Chapter 184 - Akatsuki's God of Wealth!!!
Land of Fire
Onsen Town
With an expression that screamed "I'm not happy," Kazane strolled down the streets of Onsen Town, trailed by Jiriku, who wore a rosy, contented grin.
After learning that Kurenai Yuhi had gone with her father, Shinkō Yuhi, on an escort mission to the Land of Waves, Kazane couldn't help but feel disappointed. Still, a mission was a mission—it had to be done.
Originally, he had planned to go alone. But under Jiriku's relentless pleading, he finally gave in. After all, their destination was a tourist hotspot, and bringing a porter wasn't a bad idea with all the luggage they needed.
Following intel from ANBU, Kazane and Jiriku arrived at the place Hiruko had last been spotted—Onsen Town, a famous resort nestled at the border of the Land of Fire and a tri-nation junction.
Thanks to Konoha's growing strength, Onsen Town thrived under its protection. Its vibrant economy, fueled by volcanic springs, made it a favored retreat for aristocrats from across nations.
Despite the raw power ninjas held in the shinobi world, those who lived the most lavish lives were not the ninjas themselves—but the nobles who controlled money and influence.
For centuries, even the most ruthless rogue ninjas avoided harming nobles unless absolutely necessary. Attacking the elite would make them pariahs, hunted not just by shinobi but even shunned by ordinary society.
Some aristocrats in certain nations held authority equivalent to—or greater than—the leaders of major ninja villages. Many even looked down upon the "rough" shinobi class.
The hot springs of Onsen Town were famous across the continent. With a constant temperature of 49.9°C, the mineral-rich waters and gray mud were prized for their beautifying properties.
Noble ladies, desperate for flawless skin, were frequent visitors.
Even the famous lecherous sage Jiraiya had once lingered here for months, charmed by the scenery—and the inspiration it offered his writing.
"Boss, what should we eat later?" Jiriku chirped as they passed a roasted lamb shop. "Back when I was in the monastery, the abbot and monks always said the lamb here was the best in the shinobi world."
"There's an old saying: 'You haven't truly lived if you haven't eaten Onsen Town lamb.'"
Clearly, Jiriku was hungry and fishing for a treat.
Kazane, still sour from his ruined date plans, didn't intend to respond. But a strange question suddenly crossed his mind:
Wait… monks can eat meat?
He almost asked aloud, but then saw the sly glint in Jiriku's eyes—an obvious setup.
Kazane sighed with a mix of frustration and amusement. This sneaky monk always trying to trick me… He nearly got baited into walking straight into a lamb shop.
Just then, a tall, oddly dressed man walked past them. His appearance and aura triggered a strange sense of familiarity in Kazane—like he had seen him before.
What stood out most was his chakra—it was as powerful as Jiriku's, maybe even stronger. Yet the quality of it was… messy. It felt like several different souls had been fused together.
"Come on, monk."
Intrigued, Kazane led Jiriku after the mysterious man.
Never one to sneak around, Kazane walked up boldly and called out, "Hey! You up ahead—hold up a second!"
The man, hearing Kazane's voice, clearly sensed someone approaching.
But to Kazane's surprise, instead of turning around, the man quickened his pace—clearly trying to avoid him.
Rather than backing off, this only piqued Kazane's interest further.
He definitely recognized me, Kazane thought.
Kazane didn't consider himself some bloodthirsty demon. But if someone ran just from seeing him, they either were an enemy—or held ill intentions toward Konoha.
He picked up his pace. In response, the tall man broke into a full sprint.
And so, the three began a chase through Onsen Town.
The vacationing nobles, seasoned enough to spot danger, quickly made way for them.
This chase continued until Kazane grew bored and used a burst of speed to cut the man off. The man had no choice but to stop.
Wearing a black mask, he rasped, pretending innocence. "Friend, why are you chasing me?"
Kazane narrowed his eyes. "Why am I chasing you? Shouldn't I be asking—why were you running?"
"I only ran because you were chasing me! Imagine walking down the street and someone starts charging after you. Wouldn't you run? I thought you were after my money!"
He played dumb convincingly, feigning complete unfamiliarity.
But Kazane wasn't fooled.
This man was Kakuzu, who had just finished a mission in the local black market and was preparing to leave the Land of Fire.
Kakuzu had recognized Kazane instantly. His signature outfit and the three swords at his waist were unmistakable. Any experienced ninja could identify him at a glance.
Kakuzu panicked.
It had been decades since he last set foot in the Land of Fire—ever since his fateful clash with the man hailed as the strongest of his time.
He hadn't intended to return. But a bounty had drawn him into Rain Country, and when his target fled into Fire Country, he had no choice but to follow.
After eliminating the target, he originally planned to avoid towns entirely. Fire Country was too risky.
Kakuzu had spent years building a personal information network in the black market—one reason he'd risen to infamy.
So he knew very well how dangerous Konoha had become.
Just two months ago, Kazane had severed both an arm and a leg from Ōnoki during the Chūnin Exams in the Hidden Mist. Not only did Iwagakure not retaliate—they sealed off their borders completely in fear.
Kakuzu considered himself a man who once fought Hashirama to a standstill. But that didn't mean he was deluded about his current abilities.
Kazane now had a reputation that rivaled that man. Unlike Hashirama, though, Kazane didn't seem nearly as merciful.
And Konoha wasn't short on monsters—besides Kazane, they had the Three Sannin, the legendary Hiruzen Sarutobi, Yellow Flash Minato Namikaze, and the fearsome Uchiha Fugaku.
For a rogue ninja, lingering here was practically suicidal.
But the nearest black market drop-off was two days away. His target's bounty wasn't even that high—using a rare sealing scroll just to store the corpse had felt like a waste.
Greed won out. He cashed in here.
Only to run into the deadliest person on the continent.
Kazane—the only top-tier ninja in the world without a bounty.
Not because no one wanted him dead. On the contrary, there were enough people to form a line from Fire Country to Water Country—probably filling the ocean on the way.
But placing a bounty on him was pointless. No one dared take that contract, and the fees would just gather dust in the black market coffers.
Kakuzu had hoped to quietly slip away unnoticed.
But Kazane had chased him down.
When several attempts to shake him failed, Kakuzu had little choice but to stall—and feign ignorance.
But Jiriku had had enough.
He'd had a bad feeling the moment they started running after this guy. That his dreams of roasted lamb would be ruined.
Now they were almost out of town, and reality had confirmed his fears.
When the masked man had the gall to pretend it was a misunderstanding, Jiriku's temper flared.
Misunderstanding? I'll show you a misunderstanding!
With a loud grunt, Jiriku suddenly appeared behind Kakuzu and unleashed a full-powered blow to the small of his back.
Jiriku's Secret Technique: Liver-Breaking Strike!
Kakuzu sensed the movement but didn't expect such a dishonorable ambush. Caught off guard, he was blasted ten meters away, crashing into a tree and crumpling at its base.
His twisted body looked… very dead.
"Monk, what the hell are you doing?!"
Kazane was annoyed. He hadn't even figured out who the man was yet, and now he might be dead.
Kazane sighed. Bringing this guy was a mistake. Should've left him at home to tend the fields. Spring planting's almost over, and the Hatake family farm still needs work.
"Boss, look—!"
Jiriku pointed at the tree in shock.
Kazane turned to look—and finally remembered who that man was.
Kakuzu—the legendary ninja who once fought the First Hokage.
The man who, from 800 meters away, once distracted Hashirama Senju with a single thrown shuriken, letting him slip away.
The man officially recognized as having lived the longest in ninja history—nicknamed Akatsuki's God of Wealth.
Kazane even suspected that when Konan launched her six hundred billion explosive tags at Obito, she'd dipped into Kakuzu's private vault to fund it.
After all, with the Earth Grudge Fear technique granting him near-immortality, Kakuzu had amassed wealth since the First Hokage's era. Just how much money he'd hoarded was anyone's guess.
---
Kakuzu, slammed into the tree, realized escape was no longer possible.
He assumed Kazane had recognized him and come specifically to deal with him.
What baffled him was that someone as powerful as Kazane would need to ambush him. Was Kazane's reputation overblown?
Kakuzu knew full well how inflated such legends could be—he himself had been the subject of countless exaggerations.
Now, he suspected Kazane might be the same.
He revealed his true form—jet-black, grotesque tendrils stitched his body back together, and four masked, humanoid creatures emerged from the shadows around him.
"You must know who I am, brat. The last Leaf ninja I fought was your First Hokage."
His voice echoed ominously.
Kakuzu had split into five components—but he still hoped to avoid a fight. He wasn't eager to die after living so long.
Seeing his terrifying form and the dark energy swirling around him, Jiriku had no doubt the man was telling the truth.
"What?! You fought the First Hokage?!" Jiriku stared at his own hands in disbelief.
"Am I really that strong now? I just knocked out someone who fought Lord Hashirama!"
But Kazane—who knew the truth—didn't waste words.
Seeing Kakuzu take up an offensive stance, he felt a spark of anticipation.
It had been a long time since his last real fight.
"One sword style: Thirty Six Pound Phoenix!!!"
With the swift draw of his sword Wado Ichimonji, Kazane unleashed spinning, flying blades of chakra toward Kakuzu.
Earth Style: Earth Spear Rebound!!!
Kakuzu didn't hesitate. He formed hand signs, raising a massive slab of rock from the ground to intercept the attacks.
His masked hearts readied their own composite jutsu.
Boom!!!
Kazane's flying slashes collided with Kakuzu's earth wall with a deafening roar. Smoke and dust erupted, shrouding Kazane's vision.