In Naruto, I Have an Affair with Mikoto and Kushina

She paused briefly before answering. "The Hidden Mist."

Souta felt his heartbeat slow, his mind locking into place. This was it.

The wheels of fate were already turning. If she walked out of here and continued her journey, she was as good as dead.

He exhaled softly, choosing his next words carefully. "The Mist, huh? Haven't heard great things about that place. Isn't it still dealing with internal strife?"

Pakura raised an eyebrow. "You keep up with foreign affairs?"

Souta shrugged. "A tea worker hears a lot of things. I like to stay informed."

She hummed in acknowledgment but didn't deny it. Because it was true—the Hidden Mist was a blood-soaked nightmare right now. The era of the Bloody Mist, where shinobi turned on each other like rabid animals, where betrayal and power struggles were the norm.

And she was heading straight into it.

Souta tapped his fingers lightly against the counter. "Your village must trust them a lot if they're sending someone like you as an envoy."

Pakura chuckled, shaking her head. "Trust? No. But this is meant to ease tensions. A gesture of goodwill."

Goodwill. Bullshit.

Souta let out a thoughtful hum. "Strange. I heard the Mist values strength above all else. Can't imagine they'd be interested in goodwill."

Pakura's fingers stilled against her cup.

Just for a second.

Got you.

It was subtle, but it was there. The momentary flicker of doubt.

"Besides," he continued smoothly, "a kunoichi of your level must be pretty important to your village. Seems risky sending you alone."

Pakura scoffed. "I can handle myself."

Souta smiled, tilting his head. "No doubt. But I meant politically. You're not just some random envoy, are you?"

Another pause.

Pakura's gaze flickered, something unreadable in her expression.

She wasn't stupid. Some part of her must have questioned why she was being sent alone. Why her village, which had relied on her strength for years, was suddenly so eager to send her into one of the most dangerous villages in the world.

But she wasn't letting herself think about it. 

Souta exhaled, leaning against the counter. "It's probably nothing," he said lightly. "Just seems like a dangerous place to walk into with no backup."

Pakura didn't respond immediately.

Then, after a moment, she let out a small chuckle. "You're pretty sharp, for a tea shop owner."

Souta smirked. "And you're pretty interesting, for a passing traveler."

She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Is this how you keep customers coming back?"

"Only the ones I don't want to see get killed in another village."

Pakura blinked, caught off guard by the bluntness.

Souta met her gaze, his tone still light but his eyes serious. "Stay in Konoha a little longer."

Pakura narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why?"

Souta let out a slow breath. "Call it a bad feeling."

She studied him, her expression unreadable. He could see her mind working.

Finally, she leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "You don't even know me," she said softly.

Souta held her gaze. "Maybe not. But I'd rather not have our first meeting be our last."

Pakura's fingers curled slightly against the counter. Hesitation.

She wasn't fully convinced.

Pakura exhaled through her nose, shaking her head slightly. "That's… nice of you, I guess. But I'm not the type to change my plans over a 'bad feeling.'"

Souta sighed. Yeah, he figured as much. She was a seasoned kunoichi, not some naïve genin who could be easily swayed.

But that didn't mean he couldn't nudge her in the right direction.

"Fine," he said, leaning back against the counter. "If you're going, then go. But go fully prepared."

Pakura raised an eyebrow. "Prepared?"

Souta nodded. "Expect betrayal at any moment. If your gut tells you something's off, trust it. Never let your guard down, even for a second."

She frowned, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her tea cup. "You're talking like I'm walking into enemy territory."

He gave her a pointed look. "Aren't you?"

Pakura didn't respond right away. She wasn't stupid—she knew the Mist wasn't friendly, even if this was supposed to be a peace mission. But she still believed that Suna had her back. That belief was the problem.

Souta continued, voice calm but firm. "Set up multiple escape routes. Don't rely on the Sand's support. Keep a hidden weapon, maybe even a fake corpse substitute, in case you need to fake your death. If things go south, don't hesitate—just run."

Pakura studied him, her green eyes narrowing slightly. "…You sound like you've done this before."

Souta chuckled. More than you know. "Just common sense."

She let out a slow breath, tapping a finger against the counter. "Hmph. You really don't want me to go, huh?"

"I don't want you walking into a trap blind."

Pakura stared at him for a long moment. The way he spoke, the seriousness in his tone—it wasn't just casual concern. It felt deeper, more personal, like he genuinely cared.

And that was dangerous. She didn't have people like that.

A kunoichi's life wasn't one where men looked at you like that. She was strong, respected, feared—but never cherished.

Souta… he looked at her as if she mattered. Not as a weapon, not as a Sand shinobi, but as a person.

Pakura exhaled, breaking eye contact first. "Tch. You're persistent."

Souta smirked. "It's part of my charm."

She chuckled despite herself, shaking her head. "I'll think about it."

That was all he needed. A seed of doubt. If he could make her hesitate—even for a second—it could be the difference between life and death.

There was no downside to saving her.

Pakura wasn't just a strong kunoichi—she was a jonin-level Kekkei Genkai user. Someone with deadly combat ability, experience, and tactical knowledge. If she survived what was coming, she would have nowhere to go. No village, no allies, no future.

And if that happened… she would come to him.

Souta was 100% sure.

After all, what other choice would she have?

For now, though, he needed to play this carefully. He couldn't outright tell her that her own village was sending her to die—she wouldn't believe it. But if he kept planting those small doubts, making her second-guess things, then maybe she'd be ready when the betrayal finally came.

Pakura tapped her fingers against the counter, looking thoughtful. "You've given me a lot to consider," she admitted.

"That's the idea," Souta said smoothly, pouring her another cup of tea.

She watched him for a moment, her sharp green eyes studying his face. "You really are interesting."

He smirked. "You're not the first person to say that."

---

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