Chapter 129: Who Exactly Is Handing Down This Sentence?

Torifū retorted, "Yes, you're in. I won the bet."

Silence descended like a deep night. Kakuzu leaned against the cold prison wall, remaining speechless for a long time. It was impossible not to feel disheartened; he had done so much for the village, only to end up sighing in this cold prison cell.

"Well, do you admit I won?" Torifū's voice entered Kakuzu's mind.

Kakuzu still clung to a sliver of hope, so he replied, "When the Elders decide to execute me, then I'll count it as your win!"

Kakuzu was already imprisoned, so logically Torifū had won. However, seeing how stubborn he was, even if Torifū rescued him, Kakuzu would definitely not give up. So, Torifū didn't mind Kakuzu's little trick. "Alright, as you say."

However, they didn't wait long. By evening, they received the Elders' final decision. A shinobi, serving as a messenger for the Elders, came into the prison cell and read Kakuzu the verdict that the five Elders had spent several hours discussing.

"Kakuzu exhibited severe dereliction of duty during the mission to assassinate the Hokage of Konoha. However, considering his years of dedicated service to the village and countless perfectly executed missions assigned by the village,"

"Therefore, the five Elders have unanimously resolved to pardon Kakuzu's crime and impose a lenient sentence."

Upon hearing this, not only Kakuzu but even Torifū was bewildered. Had they gotten the wrong script? Why was he being pardoned? Kakuzu immediately burst out laughing. He knew that no matter how muddle-headed the Elders were, they wouldn't do anything to him! What kind of Hokage's shinobi dared to bet with him? Who could understand those five old geezers better than him?

But then the messenger shinobi added, "Don't rush, Kakuzu-sensei. The Elders aren't finished yet."

Kakuzu's smile instantly froze. For some reason, he had an ominous feeling.

"However, Kakuzu's actions still posed a significant hidden danger to the village. Returning to the village prematurely without completing the assassination mission completely disregarded the safety of the village and its fellow villagers!"

"It is now decided that Kakuzu shall be sentenced to death! And, considering the Elders have pardoned Kakuzu's crime, therefore..."

Hearing that the Elders were sentencing him to death, Kakuzu was completely dumbfounded, his eyes wide open! He couldn't believe that failing such an impossible mission would result in a death sentence? Who the hell was making these judgments?!

But when he heard that the Elders had pardoned him, Kakuzu felt relieved again. After all, if they had already pardoned him, what could be the harshest punishment? At most, it would be a fine, or some confinement, nothing serious.

"...Therefore, Kakuzu's sentence is commuted to death by hanging, leaving his body intact."

"What the f—!" Kakuzu immediately cursed out loud! After all that, he was still going to die! What the hell was the difference between a death sentence and hanging?! What was the difference?! They said they pardoned him, and leaving his body intact was considered a pardon? What, were they planning to grind his bones to dust before?

The messenger shinobi had already vanished without a trace, leaving only Kakuzu roaring in fury inside the prison. Torifū, witnessing this theatrical scene, couldn't hold back his amusement: "Did you dig up the Elders' ancestral graves? Why are they tormenting you like this?"

This single sentence was packed with maximum sarcasm, pushing Kakuzu's rage to its peak! He wished he could flay those five old geezers alive!

"Now do you admit it?"

Kakuzu slammed his fist hard against the wall, then sighed. "I admit it. There's no need to stay in such a filthy village."

Torifū emerged from the mark, a benevolent smile on his face, and extended his hand towards Kakuzu. "Welcome to our ranks."

Kakuzu looked down at Torifū's outstretched hand, then grasped it. "You've seen me at my worst."

[Ding - Congratulations, Host, on establishing your own faction. Rewarding 20,000 Peace Points.]

Light swirled in Torifū's eyes as his golden Mangekyō Sharingan appeared. "How about we cause some chaos outside?"

Kakuzu shook his head. "The villagers are innocent. The Elders hold all the power, and I have my own plan."

Torifū spread his hands. "Alright, then tell me your plan? After all, I'm your leader now."

After a slight hesitation, Kakuzu told Torifū his plan, which wasn't complicated. Kakuzu wanted to first steal the village's secret technique, the Earth Grudge Fear, and then take revenge on the Elders. Even if the Elders claimed this judgment was just a joke, Kakuzu wouldn't believe them. His trust in them had been completely consumed by this farcical verdict. Kakuzu now only wanted to kill them all!

"When do we act?"

"Tonight. However, the cells are made of special ore, very sturdy. Ordinary ninjutsu can't break them, and powerful ninjutsu would expose us."

Torifū smiled, indicating that this was nothing to worry about. He then manipulated the Dust Release puppet to unleash a miniature Dust Release on the ground. A perfectly flat section of the ground instantly became a small cylindrical pit. Kakuzu only felt a flash of light, and the pit appeared on the ground. He didn't quite understand the principle, but it was certainly powerful. With this ninjutsu, no cage would be able to hold them. After all, he was the leader, and it was normal for the leader to have some abilities.

Kakuzu believed that among the four, only the Sharingan user was a real person; the others were all puppets. But he didn't know that the true leader wasn't any of them, but the small boy who had released the crystal jutsu next to him when he tried to assassinate the Hokage. If Torifū had told him the truth, Kakuzu probably wouldn't have believed a word of it. Even if Torifū was the Hokage's disciple, Kakuzu wouldn't believe that a child could possess such strength.

After about two or three hours, it was completely dark. The guards outside seemed to have fallen asleep, with faint snores occasionally drifting through. The sounds were intermittent, indicating they were struggling with sleep. Kakuzu wasn't in a hurry. Once the snoring became steady, Kakuzu nodded, signaling that the plan was officially beginning.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique."

A medium-sized white transparent cube slammed onto the cell, instantly forming a square exit on its surface. The ore, which was immune to low-level ninjutsu, had now been disintegrated into atomic particles. Then, he used the Light Weight Rock Technique on himself and Kakuzu, and the two of them flew up. Kakuzu wasn't very skilled at controlling it yet, but he was a Jōnin after all, and after fumbling for a minute or two, he grasped the knack. They tried their best not to make any sound. When they flew out of the cell, the two guards at the door were sleeping soundly, completely sprawled out. After all, no one had been locked in the prison for a long time; Kakuzu was the first in recent years. Thinking about this made him angrier and angrier! Kakuzu struck each of their necks, ensuring they wouldn't wake up tonight.