The sun sets in the west and the sky becomes dark.
Kakuzu was walking on the road leading to Kumogakure with three Kumogakure jounin.
This road is rarely visited and is surrounded by dense woods on both sides. Occasionally, a few birds chirping can be heard from the depths, making it very quiet.
Kakuzu's pace was neither fast nor slow, and his expression was leisurely, as if the seal scrolls worth 800 million taels in his arms were just a pile of worthless junk.
But actually, he was in a very good mood.
Eight hundred million taels.
He lived for decades and handled countless amounts of money.
The scrolls were so heavy in his arms that his clothes bulged, but he didn't feel tired at all.
On the contrary, he wished he could hold these scrolls against his chest and feel their presence all the time.
This is 800 million taels!
He was calculating quickly in his mind.
After taking the money back to Kumogakure, he would first hold a succession ceremony for Shaoyu. According to his estimation, it would cost tens of millions of taels at most to make the ceremony grand and dignified.
After all, he Kakuzu is an expert in managing money. Every penny can be spent wisely and will never be wasted.
Venue decoration? Ask the idle ninjas in the village to help. Just pay some hard work. It's much cheaper than hiring someone from outside.
Treating guests to a banquet? Kumogakure has the best cook himself, and the ingredients are purchased directly from the village, so there is no need to buy expensive ones from outside.
Kumogakure's beef is Shinobi World's best.
Ritual items? Use old ones if you can, and buy new ones if you can't. But be sure to shop around and choose the one with the best value for money.
The more he thought about it, the more beautiful it became, and he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly.
800 million taels, after deducting the expenses for the succession ceremony, there are still more than 700 million left. Those more than 700 million are all Kumogakure's fiscal revenue.
Kakuzu's heartbeat accelerated a bit.
He touched his chest, where five hearts were beating.
This is the wealth he has accumulated over the past few decades, and every piece is a carefully selected good product.
"Kakuzu-sama." A jounin next to him came over with a flattering smile on his face, "What good thing have you thought of? Are you smiling so happily?"
Kakuzu glanced at him and snorted.
"It's nothing." He said, but he couldn't hide the smile on his face.
Another jounin also came over and said with a smile, "Master Kakuzu, when we go back this time, the succession ceremony of Master Shaoyu must be particularly grand, right?"
Kakuzu nodded.
"Nonsense. Fourth Raikage succeeds to the throne, can you not have a grand ceremony?"
The third jounin also came up, his eyes shining brightly.
"Then let's follow Mr. Kakuzu, and we can also take advantage of it, right? I heard that there is a flowing banquet at the succession ceremony, and the whole village can eat it? And there are also large barbecues and whole roasted lambs?"
Kakuzu's mouth twitched slightly.
These guys just know how to eat.
"Don't worry." He said angrily, "I won't miss you. Mr. Shaoyu has succeeded to the throne, and the whole Kumogakure will celebrate. Not to mention roasting whole lambs, there will be roasted whole cows."
The three jounin looked at each other and smiled.
"Kakuzu is wise!"
"Master Kakuzu is mighty!"
"Kakuzu-sama is the best!"
Kakuzu was a little dazed after being photographed by them, but he still maintained that enigmatic expression on his face.
"Okay, okay, stop flattering me." He waved his hand, "Hurry up and go back early to deliver the errands. Mr. Shaoyu is still waiting for the money to do things."
The three Jonin nodded quickly and continued walking forward.
Kakuzu followed behind, holding the seal scrolls in his hands, feeling very happy.
Eight hundred million taels, eight hundred million taels...
He couldn't help but start making calculations again.
Besides organizing the succession ceremony, what else can you do with this money? Build a few training grounds? Give some subsidies to ninjas? Purchase a batch of new ninja tools? Or...
At this moment, his brows suddenly frowned.
The steps stopped.
"Sir?" A jounin noticed something unusual and turned around, "What's wrong?"
Kakuzu didn't speak, but slowly raised his head and looked at the dim woods ahead.
The last rays of the setting sun were disappearing from the treetops. Shadows were spreading and darkness was falling. It was so quiet in that forest, not even the chirping of birds.
It's too quiet.
Just a few moments ago I could still hear a few birds chirping, but now there was nothing. Even the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves became extremely soft.
It was a kind of silence suppressed by something.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed.
He has lived for nearly a hundred years and experienced countless lives and deaths. He is too familiar with this kind of silence.
That was the silence before the killing.
"Someone." His voice was low and cold.
The expressions of the three jounin changed instantly.
They drew their weapons almost at the same time, formed a circle back to back, and protected Kakuzu in the middle.
Several pairs of eyes scanned the surroundings vigilantly, chakra slowly flowing through the body, ready to take action at any time.
There was still silence in the woods.
But that kind of silence is no longer the natural silence, but the dead silence before the storm.
"Come out." Kakuzu said, his voice so calm that it made people feel chilling, "Hiding your head and showing your tail is not like the style of a strong man."
There was silence for a moment.
Then, a deep laughter came from the woods.
The laughter was hoarse and cold, like the cry of a night owl, and like the cold wind in a tomb, making people feel chilled.
A figure slowly walked out of the shadows of the woods.
He was wearing a black robe, with a bandage on his right eye, and a cold light shining in his left eye.
His steps were slow and steady, and each step was firm, with the majesty of someone who had been in a high position for a long time.
Behind him, there were more than a dozen figures.
Those figures were also wearing black robes and exuding a dangerous aura.
They walked out from all corners of the woods and quietly surrounded the four Kakuzu. Everyone wore animal masks on their faces, only revealing a pair of cold eyes.
Shimura Danzō.
Konoha Elder, the leader of Root.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed even more.
He knows this person.
Danzo, the "dark side" of Konoha, specializes in shady activities. Over the decades, he has assassinated countless people and planned countless conspiracies. He is a dangerous figure known throughout Shinobi World.
But Kakuzu didn't expect that he would appear here.
"Danzo." His voice was still calm, but with a hint of coldness, "What does this mean?"
Danzo looked at him, the corners of his mouth raised slightly.
That smile was full of coldness and cruelty.
"I just think that giving you Kumogakure this large sum of money is really a waste."
Kakuzu's eyes flashed with a cold light.
"Cut the nonsense." He said, "Konoha wants to break the contract?"
Danzo smiled.
That smile was full of sarcasm.
"Breaked the contract?" He repeated, "No, no, no, Konoha did not break the contract. Third has already paid you the compensation, right?"
Kakuzu's brows wrinkled slightly.
He probably knew what this guy wanted to do.
"I see." He said, "You want to take advantage of others."
Danzo nodded.
"Smart."