To Kakuzu, this newcomer to Akatsuki, despite having the same face as the leader—was still a walking bounty on the black market, and that alone made him tempting prey.
Although intel claimed this Uzumaki clan member possessed the First Hokage's Wood Release, Kakuzu, having witnessed Hashirama's true power, scoffed at the idea.
That kind of strength, how could any ordinary person possibly wield it?
Even if it was Wood Release, only when it reached the First Hokage's level could it truly inspire fear.
"Brat, do you even know who your speaking to right now?"
Uzumaki Ku looked at Kakuzu, thought for a moment, and replied: "A missing-nin from Takigakure, Kakuzu. You failed an assassination mission against the First Hokage and defected from the village. So, what you mean to say is… you're the man who once fought Hashirama Senju?"
Swish!
Ku spun around, slashing out, and knocked away the black tendril that had snaked out of the ground behind him.
The next moment, his figure vanished.
Puchi!
His blade pierced straight through, impaling the water-element heart located at Kakuzu's upper left chest.
Kakuzu had just started to react, but froze a second later.
"For someone like you, not truly immortal, just relying on five hearts to keep going, I really have to be careful not to overdo it.
"One good blaze of fire and you'd be reduced to ashes. Or if I strike five times in an instant, you're done."
"So don't waste your time trying to act tough. I might kill you instantly by accident."
Ku pulled his blade out of Kakuzu's heart, then muttered: "Power on Hashirama's level… to say you actually fought him is just bragging. From now on, why not say you merely escaped with your life?"
"After all, if you threw a shuriken from eight hundred meters away and Hashirama thought it was just a mosquito bite and ignored it, well, that still counts as 'fighting him,' right?"
Kakuzu's face flushed red, though whether from the loss of his water heart or from sheer embarrassment, it was unclear.
This old braggart seemed to finally realize how ridiculous he sounded.
That single deadly strike, his speed and reflexes, were even more terrifying than those of the two Mangekyō wielders from ten days ago.
Konan glanced at Deva Path Pain.
"His speed, without using the Fourth Hokage's jutsu, just by Body Flicker alone, it's already reached this level."
Pain nodded slightly.
"Whatever the case, he must still obey the will of god."
Then he looked at Ku.
"From now on, you'll be teamed with Jūzō Biwa. Your first mission starts tomorrow, you'll depart for Kumogakure. Details are in this scroll."
Ku caught the scroll tossed to him and moved away from the stiffened Kakuzu.
Opening it, he scanned through the details thoughtfully.
"So the old man Ōnoki wants to probe Kumo's strength, huh? Using Akatsuki as his knife… well, that's a clever way to keep himself safe."
"Understood. Tomorrow I'll head out with… Mr. Bandage Captain here."
Jūzō frowned. "My name is Jūzō Biwa, not… Mr. Bandage Man."
Ku nodded casually. "Alright then, Mr. Bandage Man."
The deliberate jab eased the tension, after all, it wasn't just Kakuzu embarrassed now. Jūzō, after witnessing that earlier scene, didn't even dare to try provoking him again.
Nightfall.
Jūzō looked curiously at his new partner.
"Your strength… is formidable. But I'm not weak either."
When Ku didn't answer, Jūzō pressed on:
"At least tell me what skills you specialize in. Since we'll be working together, we should have some strategies, don't you think?"
Sitting on the rooftop, Ku shook his head and stood.
"Normally, I rely on speed and a blade. I can use ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu, all of it. I've got plenty of kekkei genkai as well.
So… as far as I see, strategies aren't really necessary."
Jūzō blinked, then chuckled.
"I used to think like you. With the strength of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, facing a mere Leaf genin, it should've been a one-sided slaughter."
"Heh… and it was a one-sided slaughter. That Konoha genin cut us down from seven to three. Hard to believe, but that guy, Might Duy, was only a genin."
"So, do you still think strategies are useless?"
Ku almost laughed.
Konoha really was full of weirdos. In a few years, it would only get more absurd.
Genin who could destroy worlds and save them, chunin who were all monsters, jonin who mostly acted like extras, and ANBU who were practically cannon fodder.
Utterly ridiculous.
He exhaled. "Fine, let's talk strategy."
Jūzō nodded and began laying out plans, up until the point where one of his plans required Ku to kill him first.
Ku looked at his partner.
"Say, as a defector from Kirigakure, who used to be so loyal to your village… what does that feel like?"
"You only turned because you couldn't stand the tyranny of the higher-ups, right? A village steeped in 'Blood Mist' would weigh anyone down with darkness."
Jūzō froze, then, after a long silence, exhaled.
"If I didn't already know I couldn't win, my blade would already be at your throat."
Ku shook his head.
"The past is just the past. And a village like that… It's no wonder you had enough. But… do you want to know the real reason?"
"The reason?"
"What reason!"
Jūzō's pupils widened. Then, as if realizing something, he stared hard at Ku.
"The Rain's isolationist policy all these years, do you know the reason behind it?! Can you tell me?!"
Ku leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"No need to shout. I've set up a barrier here, but still… you're being a bit loud."
Then he met Jūzō's eyes.
"If you want to know the reason, you'll need to give me your loyalty."
"Loyalty?!"
Jūzō's expression twisted strangely. After a pause, he said:
"You've seen the leader's eyes, haven't you? Even if your power is great, compared to the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths…"
Ku waved him off.
"I know more about the Rinnegan than you do. And as for the leader's true intentions, those remain to be seen. I have my own plans there."
"What I don't know is, you, as a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, what's your stance on the word peace?"
Peace?
The word left Jūzō stunned. Akatsuki's ideology was about rising above the Five Great Nations, making the world taste pain.
And now, this talk of peace?
"Rest for now. When the day comes that you've decided on your answer, tell me."
With that, Ku dispelled the barrier and vanished from the rooftop.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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