My Kakuzu couldn't possibly be this flamboyant!

Tōka doesn't have any Summoning Beast yet, but he can use Summoning Scroll — the Summoning Scroll left to him by Tōka Animal Path.

The object of his spiritual communication is— the Deva Path of the Pain's Six Paths!

Shinra Tensei!

A cold voice rang out, and a terrifying force erupted, the invisible shockwave Kakuzu flying.

Kakuzu in mid-air, suddenly felt an immense force descend from the sky, like a colossal giant slamming down with its hammer.

Kakuzu's body instantly transformed into a large "X" shape, hurtling towards the ground at an incredible speed.

The ground directly below was covered with a dense mass of gray, withered Withered Bones. Tōka's Jutsu Formula hadn't been dispelled yet, and if Kakuzu were to crash into the thorny Bone Forest...

"Could he really be dead like this?" An ominous premonition arose in Tōka's heart.

Boom!

A deafening thud rang out as Kakuzu's body crashed straight into the Bone Forest in Tōka's sight.

A Mushroom Cloud shot into the sky, obscuring the view with thick smoke and dust.

At this moment, the Deva Path in the sky floated down to Tōka's side like a light and agile swallow.

"Don't be so harsh, okay? I was actually planning to recruit you into the organization." Tōka's brows furrowed with helplessness.

"Don't worry, that guy isn't dead yet." Deva Path's cold eyes were fixed on the distance.

Tōka had withdrawn the Jutsu Formula, the Bone Forest gradually receded, and the earth reappeared, but it was a desolate wasteland devoid of life.

Tōka stared intently, but did not see Kakuzu's figure.

Where is it?

"He's hiding." The Deva Path Dao said solemnly with a straight face, the black and white patterns in his Rinnegan flashing with strange energy.

Tōka pursed his lips and remained silent; he was too lazy to even complain anymore.

The Deva Path Dao slowly raised its hands, turned its palms down, and pressed them down in mid-air, unleashing a terrifying force.

"Banshō Ten'in!"

As the deep, cold voice rang out, the peaceful earth instantly began to boil wildly, as if steaming from boiling water.

The Deva Path's gaze sharpened, and his loosely clenched fist suddenly tightened.

Boom!

Amidst a pile of rubble and ruins, a dark figure was suddenly sucked out.

It looked as if a tremendous force surged from the palm of the Deva Path, transforming into an invisible giant claw that Kakuzu the Horned Tribe out from beneath the earth.

"Look, he's doing just fine." As Kakuzu flew through the air, Deva Path suddenly opened his tightly clenched hand.

The transformation involves attraction and repulsion, a process of both contraction and release.

The terrifyingly contrasting force penetrated directly into Kakuzu's body.

A cracking sound, like bones breaking, rang out.

"Ugh..." Kakuzu suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, his blood rushed to his head, and a flush instantly appeared on his cheeks.

"Pfft!" A large mouthful of blood sprayed into the air, as beautiful as a cherry blossom exploding.

Even with his body hardened using Earth Release Ninjutsu, Kakuzu's body still couldn't withstand the damage from Deva Path.

Thump!

Kakuzu's body crashed heavily to the ground, like a lump of mud, while Tōka and Deva Path looked down at him from their high positions.

The power of the Deva Path can be controlled in terms of range and intensity based on the amount of chakra condensed.

"Your eyes..." Kakuzu, clutching his chest, struggled to his feet Kakuzu he stood not far away. He looked up and saw the black and white lines in Deva Path's eyes.

The concentric outlines seemed to draw people in, radiating an eerie light, like the power of a god that made people afraid to look directly at them.

As an old monster who has lived since the Warring States period, he knows a great deal about the Kakuzu of the Ninja World.

Rinnegan – the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths!

To my surprise, it was actually true... Kakuzu stared at Deva Path in shock, even forgetting the waves of pain surging through his body.

Who exactly are you people?

At this moment, Kakuzu finally realized that the brat in front of him was not a Chunin Konoha at all.

There's a hint of conspiracy...

"What do you plan to do with him next?" Tōka glanced at the disheveled Kakuzu, ignored him, and turned to Deva Path to ask.

This guy won't die as long as his heart isn't completely damaged. Seeing Kakuzu climb out of the crater, Tōka was already relieved.

The active element indicates that the person is not dead.

"Didn't you want to recruit him into the organization? It's up to you." Deva Path said in a calm tone, though he still maintained his expressionless demeanor.

But his tone was full of disdain, and his undisguised gaze fell on Kakuzu, almost making him lose his temper.

In the end, reason prevailed over impulse; Kakuzu knew that if he made a move, he might end up staying here all day.

Because he only had one heart left!

"Two choices." Tōka stared intently at Kakuzu, holding up two fingers.

Kakuzu's eyes narrowed, One Flash of icy killing intent passing through them before quickly disappearing into the depths of his green pupils.

He wasn't afraid of Tōka, at least not Tōka was his match at the moment, but there was another person who possessed eyes like the Sage of Six Paths.

Those eyes held only indifference and coldness.

"What choice?" Kakuzu asked stiffly, his tone unusually somber.

The gaze of the Deva Path made his scalp tingle, Kakuzu wished he could leave this place immediately.

"The first choice is to become a dead person whom no one cares about!" Tōka smiled slightly, as if it were something as casual as eating or drinking tea.

Upon hearing this, Kakuzu's pupils constricted sharply; as expected, these two were going to kill him!

However, killing him won't be so easy! Even if he dies, at least that brat will be taken down with him! Kakuzu's eyes darted around as he secretly made a determined decision.

"Actually, I hope you choose the second one." Tōka's expression turned serious, his smile vanishing. "Become someone who counts money until their hands cramp!"

Money? Counting it until your hands cramp?

Kakuzu was slightly taken aback; he had never imagined this...

Betrayed by his own village, Kakuzu became a man who only believed in money; he loved money, especially lots and lots of money.

What does it mean to count money until your hands cramp?

Kakuzu had never tried this before, and at this moment he suddenly didn't want to drag Tōka down with him before he died, because he didn't want to die at all!

"Are you serious?" Kakuzu's heart started racing, and his voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

"Of course I'm serious." Tōka suddenly changed the subject, as if she had just remembered something, "How much did Raikage pay you?"

"What do you mean?" Upon hearing the word "money, "Kakuzu's nerves immediately tensed up.

He stared warily at Tōka, fearing that the other party might make some terrifying request.

Deva Path glanced at Tōka with displeasure, as if to say, "Look at the kind of people you've chosen!"

Even if he's a weakling, I can carry him as long as he's mentally sound. But what's with this guy's "beep~" look the moment he hears about money?

A row of black lines appeared on Tōka's forehead. "Konoha also managed to hire a Kage-level. Do you know how much they paid them?"

Tōka's lips moved, uttering a number.

Kakuzu's face darkened instantly. Damn it, the difference was so huge?

After muttering a curse under his breath, Kakuzu's cheeks flushed red again, as if he were somewhat embarrassed, and he avoided looking directly at Tōka.

Hey, sir, you've wandered onto the wrong set!

Seeing Kakudo wriggling Kakuzu like a noodle, Tōka immediately felt Goosebumps all over.

"Not the Raikage, the Tsuchikage." After hearing Sasori's price, Kakuzu looked at Tōka awkwardly and stammered.

"The Tsuchikage promised to pay 200 million ryo as a reward if the war was won."

Two hundred million taels? That sounds like a lot at first glance.

But this is Battlefield!

Kakuzu unleashed a single wind-fire combination Ninjutsu, how many Genin would die? How many Chunin could escape? Even the unlucky Jonin would be instantly killed.

Furthermore, Tōka noticed a detail: the condition for receiving the mercenary payment was that victory in the war was mandatory!

In other words, if Iwagakure and Kumogakure are defeated, doesn't that mean there will be no mercenary payment?

Tōka looked at Kakuzu speechlessly, no longer knowing what words to use to comfort him.

Sasori's hiring price is 100 million per day. It has to be said that Konoha, as the Land of Fire, is very wealthy. More importantly, Sasori knows how to sell himself!

Kakuzu is being sold for such a low price, and it's even the kind that allows returns...

"Tōka, you'd better hurry." Deva Path's voice suddenly rang out, still cold and indifferent, but carrying a hint of reminder and warning.

"What?" Tōka asked, puzzled.

"Scorpion sent a message saying it seems they've finished over there," Deva Path said in a deep voice.

So fast? Tōka was slightly taken aback, then understood. It was a battle on Konoha's home turf, with Konoha's main camp right behind them.

The Kumogakure and the Iwagakure have come from afar, and it appears that the two major hidden villages are joining forces to attack Konoha, but in reality, the combat strength of the two sides is not evenly matched.

The Kumogakure and the Iwagakure only have a cooperative relationship. When they launch an expedition against Konoha, they will definitely leave behind a number of Elite Ninja to guard the homeland, and the number will not be too small.

It may seem like a powerful alliance, but that's just a perception held by those who don't understand just how strong Konoha really is.

Tōka always knew that Konoha would win, not only because of the general trend, but more importantly because Konoha was really strong now.

Even after losing White Fang and the Legendary Sannin leaving.

However, there was a Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze!

Minato might not be able to defeat the combined might of the Legendary Sannin and White Fang, but in the chaos of Battlefield, who can completely defend against a sneak attack from a Kage-level?

That kind of instantaneous sneak attack, Flying Thunder God combined with Rasengan.

Tsk tsk tsk...

Even the Raikage and Tsuchikage had to be extremely careful when facing Minato, as even Kage-level could be caught off guard and lose their lives.

In the vast, chaotic Battlefield, if a portion of the fighting force isn't dedicated to holding off Minato, then the battle is essentially over.

"So, Kakuzu, what is your choice?" Tōka's eyes turned cold, staring at Kakuzu with a hint of threat. Life or death was Kakuzu's choice.

"Do I even need to choose? Of course I want to try counting money until my hands cramp!" Kakuzu snorted arrogantly, looking completely matter-of-fact.

The result was already clear when Tōka presented the two options.

However, something's off about this art style!

You're a cold-blooded God of Slaughter uncle, not a pale-faced, arrogant uke!!

"You guys leave first. Sasori will take the commission from Konoha back with him." Tōka's expression suddenly changed, because he also noticed the changes on the main Battlefield.

Many unfamiliar presences were rapidly approaching this area.

The scope of Chakra Sensing Technique is not large, and Tōka has not put much effort into studying Sensory Technique.

Therefore, once he can sense a presence, it means the person is very, very close.

Swish!!

The figures of Deva Path and Kakuzu vanished instantly, disappearing into the depths of the boundless Forest in the blink of an eye.

The most distinctive feature of the Land of Fire is its lush Forest, which can be seen everywhere, especially outside Konoha, which is covered by towering ancient trees.

In the blink of an eye, the auras of both Deva Path and Kakuzu vanished.

Whoosh whoosh!!

A gust of wind whistled through the air, and several dark figures swiftly flew over and landed around Tōka. The one in the lead was none other than the Fourth Hokage — Minato Namikaze!

"Tōka, you..." Minato couldn't believe that Tōka had actually killed that masked man.

Theoretically speaking, the All-Killing Ash Bones could instantly kill even Kage-level.

However, judging from the current situation, let alone Kage-level, Tōka might not be able to defeat even some Elite Jonin with special abilities.

Because Tōka's own strength was still too weak, the All-Killing Ash Bones and the Six Harmonies Divine Technique gave him the ability to fight against Kage-level.

However, it was merely the capital for "World War I".

In terms of experience, combat skills, and overall combat qualities, Tōka is no match for Kakuzu.

"They're dead. As for the corpses, they're everywhere," Tōka said without batting an eye.

He then pointed to the large area of ruins, where scraps of Waste Paper were scattered all over the ground.

The All-Killing Ash Bones Earth Spear Barrage completely rotted away a large area of Forest, leaving only a patch of deathly ash.

Minato frowned as he glanced at the scraps of paper scattered on the ground. Although he didn't believe it, he had no other way to verify it.

After a moment of silence, Minato decided not to waste any more time on this.

"Enough talk, let's go back." As soon as he finished speaking, Minato made a hand gesture, and the nearby Konoha Ninja quickly withdrew.

To put Minato at ease, Tōka consciously stayed by his side.

As we moved through the forest, the wind howled past our ears, the Konoha Main Camp loomed in the distance, and the air was thick with the pungent smell of blood.

The night seemed shrouded in a Blood Mist, a blood-red black and an inky black red.

The inky night and the crimson light of blood were indistinguishable, and the atmosphere of death enveloped the entire land.

The Konoha Main Camp remained shrouded in a chilling atmosphere; apart from the occasional sounds of reconnaissance teams moving about, the silence was eerily profound.

"Lord Hokage, how is the battle going?" Tōka didn't notice Sasori's voice, and didn't want to ask openly.

They had no choice but to try to find out Sasori's whereabouts indirectly from Minato's words.

Minato glanced at Tōka with a strange expression. He had been considering how to deal with Tōka's situation after returning to Konoha.

Should we arrest the traitor directly and hand him over to the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force?

Minato can be cold-blooded and ruthless towards his enemies.

But he couldn't bring himself to arrest Tōka without evidence, at least not on his own people, or even just on their own.

Continuing to send people to monitor them? I doubt it will be very effective...

Especially after witnessing Tōka's talent for Genjutsu, Minato felt that the Anbu's surveillance was merely a formality.

Minato was deep in thought, heard Tōka's voice, his pupils gradually contracted, and he came to his senses.

"Kumogakure and Iwagakure have been defeated. I must say, Tōka, you have once again made a great contribution." Minato's voice was calm and natural, without any hint of malice.

"Me? Kakuzu?" Tōka thought Minato was referring to the fact that he had led Kakuzu away.

In fact, this is not the case. For Minato, Kage-level- Kage-level is only a matter of time.

It wasn't about the time it took for Minato to defeat his opponent, but rather the time it took for them to become entangled.

"It's not Kakuzu, it's Hiruko." A serious look flashed in Minato's eyes, and his voice involuntarily became low.

Fortunately, Hiruko is in Konoha's camp.

Upon witnessing the tragic state of the Cloud Ninja and Stone Ninja, Minato was incredibly relieved that he hadn't swayed Hiruko to the opposing side for the sake of money.

Upon hearing this, Tōka's eyes One Flash slightly.

"So, Sasori should be able to complete his mission well, right? The payment this time should be enough for Akatsuki to develop for a while."

After obtaining the information he wanted, Tōka tried his best to minimize his presence and stood in the shadows behind Minato.