Naruto's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
Damn it, what was this guy doing here?!
Deva Path Pain!
In the early and middle stages, this was a ruthless monster whose sheer presence alone could have stomped Konoha into rubble—and Naruto's future senior brother.
For some reason, Add-Money Layman's face from Brotherhood of Blades popped into his mind.
If Nagato introduced Naruto as his own junior brother, he would probably have to add, "That'll cost extra."
Pain stepped out from among the trees, while Black and White Zetsu, looking like a pitcher plant, leaped down from a branch and followed behind him.
Kakuzu frowned and shouted at the two of them, "Who the hell are you?"
Kakuzu's entire body was stitched together like a patchwork doll, but the two across from him were not much better.
Black Zetsu in particular. Kakuzu figured that at least he only came in one color, while the other guy was flaunting a black-and-white clash.
Pain slowly walked up to Kakuzu, wearing an expression like he owed eight million: "Kakuzu, the immortal ninja. I've come to recruit you into Akatsuki."
"Akatsuki?" Kakuzu raised a brow.
Black Zetsu answered for Pain. "An organization founded for true peace."
Kakuzu snorted. "I have no interest in that sort of thing. The only thing that can make my eyes light up now is money."
Back when he was in Takigakure, he had been one of their finest elites. His superiors had sent him to assassinate the First Hokage.
After infiltrating the Land of Fire, he fought Hashirama, only to be beaten half to death by his Wood Release.
He had barely escaped back to the village alive, but instead of a welcome home, the village—afraid Konoha would retaliate—dumped the blame for the failed mission on him and punished him