Chapter 140

The continuous heavy snow completely disappeared after leaving the Land of Iron.

Blue seas and clear skies.

Haruki and his companions were on a sailboat heading east.

Their destination was the Land of Water.

A unique country with many islands, enveloped in mist and surrounded by the sea.

It could be called isolated from the world.

In the original story, aside from a few instances during the Shinobi World Wars, the ninjas from Kirigakure (Hidden Mist Village) rarely had any plot.

Even when they did, they were usually controlled by Uchiha Obito or were the ill-fated Seven Swordsmen of the Mist.

"Kakuzu," Haruki looked at Kakuzu, who was fishing, and asked, "Have you been to the Land of Water before?"

"Yes," Kakuzu stared at the sea without looking away, "There are black markets in every country, each with different bounties. I've been to the Land of Water several times to earn bounty money."

"Are you familiar with the black market leader there?"

"Of course."

Kakuzu nodded, saying, "If you have someone you want to put a bounty on, just tell me directly. It saves the black market commission fee."

"No middlemen taking a cut?"

Haruki accidentally quoted an advertisement from his previous life.

"You're right," Kakuzu was slightly startled, finding the term 'middlemen' very fitting, "I dare say there isn't a better bounty hunter in the shinobi world than me."

When it came to money, Kakuzu could even talk with someone as detestable as Haruki.

Making money isn't shameful.

Haruki couldn't help but laugh, "You might be disappointed. I'm not looking to put a bounty on someone but to discuss a business deal with the black market leader."

Kakuzu furrowed his brow, asking, "What kind of business deal could there be in the black market besides bounties?"

"A multi-billion dollar deal." Haruki looked mysterious, "Want to know?"

"...Sure." Kakuzu, driven by his desire, answered honestly.

"A treasure."

"What kind of treasure?" Kakuzu's eyes lit up.

"You should know that." Haruki inquired, "You've lived so long, you must have heard legends about the Land of Water."

"..."

Kakuzu's hands trembled slightly on the fishing rod.

With his intelligence, he instantly realized Haruki was playing with him.

He took a deep breath and said, "A legend is just a legend. If it were true, it would have been found by now. Why would it be left for you?"

"Just taking a chance, out of boredom." Haruki replied nonchalantly.

Kakuzu was silent for a moment before speaking of a legend.

Decades ago, the daimyo of the Land of Water had two sons who fought fiercely for the succession.

Both were equally strong and talented, leading to a decade-long battle.

Eventually, the younger son, Lord Fujiwara, was defeated.

Unwilling to give up, he took his followers and amassed treasures, leaving the Land of Water to establish a new country.

However, his fleet mysteriously disappeared, and their whereabouts remain unknown.

"Though clichéd, it's a good story." Haruki thought for a moment after hearing it, then said, "When we get to the Land of Water, Kakuzu, you take me to the black market leader."

Kakuzu nodded, not wanting to talk to him any further.

He thought Haruki had a real treasure, only to be left disappointed.

Talking for half an hour was less productive than fishing.

Five days later, Haruki and his group crossed the sea, arriving at the mist-covered Land of Water.

Their speed was due to Kakuzu taking over the tasks from Kakashi's team, speeding up the journey.

As usual, Haruki first booked an inn.

Then he followed Kakuzu to a very ordinary izakaya, where they met the black market leader.

An elderly man, around sixty years old.

This kimono-clad boss was evidently acquainted with Kakuzu, greeting him as soon as he saw him.

"Kakuzu, long time no see. You still look so young."

Kakuzu nodded indifferently, then pointed to Haruki.

"He's Haruki. He has something to discuss with you."

Having said that, he fell silent and took a seat nearby.

"Haruki?" The old man's wrinkled face showed a hint of contemplation, "The name sounds familiar, like I've heard it somewhere before."

"Haruki of Konoha."

Haruki, sitting across from him, reminded.

"Oh, oh, oh, one of the Twin Stars of Konoha, Haruki."

The old man squinted, smiling, "You're indeed bold. If the people of Kirigakure find out, it will be hard for you to leave the Land of Water."

"That's what Kakuzu is for."

Haruki's answer surprised the old man.

He glanced at the sullen Kakuzu, wondering how he got mixed up with Haruki.

Logically, Haruki should be Kakuzu's hunting target.

He remembered Haruki's bounty amount had shocked the black market recently.

It had been a long time since a ninja had such a high bounty.

Yet money-obsessed Kakuzu didn't make a move?

It was like going to a water teahouse, full of beautiful women, but genuinely drinking tea.

Water tea, water isn't real water, and tea isn't real tea.

"What do you want with me? To place a bounty on an enemy?"

The old man brought the conversation back on track.

"No, I'm here to boost the black market's business."

"?"

The old man thought his age was causing hallucinations.

In all his years, this was the first time someone came to the black market claiming they could boost business.

Haruki didn't seem surprised by the old man's reaction.

Without Kakuzu and the fame of the Twin Stars, he would have been thrown out long ago.

But he wasn't lying.

The black market, or bounty exchange, was similar to various platforms from his past life.

Especially like a certain online marketplace.

The black market posts bounties based on customer needs, charges a fee, and bounty hunters or samurais use their skills to complete the bounties.

Though this platform's buyers and sellers were more violent, the concept was similar.

After explaining a strategy akin to big data price comparison, Kakuzu's gaze toward him grew increasingly dangerous.

According to Haruki's idea, the black market should treat bounty hunters and old customers specially.

For bounty hunters, create personal profiles detailing their approximate strength, number of completed bounties, required time, etc.

For old customers, classify them as VIP members with various discounts, like bounty discounts and priority in selecting bounty hunters.

This would lead to price competition among bounty hunters to secure big deals.

"Brilliant!"

The old man couldn't help but praise. Haruki's various strategies gave him a fresh perspective.

In his decades of running the black market, how much wealth had he missed out on?

"Besides that, there's another way to make those with bounties stop living in fear or hatred and instead feel proud."

Under the old man's astonished gaze, Haruki proposed categorizing bounties into titles like the Four Emperors, Shichibukai, and Supernovas, then told him an enhanced version of One Piece's story.

Though skeptical, the old man agreed to Haruki's plan.

Using the legendary Fujiwara treasure as a gimmick, they would promote One Piece to stir up more chaos.

Regardless of the chaos, the black market would always be invincible.

More chaos meant more business.