Money is Art

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"This guy hunts fast," muttered a ninja with a cigarette in hand, eyeing the imposing figure of Kakuzu as he entered. Kakuzu was a feared bounty hunter, infamous across generations. Rumor had it that he'd lived since the First Hokage's era and once held the rank of Jounin.

No one dared to challenge him lightly.

Muzan carried a large box in his hands. Inside rested the severed head of a high-value target. He placed it on the table and spoke calmly, "Just dealt with this one."

Specialists were present to verify bounties and prevent any attempts to cheat the system. After a careful examination lasting over ten minutes, they confirmed the identity.

"As expected of Kakuzu-sama, this is indeed a listed target. Here's your payment."

Due to the high value of some bounties, it was common practice to use sealing scrolls for storage or to offer fixed-value gold tickets.

"A gentleman earns his money honestly," Muzan said with a sly smile, accepting the reward.

After Muzan left, the severed head was taken to a secure room. Suddenly, the eyes snapped open, and with an exasperated sigh, the head grimaced.

"This trick is effective," Pakura muttered as a pair of arms sprouted from beneath his decapitated head. Lifting his head, he quickly exited the room.

Outside, Muzan—still disguised as Kakuzu—watched as Pakura approached. Muzan retrieved Pakura's body from a sealing scroll, and as the flesh and blood reconnected, Pakura was made whole again. Stretching out his limbs, Pakura shook his head, annoyed.

"Master Muzan, that was awful! Getting my head cut off while my body's still active…"

"Bear with it," Muzan replied, brushing off the complaint. "If we want quick money, this is the way."

Using the same trick, the pair moved along the borders of the Land of Fire, collecting large bounties. But soon, their activity started attracting attention.

"Kakuzu-sama, you're back already? You've been claiming bounties unusually fast," the barkeep remarked, eyeing Kakuzu with suspicion as he entered once more.

"What do you mean, 'again'? I haven't been here in over a month," Kakuzu growled, placing another box on the counter. Other patrons turned, surprised and puzzled.

"But…you were just here yesterday…" the barkeep began, only to trail off when another man, scarred and haggard, walked in. The barkeep's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Wait! Didn't Kakuzu kill you?"

After a hasty inspection, the man's face showed no traces of genjutsu or any illusion. How could someone supposedly dead be standing there?

"Are you drunk?" the man shot back. "I've been on missions for days. I haven't even seen Kakuzu!"

A tense silence filled the room. Everyone realized something was terribly wrong. The barkeep rushed to the back room, finding the box empty. He cursed under his breath.

"Whoever's behind this…they'll pay."

In just days, Muzan had scammed more than half the region's bounties, forcing several bounty hunters to quit or go rogue. Yet the chaos didn't end there; disguised as Kakuzu, Muzan's misdeeds cast blame on the real Kakuzu.

Kakuzu refused to accept responsibility for acts he hadn't committed, escalating tensions with the Bounty Guild. Eventually, the guild banned him from claiming rewards, his reputation ruined by his cunning imposter.

"Who the hell did this?" Kakuzu snarled as the guild forced him out. Even if he brought in real targets, they wouldn't pay him until he cleared his name.

Kakuzu's infamy spread along the Land of Fire's borders. Everywhere he went, he was regarded with suspicion. Whether or not it was truly him was no longer relevant; the damage was done.

Many bounty guilds suffered so much they had to close down. Unable to exchange bounties or hand out a single ryo, they were left powerless.

"Interesting," Muzan mused, watching the chaos unfold.

Finding the real Kakuzu wasn't hard—his notoriety had grown too large. When Muzan, still disguised as Kakuzu, finally encountered the real one, the air was thick with tension.

"You bastard!" Kakuzu roared, fury flashing in his eyes. "It was you, wasn't it? Impersonating me!"

The century-old rogue ninja, now facing accusations, ruined finances, and a shattered reputation, held back from attacking. Standing beside Muzan was a woman with blazing red hair, her aura oppressive and powerful. Even with his experience, Kakuzu wasn't confident he could handle both of them.

And there was the transformation technique itself—it was too sophisticated for standard jutsu. Was it an Uzumaki Clan skill? But only those with extreme mastery could be this strong…

"There's no need to get angry, Kakuzu-san. I can offer you more," Muzan said, dropping the disguised voice. Kakuzu narrowed his eyes, a spark of familiarity surfacing as he heard the voice.

Muzan's face shifted, morphing into a young man with white hair and haunting blood-red eyes. He smiled as he continued, "I can offer you wealth beyond imagination. Isn't that why you hunt bounties? To live in comfort? In this endless life, only money remains constant."

"Money is art," Kakuzu grunted, still keeping his eyes on Muzan, his suspicion not easing.

Sensing Kakuzu's reluctance, Muzan reached into his robe and pulled out a sealing scroll. Activating it, he released a wave of coins that scattered to the ground in a shining cascade. Kakuzu's eyes widened as he quickly began gathering the coins.

"You're wasting my money!" Kakuzu snapped. "All of it should go toward my losses!"

"Wrong," Muzan replied with a smirk. "This money was meant for you all along. Remember our deal. Join us, and you'll gain even more. In fact, you'll oversee the organization's finances."

Kakuzu's eyes sparkled with temptation. Muzan, sensing his interest, sealed the offer with a final enticement.

"See that hill?" Muzan pointed at the distant slope. "If we piled all our wealth, it would stand taller than that."

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The Land of Waves was once a small, peaceful country bordering the Land of Fire, known for its humble fishing villages and seafood exports. Over time, it traded its catch with the Land of Fire in exchange for money, gradually lifting itself out of poverty.

But everything changed with the arrival of one person.

No one knew exactly when it started, but thick fog began to blanket the Land of Waves, especially in the early mornings. The mist was so dense that you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face.

Alongside this eerie fog, massive ships filled the sea, transporting goods day after day. These large vessels emitted a loud, resonant buzzing sound as they approached the coast, warning other ships to avoid collisions in the fog.

This influx of ships disrupted the local fishing industry, forcing fishermen to venture further from shore in search of fish. Initially, there was much unrest; the noise and fog made their already challenging lives even harder.

When the locals protested, a group of mysterious shinobi appeared, swiftly quashing any thought of rebellion.

"How did the Land of Waves come to this?"

Kakuzu, now a seasoned bounty hunter, stood on the coastline, observing the transformation. The once-poor fishing village had changed. Large ships crowded the harbor, and piles of stone and steel lined the shore. Bulldozers cleared land for new construction, and houses sprung up everywhere.

"This is part of our plan," said a voice behind him.

Kakuzu turned to see Yamanosatsu, the one leading the operation. "We're building a laboratory here," Yamanosatsu explained. "The infrastructure is already in place. Once completed, it will change everything."

Yamanosatsu oversaw the construction, his expertise crucial to Muzan's experiments. The Twelve Kizuki Organization, funded by dark dealings, spared no expense on cutting-edge equipment. Though they tried to keep a low profile, their technological advancements seemed out of place in the shinobi world.

Muzan inspected the equipment, a pleased smile forming. "Not bad," he remarked. "Though some of the more critical pieces will need to be custom-made. Only a handful of countries have the ability to create them."

As they surveyed the progress, Yamanosatsu's expression darkened. Fragments of broken equipment littered the ground.

"Those damned pests..." Yamanosatsu muttered, his anger rising. "I've been too lenient."

The natives of the Land of Waves, blinded by the promise of quick profits, failed to see the potential of the laboratory. Yamanosatsu was incensed. "Once this lab is operational, it will provide jobs. But instead, they cling to their fishing boats?"

Muzan's gaze sharpened. "Teach them a lesson if needed. I require more test subjects, anyway. Identify the ones causing the most trouble and bring them to me."

Yamanosatsu nodded. "Understood, Lord Muzan."

Kakuzu observed the exchange with a smirk. "I never expected the famed doctor from Konoha Hospital to be so ruthless."

Muzan shrugged. "I have no patience for disruptions." He turned to Kakuzu. "From now on, you'll be responsible for managing the organization's finances."

Kakuzu grinned. "Consider it done."

Muzan could hardly anticipate how fast the Twelve Kizuki Organization's wealth would grow once everything was in motion. Their hold on the country was tightening, drawing the attention of nobles from neighboring lands. Muzan, possessing incriminating information on many of them from his covert operations, found cooperation easy to secure when leverage was applied.

To outsiders, it appeared as though the Land of Waves had been bought by a mysterious wealthy figure intent on transforming it into a modern city. Since the Land of Waves had no daimyo, there was no resistance to this sudden takeover.

Beneath the surface, in the lab's sterile basement, Muzan worked tirelessly. Under the bright lights, shadows were banished, revealing rows of people suspended in liquid-filled tanks. They were alive, but barely.

Muzan checked his instruments. "The experiment seems stable."

The room was frigid, kept far below zero to mimic the cold necessary for his next phase of testing. He aimed to create a new breed of cannibals, enhanced by the power of Kekkei Genkai.

As Muzan examined his progress, screams echoed from outside the lab. He looked up, a trace of irritation crossing his face as Yamanosatsu entered.

"Lord Muzan," Yamanosatsu said, bowing. "A group of fishermen tried to sabotage our equipment again. One resisted, so I dealt with him."

Muzan glanced at the men dragged inside, bound and trembling with fear. He didn't hesitate. "Put them on the test platform."

The fishermen struggled, but one by one, they were subdued. As the last one was brought forward, he spat bitter words at Muzan.

"You monsters! Our revenge is coming! We've hired shinobi to drive you out!"

Muzan's eyes gleamed coldly. "Shinobi?"

Without another word, he injected the man with a serum. Whoever dared enter the Land of Waves from this point forward would not leave alive.

Meanwhile, far from the lab, Zabuza Momochi fled Kirigakure, with Haku by his side, pursued by the elite Hunter-nin of the Mist.

"This fog... it's like home," Zabuza muttered, his eyes scanning the thick mist that blanketed the Land of Waves. "Perfect for hiding."

One of his subordinates approached. "Zabuza-sama, I've heard rumors of a powerful group that's taken over the island. They kill anyone who comes near."

Zabuza's bloodlust flared. "Are you afraid?"

The ninja trembled. "N-no, Zabuza-sama! We'll follow you to the end!"

Beside Zabuza, Haku gently tugged on his sleeve. "Perhaps we can simply ask them to leave. There's no need to kill everyone. They don't know us."

Zabuza's expression softened as he looked at Haku. "Only you would say something like that."

With a grunt, Zabuza slung his massive sword over his shoulder. "Let's go. We'll see who claims this land."

As Zabuza's group entered the fog-shrouded island, Muzan was oblivious to their arrival, entirely focused on his experiments, striving to create stronger, deadlier human weaponry.

"A pity," Muzan muttered, discarding failed test subjects. "But even the low-level cannibals can help spread fear."

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