Inside the Hidden Waterfall Village.
The Takikage (Leader of the Waterfall) paced back and forth, restless.
"Why hasn't my son returned yet... If the wine is heated any longer, it will evaporate... Did something... happen to him?" The Takikage worried.
The Takikage's assistant, seeing his leader's anxiety, tried to comfort him:
"Rest assured, Lord Takikage! Lord Kakuzu is extraordinarily skilled. Even if he encounters danger, he can retreat safely!"
The Takikage looked at the assistant but didn't speak. Internally, he thought:
What is wrong with me? At first, I wanted to use this mission to get rid of him. Why am I so worried about him now? I... must be sick...
At this moment, the Takikage was struggling internally. He didn't understand what kind of feeling he had for Kakuzu... perhaps it was fatherly love...
The three Waterfall ninjas stood to the side, whispering amongst themselves, afraid to speak loudly.
"Do you think Lord Kakuzu is dead?"
Another ninja whispered back:
"How is that possible? I saw that Hashirama Senju, he looked like he had no strength at all! Lord Kakuzu couldn't have died at his hands!"
The third ninja replied calmly:
"Is it possible... there are other experts in their village?"
The other two looked at him.
"Is it possible that Konoha has another master protecting the Hokage at all times? Lord Kakuzu might have been captured immediately upon arrival... I fear... he might already be dead..."
The other two fell silent.
Hearing the Waterfall Jonin speak about his adopted son like that, the Takikage instantly drew the sword at his waist.
Slash!
The gossiping ninja died instantly.
The Takikage's eyes were bloodshot. He panted heavily and roared:
"I dare anyone to speak ill of My Son! My son Kakuzu is invincible! That Hokage is nothing! If anyone dares spread rumors again, I will cut them down myself!"
The Takikage looked like a madman. Perhaps because he was old and childless, the sudden acquisition of an "adopted son" caused an overflow of paternal love...
---
On the road back to the Waterfall Village.
Kakuzu was marching.
"Old bastard! Wait until I come to take your dog life! And those three dogs, I will kill them all!"
Suddenly, Black Zetsu emerged from the ground.
"How was it? Kakuzu? Did it go well? Did you kill the First Hokage and that Uzumaki Mizuna?"
Seeing this pitch-black thing, Kakuzu's anger flared.
"You dog! Why didn't you tell me the First Hokage was that strong! And that Uzumaki brat! His bodyguards were insanely strong too! They beat me so hard I almost went bald!"
Hearing this, Black Zetsu got angry too.
"You weren't strong enough? Then why did you accept the mission! That was money I earned from picking up scrap metal for ages! And I just gave it to a beast like you? Cut the crap! Refund my money!"
Hearing that his money was spent and the job wasn't done, Black Zetsu jumped three feet in the air, demanding a refund.
But who is Kakuzu? A talent who can split one Ryo into 64 pieces to spend! Money that enters his pocket never comes out!
"Are you joking? Mud Spirit! I have urgent business. Get out of my way if you don't want to die! Or I'll sacrifice you to the heavens first!"
Black Zetsu was stunned.
"Oho? You think you're in the right? I gave you money to do a job, you didn't do it, and you're acting righteous?"
Black Zetsu slapped the ground and summoned a massive number of White Zetsu clones.
"Boys! Get the money back! And beat him up while you're at it!"
The White Zetsus charged immediately.
Kakuzu saw them and grinned.
"Oho? Delivering hearts to me? I was just worrying about being short on hearts!"
He charged in and fought the army of White Zetsus.
Seeing how fierce Kakuzu was, Black Zetsu decided to flee. Before running, he shouted:
"You dog! Just you wait! I'll make you spit that money out eventually!"
Kakuzu saw Black Zetsu running and tried to grab him, but missed.
"You run fast!"
Kakuzu cursed. He looked behind him at the corpses of the White Zetsus, whose chests he had ripped open. He fell into deep thought.
"Are these things... human? Why don't they have hearts... They're like play-doh. Is this some kind of Clay Jutsu... Does that kind of Jutsu exist?"
Kakuzu stopped thinking about it and continued walking toward the Waterfall Village.
---
Back at the Waterfall Village Office.
The Takikage sat in his chair, expressionless. If he hadn't just chopped a ninja to death, everyone would think he was a statue.
Suddenly, a ninja ran in shouting:
"Ka... Lord Kakuzu has returned!"
The Takikage stood up immediately.
"My son has returned in triumph? Quick! Welcome him!"
The ninja shook his head frantically, wanting to say something, but his body froze and he collapsed.
Behind him came a voice:
"No need... I'm here!"
The Takikage smiled so wide his teeth showed.
"Wonderful! My son has returned safely! Are you injured, my son?"
Kakuzu shook his head.
"Then... did you assassinate the First Hokage?"
Kakuzu shook his head silently again.
The Takikage laughed awkwardly.
"No matter~ No matter~ As long as you are safe, my son!"
Kakuzu scanned the room. He noticed that one of the three ninjas was already dead. His corpse lay next to the other two.
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes and spoke:
"Old bastard! I have something to say to you!"
The Takikage was confused.
Didn't he call me Foster Father yesterday? Why 'Old Bastard' today?
But he ignored it and asked:
"What is it, my son?"
Hearing him still calling him "son" made Kakuzu furious.
"Silence! I am a dignified warrior! How could I be your adopted son!" (Note: Lu Bu vibe intensifies).
The Takikage was shocked. He walked closer, trying to put his hands on Kakuzu's shoulders, but Kakuzu slapped them away.
The Takikage asked painfully:
"Kakuzu! Why has your heart changed?!"
Kakuzu didn't waste words. He stabbed the Takikage right in the kidney.
He said ruthlessly:
"None of your business!"
The Takikage's eyes widened as he collapsed.
The three people behind (Assistant + 2 Ninjas) were sweating bullets witnessing this.
The Assistant shouted:
"Kakuzu! You! How dare you!"
Before he could finish, a large hole appeared in his chest.
Kakuzu installed the heart into himself and scanned the room.
"Perfect~ The hearts correspond to different Chakra natures!"
He slaughtered the remaining two Waterfall Jonin instantly. Before they could react, holes appeared in their chests.
After installing those two hearts as well, Kakuzu looked at the Takikage lying by the door.
"Your turn..."
The Takikage's body twitched. Yes, he wasn't dead yet.
He turned over with difficulty.
"Why... Why?! Kakuzu, my son! WHY?!"
He roared with the last of his strength.
Kakuzu didn't answer. He walked quietly up to him.
He squatted down and slowly leaned close to the Takikage's ear.
"They gave me too much..." (Note: The Godfather / Betrayal meme).
The Takikage's eyes widened—not from the shock of the news, but because a hand had just pierced his chest.
Kakuzu installed the final heart into his body and slowly walked out of the office.
He looked back one last time and sighed:
"Sigh... I had no choice..."
---
The next day, news of Kakuzu defecting from the Hidden Waterfall Village spread across the Ninja World.
However, the villagers of the Waterfall didn't blame Kakuzu. Instead, they thanked him.
"If it weren't for Lord Kakuzu! We would still be oppressed by that unscrupulous Takikage!"
The Hidden Waterfall Village elected a new, qualified leader. The only problem was... the village was now significantly poorer.
The reason? Kakuzu had cleaned out the entire village treasury before leaving...
---
Konoha.
Mizuna looked at the newspaper in his hand, speechless.
Standing in front of him was Kakuzu, carrying a massive sack of money.
Mizuna: "......"
......