Chapter 78: Bound by Money

After a fierce battle, Kakuzu was forced to surrender after losing three of his five hearts in succession.

There wasn't much to say about the outcome. Kakuzu was powerful, but Obito had detailed knowledge of his fighting style, while Kakuzu was entirely in the dark about Obito's abilities. Under such circumstances, Kakuzu never stood a real chance.

It's often said that the Akatsuki comprises "Kage-level" ninjas, but this is not entirely accurate.

There are two types of ninjas within the Akatsuki: those whose abilities become far less effective once you know their secrets (Hidan, for example) and those who remain virtually unbeatable even when you know exactly what they can do (Uchiha Itachi, for instance).

Kakuzu's heart-stealing habit was well-known. This didn't entirely nullify his abilities, but it certainly lowered his overall effectiveness. By contrast, Obito's Kamui would make him untouchable even against legendary shinobi like Madara or Hashirama.

When Obito finally triumphed, he regarded Kakuzu coldly. "Now, do you still need to see my face?" he asked.

"Cough... Who exactly are you?" Kakuzu replied, struggling to retain his usual stoicism.

"My name is Uchiha Madara." Obito fell back on his usual bluff, though it was met with silence.

Kakuzu's expression didn't change, but his eyes hinted at skepticism—bordering on disdain.

He'd once fought Hashirama Senju, even if the memory had faded and legends had since inflated Hashirama's prowess. Still, Kakuzu had a fairly grounded idea of what Uchiha Madara's power should look like. 

'Madara Uchiha?' he thought. 'If you're really him, let me see you summon a Susanoo the size of a building.'

Even so, Kakuzu wasn't one to taunt his victor outright—especially since his life was now in Obito's hands.

Obito, however, read the doubt in his gaze. His jaw clenched as he finally broke the silence. "What, don't believe me?"

Kakuzu gave a slight chuckle. "I remember my encounter with Hashirama Senju. I know the power of those legendary ninjas. Are you claiming that the weak Fire Release Jutsu was worthy of Uchiha Madara just now?"

Obito's Fire Release wasn't bad—better than Kakuzu's, but it was hardly comparable to Madara's famed mastery. Kakuzu's words struck a nerve. Whenever Obito tried invoking Madara's name, someone seemed to test his credibility.

Of course, taking off his mask to prove his identity was out of the question. More to the point, he wasn't actually Madara. And facing an opponent who had fought the First Hokage only added to the awkwardness.

Perhaps sensing the shift, Kakuzu dialed down his bravado. "Well, whoever you are, I was defeated. I have no complaints."

Obito let out a breath, steadying himself. "Then join the Akatsuki. We're a collective of S-rank missing-nin, set on overturning the Five Great Shinobi Nations and creating a new world order."

Kakuzu raised an eyebrow. "Is it too late to back out?"

"I'll put you in charge of all the organization's finances!" Obito offered, remembering what Zetsu had said about Kakuzu's greed.

Kakuzu's eyes lit up. "Done. I'll join Akatsuki immediately. So, how much money does the organization have in reserve?"

Obito wondered if offering control over finances from the beginning would have saved him the entire fight.

Elsewhere, at the Akatsuki's underground base, Kakuzu looked with disdain at Shin, who was standing across from him.

"So, you're the other guy with a famous reputation. The 'Kurogami,' right? The new bounty hunter who's popped up recently."

Today, most members of the Akatsuki were gathered in the hideout. Konan and the Deva Path of Pain were seated in the center, with Obito, Zetsu, and Kakuzu gathered around them. Shin had brought Sara with him as a new member he'd recruited.

Shin met Kakuzu's condescending look with a calm gaze. Internally, though, he was disappointed. Of all possible Akatsuki recruits, he'd hoped Obito would first approach Orochimaru—the legendary researcher in body transformation, a veritable goldmine of knowledge. Failing that, Hidan and Sasori would have been intriguing choices. Hidan's supposed immortality was a fascinating phenomenon worth investigating, and Sasori's expertise in human puppets hinted at unique advancements in body modification techniques.

However, Kakuzu didn't offer the same appeal to Shin. He was skilled, sure, but there was nothing about him that Shin found particularly valuable for his research.

Kakuzu sneered. "So, you're a member of Akatsuki as well. Let me ask you this: if another member dies, would I be allowed to collect their bounty?"

Shin and Deva Path exchanged an amused look. It seemed Kakuzu was already sizing up his colleagues as potential profit. He was indeed a man who valued money above all else.

"By all means," Shin replied, his tone casual. "If you're up for it, we could even step outside and see which one of us could earn a bounty."

Shin had no personal vendetta against Kakuzu, but Kakuzu didn't see it that way. To him, rival bounty hunters were all obstacles, and in an ideal world, he would monopolize every bounty contract.

Not to mention, Shin's bounty was rumored to exceed that of some Kage-level shinobi.

Kakuzu glanced at Deva Path, waiting for some signal. Deva Path met his gaze with his Rinnegan and said nothing.

The sight of those legendary eyes struck Kakuzu, awakening a sense of awe and even fear. In all his years, he'd never seen the Rinnegan, only heard of them in myths. Facing their overwhelming power, he felt an uncharacteristic twinge of reverence.

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