This battle cost Kakuzu "one heart."
However, Hiruko understood clearly that with an old fox like Kakuzu, who had survived decades in the shinobi world, the most terrifying thing wasn't his raw power, but his ocean-like combat experience. If the fight continued, Hiruko might hold the upper hand, but killing him outright was no easy feat. Moreover, neither side had the resolve to fight a desperate battle to the death.
Kakuzu possessed a near-immortal technique. As time went on, Hiruko couldn't maintain Sage Mode indefinitely. The old man had plenty of lives to burn, but Hiruko couldn't sustain such high-intensity combat forever. After shattering the mask, Hiruko sent Kakuzu flying with a powerful strike and then, surprisingly, initiated a ceasefire.
The Sage Chakra surrounding him surged like a tide and then settled into a slow, rhythmic cycle, continuing to nourish his body. With the Sage Chakra integrated, Hiruko's presence felt even more feral, like a beast preparing to wake.
Kakuzu watched all of this as he scrambled up from the ground, looking disheveled.
Hiruko grinned at him. "Don't be so tense. I want to invite you to join my organization. I'm not interested in making an enemy out of a ninja as strong as you."
The previous skirmish was just a misunderstanding—a little show of force to set the tone. Hiruko knew Kakuzu was a realist who only respected power, so he had shown his hand to gain the man's attention. Hiruko valued this "financial expert"; an S-rank combatant with Kakuzu's skills would be a massive asset.
"A misunderstanding, you say? You want me to join? You'll have to pay the price. My appearance fee isn't low," Kakuzu's gravelly voice rang out.
Classic Kakuzu. He didn't care that Hiruko had just "killed" him once; his mind was entirely on the commission fee. He didn't even ask who Hiruko was or what the organization did—a pure bounty hunter to the core.
Hiruko smiled. "I've heard the rumors about you. I want to strike a longer-lasting, more equal partnership. Join us for a while, and I'll show you a path to making truly massive amounts of money. How about it?"
Kakuzu's eyes lit up instantly. This spoke his language. He feared no danger, only a lack of funds. As the decades passed, money had become his sole obsession.
"Oh? A big money business? Talk is cheap. There's nothing in the world of finance I haven't seen."
Hiruko thought of predatory lending—loaning small amounts to housewives with 30-50% interest. But you couldn't lend to just anyone; you had to pick the ones with clean houses and good breeding. In a year, you could add another zero to your bank account.
Kakuzu crossed his arms, his face full of disdain. "In the end, it's just usury. You think I'm a kid who hasn't seen the world?"
Hiruko didn't argue. He simply said, "The endpoint of all things is usury."
This was the secret of the richest men in Earth's history. Hiruko genuinely considered launching a lending scheme, though he worried the Sage of Six Paths might climb out of his grave to hunt him down for it. If the world knew what he was planning, half the shinobi world would probably come for his head.
"Alright, Mr. Kakuzu. We're adults. Since you aren't convinced by my words, let's use a new-era method to prove my sincerity. I'll let you set the test. If I fail, we forget this happened and I'll pay you ten million Ryo for the offense. If I succeed, I trust a wise man like you will make the right choice."
Given Hiruko's earlier display of power, Kakuzu didn't dismiss him. He pondered for a moment, realizing he had nothing to lose. "Fine. Here is ten thousand Ryo. I'll give you three days to turn it into ten million. No gambling, no robbery. You have to trade for it. Do we have a deal?"
"That is quite the challenge," Hiruko chuckled, taking the banknote.
"Then follow me," Kakuzu said flatly.
They traveled for half a day, arriving at a seaside town outside the Land of Rice Fields. Kakuzu was impatient, but he followed. The town was essentially a large wharf—a place Kakuzu had chosen on a whim, perhaps suspecting a trap. The half-day of travel was included in the three-day limit.
Hiruko didn't care. The seaside suited his plans perfectly. They used simple disguises and walked into the bustling harbor town. The residents had no idea that two Kage-level monsters were walking among them. Merchants lowered their voices and pedestrians moved aside instinctively when they saw the ninjas—the usual reaction born of fear and misunderstanding.
Hiruko looked around. It was a port town, teeming with fishermen and sailors. Sailors lived monotonous, dangerous lives at sea. When they hit land, they were desperate for entertainment. Consequently, the town was packed with taverns and "red-light" establishments, all doing roaring business.
Kakuzu grew restless. "Well? When do you start making money? I hate being stared at."
As a veteran shinobi, Kakuzu loathed crowds; more eyes meant more risk to his intel. But he was curious. He had been burned by Hiruko's stock market maneuvers in the past and didn't want to miss a chance to learn the "trick."
Hiruko asked leisurely, "Mr. Kakuzu, what do you think of the stock market?"
Kakuzu's face twisted in rage. "That place is the most garbage, evil, and stupid invention in existence!"
Clearly, he had been fleeced. Kakuzu was a traditionalist—great at killing, obsessed with cash, but unable to keep up with the changing times.
They passed a small restaurant. Hiruko patted his stomach. "It's late. Let's eat first. But the meal comes out of the ten thousand."
"Fine," Kakuzu snapped.
The shop was a small "mom and pop" place, clean and busy. Hiruko saw the prices were fair. "Two bowls of zhajiangmian, extra eggs. No other frills."
"I only need soldier pills and cold water," Kakuzu said. His immortal body was like iron; he could treat rations like a gourmet meal. He hoarded wealth like a giant hamster, knowing only money would never betray him.
The noodles were surprisingly good. Hiruko recognized the scent of the spices he'd developed in Konoha. It seemed the sailors here had decent incomes if they could afford such flavors.
"Nice place," Hiruko noted while chewing on a clove of garlic. "With more capital to expand, they could make a fortune."
"Don't talk to me about the restaurant business," Kakuzu muttered from behind his mask. He'd tried it once; the chef had run off with the cash and the receptionist.
Hiruko finished his meal quickly. Kakuzu was at his breaking point. "Are you messing with me? When does the profit start?!"
Hiruko finally moved. The meal cost 150 Ryo. He then took Kakuzu to a stationery shop and bought a mountain of paper and pens for 500 Ryo. Total spent: 650 Ryo. And Hiruko had done nothing but eat and shop.
Kakuzu was turning into a "King of Grumbles." Ten thousand was peanuts to him, but watching Hiruko waste it was painful.
"You have to buy tools before a mission," Hiruko noted, rolling his eyes.
"Then get moving!!!"
Hiruko handed a pen to Kakuzu. "We're going to write something. I'm too lazy, so you do it. You can write, can't you?"
The veins on Kakuzu's forehead throbbed. Of course he could write—he had to read mission scrolls. But Hiruko's attitude was infuriating. He threw a punch, but Hiruko met it with his own. Kakuzu's hand went numb instantly. Hiruko's physical durability was on another level.
"You've been playing me from the start! You're the biggest piece of trash in the world!" Kakuzu roared. "I regret believing you!"
"Stop whining. Do you want the money or not? If you quit now, that 650 Ryo is gone forever," Hiruko said calmly.
Kakuzu went silent. He couldn't stand losing money, even 650 Ryo. He sat down. Under Hiruko's dictation, he began to write.
The story?
"Young Abing." It was a "classic" from Hiruko's memories.
Abing's high school grades were poor, but...
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