Chapter 261: Akatsuki Wants To Recruit Kakuzu【5th Update 7k】
In the summer afternoon in Star Capital, sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, shining on the wide and neat streets of Star Capital.
In front of the Ninja Academy in the East District of the city, there were always the cheerful laughter and voices of children.
Recently, a new snack shop opened across from the school gate, and it quickly became a place where students lingered after school.
The shop is not big, but it is exceptionally clean and tidy.
Various kinds of oden were displayed in the glass counter, with clear broth, radish, egg, kelp, and fish cakes soaked in it, emitting an enticing sheen and steam.
In the oil pot nearby, golden tempura and fried chicken pieces sizzled, with the aroma wafting far away.
The shopkeeper was a woman with a gentle demeanor, having a head of soft black long straight hair and deep black pupils.
She always wore a faint, somewhat melancholic smile as she busily greeted the children, but her gaze often involuntarily followed the small figures being led away by their parents, falling into brief moments of distraction.
That day after school, Uchiha Yuta walked out of the school gate together with a few classmates.
Soon, their attention was drawn to the newly opened snack shop and the lively crowd gathered around it.
“Yuta, come quick! The fried shrimp tempura here is super delicious!” A Hyuga Clan boy shouted indistinctly with his mouth stuffed full.
Yuta felt the change in his pocket for today, swallowed his saliva, and squeezed over as well.
He looked at the various snacks in the glass cabinet, golden in color and fragrant, and finally pointed: “Please give me two strings of grilled sausage.”
“Alright, please wait a moment.” Mikoto responded gently, skillfully packing the grilled sausage into a paper bag and handing it to the child.
While Yuta was lowering his head to take out money, she looked at the child’s black hair and the slightly familiar eyebrow and eye contours, her action pausing slightly. She then picked up a small paper box, put a plump fried shrimp tempura in it, and gently placed it on Yuta’s paper bag.
“This… for you.” Mikoto’s voice was a few degrees softer than usual.
Yuta was stunned for a moment, lifted his head, and met the shop owner’s black eyes that carried some complex emotions.
He was a bit puzzled, but extra food was always pleasing, so a brilliant smile bloomed on his face: “Thank you, Aunt!”
Mikoto watched the child’s back as he thanked her and bounced away happily. Looking at the small Uchiha Fan Crest on the back of his clothes, her eyes became dazed once more, as if through him she saw another black-haired boy far away in Konoha.
“Sasuke……”
“It seems you’ve already adapted to life here, Mikoto.” A familiar and vibrant voice pulled Mikoto back from her thoughts.
Mikoto turned her head and saw Kushina Uzumaki standing at the counter, unceremoniously picking up a bamboo skewer herself to stab a takoyaki and put it in her mouth. Although the Reanimation Jutsu had no sense of taste, she still mumbled in praise: “Mm! The taste is really good! More authentic than the one from that old shop at the entrance of the Ninja Academy in Konoha before!”
Mikoto smiled helplessly and handed over a piece of tissue: “Eat slowly, no one’s fighting you for it. It’s just some simple snacks.”
After a busy period, as the last group of students were picked up by their parents, the school gate gradually quieted down.
Mikoto began tidying up the shop, and Kushina naturally went behind the counter to help wipe down the utensils and arrange the tables and chairs.
“Are you really not planning to go back to the Uchiha Clan Land to take a look? Everyone misses you a lot.” Kushina brought up the old topic again while deftly working.
Mikoto’s movements as she wiped the counter slowed down, her eyes dimming somewhat: “The sins that Itachi Uchiha committed… our family… has no face to show to the clan members. Being able to stay here, watching the children grow up safely from afar, watching the Uchiha’s future continue on, I’m very satisfied with that. This… is just like being able to watch Sasuke grow up.”
Her voice carried an indelible guilt and deep longing.
Kushina sighed, not persuading him further.
She knew that her good friend’s heart knot could not be untied in a day or two.
In the evening, Kushina pulled Mikoto along to stroll through the newly opened commercial street.
As the lights came on, the night market in Star Capital was bustling, with all sorts of shops brightly lit and crowds surging through. The two went from clothing stores to accessory shops, excitedly browsing around, and soon their hands were filled with big and small bags.
Just as they were discussing a stall with a novel handmade craft, a golden flash quietly appeared.
“Yo, looks like I came at just the right time.” Minato Namikaze appeared with his signature warm smile, but in the next second, his arms were stuffed full of various shopping bags, nearly submerging his upper body, leaving only a head of brilliant golden hair exposed.
“Hubby, you’re so thoughtful!” Kushina grinned and patted the pile of “package mountain”.
Minato’s voice came muffled from behind the bag, full of indulgence and a hint of helplessness: “It is my honor to serve two beautiful ladies.”
He skillfully adjusted the bag that was about to slip from his arms, steadily following behind the two, taking on the role of mobile shelf and guard.
After getting tired from strolling, the three arrived at the park by Ghost River for a walk.
As the longest and most abundant river in the Land of Stars, Ghost River winds through the Star Capital like a jade belt.
Solid and magnificent dams were built on both riverbanks, with wide walkways and landscaped parks on top of the dams, offering pleasant scenery, gentle evening breezes, and the fresh scent of the river water.
Looking at the myriad lights reflected in the river and the grand bridge spanning both banks in the distance, Mikoto couldn’t help but sigh: “The changes here are happening day by day, full of vitality.”
“But I still don’t quite understand,” Mikoto asked softly, her gaze sweeping over Kushina and Minato beside her: “You two… why did you choose to help the Land of Stars?”
“Especially even Minato…” She hesitated for a moment, glanced at Minato who was quietly appreciating the scenery beside her: “You were once Konoha’s Hokage.”
Kushina and Minato exchanged a glance, their eye contact carrying a profound meaning that only they themselves understood.
Then Minato gently took over the conversation, his voice calm and profound: “Some things transcend the village’s boundaries. This is not betrayal, but choosing a path we believe to be more correct.”
Kushina also restrained her smile, grasped Mikoto’s hand, her red hair slightly swaying in the night wind: “That night, I absolutely could not watch you die with my eyes open. Bringing you back was not just because we are close friends, but also because you shouldn’t become a sacrifice to that dark politics. Here, you can live safely, watching the news of Sasuke growing up safely.”
Mentioning Sasuke, Mikoto’s heart tightened: “That child… is he doing well in Konoha?”
“According to… um, some reliable intelligence,” Kushina glanced at Minato once, but actually the source of the intelligence was Menma.
“The Third Hokage placed him in a new residence and did not mistreat him in terms of living conditions. Moreover, it seems Anbu personnel were arranged to provide him with private training guidance. He doesn’t need to worry too much about safety or daily life.” She omitted the loneliness and inner suffering Sasuke might face, as mentioning them would only make Mikoto more worried.
Mikoto breathed a slight sigh of relief, fell silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Kushina, her eyes filled with guilt and concern: “What about your child? I remember… that child Naruto, he’s in Konoha…”
She hesitated to speak, knowing that Naruto’s situation in Konoha as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki might not be good, but her own position was awkward, making it difficult to provide any help secretly even if she wanted to.
Kushina’s gaze softened, still carrying a hint of mystery: “That kid Naruto is tough as nails, still at the Konoha Ninja Academy as a jonin. As for my other child…”
She suddenly smiled slyly and teased, “Hehe, actually already in the Land of Stars. You’ll see it when you get the chance later.”
Mikoto tilted her head curiously.
Another child?
She keenly sensed that Kushina and Minato seemed to harbor deeper secrets, their “revival” was anything but ordinary, yet she felt no ambitious aura from them, and they treated her like an old friend of many years.
However, Mikoto didn’t want to delve deeper.
As long as she could see the Uchiha children grow up safely, as long as there was even a sliver of hope to reunite with Sasuke someday in the future, she didn’t care about anything else.
For her now, this tranquility and hope were more important than anything.
Meanwhile, in the distant Land of Waterfalls.
In the eerie dense forest, a silent slaughter had just ended.
Itachi Uchiha slowly withdrew the kunai from a rogue ninja’s throat, blood dripping from the cold metal onto the years of fallen leaves, completely silent.
His gaze was as calm and indifferent as ever, as if what had just ended was not a life, but merely brushing away a speck of dust.
Next to him, Zabuza Momochi shouldered the exaggerated Kubikiribocho, clicking his tongue in dissatisfaction: “It’s like this again. This doesn’t even count as a warm-up. The quality of the newcomers the organization has been trying to recruit lately is really getting worse and worse.”
He kicked the other already cold corpse by his feet: “This kind of trash dares to defect? What a waste of our time.”
Over these past few months, this pair has, besides carrying out various high-difficulty missions for the Akatsuki organization to raise massive funds, also been working on “testing” the newly joined members.
Unfortunately, the two newcomers so far have both failed to withstand even a single move under Itachi Uchiha’s Sharingan or Zabuza’s ninja sword, easily turning into souls of the departed.
Itachi Uchiha silently wiped the kunai.
He had already seen that the ghost Zabuza Momochi by his side was a pure ninja who had cruelty and wildness carved into his bones, quick to anger and revering power.
But beneath that facade, Itachi keenly sensed that Zabuza seemed to be hiding a deeper secret.
Especially at the organization’s rare gatherings, the seemingly impulsive conflict between him and Ringo Ameyuri, the genius girl from Kirigakure obsessed with seeking intelligence on the Lightning Blade Fang, always made Itachi Uchiha feel it was somewhat deliberate.
Just as the two were preparing to handle the corpses and head to the Underground Bounty Exchange to cash in that eight million ryo bounty, a bizarre figure shaped like a Pitcher Plant slowly emerged on the nearby tree trunk, as if mold was growing.
“Oh my, the mission was completed very smoothly.” White Zetsu’s frivolous voice rang out first.
“The goal is to confirm death.” Black Zetsu’s low voice immediately added: “The leader has new orders.”
Itachi Uchiha and Zabuza simultaneously looked toward Zetsu.
“North, Land of Iron, port city Tsuruga.” Black Zetsu conveyed Pain’s command: “Investigate a bounty hunter named Kakuzu. Acquire his detailed intelligence as much as possible. If conditions allow… you may attempt contact or elimination.”
“Kakuzu?” Itachi slightly furrowed his brows, searching for this name in his memory.
“Kakuzu?” Zabuza seemed to have some impression, saying gruffly, “I’ve heard of this guy. A veteran bounty hunter at the underground bounty exchange, active for several decades, said to be an old monster from the same era as the First Hokage. But a few years ago, he seems to have been hired by that great merchant Kado as a guard, and in recent years, he’s rarely heard to take on large bounty orders.”
He licked his lips, a bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes, and patted the heavy ninja sword on his shoulder: “Itachi, this time’s target is mine. Perfect chance to test the sharpness of my new blade!”
Itachi had no opinion on this and nodded indifferently: “Fine. Focus on intelligence gathering, fight depending on the situation.”
He was more interested in the strength and secret technique of a veteran powerhouse like Kakuzu.
“Annoying!” Zabuza impatiently shouldered his great sword: “Let’s go. Finish it quick; that ghost place is freezing cold.”
Two figures quickly vanished into the depths of the dark forest in the Land of Waterfalls, heading toward the cold Land of Iron in the north.
The cold wind blowing from the north seemed to bring the aura of killing in advance.
——————
Land of Iron, Tsuruga Port on the northeast coast.
The sea breeze carrying a salty, damp aura blew across this bustling port city.
As one of the few countries in the current Ninja World that does not have a ninja village and is renowned for its samurai and exquisite forging techniques, the Land of Iron has always maintained a unique neutrality and isolation.
However, in recent years, with the rise of that Land of Stars in the western part of the continent, everything has been quietly changing.
Tsuruga Port was more prosperous than ever before.
The massive cargo ship docked at the deep-water pier, with cranes roaring as they hoisted crates of goods ashore or loaded tons of iron ore gleaming with metallic luster onto the ship.
These high-quality iron ores from various mines in the Land of Iron mostly have one destination: the Land of Stars.
Despite the official denunciations from various major countries against the Land of Stars’ “heretical” system, full of contradictions, the various goods produced by the Land of Stars—from cost-effective daily necessities to highly effective medical devices, and to exquisite luxury goods that nobles from all countries eagerly sought—rapidly captured the market with their unparalleled advantages.
Thus, a bizarre phenomenon appeared: the daimyos and nobles of various countries loudly “boycotted” on one hand, while privately conducting massive trade with the Land of Stars on the other.
Tsuruga Port is one of the key nodes on this important trade route.
At the port’s largest berth, several large freighters flying the Kado Merchant Guild flags were busily loading cargo.
Kado, who was short and fat with round-framed glasses, was holding a ledger and calculator, furrowing his brows as he calculated the cost of iron ore for this purchase, transportation expenses, and expected profits.
Standing beside him was a tall figure, dressed in dark casual clothes, face covered by a mask, revealing only a pair of emotionless green eyes like an ancient well.
It was exactly Kakuzu.
“Costs are rising again! These mine owners in the Land of Iron are really insatiable! And this shipping fee… tsk!”
“Moreover, the iron ore production of the Land of Iron is still too limited.” Kado sighed, put away the calculator, and complained to Kakuzu beside him.
“With just these few ships of ore, even transporting them back probably wouldn’t cover a few days’ consumption for a large steel mill in Star Capital. Market demand is too great; the supply here simply can’t keep up.”
Kakuzu had no interest in business operations. He leaned boredly against the stacked crates, even yawning.
Hearing Kado’s complaints, he just lazily replied with a “Mm.”
He slowly pulled out a bulging wallet from his bosom, drew out a stack of brand-new, large-denomination banknotes printed with the Land of Stars emblem, held them to his nose and took a deep breath, a nearly intoxicated expression appearing on his face.
Then, he began to count those banknotes over and over again, tirelessly, with his fingers bearing stitch marks, as if this were the most wonderful pastime in the world.
Ever since two years ago, when he left the Star Ninja Anbu and continued partnering with the merchant Kado to travel through various Ninja Countries for commerce, such guard missions had long become routine for him, even feeling somewhat boring.
Most of the time, he only needed to provide protection when Kado conducted business negotiations or transported important supplies, and only when he was in a bad mood would he seek out a few rogue ninjas on the black market bounty list to “stretch his muscles,” exchanging their heads at the bounty exchange for some pocket money.
Just as Kakuzu was immersed in the joy of counting banknotes, his instinctual perception of killing intent, honed through countless battles, was suddenly triggered!
His movement of counting the banknotes suddenly paused, his green eyes instantly sharpening as he looked up toward the rooftop of an abandoned pier warehouse not far away.
Unbeknownst at some point, two figures had silently appeared there.
They were all wearing unified black-based red cloud robes, conical hats with dangling wind chimes on their heads, making their faces indiscernible.
Among them, one had an abnormally tall and burly build, with a refined steel great ninja sword that looked far from light crossed on his back. Even from a distance, one could feel the ferocious aura emanating from him.
“Akatsuki…” Kado also noticed this uninvited guest, drawing in a sharp breath of cold air, his face instantly turning somewhat pale.
Over these years, he has expanded the Kado Merchant Guild across the Ninja World, so the company naturally also has a group of Star Country’s intelligence ninjas.
Regarding that mysterious and dangerous “Akatsuki” organization from Rain Village, though he didn’t know much about it, he at least knew there was such a group of powerful S-rank rogue ninjas gathered together, and even that lord paid attention to them!
Their appearance is definitely not anything good.
Kakuzu slowly stuffed the banknotes back into the wallet and carefully put it away.
He stood up, twisted his neck with a light cracking sound, and his green pupils locked onto the two people on top of the warehouse, especially the big guy carrying the blade.
He could feel that the other party was coming for him.
“Kado,” Kakuzu’s voice was low and hoarse, carrying a hint of impatience: “Notify ‘that lord.’ Two annoying flies have come here.”
The “Lord” he mentioned was naturally Shura, the one who informed them of their true boss behind the scenes.
Kado, upon hearing this, felt as if granted a great pardon, hurriedly nodded, and his somewhat short and fat body unusually nimbly slipped into the cabin.
Kakuzu then lightly leaped, his figure floating up as if weightless, crossing dozens of meters in a few bounds, steadily landing on the rooftop of that abandoned warehouse, facing the two Akatsuki members from afar.
He sized up the other party, his tone carrying the arrogance of a veteran strong practitioner and a hint of irritation at being disturbed: “Hmph, Akatsuki’s guys, huh… Perfect, this old man has been in a bad mood lately and was just thinking of going to the bounty exchange for a stroll. Looks like someone has delivered the money right to my door.”
“Arrogance!” Zabuza Momochi yanked off his conical hat, revealing that face wrapped in bandages, with only a pair of eyes filled with killing intent remaining.
He grinned ferociously, drawing the heavy refined steel ninja sword from his back with a reverse grip, its blade reflecting a cold gleam in the sunlight.
“Then let’s see whose head is worth more today!”
Before his words had even finished falling, Zabuza suddenly exerted force under his feet, and the sturdy warehouse rooftop was instantly cracked by the stomp!
He shot toward Kakuzu like an arrow off the string, the massive ninja sword carrying a whistling sound that tore through the air, delivering a heavy vertical slash straight at Kakuzu’s head!
This slash had no frills, purely the ultimate embodiment of power and speed, demonstrating that his title of “Demon” was no empty rumor.
Facing this ferocious and matchless blade, Kakuzu did not dodge or evade, and even let out a disdainful cold snort.
Just as the blade edge was about to reach his body, his right arm covered in suture marks suddenly swelled and changed color, its skin instantly turning a pitch-black hue like iron, and bizarre hardened textures emerged on it!
“Earth Style: Earth Spear!”
Clang——!!!
A deafening clash of metal resounded!
Zabuza’s slash that could split rocks was actually blocked head-on by Kakuzu with one arm!
The blade chopped onto that pitch-black arm, sparks flying everywhere, yet it only left behind a shallow white mark!
“What?!” Zabuza’s pupils contracted, his heart filled with shock.
Although this blade of his is not as famous as Kirigakure’s seven ninja swords, it is also forged from fine steel, incomparably sharp, and with his strength, it actually cannot break the defense?
Kakuzu’s right arm, which blocked the attack, swung along with the momentum, sending a massive counter-shock force that forced Zabuza back several steps along with his sword.
Kakuzu shook his arm and mocked, “Good strength, unfortunately, the blade is too dull.”
“You bastard!” Zabuza was enraged, he roared and swung his blade to attack again!
This time, his swordsmanship became even more ferocious and swift, the blade light weaving into a net of death that enveloped Kakuzu’s vital points all around his body.
Slash, chop, shave, cleave—each move contained fatal killing intent.
Kakuzu remained composed. His body, strengthened by the Earth Grudge Fear secret technique, combined hardness and flexibility. With his abundant combat experience, he either blocked with his arms, dodged by shifting his body, or occasionally counterattacked from extremely tricky angles.
His punches and kicks seemed plain and unadorned, yet they contained terrifying power capable of splitting monuments and cracking rocks. Every collision with the ninja sword made Zabuza feel numbness in his arms.
“Water Style: Water Fang Bullet!”
Zabuza quickly retreated while forming hand seals, using the abundant water vapor from the port to instantly condense a water column and assault Kakuzu!
Kakuzu’s eyes flickered slightly, similarly quickly forming hand seals, his chest suddenly bulging:
“Fire Style: Head Carve!”
A massive, extremely high-temperature flame erupted from his mouth, like a prairie fire, instantly colliding with the water column!
Sizzle——！！！
Massive steam rose up, white mist spreading and obscuring the view.
Water and fire clashed, producing a violent explosion and shockwave that blew away large sections of the warehouse rooftop tiles!
Taking advantage of the obstructed view, Zabuza’s figure merged into the steam like a ghost, silently sneaking to Kakuzu’s side rear, his ninja sword thrusting straight at Kakuzu’s back heart like a venomous snake emerging from its hole!
This was the essence of Kirigakure assassination techniques!
However, Kakuzu seemed to have eyes on the back of his head, not even turning around, as his left arm twisted backward at an inconceivable angle, precisely grabbing the flat of Zabuza’s incoming blade!
An earthy yellow glow appeared on that arm, its strength immense!
“Got you.” Kakuzu said coldly, spreading the five fingers of his right hand with lightning flickering!
“Lightning Release: False Darkness!”
A sharp spear of lightning instantly burst forth, shooting straight at Zabuza’s face from point-blank range!
Zabuza was shocked, wanting to draw his blade and retreat, but it was already too late; he could only desperately turn his head to dodge!
Zap!
The lightning grazed his cheek, burning away part of the bandages on his face, revealing the hideous skin beneath, and even a burnt smell could be detected.
Although he dodged the fatal strike, he was still scared into breaking out in a cold sweat.
“Damn it!” Zabuza was both shocked and furious; the opponent’s combat experience, ninjutsu reserves, and reaction speed far exceeded his expectations.
This old guy was indeed not easy to deal with!
He swung his blade fiercely again, clashing with Kakuzu, blade light, fist shadows, and ninjutsu glows constantly flashing on the warehouse rooftop, with incessant rumbling sounds.
The two fought from the rooftop into midair, then fell back to the ground from midair; wherever they passed, warehouse walls shattered, the ground cracked, and the battle was exceptionally fierce.
Throughout it all, Itachi Uchiha quietly stood at the initial rooftop edge, arms crossed, coldly watching the battle, the Sharingan under his conical hat slowly rotating, recording every ability and combat habit Kakuzu displayed.
His mission was primarily to gather intelligence; since Zabuza was willing to take the lead, he was happy to stay idle.
At the same time, he was also vigilant against any possible changes.
·
“Is that all you’ve got, old man!” Zabuza grew increasingly frantic after prolonged unsuccessful attacks.
He suddenly leaped back a step, hands rapidly forming hand seals again, but this time over forty seals.
“Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!”
In the air above the rooftop, a ferocious water dragon quickly formed, roaring as it charged fiercely at Kakuzu!
Casting a Water Style of this scale at this distance and environment demonstrated that Zabuza’s chakra amount and control were both quite astonishing.
Facing the surging water dragon, Kakuzu finally made a major movement for the first time.
He also formed hand seals, even faster than Zabuza!
“Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!”
A thick earthen wall erupted from the rooftop with a boom, blocking in front of the water dragon.
Boom!
The water dragon collided violently with the earthen wall, kicking up water splashes and dust across the sky, the entire warehouse rooftop shaking intensely.
In this instant of obstructed view, the corner of Kakuzu’s mouth under his mask seemed to curl into a cruel arc.
He did not stay behind the earthen wall but used the smoke, dust, and water mist for cover to silently burrow underground.
The next moment, the rooftop under Zabuza, who was preparing to launch an assassination technique, suddenly cracked; countless pitch-black Earth Grudge Fear tendrils stretched out like ghost hands from hell, fiercely wrapping toward his legs with powerful force to drag him underground!
At the same time, Kakuzu’s main body burst up from the breach, his fist covered in the hard Earth Spear Technique striking straight at Zabuza’s chest!
This sneak attack was insidious and deadly!
However, at this critical moment, Itachi Uchiha, who had been standing motionless, finally moved.
His Sharingan had long seen through Kakuzu’s movement trajectory.
“Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!”
An extremely hot massive fireball did not shoot toward Kakuzu but precisely bombarded the area under Zabuza’s feet!
The exploding flames instantly devoured those Earth Grudge Fear tendrils, and the scorching shockwave also halted Kakuzu’s sneak attack momentum.
Zabuza took the chance to fiercely break free from the charred and retracted tendrils, leaping back in a disheveled manner, glancing at Itachi in shock and suspicion before glaring deadly at Kakuzu slowly rising from the flames.
Kakuzu patted out the sparks on his sleeve cuffs, his green eyes showing a serious expression for the first time as he looked toward the silent youth with the Sharingan.
“Sharingan… Uchiha clan?” Kakuzu’s voice deepened: “Looks like you two came specifically for this old man today.”
Itachi’s conical hat lifted slightly, revealing the scarlet, slowly rotating three-tomoe Sharingan beneath, his voice calm and unwavering: “Mr. Kakuzu, we harbor no malice. We are simply here on behalf of ‘Akatsuki’ to invite you to join.”
Kakuzu was stunned for a moment, then let out a low, mocking laugh: “Invite? Inviting with ninja swords and ninjutsu? How original.”
“Just a necessary strength assessment.” Itachi’s tone remained flat: “Evidently, you are more qualified than the rumors suggest.”
Kakuzu’s laughter abruptly stopped, killing intent reappearing in his green eyes: “Assessment? With you two juniors? Fine, killing you will make up for this old man’s losses from not being able to visit the bounty exchange today!”
【PS: Can’t go on, been busy with things all day, luckily prepared drafts in advance; up to this chapter, today’s update should be around 39,000 words, time to rest, exhausted.】
