"She's alive, of course."
Shin's lips curled into a half-smile. "I've got her locked away in the deepest level of the prison, where I whip and interrogate her daily…"
Kakashi gave a slight nod.
"There's something else. The Hidden Sand has sent envoys…"
As he spoke, Kakashi's voice dropped to a hushed tone.
"They seem to want to ransom back their so-called hero."
"Third Hokage and the others appear to be leaning toward agreeing. Sensei wanted to know what you think."
Shin cast a subtle glance at Kakashi.
He gave a slight nod, signaling he understood.
After a few more moments of idle chatter, Kakashi's figure flickered and vanished from sight.
Shin watched his silhouette disappear into the distance.
A strange smile crept across his face as he turned and began walking deeper into the prison.
Clang!
He shut the heavy prison gate behind him.
Once more, he descended into his private dungeon.
The anguished cries of prisoners echoed around him, but Shin paid them no mind.
He walked straight to the lowest level.
Creak…
He pushed open a black iron door and stepped inside.
There stood Pakura, fully clothed and composed.
Shin rolled his eyes. "What's this??"
"Hmph!"
Pakura turned her head away, refusing to acknowledge him.
Being strung along like a roller coaster, never reaching the peak… he was despicable.
She didn't want to speak to this bastard anymore.
She simply glared at him with eyes brimming with hate.
"What's with that look again? Thinking of killing me? Again?" Shin said casually. "Didn't work last time, did it? You ended up being the one investigated instead. Was it worth it?"
He stepped closer, raising a hand with a flick.
The door closed behind them with a soft thud and locked itself without a breeze.
Pakura remained silent, her eyes burning with murderous intent.
Ever since she'd been captured and brought to the Hidden Leaf, she had been subjected to this man's cruel whims, defiled night after night, lashed until her body trembled.
And yet, every time… there was that strange feeling.
As if her soul had left her body, soaring far beyond the clouds…
"Pakura, we've grown rather close, haven't we?" Shin said, bowing his head slightly. "I should thank you. Without your company, I might've lost my mind by now."
Pakura—genius Scorch Release kunoichi of the Hidden Sand, once a top contender for the Kazekage seat alongside Rasa, the Fourth.
Shin had just told Kakashi he kept her imprisoned in the lowest level of the Leaf's prison, subjecting her to daily torture.
But in truth, Pakura had never seen the inside of a cell.
She'd been hidden in his chambers all along, sharing his bed every night, their bodies tangled in relentless exhaustion.
Through Yin-Yang Harmonization, she eased the malignant aura that plagued his body.
"When are you going to kill me?"
Pakura finally spoke.
Her voice was sultry and cold, dripping with hatred.
"Kill you? Why would I kill you?" Shin chuckled. "I've got a meeting at the Hokage Residence. Word is your Hidden Sand's delegation is already here…"
"Looks like Rasa really is keen on buying you back."
"Hidden Sand… Rasa…"
Pakura's eyes flashed sharply from where she sat on the bed.
Her jaw clenched tight, fury rising like a geyser.
"What? Thinking of killing Rasa?" Shin said lightly. "Even if you had the strength, you'd never get close. He's the Fourth Kazekage now—surrounded by ANBU at all times."
"Please… help me kill him."
Pakura's fists tightened, her voice seething with rage.
"And why would I do that?" Shin grinned. "Rasa's the Fourth Kazekage, a master of Gold Dust—way out of my league."
"If you kill him for me… I'll do anything. Even that… if you want."
Pakura's voice faltered with humiliation as tears streaked down her cheeks.
No one knew better than she—
The true extent of this man's power.
His uncanny techniques, his bloodstained flying sword…
Rasa's vaunted Magnet Release and Gold Dust were a joke in comparison.
"'That'? You mean back there?"
Shin's eyes lit up with amusement. "Heh… sounds fun."
No matter how many positions you try, it all becomes routine eventually.
Innovation was key.
"And here I thought you were the 'Hero of the Hidden Sand,' yet all you want is your Kazekage dead," Shin scoffed.
"'Hero'?" Pakura let out a bitter laugh. "When did the Hidden Sand ever treat me like one?"
"When Rasa used me as a bargaining chip, handing me over to the Hidden Mist—sending me to die—did he treat me like a comrade then?"
"The village elders knew exactly what he was doing. Why didn't they stop him? Why did they just watch me walk to my death?"
"'Hero'… it's a joke."
"Well, you've got a point," Shin said, fingers tracing the smooth skin of her cheek.
Pakura leaned back, trying to evade his touch, but failed.
Shin smiled at her.
"'That'… if I wanted it, you wouldn't be able to stop me. Isn't that right?"
Pakura's face paled, her chest rising and falling with fury.
"You… you animal…"