Chapter 36: Forming Bonds
Outside the Sealing Cave.
"Fifty-six." "Fifty-seven." "Fifty-eight." "Kakashi, I've taken down fifty-nine puppets!" Might Guy declared, kicking another enemy puppet away and flashing a thumbs-up, his confidence radiating.
"Yes, yes," Kakashi responded nonchalantly, kicking away a puppet that approached him.
"Guy-sensei, I've taken down sixty-one!" Anko shouted excitedly. She was delighted to surpass Guy, thanks to the help of her summoned snakes.
"What? Youth, ignite!" Guy exclaimed, his spirit rekindled. He hurried to rack up more points.
Around the cave entrance, Pakura had transformed the terrain, creating a high platform that prevented Moryo's controlled puppets from advancing. The rogue ninjas from the Yellow Spring Cult, mostly at Chunin level, were swiftly dealt with by Kakashi and the others.
Thanks to Pakura's terrain modifications, the team only needed to fend off the few puppets that managed to climb the platform. It was challenging but manageable. Their real concern was for Shishou, Miroku, and Izumi inside the cave.
Rumbling noises echoed from within the cave, causing the team to glance nervously at each other. Using his Sharingan, Kakashi observed Moryo's chakra, which was as vast and malevolent as the Nine-Tails.
If not for Izumi guarding the entrance with a stern expression, Pakura and the others would have rushed in to help.
Suddenly, a loud, anguished roar came from inside the cave, followed by intense ground tremors. Pakura and Kakashi noticed the puppets crumbling into dust.
Soon, Shishou emerged from the cave, carrying a weary Miroku in his arms. Izumi stood guard, glaring at their clasped hands.
Even in Shishou's arms, Miroku didn't release his hand. Shishou sighed in relief. Moryo's final counterattack had been fierce, but he had managed to activate Susanoo, and with Miroku's sealing jutsu, they successfully sealed Moryo.
If not for Miroku's jutsu, even with Susanoo and his centipede, Shishou doubted they could have defeated Moryo. The demon was indeed on par with a tailed beast, and if it had merged with Miroku, its power would have been unmatched.
Shishou knew from the storyline that Miroku's power came from a fragment of Moryo's energy, which Miroku had used to seal the demon for the sake of peace.
"Thank you, everyone!" Miroku said, stepping out of Shishou's arms and bowing deeply. Despite Shishou handling most of the work, without Pakura and the others holding off the puppets and cultists, their success wouldn't have been possible.
After a brief rest, Shishou summoned the now battered and broken centipede, preparing to escort Miroku back to the Land of Demons. The sight of the damaged centipede made Pakura and the others shudder, wondering what it had endured.
Upon returning to the Land of Demons, Kakashi, Pakura, and the others bid farewell to Miroku. Their mission was complete, and they saw no reason to stay.
After exchanging contact information with Shishou, Pakura and Kakashi led their teams away, each village hoping to form an alliance with the powerful mercenary in the future.
Pakura, meanwhile, stayed back, lured by Shishou into another game of cards. Having won a substantial amount, she delayed her departure.
Eventually, after a few days and several more winnings, Pakura too said her goodbyes. She wasn't a gambler by nature, but the easy money had tempted her to stay longer than planned.
One night, in the Land of Wind.
Pakura sat by a campfire, lost in thought. "Are you going to come out?" she called out, smiling.
"When did you notice?" Shishou asked, appearing from the shadows and sitting beside her.
Pakura wasn't surprised by his appearance. She didn't dislike him. Shishou wasn't affiliated with any village, so there were no conflicts of interest or grudges between them. She had witnessed his acts of saving survivors, proving he wasn't a mindless killer. And, he had willingly lost a lot of money to her, sparking her curiosity about his intentions.
"I realized you had an agenda when you kept losing to me on purpose. I just can't figure out what you want from me. You're stronger, wealthier, and surrounded by beautiful women. So, what is it that you want from me?" Pakura asked candidly, her eyes fixed on Shishou.
Is it your upcoming tragic fate? Shishou thought but didn't say aloud. Instead, he said, "Pakura, if you ever feel lost and have nowhere to go, you can come find me here."
He handed her a note with his address in Fire Source City.
Pakura raised an eyebrow, casually swatting away a bug. "You want to recruit me? And what makes you think I'd ever betray the Sand Village?"
Shishou smiled, leaving her with a final remark before disappearing. "You'll understand in time, Pakura."
Pakura frowned, contemplating his words. "Cryptic as ever. If it weren't for all the money you lost to me, I wouldn't bother with you," she muttered, extinguishing the fire and continuing her journey back to the Sand Village.
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