This guy really knows how to manage things!
Even Uehara Naraku couldn't help but admire. Kakuzu truly deserves to be the financial manager of the Akatsuki. It felt a bit awkward to have taken his place all those years ago...
After all, when Uehara Naraku was an accountant, he only knew how to collect money, whereas Kakuzu was out there earning it for real!
Kakuzu touched his trusty Bounty Manual and said softly, "This time, I got the news that Chiriku, with a bounty of thirty million ryo, is at the Temple of Fire..."
"Hmm."
Uehara Naraku raised his eyebrows and turned to look at Hozuki Mangetsu, "You guys don't seem to have any tasks recently, right? Why not accompany Senior Kakuzu for a trip?"
To be honest, Uehara Naraku was a bit uneasy about Hozuki Mangetsu and Momochi Zabuza; he felt they couldn't protect Kakuzu.
Kaguya Kimimaro and Haku wouldn't be much help either.
The Temple of Fire isn't a place to mess with, especially since it might attract a lot of Konoha Anbu pursuits. Konoha is like a cat curious about the Akatsuki's scent!
Before Hozuki Mangetsu could speak and Uehara Naraku could continue thinking, Kakuzu was already displeased: "Why would they come with me? Going with them would just cost more money!"
Uehara Naraku: "..."
This guy truly values money over his own life!
"What's more important, money or life?"
Uehara Naraku looked at Kakuzu unhappily and said, "The Land of Fire is very dangerous, and Konoha has always been searching for our traces!"
"But didn't you just deal with Konoha Ninja a few days ago?"
Kakuzu snorted coldly, confidently stating, "Of course, money is the most important thing in the world. I have many lives, but making money is very difficult."
Uehara Naraku closed his eyes and sighed, "You have a point, Elder! Then let Mr. Itachi, Kisame, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Ringo Ameyuri accompany you on this trip!"
"Hey, hey, hey, did you not hear what I said? This bunch is useless even if they go. I can handle that Chiriku guy by myself!"
Kakuzu glanced at Uehara Naraku, dissatisfied, "Didn't you just tell Kisame and Itachi to go capture the Three-tailed Beast?"
"I believe the organization's newcomers should be trained a bit."
Uehara Naraku's fingers tensed, and he looked at Uchiha Sasuke, speaking softly, "Uchiha Sasuke, can your Sharingan control the Tailed Beasts?"
"..."
Uchiha Sasuke slowly lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "I can't confirm it, but with my strength, I can easily defeat a Tailed Beast."
"Sasuke can't do it yet!"
Uchiha Itachi spoke coldly, giving Sasuke a huge loss of face.
Ignoring Sasuke's unpleasant expression, Uchiha Itachi continued, "So Uchiha Sasuke should come with me to assist Senior Kakuzu!"
Clang!
Uchiha Sasuke immediately drew his Ninja Blade!
However, in the next moment, Uehara Naraku appeared beside Sasuke, pressing his Ninja Blade back, and said with a light laugh, "It's okay, as long as we are watching, even if Sasuke encounters danger, I can save him."
Uehara Naraku patted Sasuke's shoulder, continuing to smile, "The last time I acted with Uzumaki Naruto, he's gotten really strong now!
I also need to assess the talents in our Akatsuki for the future. After all, Sasuke has been learning in our Akatsuki for three or four years now, right? It can't be that he's still worse than a ninja like Uzumaki Naruto, who grew up in Konoha?
Otherwise, why would I have gone to great lengths to bring you back then? Back then, Itachi was very averse to you joining the Akatsuki, saying you were too weak to be of any use. Do you think you can be useful now?"
As Uehara Naraku spoke, he narrowed his eyes, revealing a gentle smile at Uchiha Sasuke, "I was the one who strongly encouraged you to join the Akatsuki back then; I'll be your examiner in this capture of the Three-tails;
If you pass the exam, I'll apply to Lord Pain to have the idle Ringo Ameyuri become your teammate, allowing you to become an official member of the Akatsuki."
Uehara Naraku's hand landed on Uchiha Sasuke's back again, continuing with a light laugh, "If this time you can't play any role in capturing the Three-tails, and you perform worse than Uzumaki Naruto in my eyes, then I'll have to let Mr. Itachi kill you, to vent his frustration."
Uchiha Itachi: "..."
"Don't worry, I'll catch the Three-tailed Isobu myself to make you acknowledge my power."
Uchiha Sasuke gritted his teeth with hatred, his first thought being to demonstrate enough strength to gain Uehara Naraku's approval.
The next second, Uchiha Sasuke continued in a deep voice, "In the future, when capturing the Nine-Tails, I'll personally capture Uzumaki Naruto! After the Nine-tails is sealed, I'll have a life-and-death battle with Uchiha Itachi, letting you witness my revenge and kill Uchiha Itachi, the one who slaughtered our clan!"
"Very well."
Uehara Naraku clapped lightly, glanced at Uchiha Itachi, and said with a light laugh, "No need to wait until after the Nine-Tails capture, just demonstrate enough strength when capturing the Three-tails, and Lord Pain will agree to your brotherly duel!"
Uehara Naraku stared at Uchiha Itachi's expression, his tightly clenched hands, with a light laugh, "Mr. Itachi, do you have any objections?"
"No."
Uchiha Itachi slowly closed his eyes and shook his head.
Now is not the right time, but Uehara Naraku, relying on Pain as his backer, has taken the initiative. Uchiha Itachi can only agree for now.
Uehara Naraku's gaze swept past Uchiha Itachi, finally landing on Hoshigaki Kisame, whose shark-like face subtly showed a hint of a grin.