Land of Earth, an underground Bounty Exchange near the border.
The air here was always thick with the strange stench of cheap alcohol and sweat.
Under the dim lights, rogue ninja and bounty hunters from all walks of life gathered here, speaking in hushed voices as their wary eyes swept over everyone around them.
This was a lawless land, and a paradise for money.
Kakuzu liked the smell of this place.
He tossed a still-dripping cloth sack onto the counter with a dull thud.
The fat manager in charge of bounty payouts twitched his eyelids and carefully untied the sack. A head with its eyes still open rolled out.
"Stone Village rogue ninja, Kuroishi. Bounty: thirty million ryo."
Kakuzu's voice was low, his eyes filled with greed and longing for money.
The fat manager did not dare delay and hurriedly called someone over to verify it.
Kakuzu leaned against the counter, enjoying the reverent and fearful looks cast his way.
He had not experienced this feeling in a long time.
Ever since that old bastard Danzo had set him up, Kakuzu had been hiding everywhere like a rat in the street.
He had feared Uchiha Yao coming after him. Especially after Uchiha Yao became the Fifth Hokage, Kakuzu had barely set foot in a Bounty Exchange again.
During this time, Kakuzu had given up the bounty-hunting work he loved most and kept himself hidden, cautious and low-key.
Until recently, Kakuzu had joined an organization called Akatsuki.
The organization's leader called himself a god. He possessed the legendary Rinnegan and was so powerful it was suffocating.
Under the protection of such a powerful organization, Kakuzu's long-dormant heart finally stirred to life again.
So Kakuzu returned to his old trade and continued the bounty-hunting career he loved most.
Of course, the Land