IMPORTANT: For every 30 POWER STONES there will be an extra chapter!
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Carrying a freshly severed head, Kakuzu was in a good mood. Although the bounty on this head wasn't particularly high, money was still money. After quickly exchanging the head for the bounty, Kakuzu left the bounty station without lingering.
Having earned some money, he naturally thought he deserved a little reward. With that thought, Kakuzu headed to a tavern for a drink.
As soon as he left the bounty station, he noticed someone following him.
"Which foolish rat is this? Not even bothering to hide," Kakuzu thought, his eyes turning cold. He immediately changed his plan of going to the tavern and instead headed toward the outskirts of town. A murderous intent had already risen in his heart. If the person dared follow him out of the town, and if they were strong enough, Kakuzu wouldn't mind replacing one of his hearts.
Kakuzu walked swiftly toward the outskirts, and once outside the town gates, he headed straight into a secluded forest.
Seeing Kakuzu deliberately leading him to a remote place, Ye Zi followed calmly but remained vigilant, knowing that Kakuzu was a formidable opponent and could potentially launch a surprise attack.
However, his caution turned out to be unnecessary. Kakuzu, assuming his pursuer was a weakling, had no interest in using stealth.
When Ye Zi entered the forest, he found Kakuzu standing in a clearing, arms crossed, his pupil-less eyes staring coldly at him.
"Any last words before you die? Not that I care to hear them," Kakuzu said, his tone full of cold killing intent. He slowly raised his hands, preparing to attack, but at that moment, Ye Zi spoke.
"You like money?" That single sentence successfully stopped Kakuzu in his tracks.
"Yes," Kakuzu replied. Since the topic was money, he was more than willing to talk, wanting to make it clear just how much he loved money—not in an ordinary way.
Ye Zi asked, "Would one billion ryo be enough?"
Kakuzu's pupil-less eyes suddenly gleamed, perhaps reflecting the color of money. One billion was no small sum. This mysterious figure seemed to be offering that much for some kind of job. However, Kakuzu wasn't naive enough to believe such an easy deal existed. If the job were too difficult, not even one billion would make him take it.
Now that money was involved, Kakuzu let go of his earlier grudge about being followed, and his murderous intent slowly faded. In a calm tone, he asked, "One billion ryo? What do you want me to do?"
Ye Zi could feel Kakuzu's previous killing intent dissipate at the mention of money. This showed how unusually strong Kakuzu's obsession with money was. Ye Zi thought carefully about how to get Kakuzu to join Akatsuki. Offering just one billion for a single task wouldn't be realistic, especially since this wasn't a one-time mission.
For someone who loved money, could offering one or even several billion ryo tie him to Akatsuki's cause? Ye Zi wasn't sure if a mere contract could make Kakuzu fully commit himself to Akatsuki's goals. What other way could he secure Kakuzu's loyalty?
Seeing Ye Zi fall into silence, deep in thought, Kakuzu began to grow impatient. His gaze turned hostile once more.
Just as Kakuzu's dissatisfaction was about to boil over, Ye Zi came up with a plan to tie Kakuzu to the organization.
"At present, my organization has ten billion ryo in circulating funds," Ye Zi said, finally breaking the silence.
That statement left Kakuzu stunned.
"Did you say... ten billion?"
"Yes," Ye Zi confirmed.
"So what?" Kakuzu asked, suppressing his inner desire to control such a vast amount of money.
"I want you to join my organization. On one hand, you'll carry out tasks for us. On the other, you'll serve as our financial manager and oversee that sum of money." This was Ye Zi's plan—to lure Kakuzu into the organization by offering control over all of its finances. Once Kakuzu saw the power within the organization, everything might naturally fall into place.
The offer to manage ten billion ryo was like hitting a vital nerve, completely winning over Kakuzu.
"Alright, I'll join," he replied, without hesitation or further thought.
Seeing how quickly Kakuzu agreed, Ye Zi was momentarily speechless. It seemed Kakuzu had been entirely drawn in by the ten billion. He hadn't even bothered to ask the organization's name or inquire about the tasks he'd be assigned.
Even though Kakuzu seemed solely interested in the money, Ye Zi felt it was his duty to at least explain a bit about the organization.
"My organization is called Akatsuki. Currently, our main goal is to amass wealth. After you join, I'll take you to meet the leader."
"Oh?" Kakuzu's eyes lit up. He had heard a little about Akatsuki before—an organization from the Land of Rain that he hadn't paid much attention to. But none of that mattered now. With wealth as its main goal, it had won Kakuzu over once again.
"Amassing wealth? So, I'll be in charge of the organization's funds?" Kakuzu asked, visibly excited and eager.
Thinking it would take more effort to recruit Kakuzu, Ye Zi was surprised by how easy it had been. Was this the power of money?
However, Ye Zi felt the need to remind him, "You won't have the authority to use the funds."
"Doesn't matter, as long as I'm the one managing them," Kakuzu replied.
And so, Ye Zi successfully recruited Kakuzu, an elite active in the world of bounties, into Akatsuki.
The two set out from the Land of Fire, heading for the Land of Rain.
Along the way, Ye Zi gave Kakuzu a brief overview of Akatsuki. When he mentioned that the organization only had five members, Kakuzu didn't seem to care. As long as there was money involved, he was content. Ye Zi then explained that the ten billion ryo wasn't currently in the organization but would be delivered in installments from a certain location.
Upon hearing this, Kakuzu launched a sudden, unprovoked attack on Ye Zi.
Fortunately, Ye Zi's strength had grown considerably since his last encounter with Kakuzu. He easily neutralized several of Kakuzu's fierce strikes before Kakuzu stopped his assault.
Instead of getting angry at Kakuzu's sudden attack, Ye Zi waited calmly for an explanation.
Kakuzu snorted, not seeing anything wrong with launching a surprise attack. He said, "It's good to see that you're strong. If not, I'd have lost confidence in the organization."
"You've accepted, so let's keep moving," Ye Zi said, his voice calm and unwavering.
"Aren't you angry?" Kakuzu asked, surprised.
"What good would killing you out of anger do for me?" Ye Zi replied.
Kakuzu laughed coldly, sneering, "I admit you're tough, but you're far from being able to kill me!"
With the power of Wood Release in his hands, Ye Zi could kill Kakuzu easily, but he saw no need to explain or get caught up in the argument.
"Akatsuki is in urgent need of more members. Do you have any candidates to recommend?" Ye Zi changed the subject.
Seeing Ye Zi switch topics, Kakuzu didn't push further either, as he had to admit that the masked figure in front of him was indeed strong.
"There are a few decent candidates, but they're all the greedy type, drawn by money," Kakuzu replied, not realizing that he was the very definition of "money-hungry."
"Then, before heading back, let's go meet them," Ye Zi said, his eyes lighting up.
"Speaking of that, my reward is still one billion, right?"
Ye Zi remained silent.
"Why aren't you answering me?"
"Isn't managing ten billion, or even more, enough to satisfy you?" Ye Zi finally responded.
"Those are two separate things, aren't they?"
"Fine, one billion it is."
"You sound like you're reluctant to pay," Kakuzu remarked.
Once again, Ye Zi chose silence.
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Currently on Chapter 224 - The Evil Hidden in the Darkness