Naruto: Reborn as Kakuzu, the Immortal Assassin

A light drizzle fell steadily, soaking the earth and nourishing all it touched, while the thin mist in the air gradually dissipated. For the Land of Water, this was a rare, clear day.

On the southern edge of the Island, Kakuzu trudged along the road with his prisoner, Ruto, in tow. He cast a glance at the partially obscured sun hanging in the sky. To the people of the Land of Water, this weather would likely be considered ideal for a meeting—visibility was clear, yet not blinding.

Before long, Kakuzu and Ruto stopped simultaneously. Five meters ahead of them stood a figure, his back turned toward them. There was little mystery about his identity; this was the contact for the mission.

Sensing their arrival, the man turned slowly, a briefcase in hand. He had long black hair adorned with blue accessories, a sharp, chiseled face, and a perpetual habit of keeping his eyes closed. This was Mufū, the second disciple of Byakuren. During the Five Kage Summit, he had been the one standing guard by Byakuren's side.

"Well, this is familiar," Mufū said, his tone casual but sharp. "Though you're not from Konoha, Kakuzu, I've always considered you one of theirs. Isn't that right?"

It wasn't surprising that Mufū could identify Kakuzu by name. After all, as a member of Kirigakure, he was well-versed in the village's famed sensory and assassination techniques. Recognizing Kakuzu's chakra signature would be second nature.

"Enough chatter," Kakuzu replied curtly. "The target is here. Where's my payment?"

Mufū chuckled lightly. "Oh, Kakuzu, you really made this convenient for us, capturing this traitor. Let's hope this transaction is the first of many."

Mufū approached, placing one hand on Ruto's shoulder while tossing the briefcase toward Kakuzu. Without hesitation, Kakuzu opened it, revealing a neatly packed pile of high-denomination bills.

"Don't be in such a rush to leave," Kakuzu muttered as he sat down cross-legged on the damp ground, meticulously counting the cash. "Every deal requires proper confirmation."

Mufū smirked, amused by Kakuzu's fastidious nature. "Take your time."

Ruto stood silently as Mufū waited with a calm demeanor, occasionally glancing at Kakuzu, who was carefully flipping through the bills. The rhythmic rustle of paper filled the air.

Once Kakuzu had counted the money twice, ensuring its accuracy, he snapped the briefcase shut and stood, brushing off his slightly damp cloak. With the transaction complete, he turned to leave.

"Wait," Mufū called out suddenly, halting Kakuzu in his tracks. "Let me guess—Ruto spilled the truth about our purpose here, didn't he?"

Kakuzu didn't respond, but the brief glance he shot Mufū spoke volumes.

"Haha! No need to be so tense, Kakuzu," Mufū said, his smile widening. "It's just… here in Kirigakure, we have an unspoken rule. We're not fond of outsiders meddling in our affairs, especially when it comes to sensitive matters."

As Mufū spoke, the air around them shifted. The ground beneath Kakuzu's feet stirred, and suddenly, metallic chains burst from the soil, encircling his massive frame.

Kakuzu remained calm, his sharp mind quickly assessing the situation. Panic had no place in a shinobi's arsenal. He could use the Body Flicker Technique to escape, but doing so would leave the money—and potentially damage it if the chains tore through the briefcase.

Making his decision, Kakuzu tossed the briefcase high into the air, just as the chains coiled tighter around him.

"Amusing," Mufū said, a grin spreading across his face. "Tell me, Kakuzu, what's more important to you—money or your life?"

His laughter echoed as Kakuzu remained silent, unflinching despite his predicament.

"I'll admit, Kakuzu," Mufū said, his smile fading slightly, "this isn't personal. But Kirigakure's current situation is… delicate. We couldn't afford to directly apprehend Ruto, a shinobi from a rival nation. So, we turned to bounty hunters like you."

Mufū's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone.

"But you have ties to Konoha, and we can't risk our village's secrets—or the matter of the lost tailed beast—leaking to the outside world. I hope you understand why this has to end here."

With that, Mufū formed a series of hand seals.

"Water Style: Water Prison!"

The ground erupted as torrents of water surged up, forming a massive wave that crashed toward Kakuzu. The spiraling water bore down on him, threatening to engulf him completely.

In the blink of an eye, an enormous water prison formed, encapsulating Kakuzu within.

"Kakuzu~ Farewell!" Mufū's lips curled into a smile as his hands shifted through another sequence of seals.

With a surge of chakra, Mufū activated the barrier concealed within the water prison.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The water prison erupted violently, sending sprays of water soaring through the air. The resulting shockwave roared, churning the surroundings with a relentless force. Nearby, Ruto, who had already been captured alive, closed his eyes and lowered his head, resigned to his fate.

The fierce winds whipped through Mufū's hair, and tiny droplets of water clung to his face. Moments later, the explosion's aftermath subsided, and Kakuzu's body had vanished without a trace.

Thud!

Something heavy dropped from the sky—a black leather briefcase worth 30 million ryō.

"Heh," Mufū chuckled as he leisurely walked over, picked up the briefcase, and dusted it off. Turning to the subdued Ruto, he spoke in an unhurried tone.

"Though you're a rogue ninja, I can't help but wonder—what's your opinion of Kakuzu? Why does he value money so much?"

Mufū smirked, his voice laced with mockery. "Life is a one-time thing, yet he chose 30 million. Could it be he has more than one life? Fascinating~"

Ruto kept his eyes closed, refusing to answer, his silence a show of disdain for Mufū's smugness.

Just as Mufū felt he had successfully completed his mission—

Snap! Snap!

A peculiar sound broke through the silence, immediately putting Mufū on alert. His smile vanished as he scanned his surroundings, his senses sharpening.

From a branch nearby, a shinobi clad in Kirigakure attire emerged, holding the iron chains Kakuzu had been using. This ninja was one of Mufū's own subordinates, planted in the area to provide backup.

But as the ninja stepped forward, his body suddenly collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Simultaneously, two other Kirigakure shinobi stationed in different directions met a similar fate—one was flung down from the trees, while the other, hidden in the grass, lay motionless.

In the span of mere moments, all of Mufū's reinforcements had been eliminated.

Shock overtook Mufū's face. Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, a calm, chilling voice whispered in his ear.

"Kid, put down the money. If you don't… you'll die."

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