Freelancer in Naruto

As Obito and Madara continued happily farming missions at the black market, Senshi arrived, bringing Karin along.

He used his "Mantra" for a quick scan and immediately exclaimed, "Oh wow!"

Inwardly, he silently griped: "Has Onoki committed some heinous crime? Why does everyone seem to be going against him?"

It's not surprising Senshi would think so. Previously, when he brought his mercenary group to the Land of Earth's black market to take on missions, it caused a huge headache for Onoki. Now Obito and Madara were copying his approach, once again making trouble for Onoki.

Upon arriving at the black market, Senshi quickly found Madara and Obito.

Once Madara spotted Senshi and Karin, he got straight to the point:

"We need the One-Tail, the Two-Tails, and the Four-Tails. Also, we want to buy the Five-Tails at half price."

Currently, Madara and Obito jointly have a bit over 1.4 billion ryō. Under normal circumstances, they'd need 1.2 billion to purchase those four Tailed Beasts. But they didn't want to pay the full price.

According to the plan they'd worked out, they decided to buy three Tailed Beasts at the normal price, then bargain with Senshi about the fourth.

If successful, they'd get all four for 950 million, saving 250 million. Then, after another stretch of mission-farming, they'd have enough to buy the Six-Tails. If Senshi refused, so be it—no harm in trying.

Senshi had no idea how much money Obito and Madara had amassed, nor that they were trying to haggle with him this time. But it didn't matter, because either way, he wouldn't sell Tailed Beasts at a discount. Trading Tailed Beasts was a one-off deal, with no margin for bargaining.

Once Madara put forth his request, Senshi answered directly:

"Madara, my friend, the price of Tailed Beasts is already at market rate. If you two don't have enough money in hand, you can just buy three now. The Tailed Beasts aren't going anywhere."

"With the rate you two complete missions, you'll soon have enough for the fourth one."

When Senshi spoke so decisively, Madara and Obito both frowned. It now seemed a bit troublesome—Senshi wouldn't budge on the price even if they tried to buy four at once.

Though they farmed missions fast, getting a discount would have let them gather the Tailed Beasts sooner and move on to the next stage.

Obito thought for a moment, then said, "Senshi, we've already collaborated to some extent, and we'll definitely have more collaborations in the future. Apart from the Tailed Beast matter, we have other business we could do together. Couldn't you show a little goodwill on the price?"

Senshi chuckled at Obito's words. "Madara, Obito, I really can't lower the Tailed Beast price. But that doesn't stop us from doing a two-way trade."

"A two-way trade?" Madara frowned, puzzled at Senshi's meaning. Could Obito and he possibly offer something Senshi wanted to buy from them? That seemed unlikely.

Obito also showed a perplexed expression, unsure what Senshi was getting at. In fact, even Karin's eyes went wide (O_O)!!!.

This was her first time seeing Senshi actually wanting to purchase something from others.

Madara then said gravely, "Senshi, what do you mean by a two-way trade?"

Senshi offhandedly explained, "Don't you two have a lot of White Zetsu? You could sell me some. That way, you'd have more capital to buy Tailed Beasts."

Madara: (O_O)???

Obito: (O_O)???

The two of them were stunned. They really hadn't imagined that Senshi might want to buy White Zetsu.

From Obito's perspective, it wouldn't be a problem to sell off some Zetsu. On one hand, they had so many that it was practically limitless; on the other, Zetsu's uses were fairly narrow. So he asked, "Senshi, how much are you going to pay for a Zetsu?"

Senshi nonchalantly replied, "How about 1 million ryō apiece? It's not like those things are very useful, right?"

Hearing that price, Obito was annoyed: "No way! And who says Zetsu is useless? Their intel-gathering is top-notch!"

Senshi waved it off: "Obito, do you think I need intel scouts? After all—"

He paused, and Karin said right on cue, "Exactly—no one knows intel like Senshi! In the entire ninja world, there are two top intelligence experts: one is Senshi, the other is Senshi from yesterday! Why would he need White Zetsu for scouting?"

Stuck between Senshi and Karin's back-and-forth, Obito felt frustrated. Outside of recon, Zetsu did have a bit of Wood Release, but Senshi was already the world's strongest Wood Release user, so that was zero attraction.

Besides, if they sold White Zetsu at a million each, a hundred Zetsu would be 100 million. Madara and Obito had plenty of Zetsu. So at that rate, it was not a bad deal.

Obito was mulling this over when Madara suddenly spoke up, "We're not selling even one Zetsu!"

Obito: (O_O)???

Senshi: (O_O)???

Obito was baffled. What would they keep so many Zetsu around for? They'd hardly need them all. Senshi, too, was at a loss—why was Madara refusing?

Fortunately, Madara continued, "Even though Zetsu aren't exactly ninja, they provided crucial intel support while Obito and I did missions, fighting with us through one job after another. You could say each Zetsu is like a beloved comrade, a brother in arms. If you want to buy them, you'll need to raise your offer!"

Senshi was taken aback—Madara was using his own lines against him! Karin even giggled aloud, thinking: He's telling Senshi to raise the price?

Momentarily speechless, Senshi decided to swap lines with Madara in return. He gave a cold snort and said, "Madara, do you also want to dance?"

Senshi's formidable power aside, that line still triggered Madara's anger, but before he could blow up, Obito stepped in to smooth things over: "Okay, let's say 1.5 million per Zetsu, we raise the price a bit. We'll be working together for the long run; no point damaging our relationship over a small sum."

Finishing that, he looked at Senshi, waiting for his decision.

Senshi pondered briefly and said, "Alright, Obito, I'll give you that face. Done. Here's 150 million. I'll take 100 White Zetsu first."

With that, he pulled out two checks, handing them to Obito. Obito was overjoyed. Zetsu were practically worthless to them—there were so many. If Senshi was willing to pay, why refuse? Earning 1.5 hundred million purely by selling Zetsu saved them an enormous amount of mission-grinding time.

Accepting the checks, Obito said excitedly, "Senshi, give me a sec. I'll go get 100 Zetsu."

Madara did not object to Obito going for the Zetsu. Indeed, 1.5 hundred million was all profit. He even suspected the only person in the world willing to pay for Zetsu was Senshi; to everyone else, they were useless, and Zetsu might not obey anyway. Perhaps Senshi wouldn't even need them to obey.

Sure enough, Senshi intended to sell them on to Orochimaru as "research specimens," where each one would fetch a handsome 200 million.

Obito soon returned with a group of Zetsu, smiling: "Senshi, here are all 100 you asked for."

Senshi nodded and said to Karin, "Go ahead, store them away."

"Got it!" chirped Karin, using Kamui to warp all those Zetsu into her dimension.

At that display, Madara gave Obito a glare that seemed to say, Look at her, then look at you—no comparison. Karin, a member of the Uzumaki Clan, had awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, while Obito, an actual Uchiha, only had the standard Mangekyō.

Obito noticed Madara's expression but didn't know what it meant.

Once Karin had put away all hundred Zetsu, Obito added, "Senshi, I'm hiring you for 1.2 billion ryō to capture the One-Tail, Two-Tails, Four-Tails, and Five-Tails."

[Commission Accepted!]

[Client: Uchiha Obito]

[Mission Objective: Help Obito capture One-Tail, Two-Tails, Four-Tails, and Five-Tails!]

[Payment: 1.2 billion ryō]

[Mission Rank: S-rank]

[Reward: 1.2 million Employment Points!]

Seeing that message in his mind, Senshi was overjoyed. He'd already earned over 2 billion and was now edging toward 3 billion.

With the task locked in, he said to Karin, "Hand over those four Tailed Beasts."

Karin frowned a bit, muttering softly, "Then who'll test my cooking?"

Senshi, a bit exasperated, replied, "Isn't there a hundred Zetsu now? Their lifeforce is at least as tenacious as Tailed Beasts. In some ways, you can treat them like ordinary ninja. Their tastes are closer to humans', anyway."

Senshi knew that at least one White Zetsu had a fondness for dango.

Hearing him say that, Karin cheered right up, realizing Zetsu were an even better option for "taste-testing" than Tailed Beasts.

Just as she was about to bring out the four Tailed Beasts, Madara said, "Wait. We'll finalize the deal at the Mountain Graveyard."

It wasn't that he planned any tricks; he just wanted to seal them into the Gedo Statue immediately. Senshi didn't mind. Using Kāma's space-time travel, he took all four—plus Obito and Madara—over to the Mountain Graveyard.

Once there, Karin casually retrieved the four Tailed Beasts from Kamui space. Both Madara and Obito were in very high spirits upon seeing them. The Gedo Statue already contained two Tailed Beasts, and with these four, they now had six. A bit more saving up, and they could buy the Six-, Seven-, and Eight-Tails, thereby collecting all nine.

While Senshi, Madara, and Obito were concluding their deal, Orochimaru and Kabuto were in Orochimaru's lab, investigating the White Zetsu.

After initial experiments, Kabuto marveled at Orochimaru, "Orochimaru-sama, we can confirm Senshi-sama was honest: This being called White Zetsu indeed isn't human, yet it can be treated as if it were a human subject. Its limbs can replace missing ninja limbs, or it can co-exist with them. Truly a remarkable lifeform."

Orochimaru nodded and told him, "Put the Stone Mask and the improved Blacklight Virus on Zetsu."

The Zetsu, pinned within a barrier, couldn't understand what Orochimaru and Kabuto were discussing, but seeing Kabuto approach holding a mask and a syringe, it began to struggle wildly. Futile—it was pinned inside the barrier and couldn't use the Mayfly technique to escape.

Kabuto quickly fitted the Stone Mask onto Zetsu's face. Under the mask's power, Zetsu underwent rapid changes. Meanwhile, Kabuto injected it with the refined Blacklight Virus. Once done, he swiftly exited the barrier.

Even though this improved Blacklight Virus wasn't infectious to him, Kabuto still needed to observe from outside the barrier.

Zetsu, already an unusual creature, began changing drastically once forcibly injected. Its pale body turned a dull gray, its eyes turning blood-red, while its chakra skyrocketed severalfold, as though boiling.

"Extraordinary," praised Kabuto. "This really is an ideal specimen, able to withstand both the Stone Mask and Blacklight Virus simultaneously."

Orochimaru nodded, "Indeed. Its strength has grown significantly. Let's test it."

"Yes, sir," Kabuto responded, pressing a button. Suddenly, several kunai shot out at high speed, aiming to kill the mutated Zetsu.

At once, Zetsu's arm changed form, sprouting a pale wooden shield. Clang! Clang! Clang!—the kunai were easily deflected. Kabuto kept pressing various switches, intensifying the barrage of kunai, shuriken, and exploding tags.

"Whoosh—!"

Zetsu's arms morphed into two huge vines, knocking all the flying weapons aside. Though some exploding tags inflicted minor injuries, it soon fully recovered.

Seeing this, Orochimaru and Kabuto were delighted, as if they'd created some highly promising bio-weapon.

Orochimaru thought for a moment and told Kabuto, "Release those other creatures that were enhanced by the Blacklight Virus into the barrier."

"Yes." Kabuto did so, introducing many virus-modified animals—each containing chakra—essentially small summoning-beast equivalents. Once inside, they were swiftly killed and devoured by Zetsu. Absorbing their blood and tissues, Zetsu's body transformed again, growing larger and sprouting a second head, becoming extremely savage.

At that, Orochimaru grew excited. He formed hand seals, summoning several snakes into the barrier to do battle with Zetsu. One giant snake spewed Orochimaru forth from its mouth, sending him lunging at Zetsu.

Crack! Crack!

Zetsu's hands, like iron clamps, seized Orochimaru's arms. Then Orochimaru let out an eerie grin: a moment later, his mouth spat out the Kusanagi Blade, piercing Zetsu's original head.

A Stone Mask-based creation typically couldn't survive its brain being destroyed or exposure to sunlight. Yet combined with the Blacklight Virus, even puncturing its head failed to kill Zetsu. Sprouting vines on its arms, it tried to strangle Orochimaru—but the Orochimaru that attacked was just a serpentine shedding, drifting down as an empty husk.

More serpents appeared, coiling around Zetsu's legs, arms, and torso. But such confinement was meaningless to a rampaging, mutated Zetsu. Vines erupted across its body, devouring Orochimaru's summoned snakes.

Kabuto exclaimed, "A lifeform able to harbor both Stone Mask and Blacklight Virus truly has vast potential. As long as we have enough of these test subjects, Orochimaru-sama, you can forge an incredibly powerful subordinate."

Orochimaru agreed. This Zetsu wasn't strong enough yet, but it showcased astonishing potential. Both the Blacklight Virus and Stone Mask contained innumerable secrets yet to be uncovered. At that moment, Orochimaru felt he had a long research path ahead.

While Zetsu was still wrestling with the swarm of serpents, Orochimaru ordered Kabuto, "Begin the sunlight experiment."

At once, Kabuto pressed another button, opening the lab's ceiling. A flood of golden sunlight struck the raging White Zetsu. Wisps of black smoke rose from its body, and it let out piercing shrieks. Yet, unlike previous test subjects, it didn't die instantly.

Instead, the sheer agony drove it even more berserk, smashing itself against the barrier walls.

Kabuto asked anxiously, "Orochimaru-sama, shall we terminate it?"

Orochimaru hesitated. He had paid 200 million each for White Zetsu, so killing it felt like a waste. But it had been unstable from the outset, and now it was thoroughly out of control. Keeping it served no purpose.

He did still have two Momotarō Dumplings that could quell even a rampaging beast. But upon some thought, Orochimaru decided not to use them. This Zetsu was in a preliminary stage; its mission—demonstrating the combined potential of Stone Mask and Blacklight Virus—was complete. Since it had fully lost control, they might as well dispose of it.

Making up his mind, Orochimaru personally entered the barrier, adopting his Yamata no Orochi state to subdue the Zetsu. Even "stacked with two cheats," the Zetsu was no match for Orochimaru's monstrous power. Three quick slices with the Kusanagi Blade, and Zetsu was dissected. Under direct sunlight, it rapidly fell apart.

Orochimaru and Kabuto collected its remains. While doing so, Orochimaru remarked, "So, combining the Stone Mask and Blacklight Virus yields plenty of merits, but also faults. Blacklight carriers typically don't fear sunlight, yet this Zetsu still wasn't immune. We'll have to delve deeper into both to create a final product unafraid of sunlight."

Kabuto nodded gravely: "Indeed. If we succeed in forging a subject that doesn't fear sunlight, it'd be formidable even in the early stages—comparable to a normal jōnin, and with astounding growth potential."

Orochimaru concurred. "Your reasoning is on point. If we can mass-produce mid-tier blacklight vampires that don't fear sunlight, even at roughly chūnin level, we can open business across the ninja world. If we can create a stable, jōnin-level blacklight vampire, it'd fetch astronomical prices everywhere. Many small nations' strongest jōnin aren't as powerful as that would be."

As Orochimaru laid out that bright future, Kabuto got extremely excited. If they really possessed such tech, everyone would be a potential customer. Any country, any village, might want an army of these "blacklight vampires." And many ninja of mediocre talent, stuck at chūnin, would gladly opt for the upgrade.

Yet Orochimaru reined him in: "Attaining jōnin-level, well-controlled blacklight vampires requires time—and, most crucially, ideal test subjects. I wonder how many of those Senshi has left."

At this point Orochimaru no longer sweated over White Zetsu's price—these creatures were too vital for his experiments. Eventually, once the research succeeded, money would cease to be an obstacle. Orochimaru firmly believed that outcome was only a matter of time.

Kabuto similarly worried, "Yes. Who knows how many perfect samples Senshi can supply us with. As long as we have enough, our progress can accelerate tremendously."

Just then, a crimson vortex they both recognized swirled into view. Senshi emerged holding an unconscious White Zetsu.

Arriving and noticing the remains of the previous specimen, Senshi's face twitched. Orochimaru and Kabuto were terrifying—they'd dissected that earlier White Zetsu. But oh well; better they slice up Zetsu than go kidnapping other ninja or civilians.

Senshi casually tossed his unconscious Zetsu toward Kabuto and asked, "So, Orochimaru, how's the research coming along?"

Orochimaru gave a dark chuckle. "This species has plenty of issues. That first subject ended up losing control and had to be dissected. But I plan to buy two more Zetsu from you. Do you still have some?"

Were it not for budgeting his funds, he would buy even more, because each Zetsu would advance his research. With enough White Zetsu, it wouldn't be long before they mastered manufacturing controllable, chūnin-level blacklight vampires—thus opening a goldmine across the ninja world. From there, perfecting the technology further could lead them anywhere.

Senshi hadn't expected that after he'd just purchased a hundred Zetsu from Obito and Madara (for 150 million), he could flip two of them to Orochimaru for a whopping 400 million. The cost to him was only 3 million, so that netted 397 million in near-pure profit—and 400,000 Employment Points to boot. He was indeed raking it in.

At Orochimaru's request, Senshi sighed and said, "Ordinarily, it's not easy to get White Zetsu at a discount. But you're no outsider, Orochimaru, and for our friendship's sake, I'll do 200 million apiece for two more."

Orochimaru breathed a small sigh of relief. If Senshi had decided to raise prices, it'd be more hassle. Purchasing White Zetsu for research was clearly profitable. If Senshi refused to sell or raised prices drastically, it would be troublesome. But Senshi was consenting, so no time to lose.

Orochimaru stated, "Senshi, I'll hire you for 400 million ryō to supply me with two more Zetsu."

[Commission Accepted!]

[Client: Orochimaru]

[Mission Objective: Provide two more White Zetsu for his research!]

[Payment: 400 million ryō]

[Mission Rank: S-rank]

[Reward: 400,000 Employment Points!]

Once the system's prompt appeared in his mind, Senshi wasted no time. Activating Kāma's spatial ability, he reached into Karin's Kamui dimension.

He'd already sold Stone Mask and Momotarō Dumplings to Orochimaru for 1 billion and four more White Zetsu for 800 million, plus four Tailed Beasts to Obito and Madara for 1.2 billion, etc. Summed up, in short order, he'd earned 3.4 billion total. He was delighted—these major deals let him earn vast sums in no time.

Inside Karin's dimension, the two Zetsu were surrounded by "oil-flavored cuisine." They stood there dumbfounded. The Six-Tails, known as the slug Saiken, had eaten that vile stuff so often that it sneered at them. At a gesture from Karin, it told them to try it, but they quaked in terror. Just then, Senshi's hand reached in, grabbing them (plus their plate of "oil cuisine") and hauling them out into Orochimaru's lab.

Seeing these two Zetsu arrive clutching plates, Orochimaru raised a brow: "Aha, so these perfect test subjects are reared on some kind of oil-based feed?"

Realizing Karin must have been at it again, Senshi hurried to clarify: "Cough—Orochimaru, Zetsu can eat normal food at will. No need to feed them petroleum or anything."

He didn't want Orochimaru to starve them to death. Nor did he want word to spread that "Senshi forcibly feeds White Zetsu oil," in case all the Zetsu got ideas of revenge against Ame.

These two Zetsu had initially thought they were saved from the "oil buffet," but then they spotted the chunks of a dissected Zetsu lying around and realized, This place is even scarier.

Sensing danger, the two tried to flee, only for Senshi to knock them out with two swift chops. He turned to Orochimaru, saying, "Here you go. Keep a close eye on them. If they escape, I'm not about to chase them down for you."

Orochimaru nodded and instructed Kabuto: "Toss these two Zetsu in the barrier. Don't let them run. They cost me 400 million—if they get away, it'll be a huge loss!"

~~~

Patreon(.)com/Bleam

— This Fanfic is Completed in Patreon!

Please check the 2 New Naruto Fanfic out Now!!!

— Part Time Teacher in Konoha

— Absolute Justice in Naruto