"You idiot..."
"Calm down..."
Kakuzu felt a bit uneasy, hoping that Hidan could regain control of himself.
As Kakuzu watched Hidan approach, he noticed strange black spots appearing on Hidan's body. His companion's movements were stiff as he walked over.
"I can't control myself..."
Hidan's body trembled with fear.
The next moment!
Hidan raised his scythe and swung it directly at Kakuzu, causing a burst of blood to fly from Kakuzu's body, droplets splashing onto Hidan's face!
"Blood... hahaha... blood..."
Hidan suddenly became frenzied. Instinctively, he collected Kakuzu's blood and began to draw a curse array at his feet!
"You idiot..."
Kakuzu had long known about Hidan's abilities and tried to snap him out of his blood-induced madness, but it was futile. He could only watch as Hidan completed the curse array!
"This idiot!"
Just before Hidan finished the curse array, Kakuzu spat out a Jiongu in hopes of saving his own life!
"Hahahaha... you're dead."
Hidan completed the curse array, lying contentedly in the middle of it with a maniacal smile.
There was nothing more Hidan needed to do because his body was pierced with countless black rods. The curse array would instantly transmit Hidan's physical state to his opponent!
In other words...
As long as Hidan obtained his opponent's blood and completed the curse array, his opponent would be doomed based on Hidan's physical state!
The moment the array was completed...
Blood spurted from every part of Kakuzu's body!
Kakuzu's head drooped lifelessly, as if he had lost all vitality, leaving only a single black Jiongu wriggling beside him, seemingly contemplating when to re-enter his body.
"It's over."
Akihara Kagura walked over and lifted Hidan's body: "It seems you retained your abilities from life quite well, even able to use them..."
"Don't make me get up!"
Hidan stubbornly insisted on lying down, struggling desperately: "I can't get up. I must lie here and pray to the Lord. Leaving here would be disrespectful to the Lord!"
"Alright then."
Akihara Kagura didn't intend to argue with this deranged puppet, since Hell Path•Hidan was merely a means to resurrect other puppets.
"Mr. Kakuzu, you can safely resurrect now."
Akihara Kagura looked at Kakuzu's corpse and the Jiongu, trying to persuade him: "I won't kill you. Are you interested in earning an extra salary..."
"…"
The Jiongu immediately re-entered Kakuzu's body!
Kakuzu's head lifted up again, and his eyes regained a touch of green vitality: "Akihara Kagura, what do you want me to do?"
"Of course, it's to have you take on a part-time job..."
Akihara Kagura extended his hand to help heal Kakuzu's injuries: "The Akatsuki's bonuses probably aren't that great, right?"
"Capturing a Jinchūriki earns a bonus of five million ryō."
Kakuzu wasn't secretive about their wages, responding coldly: "If you want me to do something, then offer a suitable price..."
"What about the regular mission pay?"
Akihara Kagura, unable to afford the bonus, decided to approach it from another angle.
"Thirty-seventy split."
Kakuzu was quite satisfied with his share of the mission earnings.
The Akatsuki's mission pay was generous, but other rogue ninja didn't care much for money, so they rarely received their mission earnings directly, relying on the Akatsuki to distribute funds.
"Why only seventy percent..."
Akihara Kagura frowned.
"Seventy percent goes to the organization."
Kakuzu couldn't help but frown as well.
"Isn't that like begging?"
Akihara Kagura reflexively retorted.
"…"
Kakuzu gave Akihara Kagura a strange look.
It seems that Akihara Kagura does not quite understand the rules of the Akatsuki. Other members of the Akatsuki, when they want to get a 30/70 split, still have to take Konan's opinion into account.
Of course, the other members do not care and have no need to take this share.
Because the Akatsuki covers the cost of weapons like ninja tools.
Even Sasori of the Red Sand, who once went through hardships with Nagato and Konan, does not care about money. Konan always approves whatever budget Sasori requests.
However…
Konan would naturally not approve any budget for Kakuzu, who loves money by nature, because if Kakuzu were to ask for money, his budget alone could drain the Akatsuki's funds.
Kakuzu looked at Akihara Kagura with no loyalty to the Akatsuki, only fidelity to money in his heart: "If you want me to help you, in the future, if there are any commissions, give me thirty percent of the reward, and I will help you. If you give me forty percent of the reward, I can even help you if the commission conflicts with the Akatsuki..."
"Agreed."
Akihara Kagura nodded and glanced at Hidan beside him: "Hidan, keep Mr. Kakuzu's blood. If he dares to betray our agreement in the future..."
Having only Hidan return would make others suspicious, plus Hidan has to cover the black rods on his body, so a witness is needed.
Moreover…
Kakuzu will be the Akatsuki's future revenue source.
Akihara Kagura wants to gather the Akatsuki under his command in the future, and he does not want to waste future combat power now.
"By the way, I should let you know..."
Akihara Kagura straightforwardly revealed his identity to Kakuzu at this moment: "I am also a member of the Akatsuki. I hope you will not be too surprised when you see me in the future..."
"!!!"
A look of surprise suddenly appeared in Kakuzu's eyes.
"The reason I recruited you today..."
Akihara Kagura looked at Kakuzu and spoke softly: "It's because I want to take over the Akatsuki in the future and become its leader. Mr. Kakuzu, do you understand what I mean?"
"It doesn't matter to me who the leader of the Akatsuki is."
Kakuzu was quite open-minded about such things and directly expressed his true feelings: "As long as I can earn more money in the future, I can support you as the leader of the Akatsuki..."
"You won't be disappointed."
Akihara Kagura extended his hand.
"That would be best."
Kakuzu reached out and shook Akihara Kagura's hand.
This transaction was thus concluded, making Kakuzu and Hidan's trip to the Land of Fire much more secure because Akihara Kagura could order his Root ninjas to block their information.
Akihara Kagura, recalling their itinerary, proactively asked: "Are there any bounties on the nobles and daimyos in the Land of Fire?"
"Of course there are."
Over the years, the Akatsuki has assassinated numerous nobles.
For other ninjas, assassinating nobles would incite the hostility of a nation, but the Akatsuki, in its relentless pursuit of money, naturally does not care about such hostilities.
"You may dispose of these people at will."
Akihara Kagura extended his hand and left his own curse mark on Kakuzu: "If Konoha ninjas besiege you, I will send Root ninjas to deal with these troubles. Falling into the hands of the Root is just like falling into my hands, and you will not face any problems..."
"I understand."
Kakuzu was more astute than Hidan.
This ninja, who had lived for over ninety years, clearly understood the weight of these words.
A high-ranking Konoha official willing to protect their actions in the Land of Fire significantly reduces their operational risks there.
Especially…
This person is also known as the new God of Ninja.
Even the leader of the Akatsuki has been defeated by him.
Kakuzu felt optimistic about his future. Having learned about Akihara Kagura's plan to go to the Land of Lightning, he shared information about the area: "If you are going to the Land of Lightning, you'd better be careful. We just dealt with the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, so things might not be very peaceful there..."
"Thank you."
Akihara Kagura nodded in gratitude and asked: "By the way, do you have any evidence of a connection between the Cloud Village and the Akatsuki?"
"..."
Kakuzu thought Akihara Kagura was speaking nonsense. The two of them had just extracted the Two-Tails from the Jinchuriki Yugito Nii. How could there be any collusion with the Cloud Village?
"Never mind, I will find it myself."
Akihara Kagura waved his hand, signaling them to leave.
The group parted ways here, with Kakuzu and Hidan heading to the Land of Fire. Under the protection of Konoha Hokage's aide, they planned to gather intelligence on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and kill a few nobles to make money. Meanwhile, Akihara Kagura continued to the Cloud Village, knowing that the Akatsuki and the Cloud Village were already in a state of enmity, to search for evidence of any connection between the two.
As Akihara Kagura watched Kakuzu and Hidan leave, he raised his fingers, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
"Four Hokages, inform Lady Tsunade that I have discovered some information about the Akatsuki. Two members of the Akatsuki will be active in the Land of Fire…"
Akihara Kagura found it difficult to trust Kakuzu based solely on a verbal agreement. It was more suitable to capture Kakuzu and Hidan first and then let Pain or Uchiha Obito take them back, which would also allow him to complete his own mission.
Anyway…
Kakuzu already knew it was not a big deal to fall into the hands of Root ninja.
Meanwhile,
Other parts of the ninja world were also in turmoil.
Akatsuki's actions were swift. After extracting Shukaku and Matatabi, they immediately set their sights on the newly resurrected Isobu in the Land of Water.
After reporting back to the Akatsuki base, Sasori of the Red Sand and Deidara hurried to the Land of Water to capture the recently resurrected Isobu.
Clearly.
This battle was very easy.
Sasori's Hiruko revealed several cannons and, with full firepower, blew Isobu away, capturing it in less than five minutes.
As for the rest of Akatsuki…
Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki went to capture the jinchūriki of the Four-Tails; Pain personally took charge of capturing the jinchūriki of the Five-Tails and Six-Tails; Uchiha Obito went to capture the jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails.
Within a mere ten days.
The entire ninja world was in upheaval due to Akatsuki's actions.
In the village of Konoha.
Not long after Akihara Kagura left Konoha, the village was in a state of anxiety.
This was because bad news kept coming from the Land of Fire. Two members of Akatsuki were active in the country, killing several nobles in succession, prompting the daimyo to urgently issue an order to eliminate them.
Fortunately.
Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, learned in advance that two Akatsuki members would be active in the Land of Fire, and immediately dispatched twenty teams to search for their identities, fearing that these members would cause more disasters in the Land of Fire.
The strongest team, led by Jonin Sarutobi Asuma and including Chunin Shikamaru, Kotetsu Hagane, and Izumo Kamizuki, finally intercepted the two Akatsuki members at a bounty station.
However…
The two Akatsuki members were blatantly exchanging the corpses of nobles for money at the bounty station, appearing completely unafraid of them.
"No Root marks…"
Kakuzu glanced at Asuma and the others who surrounded them, his eyes flickering slightly: "It seems killing them is no problem. That guy called Asuma is worth thirty-five million…"
"Alright!"
Hidan swiftly raised his scythe!
"They really don't take us seriously…"
Shikamaru frowned, raising his hand to try to control the opponent with his shadows, so that his teacher Asuma could quickly deal with Kakuzu and the others.
However…
Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear emerged from his body!
During this free time, Kakuzu had replenished his hearts, and four Earth Grudge Fears acted simultaneously, easily defeating Asuma's team!
Just as Kakuzu was about to eliminate this audacious team by controlling his Earth Grudge Fear and releasing five types of techniques!
"Fire Release: Headburn!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
"Earth Release: Stone Dragon!"
Five elemental techniques shot towards Asuma's team, causing despair to appear on the faces of both Asuma and Shikamaru!
At that moment!
A short old man appeared in front of them!
The old man, with cracks on his face, quickly performed the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, creating four clones that joined the main body in releasing five elemental techniques!
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
"Wind Release: Cyclone!"
"Water Release: Water Wave!"
"Lightning Release: Thunder!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Two different sets of five elemental techniques collided in an instant!
Realizing the disparity between himself and his opponent, Kakuzu's eyes widened in shock as he recognized the old man's appearance!
"Wait, that is…"
"The Third Hokage!"
Shikamaru shouted joyfully, identifying the newcomer!
Sarutobi Asuma was stunned, watching the old man who had suddenly appeared to save their team, the cigarette in his mouth falling to the ground in surprise…
The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen was also Sarutobi Asuma's father.
Even Sarutobi Asuma had never imagined that his deceased father, Sarutobi Hiruzen, would appear at the most critical moment to save his life…
"Asuma, are you alright?"
The resurrected Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced back at his son before turning and issuing orders loudly, somewhat uncharacteristically for someone of his status, to the Root ninja who had followed him: "Capture these two and take them to Root."
~~~
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