Chapter 256: Hunter and Lamb
While Kyosuke and Saori were using their secret guards' positions as a marker to teleport, Kakuzu was dragging his burlap sack into the bounty station.
"Thud."
He threw the sack on the ground with a grunt. Ignoring the hostile looks from the others, he walked over to an empty chair and sat down to wait for his bounty to be processed.
I have to endure this nauseating stench every time, he thought, a mixture of love and hate for the bounty station swirling within him. He loved the money, but he hated this filthy, disgusting place. It was beneath a man of his stature. But the allure of money was a powerful thing, and it had made him compromise his principles time and time again. He had the highest mission completion rate in the entire black market. So, he would come back. He always came back.
A few of the less savory characters in the room saw his quiet, withdrawn demeanor as a sign of weakness and began to eye him with renewed interest.
The bounty station had a strict rule against any form of violence within their territory. It was a rule that no one, not even Kakuzu, dared to break. The rule was in place to protect the bounty hunters, the lifeblood of their operation.
But there were always ways around the rules. The predators of the black market would simply mark their target, follow them to a secluded location, and then strike.
Kakuzu, traveling alone, was a perfect "lamb."
But the experienced Kakuzu was no lamb. He knew their game. He sat in silence, not because he was afraid, but because these foolish "hunters" would often provide him with a nice, unexpected windfall. He had no intention of scaring them off.
It seems today's harvest will be a bountiful one, he thought with a cold, inward smile.
A short time later, his bounty was processed. He was called into a back room and handed a bag containing over ten million ryo.
He opened the bag and a strange look passed over his face. "Why is there an extra million?" he asked, his eyes glinting.
"A bonus, for taking out the 'trash' for us," the staff member replied with a smile. "Our hands are tied by the rules, so we have to rely on professionals like you."
"Heh. Interesting," Kakuzu chuckled, then turned and left the room.
"Alright, listen up. We take him down, and we split the money based on who does the most work. Agreed?"
A group of them were following Kakuzu from a distance, plotting how to divide the spoils while simultaneously keeping a wary eye on each other. It was the way of their world. Today's "ally" could be tomorrow's enemy.
After a brief discussion, they all agreed. The target was a fat sheep. There would be more than enough to go around.
Blinded by greed, they had no idea of the monster they were about to face. They had no idea that their every move was being watched.
Who was the hunter, and who was the lamb, was yet to be seen.
Kakuzu walked slowly through the forest, seemingly oblivious to the danger that was closing in on him. To the men hidden in the trees above, he was a walking collection of fatal flaws.
But their years of experience told them that a man who appeared so careless was often the most dangerous. For a moment, no one dared to make a move.
But they couldn't wait forever. They exchanged a look, preparing to strike.
And then, the unexpected happened.
The figure of Kakuzu suddenly dissolved into a spray of water and vanished.
A water clone! When did he...? The lead ninja, his instincts screaming at him, leaped to the side.
The moment he moved, Kakuzu's real body appeared in the spot he had just vacated.
"Good reflexes," Kakuzu said with a chuckle. "But not good enough."
He raised his arm, and a mass of black threads shot out from his sleeve, piercing through the ninja's heart.
"Argh!"
The man looked down in horror as his own heart was ripped from his chest. With a final, agonized scream, he died.
The brutal, bloody scene shattered the courage of the remaining hunters. The roles of predator and prey were instantly, violently reversed. They finally understood the immense gap in their strength.
They turned and fled.
"...Fools. To think they could target me," Kakuzu scoffed. He created several water clones and sent them after the fleeing ninja. He then turned and walked slowly toward a nearby bush.
"Filthy rat. How long do you plan to hide?" he said to the seemingly empty space.
The figure hidden in the bush trembled, then, with a deep breath, slowly emerged. It was one of Kyosuke's secret clan guards. I've been discovered... I have to stall for time.
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