"Kakuzu-sama, you've finally returned… I… I managed to protect the laboratory…" Hanabusa lay on the hospital bed, her face pale. A stream of blood trickled from the corner of her lips, staining the white sheets crimson.
Gripping her trembling hand, Kakuzu bowed his head slightly. The injuries Hanabusa sustained were too severe. Her pulse told him everything—her life was nearing its end.
"Don't speak… Everything… everything…" Kakuzu started, but the words caught in his throat. How could he offer comfort when every word felt meaningless?
Hanabusa noticed his silence and offered a faint, bittersweet smile. She understood her condition and the turmoil Kakuzu must be feeling. Even with his iron will, Kakuzu wasn't one to speak hollow words, especially in moments like these.
"Kakuzu-sama… It's enough that I could see you one last time… After I'm gone… please… take care of yourself… If there's a next life…" Hanabusa's voice faded, her final words left unfinished. Her hand in his went limp, her once-bright eyes losing their luster.
There was no dramatic farewell, only a quiet passing.
Hanabusa, the first woman to hold a place in Kakuzu's heart, was gone.
The others standing nearby—Heisei Rokuno and his team—bowed their heads in silence, the weight of loss settling heavily on the room.
Later, Kakuzu personally led the burial of Hanabusa on the highest peak overlooking White Tree Town. From there, one could see the entirety of the settlement below. It was the perfect resting place for someone who had cherished this land.
In the ninja world, steeped in bloodshed and flames of conflict, death was a constant. Loss had become a cruel norm. Yet, no matter how much they hardened their hearts, the deaths of companions and loved ones left scars that hatred alone could not erase.
For Kakuzu, the culprits behind Hanabusa's death—Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure—had to pay.
...
Two Days Later
Sunagakure Encampment Outside White Tree Town
"Saemon-sama, our patrol teams—twenty squads in total—have been attacked. The losses are catastrophic…" The commander's voice was heavy. "If this continues, morale will plummet."
In just two days, Sunagakure had lost seventy-six shinobi, from genin to jonin. All had been killed in the same brutal manner: a single strike to the chest, leaving no survivors. The precision and ruthlessness of the attacks had sown unease within the ranks.
Commander Saemon frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on the map spread out before him. The situation was spiraling out of control. What had begun as a simple plan to use White Tree Town as a staging ground for a surprise assault on Iwagakure had turned into a full-blown conflict.
The commander of Iwagakure's forces, "Kari," had seen through Sunagakure's intentions, countering with overwhelming force. Thousands of Iwa-nin had clashed with Saemon's troops in White Tree Town, drawing the attention of Konoha, whose forces had also mobilized.
Now, White Tree Town had become a three-way battlefield.
Saemon's initial strategy of dividing and conquering had backfired spectacularly. Rather than retreat and risk demoralizing his troops, he opted for a stalemate, hoping to exploit the growing tensions between Konoha and Iwagakure. If they fought each other into exhaustion, Sunagakure might emerge victorious.
But before this plan could take shape, their patrol squads were annihilated.
"Kakuzu…" Saemon murmured the name, his expression darkening.
As a rising leader of Sunagakure, Saemon was no stranger to the legendary bounty hunter's reputation. Tales of Kakuzu's exploits spanned decades, from his assassination of the First Water Mizukage to his current standing as a shadowy figure in the black market. His bounty had reached an astronomical 80 million ryo, cementing his status as an S-rank threat—a shinobi of Kage-level power.
Saemon had initially hoped to claim Kakuzu's laboratory for Sunagakure, only to discover too late that it belonged to the man himself. Now, Kakuzu's retaliation was in full swing.
That evening, Sunagakure sent emissaries to negotiate.
Though Heisei Rokuno and the others bristled with anger, blades drawn and ready to cut the messengers down, Kakuzu stopped them with a simple gesture.
"Not yet," he said coldly, his gaze distant but calculating.
"Do you think killing an ordinary shinobi from Sunagakure is useful?" Kakuzu had bigger goals in mind. His reply to the Sunagakure messenger was straightforward: Kakuzu himself would meet with Hatada Saemon at noon the next day.
The next day arrived quickly. For safety, Saemon chose a secluded forest as the meeting point. He waited at the location for about five minutes before a figure appeared in the distance, moving at an unhurried pace.
When Kakuzu finally arrived, the two men stood face to face. Hatada Saemon gave Kakuzu a quick once-over before speaking.
"It's an honor to meet you, Kakuzu-sama," he said, maintaining the respect expected of a younger shinobi addressing a senior.
Kakuzu, however, remained calm and indifferent.
"I dislike wasting time. Get to the point," he said curtly.
Since Kakuzu had no interest in pleasantries, Saemon got straight to business.
"Kakuzu-sama, the attack on your laboratory was purely accidental. It was not our intention. The ones who launched the full-scale assault against your people were from Iwagakure, not Sunagakure."
Hatada Saemon paused, then continued with measured words.
"I can assure you that Sunagakure has no intention of encroaching on your territory again. As for the damages caused, I'm willing to take full responsibility on behalf of Sunagakure. We hope you'll cease targeting our shinobi."
The price Hatada Saemon offered was quite specific: 80 million ryo, an amount equal to Kakuzu's bounty in the black market. He believed this sum would sufficiently compensate Kakuzu.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Kakuzu's lips. If this offer had come at another time, he might have accepted it readily. But the death of Hanabusa had made it impossible for him to simply move on.
"The raid on White Tree Town—it must have been ordered by your Kazekage, wasn't it?" Kakuzu's question caused Hatada Saemon to frown slightly, though he didn't respond.
"Ah, I see," Kakuzu said, his tone sharpening. "That's the answer, isn't it? In that case, ask your Kazekage to offer his life as compensation."
Hatada Saemon's expression hardened. He had been raised to revere the Kazekage as the pillar of Sunagakure. Kakuzu's demand crossed the line.
"Kakuzu-sama," Hatada Saemon began, his voice steady but firm. "I respect you as a senior, which is why I agreed to this meeting. But don't mistake my respect for weakness. If you insist on making unreasonable demands, don't blame me for what happens next."
"Heh…" Kakuzu chuckled, his gaze cold. "What an arrogant little upstart."
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Read more than +100 chapters and support me on Patreon
Patreon(.)com/Jixo