Immortal Monster, Money-Grubbing Kakuzu

Tōka followed Sakumo Hatake expressionlessly, though he cursed him countless times in his heart.

The two arrived beside a public restroom. Sakumo Hatake took out a small scroll, glanced at it, and then crushed it into powder.

"Looks like it's inside here. There should be a secret door, search carefully."

With that, Sakumo Hatake strode inside.

Tōka's eyes twitched. Why were the entrances to underground exchanges always in public restrooms?

Weren't they afraid of the toilets leaking? And all that mixed-up stuff falling down?

"Forget it, when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Tōka took a deep breath with a curious mindset and walked in.

Soon, the secret door was found by Sakumo Hatake.

The two passed through a long, sloping tunnel.

It descended about ten meters vertically, twisting and turning until Tōka's head was spinning.

A wooden door, one person wide, appeared at the end.

Sounds of chatter and noise emanated from within; it was clearly the exchange hall.

Creeaak!~

White Fang pushed the door open, and Tōka followed closely behind.

A strong smell of blood hit Tōka's nostrils, though it wasn't the scent of fresh blood.

It was the smell that emanated from those who lived by the blade.

As everyone secretly sized up Sakumo Hatake and Tōka, Tōka also narrowed his eyes, observing his surroundings.

Sakumo Hatake's steps were steady, as if the subtle gazes around him didn't exist at all.

"I'm here to purchase information," Sakumo Hatake said calmly by the counter.

The young woman at the reception smiled slightly and gestured somewhere.

Immediately, a man with an ordinary face but blue hair walked out, signaling Sakumo Hatake and Tōka to follow.

Information, naturally, couldn't be discussed in the main hall.

The three arrived at a VIP room. The blue-haired man gestured to the sofas, and Sakumo Hatake and Tōka sat down.

"What information do you wish to know?" the blue-haired man asked after organizing his thoughts. "If the information is already known, it will be sold at a clear price. If it's unknown, you'll have to post a bounty."

"The rest is up to your choice, honored guests."

"Alright," Sakumo Hatake nodded. They didn't force sales, which showed some principles.

"I want to know Sunagakure's troop deployment. Do you have that for sale?" Sakumo Hatake asked calmly, his eyes fixed on the other man.

This was just a probing question. Sunagakure's troop deployment was impossible to uncover unless leaked by insiders, and even then, it would have to be high-ranking officials. Generally, such people wouldn't be short of money.

"Heh heh, you jest, honored guest," the blue-haired man knew this was a test question from Sakumo Hatake and didn't take it seriously.

"I doubt anyone would even accept a bounty for this."

"Is that so..." Sakumo Hatake nodded, not pushing the matter.

As the blue-haired man expected, Sakumo Hatake's question was indeed a test.

If the blue-haired man had readily agreed, he would have faced not the calmly composed Sakumo Hatake, but Konoha's White Fang erupting with killing intent!

"Then, where is Sunagakure's granary located?" Sakumo Hatake asked again.

This question was also highly classified, but provisions were different from troop deployment.

Both were equally important, but their secrecy levels were entirely different.

Transporting grain required the Sand Ninja below, unlike combat deployment which only needed a few high-ranking officials to know.

"Hmm..." The blue-haired man frowned slightly. Hearing this, he naturally knew who the person before him was.

He had been about seventy percent sure when he first saw Sakumo Hatake's appearance. Now, with Sakumo Hatake asking two strategic questions about Sunagakure in a row, he was a hundred percent certain.

"I don't know. What level of detail do you require?" the blue-haired man asked after a moment of thought.

"I only need the location," Sakumo Hatake said, crossing his arms with a relaxed demeanor.

"Is that so..."

The blue-haired man snapped his fingers, and the VIP room door was opened. A person entered holding an envelope, handed it to the blue-haired man, and then immediately retreated.

"Here is the information you requested. Ten million ryo." The blue-haired man placed the envelope on the table and slowly pushed it towards Sakumo Hatake.

"Ten million ryo? For just two pieces of paper?" Tōka exclaimed, his voice rising. Were they trying to rob him?!

The blue-haired man's gaze remained fixed on Sakumo Hatake. As for Tōka, he had only glanced at him initially.

However, he still offered an explanation.

"Since you only needed to know the location of the Sand Ninja's grain reserves, the price is quite cheap."

If Sakumo Hatake had asked for specific details, such as the number and strength of the guards at the granary, or how many patrols, both overt and covert, were nearby...

The price could at least triple!

Sakumo Hatake, unfazed, took out a bank note and placed it on the table, slowly pushing it over.

"Hmm, it's real." The blue-haired man picked up the bank note and, after a brief inspection, knew it was authentic.

At the same time, Sakumo Hatake opened the envelope. Inside was only a slip of paper, two fingers wide.

Tōka's eyelids twitched. That was ten million ryo!

And he bought just a scrap of paper!

However, Sakumo Hatake's next action made Tōka want to spit blood!

Poof! A burst of flame flashed.

Sakumo Hatake actually burned the slip of paper along with the envelope!

"Does the customer have any other requests?" the blue-haired man asked with a smile.

"No, let's go." Sakumo Hatake stood up, and someone immediately came in to escort him and Tōka away.

Leaving the underground exchange, Sakumo Hatake and Tōka headed straight for Sunagakure's granary stronghold.

However, a dark shadow followed them.

A terrifying killing intent suddenly erupted. Sakumo Hatake's heart alerted him, and he struck out with a palm, sending Tōka flying.

BOOM!!

A mass of dark shadow fell, violently crashing into the ground, shaking the entire forest.

Tōka spun 360 degrees in mid-air and landed on a high branch like a nimble swallow.

He looked down, and the area where Sakumo Hatake was was obscured by a large cloud of dust.

Such powerful an attack, it feels comparable to Tsunade's monstrous strength! Tōka thought in shock, though it lacked the exaggerated visual effect of her strength.

Who could it be?!

As the dust settled, two figures, one black and one white, stood in the center of the field.

"Lucky me, besides the brat with a bounty of one hundred million, there's also Konoha's White Fang with a bounty of one hundred million." The masked man with red hair and green eyes chuckled sinisterly.

"Kakuzu?!" Tōka, standing on the tree, saw clearly and exclaimed in disbelief.

"You know him?"

"You know me?"

Sakumo Hatake and Kakuzu both looked at Tōka simultaneously, their expressions varied.

Tōka curled his lips and, instead, sat down with a relaxed expression.

Recognizing Sakumo Hatake and daring to seek trouble, there was no other bounty hunter besides Kakuzu.

Tōka figured that someone with ill intentions might have tracked them from the underground exchange, thus attracting Kakuzu.

However, Tōka was somewhat surprised that Sakumo Hatake's bounty was so high.

Then, he felt relieved.

No matter how high the bounty, one had to be alive to claim it.

Tōka remained silent, and neither of them pressed for an answer. Sakumo Hatake withdrew his gaze and focused it back on Kakuzu.

"A rogue ninja from Takigakure?" Sakumo Hatake noticed the forehead protector on Kakuzu's forehead, a horizontal line piercing the symbol of Takigakure.

"Well, I just like money." Kakuzu didn't care about any identity; his past experiences had made him trust only money.

"Captain, be careful, he's very strong!" After Tōka and Sakumo Hatake left the underground exchange, they had resumed their Anbu attire.

Sakumo Hatake nodded slightly, his back to Tōka.

Kakuzu felt an unprecedented pressure facing Sakumo Hatake, though it wasn't the feeling of being completely invincible like facing the First Hokage.

However, the dense killing intent emanating from Sakumo Hatake pressed down on Kakuzu like a drawn, peerless sword.

The atmosphere grew heavy, the air compressed by their auras.

Kakuzu made the first move, his Earth Release chakra surging within him and gathering in his arm.

He used Earth Release: Earth Spear to harden his arm and then used the black tentacles within his body to detach the arm from his limb.

"Behind you!!"

Kakuzu's gaze sharpened. Sensing Sakumo Hatake attacking from behind, he extended his tentacles and threw a heavy punch backward.

The arm seemed to have a will of its own, discerning Sakumo Hatake's elusive movements.

More of them moved like missiles, and the black lines were the tools controlling the fist.

Whoosh!

Seeing Kakuzu rush towards him as he used Body Flicker Technique to get behind him, Sakumo Hatake immediately flashed away from his original position.

RUMBLE!!

With a loud boom, Kakuzu's tentacle fist slammed into a large tree, the terrifying force shattering it as if it were nothing.

"Such destructive power, no less than Tsunade's monstrous strength!" Sakumo Hatake's brow furrowed. He absolutely couldn't let himself be hit by that punch in a vital spot.

Even if he survived, he wouldn't be able to move.

A flash of white, Sakumo Hatake drew his White Fang short sword and attacked again, this time with no reservations.

Clang!!

The sharp, keen White Fang short sword pierced Kakuzu's back, but it felt like stabbing stone, with no sensation of flesh.

"Captain, that's Earth Release reinforcing his body. Try Lightning Release," Tōka called out.

"Oh? Earth Release?" Besides his swordsmanship, Sakumo Hatake's Ninjutsu was also formidable.

It was just that, under normal circumstances, he chose the quickest and simplest way to finish off enemies to conserve Chakra.

His swordsmanship overshadowed his Ninjutsu, but that didn't mean his Ninjutsu wasn't strong!

Zzzzt!!

Lightning flashed as Sakumo Hatake channeled Lightning Release into the White Fang short sword, the electricity flicking its tongue.

The lightning illuminated his mask, making him look terrifying.

"Hmph, Lightning Release..." Kakuzu snorted coldly. He was a man proficient in all five elemental nature transformations!

Kakuzu extended his hands, and on his bulging arms, two hearts beat.

"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"

One hand controlled lightning, the other water – a combination Ninjutsu of lightning and water.

The water spread, and the lightning followed its path.

In moments, the ground within a hundred-meter radius of the forest floor was submerged in water, leaving no place to stand!

Even standing on a tree several meters high, Tōka could feel the electrical currents flowing through the air, a tingling sensation stimulating his skin.

The hairs on his arms stood on end.

"As expected of someone who survived the First Hokage. Earth Grudge Fear is also a monstrous Secret Technique." The small face beneath the fox mask remained expressionless.

Tōka didn't intervene, nor did he intend to.

If Sakumo Hatake lost to Kakuzu, it would only prove he was nothing special.

As for Kakuzu, Tōka had no reason to worry. Five hearts meant he would have to be killed five times.

He believed that when only one or two hearts remained, Kakuzu would choose to flee.

Zzzzt!!

On one side, Lightning Release combined with swordsmanship delivered powerful thrusts; on the other, Water Release combined with Lightning Release launched a large-scale attack.

A white shadow flashed, and Sakumo Hatake and Kakuzu's bodies passed each other.

Time seemed to stand still as they both maintained their attacking postures, leaning forward slightly, motionless.

Drip...

A drop of blood fell to the ground, splattering and breaking into smaller droplets that mixed with the soil.

Thump!

Kakuzu's body crashed heavily to the ground. Tōka raised an eyebrow; this outcome was within expectations.

Was he playing dead already? Sakumo Hatake didn't know Kakuzu well, but Tōka knew him inside and out.

With Earth Grudge Fear revealed, Kakuzu's body could surely store five hearts simultaneously.

"Captain, be careful!"

Suddenly, Tōka's voice rang out. Sakumo Hatake, who was about to sheathe his White Fang short sword, felt his heart leap.

However, drawing on years of combat experience.

Sakumo Hatake reacted instantly, twisting his body slightly. An arm, reinforced with Earth Release and connected to a tentacle, slammed into him.

The terrifying force stirred up a gust of wind, blowing Sakumo Hatake's mask away.

Zzzzt!!

Lightning flashed, and Sakumo Hatake slashed down with his sword, severing the black tendril of Earth Grudge Fear.

On the ground, a strange ball of flesh, entwined by Earth Grudge Fear and pulsing, was revealed to be one of the hearts stored within Kakuzu's body.

"You..." Sakumo Hatake's usually calm expression shifted slightly. He was one hundred percent certain that his "Sword Art: Lightning Flash" had struck the opponent's heart.

The critical part for blood circulation had instantly collapsed, yet he stood up as if nothing had happened?

"An immortal body?"

"Tsk... You actually destroyed one of my hearts!"

Kakuzu's "corpse" slowly stood up. As he moved his arm, his severed hand and heart flew back with a whoosh.

Earth Grudge Fear extended, reattaching the hand.

"Fatal wounds that don't kill, terrifying regenerative abilities, and proficient application of three elemental Ninjutsu so far," Sakumo Hatake's eyes held a trace of solemnity.

No matter how strong his previous opponents were, his attacks had been effective.

But this guy now made Sakumo Hatake feel helpless.

"As compensation, I've decided to take your heart!" Kakuzu's deep voice boomed.

The great battle was about to break out!

Sensing the battle intent erupting from Kakuzu, Sakumo Hatake took a deep breath, flipped his hand, and gripped the White Fang short sword in a reverse hold.

"Ugh~~ Blech!!"

Kakuzu tore off his mask, his mouth, sewn shut by Earth Grudge Fear, split open, and countless tentacle-like Earth Grudge Fear spewed out from his mouth.

His arms also changed. The joints bulged suddenly, connected by Earth Grudge Fear, and his arms instantly doubled in length.

And where Kakuzu's back was sewn shut by Earth Grudge Fear, it split open in the same way, overflowing with countless tentacles.

Three root-shaped masks appeared on the Earth Grudge Fear in a triangular formation.

They represented three Chakra nature transformations: wind, fire, water... (To be continued)