Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 77 Multiple Encounters with Kakuzu

wilderness.

Naoto stood on the ravaged battlefield, panting heavily. Several corpses lay scattered around him—his targets from the recently completed mission: a deserter ninja squad.

After the Second Shinobi World War, when it came to the number of defecting ninjas, Kirigakure came out on top, and they even established a special department to hunt them down.

However, in terms of proportion, the most numerous were in Kusagakure, because the order there was the most chaotic and the ninjas the most unethical. Especially after World War II, they felt that their own ninjas were very weak and could only survive in the gap between the two great powers.

Since they had no lineage to inherit, they resorted to stealing it. However, the lineages they could steal were not particularly powerful, so they set their sights on bloodline limits and began to steal children and traffic in people.

During this period, naturally some people could not stand the chaotic environment of Kusagakure and began to defect.

"Three hundred and twenty thousand taels."

A deep, familiar voice sounded from behind. Naoto didn't even turn his head; his white tentacles had already sprang out in response.

Kakuzu sidestepped and said calmly, "Your reaction time is 0.3 seconds faster than last time."

Naoto retracted his whiskers and turned to look at him.

This was the fourth time the two had met in this wilderness.

The first time, Kakuzu appeared suddenly, catching him off guard; the second time, he was ambushed and killed while on a mission; the third time, just as he received the bounty, Kakuzu appeared to collect taxes.

Each time, Kakuzu would give him a few pointers during the battle, then steal the bounty on the head and leave.

"You're late this time." Naoto wiped the blood from his face. "The mission is complete, and I've already collected the bounty."

"I know." Kakuzu walked up to the corpses and kicked one of them. "But these heads are the proof of exchange for money at the underground gold exchange. Didn't you know that?"

Naoto was taken aback.

Kakuzu scoffed, "You're alright with the Earth Grudge Fear technique, but you know absolutely nothing about the rules of the ninja world. For bounty missions, the corpses are double the reward. The employer pays one part, and the exchange pays the other. You've lost at least 500,000 ryo in the past half month."

Naoto fell silent.

Kakuzu crouched down, skillfully severed the heads of the corpses, wrapped them in cloth, and then stood up.

"The timing of your tentacle hardening is still wrong. You always start hardening after I make my move, which is too late. You should start when you anticipate my attack direction."

After Kakuzu finished speaking, he prepared to leave.

"etc."

Kakuzu stopped in his tracks, only to hear Naoto ask, "You had so many opportunities to kill me, why didn't you?"

Kakuzu turned around, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"Your bounty is too low. Killing you won't bring in much money. Let's keep you around until your value increases."

After saying that, he disappeared into the wilderness.

Naoto stood there, looking in the direction he had left, and suddenly remembered Aburame Shisei's words.

That person might really be the one they need.

-

Half a month later, Naoto and Kakuzu met for the sixth time.

This time, Naoto took the initiative. His tendrils were more agile than a month ago, and the timing of his hardening was more precise. The two exchanged blows for nearly a hundred rounds in the wilderness, and Naoto was ultimately defeated by a single move.

"You've made rapid progress."

Kakuzu unusually gave a positive evaluation. He sat on a boulder, looking at Naoto lying on the ground panting, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

"The Earth Grudge Fear on you is indeed different from the one I use. My tentacles come from five different hearts, each with its own independent chakra attribute. Yours... seems to have been infused with something else."

Naoto remained silent because Aburame Shisei had told him that a ninja's ninjutsu information was his greatest secret, and that revealing one's ninjutsu information to others was tantamount to handing one's life over to them.

Kakuzu was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "You've been wandering around this area, are you trying to drag me back to Takigakure?"

Naoto was taken aback again, but before he could speak, Kakuzu sneered, "You think I can't see through you? Some of those missions were deliberately designed to lure me here. Your fighting style is imitating mine, and even your escape route is leaning towards the direction I usually ambush."

He stood up and looked down at Naoto.

"Who exactly wants me to go back and take charge? It can't be those old guys from Takigakure. Those people are terrified of me, how dare they let me go back?"

Naoto slowly got up and nodded: "As expected of a senior, nothing can be hidden from you. It was indeed the person behind me who intended for you to return. Moreover, several months ago, we withdrew the arrest warrant for you. You are no longer a rogue ninja, come back. Now that you're back, you are still a member of Takigakure."

Kakuzu remained silent for a long time.

This place is near Iwakusa Taki, where the winds from the confluence of three regions blow across the wilderness, whipping up clouds of yellow sand.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: "We'll talk after you defeat me."

After saying that, he turned and left.

This time, his back view didn't seem as cold as before in Naoto's eyes.

He felt a bit like those arrogant little old men in my niece's sketchbook.

-

The land of rain.

In a secluded valley, three simple wooden houses are built against the mountainside. In the small courtyard in front of the houses, three children are practicing ninjutsu.

A red-haired boy formed hand seals, trying hard to gather chakra. Standing beside him was a purple-haired girl, quietly encouraging him. On the other side, an orange-haired boy was also working hard, continuing the hand seals in his hands; although the movements were slow, each one was precise.

Jiraiya lay on the roof, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, staring blankly at the gloomy sky.

Suddenly, he sat up, and a figure emerged from the woods, tall and pale, with a familiar smile on his lips.

Orochimaru said in a hoarse voice, "Jiraiya, it's been a long time."

"Orochimaru?" Jiraiya jumped down from the roof, looking surprised. "How did you find this place? And your voice sounds a bit old, like you're sick."

Orochimaru didn't answer, because what he was doing wasn't business; he had just undergone some minor surgeries and was currently recovering, but his body would soon become very strong.

At least he wouldn't be as fragile as Jiraiya, who would have his bones fractured from just one punch from Tsunade.

"How could people like us get sick? It's just that we're constantly growing and our mindset is getting old. I actually envy you a bit; you can always maintain a playful heart."

As Orochimaru spoke, his gaze began to sweep over the three children.

He glanced at the purple-haired girl and the long-haired boy, and finally his gaze settled on the red-haired boy. He had long hair and a shy personality, but his chakra was surprisingly abundant.

Are they from the Uzumaki clan?

Just as Orochimaru was about to step forward to continue his investigation, Jiraiya suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his view.