48 Chapter 48: So... much... pain...

About 20 minutes later, Mei got bored guarding and making sure no one was eavesdropping.

She knocked on the door and shouted,

"Are you done with your talk?"

She heard no reply, so she opened the door to see what was happening.

Pakura used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared from the balcony.

"She…huh?"

Mei was about to ask about how the talks went when she saw his sullen expression.

She choked back her words... he had a very unpleasant expression.

She was kind of interested in how the Kunoichi called Pakura managed to get him so riled up. For as long as she had known him, he was always extremely laidback and casual.

Seeing her, Hachiro felt his expression soften as he pulled her into his grasp.

"Hey~ what are you doing?"

She was rendered incapable of resistance after the little love bird in her head started tweeting vigorously.

Hachiro really needed a hug to soothe his injured soul... and body.

He felt like he had been defiled in the last 20 minutes of his life.

…

…

The next day, in the morning.

Inside the Hokage's office.

Hachiro, Mei, Baki and Pakura met up with the Konoha shinobi.

The elders and many clan leaders had all gathered here today to hear Hiruzen, announce his decision.

The situation was similar to the event five years ago, where Hiruzen gave Hinata Hyuga to placate the Cloud.

Upon arriving, Hachiro looked at Pakura with fear because of trauma before focusing on everyone else in the office.

Baki noticing the eye contact between the two breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed that Pakura gave Hachiro an enjoyable service last night.

Presumably Kumogakure would be on their side now.

Although, he didn't like using methods like this, they were shinobi and if it was what it took to win a war.

Then he was fine with Pakura suffering a little.

"I wonder if he will try to make a move on her?"

Baki had a thought before dismissing it.

If Hachiro knew what the old man was thinking, he would want to make him feel the same pain he did.

My little brother is still crying right now!

Fugaku stood in the corner of the office inconspicuously, he kept an emotionless face from beginning to end.

He had already discussed the actions the clan would take in case he died. It was out of his hands already and solely rested upon the elder's.

The only thing that he had to do was send a signal once he got confirmation from the mouth of Hiruzen himself.

Unfortunately, Hiashi didn't agree to join them in the rebellion and would only stand on the side.

No one in Konoha knew that the Hyuga had jumped ship over to Kumo meaning they were safe as long as they weren't caught.

Either way, Hiashi didn't like the Uchiha at all.

Probably because of their rivalry with two clan's Dojutsu.

"I'm very sorry, Mr Baki."

The second the people from Konoha processed their Hokage's words, surprise showed itself on their faces.

Confused, Baki and Pakura were about to speak, only for the old man in front to continue,

"After going home yesterday, this old man calmed down and thought about it more carefully. It's true that the 'evidence' obtained at the scene is not enough to prove that Sunagakure was behind my Family's death and I dearly apologize for acting so emotionally at the death of my loved ones."

"Therefore, for the sake of the innocent villagers in Sunagakure and Konoha. I would like to maintain our alliance, once again, this old man asks that you forgive him for his behaviour yesterday."

Despite the humbly expression and words coming out of his mouth, Hiruzen was doing his best to not erupt in anger.

If he wanted to attack those murderers with the Cloud's help. He would need to hand over, Sasuke Uchiha, that would cause the Hyuga and Uchiha to rebel.

Conversely, if he didn't agree to the Cloud's demands then both the Sand and Cloud would unite with the goal of destroying Konoha.

The only other choice was to bow his head and apologise to the Sand shinobi and give up the idea of war.

"Tsk..."

Noticing that he wouldn't be able to cause the Leaf any pain, Hachiro smiled out of annoyance.

Although, it didn't turn out as good as he thought, this was fine too.

Courtesy of Observation Haki, he could tell that Hiruzen still hated the Sand, so he would probably try finding a way to get back at them soon.

It was pity, a good opportunity to dish out a heavy blow, gone like that.

Pakura recovered from her shock before showing an expression as if it was the end of the world--

"Did I do that for nothing?!"

I really did something as disgusting as that for nothing...

She felt pain...

She was understanding pain...

She was beginning to accept the pain...

And beginning to know pain...

I thought I was sacrificing my innocence for the village...

But now, the Third Hokage has offered to let go of their hostilities...

Doesn't that mean my sacrifice was meaningless?

It was only then that young Pakura felt the deep malice of the big, wide, world...

She was in so much pain...

Note: A teleporting dog sporting the Akatsuki cloak shinra tensei'd me ;-;