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  ...

  "A bowl of clear broth ramen, ing right up~"

  Ayame pced a steaming bowl of clear broth ramen oable, finally having the time to look up at the ers.

  One was Advisojo… and the other was a strange person cloaked in bck. Of course, such attire wasn't unusual for a ninja, so Ayame didn't think much of it.

  She pulled out her newly purchased copy of "Three Years in the Ninja Academy" and, after getting Gojo Kaigetsu's autograph, left tentedly.

  "Here's your clear broth rame up," Gojo Kaigetsu said, gesturing with his .

  Pakura csped her hands together in prayer before pig up her chopsticks. As she lifted the firm noodles, watg the swirling steam, her thoughts drifted far away.

  After a long moment, she lifted her mask slightly, revealing her delicate lips as she slowly brought the noodles to her mouth.

  The sed, tears streamed down her face.

  The ramen… it was bittersweet.

  "Seriously? Reag to a bowl of ramen like it's some mystical draught of fetting."

  Gojo Kaigetsu watched, speechless. Pakura's reaade him seem like some unfivable monster.

  These shinobi and their dramatids… Gojo Kaigetsu doubted he would ever uand.

  If their roles were reversed, and a powerful kunoichi tried to put a dog colr on him, Gojo Kaigetsu would probably snap on the spot. A vilge's bonds, a student's bonds… none of that mattered more than his own pride.

  People could ruly empathize with each other.

  Slurp, slurp~

  Pakura ate the firm noodles, mouthful after mouthful.

  Despite the ck of seasoning, the ramen, coupled with her feelings of ato, tasted incredibly delicious.

  Yes, Pakura was atoning for her vilge, apologizing to the mother awo children at Ichiraku Ramen who had lost their family.

  The emotions of shinobi ran deep.

  Pakura fihe st drop of broth, set the bowl down, and said calmly, "I'm finished."

  "Now that you're finished, shouldn't we do some… adult things?"

  "…As you wish."

  …

  …

  [....-TOP SECRET UNICATION....-]

  [....-UNSEAL WARNING....-]

  [Year 51 of Kumogakure, Recipient: Samu

  [Mabui: Samui, regarding the intel you provided a few days ago, "The Konoha Report," the Kumogakure Elder cil, after deliberation, has decided to establish our own publication, "The Pravda." Your intelligence work was highly praised during the Kumogakure meeting.]

  [Furthermore, the cil hopes you will tinue your excellent work and swiftly sabotage the Konoha-Kirigakure alliance.]

  ...

  *Gojo Estate*

  Samui sat alone on her bed, carefully reading Mabui's reply.

  A few nights prior, she had transmitted the intel.

  The Elder cil had been urging the Raikage to establish a "Greater Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Sphere." Though the Raikage himself was more focused on strengthening the vilge's military might, he couldn't withstand the cil's unified will and had relutly agreed to their proposal.

  The Co-Prosperity Sphere pn rogressing smoothly.

  In just one month, the funds provided to surrounding smaller vilges had reached a staggering ten billion ryō in cash.

  This was just the direct cash aid; there was also untracked support in the form of ninja tools, jutsu dissemination, and ninja poverty alleviatirams…

  Watg the vilge funds dwindle pained A.

  That money… it was his money!

  However, material aid alone was insuffit. The Kumogakure Elder cil had been searg for any overlooked aspects. This time, there were no simple formus to follow.

  Evehirty-Six Stratagems" offered no relevant examples.

  Samui's intel had resolved their dilemma.

  Like parting the clouds to reveal the clear sky, it had shown the cil what they had been ing-the intangible terpart to the material:

  The spiritual!

  The spiritual, in other words, culture or ideology.

  Simply providing aid aing the members of the Co-Prosperity Sphere suck Kumogakure dry wouldn't do. What if they ended up nurturing a pack of ungrateful wolves?

  It was essential to instill gratitude and reverehin the member vilges! While Kumogakure's greatness was self-evident, it could be implied, but it shouldn't be fotten.

  a representative figure of the cil, smacked his thigh. Following the model of Konoha's "Konoha Report," Kumogakure's publication, aimed at unifying the ideological front, needed a more resounding name.

  And so, Kumogakure's The Pravda was born.

  Its tent would primarily focus on praising Kumogakure's greatness and achievements, specifically highlighting the rapid development of the vilges within the Co-Prosperity Sphere, rep on auspicious events, and vehemently critig Konoha's ugliness and backwardness.

  Kumogakure was the rising star of the shinobi world! Joining the Greater Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Sphere meant embrag the new era!

  To unify the ideological front, Elder, with a graure, disregarding the literacy rate of his vilge, decred a decree: mandatory subscription for all Kumogakure administrative departments, veying the absolute ay authority of the Raikage Tower.

  Kumogakure's unities and streets were also tasked with allog The Pravda purchases. Whether they read it or not, the distribution numbers had to be eo guarahe vilge's will reached every er.

  All registered Kumogakure ninja would have a portion of their mission rewards automatically deducted in exge for a copy of the current issue of The Pravda. The remaining funds would cover the publication costs.

  Within the Co-Prosperity Sphere, administrative personnel from member vilges outside Kumogakure were also required to have a copy of The Pravda. Of course, this cost was also covered by the mission rewards of Kumogakure ninjas.

  Those who genuinely wao keep a copy of The Pravda could purchase it from bookstores. However, finding a copy in a bookstore required a thh sear the nooks and ies; it wasn't promily dispyed like "Iki."

  Through these measures, The Pravda's circution reached astonishing figures.

  Even the widespread distribution of "Iki" across the Freat Nations paled in parison.

  On the day the circution figures were tallied, the Kumogakure Elder cil gathered in the Raikage Tower, raising their gsses of muscle-enhang tonics, celebrating their resounding victory in unifying the ideological front!

  Now, the matter of ideological unity within Kumogakure and the Greater Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Sphere was pletely resolved… or so they thought.

  Samui, of course, was unaware of these specific policies.

  She simply felt a warm, fuzzy feeling in her chest upon seeing the Elder cil adopt her suggestion. It felt validating.

  Alone in Konoha, she was studying their advanced and valuable systems, reying them back to her vilge.

  Judging by the efficy with which they established the neer, the vilge elders weren't stubborn old fools; they could objectively reize Konoha's advas.

  That was enough!

  If this tinued, Kumogakure would surely rise to greatness once more!

  "Whew…"

  Samui exhaled, feeling a sense of crity. The frustratiojo Kaigetsu's advances dissipated somewhat.

  Click-

  The sound of the front door unlog echoed. Like a well-trained dog responding to its master's bell, Samui immediately pstered a gentle smile on her face.

  "Wele home, Kai…"

  Before she could finish, the smile froze on her face.

  Gojo Kaigetsu had brought another woman home!

  Wait… why "another"? Was she subsciously ting her previous Tsu as another woman?

  Even though the person beside Gojo Kaigetsu was cloaked in bck, Samui's elite ANBU training, her infiltration skills, and her finely honed femiuition all screamed-

  The figure trailing Gojo Kaigetsu was a woman!

  This guy… had he no shame?

  Samui pursed her lips, anger simmering within her. Even a inja had a temper. Gojo Kaigetsu's btant disregard for her feelings, repeatedly bringing other women before her, showed no respect!

  First, he used the vilge's moo buy a house for that hussy from Kirigakure. Then he made her py those embarrassing games dressed as Tsunade. Now, he was fgrantly bringing home a mysterious woman…

  This was unbearable!

  Samui took the initiative. "Kaigetsu-kun… who is this young dy beside you?"

  "Oh, her? She's not here to break up our home; she's here to join us. Ai, you're not angry, are you?"

  Samui: ???

  Pakura: ??

  Wait, wasn't the Gojo Kaigetsu depicted in "Iki" a vilge-devoted, selfless, and ambitious ninja?

  Pakura gnced between Samui and Gojo Kaigetsu. Was she part of some strange game?

  Samui's anger was clearly written on her face. Her lips parted slightly, but words failed her.

  She simply crossed her arms, pursing her lips and staring ily at the masked Pakura.

  Silence. Sulking. Letting Gojo Kaigetsu guess.

  "Oh, Ai, don't misuand~"

  "When I said 'join,' I didn't mean as my woman, joining this family."

  "What? Not as your woman?"

  Samui froze, a scary thought fshing through her mind, draining the color from her face.

  The figure beside Gojo Kaigetsu was definitely a woman. Knowing him, bringing a woman home… iably implied a certain kind of retionship.

  But if not as his woman, then only… as his "man"… could it be?

  Samui recalled a forbidden topic covered during her ANBU training in Kumogakure-

  Women… could also py that role.

  She had endured catering to Gojo Kaigetsu's unusual preferences, but perf with another woman in front of him? Absolutely not!

  She would genuinely lose her temper.

  Gojo Kaigetsu scratched his head, puzzled by Samui's expression.

  He felt that ever siheir enter at the Konoha Hospital, Samui's mind had been filled with an inexplicable amount of inappropriate thoughts!

  "Alright, alright, stop guessing."

  "e on, Pakura, greet your… well, master. Call her Master Ai."

  Yes, one male master, one female master. While Pakura owerful, Gojo Kaigetsu valued seniority. The order of arrival couldn't be messed with.

  Master?

  Pakura looked at Samui. Judging by her smooth skin, she robably not evey years old. Calling a woman youhan herself "Master"?

  Pakura remained silent for a moment, then sighed deeply, accepting her fate as a pet.

  She removed her hood, revealing her e-green hair. Her cloak fell to the floor with a thud, exposing her dazzlingly fair bad the exquisite leather pet colr.

  Then, her fingers gripped her mask, slowly removing it in front of Samui.

  She murmured, "Master Ai~"

  It was her!!!

  Samui's pupils stricted, her mind reeling in shock.

  The intelligence departments of every vilge kept records of powerful ninja from other vilges as key individuals to monitor. Pakura, the Hero of Suna, was naturally among them.

  The moment she saw Pakura's face, the information Samui had on her resurfaced-

  [Pakura, Female, 27 years old]

  [Kekkei Genkai: Scorch Release, Elite Jonin]

  [At the age of thirteen, as a key ninja nurtured by Sunagakure, she participated in the Sed Shinobi World War, beginning to make a name for herself…]

  'Even though you're an enemy, you're quite impressive.' Such thoughts were on.

  This powerful and prestigious kunoichi had even been a figure of admiration for younger kunoichi like Samui.

  After the era of the Sannin, she was the only kunoichi with parable renown.

  But now, reality presented her with Pakura, the Hero of Suna, wearing a pet colr, nontly addressing her, Samui, as "Master"?

  First, the veteran kunoichi Tsunade had a questioionship with Gojo Kaigetsu, and now this -geion kunoichi role model had bee his pet.

  What the hell was wrong with this shinobi world?

  Samui had never fouy so absurd.

  Suddenly, she felt her own position threatened, a sense of crisis welling up within her.

  To pete with Terumi Mei for favor, she had already abandoned her pride and used Lightning Release: Lariat on Gojo Kaigetsu… Now, with Pakura's appearance, what sacrifices would she have to make to stay ahead in this petition?

  Ay washed over Samui.

  Yet, she quickly posed herself. "Eh… Pa-Pakura-san."

  "Good!"

  Gojo Kaigetsu cpped his hands together. "Now that you've aowledged the retionship, you two should get along well. From now on, at home, Ai, you o treat Pakura well~"

  "…What is going on? Why… has Pakura-san bee your… pet, Kaigetsu-kun?"

  Samui felt incredibly awkward.

  Although the kunoichi she once admired was now calling her "Master," she felt no joy.

  Instead, she felt… as if her entire past had been violently shattered by Gojo Kaigetsu.

  Moreover, Pakura's presence as a pet in the home of the Hokage's advisojo Kaigetsu, implied a hidden political transa, didn't it?

  Samui khanks to the Heart-to-Heart unication Jutsu, that Kumogakure was f a military alliah Sunagakure.

  Gojo Kaigetsu caught the emotions swirling in Samui's eyes. A pyful smirk curved his lips as he replied ambiguously,

  "That's a long story."

  "Ai, are you sure you want to hear it?"

  ...

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