While the other Kage avoided dealings with Underground Black Market and Bounty Ninja, Onoki had secretly built a stable trade with the Underground Black Market. He often hired Bounty Ninja to handle matters inconvenient for Iwagakure. Though it sounded improper for a Tsuchikage to hire rogue ninja, he clearly did not care.
Not just anyone could take his commissions. Those hired by Onoki gained recognition, proof of both strength and trust. Their prices rose, and more wealthy clients sought them out.
"So far, those who worked with that Tsuchikage all spoke well of the cooperation." The scarred man smiled as he bowed. "Please take care, Mr. Kakuzu. We welcome you back anytime."
As he watched Kakuzu leave, he noticed the black cloak with red clouds. Thinking of the other person mentioned and the task tied to Third Tsuchikage, he lowered his eyes. "It seems the Ninja World is about to change again," he thought.
Behind the weed covered toilet, a hidden door rose. Kakuzu stepped out carrying two large suitcases. He looked at the rising sun, yet the morning air was still biting cold.
He tightened his grip on the cases and felt their heavy weight. The chill eased a little as warmth rose in his body and chest. "In this cold world full of lies, only money makes me feel warm," he said with narrowed eyes.
He hoped the Akatsuki he had joined this time would be filled with people who understood money. With that thought, Kakuzu looked toward a figure standing in the distance. "Let us go, boss."
The man called boss gave a bitter smile and removed his flashy diamond shaped sunglasses. "Please stop teasing me, Mr. Kakuzu. Right now, I am just hiding wherever I can."
This man was one of the last survivors of the Blood Pool clan and the owner of a real estate business. He had also joined Akatsuki. With his Blood Dragon Eye Kekkei Genkai and the longbow called Sacred Annihilation Arrow, he had found his place.
"Mm. As expected of a village famous for its health hot springs."
Inside an inn in Tangyin Village, the body of "Shadow" lay immersed in the hot spring, with only his head above the water. The steam drifted slowly as the water lapped against the edge, leaving the room quiet and still.
The nerves that had been stretched tight by killing gradually relaxed, and "Shadow", still wearing his black robe, leaned back and looked up at the sky. This body was only a clone, but if it dispersed or was Remove, all memories, including fatigue, would return to the original body.
Because of that, it was better to find ways to cover up those memories of killing before this clone was Remove. That was why the "Multiple Shadow Clone Technique", clearly an A rank Ninjutsu, was listed as a Forbidden Technique and recorded in the Book of Seals.
If someone like Naruto Uzumaki created thousands of Shadow Clone at once and they were all killed in an instant, then thousands of death memories would surge back to the original body. Even Ryuji Hyuga felt some admiration for Naruto Uzumaki's nerve, since that kind of experience was not something Zetsu or just anyone could endure easily.
"Speaking of Naruto Uzumaki." He thought to himself, "With the power of the 'Kama' I have now, I should be able to do something to him and leave a few safeguards."
If nothing unexpected happened, once what occurred in the Underground Palace and the contents of that stone tablet spread, "Yunshiki Otsutsuki" would quickly become a target for everyone. There was no guarantee that Isshiki Otsutsuki would not send someone, or even come in person, to test the situation.
But in truth, it did not matter. From the moment this plan was set in motion, the mental preparation had already been made.
Ryuji Hyuga's goal was to advance step by step to the end of the world, to reach the level of Shibai Otsutsuki or even higher. The real destination he wanted was the state of "God said, let there be light, and there was light", not the simple lie that existed now.
To achieve that goal, he would inevitably face Isshiki Otsutsuki, the only difference being whether it happened sooner or later. If he really collided with Isshiki Otsutsuki this early, Ryuji Hyuga would burn this life of his as brilliantly as possible.
Isshiki Otsutsuki would become an existence feared by all, and he would use "life" itself to drag everyone into a lie. That was the thought he had after realizing the existence of Gamamaru.
A savior, the Child of Prophecy. Why could it not be him?
"Thinking about that now is still too far away."
After soaking quietly for a few minutes, "Shadow"'s thoughts drifted back. He looked toward the other side of the hot spring, where a vague figure could be seen through the mist.
"You probably have not felt this kind of warmth in a long time, right?" he asked with a smile.
Wrapped entirely in White Zetsu, Nagato was also soaking in the hot spring with his eyes half closed. Even though soaking did not actually require stripping completely, if someone entered the room and saw the two of them dressed like this, they would definitely think they were strange people.
"Yes."
Nagato tilted his head back, looking at the blue sky above the open air spring, and replied softly. It really was nice.
It was nothing like Land of Rain, which was always shrouded in endless rain. The existence of a ninja village called the "Village That Forgot War" was enough to prove how stable this country truly was.
It had even become a place with the highest average lifespan because of its health hot springs. If he had been born in this country back then, would he still have walked the path he was on now?
Thinking of this, Nagato touched his eyes, and the answer was already clear in his heart. He still would have.
Because from the moment he was born, he had been chosen, chosen to be the vessel for these eyes. All the pain he suffered now had been created by that person alone.
"Madara Uchiha..." he murmured.
At that moment, the sliding door was pulled open, and a broad figure walked in. "Hmph, you two are really at ease."
Seeing the two soaking in the hot spring, Kakuzu, bare-chested, snorted and said, "I am starting to doubt whether joining you was the right choice."
"Being stubborn and still being laughed off as tsundere cute only works until adulthood," "Shadow" said as usual with a smile in his voice. "An old guy in his seventies or eighties saying this really is not cute at all."
This guy.
Hearing that, Kakuzu's face darkened, but he still spoke. "What are we doing next? Do not tell me joining Akatsuki just means soaking in hot springs."
Nagato fell into a long silence. According to the original plan, they should continue searching for members, but now there did not seem to be any suitable candidates.
"Gokumonjo."
"Shadow" suddenly spoke, smiling as he said, "How about going to Gokumonjo to take a look?"
Gokumonjo was a prison built by the Grass Village under commission from various countries, specifically to detain criminal Ninja. It was a hell for countless villains and rogue ninja.
Even Sasuke Uchiha would later fall there, swinging a pickaxe in hard labor and getting smashed in the face by guards. Of course, Gokumonjo was also where the "Box of Ultimate Bliss" was located.
At the same time, in Land of Moon, inside the camp of the Konoha forces.
"Do we need ground forces to cooperate?"
Inside the tent, several members of the Konoha Jonin were present, gathered for a combat meeting. After hearing Ryuji Hyuga's plan, everyone fell into thought, and Jiraiya's eyes flickered.
He was considering the feasibility of this operation. If it could really be carried out, it would definitely deal a heavy blow to Kumogakure.
As the core of the entire operation, Ryuji Hyuga would undoubtedly become the greatest contributor. After thinking for a long time, Jiraiya looked up at Ryuji Hyuga in front of him and asked, "For that Ninjutsu you mentioned, how confident are you?"
"Eighty percent," Ryuji Hyuga said frankly. "As long as the ground forces cooperate."
"Eighty percent..." Jiraiya pressed his lips together, his heart pounding. An eighty percent chance was more than enough for them to take the risk.
However, he did not rush to give an answer. Instead, he looked at Ryuji Hyuga and Kakashi Hatake and said, "I have already sent the information about that Underground Palace and what happened there back to the old man."
"This mission of yours was completed extremely well. The text on the stone tablet is still being deciphered, and more people will be sent to explore the Underground Palace later."
"That ninja tool called 'Wanli Flying [Hatred]', since it was obtained by Ryuji, will be left for you to use as you see fit."
"As for that broken sword, we still cannot see what is special about it, and the thing you brought back, Kakashi Hatake..."