Kakuzu: Genius is Just the Threshold to Seeing Xuan Yu

Kakuzu, lingering at the back of the crowd, secretly rejoiced as he watched Xuan Yu give both the Heavenly Path and Konan a considerable headache.

He couldn't be the only one suffering under Xuan Yu's mischief.

However, Kakuzu's amusement waned when the Heavenly Path began to question him.

Because if he answered truthfully, he'd essentially be subjected to public execution.

He, a master of completing missions within the Akatsuki, was repeatedly bested by this brat Xuan Yu. Admitting that would be too embarrassing.

But Kakuzu quickly changed his tune.

He could praise Xuan Yu based on his performance and growth rate.

This would not only curry favor with Xuan Yu but also make his own losses at Xuan Yu's hands understandable, given that Xuan Yu was an exceptionally gifted ninja.

With that thought, Kakuzu cleared his throat and began, "What this brat says is likely true. I've encountered him four times in the past month, and each time, I could clearly feel his strength had increased."

"I've met many ninjas across the ninja world who considered themselves geniuses, but their growth speed is nowhere near that of this brat before me."

Kakuzu's words elevated Xuan Yu to the heavens.

The implication was that being a genius was merely the entry requirement to meet Xuan Yu.

As soon as Kakuzu finished speaking, the Heavenly Path Pain nodded slightly, then turned his gaze back to Xuan Yu and asked, "What is the third reason?"

Xuan Yu answered without hesitation, "The third reason is that I possess an intelligence network far superior to the Akatsuki's. I know countless little-known secrets of the ninja world. For example, the secret of the Heavenly Path Pain, the Akatsuki's plan to create Tailed Beast Weapons, and the reasons each Akatsuki member joined the organization. I am aware of all of it."

The Heavenly Path and Konan had already felt that the Akatsuki seemed to have no secrets in front of Xuan Yu.

Hearing Xuan Yu confirm it now, they were inwardly shocked; their feelings were indeed correct.

Xuan Yu's source of information was unknown, but in front of him, the Akatsuki was indeed as transparent as glass.

Facing such a ninja, the Akatsuki had only two options.

Either recruit him for their own use, or eliminate him on the spot.

Xuan Yu's demonstrated value in recent moments led both the Heavenly Path and Konan to lean towards the former.

After a brief moment of consideration, the Heavenly Path Pain spoke, "I can agree to your request. The Akatsuki can hire you for long-term cooperation at a rate of ten million Ryo per year."

"Stop!" Xuan Yu was clearly dissatisfied with this offer. He immediately frowned and complained, "Brother Men, aren't you underestimating me too much? Am I only worth ten million Ryo to the Akatsuki per year? At least one hundred million Ryo a year! Missions exceeding one hundred million Ryo will be calculated separately. Otherwise, this cooperation is a non-starter!"

Xuan Yu directly made an exorbitant demand, asking Nagato for an astronomical commission.

This kind of negotiation was always about asking high and settling lower, so he had to start with a high price.

The Heavenly Path Pain naturally wouldn't agree to such an outrageous offer.

But considering Xuan Yu was talent the organization needed, he pondered for a moment and conceded, "The Akatsuki can offer you a maximum of thirty million Ryo per year, and you must complete missions worth that amount for the organization annually."

"In addition, the organization can provide you with additional mission channels, fulfill your need for ninjutsu, and offer other assistance you may require..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xuan Yu had already flashed and instantly appeared before the Heavenly Path Pain, a wide grin on his face as he extended his hand, "Brother Men, give me the money."

Heavenly Path Pain: (O_O)???

Konan: (O_O)???

The others: (O_O)???

Three question marks simultaneously popped into everyone's minds.

Didn't he say he wouldn't talk if it was less than one hundred million Ryo a year?

Why did he so readily agree to thirty million a year now?

Nagato, controlling Pain, felt like he had been tricked. He thought that even if he had offered fifteen million Ryo a year, this brat might have agreed.

However, Nagato was not one to suffer losses. He was already calculating how to "entertain" Xuan Yu.

Since Xuan Yu wanted to take thirty million Ryo from him, he might as well assign Xuan Yu to be Kakuzu's partner.

Given Kakuzu's efficiency and the number of missions he completed, Xuan Yu would soon complete missions worth thirty million Ryo for the organization.

Once the value exceeded thirty million Ryo, they would calculate the commission for Xuan Yu separately.

With that thought, Nagato controlled the Heavenly Path Pain and nodded slightly at Konan.

Konan understood and immediately took out a check, wrote out thirty million Ryo, and handed it to Xuan Yu.

Xuan Yu took the check and couldn't stop smiling.

He thought to himself, Coming to the Akatsuki was definitely the right decision! I've only been here for less than an hour and I've already earned thirty million Ryo. If I were in the Black Market of the Empty District, how many corpses would I have to rob to save up this much money!

Seeing Xuan Yu happily accept the check, the Heavenly Path Pain spoke again, "Xuan Yu, welcome to the Akatsuki as a mercenary, becoming one of us. According to the Akatsuki's rules, you will now form a two-person team with Kakuzu and carry out missions together."

Upon hearing this arrangement, Kisame Hoshigaki couldn't help but cast a sympathetic glance at Xuan Yu.

Although Xuan Yu was not weak, Kakuzu was known for being a dead weight teammate. It was possible that soon, Xuan Yu's corpse would be sent to the Bounty Exchange by Kakuzu for money.

"Heh, unlucky brat," Orochimaru chuckled sinisterly with schadenfreude, his thoughts mirroring Kisame's.

In the Akatsuki, other members might change partners for various reasons, but not usually because their partner died. Kakuzu, however, was different. Each time he changed partners, it was basically because the previous partner had "accidentally" died.

Kakuzu frowned slightly at the Heavenly Path Pain's decision.

He had recruited Xuan Yu into the Akatsuki hoping Xuan Yu would become one of them and stop opposing him, but he didn't want Xuan Yu to be his partner—unlike others, this teammate would undoubtedly be too difficult to kill.

He truly didn't know how long it would take him to kill Xuan Yu and then haul Xuan Yu's corpse to the Bounty Exchange for money.

Xuan Yu was very satisfied with this arrangement.

He gave Heavenly Path Pain a thumbs-up and said with a chuckle, "Brother Men really understands me! With my mission capabilities, if I don't team up with Kakuzi after joining the Akatsuki, it would be a complete waste of my skills!"

"With Kakuzi and me joining forces, the Akatsuki's financial reserves will definitely skyrocket!"

Heavenly Path Pain was uninterested in the pie Xuan Yu was painting. He merely turned to Konan and instructed, "Give him an Akatsuki uniform and arrange a place for him to stay in Amegakure."

"Understood." Konan nodded slightly and then looked at Xuan Yu, "Follow me."

Xuan Yu had no objections. He followed Konan with a smile, leaving the high tower platform and heading to his residence in Amegakure.

Konan stopped in front of a dwelling and said plainly, "This will be your residence in Amegakure from now on. The room opposite yours is where your partner Kakuzu lives."

"I'll have someone deliver an Akatsuki uniform to you later. If you have any questions, you can ask Kakuzu or come to me."

Xuan Yu casually asked, "Sister Konan, when will you provide me with channels to obtain ninjutsu?"

Konan was momentarily stunned at his words, only then remembering what Kakuzu had promised when recruiting Xuan Yu. She nodded slightly, "The Akatsuki does not have a practice of proactively providing ninjutsu to members. We will need some time to prepare before we can provide you with ninjutsu or a way to obtain it, tailored to your specific situation."

"Until then, you should follow Kakuzu and familiarize yourself with the Akatsuki's internal workings and mission execution procedures."