"Who's this guy? He even dared to try assassinating you?" Tsunade asked curiously.
"Ah, you wouldn't know this, but this guy's no ordinary assassin. Back in the day, he even threw shuriken at your grandfather!" Jinghang teased with a smirk.
"Wait, what?! He went after my grandfather? Doesn't that make him, like, sixty or seventy years old?" Tsunade exclaimed in surprise.
"Oh, he's definitely up there. This is an old-timer, a true legend in the underground assassin world," Jinghang said, his gaze fixed on Kakuzu, who was currently dangling helplessly in the Leather Dumpling trap. Jinghang's mind was already racing, considering whether to recruit him.
After all, Hidan was already utterly loyal, and Sasori was behaving himself as the dutiful "heir of the Will of Wind." If Jinghang could bring Kakuzu into the fold, it might even disrupt the operations of the Akatsuki—if they'd even been formed yet. Hmm… come to think of it, the Akatsuki might not even exist at this point.
But unlike Sasori's psychological issues stemming from a lack of parental love, Hidan's religious fanaticism, or Orochimaru's obsession with science, Kakuzu's motivations for joining the Akatsuki were unique.
A former elite Jōnin of Takigakure, Kakuzu had been tasked with an impossible mission: assassinate the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju. The result was predictable—after being utterly crushed by Hashirama's legendary Wood Release, Kakuzu barely escaped with his life.
When he returned to his village, battered and broken, he didn't receive the warmth or gratitude he expected. Instead, Takigakure's higher-ups branded him a failure and sought to execute him in secret. This betrayal was like plunging his patriotic heart into an icy abyss, then stomping on it for good measure.
Enraged by their treachery, Kakuzu slaughtered the village's leaders and stole their forbidden technique, Earth Grudge Fear, becoming an S-rank missing-nin.
Over the decades, he outlived friends, family, and enemies alike. He witnessed the rise and fall of legends like Hashirama and Tobirama, endured the horrors of war, and saw the frailty and cruelty of human nature. These bitter experiences taught him that everything—people, ideals, loyalty—was fleeting and unreliable. Only power in his hands and money in his pockets were real and trustworthy. Thus, he dedicated his immense strength and near-immortality to the lucrative business of collecting bounties.
In the original manga, when Pain invited Kakuzu to join the Akatsuki, Kakuzu was unimpressed. He dismissed grandiose ideals like the Infinite Tsukuyomi or eternal peace, caring only about the smell of money. It wasn't until Pain pummeled him with the Shinra Tensei and promised him a salary that Kakuzu reluctantly donned the Akatsuki's red cloud cloak.
Despite his initial reluctance, Kakuzu proved to be a diligent and reliable member. Not only did he exceed his quota (capturing both the Seven-Tails and Two-Tails alongside Hidan), but he also served as the organization's treasurer and accountant. Occasionally, he even dipped into his own funds to support the Akatsuki. This hinted at a deep, unspoken desire for belonging and recognition.
Jinghang pondered all of this, organizing his thoughts. Hmm, it seems I can offer him everything he's looking for! Plus, my organization is way more reliable and promising than the Akatsuki.
At that moment, Kakuzu began to stir, groaning as he regained consciousness. Suspended in the Leather Dumpling, he struggled violently, but it was futile. He attempted to channel chakra to break free, only to find that the trap had been sealed with a powerful restriction, leaving him unable to muster even a trace of chakra.
"Don't bother. That's a Leather Dumpling from the Xuanyuan Tomb, complete with sealing techniques. Even I'd have a hard time escaping if I were tied up in that thing," Jinghang said teasingly from below.
Kakuzu stopped struggling and glared down at Jinghang. "Enough with the chatter. If you're going to kill me, just do it. A failed assassin has no excuses."
Ignoring Kakuzu's defiant words, Jinghang nudged one of the Earth Grudge Fear bodies lying on the ground with his foot.
"One, two, three… Hmm, plus the one inside your body. Wait a second—something's missing. Oh, I get it! You must've kept one in reserve, didn't you?" Jinghang said with a sly grin.
"You!" Kakuzu's expression twisted in shock, his thoughts clearly exposed. He turned his head away, refusing to speak further.
"What's going on?" Tsunade asked, thoroughly confused. Beside her, Pakura and Gao Jin also looked puzzled.
"Well, the Earth Grudge Fear technique from Takigakure is incredibly powerful. Not only can it steal other people's hearts for personal use, but it also allows the user to wield multiple chakra natures. It's essentially…"
"Immortality!" Buck interrupted excitedly.
"Technically, yes. That's why Kakuzu is often referred to as someone who 'lives as long as the heavens and earth.' But…" Jinghang paused for dramatic effect. "From what I know, the Earth Grudge Fear can hold up to five hearts. So why is one missing? My guess is that Kakuzu, ever the cautious type, deliberately kept one in reserve. Just now, he was probably trying to bait us into killing him. Once we left, his last heart would revive him. Am I right?"
Kakuzu remained silent, his face betraying nothing.
"Hey, I'm talking to you! Don't play dumb!" Jinghang said impatiently, tapping the Leather Dumpling.
Still, Kakuzu said nothing.
"Don't push your luck, old man. Do you think I'm some kind of saint? If you keep this up, I'll burn your body to ashes and let your last heart wander the world as a monster!" Jinghang's voice turned cold, his threat cutting deep.
This finally got through to Kakuzu. He knew Jinghang wasn't bluffing. With a sigh, he said, "Alright, what do you want?"
"Ah, now we're talking!" Jinghang said with a satisfied nod. "Buck, let him down."
"What? But what if he escapes…" Buck hesitated.
"Relax. I'm here. He won't get away. Besides, I hate talking while craning my neck—it's bad for my posture."
Once released, Kakuzu didn't flee. Instead, he stood silently, waiting for Jinghang to speak.
Now that the intimidation was over, it was time for the carrot.
"The damages to the Yuchi Hot Springs totaled over six million ryō. How do you plan to pay that back?" Jinghang asked casually.
"I'll repay it," Kakuzu said, surprisingly cooperative.
"And what about the assassination attempt? I'm not as forgiving as Hashirama… Senju," Jinghang said, glancing at Tsunade, who showed no reaction.
"Whatever you decide," Kakuzu replied, his tone resigned.
"Good. Then how about this—work for me?" Jinghang proposed.
"Work for you? In Sunagakure?" Kakuzu asked, clearly surprised.
"Not exactly. More like for Golden Sands Entertainment Group. We're expanding, and I need an accountant."
"An… accountant?" Kakuzu blinked, baffled.
"Yeah, an accountant. Don't worry, I won't shortchange you. The salary, bonuses, and benefits will total ten million ryō a year. How's that sound?"
Kakuzu still looked skeptical. Jinghang hiring him—as an accountant—was beyond his expectations.
"Of course, it's not just accounting. You'll also handle some security work for the casino—debt collection, dealing with troublemakers, that sort of thing. Honestly, ten million is a generous offer."
It was true. Paying ten million ryō for an accountant was practically unheard of. Compared to bounty hunting, this was a great deal.
"…I accept," Kakuzu finally said.
"Good. Done. Hiring an S-rank ninja for ten million is a steal," Jinghang said, grinning.
"But… I'll need a year—no, half a year," Kakuzu added, glancing at the Earth Grudge Fear bodies on the ground.
Ah, he needs to "recharge," Jinghang realized. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Take two years. After that, report to me at the Yuesi Peninsula."
For the first time in ages, Kakuzu felt a faint sense of gratitude. Bowing slightly, he turned and left.
Two years later…
In a luxurious office, Kakuzu sat surrounded by mountains of ledgers. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, "Is this the bookkeeping for the entire city?! Damn it, I've been tricked again. I need a raise!"
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