The Immortal Shinobi and the Genius Puppeteer

"According to the information sent by the clone, the infamous Immortal Shinobi, Kakuzu, should be doing a mission nearby." Zetsu reported his clone's finding with half of his body underground.

As soon as Zetsu finished speaking, a violent explosion resounded through the forest.

"It seems that we have found the right place. Let's go." Deva Path said as he walked towards the direction of the explosion.

They were members of Akatsuki, Deva Path and Zetsu.

After recruiting Musashi last time, Zetsu found some clue about two powerful Shinobi at the same time. Nagato thought about it and finally decided to split up. It would be more efficient that way.

After all, it was not easy to find the whereabouts of these people, so they certainly didn't want to miss this opportunity.

Out of confidence in his own strength, Nagato brought Zetsu to find the legendary Immortal Shinobi, Kakuzu.

He'd leave Sunagakure's Genius Puppeteer, Red Sand Sasori, to Konan and Musashi.

In the dense forest.

"How disappointing. It seems that the result is not that satisfying."

Kakuzu expressionlessly strangled a bald Shinobi, who had a bounty on his head, and then casually threw the bald Shinobi to the ground as if he was throwing garbage.

"I hope to meet the Shinobi with more bounty next time." After doing all this, Kakuzu was about to leave and find a Shinobi with a higher bounty.

He didn't even need to rest since his opponent was so weak. He longed for a stronger opponent because their bounty would be high for sure.

"You can't leave yet." Zetsu's mean voice reached Kakuzu's ears.

Kakuzu looked back and saw an orange-haired man wearing a black robe with red clouds pattern and a half black and half white unknown creature walking toward him.

"Who are you?" Kakuzu turned around and stared at the two unknown people vigilantly.

"We are Akatsuki. You are Kakuzu, right? Join us!" Deva Path immediately invited Kakuzu to join Akatsuki.

"Akatsuki?" Kakuzu was a little puzzled. He had never heard of this name before. It was probably a garbage organization in some remote place.

If Kakuzu kept a close eye on Amegakure's situation, then he might know about Akatsuki. After all, Akatsuki was famous in Amegakure.

Unfortunately, Kakuzu did not care about Amegakure's political situation. Kakuzu only wanted to make money.

Amegakure was still in isolation, and there was no one with high bounty there, so Kakuzu did not care about that kind of place.

"Akatsuki is an organization established for true peace. How about it? Are you interested in joining?" Zetsu said with a smile.

"True peace? Haha!" Hearing Zetsu's words, Kakuzu sneered. He had lived for so long in this world and he had seen too many things. True peace? It was obviously just a dream.

"I don't care about true peace. I'm not interested in it. All I want now is money." Kakuzu refused.

An organization founded for true peace simply sounded ridiculous. He would not join such a silly organization and waste the time he had to make money.

After being betrayed by his village, Kakuzu no longer believed in anyone. In this terrible world, Kakuzu felt that only money would not betray him.

For the sake of the village, he even attempted to assassinate the first Hokage Hashirama Senju! Even after seeing Hashirama Senju's bottomless power firsthand, Kakuzu still managed to return to his village since Hashirama Senju spared him.

Even so, the village's higher-ups actually punished him severely for his failure, destroying his reputation in the village.

At that moment, Kakuzu understood why the village had asked him to assassinate Hashirama Senju. The village had never planned to let him return alive in the first place.

Unfortunately, he was lucky enough to escape.

Since the village's higher-ups could not achieve their goal, they slandered him!

And the reason for all of this was probably because they felt threatened by his strength.

Kakuzu really loved his village and was willing to do anything for the village, but the village's higher-ups destroyed Kakuzu's faith in the village.

Kakuzu broke out of the prison with hatred, seized the village's Forbidden Technique for himself, and killed all the higher-ups with it.

From then on, Kakuzu of Takigakure no longer existed, only the bounty hunter Kakuzu remained.

"It doesn't matter if you are interested or not, as long as you join us." Deva Path said calmly.

He had long passed the age of seeking like-minded partners to achieve peace.

It would be best if the Shinobi they recruited were like-minded people, but it did not matter even if they weren't as they were just a tool to catch Tailed Beasts.

Hearing Deva Path's unrelenting words, Kakuzu clenched his fists and frowned. "It seems you truly don't know your place. Another stupid guy who thinks he's some big shot."

He felt that he had wasted too much time because of the people in front of him, and they actually dared to talk to him like this.

Thick black threads began to come out from Kakuzu's body. This was the Forbidden Technique he had seized after his prison break.

The only reason he could live until now was because of this Forbidden Technique. In theory, if he kept changing his heart, he would never die.

"Although you don't seem to be very valuable, you have already pissed me off." The black threads on Kakuzu's back had already reached his shoulder, and he looked extremely terrifying.

"Heh, do you want to fight me? Then come!" Deva Path laughed lightly. Another mortal who overestimated his own strength by challenging the power of the God.

Deva Path walked forward and said, "If I win, you will join Akatsuki."

After saying that, Deva Path's aura became extremely terrifying.

When Nagato used all his strength on Deva Path, its strength would become even more terrifying. Deva Path's all-out attack could destroy one of Five Great Shinobi Countries.

"You..." Sensing the sudden change in Deva Path's aura, Kakuzu felt that something was wrong.

"Thunder Style - False Darkness!"

Kakuzu hurriedly controlled his Lightning-element mask to discharge a lightning in the shape of a spear from its mouth.

"Feel the power of a god! Shinra Tensei!"

A powerful force burst out from Deva Path's body. The Lightning Release that Kakuzu had just discharged disappeared without a trace.

At the same time, Kakuzu himself also felt an unbelievable pressure. He felt that every piece of his body was trembling under this huge pressure, as if he was about to collapse.

"Damn it." Kakuzu cursed in his heart. He realized that his opponent was bad news. He had a feeling that his opponent could instantly destroy all his hearts if he wanted to.