That'll cost extra

Watching the perfectly composed Anyo, Genno gradually calmed his restless heart and could not help marveling inwardly. At his age, his composure still fell short of a child's. Then again, that was hardly surprising. This was no ordinary child, after all.

Night deepened, and heavy rain began falling from the sky. The dilapidated thatched hut did not even keep the rain out. Water dripped down incessantly, just like Genno's steadily sinking heart.

Rumble...

A thunderclap exploded across the sky. In the flash of lightning, a masked, green-eyed man appeared outside the hut.

A gleam flashed through Anyo's eyes. Kakuzu, you've finally come.

Drenched in rain, Kakuzu slowly entered the hut, bringing a cold, sinister air that made Genno's hair stand on end. An instinctive shudder rose within him. Without a doubt, this was a dangerous man.

Anyo took the initiative, extending a hand in greeting. "Hello."

Kakuzu completely ignored Anyo's greeting and headed straight for the mission posting area at the back of the hut.

Anyo did not get angry at this. He smiled faintly and stepped aside.

Genno secretly gave Anyo a look, signaling for them to talk outside, then left the hut.

Anyo understood and followed him out, asking in confusion, "What's wrong?"

Genno said gravely, "Why do I get the feeling he's the very person you've been waiting for? He's dangerous. There's a heavy killing intent about him. I've never seen such cold, merciless eyes before."

Anyo admitted it. "I am waiting for him. He's the only person I can think of who can complete this mission."

Genno asked with some concern, "Do you know his background? Which village is he from?"

"His background? I'm not sure."

Anyo really did not know that. As for his abilities, he did have some recollection. Kakuzu was one of Akatsuki's Immortal Duo and could absorb other ninjas' hearts. Each heart represented another life, and he had survived since the First Hokage's era.

Hearing Anyo's answer made Genno feel even less confident. After some thought, he said, "How about finding someone else?"

Just then, Kakuzu emerged from the thatched hut. Looking at the two with indifferent eyes, he said, "You're the ones who posted the bounty mission to eliminate every Ninja in Takigakure?"

"Yes," Anyo declared, stepping forward.

Kakuzu suddenly revealed an icy smile and said, enunciating every word, "Then do you know that I'm a Ninja from Takigakure?"

At those words, Anyo and Genno exchanged a glance, both breaking into a cold sweat and already preparing to make a run for it.

Damn it, what a coincidence. He's actually from Takigakure. Wait, isn't everyone in Akatsuki a rogue Ninja?

At that thought, Anyo forcibly suppressed his urge to flee. He believed Kakuzu still had something to say.

Sure enough, Kakuzu continued, "I know Takigakure's Ninja very well. One billion isn't enough to kill them all. That'll cost extra."

At those words, Anyo instantly sighed in relief. Holy shit, so he's just the "that'll cost extra" guy. You should've said so sooner. You scared me to death.

Anyo quickly said, "No problem."

Kakuzu looked at Anyo in some surprise. The child before him had agreed far too readily. Could he be a swindler?

Then Anyo continued, "Extra money isn't a problem, but I have a condition."

Hearing that he had a condition actually dispelled Kakuzu's suspicions. He coldly uttered a single word. "Speak."

"I want you to assassinate them. If you end up fighting the Seven-Tails, lure him out of Takigakure. Don't let the fighting spill over into the village."

"Heh heh, you've got quite the ambition, brat." Kakuzu understood Anyo's plan as soon as he heard it. He intended to take all of Takigakure for himself.

Anyo did not hide his ambition, saying bluntly, "Since I'm paying, I naturally want something in return. Otherwise, why would I kill them when we have no grudge?"

"Hmph, interesting." A trace of a smile appeared on Kakuzu's face again as he said coldly, "Another five hundred million in bounty money."

"Fine. Five hundred million it is," Anyo agreed without hesitation.

Hearing Anyo agree, Kakuzu turned to leave. After only two steps, he suddenly looked back. "Why are you two following me?"

Anyo replied with a grin, "More people means more helping hands. Besides, isn't it better to have both of us right under your nose? You won't have to worry about us skipping out on the bill."

Kakuzu unconsciously nodded at that, actually finding the child before him quite considerate. But after assessing their strength, he saw a little brat whose Chakra he could not even sense-a nobody-and a middle-aged man beside him who looked timid and plainly useless. He snorted disdainfully. "Helping hands? Remember to stay well away when I start killing, so I don't accidentally kill you and leave nobody to pay the bill."

With that, Kakuzu sped away, heading straight toward Takigakure.

"Are we really going to follow him?" Genno felt it was a little risky.

Anyo said firmly, "Of course. I want to find the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki ahead of time, then use a Sealing Array to block his Six Senses. Otherwise, if a real fight breaks out, your future village will be gone."

Although he had already suspected as much, Genno still found it wildly unrealistic when Anyo said it aloud. "You think our battered remnants alone can take over a village?"

"Why not?" Anyo asked in puzzlement. "Once there are no Ninja left, Takigakure will be a prize ripe for anyone's taking. Its terrain makes it easy to defend and hard to attack, and news travels slowly. Once Kakuzu leaves, we'll be the strongest people there. With your way with words, you can just sign a Neutrality Treaty with the other great nations. Then seal off the village, follow the Five Great Shinobi Villages' example to establish a new Ninja system, build a Ninja Academy, take in new students, and start from scratch. Won't that give you all a new home? Once you've gained complete control of the village, even renaming it Kagerō Village would take no more than a word from you."

Anyo's words left Genno's heart surging, utterly astounded. He could never have imagined that Anyo could think so far ahead in such a short time. That mind of his was simply incredible. At that moment, Genno felt profoundly fortunate that he had made the best choice of his life back in Konoha.

In fact, this was the natural advantage of a transmigrator: not being limited to the present, being able to view this world from a god's-eye perspective. It was a different level of thinking, unrelated to intelligence.

Takigakure was surrounded by water, and entering it required passing through the water. But anyone who approached would encounter an ambush. Earlier, Anyo and Genno had used mechanisms to bypass this stretch of water. Yet after Kakuzu arrived, he simply walked across the water and met no resistance whatsoever along the way. Clearly, he knew practically everything about Takigakure like the back of his hand.

Up in the air, Anyo and Genno followed closely behind, infiltrating Takigakure once again. These three were destined to shatter the village's peace.