A bounty hunter…
With five hearts?
Ren's mind immediately connected the dots.
Kakuzu.
One half of the so-called "immortal duo" of the Akatsuki.
And now—
Captured alive by Konoha.
…The butterfly effect had truly begun.
Ren had expected it.
Prepared for it.
But when it actually happened—
It still felt surreal.
—
"They say that guy even claimed he fought the First Hokage."
"And that he walked out of Konoha unharmed after trying to assassinate him!"
"Hahaha—!"
"What a joke!"
"Assassinate the First Hokage?!"
The table burst into laughter.
Even the mere idea—
Was ridiculous.
Only Ren didn't laugh.
Because—
It was true.
Well… partially.
Kakuzu had indeed tried to assassinate Hashirama Senju.
Though the details were… exaggerated.
But the result?
He really did survive.
—
Ren decided.
He would meet Kakuzu personally.
A wandering bounty hunter—
Daring to target the Hyuga main family?
Either madness—
Or desperation.
—
The banquet continued.
Drinks flowed.
Ren drank heavily.
Until—
He blacked out.
—
The next day.
Konoha prison.
Kakuzu was bound tightly.
Layers of sealing techniques—
Stacked upon him.
Utterly immobilized.
"Here to kill me?"
"…Then hurry up."
His voice was weak.
Barely conscious.
Starved.
Barely kept alive on soldier pills.
Ren stepped forward.
"I'm not here to kill you."
"You offended the Hyuga, yes."
"But I admire your strength—and your conviction."
"I can speak on your behalf."
"The Hyuga will show leniency."
He removed the seals.
Handed Kakuzu a food box.
Rice.
Meat.
Soup.
Kakuzu didn't hesitate.
Devoured everything.
Like a starving beast.
"You… recruiting me?"
"Bad timing."
"My target was the Hyuga main family."
Kakuzu spoke between bites.
He wasn't hopeful.
Only one person could override the Hyuga—
The Hokage.
Ren smiled faintly.
"I am."
"The Third Hokage."
"…."
Kakuzu finally looked up.
Shock flickered in his eyes.
The Hokage—
Recruiting him?
"…Why me?"
"I'm not some naive rookie anymore."
"I know how this works."
"You want something."
He was cautious.
Experienced.
Cold.
Trust?
Gone long ago.
Only money remained.
Ren didn't deny it.
"What I want…"
"Is your belief."
"I know your past."
"You were ordered by your village to assassinate the First Hokage."
"You failed."
"And were made a scapegoat."
Silence.
Kakuzu froze.
Then—
Laughed.
Bitterly.
"…Impressive intelligence."
"I killed them all."
"My own village's leaders."
"What belief do you think I have?"
Ren met his gaze.
"You love money."
"More than anyone."
"…."
Kakuzu's eyes sharpened.
Now—
He was interested.
Ren smiled.
Hook set.
—
"Konoha will transform."
"Tasks? Missions?"
"Too inefficient."
"Too little profit."
"Food."
"Steel."
"Energy."
"Medicine."
"We will dominate everything."
"Do you understand industrialization?"
Ren began—
Painting a picture.
A massive one.
Billions.
Trillions.
An entirely new world.
Kakuzu listened.
Breathing slowed.
Then quickened.
This…
It was scale beyond imagination.
"…And finance."
"That's where the real money is."
"Faster than printing money."
"Have you heard of iron futures?"
Ren grinned.
"I'm the one behind it."
"…."
Silence.
Then—
Kakuzu's expression changed.
Instantly.
Veins bulged.
"You…"
"You're the one?!"
His entire body trembled.
That market—
Had taken everything from him.
His life savings.
Gone.
Vanished.
"YOU THIEF—DIE!"
He lunged.
Weak.
Slow.
Easily dodged.
Ren blinked.
…What just happened?
The conversation had been going so well.
—
Seals activated again.
Kakuzu restrained.
"You bastard!"
"If you hadn't taken my money—"
"I wouldn't have targeted the Byakugan!"
Ah.
That explained it.
Ren almost laughed.
"…You played futures too?"
"…Ten billion ryo!"
"My entire life's savings!"
"Still holding the contracts—!"
"…I see."
"If you don't sell, you don't lose."
"I'LL KILL YOU—!!"
Kakuzu exploded again.
Ren raised a hand.
"Calm down."
"I gave everyone a chance to profit."
"You got greedy."
"That's on you."
Silence.
Kakuzu froze.
Because—
It was true.
He had won.
Once.
Then—
I chased more.
And lost everything.
Finance—
It was addictive.
Dangerous.
He still remembered that feeling.
That rush.
"…."
Ren leaned forward.
"You understand now."
"What I said isn't empty talk."
"Join me."
"This opportunity—"
"Others would beg for."
Kakuzu went silent.
Thinking.
His options?
Simple.
Die.
Or submit.
…And maybe—
Earn it all back.
Faster.
Bigger.
Better.
Dignity?
Irrelevant.
Money—
Was everything.
"…I pledge loyalty."
Ren smiled.
Satisfied.
The seals were removed again.
"You won't regret this."
"…What about salary?"
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"You think this is mission work?"
"Do you understand currency issuance?"
"Bank interest rates?"
"Exchange rates?"
"…No."
"Then learn."
"I'll give you books."
"Surplus value. Monopoly capital. Variable capital."
"Start there."
"…."
Kakuzu was stunned.
This—
Wasn't ninja work.
"…Will it make money?"
Ren smiled wider.
"Not a lot."
"A lot more than that."
"…Good."
Kakuzu's eyes burned.
Later—
A thought struck him.
"…White Fang."
"That guy…"
"…Is he here?"
Ren nodded.
"You mean Sakumo Hatake?"
"He's in Konoha."
"He made about one hundred million from futures."
"…."
Kakuzu's aura darkened.
"Can I meet him?"
"He helped me… a lot."
"Sure."
Ren didn't notice the killing intent.
That evening.
They met.
Mask or not—
Kakuzu recognized him instantly.
"YOU THIEF—DIE!!!"
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read chapters ahead on Patreon → patreon.com/c/MythArcStudio