[Rain Village]
[Kakuzu's Office]
"Oh? You all want us to get the One-Tail's Jinchuriki?", Kakuzu looked at Sunagakure's Maki across from him, his face full of interest.
"How did you find your way here to me?"
Maki said sternly, "The strength of the Akatsuki organization, we of Sunagakure are well aware."
"If you don't take this mission, then no one else can get it done."
"We're offering two billion. This payment, it's very generous, right."
Not to mention the appearance of Monk Senku, just Kakuzu and Sasori of the Red Sand's fighting power were already extraordinary.
And even more so, not long ago Konan led an attack on Konoha, showing her Paper Release ability.
As for the Akatsuki's most mysterious leader, without doubt it was an extremely powerful organization.
When Kakuzu heard "two billion," his eyes immediately lit up.
He stood up and began pacing back and forth.
Although he really wanted to accept, he wasn't clear on what the relationship between Pain, Konan, and the Uchiha really was.
Just from the fact that some people from Amegakure were now with the Uchiha, the relationship seemed to be pretty good.
"Mm, Ms. Maki, please sit for a moment, I need to discuss this with our leader."
Hearing such a huge deal amount, Kakuzu immediately changed the way he addressed Maki, calling him "Ms." now.
Maki nodded, showing her understanding.
Kakuzu left the room, crossed the corridor, and entered another inner room. Then he placed his hand on his forehead.
He began performing the Projection Technique to contact Pain and Konan.
This time the response was unusually slow, and just as Kakuzu was about to give up, the technique finally connected.
After a while, Kakuzu opened his eyes.
There was some doubt in them. He hadn't seen Pain just now, only Konan alone.
And Konan's mood seemed heavy. The mission was accepted, but the payment was adjusted.
He didn't worry about it too much. What Kakuzu knew was: he could make money again.
As someone only interested in money, by the time he came back to the room, Kakuzu had already adjusted his emotions.
He opened the door and found Maki's probing gaze sweeping over.
Kakuzu said flatly, "Just now I already contacted our leader."
"Catching a Jinchuriki for Sunagakure like this, after all, would damage Akatsuki's friendship with the Uchiha."
"So then…", Kakuzu stopped here.
Maki didn't understand Kakuzu's meaning and tested, "An organization like yours, mercenaries to say, do you even have a stance?"
Kakuzu let out a muffled laugh, then said, "No, what we of Akatsuki mean is…"
"You need to add money."
Maki: "…"
She was choked hard by that, then asked, "How much do you Akatsuki want?"
Kakuzu raised three fingers, "Three billion. And we only guarantee getting you the Tailed Beast. Gaara, the person, we don't guarantee."
Maki froze for a moment, then her face showed immense shock, "Your Akatsuki can extract a Tailed Beast?"
Extracting a Tailed Beast itself wasn't so amazing, but a person who could separate it, that was impressive. At least, in the Shinobi World, no one had ever appeared with that ability.
"Separating" meant extracting the Tailed Beast while keeping the host alive.
Kakuzu, with pride, "That's not something you need to worry about."
"But you will need to prepare the sealing tools for the Tailed Beast first."
Sunagakure actually had a tea bowl as a sealing implement, which Maki knew about.
Maki had wanted to save Sunagakure some money, but in this situation, clearly that wasn't possible.
"Alright, three billion is no problem. But we'll only pay after we get the Tailed Beast."
Kakuzu was a bit surprised that Sunagakure agreed so straightforwardly. Konan had told him about 2.5 billion being enough.
But more money meant more he could pocket.
"Mm, that's fine. When the time comes, money in one hand, goods in the other."
Kakuzu wasn't worried that Sunagakure would renege.
After the talk was done, Maki immediately stood, "Then I'll go back and bring over the sealing vessel."
———
[Hyuga Clan]
In the courtyard of the Main House, there were already many people standing.
There was Hiashi, several other Main House elders, as well as the Branch House elder Sota.
Everyone was closely watching the two people in the center.
One was ten-year-old Hinata, the other was five-year-old Hanabi.
Both of them had serious expressions, and after bowing to each other, they both took up the Gentle Fist stance.
Seeing Hinata had no intention of making the first move, Hanabi gave a low shout and rushed in.
Pa!
Pa!
The two members of the Hyuga Main Line began fierce hand-to-hand combat.
Without doubt, the older Hinata, whether in height, arm length, or strength, had absolute advantage.
But as the elder sister, she had no intention of winning over Hanabi purely with force.
They were both earnestly competing in Gentle Fist technique.
The sisters' movements were swift as the wind, constantly striking, breaking, blocking.
In the original timeline, this fight ended with Hinata's weak will causing her to retreat and lose.
But in this current shinobi academy, with Rengoku in charge, Hinata's personality flaws had been specifically trained against.
Not only did Naruto often appear beside her to temper her spirit, but Hinata was also regularly encouraged.
Her inferiority complex had improved.
Although Hinata didn't crush Hanabi with absolute power this time, it was clear to everyone she was in full control.
"Alright, stop."
Great Elder Hyuga Sarumito, seeing Hanabi unable to break through after so long and already drenched in sweat, had to call a halt.
If they kept fighting, Hanabi would collapse from exhaustion and lose miserably.
Everyone present was strong, so naturally they could see the abilities of these two juniors.
"For now, let's call it a draw."
When Sarumito said this, he looked at Hyuga Hiashi.
Hiashi nodded slightly. Although Hinata had absolute advantage, she was after all five years older.
For Hanabi to fight Hinata like this was already proof of extraordinary talent.
Hinata had changed a lot over the past two and a half years.
Even her old timid habits had greatly improved.
Before, he had thought of abandoning Hinata and shifting to training Hanabi instead, but now his heart was wavering.
Today he had specially given Hinata another chance, to see how she performed.
That was why so many people had come to witness.
The Great Elder's announcement of a draw, giving both sides a step down, was also just right.
"Mm, since both are this outstanding, let's call it even."
"Hinata, Hanabi, you both did well today, step down now."
Hinata and Hanabi both smiled happily and stepped down together.
They didn't know that whoever lost today would have been branded with the Caged Bird seal.
Hiashi hadn't mentioned it, and even the others present deliberately ignored this fact.
"In the future, when Hinata and Hanabi come of age, they will compete again for the heir's position. Disperse," With one sentence, Hiashi settled the matter of the clan heir.
The Main House children who had been watching whispered among themselves a little, then under the elders' gazes, they all left.
The Branch House's only elder Sota also followed the crowd out.
Hiashi specially glanced at Sota twice, finding that Sota showed no reaction, and felt relieved.
Sota's gaze was calm and without ripple.
But it wasn't from numbness, rather because he had long expected this.
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