Naruto: Reborn as Kakuzu, the Immortal Assassin

Tch-tch.

Danzo muttered to himself, "What is my dream?" He repeated the question, his voice low and contemplative. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened with determination. He looked at Kakuzu and Tobirama Senju with unwavering conviction.

"My dream is simple. I want to become a Hokage like Lord Hashirama. I want to protect the village, guard over Konoha, and nurture the next generation so they can thrive under my care."

Every child had a grand dream, and this time, Danzo's tone was resolute. It wasn't mere posturing in front of Tobirama—he genuinely wanted to become Hokage.

"Heh. Not a bad ambition. One day, you'll achieve it. Work hard, study diligently, and strive to claim that title as soon as you can," Kakuzu encouraged, his words resonating with Danzo. Filled with renewed energy, Danzo eagerly bid farewell to Kakuzu and Tobirama.

Kakuzu glanced at Tobirama out of the corner of his eye, but the Second Hokage remained motionless, his gaze distant as he watched Danzo leave. His expression betrayed no particular change. It was clear—Danzo's passionate declaration hadn't swayed Tobirama's impression of him.

To be fair, it made sense. Among the children graduating from the ninja academy, many nurtured the same ambition—to become Hokage. Yet, there could only be one village leader, chosen based on merit and suitability. For the Senju brothers, Hashirama and Tobirama, their preferred candidate had always been the "sunny boy," Hiruzen Sarutobi. That left little room for someone like Danzo.

Years later, Danzo would still harbor regret, believing his failure to step up and volunteer for the rear guard during a critical mission had cost him the Hokage title. This regret haunted him until his death at Sasuke's hands.

Imagine, if Danzo had been bold enough to step forward then:

"Sensei, leave the rear guard to me. You all go ahead!"

Tobirama might have smiled, relieved. "Danzo, you truly embody the Will of Fire. I was right about you. We'll leave this to you. Hiruzen, let's go!"

Alas, history didn't play out that way, and Danzo carried this regret to his grave. Truly, he was a tragic figure in Konoha's history.

But enough of that. Kakuzu refocused his thoughts, intending to chat with Tobirama about something else when a child suddenly darted out from the lab.

The boy rushed past without even a greeting, shouting as he ran, "Koharu! Wait for me! Don't leave me behind!"

Kakuzu raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the scene. "You have another student?"

Tobirama sighed, rubbing his forehead with a weary expression.

"Graduated with Hiruzen's class. Not part of our team, though. He came on his own initiative. That's Mitokado Homura."

"Ah, right." Kakuzu nodded as recognition dawned. "So the Konoha Four are all here now. Quite a formidable group. And judging by what he just said… is this guy a simp? Running after Utatane Koharu all day?"

Tobirama shook his head in mild exasperation. Koharu liked Hiruzen, while Homura chased after Koharu. Meanwhile, Danzo watched it all with a cold, detached gaze.

Quite the tangled web. Yet, it was their rich experiences in youth that allowed them to maintain such enduring relationships later in life.

Time flowed on, and Kakuzu's life gradually settled into a routine. Day in and day out, he worked steadily, his days mundane but fulfilling.

Two months later, on a quiet morning—

Knock, knock, knock!

Kakuzu was savoring sushi for breakfast when someone knocked at his door.

"Come in," he called.

The door swung open, revealing a youthful face with a cheerful smile. It was none other than Maruboshi Kosuke.

Kosuke stepped inside, hefting a leather briefcase and placing it firmly on the table in front of Kakuzu.

"Kakuzu-san, here's the rent from the 146 tenants this quarter. I just finished collecting the last payment. Please, take a look."

Kakuzu chuckled, setting the briefcase aside without opening it. Kosuke had been managing the apartment complex like a dedicated steward ever since he'd moved in.

"Sit down and eat something," Kakuzu offered, retrieving another plate of sushi from the fridge. With a soft beep from the microwave, the aroma of freshly heated food filled the room.

"Thank you. Itadakimasu!" Kosuke clasped his hands together in gratitude before eagerly digging in.

As they ate, they chatted casually.

"How's Academy?" Kakuzu asked.

Kosuke had arrived in Konoha with aspirations of becoming a ninja. He'd enrolled in the academy the previous year.

"Thanks to your support, I've already mastered shurikenjutsu and basic Konoha-style taijutsu. With a bit more practice, I think I'll be ready to learn the Three Basic Techniques next semester!"

"One technique per semester, huh? Not bad…" Kakuzu nodded, pleased.

Just then, another knock came at the door.

This time, the visitor was also a familiar face.

"Shoroku, you're just in time. Care for some food?" Kakuzu gestured toward an empty seat, but Nara Shoroku shook his head, smiling politely.

"No, thank you. I've already eaten. I came to inform you—we're expected at today's meeting."

Whenever significant events occurred, the Hokage would convene the clan leaders and key figures for a council. These gatherings were known as "Konoha Conferences."

"Kakuzu, you really are something else. I genuinely admire you." Nara Shoroku shot Kakuzu a look of sincere respect.

The Konoha Conference primarily targeted the village's upper echelon and major ninja clans. Although the Nara Clan hadn't been in Konoha for long, they were a legitimate ninja clan, with at least half their members stationed on the frontlines to defend the village. Their weight in the conference was considerable. Kakuzu, on the other hand, was different. He had always been a lone wolf. Even after arriving in Konoha, he didn't live as a traditional shinobi. While Kakuzu had gained a notable reputation in the village, he was still considered an outsider.

For someone like him to participate in a high-level meeting alongside the village's decision-makers was undeniably impressive—enough to earn Shoroku's admiration.

Kakuzu gave a carefree smile as he slowly chewed the last piece of sushi on his plate. The truth behind his attendance was simple: it all boiled down to a deal with Tobirama Senju. Tobirama had invited Kakuzu to assist in his laboratory, and in return, Kakuzu had demanded some benefits.

Tobirama, being who he was, had plenty of bargaining chips. Most would have chosen his most valuable ninjutsu: the Flying Thunder God. After all, it was undeniably powerful and flashy. However, Kakuzu didn't make that choice. While the Flying Thunder God technique was indeed extraordinary, mastering it required a prerequisite—Yin Release chakra as a foundation. Without it, no amount of effort would yield results.

This limitation explained why, decades after Tobirama invented the technique, only Minato Namikaze had managed to learn it. Minato was the only one who naturally possessed Yin Release. Since Kakuzu didn't have Yin Release, he saw no point in wasting his time on something unattainable. Instead, he opted for more practical benefits.

First, Kakuzu demanded permission to continue purchasing property in Konoha. This request immediately darkened Tobirama's expression. He feared that Kakuzu's relentless acquisitions might one day make the entire village his. However, after some thought, Tobirama reasoned that Konoha was too vast for Kakuzu to completely buy out, so he grudgingly agreed. Even so, Tobirama imposed strict limits, forbidding Kakuzu from using money earned through the black market to fund these purchases. Additionally, the Flying Thunder God's seal allowed Tobirama to track Kakuzu whenever he left the village.

Kakuzu accepted these conditions without complaint.

The second benefit Kakuzu sought was access to Konoha's decision-making circle. In a world where shinobi wielded immense power, Kakuzu wasn't particularly interested in authority. His motive was to guard against Tobirama's schemes and ensure he wouldn't be led by the nose. This arrangement allowed them to cooperate in specific domains while maintaining mutual caution elsewhere.

Tobirama had little reason to refuse. Giving Kakuzu a seat in the decision-making circle without granting him actual power made him more of an observer than a participant. After brief consideration, Tobirama agreed.

In the end, Kakuzu and Tobirama established a delicate balance—a collaboration in certain areas and a mutual vigilance in others.

...

The chapter for 100 Power Stones, thank you