"will… will Advisor Gojo be alright?"

"Why hasn't there been any movement for so long?"

Neji Hyuga was worried.

If something happened to Advisor Gojo on his watch, the Hokage would surely hold him accountable. The resulting negative public opinion could even engulf him and the Hyuga clan.

He wouldn't be able to escape the blame for such a grave dereliction of duty.

Neji Hyuga was deeply concerned about Advisor Gojo's solo action.

However, rank had its privileges. For now, they could only maintain a perimeter around the area and wait patiently.

After all, Advisor Gojo was only a Chunin. How could he dare face such a powerful ninja? Even he, a Jonin with the Byakugan, couldn't subdue the opponent.

Judging from the chakra he'd observed with his Byakugan, the opponent was definitely an elite Jonin.

"Just trust him. If he needs reinforcements, Advisor Gojo will signal us immediately."

"I hope so."

"Movement!"

Someone shouted, and all the ninjas' gazes snapped towards the edge of the forest.

They saw-

Advisor Gojo, accompanied by none other than the "intruder," previously identified as an elite Jonin. The intruder wore a jet-black cloak that concealed their form, a strange mask hiding their face, as they walked beside Advisor Gojo.

From their gait and the subtle movements of the cloak, the intruder appeared to be a kunoichi.

Had she taken Advisor Gojo hostage?!

This thought wasn't exclusive to Neji Hyuga. The surrounding Konoha patrol ninjas tightened their grips on their kunai, the atmosphere growing tense.

Clap clap

Amidst the tension, Gojo Kaigetsu clapped his hands, the sharp sound echoing through the forest.

"Alright, alright, the danger is gone. Everyone can stand down."

"This…"

The ninjas exchanged confused glances. Neji Hyuga cautiously inquired, "Advisor Gojo, may I ask who this is beside you?"

"Her? She's…" Gojo Kaigetsu paused, then said slowly, "A secret ninja."

"Huh? A secret ninja? That doesn't seem right, Advisor."

Neji Hyuga instinctively glanced at Fugaku Uchiha.

Wasn't it said that the secret ninja had persecuted the Uchiha clan and even captured Advisor Gojo before? Moreover, weren't the secret ninja part of Root? Why would they be dressed like this and walking openly beside Advisor Gojo?

As one of the two prominent clans in Konoha, Neji Hyuga naturally knew that the "secret ninja" in the rumors were Root, led by Elder Danzo.

"Oh, I misremembered. She's a member of the Shadow Guard."

"A Shadow Guard member? But the Shadow Guard members announced at the Hokage Tower two days ago were Raido Namiashi, Genma Shiranui, and Iwashi Tatami. This one is clearly a woman."

Gojo Kaigetsu's previously amiable and approachable expression suddenly darkened. His face became stern.

"Enough! I gave you an explanation as a courtesy, so you can write your mission report. If you really need a reason, are ten thousand enough for you?"

"Hmph, take it or leave it. Your mission report's word count is doubled! Submit it to my office tonight."

"Let's go!"

With that, Gojo Kaigetsu walked ahead, Pakura closely following behind with small, careful steps.

Pakura seemed unaccustomed to the black cloak, her legs held tightly together as if afraid something might fall out.

"Hey, Advisor, wait!"

Watching Gojo Kaigetsu's retreating figure, Neji Hyuga ultimately held back his words of protest.

He looked pleadingly at Fugaku Uchiha, only to receive a helpless shrug in response.

Once Gojo Kaigetsu was far enough away to be out of earshot, Neji Hyuga grumbled softly, "Advisor Gojo… that's too high-handed! I was just concerned about the village's safety, fulfilling my duties."

Gojo Kaigetsu, as if intentionally making things difficult for Pakura, maintained a brisk pace, always several steps ahead.

As an elite Jonin, Pakura should have been able to keep up with Gojo Kaigetsu's speed, but…

The cold, hard sensation of her Suna headband against her inner thighs made it difficult to concentrate.

If she walked too quickly, the headband would undoubtedly fall to the ground and be soiled by dust.

That… was unacceptable!

It was all Gojo Kaigetsu's fault, forcing her to walk with a headband between her legs!

After about ten more minutes, Pakura, her back slick with sweat, finally caught her breath. The oppressive feeling and the uncomfortable chafing had lessened considerably.

She finally saw it!

In the distance, the gates of Konohagakure came into view, with a long, orderly queue of travelers waiting to enter the village.

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There were significantly more people than usual today.

Among those waiting, she could clearly distinguish well-dressed merchants, likely entering Konoha to purchase valuable goods.

Covered wagons lined the road, their contents hidden beneath cloth. Each merchant gazed at the Hokage Rock with a look of longing.

Being able to see the Hokage Rock meant they were just one step away from Konoha.

'I never thought I would enter Konoha like this.'

A touch of sadness washed over Pakura. Sometimes, she would fantasize about abandoning the village that treated her as a mere pawn, revealing her true strength as an elite Jonin right at Konoha's gates.

Unleashing indiscriminate carnage within Konoha.

It would not only shatter Konoha's prestige, knocking it off its pedestal as the number one hidden village, but it would also be a harsh retaliation against her own village, forcing Konoha to wage war against Sunagakure.

But could she do it? Clearly not.

From the moment one was born into the shinobi world, they were bound by ties. Whether it was the chakra inherited through reincarnation or the nurturing of social instincts…

She could disregard everything and unleash her fury at Konoha's gates, performing one last dance before reinforcements arrived. But what would happen to her Students in Suna?

Would they bear the weight of her actions, sent to Konoha as bargaining chips to suffer humiliation? Or would they be used as disposable pawns in a suicide squad attack against Konoha?

The bonds of humanity had become shackles around Pakura's neck.

Literally.

'But this is fine too.'

'Let go of futile fantasies and start a new chapter. Nudge Suna in the right direction when necessary. That's the last thing I can do for my village.'

Gojo Kaigetsu led Pakura straight past the queue, towards the Konoha VIP lane, attracting envious glances.

Someone muttered, "Why do we have to wait in line, while that guy can just waltz right in with someone?"

The ninja checking temporary green cards immediately barked, "How dare you! Do you know who that is? That's Konoha's Advisor Gojo!"

"Ah… Advisor Gojo." The muttering individual recoiled, their eyes filled with awe.

A ripple of commotion spread through the queue as people craned their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of the renowned legendary figure of Konoha.

Gojo Kaigetsu didn't stop to bask in the admiration of the outsiders. Maintaining an air of mystery was sometimes necessary.

Finally, he led Pakura into Konohagakure.

Pakura, as if stepping into a new world, was deeply awed by the sight before her. A sense of inferiority washed over her.

Beyond Konoha's gates lay the newly built, bustling commercial street, filled with novelties Pakura had never seen before.

Food stalls lined the streets of Konoha's new commercial district, their enticing aromas tempting outsiders like Pakura to stop and savor the delicious smells.

Vendors bustled about, preparing pricey new snacks, offering delicious treats to the visitors. Konoha natives, however, merely glanced at the stalls before heading to their usual local eateries.

The vibrant scene of the commercial street was a feast for Pakura's eyes, showcasing the vitality of the strongest hidden village in the shinobi world.

In Sunagakure, there was only one official bookstore in the entire village. Its collection mostly consisted of outdated books purchased years ago during the Third Kazekage's reign. Only exceptionally popular publications like "Iki" were procured at great cost.

Alternatively, there were unlicensed, clandestine bookstores selling forbidden literature.

But Konoha's new commercial street was different.

Just within this area, Pakura could see three bookstores, with one, the "Green Card Bookstore," standing out with its eye-catching decor.

The reason? The "Green Card Bookstore" displayed the emblems of the four great nations: Wind, Fire, Lightning, Earth, and Water.

It appeared to be an international bookstore, instantly appealing to newcomers who viewed Konoha with the reverence one might hold for a celestial capital, drawing them in with a promise of familiarity and comfort.

Currently, the Green Card Bookstore was packed with sophisticated-looking outsiders, the queue extending out the door.

Those emerging from the bookstore would immediately rush to the neighboring "Green Card Honey Shop."

'Buy books first, then honey? These outsiders… are strange.' Pakura thought to herself.

Her subtle observations didn't escape Gojo Kaigetsu's 360° vision. "Pakura-san, you seem to enjoy reading?"

"It's just a personal hobby."

"In that case, let me show you around Konoha."

Relying solely on the chains of obligation to bind someone wasn't a long-term solution. It might hold them temporarily, but not forever.

If Pakura's ties to Suna were ever severed, she would become a ticking time bomb in Konoha.

Gojo Kaigetsu was a sentimental person. He would inevitably develop feelings for a pet, even a human one, after a long enough time.

To prevent such a disastrous scenario, Gojo Kaigetsu decided to help Pakura forge connections with Konoha.

As they approached the bookstore, boisterous shouts filled with eagerness echoed from within.

"Shopkeeper, give me ten copies of 'The Academy Years: Collector's Edition'! Here's 200,000 ryō, keep the change!"

The booming voice of the bookstore owner was even louder and more assertive. "Not for sale! Didn't you see the notice? Each person can only purchase seven copies of 'The Academy Years: Collector's Edition' with a temporary green card per transaction. No more than that!"

Oh, this portly fellow.

Gojo Kaigetsu looked at the sweating shopkeeper with surprise. This guy was actually employing scarcity marketing tactics.

"Damn it, why?! Fine, seven copies it is then."

The buyer's hands moved quickly, snatching six 10,000 ryō notes from the stack of cash. Too impatient to wait for change, they rushed towards the honey shop next door without looking back.

Pakura watched in bewilderment.

"Seven books… 140,000 ryō? 20,000 ryō per book? What kind of book sells for so much?"

Pakura was astounded. This price… even a D-rank mission in Suna wouldn't guarantee enough earnings to buy a single book from this Konoha bookstore.

Even D-rank missions in Sunagakure were fraught with danger, unlike the trivial tasks available in Konoha.

The price of this book was exorbitant, and the buyers were clearly outsiders. What kind of magic did Konoha possess to make outsiders so readily part with their cash?

Pakura's gaze shifted to the top shelf, where a gold-embossed cover caught her eye: "'The Academy Years: Collector's Edition,' Official Retail Price: 178,000 ryō/copy."

'So expensive… And it's a book I've never heard of in Suna.'

"Hey, want to buy any books? Pick anything you like. Consider it a welcome gift from me to my… pet."

"…" Pakura ignored the insulting term and asked, "Do you have 'Iki'?"

"Oh, we don't carry 'Iki.' 'Iki' is prohibited from being sold within the Land of Fire. If found, it's treated as forbidden literature."

"Huh? Why is that? Isn't 'Iki' published by a publishing house in the Land of Fire?"

Gojo Kaigetsu shrugged, shifting the blame. "Who knows? You'd have to ask the person in charge at the publishing house."

"Then… I'll take a copy of 'The Academy Years.'"

Pakura settled for the second best, her curiosity piqued by the book that had caused such a frenzy among outsiders.

"Shopkeeper, one copy of 'The Academy Years.'"

Gojo Kaigetsu raised his hand casually, his tone relaxed.

"Show your temporary green card to purchase books! How many times do I have to say it?!" the shopkeeper shouted without looking up.

Suddenly, as if realizing something, he stiffly raised his head. His gaze, filled with a mixture of gratitude and fear, met Gojo Kaigetsu's subtly amused expression.

He hurriedly rubbed his hands, personally retrieving a pristine copy of "The Academy Years" from the shelf and handing it to Gojo Kaigetsu.

"Oh, of course, of course. I already had one set aside for you. How could I possibly ask you to 'buy' it? That would be disrespectful."

"Here's your book."

Gojo Kaigetsu casually accepted the book and passed it to Pakura, again attracting surprised stares.

A disgruntled backpacker among the outsiders called out, "Why doesn't he have to show a temporary green card?"

The shopkeeper glanced sideways at the backpacker, not even bothering to look him in the eye.

"That gentleman is the one who issues the green cards. Show some respect!"

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