"Why are you looking at me like that? Can you cut it out with the resentful eyes?" Diarmuid turned back to look at Kakuzu, speaking with a light laugh.
Kakuzu shook his head and sighed. "I'm starting to think you were right."
"About what?" Diarmuid asked, a bit puzzled. Did I say something weird recently?
"About you being an alien," Kakuzu deadpanned.
"Hahaha!" Diarmuid burst into laughter. "In that case, if you stick with me, won't there be even more opportunities to make a fortune?"
"Why else do you think I'm following you?" Kakuzu allowed a small smile.
Somehow, the sense of distance created by the sheer gap in their power dissipated. Diarmuid was indeed strong enough to be called a freak now, but compared to before, he hadn't changed at all. There was none of that "growing stronger and becoming arrogant" or "drifting away from old friends" vibe that one might fear.
In truth, Kakuzu's concern was groundless. The reason was simple: Diarmuid had already stood at the pinnacle of the world once before. His mindset had long since been tempered; he was still the same Diarmuid.
Currently, while he might not claim to be the absolute strongest in the Naruto world yet, he was merely on the path to returning to the top. Why would his temperament change?
While Diarmuid and Kakuzu chatted happily, Jūzō was writhing around on the back of the water buffalo. He was practically screaming for them to notice him and let him down so he could officially pledge his allegiance.
However, Diarmuid and Kakuzu had clearly forgotten about him for a moment.
It wasn't until the water buffalo vanished with a poof, likely because Yagura remembered to release the Summoning Jutsu, that Jūzō tumbled to the ground, prompting Diarmuid and Kakuzu to react.
Kakuzu quickly stepped forward and unraveled the bandages wrapped around Jūzō.
"BOSS!!!"
The moment his mouth was free, Jūzō let out a high-pitched, enthusiastic roar. The shout startled Diarmuid; for a split second, he almost thought he heard "Pops!"
Wait, I didn't grow a white beard like Edward Newgate, did I?
"I won't mince words! From today on, you're my Boss! I absolutely have to join the Yorozuya, even if I have to start as a janitor!" Jūzō said excitedly.
He understood his situation perfectly. By defecting from Kirigakure, he was now an S-Rank Rogue Ninja. Being an S-Rank criminal wasn't as glamorous or easy as it sounded.
For someone whose strength wasn't world-shattering, it was actually quite dangerous. Kirigakure would undoubtedly send elite pursuit squads to eliminate him. The better he lived and the more famous he became in the shinobi world, the more it would prove the Mist's incompetence. They would want him dead as soon as possible.
But if he could follow Diarmuid and join the Yorozuya, his future looked bright, and his personal safety would be effectively guaranteed. Jūzō wasn't an idiot; he could see that the Fourth Mizukage had fled so quickly because he was intimidated by Diarmuid's monstrous strength.
Once Yagura returned to the village, he likely wouldn't consider provoking Diarmuid or the Yorozuya again anytime soon. By extension, Jūzō himself might be overlooked. He even suspected Yagura would be more worried about Diarmuid coming to bother Kirigakure...
Diarmuid looked at Jūzō with slight surprise and mused, "I guess I'm finally getting that 'Protagonist Treatment,' huh?"
Isn't this how the stories go? My presence shakes the world, and Biwa Jūzō bows his head in submission!
"Pipa Hanzo... uh, Biwa Jūzō, are you sure you've thought this through?" Kakuzu asked.
"Of course! If nothing else, I'm a man of honor. The Boss saved my life; my life belongs to him now!" Jūzō declared. After a brief pause, he looked at Kakuzu hesitantly. "If I have to, I'll even change my name to Pipa Hanzo!"
Hanzo sounds pretty imposing anyway. Who knows, maybe I'll become a "Demigod" someday too?
Kakuzu blinked, feeling a bit embarrassed. Although he was a founding member of the Yorozuya, he wasn't in the habit of bullying newcomers. He shook his head. "I'll try to remember your name, Biwa Jūzō."
But his tone shifted instantly. "By the way, even if you join the Yorozuya, don't forget the money you owe me from this commission's reward..."
Jūzō: "???"
"Hey, when you left me behind to run away earlier, didn't you say I didn't have to pay you back anymore?" Jūzō asked incredulously.
"But didn't I come back to save you later?" Kakuzu replied with a straight face.
"But the one who saved me was the Boss! You just stood eight hundred miles away and watched the show without throwing a single shuriken!" Jūzō argued logically.
Perhaps the mention of "eight hundred miles away" and "shuriken" struck a nerve with Kakuzu. His eyes narrowed, and he said sinisterly, "Are you sure you want to talk to me like that?"
"What are you gonna do about it?" Jūzō said, acting a bit cocky. While he stood in awe of Diarmuid, he wasn't that intimidated by this money-grubbing bastard Kakuzu. After all, Jūzō was still one of Kirigakure's top combatants...
"Do you know any place nearby that sells swords?" Kakuzu asked suddenly.
Jūzō's bravado vanished instantly. "Big brother! Big brother! I was out of line! I'll definitely pay you back the money I owe!"
"No one owes a debt to Kakuzu and gets away with it, not even a dead man!" Kakuzu emphasized once more. However, he quickly handed over the scroll containing the sealed Kubikiribōchō to Jūzō. "Consider this a rental. You'll pay me back later, with interest..."
Jūzō nodded at first, then sighed helplessly. "Where am I supposed to get that much money?"
"Speaking of which, there is a second option," Kakuzu said, his lips curling into the smile of a cunning merchant.
"What option?" Jūzō asked.
"It's like this. Currently, our Yorozuya only has four members. You would be the fifth..." Kakuzu explained.
"Only five? The Boss is this strong, and he only has four underlings?" Jūzō was shocked. In his mind, someone like Diarmuid should just raise his hand and have a horde of the shinobi world's outlaws flocking to crown him as the Underworld Emperor! Why only four?
Diarmuid nodded with a smile, confirming Kakuzu was telling the truth.
Kakuzu gave Jūzō a look of pure disdain. "Do you think the Yorozuya is just some random place? Do you think just anyone can join? To put it bluntly, you've already lowered our organization's average. In other words, you're the absolute minimum standard we accept."
Jūzō: "???"
"I take offense to that! I am one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! I have quite a reputation in the shinobi world! What do you mean I'm 'lowering the average'?" Jūzō barked, clearly offended.
"Are you stronger than me?" Kakuzu asked bluntly.
"I..." Jūzō was an honest man at heart. While he didn't respect Kakuzu's personality, claiming he was stronger than Kakuzu would be a blatant lie.
Seeing him silent, Kakuzu continued, "I don't need to mention Diarmuid, do I?"
"Hmph. What about the other two?" Jūzō asked, still unconvinced.
"One of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, Orochimaru. Are you sure you're better than him?" Kakuzu countered.
Jūzō froze. Then he asked, "Does this organization have any normal people?"
Diarmuid and Kakuzu: "???"
How the hell are you talking? What do you mean "normal people"?Are we not normal?Is Orochimaru normal?
"What's that supposed to mean?" Diarmuid asked, dissatisfied.
Jūzō realized he had misspoke and quickly clarified, "No, I mean... does the Yorozuya have any regular, legitimate shinobi?"
"Of course we do," Diarmuid replied matter-of-factly.
Jūzō muttered under his breath, "I thought we were all outlaws..." Then he nodded. "Fine, I admit I'm a step below the Sannin. Who's the last one?"
"Sasori of the Red Sand, the man who killed the Third Kazekage," Kakuzu said directly.
Jūzō: "..."
Good grief. He really couldn't compare to that.
Even though Sunagakure often felt like the weakest of the Five Great Nations, it was still one of the Five Great Hidden Villages. Sasori had taken down the Third Kazekage, while Jūzō had been chased like a dog by the Fourth Mizukage and nearly died. How could he even compete?
After accurately understanding that the Yorozuya was a small organization composed entirely of "Big Shots," Jūzō deeply accepted the reality that he was the "little brother" of the group.
Seeing that Jūzō's arrogance had been crushed, Kakuzu nodded in satisfaction. "Don't worry. The Yorozuya has many benefits. We basically share resources; your strength will improve significantly very soon... but let's get back to the topic at hand."
Jūzō was much more humble now. "Understood."
"Currently, including you, there are five of us. Our division of labor is clear. Diarmuid is the leader and our primary combat power. His only goal is to find ways to get stronger. That is his responsibility as the leader," Kakuzu explained.
Jūzō thought this made sense. The shinobi world was ultimately a place where the strong were respected. For example, the concept of a "Kage" required the strongest in the village to take the seat; virtue alone wasn't enough. As the leader, Diarmuid's goal was to become even stronger, even "monstrously" so, because the stronger he was, the better he could protect the Yorozuya.
"Orochimaru is mainly in charge of research; he's our scientific lead. Sasori is also dabbling in that area, but currently, he focuses more on intelligence work," Kakuzu continued.
Jūzō nodded seriously. To join an organization, one had to understand how it functioned.
"As for me, I oversee the finances," Kakuzu said with a hint of pride.
Jūzō nodded and then asked, "And me?"
"That brings us back to the debt. I handle the finances, so naturally, I need to make more money. Sometimes doing missions alone isn't efficient enough. So, you will team up with me. All the money we earn will be given to me until your debt is paid off," Kakuzu stated flatly.
Jūzō blinked. So... I'm just a tool?
"What do you think?" Kakuzu asked.
Jūzō thought about it. It felt like being a "tool," but it was fair and logical. As the newest and weakest member, he couldn't expect to be a big shot right away.
"Fine!" Jūzō gritted his teeth. Then he added, "But don't you think the organization is a bit short-handed?"
Jūzō's logic was simple: Right now, I'm the lowest on the totem pole.But that's fine! If I work hard to recruit people, I'll become a "Senior" in no time!Then I'll be a big shot!It helps the Yorozuya grow and raises my status, it's a win-win!
"Oh? Do you have any good candidates in mind? Let me tell you first, as Kakuzu said, the Yorozuya doesn't just take anyone..." Diarmuid said, sounding interested.
Jūzō nodded. "Kirigakure is a great target. Honestly, more and more shinobi in the village can't stand the 'Bloody Mist' anymore. Even among us, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, it's the same..."
Diarmuid nodded. Well, you defected, so that's obvious!
After a moment of thought, Diarmuid said, "Keep an eye on that. Report back if you find anyone suitable."
He stretched and added, "Let's go. No use standing around here. Let's find a place to settle down for a bit."
———————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over here ——— pa-tre-on.c-om/AlexandrusTL [remove the hyphen for normal access]