Chapter 151

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"Ugh, I'm really busy right now!" Toshiro muttered, frustrated, as Pakura lost consciousness yet again. This second fainting spell wasn't a good sign. Given her current state, even a small mistake could be fatal. But he knew this was partly his fault.

Without wasting time, he swiftly carried Pakura back into the wooden house, gently placing her on the bed. He couldn't afford to be distracted by her beauty and immediately focused on assessing her condition.

"Thank goodness she's strong; otherwise, things could have turned out much worse," he sighed in relief after carefully checking her vitals. After wiping the sweat from his brow, Toshiro finally relaxed a bit.

His eyes lingered on Pakura as she lay there, unconscious but serene. She looked like a fragile flower, quietly blooming, with her pale face and eyes shut tight.

Even in her unconscious state, her slender eyebrows were slightly furrowed, revealing a subtle sadness and loneliness. Her long hair, disheveled and spread across the cold sheets, resembled a still ink painting, capturing her indescribable beauty tinged with sorrow.

Her hands, delicate and fragile, hung limply, like withered catkins swaying gently in the breeze. The chill in her fingertips was reminiscent of winter frost, imbued with a melancholic allure.

The white half-undershirt, borrowed from Toshiro, draped over her form, accentuated her vulnerability rather than concealing her beauty. It amplified her frailty and the haunting grace of her condition.

She appeared like a forgotten masterpiece, stirring Toshiro's heart with a profound sense of regret as he gazed at her.

"Rasa, that fool, deserved his fate at the hands of Orochimaru," Toshiro muttered to himself. "And the higher-ups of Sunagakure... they deserve their downfall, becoming nothing more than Konoha's vassals."

Although ninjas are often considered mere tools, these fools fail to realize that Suna's foundation is fragile, not like Konoha's, which can endure endless hardships. A rare talent finally emerges, only to be foolishly sacrificed.

After carefully tidying Pakura's disheveled hair and clothes, Toshiro, without any ulterior motives, covered her with a quilt and quietly left the room.

When Pakura opened her eyes again, the morning light filled the room. This time, however, she didn't rush to get up. She remained lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling with lifeless eyes, lost in thought, too dazed to even blink.

Squeak!

The door creaked, its hinges stiff from long neglect, and the sound snapped Pakura out of her trance.

Toshiro frowned as he watched Pakura, who briefly glanced at him before retreating back into her silent state. He found himself oddly missing the fierce woman who had been threatening to kill him just yesterday—at least she had some fire in her.

But now... Is she in shock, unable to accept the betrayal by her own village?

"It's time to eat," he said, trying to sound more gentle. "With your current condition, if you don't get some nutrition soon, you probably won't last long."

"..."

"Even if you want revenge, it won't help if you're not healthy. If you want justice, you have to start by taking care of yourself."

"..."

Still no response.

Toshiro sighed, feeling out of his depth. Comforting people had never been his strong suit.

"Don't drown yourself in sorrow. It won't change anything. Starving yourself to death won't make those people regret what they did, not even a little," Toshiro said, his voice firm but not unkind.

He brought the spoonful of warm seafood porridge closer to Pakura's lips. The aroma of the food wafted up, but Pakura barely glanced at it before turning her head away, clearly indicating that she didn't need his concern.

"If that's how it is... then I guess I'll have to do something about it," Toshiro muttered, his tone shifting to something more playful as he flashed Pakura a mischievous smile.

Seeing her stubborn refusal, he knew he had to resort to more drastic measures.

"What are you doing? I don't need your pity!" Pakura snapped as Toshiro wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. For the first time in a while, she began to struggle, her body reacting instinctively to the unwanted intimacy.

Even the lifeless expression she had worn since waking up suddenly became more animated.

However, her struggles were no match for Toshiro.

"Don't move," he murmured, holding Pakura steady with one hand. Noticing that she looked better than she had the day before, he added calmly, "I went to a lot of trouble to make this porridge. If it spills on your clothes..." He paused, letting his words linger before continuing, "I'll just have to help you change into something else."

With that, Toshiro flashed a slightly mischievous smile, watching for Pakura's reaction.

Upon hearing the words "change clothes," Pakura's struggles grew even more intense.

"Don't move... or something might spill!" Toshiro warned, trying to maintain his composure.

He held the bowl of seafood porridge in one hand while his other arm wrapped around her shoulders, practically cradling her upper body. With all her thrashing, some inevitable physical contact occurred, with the loose clothing she wore making her assets all the more noticeable to him.

If she hadn't been in such poor health, he might have lost control entirely.

"Just drink it!" he urged, his voice firm yet tinged with underlying tension.

Sensing something unusual about Toshiro, Pakura abruptly stopped struggling, her face flushing with embarrassment. Seizing the moment, Toshiro brought the bowl of porridge closer to her lips, hoping to distract her.

Gurgle!

The scent of food caused Pakura's stomach to rumble, betraying her after going without nourishment for so long. Her body seemed to urge her to eat and soothe the emptiness gnawing at her insides.

"I can eat it myself!" Pakura's cold demeanor faltered, and the despair that had gripped her upon waking slowly dissipated. She tried to take control of the situation, addressing Toshiro.

"Hmm? What did you just say?" Toshiro asked, leaning in closer. Her voice had been so faint and weak—a mix of exhaustion and the effects of his close proximity—that he hadn't caught her words clearly.

Pakura ignored his questions, grasping the bowl in Toshiro's hand with her own and began to eat in small, measured bites.

Seeing that she was eating on her own, Toshiro released her shoulders and prepared to leave the room. He wasn't particularly fond of taking care of others, even if the person in question was a beautiful woman.

Gurgle~ Gurgle~

Pakura's stomach protested loudly, clearly dissatisfied with the small bites she was taking and the insufficient amount of food in the bowl.

Toshiro couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sound, which only served to irritate Pakura as she continued eating, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.

In the evening, a bright bonfire crackled quietly on the beach where Toshiro had first arrived on the island. The flames danced in rhythm with the gentle sea breeze, casting flickering shadows on the sand.

A meter-long sea fish was roasting over the fire, its skin crisping as Toshiro carefully applied oil and seasonings. The enticing aroma of the grilled fish filled the air, wafting around the campsite.

Pakura, having regained some of her strength, no longer needed Toshiro's attentive care. She was now able to get up and eat on her own. Sitting across from Toshiro, she watched the flickering flames in silence, lost in thought.

"Why did you happen to be near Kirigakure and end up saving me?" Pakura suddenly asked, breaking the silence. Although Toshiro had taken advantage of her in some ways, she couldn't deny that he had indeed saved her life.

"I heard that Sunagakure and Kirigakure had some secret deals, so the Hokage sent me to investigate," Toshiro replied, his tone casual. "I just didn't expect that the famous Scorch Release Pakura would be betrayed by her own village. The actions of Sunagakure are truly surprising."

Of course, he wasn't about to admit that his real reason for taking on the mission was the possibility that she might die. That was why he had accepted the task from the Third Hokage and come to Kirigakure in the first place.

"Stop mentioning my village!" Pakura snapped.

No matter how much she resented Sunagakure right now, it was still the place where she had grown up. She could harbor hatred for it, but hearing Toshiro, an outsider, speak so dismissively of her village filled her with anger. Especially now, when just the mention of her village's name was enough to stir up her rage.

"Whatever! You troublesome woman," Toshiro muttered, surprised that even after being betrayed, she still felt compelled to defend the village that had raised her.

"What are you planning to do now?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern. "If you go back after all this, it won't end well for you."

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