The old man heard Qingcheng's words and began searching his memories. With a grief-stricken expression, he said, "The Black Rock Clan was the one that attacked us first. Other than this Flame Sword, all the divine weapons our clan forged were taken from us."
Hearing this, Qingcheng took out another C-rank Ninjutsu, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, and said seriously, "If you hear any news about the Kusanagi Sword, send it to the Uchiha Clan in Konoha."
Seeing the Ninjutsu Qingcheng handed over, the old man's face filled with gratitude. He said solemnly, "I understand. Thank you for your help. I will never forget this great kindness."
After saying that, the old man accepted the Wind Release: Great Breakthrough Ninjutsu Scroll and began examining it carefully in his hands.
Qingcheng drew the blade of the Flame Kusanagi and carefully inspected it. He was startled by its incomparable sharpness. The red Flame Sword patterns ran along its blade, which was 1.3 meters long. Unlike Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword, both its sheath and blade were red.
The blade was three fingers wide and could perfectly complement Uchiha Kenjutsu. For example, Uchiha Sword Flame Leap and Uchiha Flame Sword were both Fire Release Ninjutsu performed with a sword.
Holding the hilt, Qingcheng released a trace of Fire Chakra. The blade of the Flame Kusanagi immediately burst into flames, becoming like a flaming sword.
Qingcheng was extremely satisfied. Smiling, he said, "It really is a good item. At the very least, it's worth an A-rank Wind Release Ninjutsu."
Qingcheng then put away the Kusanagi Sword and hung it at his waist. It felt quite snug against his body.
Holding the two Wind Release Ninjutsu, the old man waved goodbye to Qingcheng and left the black market, preparing to return and train in Ninjutsu.
Qingcheng strode toward the Exchange Office, wanting to see just who was capable enough to open such a large black market.
Qingcheng planned to rob all the money from the Exchange Office, then return to Konoha to continue buying land and shops. He would strive to buy up all of Konoha's vacant land, become Konoha's largest shareholder, and slowly devour Konoha step by step.
Inside the Exchange Office, a strange man with his mouth stitched shut was speaking with one of the Exchange Office's ninja. The strange man said angrily, "This person's bounty was clearly ten million. Why are you only giving me 9.5 million? Are you skimming my money?"
The Exchange Office ninja said seriously, "Kakuzu, don't talk nonsense. Our Exchange Office never takes kickbacks. The person who posted the bounty lowered the reward amount. That has nothing to do with our Exchange Office."
Upon hearing this, Kakuzu instantly flew into a rage and said sternly, "Tell me who posted this bounty. I'm going to kill him. How dare he lower the reward?"
Seeing the furious Kakuzu, the Exchange Office ninja was alarmed. He said nervously, "Mr. Kakuzu, our Exchange Office will not disclose the information of those who issue bounty notices. If you find it unsuitable, you may abandon the mission."
Hearing that, Kakuzu immediately shouted, "I already completed that bounty mission! If I don't get ten million today, I'll kill both you and the person who posted the bounty!"
The Exchange Office ninja instantly broke out in a cold sweat. Kakuzu was an old hand at the Exchange Office and often came to take assassination missions. Even being shorted a single Ryo would send him into a rage, and he would even kill people over it.
Just then, the Exchange Office doors opened, and an old man dressed in leather walked in. With a serious expression, he said, "Make up the difference for Mr. Kakuzu. He is the model mission taker of our Exchange Office."
Hearing the old man's words, the Exchange Office ninja immediately said, "Understood, Mr. Ado."
The working ninja headed toward the storeroom, and soon the sound of counting money came from inside. Hearing that his reward would be increased, the anger in Kakuzu's heart instantly vanished. He said seriously, "As long as you give me all my money, everything can be discussed."
Kakuzu then opened a Storage Scroll and took out a bloody head from it.
Kakuzu said seriously again, "The head of this mission's target." After saying that, he directly placed the head on the display counter.
Seeing the head Kakuzu had put down, Ado immediately praised him. "Mr. Kakuzu truly deserves to be called the man who dared to assassinate the First Hokage."
Kakuzu said seriously, "Are there any missions with higher rewards? I'll take them all."
Ado took out a mission scroll, handed it to Kakuzu, and said seriously, "Mr. Kakuzu, this is the mission that was posted. The reward is fifty million."
Hearing about fifty million Ryo, Kakuzu immediately perked up. He said seriously, "What mission has such a high reward? Am I going to assassinate the leader of some major ninja village?"
Ado shook his head and said seriously, "Infiltrate Konoha and assassinate a Uchiha whose clan was exterminated."
Hearing Ado's words, Kakuzu looked very satisfied. He said excitedly, "An Uchiha whose clan was exterminated is worth fifty million? What's his background?"
Ado said seriously, "His background is rather sinister. He can summon the dead from hell, and he has seven billion in savings."
Hearing about the seven billion in savings, Kakuzu's face filled with excitement. He said seriously, "I'll take this mission. Tomorrow, I'll infiltrate Konoha, kill this Uchiha remnant, and take all his savings."
The moment Kakuzu heard about seven billion Ryo, he could not stop smiling. He looked utterly crazed as he laughed, "Hahaha!"
At that moment, a man dressed in night clothes and wearing a ghost mask pushed open the Exchange Office doors. Seeing the crazed Kakuzu, he said directly, "Those who see it get a share. Can you give me half of those seven billion Ryo?"
The newcomer was Qingcheng. From far away, he had already heard Kakuzu's crazed laughter. When he heard that there were still seven billion in his accounts, he laughed so hard that soy milk dripped from his mouth.
I haven't even robbed your money yet, and you've already set your sights on me. Now that I've found you, let's see who eats whom.
Ado and Kakuzu were both stunned by the sudden voice. Kakuzu was the first to react, and he said fiercely, "Masked bastard, do you know who I am? You dare ask to split money with me? Are you looking to die?"
Hearing Kakuzu's words, Qingcheng burst out laughing. He said mockingly, "So you assassinated the First Hokage? Who knows where you hid and secretly threw a Shuriken from before claiming that you assassinated the First Hokage. Were you hiding eight hundred kilometers away?"
Qingcheng added with a scoff, "You probably never even saw the First Hokage's face, did you? The Shuriken you threw definitely never reached Hashirama. You just swallowed up the credit and went to sleep."
Hearing Qingcheng's words, Kakuzu was instantly filled with rage, as if his lie had been exposed.
That was indeed the truth. When Kakuzu received the mission to assassinate the First Hokage back then, he was scared stiff.
He did not even dare look Hashirama in the eye. He only secretly planted Explosive Tags along the road Hashirama took to the Land of Fire, and in the end, the First Hokage noticed them.
Hashirama directly removed the Explosive Tags and said seriously, "This is the main road to the Land of Fire. Why would anyone do something like this? What if it harms civilians? Wouldn't that be terrible?"
Seeing this, Kakuzu publicly claimed, "I assassinated the First Hokage. He was almost killed by me."
Before you continue