Outside an underground bounty office.
Hidan was sitting on a large rock, leaning on his scythe while covering his nose in disgust. "Kakuzu," he said lazily, "you go inside. I can't stand the smell in there."
Without a word, Kakuzu took a step forward toward the entrance.
Suddenly, he froze mid-step and turned his gaze sharply toward a certain direction, eyes flashing with intensity. "Looks like we won't need to go in after all."
From the exit of the bounty office, a ninja emerged suspiciously, clearly being very cautious in both movement and demeanor.
Kakuzu opened his masked mouth, and a streak of lightning shot out.
The ninja flinched instantly in shock.
"Hand over whatever you're carrying." Kakuzu approached coldly.
"No way," the ninja had already recognized him as the infamous bounty hunter Kakuzu, but still tried acting tough.
"I only want that item, not your life. Think carefully—otherwise, I might change my mind..."
As he spoke, Kakuzu's tone grew even darker, his eyes locked onto the corner of the book the other was holding.
Sweating heavily, the man hesitated before reluctantly handing over the [Sage Art cultivation method] he had just purchased.
"You can get lost now."
Without sparing him another glance, Kakuzu turned his eyes toward Hidan, signaling it was time to leave.
Hidan muttered something under his breath but followed anyway.
Only after confirming the two were far away did the ninja finally exhale in relief, turning around and re-entering the underground bounty office.
After checking into a certain inn and booking a room, Kakuzu began flipping through the book he had taken.
"Hey, are we really sharing one room?" Hidan complained, briefly glancing at a few pages before quickly losing interest.
"If you don't like it, get your own room." Kakuzu replied casually, continuing to browse the book.
In the afternoon, after finishing dinner, Kakuzu found a staff member and asked to extend their stay for another day.
Noticing everything, Hidan became extremely curious.
Since when had Kakuzu suddenly become generous with money? Wasn't he always someone who saved every penny and hated spending?
He couldn't help stepping forward mockingly. "Did you hit the jackpot, Kakuzu? I thought all your money was taken by Konan!"
At these words, Kakuzu's body stiffened noticeably before he turned his icy stare toward Hidan. "I've come up with a new way to make money."
Hidan slapped his shoulder cheerfully. "You really know how to think! Konan must be so lucky to have such a profitable guy working for her!"
This time, Kakuzu completely ignored him.
Stepping out of the inn, he headed to the business district and bought a thick stack of aged paper along with a brush pen.
With Hidan watching curiously, he returned to the booked room.
Scratching his head slightly, Hidan followed him inside.
"Don't even think about interrupting me."
With those words, Kakuzu focused intently on his task.
He unfolded a piece of paper and began copying the Sage Art techniques onto it.
Hidan couldn't figure it out at first. Frowning, he kept watching as Kakuzu continued drawing. As more and more details emerged, the patterns on the paper became clearer and started to resemble a map of the Ninja World.
However, unlike ordinary maps widely circulated that marked various countries, Kakuzu's drawing simply outlined mountains, rivers, and other natural landscapes.
Some places were marked with signs, but there was no explanation for what they indicated.
"Hey, Kakuzu, what exactly are you drawing?" Hidan asked loudly.
"A treasure map," Kakuzu replied with a smile, pausing briefly from his work.
"Huh?" Hidan clearly didn't believe him. With Kakuzu's greedy nature, if there really were any treasure, he'd have already claimed it himself. Would he really leave it untouched for this long?
"Don't ignore me."
When Kakuzu stayed silent again, Hidan called out noisily.
"It's a treasure map leading to the Three Great Holy Sites," Kakuzu finally answered.
"What?" Hidan felt even more shocked.
Lately, rumors about the Three Great Holy Sites and Sage Art had been spreading like wildfire. He'd heard plenty about them—not only from ninja, but also from merchants and common civilians. Yet he only felt contempt.
"If those things were really that powerful, how would ordinary people even hear about them? The ninja villages would've buried all that info long ago."
"Come on, Kakuzu, you don't actually buy into this nonsense, do you?" Hidan said doubtfully.
Still seated at the table, Kakuzu gave a slight shake of his head, chuckling quietly.
"I get it now!" Hidan suddenly slapped his own head. "You're planning to sell these things for profit! I knew it—I figured someone like you wouldn't fall for such tricks easily."
Kakuzu first scoffed with a "Heh," showing his irritation toward Hidan's sarcasm. Then he sincerely remarked, "Clever. Seems like your brain isn't just for show after all."
"Tch..." Hidan muttered disdainfully. "Even if people believed it and wanted to buy, others could sell it too."
"Once sold, buyers themselves can become sellers too. Why would they bother purchasing it specifically from you? It'd just be going through unnecessary trouble."
"No problem. I have countless versions, and they'll eventually find one they like." Saying so, Kakuzu grabbed the completed maps, each containing noticeable differences.
Those marked locations he'd drawn were places he'd either personally visited or intimately knew—mostly remote areas rarely populated or even completely unexplored zones.
Whether there were hidden secrets there remained unknown to all.
"Wanna buy one, Hidan?" Kakuzu smiled.
Hidan waved his hand dismissively with an expression of contempt. "Kakuzu, do you truly know where the Three Great Holy Sites are?"
"How? You want to practice Sage Art too?" Kakuzu retorted.
"Not really. Evil God has granted me immortality already," Hidan said indifferently, crossing his arms.
In the end, Kakuzu came up with 18 different versions of the treasure map.
Once everything was set, Kakuzu grabbed Hidan and headed out. He kicked off his sales campaign while still raking in bounties.
"Brother, do you know about that...?"
"What 'that'?"
"That's what helps someone take it to the next level."
"Oh... you mean...?"
"Shh, let's talk privately for a moment."
Nearby, Hidan sighed as he watched Kakuzu, using [Transformation Jutsu], pull a stranger toward a nearby corner to speak secretly.
Kakuzu soon stepped out and stood before Hidan, a sly grin spreading across his face as he counted the cash in his hands.
Hidan looked slightly speechless. "Man, Kakuzu, if you want to make money, why don't you just spread this widely instead of acting all shady like you're selling something illegal?"
"You just don't understand," Kakuzu explained in the tone of an experienced mentor. "The more secretive it is, the more credible it becomes, which helps raise prices. Besides, what if they run into trouble and come looking for me? I don't have time to waste on such nonsense."
"So there could be danger? Exactly where do those unmarked areas on your maps lead?" Hidan asked.
"Who knows?" Kakuzu replied casually.
...
Outside the ruins of the former Amanogakure Ninja Village.
A mixed-gender six-member team arrived at this location.
One of them was clutching a weathered map. "Just as I thought—no path forward. There's definitely something hidden in here!"
"How should we proceed then?" Someone else asked, glancing around.
Blocking their path was a vast lake whose size was impossible to tell.
They circled the area in different directions but found no alternative entrance, almost triggering several traps along the way.
And walking across the water using chakra worried them about running out of chakra halfway.
"Hey, who are you people and what are you doing here?"
A small boat docked at the shore. Jumping off the vessel was a red-haired, wheat-toned girl. She shouted and charged toward the group, brandishing a scalpel.
But she was easily surrounded, disarmed, and restrained.
"Let me go!" the girl shouted angrily.
"Are you from a nearby village?" One member of the squad asked.
"Let me go..." The girl kept repeating the same phrase stubbornly.
The group exchanged glances, silently communicating with their eyes.
Should they use [Genjutsu]?
"Please release that child."
A powerful voice rang out.
"Teacher..." The girl turned her gaze toward the source, filled with gratitude and expectation.
The group around her also turned toward the sound.
An older, white-haired man emerged from the boat.
Approaching calmly, he asked, "Which ninja village are you from?"
Upon hearing this, the six members couldn't help but reassess him.
They hadn't worn Ninja Forehead Protectors nor actively used ninjutsu.
Unless someone was a sensor ninja, it would be difficult for ordinary people to identify their identities.
Releasing the wheat-toned girl, one male member from the group responded, "We're samurai. We came here by chance."
"Yusui, come over here." Without acknowledging them, the white-haired man smiled warmly and waved toward the anxious and furious girl.
The girl known as Yusui hid behind him, clutching his clothes and eyeing the group of strangers warily.
It was only then that the white-haired man turned his attention toward them. "I am Shinno. May I ask who you all are?"
"I'm Fuku. You could say I'm more or less their leader," said the man who appeared to be the head of the group.
"If it's just a chance encounter, why haven't you left yet? This is just a poor little place, nothing special."
After thinking for a moment, Fuku replied, "Actually, we've been wandering for quite some time now. We originally intended to seek refuge under the Daimyo, but worried he wouldn't accept us. So, we decided to draw a new map as a gift for Lord Daimyo. We mean no harm. Could you possibly let us in?"
As he spoke, he scratched the back of his head, wearing an embarrassed smile.
"I see. I can bring you inside, but the boat is small and can't hold everyone at once—you might have to wait for another trip," Shinno said.
"Teacher Shinno, are you really going to—" Yusui tugged his arm, seemingly wanting to persuade him against it.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine," Shinno reassured, gently patting the back of her hand.
Fuku and the others followed Shinno into a hidden village.
This place had once been the site of the old Amanogakure Ninja Village. However, the people living here were not remnants of the former village—they were newcomers with no knowledge of its history.
They chose to settle here because there were numerous protective barriers around Amanogakure Ninja Village's perimeter, capable of keeping out many strangers and dangers. These were originally built by the former inhabitants of Amanogakure—its original ninjas.
In essence, this group of villagers—only numbering in the dozens—was rather insular.
Seeing six unfamiliar faces trailing behind Shinno, they immediately became suspicious. Faces that had just been exchanging friendly banter suddenly froze.
"Doc Shinno, if you're being kidnapped, just blink!"
Shinno chuckled. "Relax, they're my guests. I brought them here myself."
In this isolated village, Doctor Shinno was held in great esteem among the people.
He quickly calmed the villagers and arranged a room for Fuku and his companions.
After thanking him, Fuku and the other five men began pretending to look around the village while secretly drawing maps.
At night, they finally didn't have to act anymore.
Putting aside all pretenses, they entered light sleep.
The stars scattered across the sky above, while deep beneath it all, the fortress remained brightly lit.
With a *swish*, the hatch opened. Danzo, leaning on a cane, emerged, climbing from beneath ground up to the villagers' settlement.
*Creak...* The door opened.
*Tap, tap, tap...*
Then came the sound of something striking the floor.
Inside the room, the six of them had spread mats on the floor, each taking up a sleeping space, lying side-by-side.
The continuous *tap-tap-tap* sound reached their ears one after another. Those who had been lightly dozing were soon fully awake, tensed and alert.
Danzo continuously tapped the floor with his cane.
Without saying a word, he silently watched the ones pretending to sleep, his eyes narrowing gradually.
Shortly afterward, Shinno arrived too.
"Who are they?"
"Danzo asked calmly.
"Just ask them yourself," Shinno said flatly, his gaze mocking.
At that moment, Fuku and the others realized they'd been figured out all along.
Not a word passed between them. The six rose in unison, drawing their kunai and charging at Danzo and his companion.
Shinno took out his pocket scalpel.
As for Danzo, he remained even more composed. Calmly, he slowly unwrapped the bandages covering his head, revealing a crimson Sharingan.
With a single glance from him, anyone who met his eyes instantly lost their anger, froze in place, and stood motionless in shock.
"So they're just a bunch of worthless rogue ninja..."
With a sigh, Danzo stepped forward and took a book and a map from Fuku's person.
"According to their memories, this thing seems quite popular right now?" Danzo pointed at the book and suddenly asked the silent Shinno coldly, "Why didn't I know about this...?"
"From what little I've seen in life, the more widespread something becomes, the less valuable it usually is—it's simply used to cover up certain things and hardly deserves attention."
Shinno explained calmly, though inwardly he was annoyed (You think I'm afraid of you? No, I just fear that pair of eyes...)
[Given the current climate, this site could be taken down at any time. Please switch to our permanent source-switching app—Huanyuan App—as soon as possible.]
"Stop acting on your own initiative," Danzo ordered coldly.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>