THE EVIL OF UCHIHA BYAKUYA

Let Pakura become the Kazekage—this was Byakuya's current thought.

Although he had completely conquered the Sand Village, Byakuya had no interest in personally managing it. His goals lay elsewhere. What he needed was someone to govern the village in his stead—someone obedient and competent.

And for that role, he had already made his choice: Pakura.

"Kazekage? What did you just say?"

"You want me to become the Kazekage!?" Pakura stared at him in disbelief.

"That's right," Byakuya replied calmly. "From today on, you'll serve as Kazekage… and help me manage the Sand Village."

"Hmph. Help you manage it? You mean be your puppet?" Pakura snapped. "I refuse. You might as well kill me now."

Pakura wasn't naive. She knew full well what Byakuya wanted—a puppet leader to maintain order while ensuring the Sand Village remained under his control. Her response was firm and without hesitation.

But Byakuya's tone remained casual, almost amused.

"Being my puppet isn't such a bad thing."

"I can reshape this village. I'll bring water, shelter, and prosperity to this wasteland you call home."

"But if you refuse… I'll erase this place from the map."

His eyes turned cold. "Don't doubt my power."

"Y-You…" Pakura's fists trembled.

She had seen it. The Susanoo that cut through mountains. The seals that crushed resistance in moments. She had no illusions—Byakuya could obliterate the entire Sand Village if he chose to.

"Well?" Byakuya asked again. "Will you take the Kazekage's mantle… or watch your people die?"

Pakura gritted her teeth. Her pride screamed at her to resist. But she knew the lives of the villagers, of the children and the elderly, all depended on her decision.

"…I accept."

A cold silence followed. Then Byakuya nodded, satisfied. "Good."

With a flick of his hand, he released the sealing jutsu on her body. Chakra surged back into her limbs. He then placed the Kazekage's hat on her head himself.

Pakura stared at him for a long moment. The temptation to strike was there. But she crushed it. Her instincts told her it would be suicide.

"Shikaku," Byakuya called. "Transfer all the captured Sand Ninjas to Kazekage Pakura. She'll know how to deal with them."

"Yes, Lord Byakuya!" Shikaku responded. He turned to Pakura with a respectful nod. "Kazekage-sama, please follow me."

Soon, Pakura stood before a large number of detained Sand Ninjas. The moment they saw her wearing the Kazekage hat, shock rippled through the crowd.

"Pakura-sama!? What's going on!?"

"Why are you wearing the Kazekage's hat!?"

"Have you… betrayed us!?"

Their voices were filled with disbelief, sorrow, and anger.

Pakura looked at them all, then took a deep breath. "I am now the Kazekage," she said clearly. "I have agreed to help Uchiha Byakuya manage the Sand Village."

"What!? You've betrayed the village!"

"No… I did this to save the village!" she shouted back. "If I hadn't agreed, Byakuya would've destroyed us all. Do you want to see our people die? Our homes turned to dust?"

Her voice trembled slightly, but her gaze remained steady. "We still have families here. Children. Elders. If submission can protect them… then I will bear the burden."

The crowd fell silent. Their outrage gave way to heavy, reluctant acceptance.

"Master Pakura, what should we do now?!"

"Yes, Lady Pakura! We'll follow your lead!"

"…"

All the remaining Sand Ninjas turned their eyes toward Pakura. After the defeat and occupation of the village, she had become their only pillar of support.

Pakura took a deep breath. "First, we restore the village. Rebuild what we can. As for what comes next… we'll decide when the time comes."

Her voice was steady, but inside, she was just as lost as they were. The future under Uchiha Byakuya's rule was unclear—even for her.

…

Later—inside the Kage Tower that had been partially restored—

"Lu Jiu, how is Pakura faring these days?" Byakuya asked calmly as he gazed over recent reports.

It had been two weeks since he appointed her Kazekage—a puppet Kazekage, but still.

Nara Shikaku, standing nearby with a scroll in hand, replied promptly.

"Lord Byakuya, Kazekage Pakura has been focused on reconstruction efforts and organizing medical care for the wounded. She's kept a low profile and hasn't taken any suspicious actions."

Byakuya nodded slightly. "So she's behaving herself... good."

He closed his eyes briefly, then continued, "What about the investigation I asked for—the current state of the Sand Village?"

"Yes. We've completed the survey," Shikaku answered. "The biggest issue is still the same—chronic water scarcity. However, the village possesses an abundance of valuable minerals, particularly chakra-conductive metals. They're rare, even in the Land of Fire, and would greatly benefit Konoha's weapon production."

"Hmph, lack of water? That's easy enough to solve," Byakuya muttered, tapping his fingers together.

He then ordered, "Inform the Kazekage immediately. We'll resolve this water crisis at once."

"Yes, Lord Byakuya."

…

A short while later, at the massive ravine left behind by Byakuya's earlier attack—

The gash tore through the center of Sunagakure, bottomless and still unstable. Reconstruction around it had proven nearly impossible.

Pakura arrived, tense, accompanied by a few trusted Jonin. Her face was guarded as she stepped toward Byakuya.

"Lord Byakuya," she said cautiously, "you summoned me. What is it you intend to do?"

Her tone was neutral, but her eyes held suspicion and worry. The damage Byakuya had already done made her fear his next move.

Byakuya smirked lightly.

"Watch closely, Pakura. Today, your village will take its first step toward rebirth."

"Rebirth? What are you—?"

"You'll soon be free from your greatest weakness: thirst."

Pakura stared at him, puzzled. "You mean… the water crisis?"

Byakuya didn't reply immediately. Instead, he stepped forward to the edge of the ravine, his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan glowing.

Whatever he was about to do, Pakura could tell—it wasn't just rhetoric.

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