Chapter 76: The Source of Mental Illness

"Kakuzu, what's going on?" Deidara placed the fruit basket on the table beside him. Kakuzu had been sulking and didn't even glance at it.

"Oh, I guess I don't understand the rules," Deidara said, taking the fruit basket back from Kurotsuchi. He turned to her and said, "Give me your wallet."

"Why?" Kurotsuchi asked, a bit confused, as she pulled out her wallet and handed it to Deidara.

Deidara counted out a stack of cash. "Our fruit basket costs fifteen hundred ryo. Might as well just give you the cash."

"We can just take the fruit basket home and eat it ourselves."

Deidara slapped the fifteen hundred ryo down on the table. Kakuzu, who had been completely unresponsive, looked up, a flash of conflict in his green bean-shaped eyes. He hesitated, then swiftly pocketed the money.

He turned his head again, acting like he wasn't interested in anyone.

"Haha! Looks like Kakuzu is fine after all!"

"At least he knows to take the money," Deidara said with a laugh, and the others followed suit, relieved.

"Damn it! You brats, get out of here!" The old man's face reddened with embarrassment.

At his age, calling everyone in the room "brats" wasn't even wrong.

Hearing Kakuzu's frustrated outburst, Hidan yelled again, "Kakuzu, just say what's on your mind!"

"Why do you have to sulk like a little kid?"

"Come on, what's really going on? Just say it!" Hidan was about to lose his patience.

"I don't have any issues! I'm immortal! There's no way I'd have a problem!" Kakuzu shouted.

"Hey, Kōnan," Deidara leaned in close to her. "Could it be something to do with you?"

Kōnan's expression tightened slightly. In the past, she had felt an overwhelming sense of insecurity and had used the organization's funds to convert everything into supplies. Even though they were now processing a lot of it in the Hidden Rain Village, it would take at least ten more years to fully clear it out.

But most of that money was Kakuzu's!

'It's impossible. We never let Kakuzu know about this,' Kōnan said, shaking her head.

"He's been like this ever since the mission to rescue Pain," Nagato denied.

Rescue Pain?

"Was there anything unusual during that mission?" Deidara asked.

"No, nothing unusual," Nagato replied.

"Sasori, was there anything strange about the mission to rescue Pain?" Deidara turned to ask Sasori.

"No," Sasori answered, just as calmly.

"If anything, it's probably because Raikage crushed him. I can see why he'd be frustrated," Sasori speculated, recalling his own feelings of frustration when he had once been weak.

Ah, that makes sense!

Deidara stroked his chin.

"Alright! Alright!"

"I've got it figured out. Everyone, go on now!" Deidara raised his hands to signal the others to leave.

After everyone had cleared out, only Deidara and Kakuzu remained in the room. Deidara didn't address it directly, but casually brought up, "Kakuzu, I heard you haven't found the right target since losing those two hearts in Konoha?"

"Got any targets in mind? I've got some free time, I could help you out."

"Who needs a brat like you for help! Do you think I can't handle a few enemies?!" Kakuzu snapped, clearly frustrated by his inability to match up to his former self.

Given his previous strength, it was only natural for him to feel a deep sense of loss now that the ninja world had changed so drastically. In the past, someone like Kakuzu could walk through the world with ease, but now he found himself sidelined.

Of course, only Kakuzu knew how he actually fought the First Hokage.

"By the way, can your Earth Grudge Fear technique use Bloodline Limits? Like, if you collect a Bloodline user's heart?" Deidara asked, intrigued.

"No," Kakuzu denied, shaking his head. "Even with a Bloodline user's heart, after using Earth Grudge Fear, I can only use basic attribute jutsu, and each element can only have one heart. You can't have multiple hearts of the same element."

"It would throw off the chakra system inside."

So, without the ability to use a Bloodline Limit, Earth Grudge Fear's power was greatly diminished.

But there's still a way to get stronger.

"For your situation, Kakuzu, I've got two ideas for how you can get stronger."

"Hm? What are they?" Kakuzu asked, growing curious.

"First, there's something called Sage Mode. Not sure if you've heard of it." Deidara raised a finger.

Kakuzu nodded. "I've heard of it. The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, was said to use Sage Mode."

"There are three legendary Sage Lands, each with their own Sage Mode. But I've never had the chance to see it myself."

Getting the Sage Mode from the three legendary lands was indeed difficult. They were very selective about their contractees.

But now, there's an exception.

"Sage Mode is essentially natural energy. While only the three Sage Lands have traditionally controlled it, there have been exceptions outside of that."

"There's a subordinate of Orochimaru named Jūgo, who was born with Sage Chakra. We can go ask Orochimaru about it."

Kakuzu's green eyes gleamed with interest. "Alright."

"And your second option?"

"There's a rogue ninja from Konoha named Hiruko, who invented a forbidden technique called the Ghost-Ranking Blossom Technique. It can fuse someone else's Bloodline Limit into your body."

"If you manage to steal his technique, maybe you could fuse a Bloodline Limit into your heart."

"Hiruko? Never heard of him," Kakuzu said, furrowing his brows. As one of the most active figures in the underground world, Kakuzu knew a lot about even lesser-known rogue ninjas, but Hiruko was unfamiliar to him.

"He probably hasn't absorbed enough Bloodline Limits yet, so he's still in hiding. He's friends with Orochimaru and the other Sannin. If we ask Orochimaru, he'll definitely know where to find him."

"Then we'll go find Orochimaru!" Kakuzu stood up. "I'll show these young ones I've still got it! I'm not going down just yet!"

"Deidara, you're done? Let's go back to shopping!" Kurotsuchi excitedly grabbed Deidara's arm.

"Sorry, Kurotsuchi, maybe next time." Deidara mischievously tapped her forehead. Itachi, who had been stoic the whole time, couldn't help but glance over.

"Let's go, Deidara," Kakuzu said, walking out of the room.

"Wow! Kakuzu, you're really back to normal!" Hidan said, surprised.

"But where are we going now?"

"To find Orochimaru," Kakuzu replied.

"Orochimaru?" Hidan scratched his head, not particularly interested, but then something clicked. He clenched his right fist and struck his left palm.

"Wait, didn't Orochimaru summon the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, last time?"

"Perfect! This time, let's have him summon the First Hokage again and ask about your fight with him back in the day."

"With that, we can finally solve this annoying mystery!"

Hidan looked smug, like he'd cracked the case.

"Hidan!" Kakuzu snapped, finally losing his temper. He kicked Hidan across the room.

----------------

Pls Drop some Power Stones

Fanfic is finished on Patreon (241 chapters in total.) 

Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)