Chapter 30: Hiring Akatsuki

"Akatsuki was contacted. They said someone from their group would arrive tomorrow," the man reported, his voice shaky.

Naruto crossed his arms, his sharp gaze locking onto him. "Tomorrow, huh?" He smirked slightly. "Then spit it out—what do you know about them?"

The man swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Naruto's presence. "T-They're an underground organization… highly skilled, deadly. No one hires them lightly. They take on any job if the price is right but don't tolerate betrayal."

Naruto listened carefully, his expression unreadable. Deadly, huh? Well, that makes them more reliable.

"Good," he finally said. "Then, let's make sure this deal is worth their time."

"Then, you can leave," Naruto said firmly.

The man bowed respectfully before exiting the room.

Naruto turned to Tsunade, his gaze serious. "Tsunade, change your appearance when we meet them. You have a bounty in the Bingo Book."

Tsunade scoffed, crossing her arms. "Why should I?"

Naruto's expression didn't waver. "Because you know what kind of job we're hiring them for. We need to reduce the chances of betrayal. Mercenaries like them can't be fully trusted." His voice softened slightly, but the weight of his words remained. "This is a delicate situation. The lives of my clan members may be at stake… if any of them are still alive."

Tsunade sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Fine, fine. You've got a point. But it still pisses me off."

Naruto nodded. "Good. We can't afford any risks. If they figure out who you are, it could complicate things. We need them focused on the job, not the price on your head."

Tsunade huffed but performed a simple transformation jutsu, altering her features slightly—her golden hair now a deep brown, her eyes a dull hazel. "Happy now?"

He turned to Shizune. "Shizune, you should change your appearance too. You've been traveling with Tsunade for years—if someone recognizes you, it could blow her cover."

Shizune huffed but nodded. "Okay, then." With a sigh, she altered her appearance, subtly shifting her facial features. Her black hair turned a deep blue, and her dark eyes became a striking shade of green.

Naruto grinned. "Good." Without thinking, he reached out and patted both of their heads.

Both Tsunade and Shizune stiffened slightly before blushing. Even though they knew he was just a kid using transformation, they couldn't help but feel flustered at the affectionate gesture—especially coming from someone who looked like such a handsome young man.

The next morning, as promised, two figures from Akatsuki arrived.

Naruto's sharp eyes immediately recognized them—Kakuzu and Sasori. Two men who were, for all intents and purposes, immortal.

Kakuzu, the bounty-hunting mercenary, stood tall, his body covered in stitched-together fabric that concealed the grotesque secret of his multiple hearts. His piercing green eyes scanned the room, already assessing the wealth of his potential client.

Beside him, Sasori remained eerily still. With his youthful face and calm demeanor, one might mistake him for an ordinary man—until they noticed the unnatural stillness of his movements, the lifeless glint in his eyes. A puppet master who had long since abandoned his own humanity.

[ A/N: Sasori is finding a suitable puppet to make, so is still in his own body ]

Naruto, still in his adult transformation, smirked slightly. Well, this just got a lot more interesting.

"Oh, you both must be the ones from Akatsuki," Naruto greeted them, his tone calm yet welcoming.

Both men gave silent nods, their expressions unreadable.

"Come inside, we can talk about the task," he said, stepping aside to let them in.

The two Akatsuki members stepped inside, their movements calculated and deliberate.

Naruto gestured toward the seats, maintaining a composed yet confident demeanor. Tsunade and Shizune, both in disguise, sat beside him, their expressions unreadable.

Kakuzu wasted no time. "You said there's a big job with a big payout. Talk." His voice was deep and emotionless, only interested in the money involved.

Sasori, on the other hand, remained quiet, his cold gaze fixed on Naruto as if analyzing whether he was worth his time.

Naruto leaned back slightly. "The task is simple," he began, his tone calm but firm. "I need you both to rescue any Uzumaki clan members from all around the world and bring them here." 

Kakuzu scoffed. "Tch. Rescue jobs are a pain. How much?" 

Naruto smirked, pulling out a scroll and placing it on the table. "Per person, ten million Ryo." 

Kakuzu's sharp eyes narrowed, calculating. "Hmph. Ten is too little for a job like this." 

Naruto didn't hesitate. He held up two fingers, his smirk unwavering. "Then how about twenty per person?" His voice carried an air of certainty as if he had already won. 

For the first time, Kakuzu's expression shifted, the glint of greed unmistakable in his eyes. A slow smirk crept onto his face. 

"Deal," he said, sealing their agreement with a firm nod.

Sasori, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice emotionless. "And what if we encounter resistance?"

Naruto's gaze hardened. "Minimize casualties. But if someone is an active threat, do what you must. The priority is getting the Uzumaki survivors out safely."

Kakuzu nodded, clearly pleased with the hefty price tag. "Fine. Give us the details—last known locations, possible leads, anything useful."

Naruto slid another scroll across the table. "This contains everything I could gather. Some might be rumors, some concrete. Your network should be able to sort fact from fiction."

Kakuzu took the scroll and stood up. "We'll begin immediately. Payment upon delivery."

Naruto smirked. "Of course. Just make sure you bring them back alive."

With that, the deal was sealed. The hunt for the remaining Uzumaki had begun.

Both Kakuzu and Sasori left. Tsunade, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.

"Naruto, are you sure it's okay to give them such a delicate job?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Naruto glanced at her, his expression unwavering. "It's okay, Tsunade. As long as we pay them, they won't betray us. I can see it in their eyes—Kakuzu only cares about money, nothing else." His voice was calm, reassuring.

Tsunade exhaled, still slightly uneasy but trusting his judgment. "Alright, if you say so. But… when did you even get details about your clan members?" she asked, curiosity flickering in her gaze. She had been with him this whole time, yet he seemed to know things she didn't.

He smirked slightly. "I asked those guys to dig up information," he said, gesturing vaguely toward the underworld contacts he had gained. Then, his smirk softened into something more thoughtful. "I also gathered intel while gambling. People talk a lot when they think you're just another player at the table."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You gathered information while gambling? How?"

He smirked. "People get loose-lipped when they drink and think they're winning. A few well-placed questions, some casual conversation, and they spill everything without realizing it."

Shizune's eyes widened in realization. "So, while we thought you were just making money, you were actually gathering intel?"

He nodded. "Exactly."