"Kakuzu-san, please don't misunderstand. I'm a descendant of the Yuhi clan. I've just arrived in the village and have no place to stay, so I've temporarily taken shelter here. I mean no harm," Yuhi Kōri explained hastily.
"The Yuhi clan?" Kakuzu glanced at the oil painting on the easel and briefly recalled the earlier scene. "The most renowned illusionists of the Land of Fire?"
"You flatter me. Renowned is an exaggeration—we've only made modest achievements."
Since the man had been able to enter the village, Kakuzu surmised he wasn't a hostile presence. He lowered his guard and stepped closer to examine the oil painting.
"Was that earlier scene also genjutsu?" Kakuzu instinctively formed the opposition seal, circulating his chakra through his body. The flow remained stable—there was no sign he'd fallen into an illusion.
"Ah..." Kōri coughed twice, forcing a weak smile onto his pale face. "Kakuzu-san, please don't doubt me. This is the Yuhi clan's ultimate genjutsu: Pinnacle Illusion. Unlike typical genjutsu, it doesn't trap the target in an illusion. Instead, it immerses the caster in the illusion."
"When your consciousness is fully immersed, the illusion ceases to be an illusion. It becomes an artistic concept, a state of mind where anything you imagine can materialize."
Picking up a brush and palette, Kōri began painting once more. Dipping his brush into blue ink, he painted a lightning bolt striking the ground.
Boom!
Though the skies above Konoha were clear, a deafening thunderclap erupted in Kakuzu's courtyard. A chunk of earth was violently uprooted, as if struck by lightning.
"Hm?" Kakuzu's expression betrayed his surprise.
To manifest an illusion into reality—this genjutsu was indeed formidable. However, mere moments after the strike, Kōri's complexion paled further. His brush and palette slipped from his trembling hands, clattering to the ground as his body swayed precariously.
"Are you alright?" Kakuzu moved to steady him.
Just then, the door to a neighboring room creaked open. A woman holding a child stepped out, clearly alarmed by the thunderclap.
"Kōri, why won't you listen? I told you not to use that technique anymore—it's too much for your body!"
The woman approached, helping Kōri to sit down. She nodded politely at Kakuzu.
"My apologies for the trouble. I'll clean up the courtyard shortly. By the way, I'm his wife."
"It's no trouble at all," Kakuzu replied with a faint smile, though his gaze lingered on Kōri.
Sitting on the steps, Kōri caught his breath, his face still ashen.
"Forgive me, for the embarrassment. Pinnacle Illusion takes a severe toll on mental energy, so... cough cough..."
His words were cut off by another fit of coughing.
Kakuzu didn't need further explanation. His mind wandered to a previous conversation with Senju Momoka.
The human body could be divided into three aspects: the physical, the energetic (chakra), and the spiritual. These corresponded to taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu, respectively. The more powerful the genjutsu, the greater the spiritual energy consumption. Forcing oneself to use advanced genjutsu without sufficient reserves placed immense strain on the nervous system.
It was clear Kōri was suffering from just such a backlash.
Glancing at the child in the woman's arms, Kakuzu asked, "Does the baby have a name?"
"Yes, his name is Yuhi Makoto," the woman replied.
"Is that so?" Kakuzu's gaze turned playful.
'When this child grows up, he'll probably come to understand the toll this clan's secret technique takes on the mind. I wouldn't be surprised if it's banned in his generation.
'Though, if Yuhi Kurenai had learned this technique, she wouldn't have been so easily bested by that Uchiha brat. Then again, some iconic moments would've been lost...'
The thought brought an enigmatic smile to Kakuzu's face.
...
Six months passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, the entrance of the Quartz Glass shop was abuzz with the sound of drums and firecrackers. The festive atmosphere drew a crowd of curious Konoha villagers.
In half a year, the shop's success hadn't waned. The reason was simple.
"I heard Lord Hashirama himself is coming—is that true?"
"Look! Isn't that our Hokage?"
"Oh my goodness, it really is him!"
"For Lord Hashirama to visit personally, it must mean Quartz Glass has greatly benefited Konoha."
The villagers chattered excitedly, the lively scene growing even more jubilant.
At the shop entrance, Kakuzu stood ready to welcome the visitors. Dressed in his Hokage robes and hat, Senju Hashirama arrived, flanked by Senju Momoka and other members of the Senju clan. Representatives from the Hyuga and Yamanaka clans were also present to offer their congratulations.
"Kakuzu, I knew I was right about you!" Hashirama declared with a hearty laugh. "This Quartz Glass business you've started hasn't just brought immense contributions to Konoha—it's also created countless jobs.
"Now, I'm receiving letters from other nations almost daily, each one requesting to buy our Quartz Glass. Your innovation has truly opened the doors to peaceful exchanges between us and other countries. Hahaha!"
By the end of his speech, Senju Hashirama couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter. Kakuzu exchanged glances with the others, and soon, they all joined in. The quartz glass Kakuzu had developed had essentially rendered traditional glass obsolete. With its affordable price, nearly everyone in the shinobi world was making the switch.
Although his business ventures extended far and wide, Kakuzu scoffed at the notion that his trade was opening doors for peaceful diplomacy between Konohagakure and other nations. Sure, his operation was expansive, but he wasn't delusional enough to think it had that kind of influence.
Still, the assembly lines he had introduced did solve many of Konoha's problems. Not only did they enhance trade relations, but they also provided jobs for countless young people. These developments even attracted more individuals to settle in the village, further contributing to its prosperity.
To Hashirama, Kakuzu's contributions were significant. This time, Hashirama personally came forward to thank him, which brought Kakuzu a flood of recognition—and with it, wealth.
That night, Kakuzu lay on his bed, his expression uncharacteristically serious.
"1,000... 2,000... 3,000... 4,000..."
"1,000... 2,000... 3,000... 4,000..."
"1,000... 2,000... 3,000... 4,000..."
Kakuzu sighed. His occupational habits had kicked in again. He couldn't rest until he meticulously counted every last ryo, ensuring the total was accurate. Only then could he finally relax.
Oh, by the way—those figures of 1,000, 2,000, and so on? They weren't just ryo. No, each of those numbers had a unit behind them: ten thousand.
Over the past six months, combining his earnings from rent and quartz glass sales, Kakuzu had amassed a grand total of 40 million ryo.
As he stared at the scattered piles of money that glittered like stars, covering his bed entirely, Kakuzu lay back, basking in the intoxicating scent of wealth.
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