Chapter 156: The Pay-to-Kill Ninja – Kakuzu

Carrying a corpse over his shoulder, he strolled slowly, eyes darting around as if searching for something. This didn't last long before he came to a stop and pressed his hand lightly against a worn-down section of the wall.

Click.

It was as if he had triggered a hidden mechanism—the wall receded inward, revealing a door.

Moments later, as if expecting his arrival, a man with a scarred face and a fierce expression appeared from within.

Upon seeing the mysterious man carrying a corpse, his expression shifted to one of reverence.

"Kakuzu-sama, please, come inside."

There was even a hint of fear in his tone.

The man called Kakuzu responded in a low voice, "Hmm."

"Kakuzu-sama, you must've worked hard. Please, hand over this time's bounty." The scar-faced man reached out expectantly.

Kakuzu passed the corpse over, and the man carefully took it with both hands.

Kakuzu then stepped inside. The space beyond was vast, far larger than the cramped exterior suggested.

This was an underground exchange—a place where bounties were collected and cashed in.

Once, he had been an elite Jōnin of Takigakure. But after being betrayed by the village's higher-ups, his rage led him to break out of captivity, slaughtering the entire ruling council and stealing the village's treasured secret technique, Earth Grudge Fear.

Becoming a rogue ninja, hunted endlessly by his former village, he had come to understand a single truth—there were no true friends, only absolute interests.

And money was the purest form of interest.

Now, he devoted himself to only three things: making money, making money, and making even more money.

With his exceptional abilities, he had become a bounty hunter of some renown.

After exchanging the bounty, Kakuzu meticulously counted the money, verifying each bill by hand.

This particular target had been a high-value one, meaning it would take him quite some time to finish counting.

It wasn't that he doubted the other party's integrity—no one dared to deceive him. He simply enjoyed the process of counting money.

Once finished, he closed the cashbox, satisfaction glinting in his uncovered eyes.

Then, he noticed the scar-faced man hesitating to speak. He must have wanted to say something earlier but, knowing Kakuzu's temperament, had chosen to wait.

"What is it?"

Kakuzu's deep voice carried a hint of anticipation. When people approached him like this, it usually meant more business.

"Kakuzu-sama, someone wants to meet you."

"Hmm? They didn't say who they want dead?" Kakuzu was a bounty hunter—anyone seeking him out obviously had a target in mind.

"No, they just want to discuss things in person."

"Give me the address." Kakuzu never wasted time when it came to making money.

The scar-faced man provided the meeting time and location.

After a few days, Kakuzu arrived at the designated place and met his client—a blond-haired man in a kimono with sharp features. Two bodyguards stood beside him, one of whom carried a suitcase.

Kakuzu remained expressionless, his eerie green eyes staring directly at the man.

"Speak. What do you want? I'll say this upfront—hiring me doesn't come cheap."

The blond-haired man seemed uneasy under Kakuzu's gaze but forced a smile to ease the tension.

"So, you're the legendary bounty hunter of the underground market, known for a 100% success rate. You certainly have an imposing presence."

Kakuzu ignored the flattery. "Cut the crap. Get to the point." His voice was rough and impatient.

The blond man chuckled and signaled to his subordinate.

Understanding the cue, the bodyguard placed the suitcase on the table and pressed a button. The case clicked open, revealing stacks of cash.

"This is your deposit. Upon completion, you'll receive three more cases."

Money makes the world go round.

A rough estimate suggested there were at least ten million ryō in the suitcase—enough to make even Kakuzu's heart stir.

His gaze toward the blond man changed.

Was this man his client? No.

This was a gold mine.

"Boss, who do you want dead?"

Kakuzu's tone noticeably softened.

The blond-haired man was pleased by this change.

"The Lord of Ashina Castle, Jin-Tama, and his eldest son. I want you to eliminate them during their upcoming journey and make it look like an accident."

"What!?"

As if hearing something unbelievable, Kakuzu abruptly stood up, his green eyes flashing with shock.

"You've got guts. Do you realize he's a relative of the Fire Daimyō? A man of immense power, always surrounded by elite guards."

The blond-haired man's expression soured. "I didn't think a bounty hunter of your caliber would be afraid of such things."

Kakuzu smirked.

"Boss, you misunderstand me. What I mean is, with someone of his status, his guards might include Twelve Guardian Ninja-level warriors, or even Konoha shinobi protecting him… You'll have to pay extra."

Blond-Haired Man: …

His identity? He was Jin-Tama's son, and he sought to inherit the position of Lord.

The problem? He wasn't the eldest son—he had an older brother standing in his way.

Since he couldn't solve the problem through legitimate means, he decided to eliminate the people causing the problem. His plan was simple: kill both his father and brother. That way, the title of Lord would naturally fall into his hands.

Morning. The sun was warm and gentle.

Ashina Castle, inside the Lord's manor.

It was breakfast time.

The table was filled with an extravagant feast.

To prepare such a spread, the castle's chefs and servants—numbering thirty to forty people—had to wake up in the middle of the night and work tirelessly until dawn.

At this moment, Jin-Tama was having breakfast with his eldest son.

"Father, you've been too frugal lately. You only ordered forty dishes for breakfast, while other lords have at least sixty."

The eldest son casually remarked as he took a bite from the dish closest to him.

With so many plates of food, the two of them couldn't possibly finish everything. They only took a bite from each dish, eating two bites if they particularly liked something.

"The Daimyō of the Land of Lightning has been cutting back on luxuries to expand his military. He only eats one imperial meal per day, and as a result, the nation's military strength has grown significantly. They are now closing the gap with our Fire Country's forces. As the Lord of one of Fire Country's cities, I must also economize and use the saved funds for the nation."

"But shouldn't you maintain some dignity? Besides, these dishes taste awful, like they were picked yesterday."

As they were chatting, a servant arrived outside the door to report that the Konoha ninja had arrived.

"Riding in a palanquin is so exhausting."

Jin-Tama's son complained as he sat on a rock, sipping tea.

Behind him stood an extravagant palanquin, waiting for his return. Accompanying him were one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, around ten servants, and Tōshirō's four-man team.

They were traveling to their destination when they passed through a canyon. Feeling uncomfortable in the palanquin, the two inside decided to stop and take a break.

A middle-aged Konoha Jōnin scanned the surroundings. This location was perfect for an ambush, so it required heightened vigilance.

Rather than reacting to an attack after the fact, it was better to prevent it altogether. He approached the Guardian Ninja and expressed his concerns in a humble, almost fawning tone.

"I understand…"

The Guardian Ninja went to call the two men back.

He was originally a ninja serving the Daimyō, assigned to accompany Konoha's shinobi on this mission.

If a Konoha ninja had given the order, the two men might have ignored it. But since it came from the Daimyō's personal guard, things were different—after all, one must respect the master when dealing with his hound.

Tōshirō noticed the sycophantic expression on the Jōnin's face and shook his head. Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly sensed something off in the air.

His relaxed expression turned serious in an instant.

At the same time, those around him also reacted.

"Protect the two Lords!"

"Hurry inside, my Lords!" The Guardian Ninja urged them into the palanquin while positioning himself in front of it. He signaled Tōshirō and his team to handle the enemy.

The four-man squad stepped forward, standing between the Lords and the incoming threat. The middle-aged Jōnin took the lead, forming a diamond-shaped formation with the others.

Tōshirō and his teammates positioned themselves at the rear, providing support.

Their eyes locked onto the figure approaching them—a man with his face partially covered, green irises, and eerily red sclera.

Tōshirō observed him closely. Though his face was obscured, it was obvious—this man was an expert. Otherwise, he wouldn't dare to come alone.

Kakuzu narrowed his eyes slightly, assessing their strength. Two adults, three younger ones—clearly, the strong and weak were easy to distinguish.

First, eliminate the two adults. The kids could be dealt with at leisure.

(End of Chapter)

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