Escape From Konoha

In a deep valley, a river meandered, its water splashing and dancing with the breeze. This river led through a lush forest, nestled at the junction of the Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers. The cold waters created a mist that surrounded the area, bathing it in a refreshing, cool air, clearing one's senses.

Nagato stood there, his red hair lightly ruffled, his sharp face adorned with an indifferent look.

The war in the Land of Rain had come to an end, and the Land of Rain had surrendered to the Land of Fire. Amegakure had become a vassal of Konoha, as reported by White Zetsu's gathered information.

The might of the Land of Fire and Konoha was extremely frightening. Even Nagato dared not confront such a formidable power head-on at the moment. Hence, their current actions needed to be discreet, covert, and shrouded in secrecy.

But one thing was clear, the sovereignty of the Land of Rain needed to be reclaimed from the clutches of the Land of Fire and Konoha. They couldn't allow them to continue encroaching on their territory.

However, at this moment, it appeared nearly impossible. Their only option was to wait for Konoha's vulnerabilities to become more apparent, making it easier to devise a plan to regain control of the Land of Rain.

However it was crucial to take matters into their own hands and weaken Konoha directly, rather than relying on others to weaken them. By doing so, Nagato could maintain the upper hand.

The challenge lay in finding ways to weaken Konoha without arousing suspicion.

"Nagato-sama, we've found the target."

A voice broke through, and Black Zetsu emerged from the earth. He was so unobtrusive that, had he not spoken, one might have failed to notice his presence.

As an infiltrator, Black Zetsu's Chakra signature was extremely weak.

"Thank you for your efforts. Please provide me with the information." Nagato stated, turning to face Black Zetsu. His Rinnegan appeared devoid of emotion, exuding a chilling calmness.

"Yes." Black Zetsu nodded respectfully and began the report. "Here's what we've learned, Nagato-sama. Roughly five days ago, Kakuzu was chased by Suna, cornered and about to be captured by them, he then disappeared mysteriously while surrounded."

"Disappeared? Could someone have secretly taken him?"

"Yes."

"Can you determine who was behind it?"

"Currently, we can't be certain. When I arrived, there was no trace of Kakuzu. However, this morning, white zetsu located him in the Land of Tea. It appears he intends to exchange Hanzo's body for the bounty in the underground exchange there."

"In that case, we will leave in half an hour. I have some preparations to make."

"Understood. I will take my leave."

Black zetsu didn't object and his body sank and merged with the earth leaving no trace of his presence. When he reemerged from the ground, he was in another forest, where White Zetsu awaited him.

"Nagato-sama's Chakra has been growing more stable; it no longer looks like the uncontrolled Chakra he had before. It seems he has successfully integrated his new power."

Black Zetsu provided a detailed account of Nagato's progress.

"Of course, Madara-sama wouldn't have entrusted everything to him. The physique of the Uzumaki clan is truly terrifying. An ordinary person with the transplanted Rinnegan would've been overwhelmed by the power inside them."

"Yes, the combination the wood release cells and the original Uzumaki physique has brought him to this level. What about Guruguru?" Black Zetsu inquired about a matter of concern.

"He's in the process of learning how to use the newly acquired Mangekyou Sharingan."

"No problems?"

"No, there are no problems. He implanted the Mangekyou Sharingan into a special selected White Zetsu, then wrapped his body around that Zetsu to achieve control. With this power, he should be able to quickly integrate and use the abilities."

White zetsu seemed to have a lot of confidence Guruguru having a successful outcome of the process.

Guruguru was unique among the White Zetsu, standing out not only because of his formidable Wood Release but also because of his unusual fascination with p*/, a peculiar trait that set him apart.

"Let's make sure he stays diligent and masters the power of the Mangekyou Sharingan as quickly as possible. Nagato-sama may require his abilities at any moment."

Black Zetsu's mention of Nagato-sama now commanded deep respect. This prompted a somewhat helpless expression on the face of White Zetsu.

"Look, Nagato is just one of Madara-sama's pawns. Do we need to put so much effort into our act? He can't see us right now."

White Zetsu emphasized, as their allegiance to Nagato was primarily a task assigned by Madara, it didn't mean they will be Nagato's real subordinates.

"Before Madara-sama left, he entrusted everything to Nagato-sama, who is now our new master. In the future, refrain from making such comments, or I will report your lack of respect to Nagato-sama." Black Zetsu delivered these words as a stern warning, reiterating his unwavering loyalty to Nagato.

'This idiot, did he really join Nagato? He even dared to make a small report with Nagato.'

White zetsu cursed secretly in his heart, but smiled indifferently on his face. He couldn't believe Black Zetsu was acting like a spy reporting to Nagato, even though they both knew he was another of Madara's creations.

"Okay.... I will respect him more in the future."

"I hope you will be. Nagato-sama has inherited everything from Madara-sama and is the future savior. We only need to admire his great power."

White Zetsu looked at Black Zetsu in speechlessly, wondering whom he was acting for when no one else was present. He even began to doubt if Black Zetsu had made a mistake.

"But having said that, Madara-sama's body needs to be recovered. If it falls into the hands of those three people, it could pose problems for Nagato-sama in the future."

"Let's not talk about that, we don't have the strength to deal with those three for now, and we don't even know where they are in the world. More importantly, we mustn't take the corpse back. This was Madara-sama's order before he doed."

Although White Zetsu found the order strange, it was indeed an order given by Madara, which made it obligatory for them to follow.

"That's a pity then. We will have to leave it to Nagato-sama to handle."

Black Zetsu expressed his regret.

Shortly after, Nagato walked through the forest's path.

"Let's move; I'm prepared."

"Yes, Nagato-sama."

Seeing Nagato's arrival, Black zetsu discretely merged with the ground, and White Zetsu took the lead, guiding the way through the forest, progressing swiftly amid the dappled light filtering through the entwined branches and leaves.

Their destination - the Land of Tea.

...

The happiness of life lay in the moment when one received their payment.

At this particular moment, Kakuzu found himself enveloped in such happiness. He counted the banknotes repeatedly. Due to the relatively large amount, he continued counting from morning to noon, and from noon to the evening.

As for the staff at the money exchange station, they were sensible and didn't bother him.

Kakuzu was unquestionably a permanent fixture in the underground black market, a well-known and renowned figure.

As he journeyed to the money exchange, many of the staff became familiar with each of their hunter's peculiarities.

Every time Kakuzu exchanged his bounties for money, he counted the money as if no one else were present, with smooth movements and unwavering concentration. This was an advanced artistic concept that ordinary people could never achieve, even after practicing it thousands of times.

Thi artistic concept seemed to extend to those around him, drawing them into the joyful art of counting money.

Kakuzu counted the bounties of hundreds of millions of ryo three times. There was no pause in between, and the speed of counting money was maintained at an unbelievably consistent pace, without the slightest time difference.

The staff next to him admired Kakuzu's dedication to money. Being so superstitious about money and considering it their closest friend was not something everyone could achieve, a truly pious attitude. In a sense, it was treating money as a belief rather than valuing it solely for its worth.

After all, with the remuneration Kakuzu had earned over decades of working day and night, he could already retire and live a prosperous life of a wealthy person without facing danger daily.

But Kakuzu didn't choose that path. He didn't use money to ensure his own prosperity. He usef Money to make more money, guided by faith and nothing else.

It was a beautiful yet sad life.

"The total is correct." Kakuzu said as he closed the black leather case, which was slightly larger and heavier than usual.

"Please take your time, Kakuzu-san, and feel welcome to visit again." the staff bowed in the utmost respect for the bounty hunter who had a unique relationship with money.

Kakuzu left with the black box filled with 10,000 ryo bills, the payment for Hanzo's body. As for what would happen to Hanzo's body in the underground money exchange, Kakuzu didn't care. His sole concern was his money.

After completing the money exchange, the next step was to settle his 'life debt.' Although he didn't believe in returning kindness with kindness, being in debt was always a thorn in his heart, making him very uncomfortable.

Coming out from the underground money exchange, cleverly disguised as a roadside convenience store, the surrounding area was surrounded by a forest, and a cool wind blew through.

Kakuzu walked outside and stood still, narrowing his eyes.

About ten meters in front of them, someone suddenly appeared, blocking his way.

This newcomer had red hair, a youthful vusage, and strange eyes that seemed to have lost all emotion, exuding ruthlessness. The aura emanating from their body was even colder than the chilly wind.

Kakuzu wasn't intimidated by the chilling aura. In fact, he had seen the red-haired kid in front of him before.

"I remember you. You're the Ame ninja who was with Hanzo that day...." Kakuzu's green pupils fixed on Nagato's face and then shifted to Nagato's eyes.

The appearance of these eyes felt oddly familiar, but Kakuzu couldn't quite place it.

Immediately afterward, at Nagato's feet, a White Zetsu emerged from the ground, revealing half of its body. It had been giggling ever since.

"Haha, I'm not wrong, Nagato-sama. A dog can't change its nature. This guy must have lost himself in counting money, leaving the money exchange place late." White Zetsu laughed heartily.

Kakuzu's eyes ignited with murderous intent. He raised his palm without hesitation, clenched his arm connected with black tentacles into a fist, and lunged toward White Zetsu, intending to silence them once and for all.

Nagato swayed for a moment and appeared in front of the White Zetsu the next instant. The tentacled fist, which could easily penetrate a human body, stopped in Nagato's palm, producing a dull, clashing sound.

Kakuzu frowned.

The speed of his fist attack was certainly not as swift as the standard body flicker, but its strength was more than sufficient to effortlessly penetrate a human body, comparable to steel in hardness. This combination was not something ordinary ninja could defend against, but the red-haired youth in front of him blocked it easily.

Kakuzu's eyes showed seriousness. He realized that this young man wasn't to be underestimated. He vaguely recalled that the youth used a ninjutsu capable of deflecting all physical attacks, which meant he needed to engage at a distance.

While Kakuzu contemplated, his body suddenly lifted off the ground and flew toward Nagato.

"What's happening?"

Kakuzu wondered as his body

seemed to move of its own..He was stunned, completely unaware of what Nagato had done to them. There was a powerful suction force compelling his body to move towards Nagato involuntarily.

'What kind of ninjutsu was this?' Just as Kakuzu thought about how to counter this attraction jutsu, his body shook suddenly.

A terrifying repulsion radiated through the air, striking him head-on. The suction force released at the same time, replaced by an opposing repulsive force.

Kakuzu's eyes widened in terror as he could only witness the enemy's attack approaching, unable to defend against it.

At that moment, he realized he stood no chance against Nagato.

Boom!

The thunderous sound erupted upon Kakuzu's body, as if struck by a heavy object. His form transformed into a cannonball, hurtling through the air with unwavering force, smashing through a dozen trees in succession, and refusing to come to a stop.

It was only when his body plunged into a river, leaving a sizable hole in its center, temporarily blocking the water's flow, that the relentless momentum finally stopped.

Countless birds from the woods took flight to the sky to escape the tumult.

"Wow, that was powerful! Even the immortal Kakuzu couldn't withstand a single blow." White Zetsu, protruding from the ground, gaped in genuine amazement rather than exaggeration.

In less than a month since Madara's death, Nagato had grown to this level. Perhaps it would be even faster to harness all the power within him.

"Failed. I should have finished him off with a single strike." Nagato stated, his expression devoid of emotion.

"Eh? With an attack like that, isn't he already dead?" White zetsu asked in surprise.

"He used a hardening jutsu. He's likely clinging to life. I'll leave the rest to you. I'm going to retrieve Hanzo's body."

With this statement, Nagato walked to the entrance of the black market and remained still without entering. He stood there, hands hanging at his sides, doing nothing at all.

"Shinra Tensei!"

A massive repulsive force suddenly erupted, leading to a huge explosion before him. The shockwave generated by the repulsion sent Nagato's clothes flapping in the wind.

As the dust and smoke cleared, the entire building had been reduced to rubble and blown away.

Nagato advanced, casting an intimidating look down at the now-exposed underground money exchange. The staffs stared back at him, filled with terror, as the cold and emotionless eyes made it feel like they were suffocating within an icy cave. Their legs quivered from fear.

...

In the aftermath of the attack, several White Zetsu emerged from the ground to surround Kakuzu, who was severely wounded and unable to move. They made an assortment of strange comments as they giggled.

"Now the immortal will become dead."

"I wonder if his meat is tender."

"There's a saying, the older it is, the more delicious it tastes."

"Is it like the smell of p**p?"

"You're not Guruguru, why are you taking his lines?"

"This guy's body is covered in tentacles, it probably tastes like that Takoyaki."

"Then I will eat his head."

These White Zetsu quickly decided how they intended to enjoy Kakuzu's body.

"I'm starting now!"

With this proclamation, the few White Zetsu closed in on Kakuzu, laughing gleefully, finally finding a satisfying meal.

As it goes, the stronger the ninja, the more flavorful their taste. Their hands pressed against Kakuzu's body, showing that Kakuzu would soon become part of their body.

"Sorry, I can't allow you to eat him yet."

The unexpected voice came from behind, and the White Zetsu turned their heads in succession, but they saw nothing but the surroundings constantly spinning.

"Why can I still see my body? Where's my head?"

This confusion echoed in the minds of the White Zetsu as their consciousness was severed.

All the heads of the White Zetsu rolled to the ground, frozen in a bewildered expression, having perished without understanding what had happened and who had killed them.

...

"Nagato-sama, they were all killed." Black Zetsu reported, standing next to the corpses of the White Zetsu.

Nagato paid no attention to Black Zetsu's words. Instead, he looked towards the sky, entranced.

Seeing Nagato's lack of reaction, Black Zetsu understood that Nagato, much like himself, had no emotional attachment to the White Zetsu's deaths.

After all, there were many such disposable pawns, and the death of a few was nothing worth mourning.

The critical issue was to identify who had killed them.

While the White Zetsu were expendable, someone who could silently eliminate these disposable pawns was no ordinary people.

"Let's go." Nagato commanded.

Black Zetsu shook his head in resignation, disposed of the White Zetsu's corpses, and followed Nagato's lead.

.....

"Kakuzu-san, we meet again."

A familiar voice stirred Kakuzu from his drowsiness. It was that annoying half-million ryo guy.

The moment before his consciousness fell into darkness, he only remembered his body was bounced away by the red-haired kid using that strange ninjutsu, and he didn't know what happened after that.

But when he heard the voice of Bug Man and saw him reappear in front of him again, it was clear that he had been rescued by the same person once more after his encounter with that red-haired ninja.

While still in a daze, Kakuzu's consciousness had returned, and he found himself in a room that seemed more like an underground hideout. It had no windows, and the air was damp, unlike the hospital in the Land of Demons.

"Shut up, or I'll kill you!"

Kakuzu, despite his weakened state, responded with arrogance.

Bug Man paid little heed to Kakuzu's threats and continued speaking. Given Kakuzu's current condition, he needed to share information quickly.

"You see, we've met again quite soon. It hasn't been more than three days since our last parting."

"Did you know I would be targeted by that red-haired kid?"

Kakuzu was furious, he felt that he might have been manipulated.

"You took Hanzo's body to exchange for money. Isn't it natural for a ninja from Amegakure to seek revenge on you? We can't stop ninjas from seeking revenge."

Kakuzu was dumbfounded, realizing the truth. He had indeed stolen Hanzo's body and exchanged it for money, and it was only reasonable for Hanzo's comrades to seek revenge..Of course, he was still manipulated by these people but the root cause was still on him.

"...who is that kid? The one with red hair. Is he related to the Uzumaki clan?"

Kakuzu fell silent and asked. He couldn't shake the image of Nagato's emotionless eyes, and a sense of unease grew within him.

Kakuzu wasn't afraid even in the face of Suna's relentless pursuit. However, facing that young man who was good enough to be his grandson, he was defeated so miserably he was powerless to fight back. He felt powerless against the young man who had defeated him so thoroughly, even with all five hearts intact.

The kid was different from anyone he had faced before. It was a complete dominance of a superior over their subordinate.

Kakuzu was sure of one thing - the red-haired kid was far beyond his strength. So a question rose in his heart, since the opponent has such a powerful force, why didn't he fight together with hanzo? But now, he came over to collect Hanzo's body? He couldn't understand this no matter how he thought about it.

"Whether he's a member of the Uzumaki clan isn't entirely certain. Even if he isn't, there should be Uzumaki blood in his veins. However, one thing is undeniable: he possesses the legendary doujutsu - The Rinnegan. Kakuzu-san, you're truly fortunate to have escaped from him." Bug Man said, his tone carrying deep meaning.

Bug Man was the first person to make contact with the Akatsuki. But at that time, he didn't give it much thought. He didn't comprehend the significance of the Rinnegan or, in fact, what it represented. It wasn't until Nagato came to the Land of Demons that he was officially noticed by the spies within. But, in order not to alarm the snake, they remained inactive.

It wasn't until Madara began manipulating the war in the Land of Rain from the shadows that they officially took action against the Rinnegan.

Their goal was to eliminate the threat, Uchiha Madara, but unexpectedly, the true danger wasn't only Madara, but Nagato, who had inherited Madara's power.

"Rinnegan!?"

Kakuzu was shocked by the mention of the Rinnegan and he finally recalled why he was getting some familiarity with they red-haired eyes.. He had heard of it during his travels, one of the three legendary dojutsu alongside the Sharingan and Byakugan. Many believed it to be a mere legend, but now he had encountered it.

If the Rinnegan existed, the legends of the Sage of the Six Paths could also be true, which meant he wielded incredible power.

It's said that the wielder of the Rinnegan could either save the world or destroys the world.

The thought of the red-haired attractivr and repulsive jutsu, which rendered him powerless, sent shivers down his spine.

"If that's the power of the Rinnegan, it's no surprise I lost." Kakuzu admitted.

Bug Man chuckled and asked, "So, Kakuzu-san, would you like to join us? I doubt the money in your savings would be enough to buy you another life."

Kakuzu, for some reason, grew irritable and snapped, "Half a million ryo.. Shut up, or I'll kill you!"

"We're old acquaintances; there's no need to be so arrogant. Besides, as I've mentioned before, my bounty has been raised to 10 million ryo."

Kakuzu's murderous intent didn't faze Bug Man.

Kakuzu had an intense obsession with money, and owing debts affected him as if he owed a favor.

"I'll kill you sooner or later."

"It's up to you if you can."

"Do you think I can't do it? It's only five hundred thousand ryo, hardly worth the focus of my little book."

"It's ten million ryo. You are welcome to join us, Kakuzu-san."

Bug Man moved to a side cabinet and retrieved a black suitcase, placing it within Kakuzu's view. He explained, "Here are the uniforms necessary for official operations, as well as various interesting toys. I hope you like them. By the way, your contract is for forty years. After that, you can choose to renew your contract with us or return to your free life. We won't force you."

"Forty years? What a short time."

Kakuzu got off the bed and smiling coldly. Only forty years... to him who has an almost infinite lifespan, it was just a passing experience of life.

"I think it's long enough."

After all, not everyone has the luxury of such a long lifespan. For this point, Bug Man was very envious of Kakuzu.

"Take me to meet your leader. I want to see what kind of snakes were able ro spread the medical industry of the Land Of Demons to the world in just a few years."

Kakuzu put forward his own requirements.

"Don't you need to rest for a while?"

"This minor injury wouldn't hinder me."

"Before you meet our leader, there's something I need to take care of..."

"And.. what's that?"

Before Kakuzu could react, Bug Man walked up to him and placed his hand on his shoulder.

A strange energy coursed through Kakuzu's body, causing a mass of white swelling to emerge from his shoulder. With Bug Man's manipulation, a white Zetsu was extracted from Kakuzu's body.

The White zetsu dragged out of Kakuzu's body by Bug Man, was completely stunned, completely unaware that his tracks would be noticed.

The White zetsu looked at Bug Man with incredible eyes, and was about to speak, when Bug Man picked up Kunai and swiped at his neck.

The head rolled down, maintaining the mount opening gesture, as the headless white body fell down.

"This is?"

Kakuzu stared blankly at the scene unfolding before him, completely unaware that someone had cast a jutsu on his body.

"These beings known as White Zetsu may not be particularly strong, but their skill at concealing themselves is exceptional. If you're not careful, they can steal valuable information."

"That means... you saved me.... again..."

It dawned on Kakuzu that Bug Man had indeed saved him again from this unexpected threat.

"It should be the arrangement of the Rinnegan. He obviously has excellent sensory abilities, but he allowed us to take you away. It seems there's a problem. I was prepared for a tough battle and even the use of some secret military-developed weapon to deal with them. When a mission goes too smoothly, it's usually a sign of trouble."

Especially if the opponent has special scouts like White zetsu, they couldn't afford to be careless.

However, there was one glaring mistake, the existence of Bug Men had been exposed. But after closer consideration, though, it didn't seem to matter much.

They had saved Kakuzu and brought him to this long-abandoned hideout for temporary treatment, avoiding the towns in the Land of Tea or official institutions in the Land of Demons.

The enemy could only deduce that Bug Men and Kakuzu had a close connection.

Anyway, Bug Men were also in the underground black market, and they were a famous mercenary group. Their meeting with Kakuzu could be seen as business, after all thet were bounty hunters.

It wasn't unusual for bounty hunters to cross paths.

"Alright, everything's fine now. Come with me, Kakuzu-san. I'll take you to meet the leaders."

"Who are they?" Kakuzu asked, following Bug Man.

To pique Kakuzu's interest, Bug Man smiled and replied, "To be precise, there are three leaders, and they are famous figures with bounties in the underground black market. The total combined bounty on their heads exceeds 200 million ryo. Kakuzu-san, you have something exciting to look forward to."

Kakuzu's eyes gleamed with unprecedented intensity upon hearing this figure.

'200 million ryo, 200 million in bounties...' His heart raced at the thought.

Yet, he sighed in regret.

Unfortunately, he was currently obligated to work and pay off his debts, a commitment he couldn't violate. He had to fulfill his work contracts and couldn't kill his employers.

Earning money with integrity was the cornerstone for bounty hunters to maintain their reputation in the black market, a principle that couldn't be violated.

Hopefully, after forty years, the value of their heads would still remain.

After his freedom in forty years, he would need to devise a plan to eliminate the so-called three leaders and claim their huge rewards. Kakuzu couldn't help but begin plotting for the distant future.

----

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