Chapter 216: Accompanying Her for a Stroll
Pakura took a few steps forward and stopped in front of Kitahara Kaede. A beautiful curve touched the corners of her lips.
"Jonin Kitahara."
There was a hint of intimacy in her voice, a tone meant only for the two of them.
Kaede froze for half a second before quickly recovering and giving a slight nod. "We’re all allies now. Just call me Kaede."
The smile on Pakura’s face deepened noticeably. She tilted her head slightly. "Alright then, Kaede."
Standing behind them, Nagato and Konan exchanged a look, their eyes drifting back and forth between Pakura and Kitahara Kaede.
Konan recalled the way Pakura had looked when they were chatting about the future back in the Hidden Rain Village; she hadn’t been able to hide her expression at all. It was the same in the meeting room just now. Pakura’s gaze had barely left Kaede for a moment. That level of focus didn’t look like someone listening to an ally negotiate terms.
Konan quietly tugged on Nagato’s sleeve and lowered her voice. "Pakura mentioned back in the organization that there was someone she cared about. During the meeting, she couldn’t stop staring at Jonin Kitahara."
Nagato paused for a moment, then understood and nodded slightly.
Pakura was completely oblivious to her companions whispering behind her; her entire world was focused on Kitahara Kaede.
"This is my first time visiting Konoha with my teammates, and I’m completely unfamiliar with the place," Pakura said, blinking with a hint of anticipation in her voice. "Could you show us around?"
Kaede did a quick mental check of his schedule. He didn’t have anything urgent coming up, and Pakura had been a huge help to him in the Hidden Rain Village. It would be unreasonable to refuse such a simple request.
He nodded. "Sure, I happen to be free."
Nagato spoke up at the perfect moment. "When we arrived in Konoha, we sent a message to Teacher Jiraiya. We’ll wait here for him to catch up, so we won’t be joining the tour."
Konan nodded in agreement.
Pakura felt a surge of secret joy. She had thought that even if the other two came along, it would be fine, but she hadn’t expected them to have their own plans. This was better than she had hoped.
Still, she maintained a facade of regret, letting out a soft sigh. "Well, I guess it’ll just be me then." She turned back to Kaede, her voice turning light and airy. "Let’s go."
As Kaede started walking, Pakura naturally fell into step beside him, and the two walked out together.
Once they left the Hokage building, they crossed several streets and arrived at Konoha’s most bustling commercial district. Shops lined both sides of the road. Smoke from a barbecue restaurant drifted through the curtains, carrying a rich, savory aroma. A group of chattering children lined up in front of a dango shop, and the owner of a ninja tool store was neatly arranging newly arrived kunai on the shelves.
Pakura looked around. "Konoha is truly prosperous."
Looking at the dazzling array of goods, her voice carried a note of genuine emotion. "Sunagakure is nothing but endless yellow sand and wind the moment you step outside. And in the Hidden Rain Village, it rains every single day; the streets are always wet."
Kaede’s lips twitched slightly. The environment was indeed better, but living in Konoha meant experiencing the brainwashing of the Will of Fire—and the oppressive nature of the villagers.
He didn’t say that aloud, giving only a casual response. "Every village has a different environment."
Pakura looked away, asking what seemed like a casual question. "What do you usually do when you’re off duty in Konoha?" Her gaze lingered on the side of Kaede’s face. "Do you often accompany girls on shopping trips?"
Kaede’s heart skipped a beat. It sounded like small talk, but he could hear the probe beneath the surface. Simultaneously, Tsunade’s face flashed uncontrollably through his mind.
He forced down the feeling of guilt and kept his voice flat. "I usually spend my time training or doing research. I don’t really go shopping; I just remember a few shops from passing by."
Pakura tilted her head. She had keenly caught the pause in his speech. A woman’s intuition told her he was lying—or rather, he was hiding something.
However, she didn’t call him out. Instead, she teased him with a half-joking tone. "You’re so talented; could it be that there really isn’t a single girl in Konoha who likes you?"
This time, Kaede was truly struggling to keep his composure. He felt as if he were walking a tightrope. On one side was Pakura, to whom he owed a great debt from the simulation and who was helping him in reality. On the other was Tsunade, to whom he had already made a promise in the real world.
He did his best to make his voice sound indifferent. "I’m focused on my missions. I don’t have time to think about things like that."
Pakura didn’t press further. She smiled and looked away as they continued down the street. The atmosphere grew slightly quieter.
As they turned a corner, Pakura stopped. Her gaze drifted through a storefront window, landing on a row of exquisite women’s clothing. It was a high-end boutique, and right in the center of the window hung a pale blue casual dress.
Pakura turned to him, her voice tinged with a hint of helplessness. "The Hidden Rain Village doesn’t have clothing stores this nice. The few things I usually wear are the ones you gave me last time." She paused, her voice softening into a slight plea. "Could you come in and help me pick a few pieces?"
Kaede looked at her. The hope in her eyes made it impossible for him to refuse. "Let’s go."
The two pushed open the door and entered the shop. The owner, a woman in her forties, hurried forward to greet them. "What can I get for you two—"
The woman stopped mid-sentence, her eyes lingering on Pakura’s face for two seconds before shifting to Kaede. A knowing smile appeared on her face—the smile of someone who had seen this a thousand times. "Take your time, take your time. Feel free to try on anything you like."
Pakura nodded and walked straight toward the clothing racks. For some reason, she wanted him to see a different side of her—not the side filled with killing intent, but that of an ordinary, soft woman.
She picked out the pale blue dress from the window and held it up against herself. Then, she turned to Kaede, intentionally softening her voice with a rare, feminine charm. "Does this look good?"
Kaede looked at her. The color of the dress made her white skin look even brighter, and her smooth black hair draped elegantly over her shoulders. The cold hardness had vanished, replaced by a newfound softness. For a brief moment, he found himself dazed.
"It looks great. It suits you perfectly."
The words slipped out almost instinctively. Hearing the praise, a light blush crept onto Pakura’s cheeks, and she couldn’t hide her joy.
She turned back to the mirror, and as she did, she leaned closer to Kaede. Their shoulders were nearly touching, and she could feel the warmth of his body.
Pakura lowered her voice to a whisper that only the two of them could hear. "Thank you, Kaede."
This thank you wasn’t just for the dress. She was thanking him for pulling her out of that destined, deadly end.
Kaede felt the warmth beside him. The string of reason in his mind was being plucked, bit by bit. He forced himself to look away, his voice sounding slightly strained. "You’re welcome."
Seeing his avoidant behavior, the curve of Pakura’s smile deepened.
***
At the main gates of Konoha, Tsunade walked in, looking travel-worn. She went straight to the gate guard, her voice filled with obvious anticipation.
"Is Kitahara Kaede back yet?"
The guard nodded quickly. "Yes, Lady Tsunade. Jonin Kitahara returned quite a while ago."
Tsunade smiled and quickened her pace into the village. She was finally going to get her answer.