Pakura's expected outcomes—being roasted into a mummy by the fireball or meeting it with some seal-less ninjutsu—did not happen.
The orange-red fireball vanished on contact with Kokugetsu's palm, directly absorbed.
"This…"
Pakura halted, staring at the boy before her in shaken disbelief.
"Continue," Kokugetsu crooked a finger.
"Hmph!"
Anger rose in Pakura's chest; she formed seals to replenish the absorbed fireball, then charged, four fireballs orbiting her body.
Kokugetsu's form flickered; as he avoided Pakura's taijutsu, he also slipped past the fireballs, seizing openings in space to absorb two of them.
"Now!"
In the brief instant Kokugetsu absorbed them, Pakura drove the remaining two fireballs at him from front and back.
Almighty Push!
A repulsive force burst from all around him, blasting the two fireballs—and Pakura—away, even peeling a layer of turf from the ground.
"Parlor tricks won't work on me. Use your finisher," Kokugetsu said with a mild smile.
Gritting her teeth, Pakura climbed up, formed seals, and orange-red fireballs bloomed and shot skyward.
Several fused into a single massive orb—like a small sun—its power held tight as it came crashing down from above.
"I forgot to mention—ninjutsu doesn't work on me."
Kokugetsu raised his hand and pressed toward the sky; the giant fireball popped like a punctured balloon and vanished.
"What kind of bloodline limit is that? I've never heard you had one," Pakura blurted, her mindset fraying.
"Bloodline limit?"
"If you want to call it that, fine."
"Enough—now it's your turn to take one from me."
Kokugetsu lifted his right leg and slammed it down. Boom—earth shuddered; a crack raced forward at terrifying speed…
Pakura's pupils shrank; she flashed aside at once.
Behind her, a timeworn bluestone touched by the crack exploded with a roar, shattering to fragments in an instant.
"Too slow."
Kokugetsu's figure blinked into being at Pakura's back mid-step. Startled, she jabbed an elbow back on reflex.
Smack!
Kokugetsu lifted a hand to catch her elbow, then slid his left arm around her supple, springy waist.
"You…"
Pakura's body went rigid, yet she couldn't resist—Kokugetsu was siphoning her chakra.
"You cannot fight fate—and there's no need. Let me extend yours; it's best for you."
"If you insist on resisting, I'll reclaim the second life I gave you."
Kokugetsu murmured at her ear, face indifferent, tone calm as still water.
Never having been this close to a man, Pakura's ears flushed; color rose to her cheeks, and she felt ill at ease—
But his last words washed away any flutter between man and woman, leaving only weakness and chill.
He wasn't joking. Push him, and he really would kill her.
She could not die yet. She hadn't taken revenge.
"Hmph. Chalk it up to bad luck," Pakura said, feigning nonchalance.
Kokugetsu smiled, stopped drawing chakra, and released her.
"Hold out your hands."
Not knowing his aim, Pakura still turned obediently and extended both hands.
Kokugetsu raised his own, pressing lightly into the air; a gleam of emerald light welled in his palms…
"You can do medical ninjutsu too?" Pakura looked up, surprised.
"Not difficult," Kokugetsu said blandly.
Pakura's pretty face fell. What a conceited man—though he did have the skill.
"Do you have a place to stay after leaving Sunagakure?"
She started, then shook her head.
"In that case, I'll arrange one."
"You're taking me back to Konoha?"
Kokugetsu shook his head. "Not for now. Too much to explain, and Suna would make trouble."
"I'm going to set you up with a partner. Follow him and raise your strength."
Pakura asked curiously, "You have subordinates outside the village too? Man or woman?"
"Half subordinate, half collaborator. A man."
"By the way, aside from Scorch Release, you know other ninjutsu?"
"Mm. I've studied Wind Release and Fire Release a bit."
"His name is Kakuzu. He uses all five elemental releases, especially wind, fire, and lightning."
"You can learn from him."
"I'll also give you some Wind and Fire techniques from my collection to broaden your toolkit and raise your power."
A slap just now; a sweet date now. She was also to be a subordinate—work would be expected.
"Mm." Pakura nodded slightly.
"Come on, let's go find him."
Kokugetsu lowered his hands; a black eye surfaced, and a black-red space–time vortex opened at his side.
"This… your eye?"
Seeing the black-red vortex bloom beside her, Pakura started; then she turned and caught the strange look in Kokugetsu's right eye, and started again.
"Just a special eye. Nothing remarkable."
As if anyone would believe that.
Kokugetsu wrapped an arm around Pakura's waist and stepped into the black-red vortex; when they emerged again, they had crossed the sea.
Taking in the wholly different surroundings, Pakura blanched. "This looks like the Land of Waves. Space–time ninjutsu—over such a distance?"
"This is far stronger than the Yellow Flash's space–time technique."
"You can use it?"
"Just what are you, really?"
"Konoha probably doesn't know about these, do they? What exactly are you after?"
Pakura tilted her head, studying Kokugetsu with wary curiosity.
Smack!
Kokugetsu landed a hard slap on her taut, rounded backside; it trembled, waves rippling—excellent feel.
"Ah…"
Hit in so sensitive a spot, Pakura cried out, cheeks flushed, eyes flashing.
"Why so many questions? Why pry so much?"
"As a lover-subordinate, know your bounds. Besides, the stronger your man, the better for you, isn't it?"
It kind of sounded right… as if. The stronger you are, the less I can escape.
Detestable man—trading on a favor and so domineering!
"At the very least, if you can't take revenge on Rasa, I can help."
Um… hard to deny that.
Seeing Pakura lower her head and yield, Kokugetsu smiled faintly, then reached out to contact Kakuzu.
Projection Body Technique!
Forming a one-handed seal, Kokugetsu received the faint thought-waves Kakuzu had converted from chakra, traced them back, and projected his own.
Land of Rivers, along a beast-haunted trail overgrown with brush.
Kakuzu strolled along happily with a money chest in hand, then stopped short.
"So it's him—more business."
Releasing the wind mask to guard himself and hefting the chest, Kakuzu flew through seals, activating the Projection Body Technique in sync.
Soon, two rainbow-lined phantasms shimmered to life in a dark cave within the Land of Fire.
"What do you need?" Kakuzu asked bluntly.
"Tell you in person. Where are you now?"
"Land of Rivers."
"Let's meet in Tanzaku Town in the Land of Fire. Don't get there too early—I plan to take my time."
With nothing pressing, burning a space–time jump would be a waste; better to travel at leisure with a beauty at his side.
"Give me a fairly exact time. I don't like waiting. Time is money."
"About a month."
Kakuzu's mouth twitched. Speechless.
A month? Even from the far north of the Land of Lightning to the far south of the Land of Water wouldn't take that long. Is this a joke?
"Are you that idle?"
"Mm. The Elephant-Transfer Clone is handling my assignments."
"That technique is wasted on you. If I had it, I could make—"
Zzt. Kokugetsu's projection vanished on the spot.
"I…"
Kakuzu was a little steamed.
<><><><><><>
Read Advanced Chapters on : patreon.com/Kaizo247
~ Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]