When Pakura heard those words, it was as if she had awoken from a dream. She quickly opened her eyes and saw Hoshiyomi smiling gently at her — which made her instinctively avert her gaze.
Thinking of the Kirigakure shinobi who had just ambushed her, anger flared in Pakura's heart. Forming hand seals, she unleashed her chakra — with a loud boom, a blazing orange sphere of light appeared in her hand.
With a swift step, her figure shot forward like a nimble cat toward the direction from which the kunai had come. Moments later, several agonized screams echoed through the mist.
The three Hyūga shinobi, who arrived just a bit too late, began whispering explanations beside Hoshiyomi:
"That kunoichi is incredible. What's that strange glowing sphere — some kind of new Kekkei Genkai? Just a single touch and it drains people into mummified husks. Terrifying ability."
"She's so fast too. Judging by the chakra levels of those seven left, they were all at least chūnin or jōnin — yet she finished them off so easily."
Moments later, Pakura emerged from the smoke completely unharmed — not even a drop of blood on her. One didn't need to guess how miserable the deaths of those eight attackers must have been.
Seeing her return, the three Hyūga instinctively dropped into Gentle Fist stances, but Pakura ignored them. Instead, she turned to Hoshiyomi and said, somewhat awkwardly,
"Thank you for saving me just now. Come to think of it, you saved me last time too… I owe you a favor. If there's ever something you need my help with, just ask. I'll do everything I can."
After saying that, Pakura bowed to Hoshiyomi and turned to leave. It was clear she was in a hurry — eager to confront Rasa, to demand why he would do such a thing.
But before she could take more than two steps, Hoshiyomi's voice came from behind her:
"You've given so much for Sunagakure. Yet they repay you like this… Why bother going back?"
Pakura froze mid-step. Lowering her head, she hesitated for a moment before replying angrily,
"I can't just let it go like that! I have to get an explanation!"
Hearing this, Hoshiyomi's lips curved into a faintly mocking smile.
"You've worked alongside Rasa for years. Don't tell me you still don't understand what kind of man he is? He is the all-powerful Kazekage — do you really think you'll get any kind of explanation from him?"
Pakura's breathing, which had been harsh and uneven, suddenly faltered. Her tone softened into one of quiet sorrow.
"But… if I don't go back… where else can I go?"
At that, Hoshiyomi thought to himself — Got her.
He seized the opportunity and continued,
"Didn't you just say you owe me a favor? In that case, why don't you…"
Before he could finish, Pakura seemed to realize what he was implying and quickly interrupted,
"No… that's impossible…"
But halfway through her protest, hesitation clouded her expression.
If she didn't return to Sunagakure, where could she go?
She couldn't possibly join Iwagakure, Kumogakure, or Kirigakure — they'd all been her enemies.
Hiding away in some tiny village to live out her days in obscurity didn't suit her nature either.
What then — become a missing-nin?
Living like a rat in the shadows, hunted and despised?
That wasn't who she was.
For the first time, Pakura felt as though the entire world had abandoned her.
A sudden wave of helplessness crashed over her. The strong, proud kunoichi finally broke down — she hugged her knees tightly, buried her face between them, and began to sob softly.
"I never wanted to take his position… I only wanted to protect my family and my friends… But he… he actually…"
Her voice trembled, swallowed by her tears — the sound of a loyal heart finally shattering.
Even the three Hyūga shinobi standing nearby had by now roughly pieced together the truth. They couldn't help sighing quietly to themselves — she had clearly been a hero of her village, yet the higher-ups had turned on her out of fear and jealousy.
As fellow shinobi, they could deeply empathize with such a cruel fate.
At that moment, Hoshiyomi stepped closer and spoke softly:
"Join Konoha.
I can't promise that every corner of Konoha is filled with light…
But I can promise you this — as long as I'm alive, no one will ever treat you the way Sunagakure's leaders did."
Hoshiyomi was already a well-known, respected powerhouse — and he had saved Pakura's life twice now. Combined with the gentle aura he exuded thanks to his attunement with natural energy, his words carried immense weight.
All of these factors together managed to reach Pakura's heart — a heart that, right now, was at its most fragile.
Gradually, her sobs began to quiet. With red-rimmed eyes, she lifted her gaze — and saw Hoshiyomi extending a hand toward her.
She stared blankly at that hand for a moment, hesitated… and then, finally, placed her own hand in his.
Hoshiyomi gently pulled her to her feet. Pakura wiped her tears and said, her voice still trembling slightly:
"But I want you to help me fake my death.
I don't want everyone in Sunagakure to believe I betrayed the village.
Rather than live with that shame… I'd rather 'die' once, and then be reborn under a new identity."
That wasn't even a real obstacle to Hoshiyomi — he agreed immediately.
After all, what he valued wasn't her name — it was her strength.
Whether she was called Pakura or something else didn't matter in the slightest.
So he said with a calm smile:
"Since you insist, then from today onward, you are a member of Konoha's ANBU, codename: Passione. As for your duties... you will be responsible for the protection of the Fourth Hokage, Tsunade. How does that sound?"
Pakura was stunned. It wasn't the codename that shocked her — it was Hoshiyomi's sheer audacity.
Was he insane?
He was assigning a former Suna shinobi to guard the Hokage herself?
Didn't he worry she might still be a spy from Sunagakure, waiting for the right moment to strike?
And more than that — wasn't Tsunade his wife?
How could he just place her right by her side without hesitation?
The three Hyūga shinobi were equally alarmed. They had thought Hoshiyomi's motives were simple — that he'd been impressed by Pakura's strength, or perhaps captivated by her beauty, and wanted to keep her close.
But to appoint her directly as the Hokage's bodyguard? That was far beyond what any of them expected.
They hurriedly objected:
"That's not appropriate, Lord Hoshiyomi!
No matter what, she was still a Suna kunoichi not long ago.
Even if you trust her, shouldn't we test her loyalty in another post first?"
But Hoshiyomi merely waved a hand dismissively and said firmly:
"My philosophy has always been: If I choose to trust someone, I trust them completely; if I doubt someone, I don't use them at all.
If I've chosen to believe in you, then even if you betray me, I'll have no regrets — because that would only mean my judgment was wrong.
But in your case… I believe my judgment is right.
I'm certain that someone who once stood against the Third Raikage to protect her village would never betray the people she swears to protect."
Pakura stared at Hoshiyomi in astonishment.
Compared to Rasa — who had schemed to have her killed — Hoshiyomi seemed like a being of pure light, radiating warmth and righteousness from head to toe.
And in that moment, the doubts and distrust that had taken root in her heart because of Rasa's betrayal finally melted away.
Now, Pakura was certain — Hoshiyomi was the one truly worthy of her loyalty.