Satoru strolled through the streets, a handful of wanted posters tucked into his arms.
Before long, his arms were filled with boxes of snacks, each one stacked precariously.
"Edamame with a creamy flavor?" he murmured, his pale blue eyes curving with amusement.
"Sounds promising."
He savored the thought of a peaceful day off—no Akatsuki missions, no Orochimaru schemes, just time to enjoy the small pleasures of life.
But his plans were quickly interrupted.
At some point, the air around him grew heavy with mist, the road ahead obscured as if swallowed by a dense fog.
"What is this?" Satoru's expression shifted as his sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.
With the clarity granted by his enhanced vision, he quickly spotted the figures of hidden shinobi lurking within the fog.
Interesting.
Who are these people?
And how did they manage to find him?
"Hey," Satoru called out with a mocking tone, "are you hiding in the mist because you're shy?"
The hidden Mist shinobi froze, their expressions betraying surprise.
Does he know how many of us there are?
No, it's impossible.
Surely that was just a bluff. They were masters of concealment—there was no way he could have detected them.
But before they could settle their thoughts, a voice sounded behind them.
"What are you looking at?"
Their pupils dilated in shock, their bodies stiffening instinctively.
When did he get behind us?!
Just a moment ago, he had been standing on the street.
How had he moved so quickly?
Satoru blinked at the group, setting the snack boxes he was holding carefully onto the ground.
Then…
Moments later, all the Mist shinobi lay unconscious on the ground.
Satoru casually rifled through their belongings, pulling out three more bounty notices featuring his face.
He frowned at the exaggerated, almost artistic depiction of himself on the posters.
"So that's it," he muttered, his pale blue eyes calm and disinterested.
Suddenly, his gaze shifted to one of the defeated ninjas, noticing something peculiar.
"What's this?"
Another poster with a bounty caught his attention, though it wasn't his own.
Satoru clasped his hands together, a bright smile spreading across his face.
"How fortunate!"
He hoisted one of the unconscious ninjas over his shoulder, whistling softly as he made his way to the nearest gold exchange to trade the bounty.
Meanwhile, in a dense forest…
Kakashi's Konoha team faced off against two members of the Akatsuki: Kakuzu and Hidan.
The battle had raged fiercely, leaving the Konoha shinobi struggling to stay on their feet.
Kakashi adjusted his forehead protector to fully reveal his Sharingan, his expression serious as he analyzed Kakuzu's movements.
Even so, his trembling right hand betrayed his exhaustion.
"What kind of monsters are these?" Ino muttered, barely able to stand.
"No matter how hard we hit them, they don't go down."
Kakashi's mind raced as he tried to formulate a strategy. How had they ended up in this situation? Running into Akatsuki members with no warning was a stroke of terrible luck.
"It's almost over," Kakuzu said, his voice calm and indifferent. He rolled his wrist, black tendrils beginning to emerge from his body.
The air grew heavy as the deadly threads surged toward the Konoha shinobi.
"Watch out!" Kakashi shouted, but it was too late.
The black threads wrapped around him, Sakura, Ino, and Chōji, immobilizing them instantly.
Only Shikamaru, who was still engaged with Hidan, managed to avoid being restrained.
"You've got good instincts," Kakuzu said, addressing Kakashi. "But in the end, you're no match for me."
The murderous aura radiating from Kakuzu was suffocating.
He tilted his head, observing Kakashi with a calculating gaze.
"You remind me of the Konoha ninja I fought long ago."
"The First Hokage."
Kakashi's eyes widened in shock.
The First Hokage?
"You fought him?" Kakashi asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Kakuzu chuckled coldly.
"I fought him, yes. Though I didn't win, I survived. And in the process, I gained something far more valuable."
He flexed his fingers, the black tendrils tightening their grip on the Konoha team.
"I've lived for centuries by harvesting hearts. Each one grants me new life and power. I'm afraid yours will be next."
Kakashi gritted his teeth, struggling against the threads.
Damn it. How can we escape this?
Back at the gold exchange…
Satoru dragged the captured Mist ninja to the counter, collecting his reward with a mischievous smile.
During the transaction, the shopkeeper attempted to shortchange him, claiming a lack of funds.
"Fine," Satoru said cheerfully. "I'll take that plump rabbit over there as compensation."
The shopkeeper hesitated, but Satoru's unwavering grin left little room for negotiation.
Moments later, Satoru walked out with his new furry companion.
"Why do I feel like I still got ripped off?" Satoru mused, scratching his head.
"Ten sticks of dango for one rabbit. I'd better hope this thing tastes good roasted."
He sighed but paused mid-step, sensing something unusual.
His pale blue eyes sharpened, his entire demeanor shifting.
Back in the forest, Kakuzu prepared to deliver the finishing blow.
His black tendrils snaked toward Kakashi's heart, intent on ripping it free.
"Sensei! Kakashi-sensei!" Shikamaru shouted, rushing toward his teammates.
But Hidan stepped in his way, swinging his scythe with a maniacal grin.
"Not so fast, kid," Hidan sneered. "Your fight's with me."
He glanced over at Kakuzu and smirked.
"Looks like Kakuzu's wrapping things up. Guess I'd better start taking this seriously."
Hidan's gaze locked onto Shikamaru, his expression shifting into one of crazed devotion.
"Your sacrifice to the Jashin will be glorious," he said, his voice filled with dark zeal.
Shikamaru's fists clenched.
How could they possibly win against enemies like this?
Satoru's pale blue eyes glinted as he stepped into the forest clearing, his figure emerging from the shadows.
His gaze swept over the chaotic scene before him, taking in the restrained Konoha shinobi and the two Akatsuki members.
"This looks interesting," he muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Let's see what happens when I crash the party."