Chapter 125

"Have I explained everything I need to? Can I leave now?"

Kakuzu noticed that Haruki's attitude was fairly friendly, which made him slightly relax. He recalled Haruki's reputation in the ninja world—a gentle and sunny medical ninja. This couldn't be false, right?

"Leave? I never said you could leave."

Haruki blew on his tea, the light smoke made his smile appear somewhat hazy. In Kakuzu's eyes, he looked like a grinning devil. His blood pressure spiked immediately.

"You?!"

Kakuzu was furious, standing up abruptly, but his voice weakened in the second half, sounding almost pitiful, "What… do you mean?"

"Kakuzu, I admire you."

Haruki put down his teacup. If they weren't so far apart, he might have patted Kakuzu on the shoulder and said this sincerely.

But Kakuzu's face showed a look of confusion.

You admire me, so you beat me up? Are you out of your mind?

Haruki didn't know Kakuzu was silently cursing him. If he did, he'd probably send a wood clone to teach him a lesson in the middle of the night.

"Let me ask you, how many million-ryo bounty jobs can you get in a month?"

"Very few, maybe one or two a month."

Kakuzu hesitated but told the truth. In the black market, targets with million-ryo bounties are mostly important figures from the five major countries or villages, and they are limited.

Killing them is extremely troublesome since they either have immense power or hold high positions. They won't just stay in one place waiting to be killed, so completing a single job can take a lot of time.

Haruki nodded.

Even Asuma Sarutobi's bounty was only 35 million ryo. Considering identity and strength, there aren't many higher.

"I'll hire you for 30 million ryo per month, how about that?"

Haruki held up three fingers, proposing a hard-to-refuse offer.

Kakuzu's heart trembled. He instinctively wanted to agree but quickly realized. Although earning money outside might not be stable or safe, he was free.

If he stayed with Haruki, it would be like a mouse serving as a bridesmaid for a cat—choosing money over his life.

"Can I refuse?" Kakuzu asked cautiously.

"Yes," Haruki smiled, "provided you beat me."

"…"

Kakuzu felt like jumping up and punching him in the face. How is that different from a refusal? If I could beat you, I wouldn't be sitting here calmly chatting.

"Is there really no room for negotiation?" Kakuzu asked after a moment of silence.

"This is the negotiation." Haruki shook his head.

Tsunade suddenly laughed.

Seeing Haruki seriously deceiving someone made her laugh.

Haruki and Kakuzu both turned to look at her.

"Ahem, I just remembered something happy, continue, don't mind me." Tsunade tried to control her laughter.

Haruki couldn't help but pinch her cheek.

Kakuzu's face became even gloomier.

Aside from Hashirama, he hadn't been this humiliated in years.

"What do I have to do?"

Kakuzu finally resigned himself, thinking he'd comply for now and look for a chance to escape later.

"Babysitting—oh no, teaching."

Haruki blurted out but quickly corrected himself.

"I have three students, around three or four years old. I want to hire you to temporarily be their teacher. Besides that, Tsunade could use some help with her wood-style techniques."

"…"

Kakuzu had never heard such an outrageous request in his decades of life. But after thinking it over, teaching a bit and earning 30 million a month didn't seem too bad.

"Your salary will be the 30 million I mentioned, but at the end of each month, there will be a performance review. If you don't meet the standards, your pay will be deducted."

"What do you mean by performance review?" Kakuzu asked, puzzled.

"It means setting standards for your work to prevent you from slacking off."

"…"

Kakuzu's plan was seen through, but he pretended otherwise. "My reputation in the black market is known far and wide. I would never do such a thing."

Haruki smiled without saying a word.

They're both old foxes. Don't try to deceive me.

Besides, Kakuzu didn't know his students were all geniuses. Haruki estimated he'd pay him full salary for a few months before having to deduct it. Once Kakashi and Obito grew stronger, Kakuzu might even have to return some money.

"Do you have any other objections? If not, you start as their teacher now."

"…No."

"And don't think about running away. If you get caught, it won't be as easy as the first time."

Haruki stood up, casually warning him, then arranged a room for him next door.

Kakuzu glanced at Haruki, feeling conflicted as he entered the room.

"You…" Tsunade laughed again. She had heard of Kakuzu's reputation, finding him even more troublesome than the rumors suggested. But no matter how strong he was, he couldn't stand against Haruki.

"What?" Haruki sat back down, pulling Tsunade onto his lap.

"Hmph, you've been hiding your true strength from me, haven't you?"

Tsunade pressed his head down, her tone displeased, "You were holding back."

"I can't use my full strength against you."

Haruki leaned against her, feeling her soft, fragrant belly through her clothes.

"Can't you talk properly?"

Tsunade scoffed, nudging him with her foot.

Haruki chuckled. "It'd be better without shoes."

Tsunade paused, flicking his forehead helplessly. This guy was incorrigible.

"Did you forget something?" Haruki asked, holding her soft, full waist.

"Huh, what?"

Tsunade, leaning in his arms, looked puzzled.

"You forgot, didn't you? You promised me compensation before going to the casino."

Haruki reminded her, "And you lost over 30 million ryo."

"Cheapskate, it's just 35 million ryo."

Tsunade felt guilty but didn't show it.

"Are you trying to renege?" Haruki smiled.

"Do I seem like that type?" Tsunade pouted, "What do you want?"

"Shouldn't you be offering?"

"Okay, fine."

Tsunade, feeling she had gone too far, hugged Haruki and thought for a few minutes. "How about a hot spring?"

"A hot spring?" Haruki's eyes lit up. "If it's mixed bathing, I'm in."

"It is." Tsunade blushed, giving him a sidelong glance.

"Oh?" Haruki perked up. "Let's go now!"

"Huh?" Tsunade instinctively exclaimed, pointing at the moon outside, "It's so late, let's go another day."

"No way!" Haruki lifted her princess-style, "You'll just back out later. Now! Immediately!"