Naruto: Reborn as Kakuzu, the Immortal Assassin

Farewells are an inevitable part of life. Even after spending years here, Kakuzu couldn't deny a peculiar sense of attachment. Still, overly emotional goodbyes weren't his style. For acquaintances like the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Kakuzu skipped the personal farewells, opting instead to send Maruboshi Kosuke to deliver 10 million ryo to each of them as a token of gratitude for their years of camaraderie.

Kakuzu's business ventures in Konohagakure weren't to be abandoned either. He entrusted the management of rental properties to Kosuke, who would ensure the income was deposited directly into Kakuzu's account. With banks across the Land of Fire, checking his growing wealth would be a simple matter. His glass factory and gambling dens were also left in capable hands, with clear instructions to remit profits monthly. Kakuzu relished the luxury of earning money without lifting a finger.

As he walked toward Konoha's gates, he carried little baggage—just as when he arrived. Dressed in his oversized cloak and carrying a single travel bag, Kakuzu's steps were calm and measured. Before long, he reached the village entrance.

Pausing briefly, he glanced up at the guard tower. A ninja leapt down and landed before him.

"Leaving already?" asked Senju Momoka, her expression calm but curious.

"Yeah. Staying cooped up in the village is too dull. I'm heading out to travel," Kakuzu replied with a faint smile.

"When will you return?"

"One or two years, maybe."

Both exchanged brief smiles. Kakuzu wasn't a Konoha shinobi, nor did he share any deep ties with Momoka. As ninja, they knew better than to let emotions linger. With a polite nod, Momoka stepped aside, silently bidding him farewell. Kakuzu said no more, his footsteps echoing as he crossed Konoha's gates and ventured into the open world.

The moment he left the village's perimeter, the sensory seal placed on him by Senju Tobirama activated.

Within the Senju compound, Tobirama immediately sensed the shift. The Flying Thunder God mark he'd placed on Kakuzu was still intact. A flicker of thought crossed his mind as he resumed his research, but he decided against pursuing it further.

Meanwhile, Kakuzu took a deep breath, savoring the fresh mountain air. His destination wasn't aimless. Long ago, during a conversation with Senju Hashirama, Kakuzu had asked about the location of the Sage Arts' sanctuaries.

The Sage Arts—an anomaly within the standard chakra system, allowing practitioners to harness nature's energy—offered a powerful path to strength. Although Sage Mode was one of Hashirama's signature abilities, the former Hokage hadn't withheld information.

"Honestly, I don't know," Hashirama had admitted. "I stumbled into Shikkotsu Forest by sheer chance while training my Wood Release. I was exhausted and wandered in without realizing it."

Kakuzu had been speechless at the casual response. How was he supposed to find such a place without Wood Release?

Seeing his frustration, Hashirama had provided a second suggestion.

"Sage sanctuaries and summoning realms share similarities—they're both otherworldly spaces. With some luck, you might stumble upon one."

The idea had some merit. Thinking of the numerous stone statues in Mount Myoboku, Kakuzu surmised they were likely remnants of those who had gotten "lucky" in the past.

Hashirama had then recalled a possible location.

"When I trained in Wood Release, it was near the southeastern corner of the Land of Fire, close to the border with the Land of Water."

And so, Kakuzu decided to test his luck, though he wasn't naïve enough to expect guaranteed success. To ensure his trip wasn't wasted, he planned to prepare along the way.

His journey led him to a decrepit-looking building that resembled a public restroom. He grimaced but stepped inside regardless.

Descending to the second basement level, he found the station's manager—a bald man in his thirties whose gleaming head was matched only by the gleam in his eyes. The man lit up the moment he saw Kakuzu.

"Ah, esteemed shinobi! You look like a skilled professional!" the man exclaimed enthusiastically.

"We have a variety of fresh missions available for selection. Don't miss out!"

"Oh, by the way," he added sheepishly, "our cooling system's broken, so there's a bit of a stench from the stored bodies. We had to pick this place to mask the smell. I hope you don't mind."

"Enough chatter," Kakuzu snapped, waving dismissively.

The bald man quickly complied, laying out mission scrolls on the table. The older ones were coated in dust, their edges frayed from years of neglect.

The top scrolls bore familiar names:

Senju Hashirama — Bounty: 153.2 million ryo.

Uchiha Madara — Bounty: 149.8 million ryo.

...Hyuga Tenjin — Bounty: 73 million ryo.

Raikage A — Bounty: 72.5 million ryo.

...Senju Tobirama — Bounty: 60 million ryo.

"Isn't this bounty a bit inflated?"

Never underestimate Kakuzu's memory. When it came to high-value bounties, he could remember every detail for decades—perhaps even a century. For instance, Senju Tobirama's bounty had undoubtedly risen by 5 million ryo.

"Heh heh, sir, those who've been causing a stir in the ninja world recently tend to see their bounties rise quickly."

"Plus, with the passage of time, currency has depreciated somewhat, so there's been a slight increase in their worth."

Hearing this, Kakuzu understood. Simply put, the more "notorious" someone was, the faster their bounty grew. The likes of Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Madara, and even the First Raikage—who once dared to haggle with Hashirama—fell into this category. Meanwhile, those who kept a low profile had their bounties creep upward over the years, mainly due to inflation, as long as their strength didn't wane.

Kakuzu's eyes scanned through the bounty slips, one after another. As he deliberated on which target would make the best next payday, the chatterbox bald man couldn't resist speaking again.

"Heh heh, sir, I can recommend a target with excellent value for money. Take a look."

Following the man's pointing finger, Kakuzu's gaze landed on a slip worth 30 million ryo.

However, Kakuzu immediately noticed something suspicious about this one.

The portrait depicted a man in his twenties, with brown hair, sharp features, and a decent appearance.

Name: Ruto

Description: Rogue ninja from Kirigakure, Jōnin-level strength

Mission Requirement: Capture alive and deliver to the specified location

Reward: 30 million ryo

As he studied the slip, Kakuzu's eyes narrowed. Capturing a Jōnin alive did elevate the difficulty of the mission. However, for a skilled bounty hunter, breaking the target's limbs and dragging them to the destination usually wasn't much of an issue.

Even so, wasn't this price a bit too high?

Seeing Kakuzu's contemplative silence, the bald man quickly jumped in to explain.

"Sir, to be honest, this is the most cost-effective target currently available."

"From what I've heard, similar slips have already been taken at other stations."

"As for the reward being a bit generous, that's nothing to worry about! After all, you'll be infiltrating the Land of Water to capture someone, and the risk does merit a higher payout."

"Don't hesitate any longer! If you keep pondering, someone else might catch him before you do."

"30 million isn't a small sum, you know!"

As the bald man's incessant chatter continued, Kakuzu's gaze slowly lifted, a chilling aura enveloping the room.

"One more word, and I'll end you."

The bald man immediately clammed up, a bead of cold sweat sliding down his forehead.

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