After booking a room, Kakuzu locked every door and window, checking that the locks were secure.
He was certain that not even the slightest disturbance could escape his ears!
As long as Xuanhui dared to show himself, he was confident he could keep him occupied long enough to draw Yugakure's guards over!
He sat on the bed, mulling over what Xuanhui had said.
If he's so certain he can find me, he must have some technique I don't know about.
I'll hide right here. Let's see what you can do!
Sitting on the bed, he took the bills out of his pocket and slowly counted his money, as though that was the only way he could find a moment's peace.
"Two thousand... The payment for this job was actually that much lower!
"That bastard of a client. Once I'm done dealing with this..."
Before he could finish, a mass of black threads spilled from his mouth.
Agonizing pain swept through his entire body, and he clutched at his heart.
But the moment he reached for it, a layer of skin was burned clean off his hand!
He looked down to see a spike glowing with golden light piercing his chest!
Light?
Wasn't that brat known for his Light Release?!
"Damn it!"
Kakuzu's body shook violently, and the back of his clothing bulged in uneven shapes.
A masked monster made of black threads burst through his clothes and died right on the bed!
That was his fire-nature heart!
"That's your first life.
"If you replace your hearts to keep yourself alive, I'll stab every last one of them in a single day!"
The spike of light abruptly withdrew, and Xuanhui's voice drifted eerily through the hole.
Clutching his heart, Kakuzu soon recovered.
He immediately rushed out the door, only to find