Inside a factory in Konoha.
Mizuna was discussing something with the workers.
"This is the cigarette production process and the spice formula. You guys must produce this cigarette. I need to use it for a wedding in a few days," Mizuna said.
The workers guaranteed immediately:
"Don't worry, Little Boss! Mission accomplished!"
"That's right! Little Boss treats us well, we'll work overtime to make it!"
"I'm with him!"
Everyone vowed solemnly.
Mizuna nodded in satisfaction.
Speaking of the factory, Mizuna had asked Tobirama to acquire this large warehouse the day after he drew the cigarette production method.
The workers were mostly commoners or ninjas who were too injured to do missions.
Mizuna had inadvertently done a good deed...
On his way home, Mizuna was suddenly pulled into an alley by a hand.
Mizuna instantly drew the Thousand Demon Daggers and pointed it at the person.
"Who are you! What are you doing in Konoha? Are you trying to kill me again?"
Seeing Mizuna's extreme reaction, the person took off his headscarf.
"Boss... it's me... Kakuzu!"
Mizuna looked closely at the tanned man in front of him and said seriously:
"You're Kakuzu? Stop joking! Kakuzu is a bit dark, but not as dark as you!"
Mizuna leaned in closer to examine him and mocked:
"You're from the Cloud Village, right? You're black as charcoal! Speak! How do you know about me and Kakuzu! What happened to Kakuzu?"
Mizuna pressed the blade forward, right against "Kakuzu's" neck.
Kakuzu looked at his boss holding a blade to his throat, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Boss... do... do you really not recognize me?"
Seeing him act like this, Mizuna got angry.
"Shut up! Crying like a baby... are you a man? A man! Is either a man! Or a woman! If you keep acting like this, I'll cut you!" (Note: Reference to nonsensical/tautological memes).
Hearing this, Kakuzu looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle and said:
"You should do it... I deserve to die... Once, there was a sincere fatherly love in front of me... I didn't cherish it... I only regretted it after losing it..." (Note: A Chinese Odyssey parody again).
Mizuna froze.
Holy sht? It really seems like Kakuzu...
Kakuzu was talking to himself. Even after Mizuna moved the blade away, he kept acting.
"The greatest pain in the world is this... If Heaven gave me another chance... I would say three words to my Foster Father..."
Kakuzu turned his body away, still looking at the sky.
Mizuna crossed his arms and watched him perform.
"Always taking from you, but never saying thank you~ Time! Time! OUCH!" (Note: Father song lyrics).
Just as Kakuzu was about to hit the high note, Mizuna kicked him flying.
"Time, time, time your head! I know it's you. Why are you back?"
Kakuzu stood up, clutching his waist.
"That kick knocked my kidney out. This won't end without 500 Ryo." Kakuzu obviously wanted to scam some money.
"Asking for only 500... you really have no ambition..."
Mizuna fished out 1,000 Ryo from his pocket and threw it to Kakuzu.
Kakuzu used Body Flicker to catch it instantly.
Mizuna was speechless.
"Didn't I knock your kidney out? That reaction doesn't look like it."
Kakuzu held the crisp banknote to his nose and inhaled deeply.
"Ohh~~ That's the smell! Authentic!" .
After stuffing the money into his red underwear, Kakuzu dropped the joking facade and began his duties as a merchant.
"Boss... you were right. There are indeed a lot of smokers in the Stone Village. Sales went very smoothly. They even gave the cigarette a name: Liqun."
Mizuna paused.
"Liqun? That's what I named it originally."
Kakuzu paused.
"You didn't tell me?"
Mizuna paused.
"You didn't ask?"
The two fell into silence for a moment.
Kakuzu suddenly remembered something.
"Boss, you said this cigarette? Are there others?"
"Yeah," Mizuna answered without thinking.
Kakuzu was pleasantly surprised.
"What are they called and what's the price?"
Mizuna thought for a moment and said:
"Currently, there are also Big Cloud (Da Yun) and Lotus (He Hua), selling for 23 Ryo and 45 Ryo respectively. Oh right! There's another one in development, I haven't priced it yet, not planning mass production right now."
Kakuzu's eyes lit up.
"Holy crap! How much profit would we make exporting these to other villages?"
Mizuna knew Kakuzu had hidden intentions.
Kakuzu continued:
"So Boss, can you supply me with some stock? Liqun is selling very well over there, supply can't keep up with demand."
Mizuna smiled.
"Sure! But Kakuzu, did you forget something?"
Kakuzu broke into a cold sweat.
"Wh... what? Boss, I don't understand what you're saying?"
Seeing Kakuzu act dumb, Mizuna understood his plan.
"Splitting the money, obviously. You sold a lot, right? And judging by your words, you raised the price for export, didn't you? According to our agreement, 3.5 to 6.5 split. Pay up."
Kakuzu was instantly unhappy.
"Boss! Let's be honest here. I sold them because I have the ability to sell them. That has nothing to do with you, right?"
Mizuna's eye twitched.
"F? Excuse me? Didn't I give you the goods?"
Kakuzu crossed his arms and said seriously:
"You supplied the goods, but I sold them. Does that have anything to do with you?"
Mizuna laughed in disbelief.
"So you're saying, you take goods from me, sell them to other villages, keep all the money, and you don't have to split it with me?"
Kakuzu said righteously:
"Exactly. And you also have to give me a share of the money from the cigarettes sold inside Konoha, according to our previous agreement."
Veins popped on Mizuna's forehead.
"What does me selling in the village have to do with you?"
Kakuzu smiled.
"I helped you sell them! Didn't we agree to split the money from all cigarettes sold? Boss, don't break your promise! Otherwise, you know my methods~"
Kakuzu hadn't seen Mizuna fight on the day of the assassination. He only got gang-beaten by Mito and Tobirama while Mizuna watched. Kakuzu thought he could crush this kid with one hand.
Mizuna looked at Kakuzu coldly.
"So, I supply you for free, you keep the export money, and I have to give you a share of my domestic sales too?"
Kakuzu grinned.
"Aiyaya! My Boss is so smart! So hurry up and give me the goods, and the money while you're at it."
Mizuna looked at Kakuzu, who was acting like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water (shameless). The fire in his heart ignited bit by bit.
"Good... Good! Kakuzu! Hahaha! You really are good!"
Seeing Mizuna laugh, Kakuzu laughed too.
"Hahaha, you flatter me! Boss, you're great too!"
Suddenly, Mizuna punched Kakuzu in the face, sending him flying.
Kakuzu smashed through several walls before stopping.
He crashed next to a trash can, feeling the intense pain on his face. He still didn't understand what happened.
"It... it hurts!"
Mizuna was walking toward him, step by step.
To Kakuzu, every step Mizuna took felt like he was stepping on Kakuzu's life.
"Wait... Wait! Boss, I was wrong! I won't do it again!"
Mizuna walked up to Kakuzu and grabbed him by the collar.
"Kakuzu... guess if I'm going to hit you with my left hand or my right hand? You have two chances. If you guess right, I'll let you go."
Kakuzu was terrified.
"Right hand?"
Mizuna didn't react.
Kakuzu guessed again.
"L... Left hand?"
Mizuna still didn't react.
Kakuzu exploded.
"You're just not giving me a way to live! There's no correct answer!"
Mizuna spoke slowly:
"It's both hands..."
Kakuzu froze. In that split second, he was tossed into the air. Mizuna's fists rained down like a storm.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!!!" (Note: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure / Star Platinum rush).
After a long combo, Mizuna delivered the final punch.
Kakuzu flew to the wall like a kite with a broken string.
The villagers around them—eating, playing, chatting—fell silent as if time had stopped.
Villagers: "......"
......