Konan looked rather gloating.
Hiruzen was a veteran old fox, and the things an old fox did naturally couldn't see the light of day.
When Rengoku told Konan about the dirty things between him and Danzo, Konan was dumbfounded.
Even without Danzo's matter, Konan would absolutely never look up to someone like Hiruzen.
"Bullying Naruto? What's going on?", Jiraiya's face was full of astonishment, completely not knowing what was going on.
He only ever looked at Naruto as being fine, so he never paid any real attention to Naruto's life.
He had always thought that Naruto was well cared for.
"Jiraiya-sama actually doesn't know what kind of life Naruto used to live?", Konan's words were both sarcastic and a genuine question, and her attitude toward Jiraiya once again dropped a lot.
Jiraiya was embarrassed to death. His head was always filled only with looking for the prophesied child.
Otherwise, it was peeking, drinking, and whoring, then updating Icha Icha Paradise whenever inspiration came.
As for Naruto, he naturally hadn't paid much mind.
"I'll go ask the old man about Naruto's matters later, but your price is a bit too high," Jiraiya still didn't forget his own business. After all, Naruto was living well, so asking more later was fine.
Konan said expressionlessly, "Jiraiya-sama, you have to understand, this is you people coming to beg us."
"The price stays as is. I don't see any need to exchange the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki."
"I think if the Uchiha lead Konoha, it'll be much stronger than Hiruzen."
"You can discuss it well among yourselves before deciding. The organization has many affairs, excuse me," Saying that, Konan directly left Jiraiya behind and walked away.
Kakuzu was so anxious he couldn't take it. It wasn't that he was impatient by nature, but this deal's price was sky-high.
But since Konan was the second-in-command of the organization, in this kind of situation, he could only look for her privately.
So on the surface Kakuzu also acted indifferent.
Jiraiya glanced at Kakuzu, who had no intention of speaking, and at Senku, who was silently meditating at the side, so he could only leave gloomily.
———
After Jiraiya left, Kakuzu hurriedly rushed inside to Konan's room.
"Konan, what do you mean by this? Konoha can't possibly bring out that kind of price."
As an old member of the organization, Kakuzu had always been conscientious, with extremely high loyalty.
If the organization couldn't earn money, Kakuzu was truly anxious.
Konan still trusted Kakuzu quite a bit, so she turned and said:
"Konoha naturally can't bring out fifty billion."
"But in business, you always open high, and then they bargain down."
Kakuzu was a bit speechless, "You don't sound at all like you want Jiraiya to bargain."
Konan shook her head, "It's not me he'll bargain with, but with you."
"Oh? What do you mean?", Kakuzu asked curiously.
Konan thought a moment about what she had discussed with Rengoku, organized her words, then spoke, "Last time with the One-Tail, we already offended the Uchiha clan."
"But what Rengoku really cared about was the One-Tail's jinchuriki, Gaara."
"As long as Gaara is still alive, we haven't completely offended Uchiha Rengoku to death."
"I used up some other things to calm the Uchiha down."
"But this time, the Nine-Tails' value is not something Gaara can compare to."
"Whether Konoha can control the Nine-Tails is directly tied to whether they can control power in Konoha."
"If we directly agreed, would Uchiha Rengoku sit still?"
Kakuzu hadn't expected Konan to have this kind of political vision, and couldn't help but look at her in a new light.
"With the leader's strength, even Uchiha Rengoku isn't his match, right?"
Konan shook her head, "Of course Uchiha Rengoku isn't Pain's match, but we're here to make money."
"Before our plan is exposed, there's no need to provoke an Uchiha clan head for nothing."
Kakuzu also felt this made some sense, "So what's the plan next?"
Konan smiled, "Next, you can secretly contact Konoha's higher-ups together with Senku."
"At the lowest, ten billion. Once the deal is made, one billion will belong to you and Senku."
Kakuzu's eyes nearly popped out, "One billion?"
Senku was a monk who didn't want money at all, so if the deal succeeded, all the money would end up being Kakuzu's alone.
His breathing grew heavy.
"But, that one billion won't be easy to get. You'll be in some danger…", Konan's words snapped Kakuzu awake.
"What do you mean?"
Konan reminded him, "When the time comes, I won't admit this is something recognized by the Akatsuki. It will be considered your private action."
"You might get hunted by the Uchiha clan."
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes, "At least ten billion?"
Konan affirmed, "At least ten billion."
"No problem! So what if I get hunted," Kakuzu gritted his teeth and agreed directly.
A smile spread on Konan's face, "Don't worry too much. When the time comes, Pain will personally make a move, and then snatch the new Nine-Tails jinchuriki back from the Sarutobi clan to compensate the Uchiha."
"So you just need to hide for a while."
"What?", This time Kakuzu was completely shocked.
He hadn't thought the Akatsuki would actually be thinking like this. This was basically just passing the Nine-Tails back and forth between Uchiha and Hiruzen.
And they'd earn ten billion from Hiruzen?
Kakuzu suddenly felt being a bounty hunter wasn't worth it anymore.
Risking sun, wind, rain, and life, each job only brought in a few million at most.
But Konan's one scheme was worth tens of billions.
'What? You say it's dangerous?'
'Isn't bounty hunting dangerous too?'
'Same danger, do you want to earn a few million, or a few billion?'
Kakuzu, who loved money, looked at Konan differently, "Konan, you're truly incredible."
A man who never praised others, this time sincerely praised Konan.
"Ahem…", Konan coughed lightly, her face a bit warm.
After all, these were all Rengoku's schemes.
If any one part was missing, it wouldn't work.
But at this time, it wasn't good for her to say that.
"So, should I contact the Third Hokage directly? Or wait a bit?"
Now Kakuzu admired Konan completely, and naturally wanted to ask her opinion.
Konan smiled, "The one who's in a hurry is Hiruzen."
"Right now the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, Uzumaki Naruto, is under the Uchiha's watch."
"The better Naruto's relationship with the Uchiha, the more anxious Hiruzen will be."
"He's been in the Hokage's seat all these years and has raked in plenty of money."
"If he steps down, that money might even be taken back."
"From what you know of Hiruzen, would he willingly let the Sarutobi clan become prey?"
Kakuzu recalled how in Konoha everyone knew Naruto was a fox demon, and he did have some understanding of Hiruzen's character.
He shook his head, "Impossible. The Uchiha won't let them off."
Konan nodded slightly, "Exactly. So right now, we just need to wait patiently."
"I won't be here in the near future, only Senku will stay."
"When they come to contact you, just play it by ear."
Kakuzu let out a low, delighted chuckle, "Don't worry, leave this to me."
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