Lost in the Extra Money

July 7th, sunny.

Winter Snow Casino.

It was located on the outskirts of Tanzaku Street.

It usually did not have many customers.

Natsume had chosen this place because he was worried someone with ulterior motives might spot them.

For example, Konoha ninja.

After all, every member of the Akatsuki Organization possessed remarkable skills. It would not be good if they scared the children.

Seven o'clock sharp.

Natsume arrived on time. Two people who were clearly no ordinary individuals were already waiting.

Kakuzu and Sasori.

Both wore the Akatsuki Organization's iconic black cloaks patterned with red clouds.

Kakuzu at least looked somewhat human. He merely wore a face covering, revealing a pair of eerie green eyes.

Sasori was more abstract. Encased in the Hiruko puppet, he looked like a dwarf and had a scorpion-like tail.

In truth, neither of them had been human for a long time.

Sasori was Sunagakure's genius puppeteer and Chiyo's grandson. Not only could he control puppets, but he had turned himself into one.

Kakuzu was a rogue ninja from Takigakure. Through the forbidden technique Earth Grudge Fear, he possessed five hearts—five lives—and an exceptionally long lifespan.

His most famous feat was throwing a shuriken at Hashirama Senju from eight hundred miles away.

In the original story, Sasori's partner was Deidara, who believed explosion was art, while Kakuzu's partner was Hidan, a follower of the Evil God.

But at this point in time, neither had joined the Akatsuki Organization yet, so the two of them were partners.

Natsume was also somewhat worried that he might encounter Obito Uchiha.

But on second thought, Obito had only joined the Akatsuki Organization as Tobi much later.

Before that, he had been creating bloody slaughter in Kirigakure to avenge his beloved, Rin Nohara.

During the Third Shinobi World War, Kirigakure took advantage of Konoha's weakness after its war with Kumogakure and launched a sneak attack.

There were two main battles.

In the first, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist headed straight for Konoha's rear and encountered the Genin Might Duy. After he opened the Eight Inner Gates, only the Eight Gates escaped.

In the second, they captured Rin Nohara, forcibly sealed the Three-Tails inside her body, and sent her back to Konoha to self-destruct.

To break the conspiracy, Rin Nohara threw herself onto Kakashi Hatake's Lightning Blade and died.

From then on, Obito Uchiha held a grudge against Kirigakure.

What he did not know was that Madara Uchiha and Black Zetsu had manipulated everything behind the scenes.

Rin Nohara had been destined to die.

The goal was to stimulate Obito Uchiha into awakening his eyes and make him the executor of the Eye of the Moon plan—Black Zetsu's plan to save his mother.

"You're the employer?"

Kakuzu sized up Natsume. He was completely unfamiliar.

"Yes."

Natsume did not hide it. "I'm a clone, so I'll need you two to protect me along the way."

As long as it was not injured and had sufficient Chakra, a clone could exist for a long time.

"Protect you?"

Kakuzu said coldly, "You didn't mention protecting you in the mission details. And you're a clone, which makes things more difficult."

"I'll pay more."

Natsume held up two fingers. "There are two of you, so I'll add another Two Hundred Thousand Ryo as payment for protecting me."

"Fine."

Kakuzu's eyes shifted. Two Million Two Hundred Thousand Ryo for a trip to Kusagakure—an absolute steal.

Bounties on heads, especially those exceeding Ten Million Ryo, were hard to come by.

The Akatsuki Organization made money through missions most of the time.

But there were not many S-rank missions.

Two Million Two Hundred Thousand Ryo was already quite good.

Protecting a clone was nothing.

"There's another task."

To avoid disputes later, Natsume explained it in advance.

"There's more?"

Kakuzu frowned.

Were employers these days all this rude? Did they not know the rules?

"I'll pay more."

Natsume smiled. "I have a deal with Orochimaru. I need you to meet him and retrieve something."

Kakuzu regarded Natsume more highly.

The Sannin title was still quite well known.

Anyone able to make a deal with Orochimaru was naturally no ordinary person.

Of course, Kakuzu did not take it to heart.

What Sannin? In his eyes, they were not worth mentioning.

He was more interested in money.

"How much are you offering?"

"Two Million Ryo."

Natsume held up two fingers.

"If it's only a transaction, then there's naturally no problem."

Having lived for so long, Kakuzu was shrewd as a fox. "But you're unwilling to go in person, which means Orochimaru may make a move. That's a separate price. Orochimaru is one of the legendary Sannin and is quite powerful. You'll have to pay more."

Natsume had originally wanted to save some money.

Since Kakuzu had guessed it, he raised another finger. "Then I'll add another Ten Million Ryo."

Asuma Sarutobi's head was worth thirty-five million ryo.

Orochimaru would not be worth any less.

But this was a transaction, not a request for Orochimaru's head. Ten Million Ryo was already enough.

Kakuzu's eyes suddenly lit up.

What a generous boss!

An extra Ten Million Ryo was absolutely an unexpected windfall.

Then they could kill Orochimaru and exchange his head for money at the underground black market.

It was simply a win-win.

Kakuzu glanced at Sasori.

Sasori still had no reaction, as if he truly were a lifeless puppet.

Kakuzu understood his temperament, so he spoke for him. "We accept your two commissions."

"Pleasure doing business. Let's leave now."

Natsume smiled. "Though I'm rather slow."

Sasori finally reacted. With a casual tug, he pulled a puppet out before him.

An abnormal titan.

That was the only phrase Natsume could think of.

It wore a tattered cloak and resembled an ant, with two red demon-like horns, six arms, and two legs.

You aren't planning to make that my mount, are you?

Natsume instinctively looked at Sasori and received three words in reply: "Get on."

Dear heavens! Something that big will kill me!

Was I not paying enough? Why were they abusing their employer like this?

Couldn't you bring out your Third Kazekage figurine and let me experience flying shoulder to shoulder with the sun?

The three set off.

Kakuzu and Sasori both used the standard ninja run.

Natsume, meanwhile, rode a luxurious mount. Aside from the shaking, there was nothing wrong with it.

It was also extremely powerful in combat.

Kusagakure was located in the Land of Grass.

According to the original story, Kusagakure's ninja excelled at studying and breaking the ninjutsu of other nations. It was a ninja village skilled at learning.

A very tactful way of putting it.

In two words: a nation of thieves.

Small and ignorant, small and rude—those were the most perfect descriptions of them.

Kusagakure had very little plot.

Setting aside the movie, there was only Karin and her mother.

After the Uzumaki Clan was exterminated, they wandered into Kusagakure, only to be treated as mobile blood bags.

Because of their constitutions, they were born with abundant Chakra, and being bitten could produce healing effects.

The Uzumaki Clan could have been used as jinchuriki, for Sealing Jutsu, or as Medical Ninja. All were excellent uses.

But Kusagakure chose the most shortsighted method.

In the end, Karin's mother was drained dry of Chakra and died.

If not for Orochimaru, Karin would not have escaped the same fate.

She would also very likely have been forced to breed, generation after generation. It was utterly tragic.

Unfortunately, Karin later encountered Sasuke Uchiha and still did not escape the fate of being a tool.

Though her circumstances were a little better.

In his previous life, there had been a joke about Sasuke: whenever he got a sudden urge, Karin would lose her life.

Every time this guy improved in strength, he would come out to show off, get beaten badly, and then be rescued.

The Land of Grass bordered the Land of Fire to the northwest.

Traveling at the three's rapid pace, they reached their destination in less than two days.