What the hell?!
The sudden system notification completely short-circuited Qianyu's brain. He'd just stabbed Kakuzu's heart! How could there still be a reward?
Was this a Medical Savior System or a Bandit-for-Hire System? If he could swap systems, he'd take a 'Many Sons, Much Fortune' one any day.
"Maybe… in the system's judgment, Kakuzu is suffering from 'Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome'?" A wild thought struck Qianyu. "I just 'removed' two of his redundant organs, so that counts as medical aid?"
But now wasn't the time to get distracted. Even though he'd destroyed two of Kakuzu's masks in one strike, the guy still had three lives left!
Swoosh!
After the shockwave dissipated, Qianyu rose from the water, walking on its surface. His gaze locked onto Kakuzu's main body not far away. Those beady green eyes were staring right back at him, glowing ominously.
"You bastard. You cost me two hearts. Yours alone won't be enough to repay that debt." Kakuzu's voice was ice. Black tendrils of Earth Grudge Fear spilled from his body like a dark mist. He would take Qianyu's heart and forge it into a new mask!
"Wait, Lord Kakuzu! I have something to say!"
Kakuzu looked ready to unleash hell and fight for three hundred rounds. Qianyu hurriedly called for a timeout.
"Speak."
As a figure from the era of the First Hokage, Kakuzu had a certain decorum when facing a warrior he deemed his equal.
"Erm… can I pay a ransom for my life?" Qianyu pulled a scroll from his robes, testing the waters.
"No. It's a matter of principle!" Kakuzu refused without a second thought. "Just be a good corpse and come with me to the bounty station."
"What about double?" Qianyu pressed.
Kakuzu hesitated. "…Go on."
Kakuzu's principle was to always look forward financially. He had no choice—Qianyu was offering too much. This didn't really count as breaking his principles.
"Lord Kakuzu, take a look." At Kakuzu's reaction, Qianyu smirked inwardly. His 'life-saving charm' was working. He tossed the scroll toward Kakuzu.
"Hmph!" Kakuzu caught it with a grunt, unafraid of any trick. He glanced at it dismissively.
"This… this is…!"
But one look was all it took. His pupils contracted violently. His whole body stiffened as if struck by lightning.
What was he seeing? His vision was filled with zeros. Dense, packed zeros. String after string of them. Kakuzu had worked his whole life and had never seen this much money!
"It's a bounty board. Powerful nobles and daimyō are soliciting elite medical-nin to solve… various delicate conditions," Qianyu explained proudly. He might be broke now, but he knew how to get money.
In the shinobi world, the real power wasn't the Five Kage—it was the daimyō and nobles of the great nations. They controlled nearly 90% of the wealth. The ninja villages survived on their funding.
And as everyone knew, the richer you were, the more you clung to life.
These VIPs were more than willing to throw money at extending their lifespans. An Asuma's bounty was mere pocket change (around twenty million). Without exaggeration, a single job on this list was worth ten of Kakuzu's usual contracts!
"Kurarara! Be my… partner, Kakuzu," Qianyu coaxed. "Look, you're good at limb reattachment, hemostasis, and sutures. I'm proficient in all sorts of medical ninjutsu. Together, we're a powerhouse. We'll make so much money our hands will go numb."
Qianyu's ambitions were vast. He didn't just want Kakuzu to drop the assassination attempt. He wanted to bind him with profit, to make Kakuzu work for him!
Imagine it. If he could build an Akatsuki-like organization outside of Konoha, who in the ninja world would dare disrespect him?
Old farts like Ōnoki? Schemers like Danzō? They'd all be kneeling before him, singing songs of submission.
"This…" Kakuzu rubbed his tendrils together. For the first time, the normally cold, merciless man felt a twinge of… awkwardness.
He'd spent most of his life killing, piling up heads. This was the first time anyone had suggested he had a talent for healing. Suddenly switch careers to saving people?
Wasn't this a bit too…
"So? In or out?"
"In!"
Faced with Qianyu's impatient question, Kakuzu's answer was firm and resonant.
Do anything for money—that was Kakuzu's ninja way!
"Good! Excellent spirit!" Qianyu nodded in satisfaction, adopting a commanding tone. "Then pick a bounty worth seventy million ryō. The reward is all yours after completion."
"From now on, we'll do one job a month. Fifty-fifty split. Any objections?" Qianyu asked.
"None, none at all. Let me… let me make a selection." Kakuzu had already retracted the two masks on his shoulders. He made no mention of his earlier plan to dig out Qianyu's heart. Faced with Qianyu's assertive arrangement, he quickly indicated he had no issues.
Tch. I kind of preferred your defiant attitude from before. Kakuzu's agreeableness was so jarring it made Qianyu uncomfortable. He chuckled to himself.
With 'Lord Kakuzu' successfully recruited, the rock that had been weighing on Qianyu's heart finally settled.
He happily opened the system notification he hadn't had time to check earlier.
[Ding! Treatment successful. Congratulations, Host, for obtaining Earth Grudge Fear (Incomplete)!]
"Holy crap, Earth Grudge Fear…!"
"Wait, why the parentheses again? Always with these half-measures!" he mentally grumbled. But the corner of his mouth still curled up. Incomplete or not, this was the genuine Earth Grudge Fear technique!
Qianyu opened the detailed description.
[Earth Grudge Fear (Incomplete): An evil secret technique that, while preserving most of the host's flesh and blood, transforms excess tissue into black tendrils to plunder the life force of others. Can only sustain one additional heart!]
"This is good! This is perfect!" Qianyu's eyes lit up. If he had to turn into a monster like Kakuzu, with all his flesh converted to tendrils, he'd probably refuse.
For one, the Eight Gates might not work anymore. For another… certain other functions might not work either. What would be the point of living then?!
"An extra heart means an extra life. And these things can change length and shape? Operate remotely?!"
"Hiss… The playability is high!" After some thought, Qianyu gave this evaluation.
Honestly, Qianyu was getting impatient. He wanted to charge into Kumogakure right now, accost a few kunoichi, and plunder their chakra natures and life force.
That way, after obtaining Lightning Release, he'd have all seven basic chakra natures!
Swoosh!
While Kakuzu was busy picking a bounty, Qianyu wrote a small note in front of him. Using a paper messenger technique, he sent it back toward Konoha, telling everyone no reinforcements were needed and that he'd explain everything to the Hokage upon his return.
"This one. There's a suitably priced case within the Land of Fire itself."
"Good. Let's go."
…
The VIP Kakuzu selected was the younger brother of the current Fire Daimyō. He'd been caught secretly horseback riding by his wife. No one knew how many cuts he'd suffered. Rumor had it that part had been severed.
Tragic. Many medical-nin had come and gone, helpless. They could only freeze the severed limbs and keep him on life support. Consequently, the bounty had skyrocketed, reaching a staggering two Asumas-worth.
Soon, Qianyu arrived with Kakuzu disguised as his assistant. Using his status as a Konoha senior physician, he took the job.
"Earth Grudge Fear: Sutures!"
"Healing Rebirth Technique!"
Under their furious barrage of healing, the Daimyō's brother did a literal carp-flip, leaping right out of bed.
"Did I wake up wrong?! My… my bird grew back?!"
"My foolish younger brother! You're finally awake!" The Fire Daimyō looked at his lively and kicking brother, immensely satisfied with Qianyu and Kakuzu's handiwork. He showered them with seventy million ryō on the spot and verbally promised Qianyu a personal favor.
"Seventy million… just like that?" After leaving the lavish estate, Kakuzu felt the thick stack of banknotes in his robe, dazed. It felt unreal.
Before, he'd have to fight tooth and nail, kill who-knows-how-many people over who-knows-how-many days to earn seventy million.
But today, following Qianyu, he just… reattached a few limbs. Did almost nothing. And made seventy million effortlessly. Even with travel time, it took less than half a day!
"This is just the beginning. As long as we work together, bigger money-making opportunities are ahead!" Kakuzu was in disbelief. Qianyu put on the face of a capitalist from his past life, patted his 'employee' on the shoulder, and served up a big, fat promise.
Kakuzu didn't flinch away from the pat. He allowed it. Qianyu smiled with satisfaction.
He knew it. Kakuzu would soon be under his thumb.
"Let's leave it at that for now. Same place, one month from now." Qianyu waved, turning to leave. Then, as if remembering something, he spoke casually.
"Oh, right. Can you give me my colleague's body back? Makes reporting easier. It'd be best if you could also give me a different bounty hunter's corpse."
"…Fine." Kakuzu fell silent for a long moment. He pulled out two scrolls from his robes and handed them over.
Qianyu took the scrolls and started his journey back to Konoha.
…
Hokage's Office.
"This Kakuzu claims to be a contemporary of the First Hokage. We couldn't match him. So, I… endeavored to alter his perception of Konoha. We've become… friends." Qianyu handed the two scrolls to Hiruzen Sarutobi and began spinning a tale so wild it left everyone in the office speechless.
"He said he intercepted and killed this bounty hunter to get the body. Storm and the others didn't die by his hand. Of course, whether that's true or not, I can't say," Qianyu finished.
Kakuzu… Kakuzu… I think I heard the First Hokage mention that name once… After listening to the story, Hiruzen gave an imperceptible nod. "Hm. Qianyu, you handled this exceptionally well. Go get some rest."
From the result, Qianyu had provided a plausible explanation, prevented a Konoha intel leak, and neutralized a potentially powerful enemy for the village.
That was enough. No need to dig into the details of what happened in between.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Qianyu acknowledged and left the office, heading home.
Just as he reached his doorstep, he saw an enchanting figure leaning against his doorframe. Slitted, golden eyes watched him with keen interest.
[Ding! You have encountered a wild Orochimaru. Initiate combat?]
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