Naruto: We Agreed on a Simulation, But They Actually Came to Life?

Kitahara Kaede did not answer immediately.

He descended from the canopy, coming to a stop opposite Pakura. The moonlight spilled across the clearing, illuminating her current state. Her black ninja attire was stained with dust, and her hair was slightly disheveled. While there were no obvious wounds on her body, the exhaustion etched into her face was impossible to hide.

She must have traveled all the way from the Land of Wind without so much as closing her eyes.

After taking her in, Kaede had a clear picture of the situation. Sunagakure's pursuit would not end easily, but the fact that she could appear here meant that the danger was still some distance away.

Pakura watched him, and seeing no response, she took a step forward. "Why did you just appear?"

Kaede raised an eyebrow slightly. A scene from the simulation flashed through his mind.

The Land of Water. Under the lighthouse.

The first time they had met, Pakura had asked him nearly the same thing.

"Because I've seen the face of the superior," Kaede replied.

Hearing this, Pakura fell silent for a moment, as if trying to overlay that face with a memory. After a while, she let out a small smile.

"As I thought. You have the same memories."

Kaede did not deny it and simply nodded.

Pakura seemed not to have expected such a direct admission. The questions she had prepared were cut short, leaving her in silence for a few breaths. The wind in the forest was faint, and the occasional chirp of an insect in the distance quickly faded into stillness.

Pakura shifted her gaze toward the darkening tree line at the edge of the clearing.

"At first, I thought something was wrong with me," she said slowly. "Suddenly, I had memories that didn't belong to me. A pier, a fishing village, the Land of Water... and a man whose face I could never clearly see."

Kaede listened in silence.

"Then I met you at Mount Kikyo." Pakura looked back at him. "When you blocked my attack, your habits were just like that man's."

"So, you started to believe it?" Kaede asked.

"Not exactly. I was merely suspicious because the whole thing was too absurd," Pakura answered bluntly. "Until Sunagakure gave me a mission."

Kaede could guess the rest.

She looked in the direction of the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. "To go to the Land of Water as a peace envoy."

As Pakura spoke, her expression grew cold. "It was exactly like the memories."

"You moved first," Kaede picked up the thread.

"Yes. And so, Sunagakure now classifies me as a Missing-nin."

A heavy silence settled over the forest. Pakura had confirmed what she needed to, but once confirmed, she had nowhere left to go. No other hidden village would welcome a Jonin who had just defected, and Sunagakure would never allow her to disappear while carrying sensitive intelligence.

Kaede looked at her, his mind racing. What should he do?

Sheltering Pakura was risky—and the risk was significant. If Konoha found out, he would at the very least be subjected to an interrogation by the higher-ups. The safest course of action would be to tell Pakura to leave the Five Great Nations and hide somewhere she wasn't known for a few years.

But as soon as the thought occurred, Kaede suppressed it.

No. The fact that Pakura had ended up in this position was inextricably linked to him. Without those memories, she would have followed Sunagakure's arrangements, gone to the Land of Water, and died at the hands of Kirigakure.

Now she had survived, but she had become a Missing-nin. This wasn't something he could just brush off by telling her to take care of herself.

With that thought, he spoke. "Then stay."

Pakura looked at him, genuinely stunned.

Kaede could tell that she had likely played out many different scenarios in her head before coming here: denial, excuses, or being told to leave. She had simply not expected him to offer this so quickly.

After a few moments, Pakura asked, "Have you thought this through?"

"I have," Kaede replied. "However, your identity is too troublesome. You can't continue appearing in public; you'll need to hide for a while."

Pakura stared at him. "Aren't you afraid I'll drag you down with me?"

"I am," Kaede answered instantly.

Pakura was momentarily speechless at his honesty.

Kaede continued, "That's why we need a proper arrangement, though I haven't figured out the details yet."

Hearing this, Pakura's expression softened.

Just as Kaede was about to continue, a sound erupted from the left side of the forest. Two sets of footsteps were approaching. He glanced sideways. He had been gone too long; Guy and the others were likely worried and had come looking for him.

Pakura's reaction was faster than his words. Her right hand had already dropped to her tool pouch.

Kaede stepped forward and pressed down on her forearm. "People from Konoha."

Pakura stopped.

"Two of my comrades," Kaede whispered. "They're probably just worried about me."

Pakura glanced at him and slowly lowered her hand.

Kaede released her and lowered his voice further. "Thirty li to the east, there is an abandoned cave. The entrance is blocked by vines, and there's a dry ditch nearby; it's easy to recognize."

Pakura committed the location to memory.

"Wait for me there," Kaede continued. "In two days at most, I'll head over once I've handed over my mission reports."

Pakura didn't agree immediately. She looked at him and suddenly asked, "And this time?"

Kaede paused.

"This time," Pakura said, "will I be left waiting for someone who never comes?"

"This time, I'll definitely come."

Pakura searched his eyes for a moment. "Fine."

She didn't linger. With a blur of movement, she vanished into the depths of the forest. Soon, the wind swept through the leaves, and the last trace of her presence disappeared.

Kaede stood still for a few breaths to ensure Pakura was far away before turning back. He hadn't gone far before Guy leaped down from a tree.

"Kaede! Are you alright?"

Genma followed behind, a senbon in his mouth, scanning the depths of the forest. "There was some noise just now."

Kaede waved it off. "Just animals. Nothing unusual."

Guy breathed a sigh of relief. "Glad to hear it!"

Genma glanced at Kaede but didn't press further. "It's almost dark. Let's find a place to set up camp."

"Yeah," Kaede replied, following them back.

After a few steps, he looked down at his left wrist. The blue-black wristband was snug against his skin. He suddenly remembered what Tsunade had said yesterday.

'When you get back, accompany me to buy a few things. There's something very important.'

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