"Very well, you want to go with me?" Kawakaze asked, taking the paper and pen. His serious tone made it clear this was not mere small talk.
"No need. I'll wait here for you to take me out," Kakuzu replied calmly, not even feigning nervousness. His heart was steady as he casually crossed his legs, already imagining the good times awaiting him once he escaped.
The first thing he planned to do after leaving Konoha was to replace the two hearts he had lost. As for seeking revenge on Kawakaze, the thought barely surfaced before he dismissed it. If possible, Kakuzu wanted nothing more to do with Kawakaze for the rest of his life.
He had heard rumors that the Land of Rain was descending into chaos, becoming a lawless zone—a perfect place to gather wandering ninja.
"Okay, I'll go first then," Kawakaze said, getting up with the Anbu and leaving Kakuzu alone in the interrogation room.
"You guys handle the rest. Don't worry about this place," Kawakaze instructed the two Anbu after stepping out.
"Yes, Lord Kawakaze," they responded, bowing slightly before departing. They showed no concern about Kakuzu escaping. Letting him slip through their fingers would be an absurd notion. After all, Kawakaze wasn't Konoha's only capable fighter.
"Today is a good day," Kawakaze murmured as he tucked the piece of paper with the passwords into his robe. With a swift thought, he disappeared from the spot.
Moments later, Kawakaze reappeared in a shadowy corner of Konoha's bustling commercial street. Taking care not to alarm any passersby, he stepped into the open and headed purposefully toward the banks established by major countries in Konoha.
Fortunately, it was a time of peace, allowing the banks to operate normally. Verifying Kakuzu's passwords would have been a challenge in wartime.
There were three banks in total. Kawakaze decided to start with the Bank of the Land of Earth, the closest of the three.
Before he could enter, a middle-aged man approached him. Though Kawakaze didn't recognize him, the man's deference made it clear he knew who Kawakaze was.
"Lord Kawakaze, it is our honor to have you visit today," the man said respectfully.
The bank manager, originally from the Land of Earth, seemed more awed than respectful. Kawakaze was, after all, the man who had once defeated the Tsuchikage and grown even stronger since. He was not someone to provoke.
"It doesn't matter if it's an honor or not. I'm here to withdraw money," Kawakaze said, showing no interest in small talk with the bank manager, someone he was meeting for the first time.
"Have you ever done business with us?" the bank manager asked, his expression betraying his panic.
In his mind, Kawakaze was undoubtedly wealthy, yet he couldn't recall any prior dealings with him. A troubling thought crossed his mind—could Kawakaze be here to rob the bank? What should he do?
"No," Kawakaze replied with a shake of his head, and the manager's panic visibly deepened.
"Then… what do you want to withdraw?" the manager stammered, his voice trembling as he began weighing whether to save his life or hand over the money. Resistance wasn't even a consideration.
"What kind of person do you take me for?" Kawakaze finally realized why the manager looked so panicked. He couldn't help but feel indignant. Robbery was beneath him.
This was entirely Kakuzu's doing, and the two situations were completely unrelated. With that, he provided the bank manager with the alias Kakuzu had used to save the money.
"I'll check. Please wait," the manager said, quickly wiping nonexistent sweat from his forehead. He instructed his staff to treat Kawakaze well before hurriedly leaving to investigate.
"Bank manager, there is indeed such a person," a woman reported after checking the records. "However, the amount is quite large, and it requires an appointment," she added in a whisper.
"An appointment? Then go and explain it to him!" the manager snapped, glaring at her. Sending this high-profile customer on his way peacefully was now his top priority. Kawakaze Hatake wasn't someone to treat like an ordinary patron.
The woman shook her head vigorously, clearly unwilling to deliver the news herself.
"I hope he knows the password," the manager muttered, resigned to the situation and bracing himself for the worst. Without continuing the argument, he took the transaction stub and headed back out.
"Lord Kawakaze, please verify the password," the manager said cautiously as he approached Kawakaze, careful not to provoke him.
Kawakaze, unable to recall the password, took out the paper and read it aloud.
"Is that correct?" Kawakaze asked after reading the password aloud.
"Yes, yes, I'll arrange for someone to pick it up," the bank manager confirmed, finally relaxing after verifying its accuracy.
"Okay, I'll wait," Kawakaze said, slipping the paper back into his pocket and waiting quietly, showing no intention of supervising the process.
The bank manager, even if given the opportunity, wouldn't dare make any move against Kawakaze.
After a while, the manager returned, carrying a large suitcase.
"Lord Kawakaze, it's all here. Do you want to count it?" he asked, placing the suitcase next to Kawakaze.
"No need. I trust your reputation," Kawakaze replied, his tone polite and he remained utterly unafraid of deception.
"Of course! Our bank values credibility above all else," the manager said, eager to highlight his institution's reliability, though his track record told a different story when dealing with less formidable clients.
"That's good. I'll leave now. You can get back to work," Kawakaze said, picking up the suitcase and walking out.
The manager accompanied him all the way to the street, only turning back after Kawakaze was half a street away.
Kawakaze then visited two other banks, completing similar transactions at each.
When he returned to the Anbu, his Storage Scroll now contained 500 million in cash. Along the way, he took time to buy food as a reward for Kakuzu.
Instead of going to Sakumo's office, Kawakaze headed straight to the interrogation room.
"I've already got the money. Eat something first, and I'll send you out of the village later," Kawakaze said, placing the food in front of Kakuzu.
"Thank you," Kakuzu said. He had been hungry for so long that he didn't bother savoring the taste, devouring the food quickly.
Kawakaze waited silently, and the two didn't exchange any words during the meal.
"I'm full," Kakuzu finally said, wiping his mouth carelessly and letting out a burp. His hunger had been so severe that even the simplest food tasted delicious.
"Let's go. I won't keep you any longer," Kawakaze said with a smirk. "Come again sometime," he joked as he stood to open the interrogation room door.
"I'd rather not come," Kakuzu snorted. It really wasn't worth the trouble. A trip costing 900 million ryō? Who could afford that?
"Haha, fine, don't come then," Kawakaze laughed heartily as he walked out ahead.
Kakuzu didn't respond, keeping his head down as he silently followed Kawakaze. With Kawakaze leading the way, they navigated without issue. Soon, the two of them were outside Anbu headquarters.
Kakuzu paused and glanced back, silently vowing never to return.
"Come on, are you sure you don't want to stay a few more days?" Kawakaze urged, clearly eager to get back to work. Poor Shōta must be drowning in tasks by now.
"I'm going, I'm going," Kakuzu said hurriedly, matching Kawakaze's pace. Staying any longer wasn't an option—the accommodation fees were absurd.
"I won't see you off," Kawakaze said as they reached Konoha's gate, taking the other half of the password Kakuzu had written.
"No need to see me off."
"Until next time."
"No—there won't be a next time."
Without even waving, Kakuzu darted out like an arrow loosed from a bow.
"He's pretty fast," Kawakaze remarked, watching Kakuzu vanish from sight. He signaled to the gatekeeper Ninja to close the door and hoped Kakuzu would enjoy whatever came next.