Kakuzu scoffed at Yugito's obstruction, blue flames blazing around her.
The heavy metal box on his back shifted, and the cargo inside seemed to still be cursing unwillingly.
"If I don't leave, am I supposed to wait for you to treat me to dinner?"
Before he had even finished speaking, he was ready to force his way out. Tentacles writhed across his body, on the verge of bursting through his flesh.
Just as his chakra was about to erupt, a line of icy text flashed through his mind like a brand.
It was an inconspicuous additional clause in the Purifiers' business plan, a document exquisite enough to be called a work of art.
[During mission execution, partners must not proactively cause or permit large-scale civilian casualties. Should severe social repercussions result, the Purifiers reserve the right to deem such conduct a breach of contract.]
[Consequences of breach: termination of all cooperation, reclamation of all transferred assets, and initiation of the highest-level recovery procedures.]
Kakuzu froze.
For the first time, his five hearts beat with such perfect uniformity, as though an invisible giant hand had clenched around them.
Recovery.
Reclamation.
That meant the five billion ryō he had been hoping for would be ruthlessly taken away.
No, worse.
It meant every treasury he had accumulated over his lifetime would be exposed to the Purifiers' omnipresent enforcement capabilities.
He suddenly recalled that photograph of the mountain peak in Amegakure that had been vaporized.
"Hidan!"
Kakuzu let out a silent roar in his heart.
That complete lunatic! He had gotten his kicks, and now Kakuzu had to clean up the mess!
If he just left now and allowed the tragedy in this town to fester, Kumogakure would certainly pin the blame on Akatsuki. And as Hidan's partner, Kakuzu would be an indisputable accomplice,