In a private room of a restaurant on Tanshu Street, Chiba and Kakuzu sat opposite each other.
"Tell me, what do you want from me?" Kakuzu asked, staring at Uchiha Chiba.
To his surprise, Chiba simply shook his head.
"You're not here to ask for my help? Then why did you come looking for me?"
"I'm here for a different reason," Chiba replied calmly. He picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, and then asked, "Would you like to work for me?"
"...Huh?"
Did he even hear himself?
Kakuzu was doing just fine as a bounty hunter. He had the freedom to act as he pleased and make money at his own pace. Why would he ever consider becoming someone else's subordinate?
If it weren't for the fact that Uchiha Chiba had spared his life last time, he would have left without another word.
"Haha, I'm not interested," Kakuzu scoffed. "I've experienced too many betrayals. I don't trust anyone anymore."
He took a sip of tea and continued, "The only thing that will never betray me is money."
Hearing this, Uchiha Chiba smiled slightly.
"I know your past, but have you ever considered that the reason for all of it is simply that the people around you were too weak?"
To be honest, Chiba couldn't understand why the higher-ups of Taki Village made such foolish decisions. They had actually thought sending someone to assassinate Senju Hashirama was a good idea.
And when their plan inevitably failed, they made Kakuzu the scapegoat and exiled him, fearing Konoha's retaliation.
"You've seen Hashirama Senju's strength firsthand," Chiba continued. "Now imagine—if you had that kind of power, would betrayal even be an issue? You could just crush anyone who dared betray you."
Kakuzu frowned. He was talking about betrayal, but Chiba was talking about power.
"I see your point, but what does that have to do with me now?" Kakuzu asked.
"Haha, what I mean is that as long as you're strong enough, 99% of your problems will disappear. For example..."
Uchiha Chiba smirked. "I could just force you to become my subordinate, couldn't I?"
"...!"
Kakuzu remained silent. He knew Uchiha Chiba wasn't wrong. He had already experienced the boy's overwhelming power firsthand.
If Chiba really wanted to, he could make him submit by force.
"Tell me, why do you want me as your subordinate?" Kakuzu asked.
"I need money. A lot of money. And you're the only person I know who can make a fortune quickly," Chiba replied bluntly.
Kakuzu was so shocked that he actually laughed.
Chiba hadn't even mentioned a specific amount, but from the way he spoke, it was clear the sum was enormous.
"You want me to work under you just so you can use my money for your own plans?" Kakuzu asked, narrowing his eyes.
Chiba nodded.
"You..."
Kakuzu was furious but found himself at a loss for words.
Seeing this, Chiba continued, "I know you're skeptical, but let me explain why I need so much money. Listen to me first, and then you can decide whether or not to accept my offer."
Kakuzu remained silent, watching him carefully.
Uchiha Chiba then laid out his grand plan—one similar to what he had told Orochimaru before.
...
After listening to Chiba's words, Kakuzu sneered.
Chiba was talking about achieving immortality, but Kakuzu already had a form of longevity thanks to the Jiongu (Earth Grudge Fear) technique.
"I've already obtained immortality in my own way," Kakuzu scoffed. "So why should I waste my money on your plan?"
"Haha, do you really think Jiongu will keep you alive forever?" Chiba asked, shaking his head. "Sure, it lets you replace your heart and extend your lifespan, but what about the rest of your body?"
"Over time, your flesh will decay. Have you ever seen a former user of Jiongu still alive in Taki Village?"
Kakuzu fell silent.
Chiba was right. He had already noticed subtle signs of his body's deterioration, though they weren't severe yet.
If he continued living like this, that decay would only worsen.
And as for Chiba's second point—he had considered it himself back when he was still in Taki Village. If Jiongu truly granted immortality, then why weren't there any previous users still alive?
If Taki Village had really possessed such a powerful secret technique, they should have had numerous elite Jonin surviving through the generations. But in reality, Taki Village was still a small and weak nation.
The more Kakuzu thought about it, the more he hesitated.
"I don't fear death," he said after a long pause. "But I do want to live as long as possible."
"Then let me ask you this," Chiba said, leaning forward. "Do you really think Jiongu is the best method for immortality?"
Kakuzu frowned. "...What are you implying?"
"Think about the Three Great Sage Lands," Chiba continued. "The toads, the snakes, the slugs—those immortals have been alive for over a thousand years. Do you know how they did it?"
Kakuzu remained silent.
"They used natural energy," Chiba explained. "An energy that existed long before Chakra was even born. Those sages achieved true longevity using it."
"And the best part?" Chiba smirked. "There are no side effects."
At the mention of "side effects," Kakuzu unconsciously clenched his fists.
Jiongu had certainly prolonged his life, but it had also turned him into something neither fully human nor fully monster.
Thinking about it, the scales in his mind began to tip.
"Can your method truly achieve immortality?" Kakuzu asked, his voice serious.
"Of course," Chiba said confidently. "The proof is already out there. You know as well as I do that the immortals of the Sage Lands have existed for centuries. If they can do it, so can we."
Kakuzu hesitated.
The idea was tempting, but he wasn't the type to make impulsive decisions.
"Let me think about it," he finally said. "I need time to consider."
"It's fine," Chiba replied with a smile. "But my time is limited, so you only have until the end of today."
At that moment, Chiba's stomach suddenly growled.
"...Well, let's eat first," he said, looking at Kakuzu. "You can think it over properly after we've had a meal."
With that, Chiba called for the waiter.
...
Although he had given Kakuzu a day to decide, Uchiha Chiba was already keeping an eye on him using his Observation Haki.