Kakuzu couldn't possibly play both sides. The moment he stepped into Hidden Rain Village, Madara would put a leash on him.
He was a man from the Warring States Period, and he understood the personalities of Hashirama and Madara too well.
If Takigakure had sent Kakuzu to assassinate Madara back then, Kakuzu might have defected on the spot.
Because Madara was ruthless and merciless; in his eyes, human lives were less than dust.
He was a Asura, a malevolent god who brought slaughter and war.
Hashirama, on the other hand, was a benevolent god. During the first Five Kage Summit, Hashirama directly bowed his head to the Kage of the other Shinobi Villages.
If one had to choose a partner between Hashirama and Madara, the vast majority would choose Hashirama.
Only a lunatic would choose Madara as a teammate.
Kakuzu survived assassinating Hashirama not because he escaped quickly, but because Hashirama was benevolent.
In the original work, after the Infinite Tsukuyomi was activated, Tobirama wanted to reanimate Madara to clarify the situation, but Hashirama worried that reanimation would consume lives.
In such a critical situation, Hashirama was still cherishing human lives. How benevolent was he?
Hashirama's greatest act of killing was probably personally backstabbing his own partner, meaning he killed Madara at the Valley of the End for Konoha.
He lived in guilt ever since, never using Ninjutsu again until the day he died.
All successive Asura reincarnations are great philanthropists.
Kakuzu's way of acting was just like Madara's, but he would still choose Hashirama as a partner.
He hated betrayal, and money would not betray him. As long as Konoha's interests were not touched, Hashirama likely wouldn't target him either.
Jiraiya was off to the side, writing his NTR book, occasionally glancing at Kakuzu.
Jiraiya once thought Ryou's immortality technique would be a unique Ninjutsu in the Shinobi World, but after seeing Kakuzu, he realized.
Ryou was not special.
The Shinobi World had all sorts of eccentric people: bridge blockers, body snatchers, blade runners, bag thieves... every kind of divine person!
By the way, how did Kakuzu survive from the Warring States era until now?
Jiraiya was curious for a moment, then immediately extinguished his curiosity.
If Orochimaru were here, he would undoubtedly get to the bottom of it, determined to obtain Kakuzu's immortality technique no matter what.
But Jiraiya suppressed his desires well.
Thinking of Orochimaru, Jiraiya's pen paused.
Is Orochimaru really dead?
Ryou said he wasn't dead, and Jiraiya also didn't believe someone like Orochimaru would die so easily.
But if Orochimaru isn't dead, why hasn't he appeared?
Was his Shinobi heart completely crushed by Madara?
After Utatane Koharu finished playing the bad cop, the Third Hokage prepared to play the good cop.
"Koharu, how can you speak to Senior Kakuzu in such a tone?"
"Senior Kakuzu, I apologize. Koharu has been a bit irritable lately, and her words were a bit harsh."
Kakuzu nodded, not minding Utatane Koharu's disrespectful tone towards an elder.
He was now just thinking about Konoha giving him more.
The Third Hokage said, "Senior Kakuzu, don't worry! Our Land of Fire is the wealthiest of the Five Great Nations, and Konoha's budget has always been top-tier among the Five Great Shinobi Villages."
"Senior Kakuzu, just name your price, and Konoha will surely satisfy you."
Kakuzu didn't waste words and named a price: "One hundred million Ryo!"
(´⊙ω⊙`).
Huh! You really did just name any price, didn't you?!
Jiraiya, close the door, release Danzo!
...
Third Training Ground.
Minato's Squad was here, practicing Ninjutsu, preparing for the upcoming major battle.
Kakashi assisted Obito in training Chidori, while Rin tested some functions of the White Zetsu for Minato.
Kushina sealed a White Zetsu into Minato's right arm, allowing Minato to regenerate a new arm from it.
The new arm was just like the original, without any White Zetsu characteristics.
Minato only gained the special abilities of the White Zetsu by unsealing and activating the White Zetsu in his arm.
It was similar to borrowing power from a Tailed Beast.
After a few days of interaction, Minato had already tamed the White Zetsu within him.
Because the seal cut off the clone's connection to its main body, the White Zetsu clones inside Minato became like a headless fly, and Minato took the opportunity to tame it.
Just like taming cats and dogs.
Minato and Rin experimented and discovered some of the White Zetsu's abilities.
It could absorb chakra, merge with the surrounding environment, burrow into the earth, and its chakra could autonomously heal injuries after being wounded...
One could say that Minato had put on a biological armor designed for Shinobi combat.
Using the White Zetsu seal, Minato felt every blade of grass and every tree in the forest.
He felt as if he had merged with his surroundings, which would make his Sage Mode training twice as effective.
"No wonder Ryou could defeat Senior Jiraiya; it turns out he possesses such miraculous power."
Rin asked curiously, "Minato-sensei, can you use Wood Release?"
Minato shook his head: "No, the White Zetsu inside me inherited the First Hokage's auxiliary abilities, not his techniques."
He could perform it, but it was just a few vines, a piece of wood; it couldn't evolve into a technique, still very far from true Wood Release.
In the original work, if Tobi knew Wood Release, he wouldn't have needed to possess Yamato directly.
White Zetsu only inherited the auxiliary aspects of Hashirama cells, while the Wood Release technique was inherited by Yamato.
Rin was a little disappointed.
But Minato was very happy: "Even so, I've become much stronger. Next time I face Uchiha Madara, I won't be so helpless."
Shinobi are squishy, and it's easy to lose limbs in battle.
With the White Zetsu seal, Minato could be more aggressive in future battles.
Suddenly, Gamabunta appeared on Minato's shoulder.
"Minato, it's time for you to go to Mount Myōboku for training."
If Minato wanted to advance his strength further, he could only look to Sage Mode, because his Flying Thunder God Technique had reached its limit.
Minato's speed was not an issue; what he lacked was offensive power, the offensive power to deal with Madara and Ryou.
Conventional Ninjutsu certainly wouldn't work against Wood Release and Sharingan, so he could only find a solution in Sage Mode.
Minato's Sage Mode could be activated instantly and was much more perfect than Jiraiya's. What more training did he need?
Fusion with the two Toad Sages.
Yes, just like Jiraiya's Sage Mode combination with Fukasaku and Shima.
Minato's Sage Mode required him to absorb natural energy beforehand to create Senjutsu chakra; he couldn't fight and borrow the power of heaven and earth at the same time during battle.
That's fantasy, this is Shinobi!
Moreover, natural energy is very dangerous; if not balanced well during battle, one could turn into a stone frog.
Jiraiya's method was to have the two Toad Sages stand on his shoulders, and they would create Senjutsu chakra for him.
This way, he would have a continuous supply of Senjutsu chakra to use.
Furthermore, the two Great Toad Sages were first-rate helpers who could directly participate in battle.
Jiraiya's strongest Ninjutsu, Senjutsu: Goemon, could not be performed without Fukasaku and Shima's wind and fire.
Jiraiya, with the assistance of two Sages, still lost to Ryou not because the two Sages were weak, but because Jiraiya was too useless.
Ryou's Ninjutsu basically overpowered Jiraiya.