Naruto: Kurotsuchi Mayuri

A small white snake slithered out from the shadows, moving swiftly toward the table. It coiled its way up one of the legs before finally appearing in front of Kagetsu.

Noticing its arrival, Kagetsu directed his gaze at the snake. The little creature blinked its beady eyes before its mouth opened unnaturally wide, stretching into an alarming arc. 

From its maw, it regurgitated a palm-sized scroll. Once its task was done, the snake coiled itself neatly on the table, its unblinking eyes fixed on Kagetsu as it awaited further instructions.

Kakuzu, huh? 

Kagetsu recognized the snake as the one used for communicating with Kakuzu. Setting aside the task he had been working on, he performed a specialized hand seal to unlock the scroll's bindings. 

Unrolling it carefully, he began to read through its contents with keen attention.

Kakuzu rarely initiated contact unless something significant had occurred.

As Kagetsu finished reading the information detailed within the scroll, a peculiar expression flashed across his face. 

It seemed he hadn't expected the first meeting between the Akatsuki and Hanzō of the Salamander from Amegakure to end in such a manner.

A probing confrontation, perhaps? 

Kagetsu pondered the events described in the report.

The clash between the two sides was undoubtedly restrained on Hanzō's part. At least, that's what the report suggested.

Hanzō's most fearsome and infamous techniques—his mastery of poisons and his deadly salamander—had not been deployed. After all, once unleashed, the poisons wouldn't distinguish between friend and foe.

The report also detailed Kakuzu's frustrations. He had lost one of his hearts during the skirmish, which ultimately forced Hanzō to withdraw. 

On the bright side, Konan remained unharmed under his protection, though Yahiko and Nagato had both sustained injuries.

Nagato, in particular, had suffered severe backlash after unleashing a power resembling a forbidden technique.

At the end of the report, Kakuzu had explicitly requested a face-to-face meeting with Kagetsu in the near future.

After reading the last line, Kagetsu rolled up the scroll, storing it away as he fell into contemplation. He quickly drafted a reply to Kakuzu and sent it off.

Kagetsu was well aware of why Kakuzu wanted to meet. Losing a heart meant losing a life, and now that Kakuzu was down to a single heart, his combat strength had significantly diminished. 

For someone like Kakuzu, such vulnerability was an unacceptable liability.

Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear, forcibly upgraded and modified by Kagetsu, had become extremely picky. 

The hearts of ordinary shinobi, once connected to the Earth Grudge Fear, were almost immediately drained of power, shriveling and dying because they were incompatible.

In simpler terms, the ninja hearts that could previously be swapped out had now become mere food for the upgraded Earth Grudge Fear. 

They could be used to replenish chakra quickly but could no longer provide a sustained supply, nor could they grant Kakuzu an extra life.

As for shinobi with kekkei genkai, Kakuzu had tried capturing them. Their hearts lasted a bit longer than those of ordinary ninja and provided slightly more chakra.

This left Kakuzu with a rather awkward problem—replacing hearts. For the time being, he was completely reliant on Kagetsu. Only the hearts provided by Kagetsu could satisfy the Earth Grudge Fear.

The Land of Rain.

At the Akatsuki base.

Inside the interconnected caves, dim firelight flickered on the walls. Konan was using all her knowledge of medical ninjutsu, trying desperately to ease Nagato's pain and injuries.

"Don't waste your strength, Konan! I know my own body. There's no point in wasting your chakra on me," Nagato said with a strained smile, his voice weak as he spoke to Konan, who was crying while using the Mystical Palm Technique on him.

"It's possible! It's definitely possible! Shinnō-sensei once said that if medical ninjutsu is mastered to a certain level, it can reverse aging and even defy death!"

"This is my fault!"

Yahiko, wrapped in bandages and lying nearby, spoke in a hoarse voice as though parched of water. Only half of his face and one eye were visible.

"I was too naïve! I shouldn't have led you two there! Hanzō wasn't wrong—this world is a cruel place where only the strong survive."

"Yahiko?"

Hearing Yahiko's words, both Nagato and Konan turned their worried gazes toward him. Yahiko had always been the optimistic and unyielding heart of their trio. Seeing him in such a state of despair and self-reproach stirred a deep unease in them.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Yahiko said, turning his face away as he tried to reassure them. His voice was muffled, and every word seemed to send a spasm of pain through his body. "I've just come to understand the harsh reality of this world again.

Hanzō gave us a very important lesson.

Peace requires strength!"

Footsteps echoed from the corridor, drawing the trio's attention. They turned toward the source of the sound, their expressions tense and wary. The events at Amegakure had left them on edge, their vigilance heightened.

When Kakuzu's figure emerged into the firelight, the three of them finally relaxed.

"Kakuzu-san!" Konan's voice carried a hint of gratitude.

Although Kakuzu always seemed indifferent and unfeeling, and they knew he was working under some kind of contract from Konoha, his decision to fight alongside them against Hanzō in such a dire situation had saved them from being completely annihilated in Amegakure.

For that, they couldn't help but feel thankful.

"This place isn't safe. Amegakure won't let you go so easily," Kakuzu said.

"I know," Yahiko replied from where he lay on the stone bed.

"If there's no other option, my only responsibility is to take Konan away."

Looking at Yahiko on the stone bed, Kakuzu felt slightly moved. After all, Yahiko had managed to gather the Akatsuki, a group that thrived not only on the people of the Land of Rain's desire for peace but also on his undeniable charisma.

Whether naive or not was another matter, but this young leader had a personality that far surpassed most people, including other shinobi.

"That's fine!" Hearing Kakuzu's words, neither Nagato nor Yahiko showed any anger or disappointment. Instead, there was a sense of relief and ease in their expressions.

"I'm not leaving!" Konan's voice was calm, yet the firmness in her words was unmistakable, and all three of them could feel it.

"I've informed Nara Kagetsu." Kakuzu ignored Konan's remark, but as he was about to continue speaking, a black cube suddenly appeared before him.

The cube began to grow rapidly, spreading outward at an alarming speed. In just a moment, an irregular black void formed.

The sudden development stunned all three of them. Konan and Nagato immediately stepped in front of Yahiko, adopting a defensive stance.

Footsteps echoed from within the void.

Kakuzu, his hands already forming seals, froze in shock when his eyes fell on the figure emerging from the void.

Seeing the newcomer, both Konan and Nagato showed similar expressions of surprise and disbelief.

"You're looking pretty rough, Mr. Kakuzu!" Nara Kagetsu stepped out of the black void, raising a hand to wave at the stunned Kakuzu. 

Then, shifting his gaze to Konan and Nagato, he smiled and greeted them as well.

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