Takigakure Squanders a Winning Hand

Takigakure Squanders a Winning Hand

In the barren Desert, a man dressed in a black full-length coat, with only his eyes exposed, walked slowly onward.

In the Desert, the occasional Cactus was the only greenery.

"Friend, you've been following me all this way. Come out."

Kakuzu suddenly stopped walking and spoke in a hoarse voice.

It was too quiet. Everything around him was far too quiet—quiet enough to make Kakuzu feel oppressed.

"Kakuzu, a rogue ninja from Takigakure. You once assassinated the First Hokage and should have become a hero, yet you were punished instead.

"Afterward, you stole Takigakure's secret treasure, Earth Grudge Fear, and fled."

A Red-haired man drifted down from the sky, smiling as he spoke.

The instant Kakuzu saw the man, his muscles tensed. The secret technique Earth Grudge Fear frantically warned him of danger, telling him to run.

"Tsk, tsk. After merging with Earth Grudge Fear, you could no longer really be called human.

"How pitiful. No wonder you loved money as dearly as your life."

Yunqing activated Grandpa Hua's Eye of Investigation and quickly saw through Kakuzu completely.

"Third Kazekage, what do you want with me? I don't believe I've offended you."

Kakuzu remained outwardly still, but Chakra surged wildly through his body as he prepared to strike at any moment.

"Don't be nervous. A Kage-level ninja capable of using five types of Chakra isn't easy to find. I admire you greatly."

Yunqing simply ignored Kakuzu's movements.

Too childish. It was not worth his attention.

Dragon's scales could render most elemental attacks ineffective, while Angel's Divine Body made him immune to most physical attacks.

"You admire me? What is there to admire? You're an exalted figure, while I'm just a rat in the gutter. There's nothing about me worth your notice."

Kakuzu thought, I'd have to be an idiot to believe you.

Seeing Kakuzu's distrustful expression, Yunqing scratched his head in frustration.

"To be honest, I came to ask you to become a Teacher at the Sunagakure Ninja Academy, responsible for teaching ninjutsu.

"Someone like you, who can skillfully wield all five Chakra natures, is rare talent."

Yunqing finally told the truth.

"Haha, fine. I believe you won't deceive me, but I still want to test your strength."

Kakuzu laughed loudly, a fierce glint appearing in his eyes.

He needed to show himself—to display his strength and make everyone acknowledge him.

"Come on. But let me make this clear first: your base salary will be one million ryo, and your bonus will depend on your teaching quality. The more praise you receive from students, the higher your bonus."

As if recalling something, Yunqing suddenly added.

Upon hearing Yunqing's words, Kakuzu's prepared ninjutsu actually faltered, and his mind went blank for a moment.

Damn, this was far too good. An annual salary of one million ryo, plus bonuses based on teaching quality? With all my decades of experience studying ninjutsu, how could I fail to teach a bunch of brats?

"Lord Kazekage truly understands me. If my strength proves satisfactory, could the pay perhaps be increased?"

Kakuzu hurled a sea of flames at Yunqing, engulfing the stretch of Desert where he stood.

"Certainly. The stronger Mr. Kakuzu is, the more I'll pay. Please, give it everything you have."

Yunqing's hearty laughter emerged from the flames.

At that moment, Kakuzu felt as though he had been set ablaze. He poured another layer of power into the ninjutsu he had just prepared.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness."

"Wind Release: Blow."

Before the flames had even dissipated, Kakuzu's wind and lightning attacks came rushing after them.

Within the sea of fire, streams of purple Chakra spilled from Yunqing's body and wrapped around him.

Flames, lightning, and wind blades could not harm him in the slightest.

As long as there was enough energy, this was nearly perfect defense. No wonder Naruto didn't bother practicing all sorts of miscellaneous ninjutsu. He had Rasengan of various attributes for offense and Chakra Mode for defense. That was enough.

Yunqing sensed the rate at which his Chakra was being consumed and muttered inwardly.

Chakra Mode was truly unfair. As long as one had sufficient Chakra, one could fight anyone.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Several sharp sounds tore through the air as black threads closed in around Yunqing.

"Add air heat."

Yunqing frowned and murmured softly.

The surrounding flames suddenly exploded and blasted toward Kakuzu.

As he watched the overwhelming heat rush straight at him, Kakuzu's pupils contracted. He truly felt the threat of death.

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique."

"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall."

"Earth Release: Iwagakure Technique."

At that moment, Kakuzu displayed the basic qualities of a Kage-level ninja.

No matter what he faced, even when his body had already warned him of danger, he still responded calmly and methodically.

The Great Waterfall evaporated, the Earth Style Wall was blasted apart, and even the Desert was gouged into a massive crater. Sand from all around flowed downward, struggling to fill it.

Yunqing watched everything calmly. He neither continued attacking nor said a word, simply floating above the crater as he quietly waited.

Time passed little by little. Before long, Kakuzu emerged from the bottom of the crater, his entire body wrapped in black threads.

Seeing Kakuzu covered in tattered remnants of clothing, Yunqing casually summoned a new set of clothes and tossed them to him.

"Two million ryo base salary, bonuses calculated separately. What do you think?"

Kakuzu had just caught the clothes when he met Yunqing's calm gaze. Those eyes, as still as a deep pool, made his heart tremble.

Before that tremor had even faded, a heavenly voice reached his ears.

"Cough, cough. It seems my strength is passable after all, for Lord Kazekage to trust me so much."

Kakuzu said joyfully.

He was absurdly wealthy. This employer was absurdly wealthy. More importantly, he was powerful and would not be jealous of Kakuzu.

After all these years, Kakuzu had also understood why he had been sent to assassinate the First Hokage, why he had been declared guilty, and why he had suffered so miserably.

It was because his strength had surpassed Takigakure's Leader, threatening the positions of others.

That was also why he had wanted to fight Yunqing.

"To be honest, I truly feel sorry for Takigakure. It had the potential to become the sixth great Ninja Village, yet it squandered such a winning hand."

Watching Kakuzu approach, Yunqing clicked his tongue and laughed.

Honestly, Takigakure had greater potential to become the sixth great Ninja Village than either the Land of Rain or the Land of Whirlpools.

When Hashirama Senju was alive, that had been the best era. There was peace, and with such a powerhouse standing above everyone, no one dared act rashly.

Takigakure had its own Kekkei Genkai Family, sufficiently fertile land, Kakuzu, who could become a Kage-level ninja, Earth Grudge Fear, which could create Kage-level fighters, and the secret treasure Hero Water. Most importantly, Takigakure possessed the Seven-Tails.

It could be said that while Hashirama Senju was alive, it was Takigakure's best opportunity to rise.

It was also its best opportunity to become the sixth great nation and Ninja Village.

If properly utilized, becoming the sixth great Ninja Village would have been easy.

Unfortunately, it threw that opportunity away itself.

A winning hand had been played into complete ruin.

In the end, it could only become a subordinate Ninja Village of Konoha.

Yunqing truly felt sorry for Takigakure.