C 26

"Guys, the next part of this journey is a bit private, so please wait here for me," Kain told the Chūnin team guarding him. There was an underground gold exchange in the small town, a place he learned about from the owner of Lichun Bookstore. The owner had connections with some noble backers, as Kain had assumed, given that they were able to afford a chain of bookstores across the Land of Fire. These backers likely had dealings with darker forces, like the underground gold exchange.

Konoha was certainly aware of this place, but the village tended to turn a blind eye to it. The two sides had an unspoken agreement not to interfere with each other. In fact, sometimes even Konoha's own bounties found their way into the underground gold exchange, and when bounty hunters completed a mission, intermediaries from the exchange would send innocent people to Konoha to collect the reward. Additionally, many nobles in the Land of Fire utilized the underground exchange's darker services for their private matters.

After Kain left, one of the Genin in the group couldn't help but ask curiously, "Captain, what is our employer doing? Why all the secrecy?"

"It's probably a private affair," replied another Genin, their gaze wandering over to the food in front of them. The journey had been surprisingly comfortable so far. Every time they arrived at a town, they were treated to good food, warm beds, and sometimes even the luxury of a hot spring. This didn't feel like a typical mission at all—it was more like a vacation with occasional work.

"Don't ask too many questions about the employer," the Chūnin captain warned. "And besides, this town is special. If he doesn't want us following him, we respect that."

Sensing the curiosity of his subordinates, the captain added, "This town has an underground gold exchange. Our employer is probably headed there. That place doesn't welcome shinobi from the five great villages, so if we followed, it would make things more difficult for him. Let's just wait here and enjoy the meal; he'll probably be back soon enough."

The three Genin exchanged glances, now understanding the situation. "An underground gold exchange, huh? I've heard of it but never seen one," one of them said.

With their curiosity satisfied for now, the team focused back on their meal, eager to continue enjoying their unexpected luxuries.

Meanwhile, Kain had arrived at the location of the underground gold exchange, cleverly disguised as a bathhouse. He was glad it wasn't hidden behind something as unpleasant as a toilet—he was a stickler for cleanliness and would have been uncomfortable in such a setting. After following the instructions provided by the owner of Lichun Bookstore, Kain successfully navigated his way into the underground gold exchange.

This wasn't where bounty hunters themselves came for jobs; instead, this was the place where bounties were posted and deals were made. Once inside, Kain quickly explained his purpose for being there and left after placing a rather unique request that raised some eyebrows.

The bounty he placed was a substantial one—one million ryo—and it had a specific target: Kakuzu. Known for his formidable skillset, including mastery over five elements, advanced ninjutsu, and his ability to prolong his life through his grisly techniques, Kakuzu was the perfect candidate for what Kain had in mind. He was also notorious for his obsession with money, making him a likely candidate for recruitment. Kain didn't need Kakuzu full-time, only as a muscle-for-hire when the need arose. Kakuzu, being a practical man, would have a hard time saying no to such a lucrative offer.

After placing the bounty, Kain continued to visit various towns across the Land of Fire. This tour wasn't just for sightseeing—he was conducting thorough research on the region's economy and business opportunities. With a clearer understanding of the commercial potential in various areas, Kain was laying the groundwork for his future endeavors.

Half a month later, Kain returned to the main town, ready to put his plans into motion. His time away had been fruitful, and he now had a more concrete vision of his path forward. Upon his return, the Chūnin team that had been guarding him completed their assignment as agreed. The team members, despite their professionalism, seemed a little reluctant to leave—they had grown quite fond of the comfortable accommodations and lavish meals during their time with Kain.

"Thank you for your protection during this journey," Kain said respectfully as the team prepared to depart. "It was reassuring to have you by my side. I hope we can work together again in the future."

The leader of the Chūnin team smiled and bowed in return. "The pleasure was ours, Kain-san. Until next time."

As the Konoha team left, Kain's assistant, Aya, approached him. "Boss, there's someone who says you asked him to come. He's been waiting for three days. But, um, he's a missing-nin, and he seems quite strong."

"Three days, huh? That's earlier than I expected. Bring him in, Aya—I'm the one who called him."

A few minutes later, Kakuzu appeared, visibly annoyed. "I've been waiting for three days," he grumbled. "If you weren't going to be here, you should've said something. I could have used that time to take care of other business."

Kain responded by placing a small, heavy box in front of him. "Two million ryo, in addition to the one million I posted as a bounty for you. Consider it a meeting gift, Kakuzu-san. I want to discuss a long-term business arrangement."

Kakuzu's annoyance faded quickly as he opened the box to reveal the neatly stacked banknotes inside. He didn't trust the amount without counting it himself, so he meticulously thumbed through the money, ensuring every ryo was accounted for. Kain patiently sipped his tea, accustomed to Kakuzu's obsession with money, while Aya looked on in disbelief. She had never seen anyone so fixated on money, to the point of ignoring everyone else in the room.

Once Kakuzu finished counting and was satisfied, he leaned back and asked, "So, what's this business you're proposing? I'm not interested in anything that doesn't involve making money."

Kain smiled and replied, "I'm planning to open several casinos across the Land of Fire. I want you to serve as a flexible guard and debt collector for these establishments. You won't need to stay there permanently—just be available when I need you to handle problems. For instance, if someone causes trouble or refuses to pay their debts, you step in. The minimum payout is 200,000 ryo per job, equivalent to an A-rank mission in any of the major villages."

Kakuzu raised an eyebrow. "Casinos, huh? I'm not joining any organization or force, but if it's just this kind of work... I might consider it."

Kain continued, "That's all I'm asking. You'll still be free to take on bounties from the underground gold exchange. This job won't interfere with that. You'll only be called in when absolutely necessary."

With the offer on the table, Kakuzu leaned forward, his interest piqued. A deal like this, where he could make easy money without giving up his autonomy, was exactly what he was looking for.