After learning the truth behind Pakura’s death, the shinobi world couldn’t help but sympathize with her.
The truth had finally been exposed.
But that didn’t erase the anger and resentment she had carried to her grave.
Anyone who had seen the look in Pakura’s eyes as she died—and the fury she displayed after being brought back through the Impure World Reincarnation—could tell one thing clearly.
She had never accepted what happened to her.
She had been used once in life.
And even after death, someone had dragged her back into the world and turned her into a weapon.
…
[Live Chat Group Two]
[Pakura: I don’t know who brought me back with the Impure World Reincarnation, but I’m not complaining.
It gives me a chance to settle the score.]
A new voice appeared.
[Third Kazekage: Pakura, as a former Kazekage, there’s something I need to tell you.
Don’t let revenge consume you.
If you follow hatred to the end, all you’ll find is regret and emptiness.]
Pakura’s answer was immediate.
[Pakura: Lord Third…
I don’t trust people in positions of power anymore.]
Karura hesitated before speaking.
[Karura: Pakura, I’m sorry for what Rasa did to you.
Sometimes he was forced into impossible situations too.
If he’d had another choice, I don’t believe he would’ve done something so cruel.]
[Pakura: I don’t care.]
[Pakura: Nothing any of you say will erase what happened.
If you want me to give up on revenge, then ask the people responsible whether they’re willing to forgive me first.]
Madara gave a cold laugh.
[Madara Uchiha: Once hatred takes root, removing it isn’t so simple.]
[Madara Uchiha: Hashirama, the peaceful shinobi world you dreamed of was impossible from the beginning.
Hatred passes from one generation to the next.
It never truly disappears.]
Hashirama immediately disagreed.
[Hashirama Senju: You’re wrong, Madara.]
[Hashirama Senju: Hatred can be inherited, yes—but it can also fade.]
[Hashirama Senju: Look at Maki.
She hated Kirigakure because they killed her father.
Yet in that future scene, she was standing beside a Kirigakure shinobi as a comrade.]
Yagura agreed.
[Yagura Karatachi: Lord First has a point.
They weren’t merely cooperating temporarily either.
They were wearing the same forehead protector.
Whatever happened in the future, their villages were clearly fighting together.]
[Third Raikage: Which means that future war must be enormous.]
[Third Raikage: Large enough to force the hidden villages to unite against the same enemy.]
Minato fell silent for a moment.
[Minato Namikaze: Obito…
did you really fall that far?]
Before anyone could continue, the screen changed.
A new prompt appeared.
[VOTE]
[Should the continuation of Pakura’s future after her Impure World Reincarnation be shown?]
[A: Show It]
[B: Do Not Show It]
[The majority vote will determine whether the footage is revealed.]
[Reward: None]
[Preparation Time: One Minute]
Many viewers were immediately disappointed.
No reward?
Until now, these events had given them opportunities to speak with deceased loved ones or ask the mysterious screen questions.
This time, voting either way offered them nothing personally.
Even so, the discussion began almost immediately.
…
[Live Chat Group One]
[Ao: I don’t think we need to see the rest.
Pakura is obviously furious with Kirigakure.
She’s probably going to slaughter every Mist shinobi she sees.]
[Chojuro: But what if she doesn’t?
Pakura doesn’t seem like a bad person.]
Ao sighed.
[Ao: You’re too trusting, Chojuro.
I’ve survived enough wars to know what hatred does to people.
Pakura isn’t going to simply smile and forget what happened.]
Mei glanced at him.
[Mei Terumi: Careful, Ao.
Keep talking like an old man and you’ll make me feel old too.]
Ao immediately went silent.
[Ao: …]
A Sunagakure shinobi joined in.
[Yūra: Maybe we shouldn’t watch it.
Pakura is still remembered as one of Sunagakure’s heroes.
If what happens later is ugly, perhaps it’s better not to destroy that memory.]
[Maki: That may be for the best.]
Chiyo immediately objected.
[Chiyo: Hmph.
What exactly are you afraid of?]
[Chiyo: Whatever Pakura does after being resurrected is partly the result of what our generation did to her.
If the truth is ugly, then we should still have the courage to look at it.]
Kankuro agreed.
[Kankuro: Lady Chiyo’s right.
If we’re going to face the truth, we should face all of it.]
Hiruzen took a more practical view.
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: I believe we should watch.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: That footage may contain valuable information about the future war.]
Ōnoki immediately agreed.
[Ōnoki: For once, I agree with the Third Hokage.]
[Ōnoki: If Pakura is being controlled by someone in the future, we may even learn something about the person behind the Impure World Reincarnation.
That alone would make the footage worth seeing.]
[Kurotsuchi: Grandpa, you really can turn anything into an intelligence-gathering opportunity.]
Naruto had already made up his mind.
[Naruto Uzumaki: I vote to watch!]
[Naruto Uzumaki: I believe Pakura can come back to her senses.
She cared about Sunagakure too much to lose herself forever!]
[Naruto Uzumaki: I think she’ll become someone her village can be proud of again!]
Hinata timidly followed.
[Hinata Hyuga: I-I support watching too…]
[Choji Akimichi: Same here.]
More votes continued pouring in.
…
[Live Chat Group Two]
[Minato Namikaze: Show it.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: I agree.]
Hashirama immediately turned his attention toward Madara.
[Hashirama Senju: Madara, you said hatred can never disappear, right?]
[Hashirama Senju: Then let’s make a bet.
Let’s see what Pakura ultimately chooses.]
Madara scoffed.
[[Madara Uchiha: I’m not taking your bet just because you think you can predict me, Hashirama.]
Hashirama smiled.
[Hashirama Senju: What’s wrong?
Afraid you’ll lose?]
[Madara Uchiha: Trying to provoke me?]
[Madara Uchiha: Don’t waste your time.]
There was a short pause.
Then another message appeared.
[Madara Uchiha: Still…
I wouldn’t mind seeing how much of my plan actually comes to fruition in that future.]
[Madara Uchiha: Fine.
Show it.]
Izuna stared at his brother’s response.
[Izuna Uchiha: Brother…]
Before long, the one-minute preparation period ended.
The screen displayed the voting results as a massive bar chart.
The result wasn’t even close.
Votes in favor of showing the footage outnumbered the opposing votes several times over.
Most people wanted to know what happened to Pakura after her resurrection.
Some genuinely hoped she could overcome her hatred.
Others simply wanted information about the future shinobi world.
As for those who voted against it, their reasons varied.
Some simply didn’t care.
Some expected nothing good to come from seeing more.
And a very small number had a far more personal reason.
They were afraid.
Afraid that if the footage continued…
their own role in Pakura’s tragedy might be exposed next.