Finding Kakuzu

"Everyone, what comes next is rather private. Sorry for the trouble, but please wait here for me."

Karn spoke to the Chunin squad guarding him. There was an Underground Bounty Station in this town, something he had learned from the owner of the Spring Beauty Bookstore. Anyone who could open a chain of bookstores in the Land of Fire surely had noble backing, and naturally knew something about shadowy organizations like the Underground Bounty Station.

Konoha certainly knew about it too, but the two sides generally stayed out of each other's way. Sometimes, bounties posted by Konoha would even make their way to the Underground Bounty Station. If a bounty hunter completed one, the Underground Bounty Station would arrange for someone with a clean background to collect the reward from Konoha.

Besides, many nobles in the Land of Fire needed shadowy organizations like the Underground Bounty Station to handle certain private matters.

After Karn left, one Genin asked curiously, "Captain, what is our client going to do? Why is he being so secretive?"

"Probably something personal."

Another member could not resist digging into the delicious food in front of him. This journey really had been comfortable. Whenever they came across a town, they enjoyed good food and lodging, and sometimes even got to soak in hot springs.

Was this really a mission? They were clearly out here enjoying themselves.

"Don't pry into the client's affairs. Besides, this town is unusual. Since he doesn't need us to guard him, we'll do as he says."

The Chunin captain spoke quietly, then picked up his chopsticks and began eating too. Only after a couple of bites did he slowly explain, under the curious gazes of his three subordinates.

"There's an Underground Bounty Station in this town. Since our client doesn't want us following him, that's most likely where he's headed. Organizations like that have never welcomed ninja from the Five Great Nations. If we went along, we'd only make things difficult for him."

"So don't worry about it. He might be back by the time we finish eating."

The three Genin understood at once. "Oh, so it's because of the Underground Bounty Station. We've heard of that place before, but we've never seen one."

Once they knew the reason, they stopped asking questions. More importantly, all three were perceptive enough to notice that their Chunin captain did not want to keep talking, so they obediently got on with their meal.

"Good thing it's a bathhouse, not a restroom."

When Karn arrived at the Underground Bounty Station's location and saw the bathhouse before him, he felt rather relieved. He liked to keep clean. Had it really been a restroom, he would still have had to enter, but it would have left him uncomfortable for a long time.

Following the Spring Beauty Bookstore owner's instructions, Karn easily found the Underground Bounty Station hidden behind the bathhouse. This was where bounties and requests were posted, and most visitors were servants of nobles and wealthy merchants. Rogue ninja who hunted bounties went elsewhere, to a separate location.

After explaining what he wanted, Karn left the Underground Bounty Station's posting office under the attendant's strange gaze.

Karn posted just one bounty: one million ryo for Kakuzu, specifically, to come and meet him.

With mastery of all five chakra natures, a talent for multiple high-level ninjutsu, five lives, and a love of money, Kakuzu seemed to Karn the easiest person to buy off. Besides, Karn only wanted him as hired muscle who would come when called. When nothing happened, he would essentially be getting money for nothing. Kakuzu had no reason to turn down such a good deal.

After posting the bounty, Karn continued touring other parts of the Land of Fire under the protection of the Konoha ninja.

He visited relatively prosperous towns, but did not overlook the villages near some of them either. His main purpose was to get a sense of commerce and economic conditions in the Land of Fire, which would be a great help in deciding how to develop his operations next.

Only after half a month did Karn return to Kawaki Town. His travels through the Land of Fire had yielded quite a few gains, and now he could devote a long stretch of time to building up his forces.

Once they reached Kawaki Town, the Chunin squad accompanying Karn had completed its mission. This was what Karn had agreed on with the Mission Department at the Hokage Building. Yet when the mission was confirmed complete, the squad was somewhat reluctant to leave.

Although they had needed to remain alert and protect him, the food and lodging had been exceptionally comfortable.

"Well then, we'll take our leave and head back, Karn."

The Chunin leader and his three Genin bowed respectfully to Karn before he spoke.

"Sorry for all the trouble during this time. I felt very safe under your protection, and I hope we'll have another chance to travel together."

Karn spoke courteously to the four of them, then saw them off. Only after Konoha's Chunin squad had left did Xia Chuan approach him and say, "Boss, someone says you sent for him. He's been waiting for three days. But he's a rogue ninja, and he seems very powerful."

"He's been here for three days? A little early. Bring him over, Xia Chuan. I did send for him."

From Xia Chuan's description, Karn knew that Kakuzu had arrived ahead of time.

When Xia Chuan brought Kakuzu over, he immediately complained in displeasure, "I've waited three whole days. If you weren't going to be here, you should have said so beforehand. In three days, I might have completed-"

Thud!

Karn took a case out of his Spatial Backpack and set it directly in front of Kakuzu. It was small, but heavy.

"These two million ryo are a welcome gift, separate from the one million at the Underground Bounty Station. Kakuzu, I'd like to discuss a long-term business arrangement with you."

As soon as Karn finished speaking, Kakuzu opened the case and looked inside. It was filled with stacks of banknotes. Though he had not counted them carefully, a rough estimate told him there were indeed two million ryo in the case.

Still, Kakuzu took the money out and meticulously counted every note.

Karn knew a little about Kakuzu's habits, so he paid it little mind. He picked up a cup of tea and sipped it slowly while waiting for Kakuzu to finish counting. Xia Chuan, on the other hand, stared wide-eyed. She had never seen anyone so mercenary, counting money to his heart's content as though everyone else were invisible.

After finishing his count, Kakuzu fastened the case shut and said to Karn, "What business did you have in mind? Apart from killing people, there isn't much I'm good at."

Perhaps it was Karn's imagination, but Kakuzu's tone seemed a little warmer.

Still, once they came to business, Karn grew serious. "I plan to open a few casinos in the Land of Fire. I'd like you to serve as an on-call guard and debt collector. You'll be well compensated, of course."

"Casinos? I won't join any organization. If that's what you want, I can't help you."

Kakuzu refused decisively after hearing him out. He believed only in money and had no desire to join any organization.

"I'm not asking you to stay in a casino all day. We just need a way to contact you as quickly as possible when a casino needs you, and you'll need to come help as soon as you can. You might deal with thugs causing trouble or help collect unpaid debts. It will depend on the situation, but the minimum payment will be two hundred thousand ryo per job, equivalent to an A-rank mission from a major ninja village."

Karn explained slowly, then asked with a smile, "Outside of that, whenever there's nothing to do, you'll still be the Underground Bounty Station's most famous bounty hunter. The casinos won't interfere with your bounty work."

Thank you to reader 20171005103054574 for the tip and monthly vote, the first I've ever received.