Recruiting Kakuzu, Another Storm Brewing

"...All right, Sensei."

Genye fell silent for a moment, then slowly stepped aside under Jiraiya's gaze.

He figured the old man deserved a chance to show off.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Jiraiya clapped Genye on the shoulder and strode forward, laughing. "Kid, watch closely. This next move is going to be awesome!"

"Jiraiya—the gallant—"

Thwack!

Just as Jiraiya was rocking his head from side to side, the two sages on his shoulders each slammed a tiny fist into his face.

"Stop yelling in our ears!"

"Ugh!" Jiraiya's cheeks were squished together like a pair of buns. He hadn't even managed to look cool for three seconds before he was humbled.

"All right, let's finish this quickly. I still have to go home and cook." Sage Shima drew back her fist and urged them on.

"Hey, old woman, stop thinking about cooking all the time! We have business to take care of, all right?" Sage Fukasaku said, exasperated.

"Now, children's father, what kind of thing is that to say? *...#%@*"

The two sages ignored Kakuzu and started arguing on Jiraiya's shoulders.

Jiraiya: (ﾟДﾟ≡ﾟДﾟ)!

Hey, you two, this is my fight! My student's standing right over there watching, and you're already bickering!

Boom!

Kakuzu's fists exploded into action again, driven forward by black tendrils as they slammed toward Jiraiya.

"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"

Jiraiya clapped his hands together. The hair on his back instantly lengthened and spread before him, each strand standing straight like a silver needle and forming a sturdy shield.

Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!

Before Kakuzu's fists could land, countless silver needles shot out like a rain of ox-hair, forming a gleaming barrage that pierced the tendrils connected to both of Kakuzu's fists.

Whoosh.

As his hair gradually returned to its normal length, Jiraiya was surprised to discover that the severed tendrils on the ground could still move freely like living creatures, wriggling back toward Kakuzu.

The black tendrils reconnected, and in just a few breaths, Kakuzu's severed hands were as good as new.

"Oh, is that Earth Grudge Fear?"

"I didn't expect that forbidden technique was still being passed down."

The two Toad Sages were well-informed. At last, they stopped bickering and prepared to get down to business.

"Sage Art: Goemon!"

Jiraiya and the two sages joined their hands, puffed out their cheeks, and forcefully exhaled chakra.

Whoosh!

Streams of oil, wind, and fire chakra converged in midair. The scorching, dark-yellow blaze erupted like lava, surging toward Kakuzu with the force of a thunderbolt.

Faced with such a mighty attack, Kakuzu's expression finally changed.

"Earth Grudge Triple: Dust Separation!"

Three masks climbed onto his shoulders at once. Fire, wind, and lightning chakra combined into a blue beam that shot toward the incoming torrent.

Boom!

Although both attacks combined three techniques, Jiraiya's Goemon was clearly stronger. In just a few seconds, it completely swallowed Kakuzu's chakra beam.

But that brief delay was enough for Kakuzu to fling himself out of harm's way and retreat to a safe distance.

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm: Collapse!"

Just then, a mass of chakra hurtled toward him from a distance. Kakuzu dodged to the side and cursed inwardly.

These two brats had no honor at all. They'd actually ambushed a sixty-nine-year-old man!

Still, he'd be fine. An attack at this level couldn't hurt him as long as he was prepared—

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm: Explosion!"

Thump!

The three masks on Kakuzu's shoulders burst apart. Black tendrils fell all over the ground, writhing like a pile of mudfish.

"How is this possible?" Kakuzu stared in disbelief.

That brat had been dancing to his tune just moments ago. Who could've guessed he'd take control of the fight so quickly?

"...This is bad!"

By the time Kakuzu came to his senses, a blue sphere seven or eight meters across had already appeared right in front of him.

"Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!"

Kakuzu's spine went cold. The stinging all over his body told him that if he couldn't dodge this attack, he would die!

"Earth Release: Solid Rock!"

Nine-tenths of the tendrils inside Kakuzu's body surged out. Driven by the Earth-style mask, they twisted into a towering wall three or four meters thick and blocked the Rasengan's path.

Meanwhile, Kakuzu's real body fled backward with all his might.

Boom!

The Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan crashed into the wall, unleashing the terrifying energy within it and turning everything within several miles as bright as day.

The thick wall instantly crumbled to dust. A white shock wave continued onward, engulfing Kakuzu.

"Cough, cough... cough, cough..."

After the explosion, Kakuzu lay on the ground in a heap of threads. Cracks covered his only remaining mask, making it look as if it might shatter at any moment.

"This guy's pretty tough. He's still alive after all that." Genye walked over to Kakuzu and curiously poked one of his tendrils.

Nearby, Jiraiya had sent the two sages off and dispelled Sage Mode. He, too, walked over.

Genye turned to him and asked, "Pervy Sage, what do you think we should do with him?"

"Oh?" Jiraiya caught the implication in Genye's words. "You're not planning to kill him?"

"Yeah." Genye nodded. "He's talented. It'd be a shame to kill him just like that. I want to try recruiting him."

Kakuzu had lost the ability to move. He could only lie there in silence, listening as the two of them discussed what to do with him.

Jiraiya shook his head. "A bounty hunter who only cares about money would never work for you."

"Heh, only caring about money makes things simple." Genye grinned. "As long as there's enough in it for him, he'll be easy to put to work."

"Pervy Sage, wait here for a moment. I'll go see if I can recruit him."

With that, Genye hauled Kakuzu off the ground and carried him toward a nearby wasteland.

"Hey, Kakuzu, want to make some money?"

Once they were far enough away from Jiraiya, Genye dropped Kakuzu on the ground and asked in a coaxing tone.

"Not the kind of small change you make with petty jobs, either. I'm talking about making real money."

After a moment of silence, Kakuzu answered weakly, "I'm... listening..."

"Good." Genye nodded in satisfaction. "Then tell me, have you ever heard of capital? Of monopolies?"

"..."

In just a few minutes, Genye had won Kakuzu over. A few minutes after that, Kakuzu practically wanted to take Genye as his master on the spot.

The money he'd sweated blood to earn over half a lifetime couldn't compare to what he could make through a few rounds of that so-called "capital operation"!

After a while, Kakuzu couldn't help asking, "You've told me all these methods just like that. Aren't you worried I'll change my mind and leave?"

Genye crooked his mouth. "That's because I've got even more profitable methods. This is a win-win deal. You wouldn't turn your back on a chance to make money, would you, Kakuzu?"

Kakuzu thought it over, then slowly nodded. "You've convinced me. I'm willing to join you."

"Great!" Genye patted Kakuzu's...well, he couldn't tell what part it was.

"Anyway, you're Scum Organization's first member. One day, our organization will make a name for itself throughout the Shinobi World!"

Kakuzu replied calmly, "I don't care about making a name for myself. As long as there's money in it, I'm in."

Genye rolled his eyes. "There's a guy in the Land of Waves named Gato, so rich he could rival a nation. He's a vile scumbag who's done every kind of evil. I think his assets should be enough to get your business started."

"Got it." Kakuzu nodded, immediately growing excited at the mention of money.

He'd never stolen money before because he enjoyed the process of earning it. But now, stealing money was a way to make even more money. There was no contradiction there.

"By the way, Kakuzu," Genye asked. "Based on your experience, who do you think might have put a bounty on me?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Kakuzu answered, "You're unknown in the Shinobi World, but the bounty notice describes you in great detail. It must be someone from your village."

Someone from the village...

Without even thinking about it, Genye pictured Hyuga Yuansheng's old face.

"All right, I understand. You can go. I'll get in touch with you again." Genye gave a slight nod, signaling that Kakuzu was free to leave whenever he wanted.

As long as they didn't violate Jiraiya's principles, he was very forgiving toward his enemies and often let them go. He wouldn't mind this, either.

"Pervy Sage, I successfully recruited him!"

Genye returned to Jiraiya's side, proudly bragging about his accomplishment.

"Forget that for now, Genye."

Jiraiya cut him off, his expression grim. "We may have to cut our travels short and return to the village first."

"Huh?"

Genye's expression froze. He had no idea what could have made Jiraiya, who was usually so carefree, act this serious.

"What's wrong, Pervy Sage? Did something happen in the village?"

Jiraiya nodded, his expression dark. "Orochimaru... has defected!"