Assassination: Kakuzu Appears

Seeing Izuna's puzzled, speechless expression, Tetsuya offered no further explanation. He simply kept smiling, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Izuna, you've been back for quite a while now. Would you like to see the Uchiha Clan as it is today? To see Konoha, the village your brother and the Senju Clan built?"

"Me?"

At Tetsuya's words, Izuna's eyes dimmed a little.

"Heh, forget it. Apart from the name, I have nothing to do with the Uchiha Clan of today. As for Konoha..."

Izuna took a deep breath.

"That place put my brother through so much pain. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stop myself from destroying it."

Tetsuya said nothing as he listened. His slightly narrowed eyes made his thoughts all the harder to read.

As for Izuna's claim that he could destroy Konoha, he really did have the ability.

After Tetsuya resurrected him, Izuna's body had returned to its peak condition and was still growing stronger.

He had always been a genius of the Uchiha Clan, with an astonishing capacity to learn, and had learned a great many powerful Ninjutsu from Tetsuya.

With his pair of Mangekyo Sharingan added to the mix, there really weren't many people in present-day Konoha who could stop him if he fought.

Leveling Konoha might have been a bit of a boast, but causing severe destruction was certainly within his reach.

After all, when Madara Uchiha had tried to destroy Konoha, Hashirama had been the one to drive him back.

Izuna might not have been Madara Uchiha, but Konoha didn't have a second Hashirama, either.

"I'll stay here and keep an eye on the place for you. With the Chiba Grand Hotel's current reputation in the Land of Fire, no one would dare cause trouble, but as you're always saying, better safe than sorry."

"All right. Whatever makes you happy."

"By the way, Tetsuya, when can you resurrect my brother?"

"Resurrect Madara Uchiha, huh?"

Tetsuya rubbed his chin.

"Not for quite a while yet. Don't rush."

It really was still too early. After all, Madara Uchiha wasn't dead yet. How was he supposed to resurrect someone who wasn't dead?

"Trust me. When the time is right, I'll resurrect your brother."

"Yes, I trust you."

"Then I'll head back and pack. I should be back in a few days. See you!"

Tetsuya waved and turned to leave.

Izuna watched his retreating back and thought for a long while. Finally, he went over to where Tetsuya had been sitting, sat down, and picked up the fishing rod.

After severing his ties with his clan, Izuna felt that his current life was quite pleasant. Of course, it would be even better if his brother were there too.

Yes, I need to help Tetsuya manage his business well so he can resurrect my brother sooner.

Back at the Chiba Grand Hotel, Tetsuya packed a few things as a token effort and prepared to return to Konoha.

Whatever else might be said, he now counted as a wealthy local businessman. After all, the Chiba Grand Hotel had become quite famous in the Land of Fire.

How did that saying go again? Returning home without showing off your wealth is like wearing fine clothes in the dark.

"This way, boss."

Outside, the carriage driver, who had been waiting for some time, gestured for him to board.

Tetsuya stepped into the carriage and took a seat inside.

Hooves clattered as two white horses slowly pulled the carriage away from the Capital City of the Land of Fire.

Enjoy yourself. Now that you have money, you need to learn how to enjoy it.

Ah, with my current strength, I could get back to Konoha in no time if I ran, but how could running compare to the comfort of a carriage?

"Ah! This luxurious life really does corrupt a man."

Seated on a cushioned couch inside the carriage, Tetsuya ate delicate pastries and drank wine, savoring every moment. He had never experienced this sort of life even in his previous lifetime.

"Hm?"

Setting down the wine flask, Tetsuya suddenly opened his narrowed eyes wide. His black pupils instantly turned red.

"Interesting. I've only been out for half a day, and you already couldn't wait?"

He had sensed chakra brimming with malice. Clearly, someone was coming for him.

Over the years, there had been no shortage of people with ill intentions toward him.

Unfortunately for them, Tetsuya was on good terms with the powerful officials and dignitaries in the Capital City. Those nobles would never allow anyone to attack him on their turf.

So once he left the capital, plenty of bounty hunters would come running at the news, hoping to make their fortune off him.

Unfortunately, those people never even got a chance to reach Tetsuya. The moment they displayed their malice, Izuna would cut off their heads.

This time, Izuna hadn't accompanied Tetsuya, and someone had already lost patience just half a day after he left the Capital City.

Whoosh!

A kunai pierced the carriage, flying straight toward Tetsuya's head.

Swish!

In the blink of an eye, the kunai flew out through the other side of the carriage and embedded itself in a large tree.

"Aaah!"

The carriage driver cried out, and the horses whinnied, startled by the sudden attack.

"Boss!"

The carriage driver cried out again, but a moment later, he calmed down. A pair of scarlet eyes appeared reflected in his own.

The next moment, the driver leaped straight off the carriage and ran for his life.

Clearly, the ninja who had come to attack Tetsuya had no interest in a mere carriage driver.

Tetsuya stepped out of the carriage, jumped down, and slapped a horse on the rump. The carriage raced off in the direction the driver had fled.

"All right, now we can get started. I paid for that carriage. It wouldn't do to have it wrecked."

As he spoke, Tetsuya stretched lazily.

"What, still not planning to come out?"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Before his words had even faded, several sounds of rushing air rang out.

Six shuriken shot toward Tetsuya's throat like venomous snakes.

Seeing them, Tetsuya turned sideways. The shuriken skimmed past his neck without harming so much as a hair.

"Still not coming out? You won't take my head with those little tricks."

"The intel was wrong. Wasn't the owner of the Chiba Grand Hotel supposed to be an ordinary man who only survived the bounty hunters' assassination attempts because of the ninja protecting him? Now it seems there's more to you than that."

A figure appeared atop a tree. He wore a black vest and a black mask, with his head wrapped tightly so that only a pair of green eyes remained exposed.

Obvious stitch marks ran across his arms. His hands looked as though they had been sewn together from a pile of fragments.

He wore a metal forehead protector engraved with Takigakure's symbol. A line had been scored through the symbol, identifying him as a rogue ninja.

With such distinctive features, Tetsuya recognized him at a glance.

"Oh! I was wondering who had come to take my life. I never expected it to be you! The renowned bounty hunter and rogue ninja of Takigakure, Kakuzu himself!"

Seeing Kakuzu, Tetsuya felt no fear. Instead, he grew excited.

Why? Because he greatly admired Kakuzu's talent.

It wasn't his Earth Grudge Fear Secret Technique that turned him into a monster that Tetsuya admired, but his talent for making money.

What do I need most? Money, of course! In that sense, Tetsuya and Kakuzu were truly kindred spirits.