[Ding! Detection complete! Due to the host's influence, Minato Namikaze was at a disadvantage in his battle against A, causing him to miss an opportunity to showcase his talent. As a reward, +2 Taijutsu has been awarded.]
Kazuyama, who was in the middle of his journey, suddenly felt a wave of confusion.
What was going on? Namikaze was fighting A?
Shouldn't Minato be at the battlefield in the Land of Grass? Why was he in the Land of Hot Water instead? And more importantly—he was at a disadvantage?
Could you blame him? No! Facing that maniac A and still being alive was already a miracle.
Collecting his thoughts, Kazuyama activated his Hive Mind and surveyed his surroundings.
Based on his estimate, he had already entered the range of Iwa's territory.
It didn't take long for his senses to prove him right.
Several figures were rushing in his direction.
The one leading the group had a brown mullet, a somewhat gloomy expression, and radiated a powerful aura.
The moment Kazuyama laid eyes on him, his pupils contracted. He recognized the man instantly.
Iwagakure's Jōnin—Kakkō. One of Iwa's finest, skilled in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu.
But more importantly, it was his tactical prowess—sharpened through years of combat experience—that led to Obito's "death" during the Kannabi Bridge mission in the original story.
Simply put, he was an incredibly dangerous opponent.
"Stop! If you come any closer, I'll have to attack!"
Kakkō narrowed his eyes, doubt flickering across his face.
The person before him looked like Kakuzu—no forehead protector, just ordinary clothes. Something was off.
To make matters more suspicious, he was carrying someone. Judging by the clothing, it was a ninja.
Hearing the warning, Kazuyama slowly came to a halt, his gaze locked onto Kakkō.
Who was Kazuyama Gekkō? An actor of the highest caliber.
At this moment, he had mimicked Kakuzu's appearance and demeanor with 99.9% accuracy—enough to intimidate even an experienced shinobi.
"Hmph, an Iwa ninja? How convenient."
"I have a business proposition for you. I wonder if you'll be interested."
His voice carried a quiet menace, exuding a suppressed power.
Kakkō's wariness heightened instantly.
"Who are you? Why are you here?"
"Me? My name is Kakuzu. I'm a bounty hunter, and your higher-ups in Iwa should know me."
At the mention of that name, Kakkō's eyes widened in shock.
Yes, he had heard of Kakuzu—a powerful mercenary rumored to do anything for money.
"What kind of deal do you want?"
"Here, this is the target of the deal."
Kazuyama smirked slightly and casually tossed Toroi's body onto the ground.
Only then did Kakkō get a clear look at the face of the fallen ninja.
"Kumo Jōnin… Kekkei Genkai user… Magnet Release… Toroi..."
"You actually killed him?"
The Iwa ninjas around them exchanged shocked glances.
"How much is he worth? If the price is right, I might consider trading for something else," Kazuyama continued.
"Such as certain information."
Kakkō steadied his mind, wariness creeping into his gaze as he slowly approached.
"How much do you want?"
"Hmph. The Bounty Station is offering 50 million, but I think that's too low. This is a Kekkei Genkai ninja—surely Iwa isn't that stingy?"
Kazuyama deliberately named the Bounty Station's price, aiming to take the lead in negotiations. As a seasoned rogue, he knew better than to let himself be controlled.
Hearing the mention of the Bounty Station, Kakkō nodded, clearly familiar with it.
"I need to report this to the Tsuchikage."
"How long will that take? My time is valuable."
"Not long. Stay here and wait. You two, keep an eye on him—I'll be back soon."
With that, Kakkō turned and sprinted toward the rear camp.
Kazuyama, however, remained completely unfazed. After all, the one standing before the Iwa shinobi wasn't really him—it was his shadow clone.
He wouldn't risk his own life. Right now, he was watching the whole scene unfold from kilometers away.
"Kazuyama, do you think Iwa will suspect anything?"
"No. I hope he goes straight to Tsuchikage Ōnoki. If it's Ōnoki, he'll definitely recognize Kakuzu."
"Who exactly is this Kakuzu? How can you be so sure that Ōnoki will know him?"
"Hmph. Just an old war dog."
Kakkō wasted no time. Upon arriving at the base camp, he went straight to the communication unit.
"Contact the Tsuchikage immediately. I have critical information."
The ninja in charge looked confused but, seeing Kakkō's serious expression, didn't dare delay. He quickly activated the Iwagakure's unique information transmission jutsu.
Placing his hand on a specially treated rock, the ninja turned back to Kakkō.
"I asked the Tsuchikage if it's true that the bounty hunter Kakuzu has arrived, bringing the body of Kumo Jōnin Toroi in exchange for money."
"He's asking for more than 50 million ryo and claims to have additional information."
As the technique activated, several lines of text appeared on the rock, glowing with a strange yellow light.
"Urgent report—requesting immediate response from Lord Tsuchikage."
This was Iwa's Rock Technique—discreet and uniquely suited to their village.
A reply came swiftly.
"If it really is Kakuzu, agree to his terms. As for the additional information, hear him out first—pay only if it's worthwhile."
It was a simple message, but it immediately gave Kakkō clarity on what to do next.
Far away in Iwagakure, Tsuchikage Ōnoki hovered in the air, holding the stone in his hand. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
"Lord Tsuchikage, do you know this Kakuzu?"
The two ninjas beside him couldn't hide their curiosity.
Ōnoki nodded.
"He was from my generation—very strong. Originally a Takigakure ninja, but he betrayed them for money and became a bounty hunter."
"I hired him before."
"I didn't expect him to still be active during this war… and he even killed a Kumo ninja with a Kekkei Genkai."
"He must have taken on a bounty. Heh… lucky for us the Bounty Station didn't offer enough, or we wouldn't be getting this deal."
"The body of a Magnet Release user will be useful."
Just as Kazuyama had predicted, using Kakuzu's name to mislead Ōnoki had worked.
Ōnoki, who had extensive experience dealing with mercenaries, was certainly familiar with Kakuzu.
"Tell Hibana—once the money is paid, bring Toroi's body back to the village and hand it over to the researchers immediately."
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage."
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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