Pakura

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Even the mudslides on the ground seemed to calm down without the influence of ninjutsu.

Yamanosatsu lowered his head. The arrogance from moments ago was gone, replaced by a more subdued demeanor. He gently pulled Pakura closer, making a protective gesture.

"Lord Muzan," he murmured.

The stark contrast in Yamanosatsu's attitude surprised everyone. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist stared at the figure slowly emerging from the fog.

"What kind of trickery is this?" Jūzō Biwa muttered, drawing his Executioner's Blade as he fixed his gaze on Muzan, who was walking out of the mist.

Pakura, lying injured on the ground, also saw Muzan approaching and couldn't help but murmur to herself, "Those eyes..."

From Muzan's eyes and hair, Pakura felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Could this person be related to the child Yamanosatsu mentioned earlier? She realized that the Land of Wind might be targeting her because of that child. But she hadn't expected that a child could cause such a huge disturbance.

"Are you the parent of that child?" she asked instinctively. But instead of getting an answer, she was petrified by Muzan's chilling response.

"No," Muzan said, lowering his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the severely injured Pakura. "But thank you for taking care of him."

He added, "In return, I'll give you a new life."

Muzan slowly crouched down, opening a mouth-like slit in his palm. His sharp teeth bit through the superficial muscles of Pakura's skin, sending his blood straight to her heart.

Yamanosatsu watched enviously. Their strength was directly proportional to the amount of Muzan's blood they received and their own potential. The more blood they obtained, the stronger they became, allowing them to reach new levels of power.

A cold force invaded Pakura's lungs, pouring into her heart like invisible hands grasping her beating organ. As someone with a special bloodline, Pakura's essence began merging with Muzan's blood, causing a burning sensation throughout her body.

Even Muzan was not immune to this pain, but under his deliberate control, Pakura quickly passed through the madness that accompanied the transformation.

Pakura, curled up in agony, couldn't help but tremble. The pain was unbearable, and even her iron will eventually succumbed to the overwhelming force. But within moments, all her injuries were healed, leaving no scars behind.

This terrifying healing speed shocked the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

"Just as I suspected," Jūzō muttered, watching the scene intently. "She's healing her body in seconds. If they all have this ability, it would be nearly impossible to kill them."

"This isn't looking good," Kurosuki Raiga murmured. Though his blasts could cause significant damage, they weren't enough to be fatal. He exchanged a glance with the others.

The scene fell into a brief silence. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen didn't make a move, and the ordinary Kirigakure shinobi nearby were far too weak to join this battle.

"Very good," Muzan said, his voice cold and commanding. "You are indeed worthy of being one of my Twelve Demon Moons."

"If you can withstand the power I've bestowed upon you, then from today on, you'll begin a new life. Welcome, Pakura."

Muzan stretched out his hand as if offering an invitation. Despite Pakura's agony, he pulled her up.

Pakura, now transformed into a demon, understood why Yamanosatsu was so respectful. Her body now brimmed with power. More importantly, all the hidden injuries she had accumulated over years of missions and training had vanished the moment she turned.

The restless blood within her body burned like fire, and she even had the sensation that she could summon flames without using chakra.

"She's already showing signs of awakening a blood demon technique," Muzan noted, feeling the rise in Pakura's body temperature and the power surging through her blood.

At this point, Yamanosatsu knew there was no comparison between him and Pakura. The more unique the bloodline, the greater the strength after merging with Muzan's blood. And whatever blood demon technique she awakened would likely be more offensive in nature, possibly resembling the ice techniques of previous Demon Moons.

Undoubtedly, Pakura was now strong enough to be considered an Upper Rank demon. All that remained was time and the further development of her bloodline. For demons, time was not a concern.

"You don't need to be envious," Muzan remarked, sensing the jealousy in Yamanosatsu. "Blood demon techniques, like ninjutsu, have no strongest form, only the strongest user."

Despite Yamanosatsu's blood demon technique being powerful in its own right, when all his eyes were open, he could predict the enemy's next move. This was a realm of mastery where everything within it was under control.

Within a minute, Pakura had recovered, now fully understanding the situation.

"Thank you," she said, her pride evident even as she acknowledged Muzan. Unlike Yamanosatsu, Pakura did not cower before Muzan but regarded him with respect.

Muzan didn't seem to care about her attitude. Instead, he pointed at the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and said lightly, "Now that you've been reborn and accepted your new identity, you are the Sixth Rank of the Twelve Demon Moons. I expect you to become the First Rank as soon as possible."

"Now, show Kirigakure the terror of the Twelve Kizuki."

"Yes," Pakura replied.

Transformed into a demon, Pakura no longer feared the slashes of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Her ninjutsu, now enhanced by her demonic power, was far more terrifying than Yamanosatsu's.

At this moment, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen knew they could no longer hold back. They raised their swords in unison, fully aware that this was going to be an incredibly difficult battle.

"Attack!" Jūzō shouted.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen launched a coordinated assault on Pakura and Yamanosatsu. Their combined might would have overwhelmed any ordinary elite Jōnin, likely killing them within ten rounds.

But Pakura's newfound demonic healing abilities meant this battle would be anything but straightforward. It was bound to be a long, grueling fight.

"Damn it!" Raiga cursed, realizing that this battle wasn't going to end quickly. Beyond the two they were fighting, there was another powerful presence—Muzan, the mastermind behind it all.

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