Pain

Kakuzu hid in an abandoned village. At his feet lay several corpses with their hearts hollowed out. He was using the Earth Grudge Fear secret technique to replenish his own hearts, while using the black threads of the technique to stitch together his shattered internal organs.

"This time, I've taken a massive loss! I thought I'd be able to secure a decent heart and a Byakugan, but not only did I come away with nothing, I even lost four of my hearts."

Sitting on the ground, Kakuzu looked at the corpses beside him and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"I must make up for these losses."

As he spoke, Kakuzu pulled out his ledger and flipped directly to the last page, where two fake identities used by Hyuuga Nen were noted.

"I was too reckless this time; I launched an attack without fully grasping his intelligence. Furthermore, he is very different from the average member of the Hyuga Clan. A failure, a total failure!"

"However, through this battle, I have learned his details. Next time, I will definitely be able to take his heart." Kakuzu said, staring at the portrait in his records.

"You just wait for me!"

Just as Kakuzu was contemplating how to defeat Hyuuga Nen, he suddenly noticed that the ring on his finger was emitting a glow and growing slightly warm.

"The Leader is contacting me." Kakuzu hurriedly began to weave hand signs, and his consciousness felt as if it were being pulled into a dark space.

This space was vast, and in the center, there appeared to be a massive shadow, though in the darkness, Kakuzu could not clearly see what it was.

After Kakuzu's consciousness entered this space, he found his body had become a colorful phantom. Before him stood another colorful phantom, seemingly perched atop that massive shadow, watching him with eyes full of intricate patterns.

The phantom before Kakuzu was the leader of the organization he had joined not long ago, a man who called himself Pain.

"Leader, did you call for me?"

Kakuzu lowered his head. Recalling the terrifying power the man had displayed when recruiting him, Kakuzu felt a genuine sense of shock in his heart.

"Kakuzu, what happened? I sensed that you were on the verge of death just moments ago."

Pain asked in an indifferent tone.

Hearing Pain's words, Kakuzu felt surprised. He said cautiously, "Leader, how did you know about this?"

"Naturally, through the ring on your finger."

Kakuzu looked down at the ring Pain had given him. So, through this ring, he can not only contact me but also monitor me, Kakuzu thought silently to himself.

Unwilling to admit his defeat to Pain, Kakuzu simply stated that he had encountered a powerful enemy and had been accidentally bested, hoping to brush it off.

"When I recruited you into the organization, I told you that we are currently in a dormant phase and that you should act with caution. Have you disregarded my orders?"

When Pain said this, his previously indifferent tone turned stern.

Noticing the shift in Pain's tone, Kakuzu grew tense and hurriedly explained, "Leader, this matter will not draw the attention of the Five Great Nations to me. I have been acting according to your orders while also finding ways to secure funding for the organization's activities."

"Then who exactly did you encounter? With your strength, to suffer such a significant loss—was it someone from the Five Great Nations?" Pain continued to press.

Under Pain's questioning, Kakuzu had no choice but to reveal that he had encountered Hyuuga Nen and described their battle.

"A member of the Hyuga Clan who doesn't belong to Konoha?"

"Correct. He has been active in the Bounty Exchange, and the countries he has appeared in are the Land of Sea and the Land of Tea. I am certain he is not from Konoha."

Pain lowered his head and remained silent for a while, seemingly lost in thought. After a moment, he looked up at Kakuzu.

"Then, in your opinion, is his strength sufficient for him to join our organization?"

Hearing Pain's question, Kakuzu fell silent for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. Finally, he replied, "Given this person's strength, he is sufficient to join our organization."

Having received Kakuzu's confirmation, Pain nodded and continued, "Kakuzu, the organization now has a new order for you: gather intelligence on this Hyuga clansman, and if possible, recruit him into the organization."

Upon hearing Pain's words, Kakuzu's first reaction was reluctance; he still wanted to settle the score with Hyuuga Nen himself.

Thus, he said, "Leader, I am, after all, just a rogue ninja with limited capabilities. I will need the organization's assistance."

Kakuzu said this to test the organization's intent, as he had only just joined and did not know much about it.

"Currently, besides myself and Konan, there is only Sasori, Zetsu, and you. Sasori and Zetsu are both on missions, and the organization is short-handed, so you will have to carry this out yourself."

"But..."

Kakuzu had not expected Pain to be so direct about the organization's situation and was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

Pain interrupted him, "Do you not frequently operate in the black market? If you release the intelligence on this Hyuga clansman directly into the black market, I believe the Five Great Nations will be very interested. Once they take action, won't it be much easier to gather information?"

After a pause, Pain spoke again, "Although I have the intention of recruiting him, I do not know what kind of person he is. Only if he is hunted by the Five Great Nations and manages to survive the pursuit will he have the qualifications to be recruited by me."

"Is my order clear to you?"

"Yes, I understand."

Hearing the order, Kakuzu knew he could not change the Leader's mind and had no choice but to accept. He nodded.

"Good, then go and execute it immediately." With that final remark, Pain severed the connection, and Kakuzu's consciousness returned to his own body.

After regaining his senses, Kakuzu touched his ring and muttered, "This business isn't finished yet. Just you wait." He then resumed healing his injured body.

Some time later, Kakuzu had replenished his five hearts and stitched up the shattered organs within his body. He stood up and headed toward the Bounty Exchange.

A while later, Kakuzu walked out of the doors of the Bounty Exchange. As he stepped out, a smile appeared beneath his mask, and he pulled out a stack of money to begin counting.

By handing over the intelligence on Hyuuga Nen at the black market, Kakuzu had also collected a large bounty. Having received the payment, his previously gloomy mood improved slightly.

"If he can survive the pursuit and enter the organization, I'll still have my chance. I hope he doesn't get killed by someone else."

Glancing back at the Bounty Exchange, Kakuzu said, "Now, let's sit back and watch the show."