Thanks to memories from his previous life, Seiki knew that this ninja named Zukiri was the most ambitious one in Takumi.
Therefore, he had been closely monitoring Zukiri's movements.
Noticing Zukiri repeatedly glancing at Kakuzu, Seiki pretended to ask curiously, "Jonin Zukiri, are you in a hurry to imprison him?"
Zukiri flinched slightly and forced out a laugh. "He's just way too terrifying to look at. For everyone else's peace of mind, better safe than sorry — let's get him locked up quick!"
Kakuzu's eyes darkened — the moment he got free, he'd make sure this idiot was the first to die!
Shibuya nodded thoughtfully. "You're indeed very thoughtful, Zukiri. Then why don't you take him to prison now? Chikuma and I will entertain Jonin Seiki."
Zukiri nodded, gave Kakuzu a small blue pill that would weaken his body, and then led him toward the direction of the Sacred Tree.
When they arrived at the imprisonment site.
"The Sacred Tree Prison again?" Kakuzu sneered. "So much time has passed, yet not a single damn thing has changed!"
"A place as calm as a stagnant pond — what's there left to change?" Zukiri replied.
Kakuzu stared deeply at him. "So it seems you're also someone dissatisfied with the status quo!"
Zukiri met his gaze intensely. "Only the weak find peace in the way things are!"
"Heh, you must be eyeing my [Earth Grudge Fear] jutsu, right?"
"Don't speak so harshly. It should be said that this technique deserves to return to Takumi!"
Kakuzu chuckled coldly. "Returning to Takumi doesn't necessarily mean you'll be the one wielding it!"
Zukiri sneered. "Without relying on external tools, I'm clearly the strongest in the village. Is there anyone more suitable than me for mastering the [Earth Grudge Fear] jutsu?"
"Are you pretending not to know or really clueless?" Kakuzu whispered temptingly, "Hero Water shortens your lifespan, while [Earth Grudge Fear] grants immortality and can even prolong life. Any normal person knows which choice to make, don't they?"
Zukiri paused briefly but quickly resumed walking normally. "Almost got tricked by you. [Earth Grudge Fear] is a secret technique; just because someone else learns it doesn't mean I cannot!"
Kakuzu's eyes subtly shifted. "What if I told you only by consuming Hero Water can one truly master the [Earth Grudge Fear] jutsu?"
"What did you say?" Zukiri's voice suddenly rose two octaves. Regaining his composure, he glanced left and right before continuing, "Why have I never heard such a thing before?"
"If we let you all know, how could the Leader's lineage keep Hero Water under control?" Kakuzu cackled nastily. "If Takumi had had a few more users of [Earth Grudge Fear] back then, I wouldn't have wiped out every last Jonin so easily!"
Seeing Zukiri's uncertainty, Kakuzu added, "Actually, this was an inevitable decision for Takumi! For one thing, other ninja villages envied and feared the immortality granted by [Earth Grudge Fear] and its gruesome method of heart-stealing. Having one or two users was acceptable. But if too many obtained it, Takumi would end up like the Uzumaki clan, wiped out by combined forces from other villages!"
"On the other hand," remarked Kakuzu, "the requirement of drinking the Hero Water to perfect the Earth Grudge Fear jutsu means gambling one's life for the possibility of mastering it. If the leadership doesn't restrict this information, Takumi could end up destroying itself by pursuing this technique!"
Zukiri inhaled deeply and asked, "If you drank the Hero Water, how are you still alive?"
"Obviously because of... the Earth Grudge Fear!" Kakuzu explained calmly. "This jutsu can extend one's lifespan by stealing hearts. In a sense, the Earth Grudge Fear and the Hero Water are the perfect combination!"
Upon hearing this, Zukiri's breath quickened abruptly, though he still managed to remain calm. "Why are you telling me all this?"
Kakuzu stared directly into his eyes. "Because I see ambition in your eyes. Someone like you wouldn't give up the chance to gain power even knowing the risks involved!"
Zukiri replied gravely, "Are you trying to mock me?"
"I'm not that bored," Kakuzu said. "What I'm saying is, how about we work together—just once?"
"You must be joking? Working with a rogue ninja like you?"
"Do you have any other choice besides teaming up with a rogue like me?"
Zukiri seriously considered the possibility of applying to Shibuya for the Hero Water before rejecting it himself.
The Hero Water was a precious treasure used only when the village faced danger. Without a proper reason, Shibuya would never hand it over.
Yet revealing the truth could lead Shibuya to completely ban him from practicing the Earth Grudge Fear.
After all, that guy always acted so 'hypocritically'—facing such high risk, he might regard the technique as Kinjutsu and seal it away immediately.
Thinking thus, Zukiri suppressed his inner uneasiness and asked, "How can I be sure you won't turn on me afterward?"
"You can poison me or bind me with seals. If you can't handle that much, don't blame me for your incompetence!"
"Hmph! How confident of you! When do you plan to act?"
"Be patient. Breaking the seal takes time—and I'll need a new heart as well!"
Meanwhile, on another side of Takumi Village.
"It seems I'll need to modify my strategy slightly," mused Seiki inwardly during the banquet.
Originally, he had planned to seize the Seven-Tails chakra during this visit. Yet after arriving at Takumi, things proved slightly complicated.
Unlike Yugito, whose seal he had previously laid, or the One-Tail, who frequently lost control, forcibly knocking out this Jinchuriki or provoking the awakening of the Seven-Tails might easily leave too obvious traces behind.
Therefore, he decided to sow some seeds of chaos first. Once they took root and grew, he would come back to reap the fruits!
With his mind made up, Seiki smiled and asked, "Now that you've acquired the Earth Grudge Fear, Shibuya no longer needs to risk his life by drinking the Hero Water, right?"
Shibuya was taken aback, then sighed wistfully, "That's true. At least now he won't have to bear the burden of being called a hero anymore."
"While I shouldn't interfere too much in Takumi's internal affairs, there's something Shibuya must keep an eye on."
"Seiki warned, "The Earth Grudge Fear secret jutsu is too sinister. If it's abused without restraint, it might provoke attacks from other ninja villages."
Shibuya nodded thoughtfully, "Ninjutsu exists to protect our village. If it brings calamity instead, then we've reversed our priorities completely!"
After leaving Shibuya with something to think about, Seiki fell silent.
The more words you waste, the more mistakes you invite.
In this incident, he didn't need to be overly involved.
All he needed to do was deliver Zukiri into Kakuzu's line of sight. With Kakuzu's discerning eye, he should easily detect that man's ambition.
If Kakuzu couldn't even save himself, then it meant he had no value left to be exploited.
In that case, he'd have no choice but to use another pawn instead!
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