Kokugetsu had a lovely plan in mind, but there was no basis for it to come true unless he took the initiative.
The Elephant-Transfer Clone simply had no chance to meet the princess of the Land of Fire or the Daimyō's wife.
Even when the Daimyō retired to the inner palace to rest, ninja stayed hidden in the shadows with no chance to show themselves.
Kokugetsu was not disappointed, because he had little interest in women who never appeared in the original story unless they were truly devastatingly beautiful.
While the Elephant-Transfer Clone worked, Kokugetsu went to handle his own affairs.
Reciprocity matters.
He did not mind leaving the battlefield, but being maneuvered off it left a sour taste, so Kokugetsu went straight to Kumogakure.
He was quite interested in the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, which was like a Super Saiyan transformation.
Since Kumogakure liked stealing from others, today he would return the favor in kind.
No copies either. If you steal, steal the original.
Judging by his analysis, the original of the Lightning Armor was stored in the Yotsuki clan compound, in the Fourth Raikage's home.
With the Byakugan's penetrating sight sweeping continuously, he soon discovered a secret chamber.
Kokugetsu entered with space–time ninjutsu, then left the same way, silent as a ghost.
He did not know when the Fourth Raikage would realize his home had been burgled, but just thinking about the man's expression made Kokugetsu want to laugh.
Having obtained the original of the Lightning Armor, Kokugetsu left Kumogakure, which had nothing else of interest.
The Six Paths ninja tools would be very useful to ordinary ninja and could greatly increase their strength. To him, they were children's toys.
If he ever truly needed them, he could come fetch them anytime.
After leaving Kumogakure, Kokugetsu began to roam the shinobi world, training as he traveled.
The Elephant-Transfer Clone remained in the capital of the Land of Fire to handle Kumogakure's plots, rotating as a bodyguard for the Land of Fire's bigwigs.
Although the sacrifice had to be replaced from time to time, with space–time ninjutsu for travel it was not troublesome.
For the clone's sacrifices, Kokugetsu no longer grabbed unlucky stray ninja. He captured Kumo shinobi.
During wartime, a few missing ninja were perfectly normal.
This journey lasted a full year, bringing the calendar to Konoha Year 52.
Land of Wind, Emerald Forest Town, Emerald Izakaya.
Dressed in a white silk samurai robe patterned with crimson, Kokugetsu sat in a corner of the izakaya, leisurely sipping chilled sake and nibbling on small dishes.
Though only fifteen this year and still a bit boyish in the face, he already stood a meter seventy-four.
Add in his refined attire, striking bearing, and a touch of forcefulness, and the shop still brought him alcohol.
A moment later, two Sunagakure chūnin in brown vests entered and sat at a table four meters from Kokugetsu.
A few cups in, their tongues loosened, catching Kokugetsu's attention.
"Have you heard? Lady Pakura has fallen."
"What? When did it happen?"
"Just a month ago. Lady Pakura died on the battlefield against Iwagakure."
The other Suna shinobi stayed silent for a long while, then spoke through clenched teeth. "Damn those Iwa-nin. Truly accursed."
"Lady Pakura. Such a pity."
"Isn't it just."
"Lady Pakura had fine character, great strength, many merits, and she was so beautiful."
Among Sunagakure's ninja, Pakura, also known as Ye Cang, had no shortage of pursuers, admirers, and secret lovers.
"Enough of this sad talk. When we return to the village, let's pay our respects to Lady Pakura."
"Mm."
They clinked cups and swallowed the bitter drink, hearts aching.
"Besides the bad news, there is good news."
"My father's older-brother's nephew's cousin's cousin says Kirigakure has already withdrawn and made peace with us."
"Iwagakure has begun to pull back too. If nothing unexpected happens, the war will end."
"That is good news. The Kazekage did not disappoint this time."
"Two enemies faced with one. This outcome is not bad."
Kokugetsu listened no further. He drank slowly, eyes deep.
Since Iwagakure was withdrawing, striking at Konoha was probably already on the agenda.
It would be a small-scale war, but Iwa would not fight on two fronts. That would drain themselves rather than Konoha.
Rasa was truly ruthless. Pakura had clearly been sold to Kirigakure, yet they arranged for her to die on Iwa's battlefield.
A hero of Sunagakure, and still ending like this. How ironic.
In any world, it is hard to be a hero. In the shinobi world, it is even harder.
Stop being a hero. Come be my lover and subordinate.
Such a beautiful woman. It would be a shame to let her stay dead.
If he saved her, she would please him, serve his purposes, and later be used against Sunagakure. Three birds with one stone.
Pakura's temperament did not quite fit a secretary's, or he would have taken her as lover and secretary.
When there is work, the secretary handles it. When there isn't, the secretary handles me.
He did not yet hold a position entitled to a secretary, but there was no harm in preparing early.
Smiling, Kokugetsu rose to pay and strolled out of the izakaya.
Outskirts of Kirigakure, above a valley shrouded in mist year-round.
Kokugetsu stepped from a black-and-red space–time vortex and hovered in the air as if riding the clouds.
From on high, with the Byakugan sweeping in every direction, the valley's scene unfolded entirely, underground included.
"Huh."
"Pakura's corpse is actually in the valley. The Kiri shinobi didn't take it back to study. How deep does their hatred run." Surprise flashed across Kokugetsu's face.
He had come for a routine check and had expected her body to be taken back to Kirigakure for research, since even a corpse holds considerable intel.
"To have the authority to dump the body in the wild, that young Kiri ninja who led the ambush in the original story must be someone unusual."
"He looked so young, so his background must be substantial."
Speaking, Kokugetsu flew over and descended into the damp, mist-laden forest. In the overgrown weeds lay a corpse.
Kunai were embedded all over the back, like a hedgehog.
The sight was unbearable. The stronger the shinobi, the slower the body decayed, but more than a month had passed in this dark, humid place.
Though Kokugetsu's hands were stained with blood, even he felt a twinge of discomfort.
With a flip of his hand, he produced a small camera. Kokugetsu lifted it and photographed the corpse.
He was not a pervert. Showing Pakura the misery of her own death would better kindle the hatred in her heart.
People may not learn from lectures. A single harsh lesson teaches them.
"With the body in this state, can the Samsara of Heavenly Life still revive her." Kokugetsu's brow furrowed.
Nagato's revivals were mostly of people who had not been dead long and whose bodies were largely intact. Obito revived with an Impure World body.
This was a headache.
Enough. He was not in Nagato's or Obito's oil-lamp-flickering situation where using the technique meant death. It would only cost him a great deal of chakra.
If it failed, he would make a trip back to Konoha to fetch the Scroll of Seals and learn a basic version of Impure World Reincarnation.
Before the resurrection, the site had to be cleaned up.
In this condition, even a charred corpse would look better.
Fire would do.
Kokugetsu brought his hands together and spat an orange-red fireball from his mouth. It kissed the corpse and scattered into embers.
"Much better. There is even a hint of fragrance."
"Uh. Perhaps I am being a bit twisted."
Kokugetsu nodded. His smile froze. A faint unease stirred in his heart.
Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life.
Kokugetsu formed the seals, held Pakura's name and original visage in his mind, and felt his chakra plunge.
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