Chapter 209

The truth was undeniable: the Sand Village had suffered a crushing defeat, and Konoha now occupied their former camp. This reality gnawed at Pakura, who had spent days demanding to see Shinki, only to be ignored—until now.

The moment she saw him, her pent-up anger exploded. If the seals on her body hadn't suppressed her chakra, she would have launched a fireball at him without hesitation.

Shinki, however, remained unfazed, watching her with an infuriatingly calm smile as she bared her teeth in frustration.

"Why do you think I'd answer your questions?" he asked, his tone almost playful. "You're a prisoner of war. Do you think you're entitled to such privileges?"

"Then what do you want from me? Did you capture me just to taunt me?" she snapped, her frustration mounting.

Shinki's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. He stepped closer, towering over her. "Leave the Sand Village and join me. That's your only way out."

Pakura froze, glaring at him in disbelief.

"Your path back to the Sand Village is gone," he continued, his voice firm. "I've ensured that your fellow captives believe you've betrayed them. When they return, they'll spread those rumors, and by the time they reach the village, your name will be synonymous with treason."

He leaned in slightly, his words cutting deep. "Joining Konoha is your only hope now."

Pakura's lips trembled with rage. "Should I thank you for that?" she hissed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Before Shinki could respond, a voice interrupted them.

"Lord Orochimaru," one of the guards said, bowing respectfully as Orochimaru approached.

Orochimaru glanced at Pakura, wrinkling his nose slightly at her disheveled appearance. "Shinki, do you truly find her... appealing?"

Pakura's eyes blazed with fury, but Orochimaru seemed oblivious, continuing his assessment. "Her current state—unkempt, malnourished, and frankly, unpleasant—doesn't exactly scream 'attractive.'"

Shinki stifled a laugh, shaking his head. "Orochimaru, anyone locked up and neglected for this long would look rough. Give her some food, a bath, and clean clothes, and she'd look quite different."

Pakura's fists clenched as the two men discussed her as though she weren't there. Orochimaru tilted his head, seemingly unconvinced, but changed the subject.

"I received a secret letter from the border camp," Orochimaru said. "It seems the two elders have arrived, and they're in bad shape. The Hokage himself has gone to meet them. Is that true?"

Shinki smirked. "Yes, it's true. Tsunade contacted me recently, suspecting that I was involved in your decision to refuse the rescue. You've got quite the following, Orochimaru—sending you secret updates without informing the Hokage or the elders."

Orochimaru chuckled, amused by the notion. "The Hokage truly is an interesting man."

Pakura, meanwhile, was stunned. The nonchalance with which these two discussed such serious matters left her speechless. Were they really talking about abandoning high-ranking village elders in front of a prisoner?

"Speaking of the Hokage," Shinki said, turning back to Orochimaru, "he's considering replicating our attack strategy. This time, the target would be the Sand Village itself. If the village suffers heavy losses, it might force them to surrender and end the war."

Pakura's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.

Orochimaru laughed again, shaking his head. "And I assume you're going to reject that idea outright?"

"You know me well," Shinki replied with a smirk.

Orochimaru nodded knowingly before taking his leave, leaving Pakura alone with Shinki. She wanted to speak, to demand answers, but her position as a captive silenced her. As Shinki had pointed out, she had no right to Konoha's intelligence.

Still, his next words sent a chill down her spine.

"A few nights ago, a puppet attack devastated the Sand Village's camp. The puppets descended from the sky in the dead of night, self-destructing and causing chaos. It was that attack that forced Chiyo to retreat."

Pakura's face paled as the weight of his words sank in. The Sand Village had been defeated. Their former camp was now Konoha's.

"And now," Shinki continued, his voice calm but menacing, "our Hokage is planning to replicate the attack—but this time, on the Sand Village itself. Do you think your village can survive such a blow?"

Pakura's heart raced as her mind worked frantically. The Sand Village was already struggling with manpower and supplies. A second attack, targeting the village directly, would tip the scales entirely in Konoha's favor. The balance of the war would crumble.

She clenched her fists, trembling with anger and despair. "What does this have to do with me?" she asked finally.

Shinki's words echoed in her mind. If the rumors of her betrayal had already taken root among her comrades, returning to the Sand Village would mean facing condemnation and likely execution.

The reality was crushing. In her village's eyes, she was already a traitor.

>>>>>

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