"
Pakura gritted her teeth-she realized Takuya had never intended to interrogate her; he had been waiting for this moment all along, just to humiliate her.
Takuya spread his hands in mock regret, defending himself:
"All I want is some basic information, not the secrets of Sunagakure. You don't need to endure this just for basic information. Give me what I want, and I'll let you go immediately."
You think I'd believe you?
Pakura scoffed.
Takuya continued:
"More importantly, it seems you haven't considered your current situation."
"What situation?"
Being a captive, hung up and facing the constant threat of humiliation-what situation could
she even consider?
What was there for her to think about?
Taking another bite of his dried food, Takuya said:
"You only thought about not betraying the village, not giving up Sunagakure's secrets to me,
but you didn't consider what your capture means. You've been taken as a captive-this is already a stain on your name.
"Even if you return to Sunagakure, do you think anyone will believe you?"
You say you weren't interrogated, that you didn't leak any information or secrets, but will anyone else believe that?
They won't, and you'll be lucky if they don't treat you like a potential spy.
This wasn't baseless fear; such was the harsh reality of a shinobi's life.
If a shinobi was captured, even if they returned to the village, the treatment they received
wouldn't be any better.
Even if suspicion was eventually cleared, they would still be monitored and ostracized.
Takuya smiled softly, his tone gentle:
"Don't worry, when I let you go, I'll make sure to put in a good word for you, praising you asn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
much as I can."
"Enough!! Stop talking!!!"
Pakura's face turned ashen. Putting in a good word for her? Praising her? That would only
doom her.
Pakura couldn't help but think of her comrades who had been captured by Konoha during the war. After being exchanged back to the village, they were monitored, interrogated,
ostracized.
And eventually, they all disappeared, one by one.
The moment she was captured by Takuya, her fate was sealed, inevitably moving toward this
outcome.
The Third Kazekage wasn't a generous person; on the contrary, he was known to be petty.
Even if Takuya were to let Pakura go, she would be detained and subjected to repeated interrogations and surveillance. At best, she'd live out her days under the constant watch of
Sunagakure's ANBU.
She wouldn't even be allowed to leave the village.
Because she was a risk.
"Rest assured, you still have some value. Even if the Third Kazekage is petty, he won't kill you
just like that. At least, you're still a pretty woman, aren't you?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Pakura's eyes widened in fury.
"Nonsense! Lord Kazekage isn't like that!"
Even though there was a significant age gap and the Third Kazekage had never shown such
interest, if he did...
Pakura wouldn't refuse, even if she didn't particularly like him.
"No, no, you've misunderstood me. Your Kazekage is as stern as steel-he'd rather play with sand than touch a woman. What I meant was, your body and your bloodline-why trust Pakura when they could cultivate your offspring instead? What do you think?"
"If your descendants also possess Scorch Release, it wouldn't be such a loss for Sunagakure."
Pakura was stunned-completely at a loss, because Takuya was speaking the truth.
-PowerStone
Next Bonus: 2000 power stone
(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 400+ at Patreon.com/Emiko1.