Pakura couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about the diplomatic mission. This group bulk-buying things like a sanctioned side hustle? It just didn't sit right.

Yet no matter how she turned it over in her mind, she couldn't pinpoint what was wrong. The older shinobi in the group spoke with such conviction—said it was normal. Even the Third Kazekage-sama knew about it, and the newcomers, persuaded by the veterans, had all joined the hustle.

With everyone else onboard, Pakura was left doubting herself. Maybe she was just being too uptight? After all, if even the wise and powerful Third Kazekage-sama had given it his tacit approval, who was she to argue?

Would speaking up against this be the same as opposing the Third Kazekage-sama himself?

Convinced she lacked the insight to overrule her superior, Pakura chose to stay silent.

But what she didn't know was that the older shinobi had played a little trick when they brought up the topic. The Third Kazekage did know, yes—but he never outright supported it. He had merely advised them not to take things too far.

He didn't ban it only because nearly everyone in the mission was involved. Since the money earned was relatively small and came from markups, banning it outright might've crushed morale. So the Third Kazekage chose to turn a blind eye—but if there had been a cleaner way to shut it down, he absolutely would have.

In the end, Pakura didn't join in. But she also didn't try to stop it.

Instead, she accepted a special invitation from one of the elders for a solo sightseeing day in the Hidden Leaf. She ditched her mask and forehead protector, blending in as an ordinary traveler from the Land of Wind.

The government district where she was staying was one of the quietest parts of the village. When she stepped outside, the calm and clean environment gave her an odd sense of peace.

But to Pakura, it didn't feel that unusual. Sunagakure was also quiet—though not nearly as clean. But the silence was essential. The Land of Wind was mostly desert, and with the blistering daytime heat and bone-chilling nights, no one wandered around unless they had to.

Outside of the designated commercial areas, most places were practically deserted. People stayed indoors. That's just how it was.

But when she left the tranquil government zone and entered the bustling district, it was like she'd stepped into another world. The vibrant sounds and colors hit her all at once.

Vendors, shops, tourists, civilians, shinobi—people of every kind seemed to materialize from nowhere, filling the space with life.

The atmosphere reminded her of the old towns from Uchiha Kei's previous world—tourist traps packed with energy and endless queues. Even grabbing a meal or checking out was a whole event.

For someone who hated crowds, it'd be overwhelming. But for most, it was thrilling—and Pakura was no exception. Before she knew it, her left hand was clutching a skewer of grilled snacks, and her right hand held the Leaf's newest hit drink: "Wood Style Cola."

Rumor had it this drink was invented by none other than the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and was key to him developing his Wood Style and unparalleled strength.

Of course, that was clearly a tall tale—just like those absurd stories about him winning over rival clans by selling fishhooks.

Still, the drink really was good. It even sparkled with natural carbonation and had a flavor unlike anything she'd ever tasted.

There was definitely no equivalent in Sunagakure. Compared to this, her home village felt completely left behind—not just in technology, but in spirit, too.

And this cola? Yeah, it was the very one Uchiha Kei had gifted to Tsunade. The factory had long since been established, spearheaded by the Senju elders under Tsunade's lead. Officially, they claimed it was a creation of Hashirama himself. Sure, the elders who knew him called it nonsense, but that didn't stop the public narrative.

Insiders whispered it was part of Kei-dono's dowry to Tsunade-sama—a gift for his future bride. Even the Uchiha Clan had no objections. After all, it was for Kei-dono's happiness. Who would dare speak out?

Thanks to the system's enhancement, the cola came in different grades. The top tier was the uncut version—identical to what Kei-dono pulled from his system inventory.

The next grade was diluted but still retained some of its effects, serving as a high-quality energy booster. Even this version outperformed anything else on the market.

Lastly came the public version—significantly watered down and sweetened to mimic the original. The flavor was still great, but it lacked the punch.

Still, it was rare and delicious, with mood-boosting effects that made it wildly popular. That's the one Pakura was sipping now.

Sales were booming, thanks in part to the marketing gimmick that linked it to Wood Style. Sure, everyone knew it was nonsense—if drinking cola could awaken Wood Style, the Senju would've had it in every household. But people were curious. What if *they* were the lucky one?

What if *they* had a hidden bloodline limit waiting to awaken?

And even if not—it was tasty, it wasn't that expensive, and it made you feel good. Why not treat yourself?

So yeah, people were lining up. "Take my money—just give me that Wood Style Cola!"

That was the reality of it.

Currently, the drink was only sold in the Hidden Leaf. The limited raw material—only available through Kei-dono's system—meant production was tightly controlled.

Each month, he could only extract a certain amount, which made the drink a precious commodity. Hence, no exports—yet.

The price? Five hundred ryō a cup. Not exactly cheap.

But in Konoha, that wasn't a problem. The village was rich and actively reinvested in its infrastructure, industry, and welfare. Money moved fast—and everyone, including foreign laborers, benefited.

For those workers, even sharing cramped cabins was worth it. The pay was that good. Some saved up to go home and buy land or get married. Others hoped to settle permanently in the Hidden Leaf.

Whichever the case, Konoha represented opportunity. And with higher wages, even a five-hundred-ryō drink became a luxury people were willing to afford.

That's why Pakura could see so many cola vendors thriving.

As she sipped her own, she couldn't help but admire the taste. No, she didn't feel anything like Wood Style awakening—but that wasn't the point.

She wasn't naïve enough to believe the legend. She figured that if Wood Style really was that easy to acquire, the Senju would've never shared it.

So she walked, ate, and drank—experiencing the bustling charm of Konoha with the eyes of an outsider. And the more she saw, the more she felt overwhelmed.

How could Sunagakure ever hope to compare?

Treating Konoha as an enemy… wasn't that just laughable?

She sighed and shook her head, trying to push the thought away. But the more she pondered it, the worse she felt—powerless, insignificant. And, deep down, she realized she was starting to admire Konoha.

Pakura wasn't a hero yet. Just a promising young jonin at twenty-one, with talent and potential—but no tested convictions.

Even the strongest will needs to be forged in fire. The Pakura of the original timeline only developed her unwavering resolve after the death of the Third Kazekage and the outbreak of the Third Great Ninja War.

And the cruel irony? This hero of Sunagakure was later betrayed by her own village—sacrificed to broker peace with Iwagakure.

A tragic figure through and through.

Now, standing in a Konoha she'd never known in the original timeline, Pakura saw firsthand the impossible gap between her home and this place.

The impact was devastating.

It was like when students from a closed-off country were sent to study abroad and were stunned by the contrast—some even choosing to stay.

Pakura wasn't about to defect. But she couldn't help the admiration bubbling up inside.

Konoha was unmatched. The strongest village in the world. That idea had taken root in her mind and shaken her spirit.

By the time she reached the Leaf's newly developed district and caught a glimpse of the blazing construction and industrial zones, her awe had become certainty.

Sunagakure must pursue peace.

War with Konoha would end in total annihilation—within a month, tops.

And that was a generous estimate. She'd assumed the Land of Wind would pull together, that the feudal lord wouldn't sabotage them. Without that, they wouldn't last a week.

This was psychological defeat—soft power in action.

In that moment, Pakura realized why Rasa had worked so hard to maintain friendly ties with Konoha. He'd seen the truth long ago: Sunagakure couldn't survive a war against the Hidden Leaf.

Peace was the only path.

With that, the pressure weighing on her heart eased.

She had found her answer.

The old ways no longer worked. It was time for a more rational, peaceful, and cautious strategy between the two villages.

Now filled with a sense of purpose, Pakura pulled out her notebook. She began recording every detail of the Hidden Leaf—its people, its commerce, its urban design.

She didn't know yet how she'd use it. But she knew one thing:

Information was everything. And as a shinobi, it was her sacred duty to gather it.

That's how Pakura ended up at an arcade.

She entered with the pretense of intel gathering—but she was genuinely curious too.

She approached the attendant and, with a gentle probing tone, asked if they had any "exclusive" games not available to the general public.

What she meant was whether there were any uncut or more realistic versions—worth a shot, right?

But the staff member heard something very different.

They blinked at her with an odd look, clearly surprised that someone as elegant as her would request something so… daring.

"Guess even the quiet types have a wild side," the clerk thought.

Maybe it was the whole 'Land of Wind is so strict, now she's letting loose' kind of thing.

Still, maintaining professionalism, the clerk nodded and confirmed such games existed.

Seeing Pakura's eager expression, they led her to a private booth.

After all, these were games best played alone. You wouldn't want anyone witnessing your, uh… intense reactions.

Poll: What should replace Teaching Kendo in Tokyo 1980 (TKT)?

Hey everyone,

I've decided to put Teaching Kendo in Tokyo 1980 (TKT) on hiatus for now. In the meantime, I thought it'd be fun to run a poll to see what you'd like me to work on next. Can't wait to see what you all pick!

Options:

A brand new fanfic (picked by me)

Continue a recommended fanfic (suggested by Readers and will be voted on Again)

Two chapters a day for Uchiha Kei: Game Dev in the Shinobi World

Two chapters a day for My Game Studio is Full of Valkyries?!

Two chapters a day for Monster Hunter Grand Assembly

📅 Voting will be open on Patreon for one week!

Heres the link to the poll

https://www.patreon.com/posts/poll-on-what-to-137136810?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkpatreon.com/BestElysium