Chapter 196: I'm Screwed
The evening breeze swept through the woods.
Holding a cloth bundle, Kitahara Kaede stopped outside a derelict cave. Vines draped over the entrance, obscuring most of the opening. From the outside, the place was indeed unremarkable.
Kaede didn't rush inside. He first circled the perimeter of the cave, and only after confirming there were no anomalies did he push aside the vines and enter.
The interior was dim. The light leaking in from the entrance only illuminated a section of the rough rock wall; the deeper recesses were swallowed by shadows, rendering them invisible.
Kaede scanned the area, his brow furrowing. No one was there.
He stopped in his tracks. 'Did she leave? Did she change her mind and decide I'm untrustworthy?'
Just as the thought surfaced, a faint sound echoed from above.
Kaede looked up. Pakura dropped from the overhead rock wall, landing right in front of him. She landed silently, a kunai still gripped in her right hand. Once she recognized him, the wariness in her expression softened.
Kaede glanced upward. There was a protruding ledge of rock in a tricky position, perfectly situated in the blind spot of anyone entering the cave. If pursuers had come in, Pakura could have struck from there and killed at least one of them instantly.
"Nice hiding spot," Kaede remarked.
Pakura didn't respond to the comment. Instead, she glanced at the cave entrance and then at the bundle in his hand.
"What is that?"
Kaede handed the bundle to her. "A change of clothes."
Pakura froze.
Kaede added, "You rushed all the way from the Land of Wind; you probably didn't have time to prepare. Besides, the outfit you're wearing is far too conspicuous. It's time for a change."
Pakura stared at the bundle, hesitant to reach for it.
Over the past few days, she had spent every moment hiding and fighting her way through enemy lines. The Sunagakure shinobi who once called her "Lady Pakura" now saw her as nothing more than a mission target.
And yet, Kitahara Kaede had come to meet her, and he had actually thought of something like this.
Looking at the bundle, the cold void in Pakura's chest finally thawed a little. She took the package from him. The fabric inside was clean and the colors were muted—perfect for traveling and staying hidden.
As Pakura looked through the clothes, her movements suddenly stopped; It was perfect size. After a moment, she looked back at Kaede.
Caught off guard by her gaze, Kaede blinked. "What's wrong?"
Pakura's ears began to flush. The image of that inn flashed through her mind. The warmth she had felt moments ago was instantly replaced by a wave of embarrassment and irritation. She felt a sudden urge to hurl the clothes back at him.
But he had done this out of kindness.
Pakura took a deep breath, forcing the irritation down. "It's nothing."
Seeing her expression turn cold so abruptly, Kaede became even more confused. Just as he was about to ask, Pakura pulled the bundle to her side.
"Let's get to the point," she said, glancing toward the cave entrance. "What do you think I should do next?"
Kaede cast aside his curiosity. "Disappear. Go to the Land of Rain and join an organization called Akatsuki."
Pakura frowned.
The Land of Rain. Hanzo's territory.
After the Second Great Ninja War, that country had been repeatedly trampled by the Land of Fire, Wind, and Earth. Even now, it was far from stable. She didn't argue immediately, waiting instead for Kaede to continue.
Kaede traced a few lines on the ground. "The Land of Rain is chaotic, but there's an advantage to that chaos. It's full of shinobi, refugees, and mercenaries. As long as you assume a new identity, no one will scrutinize you closely for a while."
Pakura understood his logic.
Kaede continued, "Furthermore, you don't have to pledge yourself to Hanzo. There is a fledgling organization called Akatsuki. Its leader is named Yahiko, an idealist. They are short on manpower and are willing to accept people who have been driven to a dead end by war. If you change your identity, they won't dig too deep into your past. And..."
Pakura remained silent for a moment. This arrangement sounded well-thought-out; he had clearly done his research on the situation.
However, Kaede hadn't finished his sentence.
Pakura looked at him. "And what?"
Kaede didn't hesitate. "And I need you to go there and help me keep an eye on the organization."
Silence filled the cave.
Pakura realized that he wasn't simply offering her a sanctuary. He was offering her a position where she could be useful to him. From this perspective, his suggestion looked a lot like exploitation.
But she didn't feel any resentment. Sunagakure had exploited her as well. At least Kaede was honest about his motives. That was far more reassuring than empty, pretty words.
Pakura looked down at the bundle. In a sense, he was the one who had saved her life.
She looked up. "Fine. I'll go."
Kaede nodded. With the business settled, Pakura began planning her route.
"Today is July 31st. By the time I get there, join Akatsuki, and settle in, it will take about half a month. We can meet at the border of the Land of Rain at the end of August. Does that work?"
Kaede's expression froze. He didn't hear a single word she said after that.
'July 31st?'
'Then in two days, it will be August 2nd...'
Tsunade's birthday.
Kaede mentally replayed the events of the last two days.
No wonder she had specifically changed her clothes today. No wonder she had been waiting for him on the street corner first thing in the morning. No wonder she had said there was something very important.
And he had actually asked her if it was happening today.
'I'm screwed.'
Kaede recalled the way the smile had vanished from Tsunade's face, the way she had asked, "Is it that urgent?" and how she had still told him to stay safe in the end. At the time, his mind had been entirely occupied by Pakura's pursuers and her resettlement; the birthday hadn't even crossed his mind.
Worse still, he had been in such a rush when he went to the clothing store that he hadn't bothered to disguise himself. He had just canceled his plans with Tsunade and immediately turned around to buy women's clothes.
If that news reached Tsunade...
Sweat broke out on Kaede's forehead.
Noticing something was wrong, Pakura asked, "What happened to you?"
Kaede snapped back to reality, suppressing the panic on his face. "Nothing."
Pakura watched him for a moment. "You don't look like 'nothing' is happening."
Kaede forced a smile and steered the conversation back. "The end of August works. The Land of Rain border. I'll contact you with the specifics when the time comes."
Pakura nodded, slung the bundle over her shoulder, and walked toward the entrance. Before parting the vines, she paused.
"Kitahara Kaede."
"Yeah?"
Pakura looked back at him. "Thank you." She paused, then added, "For the clothes, too."
Kaede was silent for a moment. "Be careful on the road."
Pakura looked at him, her expression softening. "Until next time."
She pushed through the vines and quickly disappeared into the forest.
Kaede remained standing there, unable to leave immediately. Pakura's situation was stable for now, and he had successfully planted a lead within Akatsuki. This should have been a moment of relief.
But he now faced a much larger problem.
Kaede pressed a hand to his brow. Did Tsunade know he bought women's clothes?
If she didn't, there was still hope.
If she did...