"Uh..."
Recalling the past Hidden Rain Village and the days when the Akatsuki Organization still operated in secrecy, before becoming universally despised.
If the Hidden Rain Village used to be an unremarkable face lost in a crowd, now...
Thanks to the efforts of her disciple, Uchiha Hikari felt the village had turned into a blazing "firebrand." Spouting phrases like 'The Path of Cultivation lies beneath your feet' or 'How many floors must one carry a bag of rice?' before charging into a crowded place.
Thinking about it, she found it hard to keep a straight face.
For a moment, Uchiha Hikari didn't know how to explain. She pursed her lips, shrugged, and spread her hands in resignation.
"So, what do you suggest we do?"
"I..."
Konan wanted to say something, but Nagato's chuunibyou declarations echoed from outside, and the worn-out rubber shoes beneath her feet made her swallow her words.
Despite the countless thoughts swirling in her mind, all she could muster was a long, heavy sigh.
"Where's Uchiha Kaito!?"
"Where has he run off to now!?"
Konan looked around, but the boy was nowhere in sight. Anger flared in her chest, mixed with worry that he might be up to no good again.
"He said he went with Kakuzu to recruit students."
"No idea where exactly."
Hikari's words sent Konan into another frenzy. After venting her frustration with a few shouts backstage, she unfurled her Paper Wings and took to the skies, scanning the outskirts of the Hidden Rain Village for Uchiha Kaito.
Little did she know, someone's recruitment efforts were never limited to just the Hidden Rain Village...
"Kakuzu, listen—when we sell those spy slots later, gouge them for all they're worth."
At that very moment, Kaito and Kakuzu were crouched on a bustling street in the Land of Fire.
Kakuzu had to crouch, or else Kaito's height wouldn't allow him to sling an arm over his shoulder, hindering their recruitment efforts.
Lurking nearby were numerous disguised shinobi from Konoha and other villages.A few minutes ago, they had just posted the Enrollment Brochure for Amegakure's Cultivation Academy in the Land of Fire. Within three minutes, the street they were on began to fill with people.
As for why Kaito was working with Outer Elder Kakuzu...
It was all to complete the System Lord's mission.
[Mission: Accompany the Outer Elder to recruit 10 disciples from the mortal world and use this opportunity to expand the Sect's influence.]
[Rewards: One Low-Grade Spirit Stone Mine, +100% to Outer Elder's resource acquisition ability.]
When Kaito first saw these two rewards, he couldn't even muster the motivation to come out and work on the mission with Kakuzu. But after clicking into the rewards to check the detailed descriptions...
Kaito could only admit he had been far too negligent.
Cultivation, grinding missions—he absolutely loved this kind of thing.
Among the rewards, the Low-Grade Spirit Stone Mine had three small words written beside it: 'Upgradeable.' As for the Outer Elder's bonus...
In other words, from now on, he and Nagato would have the authority to assign missions to Kakuzu in exchange for Spirit Stones.
And the cost?
Merely converting the money Kakuzu earned into Spirit Stones.
The exchange rate was roughly one Asuma for one Low-Grade Spirit Stone.
Whether Kakuzu would be happy about this reward, Kaito didn't know. But he was certain Nagato would go wild with joy upon learning Kakuzu could earn Spirit Stones.
Still unaware that he might not make much money in the future, Kakuzu remained immersed in the delight of earning alongside his boss.
For Uchiha Kaito to proactively suggest selling spots in the village's school to outsiders...
An act equivalent to betraying the village—Kakuzu could only say his boss's tolerance was truly vast.
Of course, Kakuzu didn't know that the only place in the entire Shinobi World suitable for Cultivation was Amegakure.
"Boss, I am the Kunai and Shuriken in your hands! Wherever you throw me, I'll fly!"
Kakuzu rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming green, every pore on his body radiating unwavering loyalty.
But instead of feeling even slightly pleased, Kaito's brow twitched at the man's words, his gaze repeatedly darting to the mission in the System.
Don't mess this up!
We're on a mission here!!
Kaito took a deep breath and forcefully patted Kakuzu's shoulder, his tone laced with displeasure.
"Outside, you must address me as the Progenitor's Disciple or Martial Uncle!"
"?"
Even the ever-loyal Kakuzu froze for a moment at the strange title—though it lasted less than a second before he caught on.
"Yes! Martial Uncle!"
A weird title...
But who cared?
As long as he could make money, he'd call Uchiha Kaito anything.
"Let's go. First, we need to change our outfits."
Glancing at the gathering spies around them, then at Kakuzu's attire—which looked like something a sewer rat would wear—Kaito saw no trace of the grandeur befitting an immortal Sect descending to recruit disciples.
"Ah? No need, right?"
Kakuzu immediately grew wary. He looked down at his clothes, even touching the headband on his head. He'd worn this stylish outfit for decades and saw no issue with it.
"Boss, I think this is fine as it is."
"And... I didn't bring any money with me."
Kaito: "..."
He was truly done with this money-grubbing bastard. One moment, the man was pledging loyalty, swearing obedience—the next, he was pulling this stunt.
Kaito rolled his eyes on the spot. "I'll pay for it!"
"Hehe... Martial Uncle, that's not what I meant."Kakuzu chuckled darkly and immediately dragged Kaito toward a nearby barbershop, looking even more impatient than the boy himself.
At that moment, Asuma, who had been watching from around the corner, pulled his head back and spoke to his subordinates in a seasoned tone.
"Today, I'll give you all a lesson—since you're my subordinates."
Click—
He deftly lit a cigarette, took a few deep drags, exhaled with satisfaction, and then continued explaining the key points of intelligence gathering to the three of them.
"Don't think this mission is just about gathering intel. Sometimes, carelessness can cost you your life."
Their current mission was to collect information on Amegakure within the Shinobi World. Since infiltration wasn't required, the mission was only ranked C-level.
What gave Asuma a headache, however…
Was that his three subordinates looked as listless as frostbitten eggplants. No matter what happened, it was nearly impossible to spark their interest.
And just now…
The experienced Asuma had immediately recognized the infamous Kakuzu.
He figured it was time to showcase his intelligence-gathering skills to impress his freshly graduated subordinates.
After sternly warning them, Asuma tilted his head toward Shikamaru in the corner.
"Shikamaru, tell me what you've noticed."
Shikamaru, however, seemed not to hear him at all, staring blankly at the bizarre thing in his hands—
"Amegakure Cultivation Academy First Enrollment Brochure"
He recognized every single word, but when put together, they formed something utterly incomprehensible.
"Hmm, lacking experience, huh?"
Seeing Shikamaru's dazed expression, Asuma's face briefly showed disappointment before he chuckled and cleared his throat with a cough.
"If I had to guess…"
"Amegakure must be planning to expand its shinobi forces."
"And then there's…"
Asuma's analysis was highly professional, covering everything from the village's economic strength to cultural and military factors.
After about ten minutes, Shikamaru expressionlessly flipped the brochure around and pointed at its contents.
"Nice analysis, Asuma-sensei."
"But could you first tell us what this is?"
Asuma: ?
Being abruptly interrupted by his subordinate left Asuma feeling awkward, but he still glanced at the item in Shikamaru's hands.
"…Huh?"
"Amegakure Cultivation Academy First Enrollment Brochure…?"
"What the hell is this?!"
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