Looking at the three Kumogakure ninjas neatly arranged in front of him, Kakuzu found himself in a dilemma.
The ninjas from the Kumogakure appeared at the borders of the Land of Fire, indicating that the village had begun to take action against Konoha.
Returning to the base to report the information with the three Kumogakure ninjas or continuing to hunt more of them at the border, Kakuzu was torn.
"Nice job, kid!" Just as Kakuzu was contemplating, the voice of Kizaru echoed from above.
When did this guy appear beside him?
Surprised, Kakuzu looked towards the source of the sound.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Jumping down from a tree, Kizaru walked to Kakuzu's side, looking down at the three Kumogakure ninjas lying on the ground.
"Ooh! That attack just now was really terrifying!" Looking up at Kakuzu, Kizaru said with a smiling expression.
During his own fight, he was nearby!
Upon hearing Kizaru's words, Kakuzu raised his evaluation of him once again in his mind.
Looking at Kizaru in front of him, Kakuzu realized that his target was becoming more and more mysterious.
"The black market and the ordering ninja villages are just trash! The information they provide is problematic!"
After cursing the black market and the clients in his mind again, Kakuzu spoke to Kizaru.
"All three chuunins are alive."
"15 million, noted!" Kizaru answered with a smile.
"My clients never default on payments unless they're dead!" Kakuzu half-reminded, half-threatened.
"Eeh, that's scary!" Sighing, Kizaru continued, "I guarantee you with my dear teacher's life, I won't default."
"I hope so!"
After saying that, Kakuzu took a step forward, using the black lines generated by his Earth Grudge Fear to drag the three Kumogakure ninjas, preparing to return to the base.
"Kumogakure ninjas should have reached the Land of Hot Water by now. Should the patrol continue?"
"Return to the base!" Using his Kenbunshoku Haki, sensing familiar auras, Kizaru looked towards the direction of the Land of Hot Water and said with a smile.
Without further words, Kakuzu, dragging his money, returned in the direction of the base.
Considering the ninjas from various border points, Kizaru abandoned the idea of going to greet them and followed Kakuzu back to the base.
Back at the base, after Kakuzu handed over the Kumogakure ninjas, Kizaru called the person in charge of the base, Hyuga Nagayasu, to his side.
"The vanguard of the Kumogakure has arrived. Inform all the ninjas at the border points to abandon their posts and gather here."
"Understood!" Although shocked by Kizaru's news, Nagayasu understood the urgency and didn't ask further, quickly retreating to arrange for his subordinates to convey the orders.
As soon as Nagayasu left, Kakuzu, who had finished the handover, approached Kizaru.
"What bad luck! As soon as you come, the Kumogakure ninjas arrives." Looking at Kakuzu walking to his side, Kizaru teased.
"Thirty million remains unchanged!" Worried that Kizaru might use this to deduct money, Kakuzu said coldly, "Day after tomorrow, I will continue patrolling."
"Ohoho! Such moving words!" Kizaru laughed and said, "Your pay won't decrease."
Showing a satisfied expression, Kakuzu, considering that Kizaru was now both his current sponsor and a prey worth 750 million, kindly advised, "The Kumogakure's forces may invade at any time. It's not too late for you to retreat now."
"Kumogakure, huh? The ninjas there are as strong as monsters, truly terrifying!" Reminiscing, Kizaru sighed.
"Have you been to the Kumogakure?" Kakuzu asked slightly curious.
"I gave them a small gift!" Lifting his right hand, forming the familiar C-shaped sign, Kizaru answered.
A small gift?
Thinking about Kizaru's habit of speaking and his nasty tone, Kakuzu suddenly understood why there was a bounty of 750 million on his life from a ninja village.
This guy must have caused trouble in the Kumogakure!
While complaining about Kizaru, Kakuzu became increasingly alert to the information provided by the black market and clients, sensing significant issues!
How much information have those bastards hidden?
Cursing in his mind once again, Kakuzu felt that he should carefully reevaluate this bounty.
While Kizaru and Kakuzu were chatting, Nagayasu, who had already arranged the personnel, walked over again.
"Kizaru-sama, I have arranged everything."
Nodding, Kizaru signaled that he understood.
Looking at Kakuzu, his gaze shifted back to Kizaru. After hesitating for a moment, Nagayasu spoke up, "Kizaru-sama, what are our next arrangements?"
"Let two squads return to Konoha to report the news, and the rest withdraw 200 miles and temporarily hide."
"Don't we need to arrange someone for the rear guard?" Nagayasu asked.
"Rear guard?" Kizaru asked in a puzzled tone.
"Uh…" Not understanding Kizaru's meaning, Nagayasu stupidly responded.
"No need for rear guards, just cleaning up the battlefield." Kizaru said with a smile.
Cleaning up the battlefield?
Nagayasu was dumbfounded by Kizaru's answer, taking several seconds to react.
"Kizaru-sama! Are you going to..."
"Burning oil through the night and overtime can be troublesome, you know!" Kizaru interrupted with a smile, stretching lazily after a yawn. He continued, "Let's solve the trouble at once, finish work early, go to bed early. Isn't that good?"
"Burning oil through the night? Overtime? Kumogakure is invading now!"
"Absolutely not!" Knowing that Kizaru was a super genius in the village but unaware of Kizaru's record, Nagayasu urgently persuaded, "This is an order, go down!"
"I..." Unsure how to persuade, Nagayasu could only grit his teeth and say, "If that's the case, Kizaru-sama, please let me stay behind and face the enemy with you."
Considering his own record, it indeed required someone as a witness for easier dissemination back to the village. Kizaru nodded in agreement.
Seeing Kizaru's agreement, reluctantly, Nagayasu could only prepare himself for sacrifice in his mind.
"Are you going to stay behind alone for the rear guard?" If Kizaru were to be taken out by the Kumogakure people, the 750 million would be gone, and Kakuzu's expression suddenly became serious. "For the village and these guys, do you want to sacrifice your life?"
Initially, Kakuzu, who had some dissatisfaction with Kizaru's decision, seemed to react after hearing Kakuzu's words.
Looking at Kizaru, Kakuzu, as if seeing his past self betrayed by the village, continued speaking, "It's foolish! Leave now, there's still time."
"Have these two misunderstood something?"
Seeing the sincere and respectful gaze from Nagayasu and Kakuzu's gaze, a mix of infatuation and appreciation, Kizaru helplessly rubbed the back of his head.
"I just wanted to finish work early!"