POV – Pakura
My mind was racing. The hours I spent waiting for news of Sakura and Naruto, knowing that both were lost in the crossfire between the rebels and the guards, left me in silent agony. For a moment, I thought the worst had already happened. At the very least, I hoped that by morning, something would be said about their deaths so that I could finally understand the weight of what we had lived through that night.
But the truth is, none of that happened. When we finally received them in the grand hall, the rumors spreading through the palace corridors were nothing like what I expected. The gossip—those damn rumors—claimed that the prince and the Four had been found half-naked.
What were they doing there, so careless? Why wasn't I warned about anything beforehand? The only thing I knew was that the chaos that followed was far from over for me.
I sat on the bed, feeling a growing unease in every part of my body. My eyes fixed on the mirror in front of me. What I saw was no longer the reflection of a woman who had everything under control, but a stranger full of doubts. I had pulled my hair back and tied it into a low, braided bun, leaving my face completely exposed. My makeup was subtle, a light lipstick, but I knew it was my eyes that spoke more than any words I could say.
The maids had left me alone, and at that moment, I wasn't sure if it was a blessing or a curse. I needed to be alone for what was about to happen. I heard the sound of the wind slicing through the window before he appeared. The door hadn't opened, but a shadow at the window was enough to make me stand and walk toward it.
— There are doors, Captain! — I joked, trying to ease the tension, but I knew my words couldn't hide what was truly happening inside me.
He entered soundlessly. The door might have been more convenient, but he was always the same—straight to the point, never wasting time on formalities.
— And there are guards at yours, if you recall, miss. — His response came in that usual tone—cold, direct. He knew danger was always present, yet he did whatever he wanted anyway.
We stared at each other for a long moment. The silence was so heavy it felt as if the world around us had stopped to listen to our conversation.
He was the first to break the silence, his words weighing more than anything he had ever said before.
— The prince knows…
Those words hit my chest like a punch. My heart stopped, the air that once felt fresh now felt heavy. Something inside me knew he wasn't speaking in vain—that the truth was about to be revealed—but I didn't want to hear it.
— Knows what? The question slipped out almost unintentionally, but it was the only thing I could think of at that moment.
He took a step forward and lowered his voice, as if revealing a secret. Something I never imagined hearing from him.
— That I'm an Akatsuki rebel.
The words made my head spin.
— I told Bee and Darui. They'll handle everything, but I want you to be discreet.
The muscles in my jaw tightened. How dare he ask for something like that? Discretion? Me? But the anger that had been consuming me turned into absolute silence as I looked at him with even greater intensity.
— I'm always discreet, unlike you. — I replied without hesitation, the bitterness in my voice becoming almost palpable. I knew he didn't like that, but I couldn't care less. Not anymore.
He pointed a finger at me—a simple gesture, yet it made the entire room feel smaller, more confined. What did he want from me? For me to bow? No. Not anymore.
— Watch your tongue, Pakura. — He spoke, his tone now carrying a clear threat.
But I felt no fear. The fire inside me was already burning too fiercely for me to care about empty threats. I was no longer willing to follow anyone. Not anymore.
— But as far as I know, I won't need to be discreet for much longer. Have you heard the news? — I paced the room, feeling the tension in every step, as if the simple act of walking could make me lose control. I felt C's dark eyes following me, but even that didn't make me hesitate.
He responded without breaking his rigid posture, though his expression made it clear he knew exactly what I was talking about.
— Those rumors have always existed. Haruno was always a possibility for the prince. — He sounded so uninterested, as if it were just another useless conversation.
I could no longer contain my frustration.
— And what about our revolution? — I challenged, anger spilling from every syllable.
He let out a long sigh, as if exhausted. Maybe he was, but that didn't give him the right to give up now. Not when I was so close.
— You're going back to the fight, Pakura. Bee and I will take over from here.
Go back to the fight? I had come so close, so close to achieving everything I had ever dreamed of. What did I want more than anything? To be queen. To be the woman who dismantled the caste system. To put an end to the Taka. To fulfill everything my superiors had foreseen... all to bring peace to the kingdom.
But now, with the fire raging inside me, I knew that what I truly wanted wasn't the fight itself. I wanted to see the end of it all. I wanted the chance to destroy, to finally take what was rightfully mine.
— I came so close, C. I just need a little more time. — The words came out low, almost like a plea. But at the same time, an unshakable resolve formed in my chest. I was no longer willing to wait. What else could I do?
C took a step toward me and, with an almost unexpected gentleness, placed a hand on my shoulder. His expression was somewhere between a soft smile and veiled pity, but I knew what he was thinking. He saw me as something disposable—a pretty face with a clear purpose, but nothing more. And I was aware of all of it.
What hurt me wasn't just the idea of being discarded. It was the bitter pain of having lost myself in this game—of having placed my heart where it never should have been.