"A shinobi?"
Kakuzu looked Uchiha Kin up and down. The boy appeared to be twelve or thirteen years old, dressed entirely in black with no visible clan insignia or forehead protector. If not for the black longsword at his waist and his unnaturally light footsteps, Kakuzu would have dismissed him as just another passing child.
"For now, I do have a shinobi registration number," Kin replied with a grin.
"For now?" Kakuzu caught the implication in his words. He realized this boy wasn't a shinobi in the traditional sense. Even rogue ninjas wouldn't describe their registration number that way.
But what did it matter to him? He pulled out a stack of papers from his coat—bounty posters, each bearing the likeness of a wanted individual. He flipped through them quickly but found none matching the boy before him.
"Alright, now explain why you've been following me."
Seeing no bounty on Kin, Kakuzu's desire to fight waned. But if the boy's answer didn't satisfy him, he'd have no choice but to bury him here.
"How should I put this?" Kin stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I plan to hire you in the future."
"Don't joke around, brat!" Kakuzu laughed at the absurdity. Shinobi had no future to speak of, and here this kid was, trying to sell him empty promises? Kakuzu wasn't buying it.
Kin continued, undeterred. "So, I'm actually here to get your contact information. That way, it'll be easier to reach you later."
This had been Kin's plan from the start. Tracking down rogue ninjas was notoriously difficult—they all had their own methods of evading detection by major villages. And with villages adopting a "kill first, ask questions later" policy toward defectors, even a weak village like Takigakure would mobilize to eliminate Kakuzu if they learned his whereabouts.
If too much time passed, Kakuzu might join the Akatsuki, making recruitment impossible. As for now, Kin had enough self-awareness to know he lacked the strength to subdue someone like Kakuzu.
"Do you even know who I am, brat?" Kakuzu's voice grew stern. Kin's attitude made it clear he'd sought out Kakuzu specifically, not just any random shinobi.
"Kakuzu, the legendary shinobi who once attempted to assassinate the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju—your name is thunderous," Kin praised.
And let's not forget your title as the Hokage's top wage slave.
Kakuzu ignored the flattery. Black threads emerged from the seams of his arms. "It seems my information has leaked."
Though he operated primarily in the underworld's bounty exchange, details about him were scarce. Even the exchange wouldn't have much on him. So how had this boy gotten his hands on such intel?
"Can we not fight?" Kin tilted his head. While he wasn't strong enough to defeat Kakuzu outright, the reverse was also true—Kakuzu wouldn't find it easy to take him down.
Moreover, Kakuzu was the type of shinobi whose effectiveness plummeted once his abilities were exposed. Though his strength bordered on Kage-level, Kin's knowledge of his techniques reduced him to elite jōnin tier.
And the current Kin?
He wasn't someone an elite jōnin could casually overpower.
Did they think his Golden Finger was just for show?
Kakuzu, however, had no intention of backing down. Leaked intel was dangerous. His fists shot forward, propelled by black threads.
Kin's foot tapped the ground, and in an instant, he closed the distance, spinning into a whip-like kick aimed at Kakuzu's side.
The next moment, black threads surged from Kakuzu's body, coiling around Kin's leg and binding him tightly.
"Looks like it's over," Kakuzu declared.
"I wouldn't be so sure."
With a poof, Kin's body dissolved into white smoke, replaced by several explosive tags. A deafening boom followed as the blast reduced Kakuzu's form to dust.
Earth Clone Technique.
The two reappeared a short distance apart, facing off once more.
"You're no ordinary opponent," Kakuzu muttered as black threads danced around him.
Kin drew the Kusanagi Sword from his waist. "How about we stick to talking?"
He really didn't want to fight a battle he couldn't win.
But Kakuzu had already finished weaving hand signs.
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
His arms turned pitch-black, elongating as they shot toward Kin. Kin blocked one with his sword, sparks flying as metal met thread, while the other fist curved around for a second strike.
"Guess we're doing this," Kin sighed. He closed his eyes, and as the second fist closed in, he vanished with a Shave, reappearing to Kakuzu's left. When he opened his eyes again, they gleamed crimson, three tomoe spinning slowly.
"An Uchiha? From Konoha."
Kakuzu swung his arms, the elongated limbs lashing out. They coiled around Kin's body, but the boy offered no resistance. From Kakuzu's back, a masked creature of black threads emerged, its maw opening to gather crackling lightning.
At that moment, Kakuzu noticed Kin's smirk.
Damn it.
"You looked into my eyes," Kin said, grinning.
Kakuzu's vision twisted. Suddenly, he found his own fists wrapped around his body, the masked creature's False Darkness technique now aimed at him.
"Sharingan genjutsu!"
He forced the creature to disperse the lightning and retracted his arms, glaring at Uchiha Kin.
"I may not be your match, but I can certainly make you pay a steep price. Shall we continue, Kakuzu?"
Kin had exploited Kakuzu's arrogance—with five lives to spare, the man hadn't been cautious enough against the Sharingan.
The masked creature retreated into Kakuzu's body.
"Once you have a bounty, I'll come for you."
Kakuzu understood now. This boy, though young, wasn't an opponent to be taken lightly. Without a reward on the line, fighting further would be a waste.
"Kakuzu, I plan to let you manage all the money I earn in the future."
The words made Kakuzu pause. He turned back, studying the boy again.
Kin's strength was impressive for his age—jōnin-level prowess, combined with the Sharingan, placed him firmly above the average shinobi. His attitude, too, was unlike most ninjas. People like him were usually ambitious.
A talented, promising youth with room to grow…
Perhaps he was worth investing in.
"Explain in detail," Kakuzu said, stepping closer.
...
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(End of Chapter)