Kado Estate.
"Welcome, both of you. It is my honor to have members of the renowned Akatsuki organization, who are famous throughout the ninja world, here at my estate."
"Less nonsense, the commission, the target."
There was no one else in the Akatsuki who could be hired for money other than Kakuzu. After all, with Yahiko's revival and Nagato's brainwashing, the Akatsuki was moving towards becoming a legitimate organization.
Kado clapped his hands, and immediately a subordinate walked over with a briefcase.
"Here is ten million ryo."
Kakuzu did not reply. Instead, he took the briefcase and began counting the money, bill by bill. He was very patient when it came to counting money.
Seeing that Kakuzu had left him to count money, Kado could only smile awkwardly. Although he had a lot of money, he couldn't afford to offend these two big shots. One wrong move and his head could end up on the ground.
"Don't worry, not a single penny will be missing... Heh heh, what do you call this gentleman?"
Hidan, with his slicked-back hair, looked bored. Ever since the leader had been blinded by "love," he hadn't been able to even kill people. He could only vent his physical urges on Orochimaru's operating table every now and then.
"Your great master Hidan, do you want to join the religion?"
Kado saw that Hidan was easy to talk to and smiled, "Can I? If so, I'll cover all the future expenses for our religion!"
Hidan's eyes lit up. He reached out and touched the scythe on his back, grinning, "Joining the religion is fine, you don't need to pay the fees. Our Jashin religion is not short of money."
"What? The Jashin religion!"
Kado exclaimed. Before he could even figure out where he had heard of this religion, a blood-red scythe swung towards him.
Clang.
"The amount is correct."
Kakuzu caught the scythe with one hand, his expression cold. "Where is the target?"
Kado was so terrified that his pants were soaked. He had merely gone along with the other person's words, and he had almost been chopped. Was this how people were recruited into religions these days?
Kado suppressed the wet feeling in his lower body and said with a trembling voice, "In, in a small village in the Land of Waves, but I heard that the old man has hired some ninja to protect him."
"Ninja? You didn't mention that earlier. We need more..."
Seeing the scythe poised to fall above his head, Kado quickly said, "More money! I can pay more!"
Kakuzu's lips curved into a smile under his mask. He removed Hidan's scythe and walked out with the briefcase.
"You will see what you want to see this afternoon."
"Wait, please wait a moment!"
Drip, drip...
Kado took two steps and immediately stopped, cringing, "Please wait a moment, gentlemen. If possible, I'd like to make my move during the bridge construction tomorrow."
"As you wish, but the price doubles."
"Uh... So now..."
Kado watched Kakuzu disappear in a flash of movement. His face turned from pale to green. He violently punched a bodyguard beside him and roared, "Don't you have any eyes? It's all over the floor, go change my pants immediately!"
Outside the estate, Hidan, carrying his giant scythe, looked slightly displeased. "Why did you stop me earlier?"
If it hadn't been Kakuzu who stopped him, if it had been another member of the organization, like...
Kisame! Yes, that shark-man, Hidan would have certainly chopped him into eight pieces!
"He is the client. If we kill him, what about the money?" Kakuzu replied indifferently.
Hidan sneered, "With our strength, why can't we just rob him? All the money goes to you, and I'll send everyone to see Lord Jashin. Wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone!"
Kakuzu stopped walking, his green eyes fixed on Hidan, and said coldly, "Money is my faith. Since I've agreed to this transaction, I will never betray my faith."
Hidan watched Kakuzu's retreating back and muttered, "He's actually so fierce to me just for money. Life with Kakuzu is truly difficult!"
...
"Is this the Land of Waves? It's completely different from what it looks like from afar!"
"Woof woof!"
They had expected the Land of Waves to be a country with foggy weather, but unexpectedly, the scenery on the island was quite beautiful, with lush trees. It looked nothing like what they had seen from the sea.
Tazuna said, "In the eyes of the people of the Land of Waves, this is the most beautiful place. That's why I will never give up and will persist until the very last moment."
"Don't worry, Uncle. With Kiba Inuzuka here, there will be no problem!"
"Kiba, don't speak too confidently. Be careful not to hit a wall," Shino Aburame pushed up his glasses and spoke very directly.
Kiba Inuzuka retorted, "Do you think I'm like Naruto? Dealing with a few low-level ninja should be a piece of cake!"
Not long after, they arrived in front of a two-story wooden house by the sea. Although it was slightly run-down, it was much better than the thatched huts they had seen along the way.
"We're here. This is my home."
Tazuna knocked on the door and called out, "Tsunami, we have guests!"
"Tsunami is my daughter. We only have one empty room left at home. I hope you don't mind,"
Tazuna turned to Kurenai Yuhi and said, "Compared to these three brats and Lin Yu, who doesn't look like a ninja at all, I'd rather trust this mature female ninja."
Kurenai Yuhi politely replied, "Don't worry, Mr. Tazuna. Kiba and Shino are still ninja students. This is a good opportunity for them to train their wilderness survival skills."
Kiba Inuzuka: ??? Did you hear what Teacher Kurenai said? Hinata is also a student, why did she only mention my name and Shino's!
Shino Aburame: Night is the time when insects come out. Sleeping outside will be perfect for catching rare insects. Teacher Kurenai really cares about me!
Tazuna nodded, then his gaze fell on Lin Yu, "And this gentleman..."
Kurenai Yuhi vouched for Lin Yu, "I trust Mr. Lin Yu's character. Don't you agree, Hinata?"
Hinata nodded and softly replied, "Mmm..."
"Teacher? You're her teacher?" Tazuna looked at Lin Yu curiously. This young man looked only in his early twenties. Could he be a Jonin's teacher?
Lin Yu coughed and said, "Well... I am indeed a teacher at the Ninja Academy."
Tazuna asked doubtfully, "What subject do you teach?"
"Physiology!"
...
Soon, night fell. Tsunami, Tazuna's daughter, prepared a rather sumptuous dinner for Lin Yu and the others. It included one meat dish and three vegetable dishes. Compared to the impoverished Land of Waves, this meal was already quite extravagant.
Along the way, Tazuna's grandson, Inari, expressed that their arrival was futile. They wouldn't be able to defeat Gato's subordinates.
This, of course, provoked Kiba's refutation and displeasure.
Lin Yu, on the other hand, was not interested in such matters. He wouldn't make any special effort for a child either. Although his mother, Tsunami, was still charming, he was more looking forward to what "interesting things" Kurenai would show him tonight.
The mature woman of his ideals had been thoroughly spoiled by him. Although she still had that mature face and figure, there was an added hint of sultriness.
It was exactly to his liking!