"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With the sound of multiple explosions, several shadow clones appeared in the courtyard. Kosuke, slightly panting, broke into a satisfied smile.
"Kakuzu-sensei, I did it!"
"Not bad," Kakuzu said, his eyes momentarily showing approval before turning stern. "But you're still far from success. Understand?"
Kosuke immediately caught on, dispersing all the clones with a quick hand seal. The chakra he recovered eased the fatigue on his young face. At barely ten years old, Kosuke—a child born with all the privileges of a noble heir—understood the importance of pacing himself.
"Do you remember what I taught you about a ninja's fundamentals in battle?"
"Yes, Kakuzu-sensei. You said that the most important thing in a ninja fight is concealment."
"Right. Undetectable ninjutsu and secret techniques are a ninja's ultimate tools for turning the tide."
"The jutsu you've been teaching me will be my ace in the hole."
Though young, Kosuke was quick to grasp concepts and adapt. His ability to extrapolate from the basics set him leagues apart from his peers.
Kakuzu gave a curt nod. "Good. Now go play. I'll teach you more when I have time."
"Thank you, Kakuzu-sensei!"
As Kosuke's figure disappeared into the distance, Kakuzu let out a small, satisfied smile. Stretching his towering frame, the cracking sounds of his joints echoed in the air. The black threads within his body wriggled, settling into the most comfortable arrangement.
Though the Earth Grudge Fear technique granted Kakuzu eternal life, it came at the cost of a human body's natural attributes. This limitation meant that he couldn't personally practice many ninjutsu or secret arts. However, that didn't hinder his understanding of them.
Glancing at his broad palm, Kakuzu mused silently.
If I could restore just a sliver of my physical vitality, I could master all those techniques I studied alongside Tobirama Senju.
'The question is: when will I get the chance to experiment with Hashirama-sama's cells?'
Kakuzu knew better than to push his luck. As long as Hashirama remained alive and well, asking outright was out of the question. But that didn't bother him—time was the least of his concerns. He could wait.
...
The Next Day
Kakuzu's brief vacation ended as he slung a leather bag over his shoulder and returned to work. Unlike his previous hectic days in the lab, his current routine was simple.
Entering the lab, he set his bag aside, brewed a strong cup of tea, and pulled out The Complete Medical Compendium from the shelf. Settling into his seat, he lit a cigarette he'd bought from a roadside vendor.
The first puff hit his lungs like a punch, but the sharp sting felt oddly refreshing.
After about two hours of this so-called "work," a voice came from outside the door.
"Excuse me, is Kakuzu-sama here?"
"Hm? Come in."
The door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man. He wasn't dressed in a Konoha flak jacket and clearly wasn't a ninja, but the faint chakra emanating from him, coupled with his Konoha forehead protector, hinted at his administrative role.
"Ah, Hirata. It's been a month, hasn't it?"
"It sure has. With my relationship with Kakuzu-sama, I should be checking in monthly, shouldn't I?"
Hirata didn't stand on ceremony, sliding into the chair across from Kakuzu. From his bag, he pulled out a thick envelope and handed it over.
"Kakuzu-sama, here's your pay."
Setting aside his book, Kakuzu took the envelope and began counting the thick stack of bills inside. Hirata watched nervously as Kakuzu meticulously flipped through the cash, one bill at a time.
By the time Kakuzu finished the first count, his sharp gaze made Hirata's throat tighten. Kakuzu started a second count, this time flipping the bills in reverse order.
Though the process was slow and deliberate, Hirata didn't dare voice a complaint. He simply prayed silently that the amount was correct this time.
The last time there had been a discrepancy, Kakuzu had nearly torn the entire finance department apart, and even Tobirama Senju couldn't calm him down.
Finally, with a soft swish, the last bill slid back into place.
"Not a yen short or over. Sixty-five thousand exactly, Hirata. Your math is flawless today."
A relieved sigh escaped Hirata as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Wonderful! I still have to deliver the rest of the wages, so I'll take my leave."
"Go ahead."
Hirata didn't waste another second, hastily gathering his belongings and scurrying out of the lab. Kakuzu, on the other hand, tucked away his earnings with a pleased grin.
As for the glass industry, it had nearly reached saturation after a few years of rapid development. Yet, it still brought Kakuzu, a hands-off boss, tens of millions in pure profit every month. He couldn't help but think of the mountain of cash stored in his home's basement. Clasping his hands together, fingers interlaced, he muttered to himself, "It's about time to go count my fortune again."
Ring, ring, ring...
Kakuzu reached out and turned off the alarm clock. Over the years, he had maintained a habit: the sound of an alarm is a command. Time had flown by, and before he knew it, it was already lunchtime.
A punctual man, Kakuzu left right on time—neither a minute early nor late. But before heading out, he grabbed a document. It was this month's work report.
Walking through the bustling streets, the lively crowds highlighted the prosperity of the area. He stepped into Ichiraku Ramen.
"Boss, chashu ramen," Kakuzu ordered, spreading his palm out skillfully.
The owner instantly understood. "Right away, Kakuzu-san. Five bowls of ramen coming up!"
In no time, five steaming bowls of ramen were placed in front of him. Kakuzu devoured them swiftly, like a storm consuming the sky. Once finished, he headed to a tea house in Konohagakure for an hour of rest.
Finally, as the clock's second hand hit 2 p.m., Kakuzu opened his eyes. A few quick leaps later, he vanished from the tea house, reappearing at the doors of the Hokage's office.
After knocking and receiving permission, Kakuzu stepped inside.
There he was—the man known as the God of Shinobi. Yet, judging by his current state, Hashirama Senju seemed a bit overwhelmed. The piles of documents in the office were significantly larger than usual.
"Hokage-sama."
"Ah, Kakuzu! Come in, have a seat," Hashirama greeted warmly.
Kakuzu sat across from him and handed over the document.
"Hokage-sama, here's my monthly report."
"Haha, just leave it there," Hashirama said, casually pointing to a random spot on the desk.
Raising an eyebrow, Kakuzu thought, Well, if he doesn't care, neither do I. After all, the report didn't contain anything particularly meaningful.
Hashirama gave Kakuzu a sheepish grin. It wasn't like he ever read these reports anyway. The two exchanged a glance and chuckled knowingly.
"Hokage-sama, what's got you so busy?"
"Ah, take a look for yourself," Hashirama sighed, sliding a stack of letters toward Kakuzu. "Messages from the other nations. They're requesting a Five Kage Summit. What a hassle."
Without hesitation, Hashirama let Kakuzu read the contents.
One letter began:
"To the esteemed Hokage,
I am the Raikage. I've heard that your village has successfully captured all the tailed beasts. Kumogakure is deeply grateful, but..."
Another read:
"Respected Hokage,
On behalf of Iwagakure, I invite you to a hunt along the border..."
As Kakuzu skimmed through the correspondence, his fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk. He quickly grasped the essence of their intentions.
In the end, it was all about the tailed beasts. Seeing that Konoha had collected them all, the other great nations wanted a share of the pie. Hence the request for this so-called Five Kage Summit.
This involved a decision by Hashirama that would have profound effects on the future: the distribution of tailed beasts to other villages.
In hindsight, this decision was often criticized as a blunder. Many in Kakuzu's previous life had mocked it as a foolish move. For a long time, even Kakuzu himself had shared that view.
But now, having lived in this world and experienced it firsthand, his perspective had shifted.
Even so, Kakuzu had to ask Hashirama one thing before proceeding further.
"Hokage-sama, if your decision still fails to bring peace to the shinobi world, what then?"
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