"By the way, let me tell you something..."
Akihara Kagura straightforwardly revealed his identity to Kakuzu at this time: "I am also a member of the Akatsuki Organization, so I hope you won't be too surprised when you see me in the future..."
"!!!"
A look of shock suddenly appeared in Kakuzu's eyes.
"The reason I'm recruiting you today..."
Akihara Kagura gazed at Kakuzu and spoke softly: "It's because I plan to take over the Akatsuki in the future and become its leader. Mr. Kakuzu, do you understand what I mean?"
"It doesn't matter to me who the leader of the Akatsuki is."
Kakuzu didn't care about such matters and directly expressed his true thoughts: "As long as I can earn more money in the future, I can support you becoming the leader of the Akatsuki..."
"You won't be disappointed."
Akihara Kagura extended his hand.
"That would be great."
Kakuzu reached out and shook Akihara Kagura's hand.
Thus, this deal was made, and Kakuzu and Hidan's trip to the Land of Fire became much safer, as Akihara Kagura could order the Root Ninja under his command to block their information.
Akihara Kagura recalled their journey and took the initiative to ask: "Do the nobles and the Daimyo in the Land of Fire have bounties in the Gold Exchange?"
"Of course they do."
The Akatsuki has assassinated countless nobles over the years.
For other ninjas, assassinating nobles may provoke a country's hostility, but the Akatsuki, in their pursuit of wealth, pays no mind to such hostility.
"You can dispose of these people as you please."
Akihara Kagura extended his hand and left his own Curse Seal on Kakuzu: "If Konoha Ninja attack you, I will send Root Ninja to handle these troubles for you. Whether you fall into the hands of Root or mine, you won't encounter any trouble..."
"I understand."
Kakuzu was more sensible than Hidan.
This ninja, who had been alive for over ninety years, was well aware of the weight of these words.
A powerful figure from Konoha's leadership willing to protect their actions in the Land of Fire meant a significant reduction in the risk of their operations there.
Especially...
This guy is the new generation's God of Ninja.
Even the leader of the Akatsuki was once defeated by him.
Kakuzu felt his future was quite promising. When he heard about Akihara Kagura's plan to go to the Land of Thunder, he provided information about it: "If you're going to the Land of Thunder, you'd better be cautious. We just dealt with the Two-Tails Jinchuriki there, and it may not be very peaceful..."
"Thank you."
Akihara Kagura nodded in gratitude and then asked: "By the way, do you have any evidence of the Hidden Cloud Village colluding with the Akatsuki Organization?"
"..."
Kakuzu thought Akihara Kagura was talking nonsense. They had extracted the Tailed Beast from the Two-Tails Jinchuriki Yugito's body; how could there be any collusion with the Hidden Cloud Village?
"Forget it, I'll find it myself."
Akihara Kagura waved his hand, signaling them to leave.
The group parted ways at that moment, with Kakuzu leading Hidan to the Land of Fire. Under the Hokage Assistant of Konoha's protection, they went to gather intelligence on the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki, while also killing a few nobles to make money; Akihara Kagura continued to head to the Hidden Cloud Village, seeking evidence of collusion between the Akatsuki and the Hidden Cloud Village, despite knowing they were already in a state of enmity.
Akihara Kagura watched Kakuzu and Hidan leave, raising his finger with a slight smile on his lips.
"To the Four Hokages, please inform Lady Tsunade that I have discovered some intelligence about the Akatsuki Organization. Two of its members are about to be active in the Land of Fire..."
Akihara Kagura found it hard to trust Kakuzu based on a verbal agreement, so it was better to let Kakuzu and Hidan fall into his hands first, and then allow Pain or Uchiha Obito to take them back from him, while also completing his own task in the process.
After all...
Kakuzu already knew there was no problem falling into the hands of Root Ninja.
At the same time.
Elsewhere in the Ninja World, things weren't peaceful either.
The Akatsuki's actions were swift. After extracting the One-Tailed Shukaku and the Two-Tails, the recently revived Three-Tails in the Land of Water was immediately on the agenda.
After reporting back to the Akatsuki Hideout, Red Sand Scorpion and Deidara wasted no time in heading to the Land of Water to capture the recently resurrected Three-Tails.
Obviously.
This battle was extremely easy.
The artillery barrels of Hiruko on Red Sand Scorpion unleashed a full assault, quickly taking down the Three-Tails. It took less than five minutes to capture it.
As for other members of the Akatsuki...
Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame went to capture the Four-Tails Jinchuriki; Pain personally handled the captures of the Five-Tails Jinchuriki and Six-Tails Jinchuriki; Uchiha Obito went after the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
Within a short ten-day span.
The entire Ninja World was in turmoil due to the Akatsuki Organization's actions.
In Konoha Village.
Shortly after Akihara Kagura left, there was some unrest within Konoha Village.
Because bad news kept coming from the Land of Fire, where two members of the Akatsuki were active, continuously murdering several nobles, leading the Daimyo to urgently issue a decree to eliminate them.
Fortunately.
As the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, learned in advance about the Akatsuki's two members becoming active in the Land of Fire, she immediately dispatched twenty teams to investigate the identities of these two members, fearing they might cause more significant disasters in the Land of Fire.
Among them, the strongest team was led by Jonin Sarutobi Asuma, accompanied by Nara Shikamaru, Hagane Kotetsu, and Kamizuki Izumo, who finally intercepted these two Akatsuki members at the Gold Exchange.
However...
These two members of the Akatsuki were nonchalantly exchanging the bodies of nobles for money at the Gold Exchange, showing no fear of being intercepted.
"No Root markings..."
Kakuzu glanced at Asuma and the others surrounding them, his eyes flickering slightly: "It seems it doesn't matter if we kill them; that guy Asuma is worth thirty-five million..."
"Alright!"
Hidan decisively raised his scythe!
"They really don't regard people at all..."
Nara Shikamaru frowned, raising his hand to prepare to use shadow techniques to control his opponents, allowing his teacher Sarutobi Asuma to quickly deal with Kakuzu and the others.
However...
Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear suddenly emerged from his body!
In this time for free activities, Kakuzu had already completed replenishing his hearts, and four Earth Grudge Fear threads acted simultaneously, thoroughly overwhelming Asuma's team!
Just as Kakuzu was manipulating his Earth Grudge Fear to release five different jutsu, intending to annihilate this team here!
"Fire Release: Headache!"
"Wind Release: Suppression!"
"Water Release: Water Curtain!"
"Lighting Release: Pseudo-Darkness!"
"Earth Release: Earth Stone Dragon!"
The Five Release Ninjutsu surged toward Sarutobi Asuma's team, and both Sarutobi Asuma and Nara Shikamaru's faces showed a hint of despair!
At the next moment!
A short elderly man appeared in front of them!
This elderly man, with some cracks on his face, quickly performed the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, creating four clones, all of them along with the original body, starting to unleash the Five Release Ninjutsu!
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bomb!"
"Wind Release: Air Vortex!"
"Water Release: Water Rushing Wave!"
"Lighting Release: Thunderous Roar!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bomb!"
The two different sets of Five Release Ninjutsu collided instantly!
Kakuzu realized the disparity between himself and his opponent, and he was shocked as he saw the appearance of that elderly man; his pupils involuntarily widened!
"Wait, that's..."
"Third Hokage!"
Nara Shikamaru shouted joyfully, revealing the identity of the arriving figure!
Sarutobi Asuma was astonished, staring at the elderly man who suddenly appeared to save their team. The cigarette in his mouth dropped to the ground in shock...
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was also Sarutobi Asuma's father.
Even Sarutobi Asuma never imagined that his deceased father, Sarutobi Hiruzen, would appear at the most critical moment to save his life...
"Asuma, are you alright?"
The Reanimated Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, glanced back at his son, then turned to give orders that seemed unfitting of his status, loudly instructing the accompanying Root Ninja: "Arrest these two and take them to Root."