Fubuki Casino.
At the edge of Tanzaku Quarters.
Not many customers on a usual day.
Natsume chose this location to avoid being spotted by the wrong people—like Konoha ninja.
After all, every Akatsuki member was a big deal; might scare the kids.
At 7:00 sharp, Natsume arrived on time. Two people who were clearly not normal were already waiting.
Kakuzu and Sasori.
Both wore the iconic black cloaks with red clouds.
Kakuzu looked almost human, just a mask covering his face and those eerie green eyes exposed.
Sasori was more abstract—wearing the puppet Hiruko, like a dwarf with a scorpion's tail.
In fact, both were no longer human.
Sasori: the Sand's genius puppet master, Chiyo's grandson. He not only controlled puppets, he'd turned himself into one.
Kakuzu: a rogue from Takigakure, with five hearts and hence five lives, thanks to the forbidden Earth Grudge Fear technique—practically immortal.
Famous for throwing shuriken at Hashirama Senju from 800 miles away.
In the original, Sasori's partner was Deidara, and Kakuzu's was Hidan.
But at this time, neither had joined Akatsuki, so Kakuzu and Sasori were a team.
Natsume was a bit worried he'd run into Obito Uchiha.
But thinking it over, Obito didn't join Akatsuki as Tobi until much later.
Before that, he was in Kirigakure, creating carnage to avenge Rin Nohara.
During the Third Great Ninja War, Kirigakure attacked Konoha after its battles with Kumogakure.
Two main events:
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen attacked Konoha's rear, ran into Might Duy, and only three escaped after facing the Eight Gates.
They captured Rin Nohara, forcibly made her the Three Tails' jinchuriki, and sent her back to Konoha as a suicide bomb.
To foil this, Rin ran into Kakashi's Chidori and died.
Obito's hatred for Kirigakure began there.
But he didn't know Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu were manipulating things all along.
Rin's death was destined—to push Obito to awaken his Mangekyō and become the executor of the Eye of the Moon Plan (Black Zetsu's mother-saving plot).
"You're the client?"
Kakuzu sized up Natsume, clearly unfamiliar.
"Yes."
Natsume didn't hide it. "I'm a clone, so I'll need you both to protect me on the way."
A clone, as long as it's not damaged and has enough chakra, can last a long time.
"Protect you?"
Kakuzu said coldly. "That wasn't in the mission description. And with a clone, it's even harder."
"I'll pay more."
Natsume held up two fingers. "There are two of you, so I'll add 200,000 ryo as a protection fee."
"Fine."
Kakuzu's eyes lit up—a 2.2 million ryo mission to Kusagakure, a great deal.
High bounties, especially over 10 million, are rare.
Most Akatsuki funding comes from missions—but S-rank jobs are uncommon.
2.2 million was pretty good.
Protecting a clone wasn't a big deal.
"There's one more thing."
Natsume spoke up to avoid future disputes.
"One more?"
Kakuzu frowned.
Do clients have no manners these days? Ever heard of rules?
"I'll pay more."
Natsume smiled. "I have a deal to make with Orochimaru. I need you two to meet him and bring me something."
Kakuzu looked at Natsume with new respect.
The Sannin's reputation was impressive.
Anyone dealing with Orochimaru wasn't ordinary.
But he wasn't too concerned. To him, money mattered most.
"How much?"
"Two million ryo," said Natsume, holding up two fingers.
"A simple deal is fine,"
Kakuzu said, "but if you're not going yourself, it means Orochimaru might act against us. That'll cost extra. As a Sannin, he's strong. You'll need to pay more."
Natsume wanted to save money, but since he'd been found out, he held up another finger. "An extra ten million ryo."
Asuma Sarutobi's bounty was 35 million ryo. Orochimaru's wouldn't be less.
But this was just a deal, not a hit—a ten million bonus was enough.
Kakuzu's eyes sparkled.
Now that's a generous boss!
With a ten million bonus, it was a windfall.
And if they later killed Orochimaru and cashed in his head, even better.
It was a win-win.
Kakuzu glanced at Sasori.
No response, as if he really was just a puppet.
Kakuzu knew Sasori's temperament, so answered for him, "We accept your commissions."
"Pleasure doing business. Let's head out," Natsume smiled. "But I move slowly."
Sasori finally reacted, tossing a puppet at his feet.
A real oddball.
Natsume could only think of the word "weirdo."
Wearing tattered clothes, ant-like in shape, with demonic red horns, six arms, and two legs.
Was Sasori seriously expecting him to ride this thing?
Natsume looked at Sasori, who just said, "Get on."
Damn! That thing could kill someone!
Was my payment not enough? Why this treatment for your client?
Couldn't you bring out your Third Kazekage puppet and let me ride shoulder-to-shoulder, soaring into the sun?
….
The three set out.
Kakuzu and Sasori ran like standard ninjas.
Natsume rode the ugly puppet—a bit bumpy but otherwise fine.
Plus, it was strong.
Kusagakure was in the Land of Grass.
According to the original, Kusagakure ninjas are skilled at studying and deciphering foreign jutsu—a high EQ way of saying they're thieves.
Small and ignorant, small and rude—pretty much sums them up.
There's little plot involving Kusagakure.
Aside from the movies, there's just Karin and her mother.
After the Uzumaki clan was wiped out, they fled to Kusagakure—used as portable blood banks.
Because of their unique chakra, they could heal others by being bitten.
The Uzumaki had great potential as jinchuriki, seal experts, or medics.
But Kusagakure chose the stupidest option.
In the end, Karin's mother was sucked dry and died.
If not for Orochimaru, Karin would've shared the same fate.
She might even have been used for breeding, generation after generation—a tragic end.
But even with Orochimaru, Karin met Sasuke Uchiha and still became a tool.
At least her situation improved.
The Land of Grass borders the Land of Fire to the northwest.
With their speed, the three reached their destination in under two days.