Although he already knew that Hibari was a wealthy magnate, from a prestigious family, and had built a successful business at a young age, so he was never short on money.
Still, when Kakuzu heard this guy casually offer a ten million ryo 'welcome gift,' he couldn't help but feel a little astonished.
Konohagakure in the Land of Fire was considered the village with the best treatment for shinobi among all countries, yet even there, an S-rank mission only paid a million ryo.
Back when Kakuzu was a shinobi in Takigakure, an S-rank mission only paid a few hundred thousand ryo. Now, Hibari just met him once and gave him a reward equivalent to countless S-rank missions...
"You're truly generous, Senju Hibari..." Kakuzu looked at Hibari, murmuring softly.
"Hahahaha, this is just the beginning. I can't promise anything else, but as long as you work with me, you'll definitely be satisfied when it comes to money," Hibari said, laughing heartily, his tone full of confidence.
Although Kakuzu loved and coveted money, he wasn't a fool. Having been a shinobi for so many years and experiencing so much, he understood that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. To gain something, one naturally had to pay a corresponding price. Although ten million ryo was a lot, it wasn't enough to buy him outright.
After a moment of silence, Kakuzu asked, "So, as the price for getting these ten million ryo, what do you need me to do? Assassinate your enemies? I heard Konohagakure is at war with Kumogakure. You're not planning to send me to assassinate the Second Raikage, are you?"
Hibari grinned and said with a chuckle, "What's with all the killing? We're civilized people; we don't do such crude things. As for the Second Raikage, I see a dark aura between his brows, so he's destined for an early death. Enma-sama will take care of him; why should I be in a hurry?"
As Hibari's words fell, Kakuzu's expression grew even more silent. However, Hibari didn't make him wait long. He didn't beat around the bush and directly continued, "I already told you, this ten million ryo is just a welcome gift. You don't need to overthink it; it's simply a gift for you..."
Kakuzu looked at Hibari, then replied calmly, without showing too much excitement, "What then?"
Hearing this, Hibari's lips curled upwards, and he said, "After this, I'll need your help with a few things. To be honest with you, my recent acquisition of these Kaguya clan corpses isn't out of some twisted hobby. I'm actually researching a Jutsu. We Senju clan members just love to tinker with these bizarre things; you should understand."
Kakuzu wasn't surprised. The acquisition of corpses was usually for such purposes; who else would collect them to eat?
"But recently, I've encountered some minor difficulties. These difficulties have precisely stalled my progress. So, even if you hadn't so conveniently 'delivered yourself to my doorstep,' I would have sent people to search for your whereabouts and meet you in a few days," Hibari said with a smile.
Kakuzu was no fool, so upon hearing Hibari's words, he immediately understood and said, "You think I can help you solve the difficulties you've encountered?"
Then, before Hibari could respond, Kakuzu continued, "Perhaps your understanding and expectations of me are a bit too high. In terms of strength, I'm somewhat proud, but if you want me to help you research Ninjutsu problems, I'm afraid I'm not interested in that, and therefore, have no accomplishments in that area..."
As Kakuzu finished speaking, Hibari waved his hand and said, "No, no, you've misunderstood me. I didn't think you possessed any talent in that area that could surprise me. I'm interested in the technique on your body... the one you used to almost kill me."
Upon hearing Hibari's words, Kakuzu's chakra surged slightly, and then many black threads, like tentacles, emerged from his arm sleeves on the table, swaying in the air.
"Is it this? Takigakure's secret technique: Jiongu..." Kakuzu said softly.
Hibari, looking at the black tentacles that he had originally found somewhat disgusting, now had a rather joyful expression. Now that he had a use for this thing, he actually found this nauseating Jutsu a bit endearing.
"Hahahaha, that's right, it's the Jiongu!" Hibari said, laughing heartily.
Kakuzu was silent for a moment, then said, "Senju Hibari, this is my secret technique that is not passed down. Ever since I left Takigakure, this has become the only Ninjutsu of its kind in the world. You want it..."
"Two million ryo!" Hibari had no intention of listening further and directly interrupted Kakuzu.
Kakuzu frowned slightly and said, "You probably don't understand the meaning of 'secret technique that is not passed down'..."
"Five million ryo!" Hibari still showed no intention of reasoning with him, speaking crudely again.
Kakuzu's eyebrow twitched, and he said with some displeasure, "Senju Hibari, don't think I'm the kind of person who sells anything..."
"Eight million ryo!" Hibari once again crudely interrupted Kakuzu, his expression still unperturbed.
"I'm telling you, this matter..." Kakuzu said, somewhat annoyed.
"Ten million ryo!" Hibari still spoke arrogantly, like someone who could crush you with money at will.
This time, with the immense sum reaching ten million of ryo, Kakuzu's hearts couldn't help but pound violently. Including the welcome gift just now, if he agreed to Hibari's request, he would immediately receive twenty million ryo. Adding the reward for this mission, the total would be a staggering sixty million ryo! He would have to work hard for several years to earn such a massive sum!
To say that Kakuzu wasn't tempted would be impossible. Although Jiongu was very powerful and granted Kakuzu an almost 'eternal' life, making him sometimes boastfully refer to himself as someone 'as long-lived as heaven and earth.'
But ultimately, it was just a Ninjutsu.
Seeing Kakuzu's hesitant expression, Hibari's lips curled up again. He wasn't afraid of a high asking price, only that this guy would be completely unyielding.
However, Kakuzu had a change of heart. He was already preparing to pledge allegiance to Senju Hibari. If he sold everything just because the price was high, wouldn't it seem like he had no bottom line?
Thinking deeper, perhaps this was a test from Senju Hibari?
At this thought, Kakuzu's pounding heartbeat returned to a steady rhythm. He took a deep breath and said, "I'm a person with principles too. Forget ten million ryo, even fifty million..."
"Last offer. I'll also give you a position as a director in the Mitsumine Group, allowing you to access the top brass of the Mitsumine Group and learn things you wouldn't normally think of," Hibari said softly.
As soon as his words fell this time, Kakuzu, who had just considered himself a 'man of principles,' immediately said without a second thought, "Deal!"
His tone was crisp and decisive, completely devoid of the previous wavering, and all thoughts of tests, principles, and the like were swept away. He no longer cared.
Hibari couldn't help but laugh at this sight. He said, "You truly are someone who believes money is supreme... But it's alright; I like that about you too, hahahahaha, deal!"
Kakuzu was a man who valued money over people. To others, this might be a very untrustworthy and fatal flaw, but to Hibari, it was a very favorable quality that fit his criteria.
He himself hadn't put much thought into making money, yet even so, his innovative ideas had led him to create the Mitsumine Group, making him one of the wealthiest individuals in the Land of Fire.
After this 'First Great Ninja War' passes and the world returns to peace for a while, everything will be in ruins awaiting reconstruction. If Hibari takes some time to strategically plan the economy, he genuinely believes no one will be able to rival him in terms of making money!
At that point, as long as Kakuzu has a bit of foresight and intelligence, he will definitely stick with him to the end, right?
At this moment, Hibari's biggest goal in meeting Kakuzu had been achieved. He just needed to return to Konohagakure, get his hands on Jiongu, and then he could continue developing that Jutsu.
Therefore, Hibari was in a very good mood. He picked up his chopsticks again, grabbed a slice of meat, swished it in the hot pot, and said, "Come, come, we've reached an agreement on the general direction. This is something worth celebrating! From today onwards, you, Kakuzu, are my Senju Hibari's man... cough, cough, subordinate. Don't worry, as long as I'm eating meat, I'll never let you just drink soup!"
After saying this, Hibari ate the meat slice. Then, quite enthusiastically, he served Kakuzu a bowl of nourishing mushroom soup and offered it to him, saying, "Here, try this. It tastes great. I always have some..."
Kakuzu, bewildered, took the mushroom soup from Hibari's hand, then looked at the meat slice Hibari was chewing... Didn't you just say you wouldn't let me drink soup if you were eating meat?
However, Hibari didn't seem to notice this and said with a chuckle, "Since you've decided to work for me, you should at least pay attention to your image. Don't wear that Takigakure missing-nin forehead protector so ostentatiously. When you go back, I'll process the paperwork to make you a Konohagakure shinobi..."
At this point, Hibari paused slightly, then said, "But it's just in name, you understand?"
Kakuzu looked at Hibari and said, "I understand..."
Kakuzu naturally understood Hibari's meaning. 'In name' meant that while he could obtain the identity of a Konohagakure shinobi, he wouldn't be able to participate in Konohagakure's various affairs. Essentially, as long as the money was in place, he would be Hibari's private military member.
On the other hand, given his previous record as a 'missing-nin,' although the two of them seemed amicable at the moment, when it came to trust, he himself didn't fully trust Hibari, so how could he expect Hibari to trust him? In that case, it would be even more impossible for him to participate in Konohagakure's other affairs, wouldn't it?
However, although Kakuzu understood, he didn't feel anything was amiss. On the contrary, if Hibari had trusted him completely from the start, he would have doubted if there was something wrong with this guy's mind.
But ultimately, trust could be cultivated over time, for both sides!
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