Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki

"Damn brat! How dare you use the technique I invented against me!"

"Hmph!"

Despite his best effort to suppress the pain, Sakumo landed a fierce punch on Kazuyama's head, leaving a massive bump as punishment.

"I'm sorry... Lord Sakumo…" Kazuyama muttered sheepishly, rubbing his sore head.

He couldn't help but feel puzzled. He had already executed the technique, so why hadn't it worked? Looking at the completely unaffected Sakumo, Kazuyama fell into self-doubt.

"Hurry up and get going on your mission!" Sakumo roared.

Reluctantly, Kazuyama activated the Transparent Escape Technique again and began heading toward Sunagakure.

"Damn brat! This is infuriating!" Sakumo muttered, his face tight with frustration.

Nozuki, standing nearby, noticed his expression and asked cautiously, "Lord Sakumo, are you alright? Do you need me to take a look?"

Although the question came from a place of concern, it only earned him a glare and a curt response.

"No, I'm fine!"

With that, Sakumo stormed off, muttering that he would patrol the outskirts while the team rested.

Once he was out of sight, his composure finally cracked.

"Sigh! Ha!" He exhaled sharply, grimacing as he clutched his side.

"Damn it, that kid is ruthless! Right on the bull's-eye! Damn it, damn it!" He winced, still feeling the lingering pain.

"He used my own technique against me! Ouch…" He sighed again, shaking his head in disbelief. "That kid really is ruthless!"

…

Kazuyama, who had just reached the gates of Sunagakure, was still distracted by the thoughts of his earlier attempt at the One Thousand Years of Death.

He had done everything right—built up energy, aimed precisely, and delivered the attack with full force. So why hadn't it worked? Could it be that Sakumo, as the creator of the technique, was somehow immune to it? That didn't make any sense.

"Come on, kiddo Kazuyama, stop overthinking it," Chōmei chimed in. "That Sakumo was obviously holding back. Your attack definitely landed, but seriously, where'd you learn such a disgusting technique? That's just sick..."

Even as Chōmei said this, he recalled watching Kazuyama's demonstration of the move. The Tiger Seal, the two-finger thrust... the mere memory sent a shiver through the Seven-Tails. It truly was sick.

"It was invented by Lord Sakumo himself, the White Fang of Konoha. Apparently, it's his signature technique," Kazuyama explained.

Chōmei snorted. "So, your One Thousand Years of Death worked after all. He just endured it! Tsk, tsk. White Fang really lives up to his reputation—that's some incredible endurance."

Kazuyama shook his head and refocused, setting his sights on the gates of Sunagakure ahead. The mission took priority, even if his head still throbbed slightly from Sakumo's earlier punch.

The village was heavily guarded, even at night. Although Kazuyama had activated the Transparent Escape Technique, he moved cautiously, sticking close to the walls as he entered.

The sight within Sunagakure was exactly what he expected—a sea of yellow sand. Even the houses seemed to be crafted from sand. As he crept through the village, an odd question crossed his mind: How do people take a bath in a place full of yellow sand?

The thought lingered as he navigated the area, until his eyes caught sight of a pair of large, familiar characters: "Bathhouse."

"Oh?" Kazuyama muttered to himself. "There's actually a bathhouse here?"

He smacked his forehead, feeling a bit foolish. Of course, water was more precious than gold in this desert. The fact that Sunagakure existed at all meant there had to be an underground river nearby—how else could such a large village sustain itself?

Still, curiosity got the better of him, and his legs carried him toward the bathhouse. It won't delay the mission... just a quick look, he rationalized.

Drawn by his curiosity, he made his way to the women's bathhouse. Climbing onto the roof with practiced ease, he activated his Hive Mind Technique, and in an instant, the entire area came into view.

The late hour meant the bathhouse was nearly empty. On the women's side, there was only one person.

Through the steamy haze, Kazuyama's eyes landed on a sight he would never forget: a perfect, graceful back. Its beauty was so captivating, so moving, that he froze in place.

Beautiful... Stunning...

A sudden warmth rose to his nose. Panicked, he clamped a hand over it, realizing blood was threatening to spill.

For someone as experienced as Kazuyama in these situations, this reaction was rare. The sheer power of that vision—a back so breathtaking—was enough to leave even him awestruck.

But Kazuyama quickly steadied his pounding heart as recognition set in.

The distinctive hair, a blend of birch and green, and the most elegant, mesmerizing back he had ever seen in his life—this was none other than Pakura, the Scorch Release ninja of Sunagakure.

Kazuyama's gaze grew serious. He hadn't expected to encounter Sunagakure's future tragic hero so soon after entering the village. But the timing raised questions.

Why was Pakura bathing so late at night? Logically, this was a time for rest, not relaxation. If she wasn't sleeping, it could mean she was preparing for or recovering from a mission. But given her current state, bathing alone, it seemed more likely that she had just returned from some private task or meeting.

Given Pakura's strength and rank, only a few individuals in Sunagakure could have enlisted her—likely the Kazekage or high-ranking elders like Chiyo. Whatever the purpose of her recent activity, it must have been significant.

Kazuyama's approach to information gathering was strikingly similar to Jiraiya's: unorthodox yet effective. And now, he had found his target.

It's her—Pakura of the Scorch Release.

Yet Kazuyama paused, deep in thought. Pakura wasn't just an ordinary Jōnin; her Scorch Release was powerful enough to evaporate the moisture from her enemies, reducing them to mummies in an instant.

I'm not about to live long enough to become a mummy, Kazuyama thought grimly. The only viable strategy was a surprise attack, but sneaking up on an elite Jōnin in her home village was no simple feat. He needed help.

"Chōmei, can your Scale Powder paralyze her? Hypnotize her? Anything?"

Chōmei perked up at the question, sensing an opportunity to gloat.

"Of course it can! Who do you want me to handle?" His tone shifted when he realized the target. "Huh? A girl? Kiddo Kazuyama, you're not planning something shady, are you? That's a bad idea. She's older than you, and trust me, you won't be able to handle her!"

Chōmei had lived with Kazuyama for nearly a year, and while he understood his Jinchūriki well, this situation caught him off guard. He hadn't expected Kazuyama to get distracted by thoughts of attraction during a mission.

"Ugh, Chōmei, quit talking nonsense!" Kazuyama snapped. "This is for the mission! I need to get information from her, that's all. Understand?"

Chōmei laughed. "Sure, sure. Mission or not, you're definitely impressed by her. Admit it—she's gorgeous, right?"

Kazuyama sighed deeply. "Alright, fine! She's beautiful. Happy? Now, can your Scale Powder handle her or not?"

Chōmei hummed thoughtfully. "You realize she's a Scorch Release ninja, right? She could evaporate my Scale Powder before it even gets close."

Kazuyama felt his stomach sink, but Chōmei quickly reassured him.

"Don't worry, kiddo. Even Son Gokū's Lava Release couldn't melt my Scale Powder. I'm a Tailed Beast, and my powder is unique. Trust me—it'll work."