(I think Explosive Tag of Konan should have been made by herself. Otherwise, 600 billion Explosive Tags and one Explosive Tag would still be so expensive. Let alone Kakuzu, which has lived for a hundred years, she would not be able to save so much in a thousand years.)
When Kakuzu returned to Kumogakure, it was already evening.
The setting sun dyed the entire village golden red, and Cloud Hidden Mountain in the distance looked particularly majestic in the twilight.
People were coming and going on the streets. Ninjas who had just finished their training were walking home in twos and threes. Vendors on the roadside began to close their stalls. Smoke rose from the chimneys of every house.
Kakuzu was walking on the street, holding the 900 million taels of bills and supplies list in his arms, feeling light and airy all over.
It felt like drinking a pot of old wine. Although I was not drunk, every pore in my body was feeling comfortable.
Nine hundred million taels.
800 million is Konoha's compensation, and 100 million is an unexpected surprise.
He made a calculation silently in his mind.
Kumogakure The annual salary of the finance minister is 20 million taels, and 900 million taels is enough for him to work for 45 years.
He recalled those days in the underground gold exchange, where he had to work hard for hundreds of thousands of taels. Sometimes he had to fight for business with his peers. If he couldn't grab it, he would be beaten. If he couldn't fight, he would run away. If he couldn't run, he would die.
At that time, he was thinking, when will he have enough money that he will never have to worry about money again?
Now there is.
Nine hundred million taels.
Although most of it belonged to the village, the 100 million taels truly belonged to him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen gave it personally, one hundred million taels to buy Danzo's life.
He collected the money and released the people. The money and goods were cleared, and no one owed anyone.
Kakuzu As he thought about it, the corners of his mouth turned up unconsciously.
That face that had been expressionless all year round rarely showed a smile at this moment.
Although the smile looked a bit sinister, coupled with the stitch marks all over his body and his cloudy old eyes, he looked like a weasel who had just stolen a chicken.
But Kakuzu doesn't care.
When he pushed open Raikage's Office's door, he didn't have time to take back his smile.
Shaoyu is sitting behind the desk, holding a document in his hand and reading it.
He raised his head and was stunned for a moment when he saw the smiling face of Kakuzu.
"Yo." Shaoyu put down the document with a playful smile on his face, "Did Elder Kakuzu find money? He smiled so happily."
Kakuzu walked to the desk and put the 800 million taels of supplies list and the 100 million taels of bills on the table.
"I didn't find any money," he said, his voice hoarse and calm, "I just took back the money that should be collected."
Shaoyu picked up the list, looked at it, and nodded.
"Eight hundred million taels, every penny is a lot. Thank you for your hard work."
Kakuzu stood there, waiting for the next sentence.
He knew that Shaoyu would ask about the one hundred million taels.
Sure enough, Shaoyu put down the list, picked up the 100 million tael bill, and raised his eyebrows.
"What's going on with the 100 million taels? Konoha's conscience found that it was too much?"
Kakuzu shook his head.
"It was given by Sarutobi Hiruzen."
"Oh?" Shaoyu became interested, "Tell me about it."
Kakuzu described in detail the process of intercepting and killing Danzo on the road, fighting between the two for two hours, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly appearing, and finally Hiruzen Sarutobi spending 100 million taels to redeem him.
He spoke very calmly, as if he was talking about what to eat today. But Shaoyu listened with great interest.
"Danzo, that old guy," Shaoyu laughed after hearing this, "You are really lucky. It's not enough for me to kill you once, I have to go and cause trouble for you."
Kakuzu nodded.
"He doesn't seem to have Sharingan anymore."
Shaoyu nodded. Last time, he had consumed all Sharingan of Danzo.
Danzo has never played Kakuzu, so it is considered normal.
He turned the 100 million tael note in his hand and looked at Kakuzu.
"So, you released Danzo?"
Kakuzu nodded.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen gave him 100 million taels to buy his life. I took the money and let him go."
Shaoyu looked at him with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Do you want me to take action and help you express this? That old guy Danzo dares to intercept and kill you, and it is clear that he does not take me Kumogakure seriously. I will personally go to Konoha, find him out and kill him, which can be regarded as revenge for you."
Kakuzu was stunned for a moment.
He didn't expect Shaoyu to say that.
With Shaoyu's current strength, it is indeed not difficult to kill Danzo.
Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Mangekyō Sharingan, and those weird abilities that even he can't understand.
Limitless, Ten Shadows Technique, Blood Manipulation.
Danzo No matter how many Sharingan there are, they are simply not enough to look at in front of Shaoyu.
But Kakuzu thought about it and shook his head.
"Forget it."
Shaoyu raised his eyebrows.
"Oh? Why?"
Kakuzu was silent for a while.
The light in the office gradually dimmed, and the afterglow of the setting sun poured in from the window, casting long shadows on the floor.
Kakuzu stood there, with a rare serious expression on his face covered with stitch marks.
"I am a contractual person." He said.
Shaoyu looked at him and said nothing.
Kakuzu continued, "Sarutobi Hiruzen gave money, 100 million taels, to buy Danzo's life. I accepted the money and agreed, and the matter is settled. The money and goods are cleared, and there will be no further pursuit. This is my rule."
His voice was hoarse and calm, as if he was stating a simple fact.
"I have lived for eighty-nine years, taken over countless tasks, and killed countless people. But there is one rule that I have never broken - after receiving the money, you have to do the work. After the work is done, there will be no further investigation. No matter who the other party is, no matter what will happen in the future, the money and goods will be cleared, and the grudges will be cleared."
He looked at Shaoyu, a rare glimmer of light appeared in his cloudy old eyes.
"This is the reason why I am alive today."
Shaoyu was silent for a moment after listening.
Then he laughed.
The laughter echoed in the empty office, with a bit of appreciation, a bit of surprise, and a bit of inexplicable meaning.
"Good." He said, "What a contract spirit."
He stood up, walked to Kakuzu, and patted him on the shoulder.
"Since you said so, let's let this matter go. You can keep the 100 million taels for yourself."
Kakuzu was stunned.
"What?"
Shaoyu said with a smile, "I said, the one hundred million taels is yours. It is considered as compensation for this mission."
Kakuzu's eyes lit up instantly.
The brightness is like two lanterns in the dark night, or like a wolf that has been hungry for three days seeing a fat sheep.
His breathing became a little faster.
But he still maintained his dignity and asked calmly, "Lord Raikage, is this... appropriate?"
My Lord Raikage.
Shaoyu smiled even happier.
"What's inappropriate? You went to Konoha this time, and originally you only received 800 million taels in compensation. But on the way, you were intercepted and killed by Danzo, and you almost lost your life. Sarutobi Hiruzen spent 100 million taels to redeem someone, which was an unexpected surprise. This money was originally given because you were in danger, and it belongs to you, of course."