"Lord Kawakaze hasn't returned yet. Do you think something's wrong?"
In front of the Hokage building, a few Konoha ninja stood uneasily, glancing toward the distance.
"Nonsense! How could anything go wrong with Lord Kawakaze?"
This came from a diehard fan of Kawakaze, someone who firmly believed that no one in the ninja world could escape from him. Even Kawakaze himself probably didn't have such confidence.
"I was just talking nonsense," the ninja said apologetically, scratching his head, realizing his remark was ill-timed.
"Lord Kawakaze is back!"
Before the diehard fan could say more, someone shouted. A figure appeared in the distance, speeding toward the group while carrying an unknown object.
"It's up to you."
Kawakaze hurled Kakuzu, still encased in the wooden prison, directly in front of the Konoha ninja. The wooden structure landed with a loud bang, and Kawakaze himself landed gracefully in front of everyone.
"So this is the guy?"
The captain stepped forward, giving the wooden prison a light kick. He had expected a fearsome adversary but now found Kakuzu looking utterly miserable.
"Hmph," Kakuzu snorted. Falling from power and being humiliated like this, he felt like he was being bullied by a dog. How he wished to free himself and fight one-on-one!
"You're in this state, and you're still not convinced?" the captain snapped, enraged by Kakuzu's defiant glare. He still hadn't forgotten the chaos from earlier that almost cost him his life.
"You're not happy with me pointing out a few faults?"
The captain raised his foot, ready to teach Kakuzu a lesson about rules—and the reality of bowing down when trapped under someone else's roof.
"Alright, don't get him killed by some kicks. Take him away and lock him up," Kawakaze said, stopping the captain from following through with his actions. Kakuzu was already left with half a life.
If he were really kicked to death, it would be a minor issue, but explaining about the lost money to Tsunade would be another matter entirely.
"Yes, Lord Kawakaze," the captain muttered angrily, lowering his raised foot.
"I'll head back first. We can deal with the rest tomorrow," Kawakaze added, wrapping his pajamas around himself to ward off the chilly Konoha night.
"Fine. We'll take him to the Anbu prison," the captain replied. Someone like Kakuzu couldn't be held in a standard police prison. Only the Anbu prison could ensure everyone's peace of mind.
The captain gave a nod, signaling two subordinates to carry the wooden prison.
"Oh, and don't forget to ask him for the damages to the Hokage Building," Kawakaze said with a casual wave as he departed.
"Yes."
The captain understood that a bounty hunter like Kakuzu likely had significant assets. However, he had no idea just how substantial those assets truly were. Kawakaze, for his part, chose not to elaborate. Money could easily sway people, and letting others know too much could lead to trouble.
"Let me get back to sleep," Kawakaze said, snapping his fingers before vanishing from sight.
Even though he didn't use Wood Release there, the prison was secure enough that Kakuzu wouldn't escape anytime soon. Confident in his preparations, Kawakaze left without concern.
"What are you glaring at? You're still going to be arrested," the captain said, giving the base of the wooden cell a couple of light kicks. He carefully controlled his strength—killing Kakuzu himself would only create more trouble.
"Do you deserve any credit?" Kakuzu retorted with scorn, his words dripping with irony.
"I'll be damned..." the captain muttered, his composure cracked by Kakuzu's sharp reply. Memories of his own helplessness during the earlier fire came rushing back.
"Captain, captain, it's not worth it. He's just a prisoner," the two subordinates interjected, trying to calm him down.
Kakuzu, however, remained as defiant as ever, showing no intention of bowing to anyone.
"It makes me so angry," the captain muttered, taking a few deep breaths to calm himself. Gradually, his mood steadied.
For the remainder of the journey, he didn't say another word to Kakuzu. Once they had delivered Kakuzu to the Anbu prison cell, the three quickly departed. The Anbu would handle the rest from there.
Meanwhile, Kawakaze returned to his room and noticed that Tsunade was still awake.
"Why aren't you asleep?" he asked as he changed into a fresh set of pajamas, having gotten a little dirty during the fight.
"I couldn't sleep while you were gone," Tsunade replied. She didn't ask about the assassin's fate—Kawakaze's return spoke for itself.
"Now that I'm back, you can sleep," Kawakaze said, climbing into bed. His hand instinctively reached out to rest on Tsunade's stomach, round and comforting.
"Guess who I caught?" he asked, unable to resist sharing.
Tsunade, intrigued, tilted her head. "Who? Could it be a ninja from the village?"
Kawakaze gave her a look that clearly said she wouldn't guess correctly, further sparking her curiosity.
"No, guess again," he teased, shaking his head.
"Hmmm..." Tsunade pondered aloud before sighing. "You should have just told me—I can't guess." She pouted slightly, giving up.
"Then I'll tell you, out of the kindness of my heart," Kawakaze said, a small smile curling on his lips. "Do you remember the Taki ninja who tried to assassinate Grandpa?"
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock. "Ah, that Taki ninja? Kakuzu, right?"
"Yes," Kawakaze replied, impressed. "I'm surprised you remember his name."
Kawakaze assumed that Hashirama and Tsunade had likely spoken about him.
"At the time, Grandpa didn't take the assassination seriously," Tsunade said.
"It was Second Grandpa who investigated and wanted to kill Kakuzu as an example to others."
Kawakaze nodded. The answer was unexpected but made sense. Kakuzu owed his life to Hashirama's mercy. If Hashirama hadn't stopped him, Tobirama would have killed Kakuzu without hesitation.
"I see," Kawakaze replied. Then, with a smirk, he added, "I'll tell you something else. The old bastard has amassed over 900 million in assets."
"That much?" Tsunade's eyes lit up, sparkling with interest.
"Is killing that profitable?"
"That guy would risk his life for money," Kawakaze explained. "With his strength, it's not surprising he's saved that much."
Kakuzu had indeed endured countless hardships for his wealth. He was so stingy that he rarely indulged in good food or clothing, only for it to potentially end up benefiting someone else. Kawakaze couldn't help but find it ironic.
"Have you got it yet?" Tsunade asked, cutting to the point.
"Er..." Kawakaze hesitated before admitting, "You haven't told me to get it yet."
"Then why did you even mention it?" Tsunade rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. She wasn't going to stress over money they didn't yet have.
"He's just waiting for you to ask," Kawakaze said with a sheepish grin, trying to smooth things over.
"Is it appropriate for me to go ask for money with a big belly?" Tsunade shot back, still self-conscious about her appearance, though deep down she was just avoiding the effort.
"No, it's not appropriate," Kawakaze replied quickly, his tone earnest.
"Then I'll leave this to you," Tsunade declared casually. She wanted the money but had no intention of doing the work.
"Okay, leave it to me," Kawakaze agreed. "I'll make him spit out his underpants."
"Who wants his underpants? You can keep those yourself," Tsunade said, poking Kawakaze's forehead with her finger. So crude.
It's only fair to pay for your life—it's just a bit more expensive this time.