"He's so small, yet he defeated the pirate trio! Just how powerful is he? I really want to know!"
"Shh, let's just eat slowly here. In a bit, we'll hear everything…"
With that, the entire restaurant became even more lively. Word spread quickly throughout the port town that the child who had defeated the pirates was right here in Shinryu Restaurant.
Soon enough, not only was the first-floor hall packed with people, but even the second floor filled instantly. Even the doorway and windows were crowded with onlookers, all eager to catch a glimpse of this legendary boy and wondering what kind of person he truly was.
Kurein and Naoki also arrived at the restaurant. The owner prepared three large tables especially for them. Everyone gathered together, eating and drinking, celebrating their narrow escape from disaster.
Shigeo's deeds were exaggerated further with each retelling, drawing applause and admiration until late into the night, when at last the crowd dispersed.
After saying farewell, Shigeo left the port town.
Even though he was still very young, he had been forced to drink some alcohol that night. Luckily, Uncle Naoki helped block a lot for him, otherwise he would have long since passed out.
On the empty streets, the sea breeze blew gently, cool and refreshing. Shigeo staggered along, eyes hazy as he looked around, thinking carefully about his destination, then smiling faintly.
In the darkness, atop a tall utility pole, stood a towering figure. His gaze was deep, his pupils glowed a faint green. A thick white hood covered his head, and tied around his forehead was a scratched forehead protector of Takigakure—the mark of a missing-nin.
He wore a black cloak patterned with red clouds. The sea wind lifted its hem, revealing sharp blackened fingernails.
Beneath the pole, another shadowy figure asked from the darkness, "Shall we act, Kakuzu?"
The other man's voice was hoarse—he was a new recruit of Akatsuki.
"My name isn't something you can just call."
Kakuzu despised partners. The two previously assigned to him had both been killed by his own hand. Yet, for some reason, Akatsuki's leader insisted he work in pairs, even assigning him a useless burden. If this fool dared test him again, he would make sure the man understood the price of being a nuisance.
The newcomer fell silent at once. He had already heard the rumors—this man was dangerous. One wrong move and his life would be forfeit. Though he himself was strong enough to be admitted into Akatsuki, until he understood Kakuzu's abilities, he wouldn't act rashly. Know yourself and your enemy—only then can you win a hundred battles.
He had to live longer than Kakuzu.
Shigeo seemed to hear faint sounds, but more than that, he just wanted to find a quiet spot in the wild to sleep.
Half-dazed, he ignored the noises and continued out of town. Had he not run into the crew of the Conch earlier, he could've stayed at an inn. But after meeting them, he chose to leave early—better than being stuck tomorrow.
Outside the town, he leapt up a tree and quickly fell asleep on a thick branch.
By the time Kakuzu and his partner approached, what they saw was a child drooling and muttering in his sleep, sprawled carelessly on the branch.
"This is the boy ranked top three on the black market bounty list? Thirty million if alive, twenty million if dead?" The new Akatsuki recruit, a strong white-haired man with a scratched forehead protector, frowned.
Kakuzu's brow creased. With one motion, he grabbed Shigeo in his hand. Yet the boy showed no resistance, no reaction at all. That wasn't what the rumors had suggested.
"Let's take him for the reward, then?" the partner said again.
Kakuzu's brow furrowed even deeper. "You talk too much. I don't give anyone a third chance…"
As soon as he spoke, black tendrils of Jiongu (Earth Grudge Fear) erupted from his body. In an instant, they stabbed into his partner's flesh, then with a violent pull, tore him into pieces. The corpse was tossed aside.
"Akatsuki's standards are falling. Someone like this doesn't deserve to be here." A partner who couldn't even withstand one strike had no right to fight alongside him. If one wanted to team with Kakuzu, the first requirement was to survive his attack.
"This makes the third one…" he muttered—his third partner killed within Akatsuki.
Retracting his threads, Kakuzu slung Shigeo over his shoulder and began walking toward the mountains.
When Shigeo awoke, he was lying on a large rock. Rubbing his eyes, he looked around. "Eh? So it wasn't a dream?"
Last night, he had dreamed of being captured. Only now did he realize it had really happened. He decided he should never drink again—what if he were killed in his sleep without knowing?
Turning his head, he saw a man seated cross-legged on a nearby boulder.
A cold wind blew, sending chills up Shigeo's spine. That man was Kakuzu—one half of Akatsuki's infamous Immortal Duo.
Shigeo's eyes darted. His partner Hidan was probably still somewhere, living a boring life as a child. That meant Kakuzu was alone here. Looking around carefully, Shigeo saw no other Akatsuki members nearby.
"The pirate trio's treasure is with you, isn't it? Hand it over!" Kakuzu's reason for not immediately delivering Shigeo to the black market was simple—he suspected the treasure was on him.
The commotion Shigeo caused yesterday had not escaped Kakuzu's notice. Responsible for Akatsuki's finances, Kakuzu valued money above all. Where others saw a prodigy slaying pirates, Kakuzu thought only of the loot. That was why he had patiently waited for Shigeo to wake naturally.
Shigeo looked at him, then glanced around stubbornly. "I don't have any money!"
"You're stubborn. If you don't hand it over, I have a hundred ways to kill you…" Kakuzu's eyes glowed a cold green as his threads lashed forward.
He intended to strangle Shigeo's neck and force him to speak. But to his surprise, the boy slipped away in a flash. Kakuzu immediately leapt to pursue.
Even without the treasure, this boy was worth thirty million. A top-three bounty on the black market could not be allowed to escape.
As he ran, Shigeo muttered frantically, "No, system, I don't want to copy that guy's ability. Reject, reject…"
Just moments earlier, his system had asked if he wanted to mirror-copy Kakuzu's powers. But Shigeo refused—he had no interest in such a grotesque ninjutsu.
(End of Chapter)
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