Kakuzu was shaken to his core!
Haruto Saito had directly called out his name! And this name—he hadn't used it in a very long time! Kakuzu was his real name, the one he had used when he was in Takigakure.
After failing in his assassination attempt on the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, he had been punished upon returning to his village. This unfair treatment had led him to betray Takigakure entirely!
Since then, he had rarely used his real name, even changing his alias frequently when taking black-market contracts for the sake of his own safety.
Ever since his failed attempt on Hashirama's life, Konoha had placed the highest-level bounty on his head!
Although many years had passed and Konoha was no longer actively hunting him, any exposure—any trace of his true identity—would lead them to follow the trail back to him.
For this reason, despite being an S-rank assassin, he had taken on very few assignments over the years. He was careful not to draw attention to himself!
As an elite assassin of the highest caliber, each contract he completed brought in tens of millions of ryo. That was more than enough to let him live extravagantly for years! Thus, he only accepted jobs when he was running low on funds.
This time was no different!
But he had never expected this mission to be a complete failure! Worse yet, he had been captured!
The most terrifying part of it all was that his opponent knew his true identity!
Kakuzu slumped in the corner, staring at Haruto, who was holding a dimly lit oil lamp. The flickering light cast eerie shadows across Haruto's face, making it appear pale and ghostly. The sight sent a chill through Kakuzu.
"How do you know?" Kakuzu finally asked, his voice low and wary.
"I calculated it," Haruto replied nonchalantly, stepping closer. "I have a near-prophetic ability. It doesn't always work, but sometimes, I can see glimpses of the past and future."
"Don't play games with me," Kakuzu scoffed. "I'm already your prisoner. Lying to me serves no purpose. Besides, I'm just a mercenary. There's no classified intelligence on me that would be of value to Konoha."
Clearly, he didn't believe a single word Haruto had said.
Haruto didn't mind.
Belief wasn't necessary. What mattered was that he had provided an explanation. An explanation he could use for anyone who asked—whether they believed it or not was up to them.
And in time, Haruto was confident Kakuzu would come to believe him.
"Kakuzu," Haruto squatted down in front of him, meeting his gaze. "If my guess is correct, you should be about sixty years old now."
Kakuzu's face paled!
Impossible! How could Haruto know his exact age?
Haruto continued, "You were born in Takigakure. After failing to assassinate the First Hokage and facing unjust punishment from your village, you defected and stole Takigakure's forbidden technique—Earth Grudge Fear! You can replace your own heart, extending your lifespan by stealing the hearts and chakra networks of others. By now, you must have acquired all five elemental chakra natures, haven't you?"
Kakuzu's eyes widened in shock!
He knew this much detail?
How was that possible?
Even within Takigakure, there were only a handful of people who knew these facts, and most of them were long dead! The average lifespan of a shinobi was short. Few survived to old age, let alone retired peacefully.
"Now, do you believe me?" Haruto asked with a grin.
Kakuzu stared at him, eyes filled with uncertainty.
Believe? How could he believe something so ridiculous?
"It's fine," Haruto said, his tone lighthearted. "Once I take you to dig up a hidden treasure, you'll believe me."
Haruto then sat down cross-legged, just two meters from Kakuzu. "For now, let's talk about your future."
Kakuzu remained silent for a moment before finally asking, "What does Konoha plan to do with me?"
"Remember what I said before? If you surrendered, I would spare your life," Haruto reminded him. "But you didn't surrender. You were captured after a fight. That changes things… but I'll give you another chance. No matter your background, I can guarantee you won't die. I can even set you free."
Kakuzu studied Haruto's expression. He couldn't understand him at all!
None of this made sense.
From the very moment they met, Haruto had been acting strangely.
And now, he was saying he could be released?
Why?
Kakuzu was an assassin who had been hired to kill Haruto. How could he possibly expect leniency?
Haruto was known as Konoha's deadliest assassin! The legendary Red-Eyed Killer of the Anbu, the man who had left a trail of destruction in the Land of Whirlpools. He was infamous across the shinobi world!
"What's your condition?" Kakuzu finally asked. "You want something, don't you? My forbidden technique?"
The most valuable thing about him was undoubtedly Earth Grudge Fear. The technique that granted him a twisted form of immortality.
"No, I don't need that," Haruto replied casually. "I just want you to change your ways and work for me."
"Oh?" Kakuzu raised an eyebrow. "You mean… missions? Who do you want me to kill?"
"Why do you always think about killing?" Haruto sighed. "It's not about missions. I want you to work for me. Do you understand?"
Kakuzu fell into thought.
"You want me to serve under you? Just like that?" Kakuzu scoffed, blood still dripping from his wounds. "And what makes you think I'd be willing to do that?"
Haruto smirked. "Because I have money! I'm offering you a job. If you work for me, I'll pay you a stable annual salary of at least twenty million ryo. Additional commissions will be paid separately."
Kakuzu's expression froze.
Haruto was satisfied with that reaction.
He knew Kakuzu well enough to understand what made him tick!
According to legend, Kakuzu was devoted to one thing—money. In the original story, he wasn't just a member of the Akatsuki's "Undying Duo" with Hidan, but also the organization's treasurer!
Kakuzu was a man who could be bought!
Of course, this was only possible because he wasn't currently affiliated with any major group. Kakuzu was fiercely loyal to his organizations, but his love for money was real. He had even taken odd jobs in the civilian world just to earn extra cash!
Haruto had just offered him a salary of twenty million ryo per year.
A terrifyingly high wage!
This wasn't a mission-based commission—it was a fixed salary! For reference, even the Hokage himself, Hiruzen Sarutobi, earned just over ten million ryo a year. The village's top advisors made even less.
"Well?" Haruto grinned. "Think it over. If you agree, you'll be a free man. You'll earn a stable, high income… all you have to do is work for me."
Haruto was determined to recruit Kakuzu.
This was part of his grand plan—to build his own shinobi village!
He needed allies, but they had to be independent of Konoha. He didn't want his future village to be a mere extension of Konoha.
He needed his own people.
And Kakuzu was the first candidate he had found!
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