CH - 95 Kakuzu: What the?

[The rich history of friendship shared between the Hidden Leaf Village and the Grass Village stretches back to the very foundation of our village by the First Hokage. Our villages have shared a profound connection, marked by mutual support and a collective commitment to safeguarding peace in the ninja world.

The bond we have nurtured over the years is unlike any other. It has withstood the trials of time and the challenges of our era. Together, we have upheld the principles of unity, cooperation, and harmony.

…]

The letter continued, elaborating on the historical ties between Konoha and the Grass Village. However, there was a sense of déjà vu among the readers, it bore a striking resemblance to certain letters that Grass Village had previously sent to Konoha. Could it be that this passages had been stolen from previous letters sent by the Grass Village to Konoha?

A moment of silence enveloped the room as people processed the unusual nature of this letter. The tone and length of this message were notably unusual coming from Konoha, which was renowned as the most powerful village. Traditionally, Konoha would briefly acknowledge the historical friendship, emphasize Grass Village's strategic geographical location, and imply a shared responsibility without mentioning potential benefits.

But today, the tone was different – verbose and almost too solicitous. It sent shivers down spines, and after the initial shock, individuals began to scan the rest of the letter. It didn't take long for them to pick up on the underlying message, and their expressions transformed, alight with understanding.

In essence, the letter extended a request to the Grass Ninja Village to collaborate with Konoha in seizing the opportunity created by Iwa's significant losses. The proposal was to jointly mount an offensive against Iwa, thereby bringing an end to the prolonged and devastating war.

Interestingly, this wasn't a one-sided appeal for assistance. Konoha was willing to provide something in return for Grass Village's aid. Following the conclusion of the present war, Konoha committed to deploying its forces to support Grass Village's efforts in prevailing over the Rain Village.

This time, the contents of the letter did not solely emphasize the greater good of the ninja world and the pursuit of peace, as had been the case in previous correspondence. Instead, the offer now contained a tangible promise of support. This shift in approach suggested that Konoha was genuinely feeling the urgency of the situation.

However, there was a complication. The very shinobi who were working on constructing waterways and mining under the employment of the Grass Village were originally from the Rain Village, a nation they were engaged in a war with. This employment had provided these shinobi with stability and livelihood during turbulent times.

Engaging in a sudden reversal and attacking their own allies could be perceived as treacherous and lacking in the principles of ninja virtue. Grass Village, valuing honor and ethical conduct, was unlikely to endorse a course of action that compromised their principles of ninja virtue.

Yoshinori's forehead slightly furrowed as he mused, "It's clear that Konoha is seizing this rare opportunity to bring an end to the war with Iwa. Their reputation as the strongest village is well-earned. They've endured the onslaught from the Four Great Ninja Villages and managed to hold out until this crucial turning point."

He couldn't help but feel a sense of bewilderment. Everything had been progressing smoothly, so why had Iwa suddenly deployed over ten thousand shinobi to lay siege to the Third Raikage? And why did the Third Raikage, with just a handful of companions, enter the Land of Earth secretly? Could there be some hidden scheme behind all of this?

However, the current situation was that both villages had suffered substantial losses, and Konoha was capitalizing on this opportunity. Kirigakure Village's situation wasn't much different either. When Konoha was besieged by the Four Great Ninja Villages, much of its strength was diverted, making the village vulnerable. The sneak attack might have yielded significant results had it not been for the unexpected power of Konoha's genin. The swift crippling of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was nothing short of astounding.

At that moment, Mubuki, standing nearby, interjected with a probing question, "Leader, do you think we should intervene?"

Upon Mubuki's prompting, Akihiko responded with a touch of playfulness, "Well, of course. Let's not beat around the bush. Our relationship with Konoha traces back to the very foundations of the ninja villages. It's a bond of profound depth."

Mubuki, reminding Akihiko that they were among allies, continued, "Leader, you don't need to maintain formalities here."

Akihiko's tone shifted, and he spoke with conviction, "Regarding Konoha's request, Grass Village is regretfully unable to provide immediate assistance. The formidable presence of demi-god-level entities in the ninja world demands our utmost attention and resources for defense. Our current focus is on safeguarding our own lands, which limits our ability to spare manpower.

His expression growing resolute, he added, However, rest assured, dear allies of Konoha, Grass Village's commitment remains unwavering. Once the ongoing conflict on our end reaches resolution, we will readily dispatch our shinobi forces to the north, aiding Konoha in its endeavor against Iwa."

As his words hung in the air, the room fell into a contemplative silence. A mix of intrigued and amused expressions painted the faces of his companions as they gazed at the leader. It was clear that Akihiko's strategic thinking was at work. As if realizing the implications, a smile crept onto their lips. Indeed, the leader's foresight was second to none.

With a determined nod, Akihiko concluded, "Let's continue with our original plans, without letting this divert us from our goals!"

"Akihik-Sensei!" As his words faded, the sound of his name being called drew Akihiko's attention. Turning his head, he was greeted by the sight of three young individuals approaching him with a noticeable enthusiasm.

Among them, Konan's radiant smile was particularly heartwarming, and she approached him with evident excitement. Akihiko couldn't help but reciprocate with a gentle smile as he affectionately rubbed Konan's beaming face. His gaze shifted to the others, and playfully petted their heads, he inquired, "And what brings you three here?" His expression turned slightly more serious as he continued, "Shouldn't you be remaining safely within the village?"

Konan's playful response came swiftly, "We missed Sensei, And Kakuzu-senpai said he was coming here. We thought we'd tag along to see what's going on."

As her words trailed off, Akihiko exchanged knowing glances with Mubuki and the other two present, then abruptly turned his head, his tone tinged with both exasperation and amusement,, "That stubborn Kakuzu is here too?"

Konan's enthusiastic response echoed, "Yeah, Kakuzu-senpai thinks this is a golden opportunity while the Four Great Villages are entangled in their own battles. He's complaining that Grass Village and Rain Village are taking too long. He's even contemplating expanding his business to the Land of Rain."

She lowered her voice, a conspiratorial undertone accompanying her words, "But, you know, I think he's here to help. They say both Grass and Rain have taken a beating. If this keeps up, there won't be anyone left to fight."

The three of them bore rather peculiar expressions. Should they express gratitude? Yet, An intriguing thought seemed to strike the three listeners as their expressions momentarily froze. Without further ado, they abruptly excused themselves and hurried out.

"Where is he? Where did he go?" Their voices carried a mix of urgency and anticipation. Notably, only a select few high-ranking individuals in the village were privy to the confidential information regarding the current state, a measure to control the spread of sensitive news.

Furthermore, Kakuzu's recent inclusion in the village, coupled with Akihiko's absence in the village, since not much was openly discussed to keep the situation secret, likely meant that he was unaware of the current circumstances. It was crucial to locate him before any potential misunderstandings led to him unintentionally confronting the rain shinobi working in the vicinity, mistaking them for adversaries.

…

After arriving at the frontlines, Kakuzu promptly parted ways with those incessantly chattering youngsters, a decision fueled by his inner thought, "Finally rid of those irksome kids." His primary objective was to assess the ongoing state of affairs within the Land of Rain. He had come here with a clear, profit-centric intention, with no hidden agenda to speak of. The potential survival or demise of Grass Village held little significance to him.

Whether it endured or crumbled had no bearing on his aspirations. In fact, it might even be more advantageous for his financial interests if it faced demise. Such a scenario could provide a convenient window for him to seize the amassed wealth and then vanish into the shadows.

However, he held a sliver of concern for Mubuki. That man owed Kakuzu an astounding sum, reaching into the millions. If Mubuki were to meet an untimely demise, who would Kakuzu turn to for the settlement?

However, those three youngsters had proven to be an incessant nuisance during the journey. Being well aware of his extensive travels across the ninja world, they bombarded him with endless questions about various ninja-related matters. Their ceaseless chatter grated on his nerves, serving as a constant annoyance.

What added to his vexation was the fact that they expected him to share his experiences and insights without offering any form of compensation. The audacity of wanting him to recount stories without payment was utterly absurd in Kakuzu's view. He couldn't help but sneer at their unrealistic expectations.

However, just as he was on his way to the factory to inspect things, Kakuzu was taken aback by the unexpected scene that unfolded before his eyes. Why were so many individuals gathered here? Weren't they meant to be engaged in battle?

However, The number of people alone wasn't necessarily a cause for concern for him, but what baffled him were the ninjas dressed in Grass Village's distinctive green attire, coupled with Rain Ninja Village headbands. Had Grass Ninja Village succumbed to defeat? Had Rain Ninja Village seized control of their base?

Having lived through more than half a lifetime, clashing even with the God of the ninja world, Kakuzu prided himself on having witnessed a wide range of occurrences. However, the current situation left him utterly bewildered. What on earth was happening?

But, before Kakuzu could make sense of the bizarre scenario before him, he was jolted by a voice that rang out, cutting through the confusion."Rain-Grass Battle scheduled in one week! Seeking 300 Rain ninjas, preferably wounded, explosive tags will be provided for free. Limited spots available, first come, first served!"

Stunned and rendered momentarily speechless, Kakuzu remained rooted to the spot. His face displayed an expression of silent incredulity as he gazed up at the individual who was loudly making this announcement. If only someone could provide some clarity to the old man about what was unfolding before his eyes.

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