"Were you thinking about the past?"
"Yeah, nothing important."
Kakuzu wiped the water running down his forehead, his gaze still fixed ahead.
"How many days are we staying in Takigakure?"
"That's still undecided. As usual, we'll look around first, then loot the ruins, and move on to the next stop."
Kakuzu nodded, then looked at Orochimaru.
"Are you interested in Takigakure's other secret techniques?"
Orochimaru was perceptive. The slight curve of his eyes and brows made it clear that he understood Kakuzu's intentions.
"Of course."
Even without the words "I want them all," all three knew what he meant.
"What about you, brat?"
Kakuzu also asked Xuanhui whether any secret techniques caught his fancy.
Xuanhui was interested, of course. Like Orochimaru, he now enjoyed delving into more techniques.
That day, the relationship between the three underwent a subtle change.
The bond forged through genuine cooperation had taken a qualitative leap.
Kakuzu brought back a thick collection of secret techniques and presented it to the other two, expecting praise.
"You didn't commit any crimes, did you?"
"You didn't resort to violence, did you?"
"Why would you assume I didn't? What kind of person do you take me for?"
"Is there really any hope left for you?"
As it turned out, Kakuzu had originally planned to steal the manuals and provoke infighting among Takigakure's leaders.
Instead, he discovered that one of Takigakure's leaders was a descendant of a leader he had killed all those years ago!
After some rough persuasion, the man tearfully admitted that he had bought his position.
Kakuzu had exploded in outrage!
"For someone like you to lead ninja is a tragedy for everyone.
I won't use the instruments of justice. You don't deserve them!
But I will use the most hellish methods to make you regret deceiving the