chapter 122 part 3
Once upon a time, Hidan's biggest weakness was his crude Taijutsu and terrible combat skills. Now that he had compensated for this weakness and enhanced his mobility with Spatial Rift Jutsu, he would undoubtedly become an enemy's nightmare.
Shizune consoled him, "There's no need to feel regret about this. After all, we don't have the aptitude to learn Corpse Release Secret Technique. Rashly attempting it might kill us."
"I know. Although I had expected it, I still can't help but feel regret... Shizune, our Squad is essentially dissolved, isn't it? Hidan is already a Jonin; there's no need for him to team up with the two of us. Sensei's position in the Village is also quite difficult," Hyuga Takashi said calmly.
Shizune was silent for a moment: "Ah, that's probably how it is. It was bound to happen sooner or later. However, I'm already quite satisfied with being able to learn so much Medical Ninjutsu from Sensei."
Hyuga Takashi observed Shizune, realizing that it seemed only he had truly come with a Mission—the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu. If Tsukasa Kaede genuinely decided to use this Jutsu to resurrect his comrades in the future, that would be his true Mission.
...
Kakuzu appeared at a Bounty Office within the Land of Fire. His expression wasn't particularly pleasant.
"Hmph, Karura, the Magnet Release Ninja from the Hidden Sand Village, sold for twenty-three million Ryo. Barely acceptable, I suppose."
If he could earn this much money at any other time, he would actually be quite happy. But not now. He had gone to the Hidden Sand Village, participated in the siege against it, and ended up with such a paltry Bounty.
"Oh, Lord Kakuzu, there's nothing that can be done. The Hidden Sand Village is a Great Ninja Village after all. Although it's declined now, its Ninja population is still enormous. To kill a Ninja like that and escape completely unscathed is already remarkable."
"Don't console me with such boring rhetoric. I don't need it."
Kakuzu didn't appreciate it at all. He watched as the Bounty Office manager in front of him chopped off Karura's head.
"Why go through all this trouble?"
"There's no choice. You must know about Zombies, right? That esteemed person's Corpse Release Secret Technique has made everyone in our line of work anxious. So, we have no choice but to cut off the heads; otherwise, the losses would be immense."
The manager, looking kind-hearted and beaming, explained: "Just imagine, if you just delivered a Corpse, and we paid you the Bounty, then that Corpse suddenly got up and walked away on its own, what would we do?"
"Hmph, sounds interesting... even if the Corpse did run off, that's your problem. I just need to get my money. Of course, you could also hire me on the spot to retrieve the Corpse, and then I'd get double the pay."
At the mention of money, Kakuzu's eyes lit up, thinking this was a good method.
The manager smiled wryly: "If we did that, the Bounty Office would go out of business. The Nobles from various countries who pay us aren't fools."
However, ever since Tsukasa Kaede's name spread throughout the Ninja World, it had indeed created immense pressure for people in their line of work.
In the past, proving a Bounty Hunter completed a Mission was simple; one only needed to verify the authenticity of the Corpse. But now, that's not enough; the head *must* be severed to be considered proper.
This way, even if the head underwent Corpse Transformation, it wouldn't run off on its own, and it would provide a proper explanation to the employers.
"Too bad, I have a feeling that if I partnered with that Leaf Devourer, I might be able to extract even more money from you guys. But if I squeezed all of you out of business, I wouldn't have a better way to make money either."
Kakuzu hesitated for a moment, then ultimately gave up. He loved money, and throughout his long life, his pursuit of money was a good way to maintain his enthusiasm for the world.
"Well, I'm truly grateful to you then." The manager kept smiling wryly, watching Kakuzu leave the Bounty Office.
Occasionally, other Bounty Hunters would walk in. Upon seeing Kakuzu, they all changed their expressions dramatically, respectfully making way. Carelessly blocking his path would genuinely get them killed.
"Is that the legendary..."
"That's right, it's him. I heard he fought the First Hokage and possesses the ability of immortality!"
"Immortality... I've heard that word so much it's practically calloused my ears. Everyone's saying that Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu isn't just a Resurrection Jutsu, but also potentially an Immortality Jutsu. Who knows if it's true or false."
"Of course it's false. Only when Tsukasa Kaede uses this Jutsu can it possibly be true. Others don't have a huge pile of Corpses to bear the cost of performing a Forbidden Jutsu, so for them, it's all fake."
Corpse Release...
At the mention of this Secret Technique, everyone's face showed an expression of yearning. The Bounty for the Corpse Release Secret Technique on the Bounty List had long reached figures in the hundreds of millions, but everyone knew that a number of that magnitude had lost its meaning; piling on more was useless.
If someone could truly bring the Corpse Release Secret Technique, they would just need to fill in the numbers; they could have as much money as they wanted—provided they weren't intercepted and robbed of the Secret Technique.
Just then.
Boom!
Outside the Bounty Office, a sudden loud explosion erupted.
"What's going on?"
"Who dares to cause trouble in a place like this? Are they looking for death?"
"Lord Kakuzu just walked out, didn't he? Did some blind fool block his path? Even so, Lord Kakuzu wouldn't need to get so angry, would he?"
Indeed, someone had blocked Kakuzu.
The guy stood loosely, appearing full of openings, carrying a large Scythe, tilting his head, and squinting at Kakuzu.
"Who are you? You don't look like someone who's about to pay to hire me."
"Hire? You could say that, I suppose. This should count as a kind of employment, but I don't have any money for you." Hidan scratched his head. He wasn't good with words and didn't know how to negotiate with the person in front of him.
But Tsukasa Kaede's Mission had indeed been issued, so he had to carry it out.
Kakuzu sneered: "Nonsense. You dare appear before me without money? Do you have a death wish?"
"Ah, I definitely want to live, but I can't die, so I'm very troubled. I think you'll be killed by me before I die."
Hidan said impatiently, "Either join me and come with me, or I'll beat you to death! That guy said he needed some help with something, that's why I came looking for you."
(end of chapter)