"What?!"
The moment he heard money, Kakuzu felt like he could do this again—like he was "back."
But when he remembered Hanzo's methods, a chill still crawled up his spine.
Kakuzu thought for a moment, then squinted.
"You're not going to screw me over, are you?"
Hanzo was terrifying—but there was no helping it. The price he was offering was simply too much.
Fine. One last deal with Hanzo… and I'll be the one to fleece him this time.
If he actually pulled it off, that sense of achievement… he could die happy.
"Ahem. It's not impossible," Kakuzu said, "but you need to understand—this isn't assassinating one person. It's an entire unit. Even at my peak, that wouldn't be easy."
"And besides…"
His green eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, I'm a missing-nin from Takigakure. But when I left, I already killed everyone who had a grudge with me."
"You do know Takigakure is my hometown, right?"
Hanzo: "!!!!!!"
"They were my beloved family and friends… my brothers-in-arms…"
"So you'll have to add—"
Before Kakuzu could finish that last word, Hanzo's sickle was already at his throat.
Cold sweat instantly poured down Kakuzu's back.
"So that's how it is." Hanzo's voice turned icy. "Kakuzu… looks like I have to deal with you."
Kakuzu's expression went to hell. Like a machine, he slowly turned his head to look at Hanzo.
"You should understand—I'm about to fight Takigakure's forces." Hanzo said, sounding genuinely wounded.
"I thought you had a blood-deep grudge against them. You've heard my plan."
"And I even invited you sincerely… and this is what I get?"
Hanzo clutched his chest dramatically, as if in heartbreak.
"So you're living in my camp but your heart is still with them—still treating Takigakure like flesh and blood."
"Sorry. My plan can't leak. Even if I treat you like a family… we can't afford risks."
"So you'll have to sacrifice yourself."
Kakuzu, you idiot. You really tried to out-swindle Hanzo…
Kakuzu said in a low voice, "N-no… Demigod, you misunderstood."
"My beloved family and brothers-in-arms… are the ones I personally killed."
"What I meant is—if you're taking me to slaughter Takigakure, I'm ten thousand times willing. Who needs payment?!"
Kakuzu understood something very important with Hanzo:
As long as you're not losing money, you're already winning big.
Hanzo paused.
"…"
All the lines he'd prepared suddenly got stuck in his throat.
This guy… gets it.
Hanzo withdrew the sickle and spoke in a surprisingly warm tone.
"Then I misunderstood you."
"Next time, don't say things like that. It causes trouble."
Whatever. Consider it "heart maintenance," Kakuzu comforted himself bitterly.
Then Kakuzu asked, "But even after fighting Iwa once, Takigakure still has plenty of troops. How are you planning to deal with them?"
"Hehehe—" Hanzo narrowed his eyes at Kakuzu. "That's where you come in."
That smile made Kakuzu's blood run cold.
"I have a jutsu—one that wiped out the entire Fire Country border line and dealt with several thousand Konoha troops."
"You've heard of it, right?"
Kakuzu nodded. "You want to use that?"
"Exactly." Hanzo said.
"But there's a problem—Takigakure's forces are scattered. If they stay spread out, the effect won't be ideal."
"You're not seriously telling me to do it, are you?!"
Hanzo patted Kakuzu's shoulder like they were old friends.
"Think about it. Takigakure suddenly finds their S-rank missing-nin—injured, no less."
"Do you really think they'll let that go?"
Hanzo smiled.
"This job can only be done by you."
"Hold it." Kakuzu's voice sharpened. "With the range of your jutsu, no one besides you can escape. You're not planning to blow me up too, are you?!"
"Relax. Why would I target you?" Hanzo said.
"And Takigakure isn't worth using the full version anyway. They're getting the "restricted" version—nowhere near the destructive power I used at the Fire Country border."
Kakuzu felt even more uneasy. "Tell me the truth. How strong is it right now?"
Hanzo hesitated.
"…About a quarter of what it was back then."
He sounded a little embarrassed. Blowing Kakuzu up would be awkward—especially when that man still had plenty of assets.
Hanzo cleared his throat.
"Honestly, you could just use a Shadow Clone too. There are plenty of ways to lure them."
"…"
In the end, Kakuzu nodded.
"Fine. But you'll have to wait until I recover. I need to merge back with my main body and replenish my hearts."
"Good." Hanzo said. "Three days from now—east of Takigakure's forces. We meet there."
"Deal."
The second the words left his mouth, Kakuzu bolted.
At this point, he didn't want to stay within ten meters of Hanzo for even one more minute.
Hanzo did trust Kakuzu's credibility.
The man was unpleasant to negotiate with, sure—but once he agreed, he delivered.
Outside Iwagakure, the Amegakure shinobi had already assembled. Hanzo didn't linger. With a single shunshin, he flashed to the front of the army.
Several thousand Ame shinobi stood silent, waiting for his command. The vast space was so quiet it felt heavy.
"For Amegakure… our part in the Great Ninja War ends here."
Hanzo raised his voice.
"Destination—Amegakure!"
"Return in triumph!!!"
"OHHHHHH—!"
The roar of the Ame shinobi surged like a tide.
The three great mountains that had pressed down on their village at last had been pushed over.
That intoxication of victory—pure, burning exhilaration—flooded every Ame shinobi present.
They had closed one era.
And opened another.
---
Elsewhere — Konohagakure
In Konoha's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others were arguing fiercely.
Danzō: "Hatake Sakumo has gone too far. Even if he's the commander, launching a full-scale offensive requires reporting to Konoha HQ first."
"He's too inexperienced and acts without thinking. If that had been a Kumogakure trap, the Land of Hot Water front would've been wiped out."
"Hiruzen, someone like that cannot be entrusted with heavy responsibility."
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane nodded. "Danzō is right."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "You have a point. I've already transferred him to the Kirigakure front. The Kumogakure front has nothing to do with him now."
Danzō: "Not enough. Bring him back. If he goes to the Mist front, he'll cause trouble again."
Hiruzen: "I don't have a choice. Kirigakure's offensive is too strong. We need someone to hold the line."
"The Hyūga main family at the Mist front even had a Byakugan taken. The main family members on the battlefield have pulled back, and the pressure from Kirigakure has increased."
Danzō: "Still no. Replace him with another commander. Hatake Sakumo is absolutely not acceptable."
Hiruzen: "Then you go."
Danzō: "Hiruzen… you'll regret this."
Hiruzen: "Danzō. I am the Hokage."
Bam.
After the door slammed, only Hiruzen, Homura, and Koharu were left.
"Danzō is worried about Konoha," Homura said, "he's just… too aggressive. This isn't a small matter. A commander carries thousands of lives on his back. He can't be reckless."
"I know," Hiruzen said. "But right now we need people. Besides him, there aren't many options."
"Right," Hiruzen added as he dug out a document from his desk. "The Mist front has produced some talented heroes as well."
He handed them a file and continued.
"Kato Dan… he actually learned Lord Second's forbidden justu—Ghost Transformation Jutsu. Truly a genius."
"He's already taken down two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, easing the pressure of Kirigakure's attacks. He's the pillar of that front right now."
"There are others too. Not on his level, but still with solid achievements…"
Homura and Koharu turned serious, flipping through the pages quickly. After a few perfunctory words with Hiruzen, they hurried out.
This kind of matter had to be brought to Danzō.
Even though Hiruzen had once spoken of stepping down as Hokage, even if he agreed, the network of interests behind him would never allow it—unless a puppet they could control was chosen.
Until then, no one was allowed to touch the Hokage's seat.
And truthfully… Hiruzen himself had no intention of letting go.
After they left, Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
"They're all too young. Not enough experience."
"Konoha can't afford losses right now."
He exhaled another cloud, gaze turning toward the Hokage Rock in the distance.
"Konoha was entrusted to me by Lord Second."
"And I will make it prosper—with my own hands."
-------------------------------///
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