Night fell over the grasslands, where Kusagakure stood.
Though called a ninja village, it looked more like a tribal settlement.
A wall built from wooden stakes separated the village from the outside, with buildings resembling earthen towers scattered within.
It covered a fairly large area, but looked rather run-down.
Two figures appeared on a dirt slope outside Kusagakure. Clouds hid the moonlight, allowing them to blend perfectly into the darkness.
"Boss, we're here. That's Kusagakure up ahead."
"Yeah, it really is a dump."
Tetsuya made a snide remark, then continued.
"By the way, is there anything distinctive about Kusagakure's ninja?"
Kakuzu thought for a moment before answering.
"Apparently, Kusagakure's ninja cultivate chakra a little differently, which seems to have turned all their eyes green.
What's wrong, boss? Worried about killing the wrong people?"
"Exactly. What if there are people who were kidnapped and brought here? Or people lured here with promises of protection, only to have their life energy drained to heal someone else's injuries?"
Kakuzu immediately understood.
"You mean Kusagakure might have Uzumaki descendants, boss?"
Kakuzu had been born long ago and spent years traveling the shinobi world, making him a knowledgeable, experienced ninja. Of course he knew of a clan whose blood or life energy could help others recover from injuries. After all, the Uzumaki Clan had been famous throughout the shinobi world.
Though the Land of Whirlpools had already fallen, and the Uzumaki Clan had vanished into the currents of history.
Reports of Uzumaki descendants still surfaced from time to time across the shinobi world.
"There might be. I'm just mentioning the possibility. Keep an eye out when we get in there. Don't get so carried away killing that you take out a rare Uzumaki descendant too."
"Heh, don't worry, boss. I, Kakuzu, may kill without blinking,