[Chapter Size: 1500 Words.]
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The Warring States period came to an end, and the clan, which had been defeated by the Senju clan, established Takigakure Village. Kakuzu, one of the best from the younger generation of Takigakure, was given the mission to assassinate the First Hokage.
He was well aware that this mission would likely be dangerous, and his only wish was that Takigakure Village could properly provide for his wife and children.
The plan failed, and Kakuzu was captured. Senju Tobirama wanted to make an example of him to scare the monkeys, but he was stopped by the kind-hearted First Hokage, Hashirama. Kakuzu was eventually thrown into prison.
Years later, the first Five Kage Summit came to an end, and the five major nations distributed the tailed beasts. The First Hokage, in return for past wrongs, gifted the Seven-Tails to Takigakure Village for free to resolve the grievances.
By chance, Kakuzu escaped from prison and returned to Takigakure Village.
By that time, the First Hokage had passed away, and the tough Tobirama had become the Second Hokage. The top leaders of Takigakure were concerned that welcoming Kakuzu, who had a criminal past, would cause dissatisfaction in Konoha. Therefore, they offered Kakuzu a generous reward and asked him to leave the village.
For the benefit of the village, Kakuzu agreed to Takigakure's leaders' terms.
However, the decision of the higher-ups in Takigakure was only for show in front of the village's ninjas. As soon as Kakuzu left, they immediately dispatched Takigakure's Anbu to hunt him down!
After a fierce battle, Kakuzu narrowly escaped death, but his wife and children met a tragic end.
The death of his wife and children left Kakuzu in despair, and he sought vengeance against Takigakure Village. He killed the high-ranking officials who ordered his pursuit and stole the village's secret "Earth Grudge Fear."
It was through this act of revenge that he uncovered a cruel secret!
It turns out that the assassination attempt on the First Hokage had been a setup!
The first patriarch of the clan was a conspirator who understood human nature very well. He knew that the First Hokage would repay evil with kindness. The more he opposed the current, the more attention he would attract. In the end, he managed to secure a share of the pie for Takigakure from the five major countries!
And he, Kakuzu, had been nothing but a victim from the very beginning!
After suffering the deepest betrayal, Kakuzu came to see money as his sole belief.
He used the reward given to him by Takigakure to bury his wife and children with great honor, and then he fully transformed into a mercenary for profit!
Many years later, he was summoned by Nagato and joined the Akatsuki. He was willing to work for the interests of the Akatsuki, not because he succumbed to Nagato's powerful force, but because Nagato's words resonated with him.
"Only those who have experienced the deepest betrayal can understand that people and countries kill or embrace each other solely for their own interests…"
"The five great nations are all sophisticated egoists! To cover up their own peace, they have no hesitation in inflicting pain on the weak!"
"Kakuzu, in my eyes, you shine like gold. We will never betray each other, because we share eternal and unchanging common interests!"
Kakuzu: "Do you know what I really want?"
Nagato declared: "A world where interests will never betray you! As long as you sincerely submit to Akatsuki, Akatsuki will never disappoint you. Kakuzu, fight for Akatsuki, and at the same time, fight for yourself…"
However, at that moment, the cold and cruel reality once again made Kakuzu wake up!
"Betrayal, that damn betrayal again!!!"
"But why! I still have value to Akatsuki. There's no reason for them to give up on me now!!!"
Orochimaru looked up and said softly: "Your value is only the value for Nagato's ambition to conquer the ninja world, but you know that Nagato, the leader of Akatsuki, is also a puppet controlled by others. And the people who control him are also puppets of others, and vice versa. Do you know who the real mastermind behind the scenes is? Ha, you will never imagine, and it will completely subvert your hundred-year-long understanding of life!"
Kakuzu became disheartened: "Money is the only thing I can trust in this world. Money may be cold and foul, but at least it will never betray my expectations!"
Orochimaru: "So you want your wealth to meet your expectations after you die?"
Kakuzu looked at him coldly and said, "Do you want my money too? I advise you to give up on that idea. Except for the safe that I can't take, don't even think about taking a penny from me!"
Orochimaru smiled: "Even though you're about to be buried, you're still unwilling to part with your wealth?"
Kakuzu: "Yes, and so what!"
Orochimaru: "Kakuzu, at least in my opinion, you're not greedy, because someone who can accumulate wealth always understands the balance between investment and return. You just don't like investments without return..."
Kakuzu: "So, what can you offer to a dying man like me? Forget about resurrection, I've been tired of this world for a long time..."
Orochimaru: "How about reuniting you with your wife and children in the afterlife?"
Kakuzu's pupils suddenly gleamed: "You…"
Orochimaru: "I've understood the mystery of life and death, and I even have the ability to make you meet them again in reincarnation. But there's one big condition: Sasuke needs to open the 'Reincarnation Eye.'"
Kakuzu: "Why should I trust you? Even if I have no choice, at least I can choose to follow my own path!"
Orochimaru: "You don't need to trust me. High returns also come with high risks. You've calculated your whole life. How about taking a risk before you die?"
Kakuzu no longer cared to argue, as he couldn't resist the bet! Because the greatest regret of his life was feeling guilty about his wife and children!
"Click!"
Kakuzu drove his palm into his last "heart" and unearthed the hidden scroll inside. This was the "fruit of wealth" he had prepared to personally hand over to Nagato before the Akatsuki began the operation to hunt the tailed beasts three years later!
"Go to the place recorded in the scroll. There, all my wealth is stored. Not even the leader of the Akatsuki knows the exact location..."
Orochimaru solemnly took the scroll: "I won't thank you because this is an equal exchange..."
"Heh... I feel relieved to hear you say that."
Kakuzu's eyes slowly closed.
"If possible, I really want to see a world where people are not driven by profit. Unfortunately, we are all seeking profit and deceiving each other."
So Kakuzu met his end in that place.
Above the mountain.
White Zetsu: "Hey, Kakuzu seems to have handed over the 'locations' to Orochimaru. Why didn't you stop him?"
Obito: "This is good. Nagato should stop thinking about 'making money' and start collecting tailed beasts honestly! The supreme and noble Eye of the Moon Plan shouldn't be tainted by the smell of money. This world is already rotten, and we don't care about another person rotting on the ground!"
Black Zetsu: "It's a shame, Kakuzu and Hidan are powerful fighters, especially Hidan. He's a trump card, and if used well, he could easily kill anyone..."
Obito: "As long as the Eye of the Moon Plan can be completed, it doesn't matter. I'm ready to replenish the combat power of those two people..."
Black Zetsu: "Oh? Planning before acting? That's your style..."
"It's time to go..."
Obito slowly stood up and looked deeply at Sasuke.
"Sasuke, keep growing. One day, I might be able to use your strength..."
"Whoosh!"
The vortex opened and then retracted.
Zetsu slowly sank into the ground, both black and white, each with their own different thoughts.
White Zetsu: "There's no more money. Do you think Nagato will get angry?"
Black Zetsu: "Uchiha Sasuke, keep watching. If it's confirmed that Hagoromo really did something to him, I'll get rid of him at all costs!"
After the distant observers had left.
Kabuto let out a sigh of relief: "Finally, they're gone. They were watching from the sidelines, and it was inconvenient for me to use the power of the 'right eye'..."
Karin approached he with concern: "Sasuke, how are you feeling?"
Sasuke grabbed the Kusanagi sword and sheathed it, "Ah, I'm fine."
He looked back and said, "By the way, Karin, thank you."
Karin: "Eh... I, I, I didn't do anything."
Sasuke gave a slight smile. As he fell, Karin rushed to him desperately. She saw everything.
"Hey... Kakuzu!!! Where are you!!! Stitch my head quickly, I want to sacrifice all their blood to the evil god!!!"
Hidan was still shouting.
Sasuke said: "By the way, what should we do with this head?"
Orochimaru smiled slightly: "Well, all I can say is, you'll find out…"
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