Chapter 286 : Knife in hand
"Alas, the child has grown up and is starting to rebel…"
Jian gave a perfunctory sniffle, and seeing that Obito still didn't react, he let out a soft "Tsk~" before turning to pick up Pakura, who was barely clinging to life, to treat her.
Green Medical Chakra immediately enveloped Pakura's entire body, and dozens of large and small wounds healed and scabbed over at a visible rate.
Even the deep, bone-exposing wound where the Kirigakure Ninja had first stabbed a Kunai into her spine, recovered completely under the effects of the Mystical Palm Technique.
Although such aggressive treatment would damage some lifespan and potential, there was no better option in the current situation.
Obito stood by and watched the entire process, inexplicably feeling that Jian's demeanor changed when he used Medical Ninjutsu.
His usual exaggerated and erratic outward appearance gradually faded, leaving only an inner precision and composure.
—Such powerful Medical Ninjutsu…—What kind of person is this Jian, really?
—He still refuses to show me his face. Could he be hideously ugly?
Obito secretly imagined what kind of ugly face might be under Jian's mask.
Big buck teeth? Thick lips? Or a crooked mouth and squinted eyes?
"Heave-ho~"
Jian, completely unaware of Obito's thoughts, hoisted Pakura onto his shoulder and even waved goodbye to Obito with concern.
"Well, I'll be off then~ Obito, you must work hard in the Hidden Mist Village and try to bring them down in three years."
"You make it sound easy. Do it yourself if you're so capable."
"Obito, you just need to perform normally according to your own level~"
This sentence seemed to encourage Obito, but in the next second, Jian revealed his true thoughts: "Sometimes, the elaborate schemes of villains are no match for the sudden inspiration of an idiot."
"Jian! You scoundrel—!"
"I'll send 9527 to deliver messages to you!"
Before Obito could completely erupt, Jian quickly carried the person and fled the scene, leaving the other's roar far behind… Pakura woke up in a quiet, dimly lit room, and it took her a while to recall what happened before she fainted.
—I'm actually not dead?
—What new scheme does Hidden Mist have!?
She flipped out of bed and found that her injuries had completely healed, her skin was smooth as new without any scars, and her Chakra was abundant.
—No, if Hidden Mist had spared my life, how could they allow me to be in such a state?
—Did the Village save me again?
—No, impossible. Rasa wouldn't care if I lived or died anymore.
"Stop guessing, I can tell you the answer directly."
The gentle male voice was like a thunderclap in Pakura's ears. She immediately looked to the corner, where a tall, masked young man stood, playing with a Kunai. She didn't know when he had appeared.
Pakura felt a chill run from her back to the back of her head.
When she flipped out of bed, she had already checked the entire room. There was no place to hide, and the doors and windows were tightly locked. It was impossible for anyone to have entered under her nose.
Not even the fastest Body Flicker Technique would work.
This young man either used Space-Time Ninjutsu or used some Secret Technique to completely conceal his presence.
Whichever possibility, it was enough to show that the opponent's strength was far greater than hers.
"…Who are you?"
"The one who saved you," the young man pointed to himself with his index finger, "You don't have to thank me too much."
"You went to such great lengths, what is your purpose?"
"Eh~" the young man grumbled indignantly: "Can't I just be kind-hearted and unable to bear watching you die?"
"Don't joke around. To be able to save me in that situation, how could it be a coincidence?"
Pakura crossed her arms and plopped down on the bed, inadvertently glancing at the forehead protector on the cabinet, her heart aching.
She simply threw caution to the wind and said: "You must have been present the whole time, only acting when I was on the verge of death, right? You probably even mocked my foolishness…"
By the end, her eyes dimmed, and she gave a bitter smile.
—Yes, I was truly foolish… Believing everything Rasa said.
—Ending up like that, I suppose I brought it upon myself.
The masked young man—Jian—shook his head slightly: "No~"
"Hmm?"
Pakura looked up, a bewildered expression of doubt on her face, staring directly at the young man who seemed to have suddenly become serious.
"I didn't mock you."
Repeating his words, Jian slowly paced in the small room, his tone frank and sincere: "Without personally experiencing everything, how could one imagine such an outcome?"
"No one is born with knowledge. People, ah, always have to suffer losses to understand many things."
"Including you, and including me…"
"So-called life experience is merely having gone through these things and not died."
Pakura was silent for a long time, then suddenly let out a low "Hmph," seemingly with a hint of a smile and relief.
When she spoke again, her tone was much lighter: "So, what is your purpose in saving me? To make me your subordinate?"
"Why are we back to this topic again?" Jian asked knowingly, seemingly having a particular fondness for "playing dumb and acting cute," "Can't I just be doing a good deed? I'm a very kind person!"
Pakura wasn't annoyed; she earnestly exposed his thoughts: "Perhaps, but certainly not entirely."
"If you were truly kind-hearted, you should have warned me before it happened, instead of watching me die."
"But, if I hadn't personally experienced death, even if I were disappointed and angry with Sunagakure, I might not necessarily become your asset."
"To rescue me after I've experienced all that is the choice a smart person would make."
"You're right." Jian admitted directly, then calmly asked: "Then do you hate me for doing this?"
"To be honest, I do feel a bit annoyed inside."
Pakura stood up, took the Sunagakure forehead protector from the cabinet, and walked step by step to Jian.
"But in fact, you never owed me anything, nor did you have an obligation to save me. As long as you acted, regardless of the purpose or timing, it is a rebirth for me."
She snatched the Kunai from Jian's hand and carved a deep mark on it with the blade's tip.
"Pakura, the Scorch Release Ninja, is dead."
"From now on, I will only be your blade."
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