Chapter 138

The individual Kaito had encountered was Kakuzu, a member of the Akatsuki organization. Among them, there were quite a few who intrigued Kaito.

For example, Orochimaru, with his outstanding research abilities; Deidara, valuable for his exceptional role as a test subject; Kisame Hoshigaki, a ninja with striking qualities that touched one's heart.

Then, there was Uchiha Itachi, who he was determined to annihilate, and Kakuzu, with his exceptional money-making abilities.

However, out of these people, those Kaito could recruit were rather few. His crossing through time was a bit too late, and many individuals inevitably had already passed.

Of course, even if he hadn't missed them, recruiting them all would be a challenge. Like Kisame, who was always in the Hidden Mist Village, there were no opportunities for Kaito.

But others, like Deidara for experimentation, and Kakuzu with his extreme money-making capabilities, were certainly worth considering.

Of course, even now, Kaito could consider them, depending mostly on how he chose to proceed.

"I didn't expect to encounter this organization again."

Kaito looked at the two people in front of him, controlling his emotions and calmly saying,

"We just ran into Orochimaru, and now we meet the two of you. What exactly is your organization?

And Orochimaru, of all people, has joined you. I presume you're not nobodies."

"Oh, you two ran into Orochimaru and lived?"

Kakuzu and Deidara noticed Kaito and Shisui. Their expressions were serious and cautious.

The pair exuded a sense of danger. Kakuzu, who had been alive for who knows how long, was particularly alert.

He'd noted the dangerous nature of these two the moment they neared him and had been on guard ever since.

And now, these two mentioned Orochimaru's name, confirming Kakuzu's judgment.

Kakuzu knew dealing with a strange fellow like Orochimaru was not wise, even without a direct confrontation.

No matter his arrogance, or how he survived under the First Hokage, he wouldn't underestimate Orochimaru.

"Two extremely dangerous individuals, huh?"

Kakuzu thought to himself, prepared for battle, suspecting these two might be ninjas hired by other forces.

Although he didn't know why such a ninja he hadn't heard of would be among the hired ones, there must be a conflict since they were mercenaries.

"Orochimaru is indeed dangerous, but his plan to kill us is somewhat delusional."

Kaito gently shook his head, then playfully said,

"Moreover, dealing with Orochimaru was not a joint effort between us two, but a solo act on my part. Does that satisfy you?"

"This only proves Orochimaru is weak, nothing more."

Kakuzu shook his head gently, his chakra already building up. He observed Kaito and Shisui indifferently, and then let out a light chuckle.

"So, we should do what we're supposed to do."

"Yes, indeed, some matters need to be settled."

Kaito nodded lightly, the next moment his figure appeared without warning in front of Kakuzu, his shinobi blade already slashing towards him!

But Kakuzu's expression was exceptionally calm. Although the speed was fast, he was able to react. In an instant, a yellow chakra appeared around him.

Under this layer of chakra protection, Kaito's blade hit him hard, but made an ear-piercing sound like metal clashing.

Apparently, Kaito's attack did not penetrate Kakuzu's defense. This ultimate use of earth style transformation and qualitative change wasn't so easily breached.

"How dare you sneak attack? You're courting death!"

Seeing that Kaito and Kakuzu had started fighting, Hidan couldn't help but shout, ready to join the fight. However, at this moment, Shisui had already approached him.

"Your opponent is me, freak."

Shisui held his shinobi blade and looked at Hidan with a calm expression. However, he was exceptionally vigilant in his heart, to the point where he had already activated his Sharingan.

Because the man in front of him looked too strange, he was full of wounds and there was even a shinobi blade stuck in his abdomen. Blood was flowing down the blade.

Yet even so, this guy did not seem to be dying at all, any ordinary person would have been unable to continue.

"Is it someone from that heretical cult?"

As a former competent Anbu, Shisui had access to more intelligence than one could imagine.

The guy in front of him involuntarily reminded him of the members of the heretical cult in the Land of Soup.

According to the intelligence, these members of the heretical cult were very strange. They seemed to believe that they could obtain the ability of immortality from their so-called god.

Shisui did not believe in such things, and the heretical cult had always been defined as an illegal religious organization, targeted by various forces.

However, these guys seemed to be surviving stubbornly, even the Soup ninja village was almost wiped out, it seemed to be their doing.

But there was no evidence for this, because after that the heretical cult disappeared, no one could find their traces.

But now it seemed, this so-called heretical cult seemed to have entered this dangerous organization, and someone had indeed obtained that so-called ability of immortality.

"Judging from the Sharingan, their bodies are filled with a very, very strange power.

And this power ensures their bodily functions, preventing them from dying due to excessive bleeding, or even fatal injuries."

Under the observation of the Sharingan, Shisui obtained some information, but having this information just made his headache worse.

He had no way to break down these strange energies, which meant that Shisui had no way to kill him directly!

"You call me a freak?"

Hidan looked at Shisui in front of him, he was stunned for a moment, then his face changed slightly, becoming a bit fierce.

"I'd say you're the odd one here, but it doesn't matter. Since you guys had no problem dealing with Orochimaru, I'm curious to see just how capable you are.

Moreover, creatures like you, offered as a sacrifice to Lord Jashin, would certainly satisfy him!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Hidan pulled out the long knife from his abdomen, grabbed a scythe, and rushed at Shisui.

However, his series of movements caused Shisui to raise his eyebrows because he found this guy's attack to be rather chaotic and unmethodical.

...

Kaito didn't pay too much attention to the battle between Shisui and Kakuzu. According to his recollection of the original storyline, Hidan's characteristic was to constantly attack with that massive scythe.

The large surface area of the scythe offered an attack range far beyond ordinary weapons, making it easier and quicker to injure the enemy and draw blood.

Asuma in the original work was a victim of this, driven to a rage that led to a loss of his rationality.

Unable to stay calm while dealing with two members of the Akatsuki, wasn't that basically suicide?

Shisui, on the other hand, had remained calm and possessed a body-focused Mangekyou, coupled with his original speed, it was doubtful that Hidan could even touch him.

As long as he couldn't touch him, Hidan naturally wouldn't pose much of a threat. All his lethal power came from his terrifying Jashin technique.

Or rather, it came from the enemy's lack of knowledge about him.

Take Shikamaru, for instance. Although he was clearly weaker than Asuma, he managed to trap Hidan with cunning, ensuring his eternal downfall!

"Ding!"

However, Kaito obviously knew that now was not the time to ponder these matters. He vigorously waved his shinobi blade, and in the moment of repelling Kakuzu, he rushed towards him.

This time, a blue chakra appeared on Kaito's blade. It was clear he was starting to use Wind Release.

While it was unfortunate that he missed two chances to get Lightning Release, which could have allowed him to break Earth Release's defense faster, he could substitute it with Wind Release. Kaito's Wind Release was not inferior in the slightest!

His blade swung out, bringing a fierce wind blade toward Kakuzu, and completely blocking all his escape routes.

Seeing this, Kakuzu immediately retaliated. A faint yellow chakra appeared all over his body, and in a flash, his body had hardened to the extreme.

At the moment when Kaito's shinobi blade struck him, he instantly lifted his leg and kicked towards Kaito's abdomen.

Fast and powerful, it was easy to imagine what would happen if Kaito were hit!

His goal was simple, to push back Kaito. However, Kaito did not evade, instead, his shinobi blade pierced straight towards Kakuzu's heart.

"What a madman!"

Kakuzu found this somewhat unbelievable, after all, he rarely saw anyone so willing to risk their life like this.

"But very quickly, a sharp look appeared on his face. No matter if the other party is really risking their life or has some tricks up their sleeve, he's not afraid, because he has more than one life to spare!

"Boom!"

Kakuzu's fist, filled with Earth-style chakra, ruthlessly struck Kaito, and a thunderous sound erupted.

At the same time, Kaito's ninja blade, aided by the sharp Wind-style chakra, successfully pierced Kakuzu's heart!

However, Kakuzu had more than one heart. Almost instantly, he switched his own heart. Yet, when he noticed Kaito's condition, his complexion changed instantly.

Kaito was covered with a layer of deep blue chakra, among which were obviously rib-shaped objects.

This scene made Kakuzu feel a chilling sensation in his blood: "Susanoo? You're an Uchiha!"

"Oh?" Kaito looked at Kakuzu with interest, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "You're quite well-informed, you even recognize Susanoo."

"An exclusive technique of the Uchiha clan, how could I, after living so many years, not recognize it?"

Kakuzu's face had now darkened. He realized why Orochimaru had been defeated because it was quite clear that the guy in front of him was no pushover!

Being a ninja who was active when Hashirama Senju was still alive, he naturally had seen the power of Madara Uchiha.

Indeed, he had ambushed Hashirama, and indeed he had survived from Hashirama's hands, but only he himself knew how he survived.

He could never forget being subdued by Hashirama with one move, being as helpless as a baby.

If it wasn't for Hashirama's mercy at the end, he would never have survived to this day.

As Hashirama's only enemy, even if he had only seen Madara's power from afar, he could definitely imagine how terrifying this strength was.

Plainly, that was the era of the two gods of the ninja world, that was a time when an individual's power could crush everything in the world!

Now he's seeing such power again, how can he keep his calm?

"Didn't expect it, you're actually from the Uchiha clan, your goal... Itachi Uchiha?"

Upon hearing Kaito's confirmation, Kakuzu, almost at the fastest speed, put some distance between them and watched Kaito warily.

However, he was also guessing what Kaito's trouble with them was about, and the only thing he could think of was Itachi Uchiha.

"I'm sorry, you're wrong."

Kaito shook his head slightly, at the same time a bone-like hand appeared from the profound blue chakra that enveloped his body.

As the chakra continued to pour in, the next moment, the silhouette of a giant began to emerge, a skeletal phantom appeared on his body.

Seeing this, Kakuzu wanted to escape. He had heard that Susanoo's defense was extremely strong, and everything that just happened had confirmed his suspicions.

His Earth-style not only contained strong defensive power but also unimaginable offensive power.

But such an attack still couldn't break the defense, which meant his other methods might not be able to break such a defense either.

It was what Kaito said next that caused him to pause slightly.

"My purpose here is for money, and I am now a mercenary ninja," Kaito calmly watched Kakuzu, a smile gracing his face.

"As for Uchiha Itachi, I really didn't know he was in an organization with you. But it doesn't matter, because sooner or later, I am going to kill him!

However, right now, I have a better idea, and that is you, Kakuzu-san."

At this point, Kaito paused briefly, then gently removed the mask from his face, revealing his own features.

Equally, he exposed his own Mangekyou Sharingan, eerily patterned and in constant rotation!

His chakra surged once again, and the colossal Susano'o roared, its massive body growing further.

Not only that, but his body was also filled with chakra-formed muscles. At this moment, the giant Susano'o looked even more terrifying.

"I've heard of you, Kakuzu-san. You are a legendary bounty hunter, a well-known figure in the black market.

However, I did not expect to meet you here, which is somewhat beyond my expectations.

But since we've met, I should show some intentions, especially as I am in need of money now, but my identity also prevents me from engaging in many activities."

Kaito spoke slowly, but he also kept an eye on the situation between Shisui and Hidan.

As he expected, Hidan couldn't hit Shisui, and Shisui was now beating him down.

Hidan was covered in many wounds, with crimson blood gushing out like a fountain, staining the ground.

However, he still managed to keep up, looking like an undying zombie.

Kaito could tell that Shisui might have found a way to subdue this guy - decapitation. That would stop Hidan from continuing the fight.

However, Hidan seemed to have caught onto Shisui's idea. He was now dodging in a flustered manner, but it was clear that his fate was already sealed.

Who could blame him for encountering Shisui, a master of speed, who also possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan?

"So, I want you to help me. After all, staying with the Akatsuki also earns money. Following me also makes money. There is no big difference, right?"

Kaito, withdrawing his gaze, looked at Kakuzu calmly and expressed his idea with a smile.

"Follow you...to earn money for Konoha?"

Kakuzu looked at Kaito suspiciously, then scoffed with disdain.

"Konoha's wealth is beyond what an ordinary person can imagine. If you're going to make up a reason, make it a good one!"

"Who said I want to earn money for Konoha? Everything I do is for myself."

Kaito calmly shook his head, he had now stopped the enlargement of Susano'o. This level was already enough.

"And what we're going to do, Konoha will neither intervene nor allow.

In other words, this goes against the rules of Konoha, so I need someone to handle these matters outside of Konoha, matters that have nothing to do with Konoha."

"So, you've chosen me?" Kakuzu's brow furrowed slightly, "What if I refuse?"

"I've said it before, earning money is essentially the same no matter who you're working for. I don't believe you possess any kind of loyalty, and if you do, it's probably to money alone."

Kaito let out a slight smile, and then his Susano'o drew a chakra-infused ninja blade, the radiant blue chakra at this moment appearing exceptionally dazzling.

"As for your refusal, let me show you the consequences of that. After all, I can see that you have more than one heart!"

Kaito's words instantly changed Kakuzu's complexion. His possession of multiple hearts was his greatest secret.

But how could he accept that this secret was seen through at a glance by the guy in front of him?

However, he had no time to say anything. Kaito, controlling Susano'o, raised the ninja blade high, and in the next moment swung it down with full force!

In that instant, it was as if space itself was slashed open, the earth split, and the sky tilted.

An energy of intense extremes suddenly burst forth. At first, it was just a speck, but then it instantly expanded, surpassing any previous energy explosion.

Between heaven and earth, everything became a bright white, and such power had completely blasted onto Kakuzu!

At this moment, Kakuzu felt an unprecedented crisis, at this moment he felt death was so close to him.

Also, at this moment, a whisper echoed in his ears.

"Remember, my name is Uchiha Kaito!"

//

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