Kakuzu was a living legend of the underworld.
A survivor from before the era of hidden villages.
A shinobi who once faced Hashirama Senju and survived.
His slashed forehead protector still bore the symbol of Takigakure.
Once one of its finest jōnin.
He had been ordered to assassinate the First Hokage.
He failed.
He lived.
He was betrayed.
Imprisoned and punished for surviving.
He escaped, stole the forbidden technique Jiongu, killed the elders responsible, and deserted.
From that day on, he believed one thing:
Money is real.
Everything else is illusion.
Fifty Million Ryō
When he saw Hyūga Yūma, he did not think of Akatsuki's orders.
He thought of fifty million.
"You're worth a fortune."
Yūma smiled.
"Come and claim it."
The Stitched Body
Kakuzu removed his Akatsuki cloak.
Stitched flesh.
Four masks emerged.
Five hearts.
Five elements.
The Clash
Lightning spear.
Yang-enhanced Vacuum Palm.
Explosion.
Then—
The Rasenshuriken.
Even Kakuzu recognized the danger.
He countered with a triple elemental combination.
Wind amplified fire.
Lightning pierced the core.
The sky detonated in blinding light.
Far away, Uzumaki Ashina sensed the shockwave.
A battle between two monsters had begun.
/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------/
Read more chapters on my Patreon: https://patreon.com/SailorTranslations?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink