Chapter 98: Welcome to Konoha

"Grandpa, You won't believe how cruel those Sand shinobis are. They left her to the mercy of the Kiri shinobi. I am going to kick that Kazekage's ass when I am strong enough to do so. Believe it!" Ken said with a fist pump up as Pakura smiled at that.

"Calm Down Ken, Explain to me what happened first. And address me as Hokage when we are with guests." Hiruzen said clearly impressed with his grandson's performance.

Shikuro started explaining to Hiruzen about what happened. He said that after escorting the merchant, he sensed some strange chakra fluctuations so they decided to investigate the issue while they used shadow clones to escort the merchant back to the Land of Fire. This was clearly a lie since they knew what was going to happen. But they had to fabricate a story since Pakura was also listening.

Then Shikuro explained how they found Jiraiya there and how the genins persuaded them to help them by blackmailing them. And how Ken told them about the decision to bring Pakura back to the Leaf and make her a Leaf Shinobi.

Shikuro's tone expressed that he was clearly against helping Pakura and bringing her back.

"I see" Hiruzen calmly said as he then looked at Shikuro and said, "Your pay is being halved for the next year."

"WHAT!" Shikuro shouted which was quite funny to see from an Aburame who were known to speak in a very low voice.

"But why? I told the kids that we should not do it. But they threatened me to help her even without my and Jiraiya san's help so we did not have any choice but to do as the kids said. I even told the kids that it would be all on them but they still did not listen to me. It should be the kids that should be punished for not listening to their seniors." Shikuro pleaded his case while he was on the verge of tears.

Pakura felt uncomfortable at those words.

"That's the exact reason for you getting the punishment. You dared to ignore the plight of one of our allied shinobi who was being treated so unfairly. If she was from a village that was not allied with us, You would be justifiable in your actions but Pakura is from an allied village. Thus, She is our ally and we are obliged to help her."

Pakura looked shocked at Hiruzen who just gave her his friendly grandpa smile.

'Jeez Grandpa, You would have sounded like a hypocrite in another timeline where you let Hizashi die to maintain peace with Kumo.' Ken inwardly thought

"Please, Lord Third don't do it. I have a kid to raise and a wife to please." Shikuro looked comical to Ken. He decided to add fuel to the fire and take the opportunity of this situation. "Grandpa, Since I have done well, Should not I get the remaining half of his salary?"

"On second thought, You are forgiven for this time. It's your first mistake and you have been loyal to the leaf so I can't punish you much. Now say sorry to Pakura for not helping her at first sight." Hiruzen said ignoring Ken's words.

Shikuro looked at Pakura with pleading eyes and asked for her forgiveness who did not know what to do so she just said "It's okay."

"Now we should talk about your situation, young lady," Hiruzen said looking at Pakura

"Thank you for your generosity Lord Hokage but I understand that by sheltering me you would make enemies with both Suna and Kiri. Your shinobi have already helped me enough by saving me as well as healing me. I don't want to implicate the Leaf anymore." Pakura said bowing at Hiruzen respectfully.

'Ah thank you for saying that. You have made my work easier.' Hiruzen inwardly smirked.

"You misunderstand me. We would only be making enemies with Suna as we are already in conflict with Kiri. But with you joining us, our strength would be bolstered enough to take them on. The benefit of you being in our village outweighs the risk of making enemies with Suna and breaking the alliance. Of course, we still don't want to make enemies with Suna as that would lead to several lives lost which we don't want. That's why we would be keeping you hidden and you would be working as my personal guard Anbu."

Pakura rather than being perplexed by what Hokage said was instead relieved.

'Ah, So he wants something. This is better than being treated so good for nothing. At least I now know he is not doing everything for the goodness of his heart. Well, the kids might be doing it out of goodness but they are kids. But should I take this opportunity? Should I join Leaf? But that would make me a traitor of Suna. Does it even matter though? Suna has already betrayed me. It does not matter if I betray them or not.'

'But I have my own pride and I would not outrightly betray them either apart from joining another village.' Pakura thought before voicing her thoughts to Hiruzen.

"I agree to your proposal Lord Hokage but I have one my own condition. Please don't force me to give intel related to Suna and don't send me on missions that involves Suna. I have my acquaintances and friends there and I don't want to battle them to death."

Hiruzen gave it a thought before agreeing but he had a condition of his own.

"You would have to bear the mark of a curse seal that would prevent you from leaking Konoha secrets that you would come to know. Is it agreeable?" To which Pakura nodded while Hiruzen mentally thanked Danzo in his head for giving him such an idea to have a failsafe present in case Pakura betrays them.

"Welcome Miss Pakura to Konoha. May the Will of Fire burn brightly within you." Hiruzen said as Pakura bowed.

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