Night fell over the village of Kusagakure. Civilians were returning to their homes after a hard day's work, while the shinobi in charge of the night patrols relieved those on the day shift.
One of these patrols moved along its determined route, their expressions bored, a product of having performed the same task countless times.
Without warning, wind blades shot out from the trees, slicing the throats of two members of the group who had just executed a jump to another branch.
The third and final member blinked several times, not quite understanding what had happened.
Before his slow mind could process the events, a hand came out of nowhere and clenched around his neck, cutting off his breathing and nearly crushing his windpipe.
The Kusa-Nin looked in horror at the limb, which was connected to wires at the elbow, and these wires disappeared into the foliage.
Footsteps resonated in his ears as the wires were retracted, and the shinobi was dragged forward.
A tall man with his face covered by a mask, a black cloak with red clouds, and strange, cold, and indifferent eyes. A forehead protector indicating his affiliation as a rogue Ninja from Takigakure shone in the moonlight that filtered through the branches.
—You have one chance. Tell me where the Uzumaki woman is— he demanded with a tone that promised indescribable pain.
The Kusa-Nin shivered. Who the hell was this guy and why did he know about the blood package?
The grip on his throat relaxed a little, and the shinobi gasped for air like a madman. He glared fiercely at the rogue Ninja, unwilling to betray his village.
Kakuzu noticed the determination in his eyes and sighed internally, twisting his neck with a swift movement.
The threads rejoined his arm as he left, leaving the second Kusagakure patrol behind him.
Those pathetic ninjas refused to spill the beans, and the Akatsuki member was starting to get impatient.
He seriously considered forcing his way in and making them hand over the targets, but that could put them in danger, and his pay depended on the condition in which he delivered them.
And what a pay!
Kakuzu couldn't imagine how someone would shell out so much money for a woman and a child, but that wasn't his concern.
It was 10 million just for agreeing to meet with the contractor, another 5 million for listening to their request, regardless of whether he accepted it or not. 40 million if he accepted the mission, and 45 million more upon completion of the order.
Without a doubt, it was one of the most lucrative jobs he's had in recent years. That's why he didn't rush into action.
If the pay is good, then he will do the job cleanly. That was his creed.
*****************************
Uzumaki Yumi was awakened by the sudden intrusion of a Kusa-Nin into her room. The man, in charge of her surveillance tonight, was licking his lips with lust, his cheeks flushed, and a persistent smell of sake that told the woman he hadn't come for a bite.
She didn't protest. Even if she tried, nothing would change, and it would only wake up her little one, Karin. She preferred that the girl didn't see her engaging in those activities.
The man enthusiastically lowered his pants, indifferent to the woman's empty gaze. However, before he could take any further action, a kunai slipped in from behind along his neck, paralyzing him instantly and choking the cry of surprise he was about to let out.
Yumi, who seemed dead inside and resigned to her fate, suddenly opened her eyes as she watched the man slowly collapse, a hand holding him by the hair while his throat profusely spat blood.
She froze, her mind unable to adapt to the abrupt turn of events.
—You certainly look like an Uzumaki— came a cold voice, monotonous, flat. The voice of an assassin.
A man wrapped in a black cloak stepped forward, looking around the small room. His gaze stopped for a second on the bed where Karin lay asleep.
Yumi got up at that moment, her maternal instincts crushing disbelief and fear. For her daughter, she would stand in the way of the Rikudo Senin himself.
But before she could even speak, the man lunged at her, startling her. But it wasn't a kunai that made contact with her body, nor a fist or a kick.
Her hands were bound and her mouth was quickly gagged, preventing her from making a sound.
The man didn't address another word to her and moved towards Karin. Yumi watched desperately as her daughter was tied up in the same manner, the helplessness making her sob.
It wasn't hard to assume what was happening. Her abilities had probably been exposed to some other village and now they were being kidnapped.
Their destination? Surely to serve as blood packs for other shinobi.
A cloth suddenly covered her face, a strange smell assaulted her nostrils, and the woman's vision began to darken.
The last thing Uzumaki Yumi saw was the man placing a cloth over the face of her agitated daughter, who had woken up and was starting to thrash in place.
**********************
Days later, Kakuzu and a shadow clone traveled through a remote region of the Land of Rivers.
True to its name, immense expanses of the land were crossed by countless rivers and streams, winding through mountains, forests, and savannas, connecting and disconnecting throughout the territory.
Following his contractor's instructions, the rogue shinobi arrived at the edge of a small stream, where a trio of trees were intertwined in a shape similar to that of a gigantic flower.
He carefully put down his packages and removed the sacks covering their faces.
The girl and the woman, with their intensely red hair, looked at him in silence, the first with fear in her eyes and the second with resignation and a hint of curiosity.
He ignored them, waiting patiently.
After a minute of silence, two people entered his range of vision, approaching without hiding their presence.
Kakuzu saw the contractor carrying a backpack from which he could smell the bills that filled it.
A boy with brown hair, eyes the color of acorns, and a faint smile on his face.
One step behind him stood a young woman with black hair and cold eyes. Her slender, athletic figure indicated to him that she was a kunoichi.
—Good morning, Mr. Kakuzu— the boy greeted with a smile, his eyes studying the women he requested. —From what I see, you've done the job wonderfully, as expected.
He casually threw the bag of money, and the clone caught it, verifying there were no traps.
After ensuring the content was genuine, he proceeded to count the bills.
The main body stared intently at the boy, not bothering to return the greeting. For his part, the young man waited patiently, neither interrupting the shadow clone nor attempting to approach the ladies.
That earned an internal nod of approval from Kakuzu. The brat knew how things worked.
After a while, the clone finished counting and nodded to the main body, throwing him the bag and dissipating in a puff of smoke.
—My job here is done— the rogue ninja said coldly.
—And I appreciate your services. I hope we can continue working like this in the future— the boy nodded, still not claiming the women beside Kakuzu.
That made a particular thought cross the Akatsuki member's mind. He decided to test the waters.
—And what if I say the price doesn't satisfy me?
—I wouldn't believe you— the young man smiled, his tone jovial.
—Oh-ho? And what if I say you double the payment right now, or I take these two with me?— he asked coldly, a heavy aura descending upon the area.
Karin shuddered and Yumi started to sweat, fearing being caught in a fight between shinobi.
—I still wouldn't believe you, Mr. Kakuzu— the young man denied his insinuation again, which piqued Kakuzu's curiosity.
—Hmm, why?— he questioned after a few seconds of tension. If the answer didn't satisfy him, he would kill the brat and sell the Uzumaki females.
—Because you, who appreciate money, know that I didn't bring a single extra bill with me. You also know that I can request more jobs in the future, and I will, and I am worth more while we are on good terms.
—And above all, I trust you— he expressed with a clear voice, without hesitation.
Kakuzu was taken by surprise. The first part was reasonable up to a point, but trusting him?
Noticing his skeptical gaze, the young man continued.
—Mr. Kakuzu, you seem to move when money is involved, don't you?— he asked, and Kakuzu nodded. —Well, there's the answer. In this rotten world, plagued by betrayals and conspiracies, you are one of the few people I dare to place my trust in, as long as my pocket can afford it, of course.
He gestured towards the Uzumaki beside him.
—Those women are important to me. I made that clear from the beginning and didn't hide anything from you. That wasn't out of arrogance or stupidity. It wasn't out of naivety, nor because I thought you wouldn't try anything funny upon noticing my interest. I didn't hide it from you because I trust your professionalism, and your willingness to fulfill the task for the adequate payment— the boy concluded.
—...
Kakuzu was honestly impressed. He hadn't expected that kind of answer and got a strong impression of the young man.
He didn't say anything. He just nodded slightly in acknowledgment and turned around, disappearing from the place with a calm stride and a reflective mind.
For her part, Uzumaki Yumi looked at the young man who, according to what she had seen and heard, paid to take possession of her and her daughter.
He was a boy with a kind face and a mischievous smile, approximately fifteen years old, though the air around him seemed to belie that fact.
He finally approached mother and daughter and removed the gags and ropes with calmness and care.
—Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Takeshi— he introduced himself. He looked at Yumi for an extra second, and a gleam that the woman couldn't identify appeared in his eyes. —Would you like to marry me, Miss Uzumaki?
Yumi was paralyzed on the spot, her eyes wide like those of a deer surprised by a car on the highway. Karin's mouth dropped open in shock, and the woman behind the young man spat out a mouthful of blood.