"Hehe, you're not dead!" Peter said with an embarrassed grin.
"I was dead originally," Kakuzu snapped back angrily, "but when I heard you took my money, I came back to life!"
Peter's mouth twitched involuntarily. Quickly, he stepped out from the pile of money he had been hiding behind, trying to avoid Kakuzu's sharp gaze.
Yet Kakuzu wasn't looking at Peter — no, he was staring at something in Peter's hand: a thick stack of banknotes.
Peter's face flushed slightly. "Haha…" he chuckled awkwardly and tossed the money into the pile.
Once Peter stood up, Kakuzu immediately lunged forward, diving back into the heap of cash. Suddenly, several black tentacles erupted from his back, snaking around rapidly as if they had a mind of their own. With amazing speed, the tentacles began counting bills with precision and care, ensuring none was missing.
"Whoa," Peter thought, impressed. "No wonder Kakuzu was destined to become Akatsuki's finance minister."
After a short time, Kakuzu neatly arranged a massive pile of money in front of him.
Peter stared with envy at the enormous stack of pristine white banknotes. His heart thumped wildly in excitement. "Oh, wow… oh, wow… oh, wow!" he screamed inside his head.
Determined to trick Kakuzu, Peter decided he wouldn't let his visitor buy just anything — no, he was going to make Kakuzu buy only the most expensive, extravagant items in the store.
The black tentacles slowly retracted back into Kakuzu's body. He turned to Peter with a guarded expression.
Peter noticed the wariness and quickly softened his tone. "Brother, don't worry… I'm not here to hurt you."
At the same time, Peter hurried over to the door and locked it with a quiet "click," wary that Kakuzu might try to escape with the money.
Kakuzu stared at the locked door, his face full of despair. He was trapped — no fight, no flight.
He glanced down at the pile of money and sighed. "The greatest sorrow in life… is having money left behind when the person is gone."
"The greatest pain… is being alive but having no money."
Yet, seeing the eager glint in Peter's eyes, Kakuzu knew his fate was sealed. Not only would he lose his freedom, but his precious money too. This was true despair.
Peter rubbed his hands together excitedly and asked, "So, brother, what do you want to buy? Weapons to increase your strength? Equipment to boost your defense? Healing medicines? I have it all. Even things you can't imagine!"
Kakuzu blinked in surprise. Was Peter really just a businessman here to sell things?
"You… won't kill me?" Kakuzu asked cautiously.
Peter blinked. "I'm just a businessman. Why would I kill you? I just wanted to teach you a lesson."
Kakuzu's mouth twitched. That sounded less like a lesson and more like a life sentence.
"Well, at least you're alive," Kakuzu thought, "and that means I can make this money again."
Suddenly, Kakuzu's eyes lit up. "Boss, do you have a heart here?" he asked.
Peter smiled and nodded. "Of course! Follow me."
Curious, Kakuzu followed Peter to a counter. He had lost two hearts in his last battle, and Peter had just taken away another. With only two hearts left, Kakuzu felt vulnerable. He needed a new one — urgently.
Kakuzu wasn't expecting Peter to actually have what he asked for. He quickened his steps, his heart pounding.
Peter pulled out a slowly beating black metal heart and held it out for Kakuzu to see.
"This heart," Peter explained, "is made of the hardest metal in the universe. I don't think anyone on this planet could ever damage it!"
Kakuzu stared, stunned. The strongest metal in the universe… a heart made of metal?
His breathing quickened. Taking the heart in his trembling hands, he felt its powerful, steady beat and was overcome with excitement.
"Try it out," Peter said, patting his chest confidently. "If it's not strong, you don't have to pay!"
Kakuzu wasn't going to just take Peter's word for it. He pulled out a kunai and slashed at the beating heart.
"Clang!"
The sharp sound echoed as a gap appeared in the kunai blade, but the metal heart remained unscathed.
Kakuzu's eyes widened in disbelief.
He swung another kunai with all his might.
Again, the metal heart stayed intact. The kunai blade accumulated more and more cracks, but the heart refused to break.
His breathing grew heavier as the truth settled in — he was holding an invaluable treasure.
No matter the cost, this was something he had to have.
Greed flickered in Kakuzu's eyes. Clutching the metal heart tightly, he seemed afraid it might disappear.
"Boss," Kakuzu gasped, "I want five hearts!"
An indestructible heart, combined with his Earth Grievance ability, would make him truly immortal.
Peter smiled. "Fifteen million taels each. Five in total — that's seventy-five million taels."
Kakuzu's eyes bulged. "Boss, is your heart made of gold?"
Peter frowned. "This is the hardest metal in the universe — far more valuable than gold!"
Kakuzu realized that his usual stinginess had clouded his judgment. This metal heart was tailor-made for him. No matter the price, he would pay it.
"Boss, I'll buy them!" Kakuzu shouted.
Peter's grin stretched ear to ear. He pulled out four more metal hearts and placed them on the counter.
Kakuzu was a big spender, dropping seventy-five million taels in one go.
Peter had been worried Kakuzu might be stingy, but his fears were unfounded.
Kakuzu stripped off his clothes, revealing his body covered in dense, crude stitches.
He picked up a heart and slowly placed it into the empty cavity in his chest.
Peter shuddered. The whole scene was disturbingly grotesque.
"Hmm?" Kakuzu suddenly noticed something amazing after installing the metal heart.
He seemed able to control metal now.
The kunai in his ninja bag began to slowly float in the air.
Peter's eyes went wide. Could Kakuzu control metal by having a metal heart?
Was this Earth Grievance ability more terrifying than anyone imagined?
"Control metal?" Peter's mind raced.
He realized he knew exactly what else he was going to sell Kakuzu next.
---
Peter was both excited and a little apprehensive.
This metal heart was no ordinary item — it was the perfect tool to amplify Kakuzu's unique abilities.
If Kakuzu could control metal with the heart, then combining that with his Earth Grievance would make him nearly invincible.
Peter's mind buzzed with ideas.
He'd have to create specialized metal weapons, armors, and even metal-based healing tools to cater to Kakuzu's new powers.
The possibilities were endless.
But first, Kakuzu needed to fully grasp this newfound ability.
Kakuzu stared at his floating kunai with growing delight.
A grim smile spread across his stitched face.
"This is the start of a new era for me," Kakuzu muttered.
Peter nodded and said, "Welcome to the future of power, brother."
---
For hours, Kakuzu experimented with his newfound metal control.
He levitated kunai, shurikens, even larger metal objects with ease.
Peter provided expert advice on which weapons were best suited for this new ability.
Their business was booming, but for Peter, this was more than just a sale — it was the birth of a legend.
Kakuzu was no longer just a stitched-up monster; he was becoming a metal god, unstoppable and immortal.
As the sun set outside the locked store, Peter smiled.
Money, power, and metal — together, they would shape a new destiny.