NOVEL WEB Chapter 59: Chapter 59. Danzo: No Time! Busy!
Chapter 59. Danzo: No Time! Busy!
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My name is Kakuzu.
I once fought the First Hokage, but the outcome was inconclusive. After that, a lot happened, and I became a rouge ninja. Now, I barely scrape by relying on bounties in the black market.
As for why I've lived so long?
It's all thanks to the secret technique of Takigakure—Earth Grudge Fear!
Wrapped up tightly, revealing only a pair of green, beady eyes, Kakuzu looked down at the bounty notice in his hand and said flatly, "…It's gone up again?"
510 million ryo.
How long had it been?
Less than a year, and the bounty had nearly doubled.
He'd heard of Shimura Danzo.
A fairly capable shinobi from Konoha, he had been active during the First and Second Ninja World Wars. Later, his reputation seemed to fade. Rumor had it he was the younger brother of the First Hokage… and a student of the Second Hokage.
Not that Kakuzu cared about any of that.
Rather than those messy things, what mattered to Uncle Kakuzu, was the dazzling bounty. Every time he looked at that amount, it was as if his vision lit up with golden rays of light.
What could this guy have done to make so many people hate him?
Multiple countries had issued bounties on him repeatedly, and the amount kept rising.
Even the God of Ninja World back in the day wasn't this exaggerated!
Just then…
"Excuse me, sir. What would you like to order?"
Hearing the friendly voice of the server in front of him, Kakuzu looked up with his usual calm eyes. He didn't react to the nervous, fearful expression of the waiter—he was used to it.
"Summer Special—plum juice, the second cup is half-price! Two cups please!"
"???" The server froze but quickly recovered. Hearing the order, he let out a sigh of relief. Despite the tension of wartime, with no enemy ninja infiltrating the Land of Fire yet, the atmosphere was still nerve-wracking.
If it weren't for the store manager's reassurance—and the good pay, benefits, and promotion prospects—he would've quit and gone back to his village to hide.
But still…
"Do you really need… two cups?" the server asked hesitantly, eyeing the lone figure.
"Can't one person order two cups?" Kakuzu frowned. "There's no rule against it."
"There isn't, you're right. My apologies. Two cups of summer special - plum juice coming right up!" The waiter bowed nervously.
"Good."
Kakuzu nodded and didn't say more.
One cup for 10 ryo.
Two cups for 15 ryo.
Today, he'd saved 5 ryo.
As he glanced at the simple but cozy interior design of the shop, his eyes fell on the sign…
"Yuto Milk Tea."
In just a few years, this brand had spread to wealthy towns and cities across the Land of Fire.
And for some reason, every time he passed by, he felt an itch to step inside and buy something.
It was strange.
He'd never liked these kinds of drinks before. To him, free spring water was the best beverage.
As Kakuzu sat and waited for his order, five minutes felt like an eternity.
"Here you are, sir. Your summer special is ready."
"Hm." Kakuzu took the two icy drinks, paid, and found a quiet spot to sit.
Looking at the chilled plum juice in his hands, the summer heat and his own irritation seemed to fade.
Puncturing the lid with the special straw, he took a sip.
Instantly, his whole body felt refreshed.
The summer special lived up to its name!
At first, Kakuzu had wondered if he was under a genjutsu. Rumor had it that the shop's mysterious owner was an Uchiha, and the Uchiha were known for their genjutsu. Maybe they used it to lure customers?
But he'd eventually found he wasn't and dismissed that idea.
Perhaps he just… genuinely wanted to drink it.
As Kakuzu sipped his plum juice, he glanced again at the bounty notice in his hand.
510 million ryo.
He admitted it—it was tempting.
But…
"Konoha…" he muttered to himself.
He'd thought about taking the job. He could use the payout to treat himself properly, maybe load up a milk tea with all the toppings—taro balls, pudding, tapioca pearls, everything, he hadn't eaten before.
Unfortunately...
Konoha wasn't easy to infiltrate. It had a barrier crafted by the First Hokage himself.
And someone worth a bounty higher than the First Hokage's likely wasn't an easy target either. This Shimura Danzo, he must be very powerful!
When the bounty was first issued, Kakuzu had even camped near Konoha's forest for a while, hoping the target might leave the village. If that happened, it would've been worth the risk.
Especially now… 510 million ryo.
Time was running out, though. Plenty of other ninja and rogue ninjas were already eyeing the bounty.
If someone else got to Danzo first, Kakuzu would have no choice but to… kill them and take the bounty for himself.
As he drained his first cup and reached for the second, his face grew serious.
"Shimura Danzo… Konoha…"
His eyes flickered with conflict.
And then—
"It went up again!"
Hearing the voice nearby, Kakuzu paused and glanced at the table next to his. Another figure, just as tightly wrapped as himself, was sitting there.
A fellow rogue ninja?
In the stranger's hand was another bounty notice.
"Hmm?"
600 million ryo?!
Kakuzu's pupils contracted as his eyes zeroed in on the new figure.
It really had gone up again!
Suddenly, his eyes shone with determination.
"Should I… do it?"
…
At the same time.
Danzo suddenly shivered uncontrollably. He frowned slightly, a vague sense of unease rising within him. Could it be…? But after a moment, the feeling dissipated. He shook it off and returned his focus to the intelligence report in his hands.
"Has that Uchiha Yuto already left the village?"
"Yes, Danzo-sama," a Root ninja replied respectfully, his head lowered.
"He left at a time like this?" Danzo furrowed his brow, his face dark and contemplative. After a moment of thought, he asked seriously, "Do we know why he went out?"
The world outside… was far from peaceful.
"According to his travel application, it seems to be business-related," the Root ninja reported. "Additionally, investigations over the past few weeks show that he has reopened several milk tea and barbecue joints in previously abandoned towns and villages within the Land of Fire. Perhaps he's expanding his business?"
"Business-related?" Danzo muttered to himself, then sighed internally in frustration.
Because of the bounty on his head, many of his operations had come to a halt, especially intelligence gathering across the various villages. Yet intelligence was crucial for Konoha, particularly during wartime.
If only I had great power…
A flicker of desire passed through Danzo's eyes. If he had the strength of the First Hokage, what would it matter if he went out?
He could crush any enemy and wouldn't need to cower like this.
His mind wandered as he reached for a piece of paper nearby. He frowned as he read it.
It said:
[Brother Danzo, for the sake of the friendship between Amegakure and Konoha, I have agreed to your request. Amegakure is ready, and when you arrive, I'll personally treat you to our village specialty—salamander! I guarantee that you will be satisfied! Yours sincerely, Hanzo of the Salamander waiting for your arrival.]
Danzo's expression became conflicted, his mood shifting unpredictably.
The legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths!
If I could obtain them…
The Root ninja standing before him dared not interrupt, though he had no idea what Danzo was thinking. He maintained his respectful posture in silence.
After a long while, Danzo sighed deeply. His gaze sharpened, resolute and determined as he addressed his subordinate.
"Prepare a message for Ame—"
Before he could finish, another ninja burst into the room, interrupting him.
"Danzo-sama! Danzo-sama!" The ninja hurriedly knelt, visibly panicked, and presented a bounty notice in his outstretched hands.
Danzo froze mid-sentence. His mouth twitched as his eyes fell on the bounty notice.
A six… followed by a string of zeroes.
He fell silent again.
Lately…
It seemed…
He'd been very busy.
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A/N:
Sorry for not posting for weeks. The semester exams were underway, so I couldn't upload chapters regularly. But now the exams are over! Thank you for your patience and support.
Enjoy!