"This is for you. I believe it will prove helpful."
The violet-haired woman retrieved an object from a refrigeration unit and handed it to Kakuzu. He took a closer look—it was a square ice block, still unmelted, with a small note sealed in its transparent center.
Kakuzu tucked the ice block and a bounty slip into his sleeve, then exited the establishment alongside the woman. Outside, Heisei Rokuno was still diligently standing guard.
"Kid, you're not hurt, are you?" Kakuzu's tone was calm, though he felt a twinge of guilt for the earlier misunderstanding.
Heisei flashed a relieved smile. "There's no need to apologize. I'm just honored you came here. A few scratches are nothing—after all, what's a ninja without a few wounds?"
Seeing the young man's upbeat attitude, Kakuzu decided not to press further. From his earlier conversation with the violet-haired woman, he'd learned that Heisei had been the one to introduce him to the world of bounty-hunting. If Kakuzu completed his first transaction successfully, Heisei would earn a small percentage according to the long-standing rules of the black market. While a few tens of thousands of ryo were mere pocket change compared to millions, it was more than a month's wages for many small-time merchants—enough to make a difference for someone like Heisei.
"By the way, I still have a question," Kakuzu said, turning to the violet-haired woman.
"Ask away," she replied with a warm smile.
"Are you truly the one running this place?" Kakuzu glanced at the sign above the establishment. Something about her demeanor felt at odds with her supposed role as the head of a black market exchange.
At his question, the woman chuckled softly, her laughter like a gentle breeze. Her expression shifted, becoming more playful and flirtatious. She took Kakuzu's hand, her grip light but suggestive.
"Business isn't exactly booming these days. A girl's got to make a living somehow."
She leaned closer, her voice taking on a teasing lilt. "Actually, I have a fondness for strong, commanding men like you. Would you stay a while and keep me company?"
Women were indeed unpredictable creatures. Whether her words were sincere or not, they carried a charm that was difficult to ignore. The softness of her touch, the allure in her eyes, the subtle sway of her voice—it was enough to make any man's heart race. For Kakuzu, with five hearts beating within him, the sensation was even more pronounced.
A faint smile appeared in his eyes as he reached out and gently patted her head. The gesture was firm yet careful, catching her off guard. A slight blush crept across her face.
"What's your name?"
"Minami."
"A good name." Kakuzu retracted his hand and glanced at her bashful expression. "Wait for me."
As he said those words, Kakuzu felt as though he was indulging in an act of kindness. It reminded him of his past life, seeing young women shivering in the cold, clad in thin stockings on winter streets. Back then, his circumstances never allowed him to act on his softer impulses.
But this world was different. Here, the laws were more lenient—or rather, more indifferent. Establishments like this one weren't rare.
"Adapt to the customs of the land," Kakuzu thought. "Flexibility ensures survival."
The thought of taking things slower, of enjoying this new world, briefly crossed his mind. But for now, there was work to be done.
By the time Kakuzu reached the bustling street outside, the ice block in his pocket had nearly melted. He fished it out, applying just enough force to crack it open and retrieve the note inside. Holding the note up to the sunlight, faint outlines of a map began to emerge.
"A map..." Kakuzu studied it carefully, quickly understanding its significance.
The note detailed the locations of underground bounty exchanges scattered across the region. For instance, the Land of Rivers had two exchange points, the Land of Iron had four, and larger nations like the Land of Fire boasted as many as twelve. Clearly, the black market was thriving.
As Kakuzu mulled over the map, a sudden heat began to emanate from the note in his hand.
"Hm?"
Without activating any fire-based jutsu, the note began to burn on its own.
"Thorough measures to ensure secrecy," Kakuzu remarked. The note had been imbued with a trigger seal that activated once exposed to air for a set amount of time. A clever way to prevent the black market's locations from falling into the wrong hands.
As the burning paper crumbled to ash, Kakuzu's expression turned serious. It was time to get to work.
Ganraku, a rogue ninja from the Land of Earth, had been fleeing westward since his defection. Reports suggested he'd recently been spotted in the Land of Iron...
As a rogue ninja, he wouldn't dare linger in the Land of Iron for long. Heading south to escape was his only logical choice. This meant he was likely passing through or even hiding in a place like White Tree Town—a lawless zone. With this basic information, Kakuzu could already narrow down the potential area where the target might be hiding. Of course, the odds weren't in his favor. The town itself had thousands of residents, and the surrounding villages brought the population to tens of thousands. Searching for one person in this sea of people was a daunting task, especially since the target was a rogue ninja. Naturally, they would have covered their tracks meticulously to avoid being discovered.
Fortunately, Kakuzu was trained for situations like this. Raised to be a perfect ninja from a young age, he had mastered the arts of reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance. This hunt was shaping up to be a battle of wits between predator and prey.
"Where to begin?" Kakuzu's hawk-like gaze swept over the town's narrow streets and crowded alleys. It didn't take long for him to identify his first lead.
"I'll start there," he muttered, striding forward.
He approached a group of thuggish young men with bleached hair and cigarettes dangling from their lips. The moment the group noticed Kakuzu's imposing presence, their expressions soured. One of them stomped his cigarette onto the ground and stood up, grabbing Kakuzu's collar with an aggressive sneer.
"Who the hell are you?"
Kakuzu didn't answer immediately. His cold, calculating eyes silently assessed the group.
In a town of just a few thousand, any newcomer would stand out.
People like these would have their ears to the ground for anything unusual.
Without wasting words, Kakuzu pulled out a bounty poster and held it up. The photo of his target was clear.
"Seen this man?"
The thugs didn't even glance at the poster, their focus locked on Kakuzu.
"I asked who the hell you—"
Ten minutes later.
The group of thugs now sported swollen faces and tear-filled eyes.
"S-sir, it's here! We swear!" one of them stammered, pointing to a spot nearby.
"We saw someone like that here before. That's all we know, I swear!"
"P-please, just let us go!"
Kakuzu ignored their whining and tossed them aside. He crouched down, pressing his fingers against the muddy ground. Slowly, he began inching forward, examining the area. The battered thugs stood frozen, not daring to move without permission.
Twenty minutes later.
"Found it!"
Kakuzu's sharp exclamation startled the group.
Carefully, he brushed away the dirt, revealing faint traces of footprints. Though the road was muddy and covered with overlapping tracks, Kakuzu's trained eye could discern subtle differences. What seemed like a chaotic mess to most was a clear trail to him.
Among the many footprints, Kakuzu focused on a single pattern: the imprint of a soft-padded boot.
Ninja footwear is distinct from civilian shoes, he thought. And Iwagakure's shinobi have their own unique style.
The terrain around Iwagakure is rocky yet flat, making it practical for their ninja to wear soft-padded boots for maneuverability. These prints matched the description perfectly.
Could it belong to another shinobi from the Land of Earth? Possible, but unlikely. Iwagakure was one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. Their shinobi were known for their loyalty and rarely operated alone.
Examining the footprint further, Kakuzu noticed subtle signs of urgency.
'Heh, let's see if this really leads to 15 million ryō,' he muttered, a rare smirk tugging at his lips.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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