Long time no see, Kakuzu! No, Leader Kakuzu!

As soon as he finished speaking, a chilling atmosphere filled the entire cave.

"In that case, I'll go to the Akatsuki in your stead, Madara-senpai!"

"Also, Black Zetsu, focus on recovering from your injuries first, then go and carry out your mission. Report back immediately if you have any news!"

Kagami Uchiha gazed at the two of them calmly and spoke softly.

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the cave.

Watching his retreating figure, Madara Uchiha a cryptic expression, seemingly lost in thought.

Black Zetsu, despite his injuries, slowly raised himself and respectfully watched Kagami Uchiha's departing figure until he disappeared from sight.

"Heh... What? You can't bear to part with your new master?" After a long pause, a faint mocking voice came from Madara Uchiha's mouth.

"No, that's not it. I simply admire Lord Kagami! To have such lofty goals at such a young age truly fills me with heartfelt admiration." Black Zetsu ignored Madara's sarcasm and spoke calmly.

"Furthermore, Lord Kagami is quite a person of principle; he truly deserves to be the man who will bring peace to the Shinobi World in the future!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Madara Uchiha's expression changed slightly, and he said in an unfriendly tone, "You! Hmph! Black Zetsu, how come I never realized you were such a sharp-tongued person before?"

"Heh... To Jing, you're nothing more than an informant. The one who can truly help him is me."

"You should ask your mother for more support in the future; at least you should act like a decent human being!"

Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu's dark face darkened even further, but he couldn't refute it. He looked at Madara Uchiha and coldly said, "Thank you for reminding me. As for the power, I will ask my mother for it in the future. As for now, I have to go and complete Lord Kagami's mission. I don't have time to argue with a brat like you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Black Zetsu's figure sank rapidly into the ground and disappeared without a trace.

Upon hearing Black Zetsu's final words, Madara Uchiha was so enraged that he nearly exploded with rage.

Young brat?

I, Madara Uchiha, am being mocked as a mere brat by people who aren't even human?

Oh no!

One day, he will take Susanoo's greatsword and smash Black Zetsu's stinking mouth to pieces!

After leaving the deep cave in the Land of Iron, Kagami Uchiha did not immediately head to the Land of Lightning, but instead traveled towards the Land of Rain.

After so many years, it's time for him to see Kakuzu.

News of the end of the Second Shinobi World War had already spread throughout the entire Shinobi World.

With Hanzō's surrender, the Land of Rain was completely defeated.

Furthermore, countless ninjas and citizens who once admired Hanzō had their idealized image of him shattered when they heard that their Demigod had chosen to surrender without a fight when faced with the Hanzō Third Hokage of Konoha.

Leaving aside ordinary citizens, even within Amegakure, the number of people disappointed with Hanzō was increasing day by day, and a large number of disillusioned ninjas were leaving the Amegakure government and actively moving towards the Akatsuki under Kakuzu's command.

In a short period of time, the Akatsuki's power has greatly increased. They are no longer the scattered small teams they once were, but instead have their own base.

Deep within the Akatsuki headquarters, in a grand and imposing office.

The office walls were covered with scrolls and a huge Shinobi World Map.

At this moment Kakuzu sat upright behind a large wooden table, his clothes no longer the suit and tie he used to wear, but instead a solemn and dignified loose robe.

He is no longer the bitter Bounty Hunter he once was, nor does he have the nouveau riche air of a few years ago; his every move exudes the aura of a powerful figure in a high position.

"Company President! The latest information regarding Hanzo of the Salamander and Amegakure has arrived." Sakamoto stood respectfully at the table, reporting.

"Read it!" a deep voice rang out.

"Yes! Ever since Hanzō and his Amegakure Elite troops were defeated and surrendered by that lord some time ago, he has been holed up in the village since returning to Amegakure, staying indoors and making almost no moves outwards."

"However, many of his Amegakure have recently been frequently patrolling and probing our Akatsuki's territory, constantly gathering intelligence. Our people have encountered their reconnaissance ninjas several times. How should we respond?"

Upon hearing this, Kakuzu raised a finger and lightly tapped the table, a mocking smile playing on his lips as he said disdainfully, "Heh... Hanzō is nothing but a defeated opponent of that lord."

"No, perhaps not even a defeated opponent. I heard that the lord didn't even reach him, Hanzō was already so frightened that he couldn't even hold his Scythe properly..."

"What a cowardly scoundrel! I used to admire his courage."

"Although that person's strength is indeed terrifying, as a ninja, even if we are no match for them tomorrow morning, we must dare to draw our swords against the enemy! That way, we can still be considered to have honor in defeat!"

At this point, Kakuzu slightly raised his eyes, a hint of fighting spirit flashing in them.

"It's alright. If Hanzō behaves himself, then let him be."

"But if he really harbors ill intentions towards us, heh... I'd like to see for myself just how capable this man, known as Demigod, really is,"

At this point, Kakuzu kept muttering to himself.

Ha! Hanzō, you don't even have the courage to Hokage the Hokage directly?

Surrendering without a fight is utterly despicable!

Back in the day, when Kakuzu faced Kagami Uchiha, he went up and unleashed a flurry of attacks, fighting fiercely. Although he ultimately lost, he earned the Hokage's respect and was taken under his wing.

What do you call this? You call it mutual respect between strong individuals!

At this moment, if Hanzo, far away in Amegakure, could hear Kakuzu's Hanzō grumbling, he would definitely cry out in indignation: Come on, Kakuzu, go and fight that Susanoo that's over two hundred meters tall and show me what it's like! If you dare to go up there, my title of Demigod is yours!

Just as Kakuzu was having a series of wild fantasies in his mind.

A clear, melodious bird song drifted in from outside the window.

Upon hearing the sound, Kakuzu's expression shifted, and he abruptly turned to look out the window. That was no ordinary bird; it was Ninja Hawk, a bird specifically used for relaying messages.

Gazing at the Ninja Hawk circling outside the window, Kakuzu frowned slightly, a sudden realization dawning on him.

He immediately turned his head and, in a deep voice, instructed Sakamoto in front of him, "Sakamoto, handle the administrative affairs here for me for now. I have something to attend to and need to go out!"

"Yes!" Sakamoto replied in a clear voice from the opposite side.

Kakuzu then quickly went to the temporary rest room in the office. He changed out of the clothes that symbolized his status as the leader of the organization, and then put on a simple and low-key dark casual outfit. He then left the Akatsuki base silently through the secret passage.

He sped along until he arrived at the edge of a towering, steep cliff.

As dusk approached, the sky was ablaze with orange-red sunset clouds. Kagami Uchiha stood quietly on the edge of the cliff, his hands clasped behind his back, the evening breeze constantly ruffling the hem of his clothes.

As Kakuzu walked step by step Earth Flow the gravel to stand behind Kagami Uchiha, he stopped a few meters away and looked at that familiar figure.

"Mirror... Master Mirror!"

Upon hearing this, Kagami Uchiha slowly turned around. The evening breeze gently ruffled his hair, and his gaze fell quietly on Kakuzu, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Hmm! It's been a long time, Kakuzu."

"No! Leader Kakuzu!"