Kakuzu's Change
Orochimaru's serpentine vertical pupils were fixed on Kakuzu, his gaze filled with inquiry, as if he were examining a strange specimen about to be dismantled.
"Are you a bounty hunter ninja?" His voice trailed off, the last syllable rising slightly, carrying a hint of enigmatic inquiry.
Kakuzu merely nodded slightly, his face revealing not a trace of emotion.
For him, profit is the compass guiding his bounty hunter operations and the compass of his life!
Since he entered this field, he has mastered it and has always adhered to this belief.
Inside the restaurant, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, as everyone's hearts were stirred by the identity of the "bounty hunter ninja."
Danzo's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, revealing a confident smile. Money was nothing more than a piece of his bag.
"Young man, ten million, I'll give you ten million, you help me kill him, how about it?"
Danzo pointed his finger directly at Koki, a hint of provocation in his eyes.
"Huh? I'm only worth ten million? Don't even take this job if you're not worth a hundred million!"
Koki crossed her arms and spoke as casually as if she were talking about a trivial matter. She even took the initiative to negotiate the price for Kakuzu, as if she wasn't worried at all that Kakuzu accept Danzo's offer.
Upon hearing this, Danzo paused slightly and began to consider the feasibility in his mind.
A staggering 100 million... Although he used to wield great power in Konoha and had accumulated immense wealth, it was no easy feat for him to come up with such a huge sum at once.
His gaze was fixed on Kakuzu, and he thought to himself: This man claims to Hanzō Hanzo with his own hands, so his strength must be extraordinary.
In this tense situation, the importance of a strong person is truly invaluable.
Danzo hesitated for a moment, then spoke slowly, "Deal, but I don't have enough cash on hand right now. We'll settle the payment after the deal is done."
Upon hearing this, Koki shook her head slightly, a hint of sarcasm playing on her lips. "Installment payment? That won't work. Your credit is poor; who can guarantee you won't go back on your word?"
Koki's words were like sharp needles, piercing Danzo's heart and lungs.
"You!" Danzo's eyes widened in fury, flames raging in them, and veins bulging on his forehead.
He felt his dignity was being challenged, but he couldn't erupt at that moment, since Kakuzu's intentions were the key.
A cold wind blew in through the window, and raindrops drifted in the wind. Kakuzu as still as a statue, his face expressionless, yet his heart was turbulent and restless.
Orochimaru licked the corner of his lips, his tongue gleaming eerily in the darkness.
His gaze lingered first on Danzo, then shifted to Kakuzu. "You... crave money?"
His voice was deep and seductive, as if it could see into the deepest desires of Kakuzu's heart.
Kakuzu first nodded, then slowly shook his head, revealing his inner struggle and entanglement.
In his existing cognitive framework, greed is a manifestation of human instinct, and the sea of desire is vast and boundless.
Money became his solid shield in the cruel struggles of this world, satisfying all his needs and desires.
He always believed in the supremacy of money, and firmly believed that even in the deepest hell, money was a universal talisman; "money can make the devil turn the millstone" was his unwavering belief.
He confessed his evil, the deep-seated cruelty and ruthlessness that haunted him like a shadow.
In the past, driven by money, he killed without batting an eye.
However, at this moment, Danzo's suggestion caused him to experience an unprecedented inner struggle.
The thought of making a move against Koki, even with the astronomical sum of money at stake, stirred a strong sense of resistance deep within him.
Kakuzu frowned, his heart filled with irritation and anxiety.
He went against the current of his memories, searching for the root cause of his changing mindset.
Were they traveling together and witnessing Koki's actions?
His courage in the face of the enemy, his composure in adversity, and his selfless care for his comrades.
Or perhaps it was a piece of bread that Koki handed you one morning, and the lingering, smooth texture in your mouth?
Sometimes, Kakuzu gaze into Koki's eyes, where there was no scheming, no exploitation, only pure joy and sharing.
Perhaps it was as they sat around the campfire, Koki happily shared his dreams and aspirations for the future.
Kakuzu never responded, but those words, like seeds, quietly grew in his heart.
Or perhaps...
Orochimaru's lips curled into a wicked smile. "I have a lot of money too!"
Interrupted from his thoughts, Kakuzu turned his gaze to Orochimaru, his brows furrowed, his tone revealing impatience, "So what? No matter how much money you have, I refuse to take this deal!"
All eyes converged like arrows, some filled with doubt, others with inquiries, and a hint of bewilderment flickered in Koki's eyes as well.
Koki was well aware of Kakuzu's obsession with money. In the past, Kakuzu's eyes would light up whenever he heard about making money, but today he resolutely refused, which made Koki suspicious.
Faced with Koki's suspicious gaze, Kakuzu felt a surge of anger. How could he tolerate being doubted by Koki?
Kakuzu walked away in a huff, sat down, crossed his arms, and snorted coldly, "Hmph, I'm not getting involved with you."
Seeing this, Danzo did not insist on winning over Kakuzu, knowing that time was of the essence and the battlefield was ever-changing.
His gaze was icy as he ordered his three subordinates, "Quickly finish this battle, don't miss this opportunity!"
In his eyes, only Tsunade posed a slight threat to him; the others were nothing to fear.
Shizune was nothing special, and although Koki had some talent, in Danzo's eyes she was just a child who hadn't yet lost her naivety.
Although Orochimaru was currently fighting alongside him, Danzo knew in his heart that this man was extremely cunning, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows.
If he reveals any weakness, Orochimaru will not hesitate to strike from behind.
The three subordinates responded in unison, and then each displayed their abilities, launching an attack on their opponent.
One person swiftly Hand Seals and unleashed Ninjutsu originating from the same source as Danzo's. "Wind Release - Vacuum Sphere!"
A condensed wave of wind streaked across the sky like a Danzo's Wind Release: Light Wave, this wave, though only a single strike, contained boundless power.
Koki reacted swiftly, leaping aside the turmoil. He stomped his right foot on the ground and shot towards Danzo like an arrow released from a bow, his speed as fast as thunder and lightning.
His eyes were resolute, and he had only one belief in his heart—to defeat Danzo.
Danzo, Danzo's face flashed with a smug smile. He leaned against the giant hole that had just been destroyed. The cold wind howled in, and with the enhancement of his Ninjutsu, it instantly turned into a fierce storm that rushed straight towards Koki.