Just as the Akatsuki members were talking, not far away, a woman walked over to the children who were playing.
She set down the big basin she was carrying. Inside, it was filled with food.
She called out, "Everyone, come eat."
The few children playing heard her, and very sensibly stopped what they were doing, gathering around the basin, grabbing food with their hands, and eating mouthful after mouthful.
They ate with such happiness.
But Rin, who wore the mask, couldn't bear to watch, and couldn't help but say, "What are they eating? Inside, I saw a lot of sand."
Pakura was silent for a while, then explained, "Sand-mixed rice, it's a kind of specialty food of our village. Because we've lived in the desert since childhood, we've gotten used to eating sand. So even if we mix sand into the rice and eat it together, it won't upset our stomachs."
Rin asked in puzzlement, "Even if it doesn't upset the stomach, sand still isn't edible, right?"
Pakura said, "Sand isn't edible, but it can make the rice portion larger, giving a sense of fullness."
At once, everyone fell silent.
Yet Pakura said calmly, "This is the way poor families in Sunagakure live. Many outsiders like to mock us for eating sand every day. Let me clarify, this is actually true."
"So… that's why I want to change it. I want that one day, no one will have to eat sand anymore."
Rin couldn't help but tilt her head to look at Obito and asked, "Back then, you also saw all this with your own eyes?"
Tobi nodded, "Yeah. So part of the reason for my plan was also so those children would no longer need to eat sand."
Rin didn't know what to say. Just when she thought she had already seen enough, she realized she had only seen a small part.
'This… damn reality.'
Just then, suddenly, several figures rushed quickly toward them.
Seeing this, Pakura sighed, "We sneaked in already quite some time ago, and since coming in, we never bothered to hide ourselves. Yet their reaction speed is still as slow as ever."
The people coming were naturally Sunagakure ninjas. Akatsuki belonged to an outside power, and the fact that it took so long to discover them, if they had any malicious intent, they could have already caused enormous damage.
Pakura still felt somewhat disappointed.
By this time, the figures had already approached, appearing before them, surrounding them in a circle.
The leading ninja had already recognized the Akatsuki uniform from afar, but not seeing any features of Uchiha Madara, his fear lessened somewhat, and he was about to scold Akatsuki for such endless sneaking behavior.
But immediately, he froze, staring at Pakura with eyes of utter disbelief. Especially at the crack in the middle of her forehead protector.
"You… you are, Scorch Release, Pakura?"
"Your forehead protector is broken? I'll have someone bring you a new one right away, please wait a moment."
This man was also a Sunagakure jonin, named Onizuka Makai, a member of the Onizuka clan that excelled in fingertip Wind Release ninjutsu.
Though in terms of rank he and Pakura were equals, Pakura was not the same as an ordinary jonin. She wasn't only strong, she was also the great hero who had once saved the village, receiving the admiration of many.
Until the recent news of Pakura's death came, there were still many who hoped she could become Kazekage.
Pakura gave a self-mocking smile.
She recognized the Sunagakure jonin opposite her. She had even been his teammate in the past.
She said, "Makai, are you still deceiving yourself?"
"Didn't you see clearly what clothes I'm wearing?"
"This cut, I made it myself."
After saying that last sentence, Pakura deliberately turned her head to look at Nagato.
Strictly speaking, that cut was made with Nagato holding her hand, cutting it for her.
Makai stood there in a daze. It wasn't that he didn't know something was wrong, it was just that he refused to admit it.
In an instant, tears welled in his eyes, "Pakura, why? Why did you join Akatsuki and become a rogue ninja?"
"Have you forgotten your dream?"
Pakura's mocking look became even more obvious, "Makai, what did the official report say about how I died? Wasn't it perfectly clear, every detail from beginning to end? Then why do you think I'm standing here before you?"
With a clink, the kunai in Makai's hand fell to the ground.
He thought of a possibility, but he didn't want to think further.
Pakura spoke it out for him, "I haven't forgotten my dream. But I want you to remember, it wasn't me who betrayed the village. It was… the village that betrayed me."
Makai was completely unable to understand, and with him, the few people he brought also couldn't understand.
Facing a great hero, even knowing she had now changed sides, they no longer had the resolve to oppose.
Some things, when spoken from a hero's mouth, leave no doubt who to believe.
Pakura looked at this scene, but instead offered comfort, "You don't have to make things hard for yourselves. Though I've already become a rogue ninja, this time I came on behalf of Akatsuki to talk about cooperation."
"Report to Rasa. Just say Akatsuki has come. As for the content of the cooperation, it was already discussed."
Yet Makai still didn't leave.
He only asked, "Pakura, is there really no possibility of returning?"
Pakura said, "What do you mean? Giving me a new forehead protector without a crack, or letting me stand on this land again?"
Makai said, "What difference is there?"
Pakura thought of Tobi's earlier proposal, and slowly said, "There is a difference. The crack has already been made. No matter how much you repair it, it still exists."
"But, I still want to stand on this land, to continue protecting some things. Only, it will just be under a different identity."
Makai seemed to understand something. Suddenly, he didn't feel so sad anymore.
"Wait a moment. I'll inform Lord Kazekage right away. Since guests have come, as long as you don't cause trouble, you are welcome to visit the village anytime."
After speaking, he signaled to his three subordinates, and then the four of them disappeared in a flash.
Nagato looked at Pakura, a little surprised, "Your status in Sunagakure is really high."
"In Amegakure, even if foreign ninja come in friendship, one must assign a ninja to follow them everywhere. But them, they actually just left?"
"Clearly, they still see you as one of their own. You're our guide."
Pakura murmured, "Is that so? But this no longer has any meaning."
Saying this, Pakura paused, "But I am indeed familiar with Sunagakure. Since they won't lead the way, I'll lead this road myself."
After speaking, Pakura walked forward on her own.
The group wandered around Sunagakure, experiencing the local customs and scenery of this land, before slowly heading toward the Kazekage's building.
What puzzled Pakura was that places usually bustling with activity seemed especially desolate today. Along the way, she hardly saw any figures.
It wasn't until they reached the Kazekage's building that they found all the people gathered together there.
They were holding up a banner, seemingly in celebration. On it were written several large characters, [Welcome the Hero's Return]
In that instant, Pakura's eyes overflowed with tears.
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