Chapter 19: Occupational Hazards

The midday sun blazed fiercely, casting its unrelenting rays over the vast landscape. High above, an eagle soared, its wings slicing through the air. On the ground below, ants marched in orderly lines, scouring for food. A tree snake slithered out of its hollow, its tongue flicking as it searched for prey.

Amid this backdrop, Kakuzu treaded slowly, his path cutting through the Land of Fire. As expected, no one had stopped or interrogated him. However, his face bore an unmistakable scowl, his eyes radiating irritation.

'Even the most renowned hunters in the black market start as rookies, but this initiation process... isn't exactly enjoyable, huh? Heh.'

Becoming a top-tier assassin in the shinobi world was no easy feat. Strength alone wasn't enough—cleaning up after the job was just as important.

On his first mission, Kakuzu had underestimated the consequences of his own strength, leaving a gaping hole in his target's abdomen. Carrying the corpse had turned into a messy ordeal, with blood trailing in his wake. The scent quickly attracted predators—wolves, leopards, and other scavengers—none of which Kakuzu considered a threat. A single flick of his finger could kill them all.

Yet, the ants on the ground and vultures circling overhead were far more persistent, constantly gnawing at the body whenever Kakuzu tried to rest. It was maddening.

Frustrated, he finally stopped in a nearby village to commission a wooden coffin. However, even the cheapest, most poorly made coffin cost no less than 50,000 ryo. Faced with the prospect of his bounty being reduced to scraps, Kakuzu gritted his teeth and bought it.

"Sir, this coffin meets your specifications perfectly. Now, about the 50,000 ryo..."

"Put it on my tab!" Kakuzu growled, his menacing glare freezing the shopkeeper in his tracks. The man stammered out a nod, too frightened to protest.

Though he had acquired what he needed, Kakuzu wasn't pleased.

'Freeloading and running up a tab—it's not my style. I never thought I'd be forced into this by my circumstances. It seems that in every world, working people struggle to make ends meet.'

Kakuzu prided himself on earning every ryo honestly, no matter how dirty the job. This was merely a rough start, he reasoned. Once his operation expanded, he'd repay the debt double—no, triple.

Adjusting the wooden coffin strapped to his back, he quickened his pace.

By the following day, the sun hung high in the sky, signaling lunchtime. Kakuzu entered a roadside teahouse, its rustic atmosphere a welcome respite. Inside, an elderly woman was seated at a small table, leisurely eating sushi.

The old woman glanced up, her eyes narrowing into slits.

"Welcome, dear customer. Are you here for a meal?"

Thud!

Without a word, Kakuzu slammed the coffin onto the floor. The woman, still chewing her rice, stood and dusted off her hands.

"Ah, a special guest. Follow me."

She led Kakuzu to the back of the shop, where she lifted a trapdoor hidden beneath the floorboards. A staircase spiraled down into the depths below.

As Kakuzu descended, the old woman called out from above, "The old man's out having lunch. Please wait below."

Kakuzu said nothing, merely stepping into the underground chamber. The facility was far more advanced than the one in White Tree Town. Electric lights illuminated the space, and a large refrigerated storage unit dominated the far wall, capable of holding a hundred bodies at once.

Near the corner of the room, another figure was waiting—a man with a fiery red mask and matching short hair. He was holding a rectangular box, presumably containing a severed head.

'A fellow hunter,"'Kakuzu concluded after a single glance.

Leaning against the wall, he closed his eyes and waited in silence.

Five minutes passed.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the stairway. Opening his eyes, Kakuzu saw yet another hunter arrive.

This one wore a silver fox mask and had short silver hair. He carried a full body slung over his shoulder, strolling casually into the room. Glancing at Kakuzu and the red-masked man, he seemed utterly unfazed, taking a seat against a protruding wall ledge.

Ten more minutes crawled by.

Kakuzu's brow furrowed deeply as his patience wore thin. Just as he was about to lose his temper, the shopkeeper finally appeared.

The man was frail and hunched, looking as though the slightest breeze might topple him. He shuffled behind the counter, coughing into his hand.

"Ahem... My apologies for the delay, esteemed guests. Let's begin the transactions. Who's first?"

Despite the long wait, the three hunters maintained their professionalism, silently queuing in order of arrival.

The red-masked man stepped forward first, presenting his bounty and the associated wanted poster. After a meticulous comparison, the shopkeeper nodded, stowing the "goods" in the freezer.

He then handed over a small suitcase. The red-masked man opened it, verifying the contents—around ten million ryo. Satisfied with the weight and amount, he left without a word.

The process flowed smoothly, demonstrating impressive efficiency. Kakuzu approached the counter, placing the wooden coffin down before opening it. Along with it, he handed the bounty notice to the old man at the counter. The old man carefully verified the target's identity through facial recognition and the physical details provided by the client.

With practiced ease, the old man lifted the corpse, opened a refrigerated drawer with one hand, and stored it inside, all in one fluid motion. Despite his frail appearance, his steady movements and precise actions made it clear that he had once been a shinobi in his younger days.

After securing the corpse, the old man retrieved a medium-sized chest and flipped it open. Inside, neatly stacked bills gleamed under the light.

'My first business deal is finally complete,' Kakuzu thought, feeling the five hearts within his chest thumping wildly. This wasn't just the joy of successfully completing a venture, it was a primal excitement coursing through his very being.

'Why does this money feel... so precious to me?'

Perhaps it was the fatigue from his years of endless killing, or maybe it was the sentimental value tied to this particular job. Whatever the reason, Kakuzu found himself oddly moved. Shaking his head, he cast these stray thoughts aside for now.

As he prepared to leave, clutching the cash-filled chest, a sudden thought struck him. Looking at the neat bundles of notes, which seemed to total around 1,500 bills, Kakuzu furrowed his brow.

"What if there's one or two missing? Who would even notice?"

"Money should always be counted on the spot," Kakuzu muttered to himself, resolving to give in to his "professional instincts."

Taking a step to the side to make room for the silver-haired man behind him, Kakuzu began counting the bills meticulously. One by one, he double-checked them to ensure there were no mistakes.

"1498, 1499, 1500."

After counting twice, Kakuzu finally calmed the restless urge within him. By the time he looked up, the basement had grown noticeably emptier. Only he and the old man remained.

'Boss, you're a trustworthy man. Thanks for the deal.' Kakuzu closed the chest and waved as he left.

The old man returned the gesture with a smile.

"What a meticulous customer. I imagine he'll make quite a name for himself here at the exchange in no time," he mused silently, stroking his chin.

As Kakuzu exited the tea house, he mulled over his next steps.

"First, I'll repay the five million I borrowed from the shopkeeper in town. Can't afford to tarnish my reputation. After that... what's next?"

"Beyond savoring this world's delicious cuisine, I should also experience its unique cultures and customs," Kakuzu decided, his mind drifting. This world wasn't just about delectable food—it also had its infamous specialty shops.

That, he thought, might be the most distinctive experience of all. Not only had he never indulged in such things in his previous life, but here, there were no restrictions holding him back.

'With 15 million, what kind of services could I enjoy?'

Not diving into the local customs would surely be a waste of this second life, Kakuzu mused, feeling his five hearts stir with renewed excitement.

Unbeknownst to Kakuzu, as he pondered his future, a pair of eyes had already locked onto him from the shadows.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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