Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 261 Akatsuki Wants to Recruit Kakuzu [5th Update 7K]

On a summer afternoon in Star City, sunlight filters through sparse clouds and spills onto the city's wide and clean streets.

The ninja school, located in the eastern part of the city, is always filled with the joyful laughter of children.

Recently, a new snack shop opened across from the school gate, and it quickly became a popular spot for students to linger after school.

The shop was small, but it was kept exceptionally clean and tidy.

The glass display case showcases a variety of oden, with clear broth infused with radish, eggs, kelp, and chikuwa, radiating an enticing sheen and steam.

In the oil pan next to it, golden tempura and fried chicken nuggets sizzled, their aroma wafting far and wide.

The shop owner was a gentle and graceful woman with long, straight, smooth black hair and deep black eyes.

She always wore a faint, seemingly melancholic smile as she busily greeted the children, but her gaze would often involuntarily follow the small figures being led away by their parents, momentarily lost in thought.

After school that day, Uchiha Yuta and several classmates walked out of the school gate together.

Soon, their attention was drawn to the newly opened snack shop and the lively crowd gathered there.

"Yuta, come quick! This place has amazing shrimp tempura!" A Hyuga boy shouted, his mouth bulging.

Yuta touched the change in his pocket, swallowed hard, and squeezed in as well.

He looked at the various golden-yellow, fragrant snacks in the glass cabinet, and finally pointed to one: "Please give me two skewers of grilled sausage."

"Okay, just a moment," Mikoto replied gently, skillfully packing the sausages into a paper bag and handing it to the child.

As Yuta bent down to take out his money, she looked at the child's black hair and the slightly familiar eyebrows and eyes, paused slightly, picked up a small cardboard box, put a plump fried shrimp tempura in it, and gently placed it on Yuta's paper bag.

"This... is for you." Mikoto's voice was softer than usual.

Yuta paused for a moment, then looked up and met the shop owner's dark eyes, which held a hint of complex emotions.

He was a little puzzled, but extra treats always make people happy, so a bright smile spread across his face: "Thank you, Auntie!"

Mikoto watched the child thank her and skip away, his back dangling from behind. She looked at the small Uchiha fan crest on the back of his clothes, and her eyes became unfocused again, as if she could see another black-haired boy far away in Konoha through him.

'Sasuke…'

"It seems you've adapted to life here, Mikoto." A familiar and energetic voice pulled Mikoto back from her thoughts.

Mikoto turned her head and saw Kushina Uzumaki standing in front of the counter. Without any hesitation, she picked up a bamboo skewer, stuck a takoyaki in her mouth, and put it in her mouth. Although she had lost her sense of taste due to the Edo Tensei, she still mumbled a compliment: "Mmm! It tastes really good! It's even more authentic than the old shop near the Konoha school!"

Mikoto smiled helplessly and handed over a tissue: "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you. It's just some simple snacks."

After a period of activity, the school gate gradually quieted down as the last batch of students were picked up by their parents.

Mikoto started tidying up the shop, and Kushina naturally went behind the counter to help wipe the utensils and tidy the tables and chairs.

"Aren't you really going back to the Uchiha clan's territory? Everyone misses you." Kushina brought up the old topic while working quickly.

Mikoto's wiping of the counter slowed, her eyes dimming slightly: "The sins Itachi committed... our family... has no face to face our clan. Being able to be here, watching the children grow up safely, watching the future of the Uchiha continue, I am content. This... is like being able to watch Sasuke grow up."

Her voice was filled with an overwhelming sense of guilt and deep longing.

Kushina sighed and didn't try to persuade her any further.

She knew that her friend's inner conflict couldn't be resolved overnight.

In the evening, Kushina took Mikoto to stroll through the newly opened shopping street.

As dusk settled, the night market in Star City was bustling with activity, its various shops brightly lit and teeming with people. The two strolled around with great interest, from clothing stores to jewelry shops, their hands soon overflowing with bags and packages.

Just as they were discussing a novel handicraft stall, a golden flash appeared quietly.

"Yo, looks like I've arrived just in time." Minato Namikaze appeared with his signature warm smile, but the next second, his arms were stuffed with all sorts of shopping bags, almost submerging his upper body, leaving only his brilliant blond hair showing.

"Honey, you're so sweet!" Kushina patted the mountain of packages with a grin.

Shuimen's voice came muffledly from behind the bag, full of doting affection and a hint of helplessness: "It is my honor to serve two beautiful ladies."

He skillfully adjusted the bag that was about to slip out of his arms, and steadily followed behind the two, acting as a mobile shelf and a guard.

After getting tired of walking around, the three of them went for a stroll in the park by the Youhe River.

As the longest and most abundant river in the Star Kingdom, the Youhe River flows through the Star Capital like a jade belt.

A sturdy and magnificent dike has been built on both sides of the river. The top of the dike is a wide pedestrian walkway and a green park, with pleasant scenery and a gentle evening breeze that brings the fresh scent of the river.

Looking at the lights of thousands of homes reflected in the river and the magnificent bridge spanning the two banks in the distance, Mikoto couldn't help but exclaim, "The changes here are truly rapid and vibrant."

“But I still don’t quite understand,” Mikoto asked softly, her gaze sweeping over Kushina and Minato beside her: “Why…why did you choose to help the Land of Stars?”

“Even Minato…” She hesitated for a moment, glancing at Minato who was quietly admiring the scenery beside her: “You were once the Hokage of Konoha.”

Kushina and Minato exchanged a glance, their eyes conveying a profound meaning that only they could understand.

Then Minato gently took over, his voice calm and profound: "Some things transcend the boundaries of the village. This is not betrayal, but rather choosing a path that we believe is more correct."

Kushina's smile faded as she took Mikoto's hand, her red hair swaying slightly in the night breeze: "That night, I couldn't bear to watch you die. I brought you back not just because we're best friends, but because you shouldn't have become a victim of those dark political schemes. Here, you can live safely and see Sasuke grow up peacefully."

Mikoto's heart clenched at the mention of Sasuke: "Is that child... doing alright in Konoha?"

“According to… well, some reliable sources,” Kushina glanced at Minato, but the source was actually Menma.

"The Third Hokage settled him in a new residence and didn't mistreat him. Moreover, it seems he even arranged for members of the Anbu to provide him with training and guidance in private. There's not much to worry about regarding his safety or living conditions." She omitted the loneliness and inner turmoil that Sasuke might face, things that would only make Mikoto more worried.

Mikoto breathed a slight sigh of relief, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Kushina, her eyes filled with guilt and concern: "What about your child? I remember... Naruto, he's in Konoha..."

She hesitated, knowing that Naruto's situation in Konoha as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki might not be good, but she herself was in an awkward position, and even if she wanted to offer some help secretly, it would be difficult to do so.

Kushina's gaze softened, tinged with a hint of mystery: "Naruto, that kid, he's quite resilient, still at the Konoha Jonin Academy. As for my other child..."

She suddenly smiled slyly, keeping everyone in suspense: "Hehe, actually I'm already in the Star Kingdom. You'll see me sometime in the future."

Mikoto tilted her head curiously.

Another child?
She keenly sensed that Kushina and Minato seemed to be hiding a deeper secret. Their "resurrection" was anything but ordinary, yet she couldn't detect any ambition in them; they treated her like an old friend.

However, Mikoto didn't want to delve into it further.

As long as she could see the Uchiha children grow up safely, and as long as there was even a sliver of hope that she could reunite with Sasuke someday, she didn't care about anything else.

For her now, this peace and hope are more important than anything else.

Meanwhile, in the distant land of Taki.

In the eerie, dense forest, a silent massacre had just ended.

Uchiha Itachi slowly pulled the kunai from the throat of a rogue ninja, and blood dripped silently from the cold metal onto the fallen leaves.

His gaze remained calm and indifferent, as if what had just ended was not a life, but rather the removal of a speck of dust.

Zabuza Momochi, standing nearby, slung his exaggeratedly large guillotine over his shoulder and clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction: "It's the same old thing again. It's not even a warm-up. The quality of new recruits the organization is trying to recruit lately is getting worse and worse."

He kicked another already cold corpse at his feet: "This kind of trash dares to defect? ​​What a waste of our time."

In the past few months, in addition to carrying out various difficult tasks for the "Akatsuki" organization to raise huge sums of money, this duo has also been "testing" new members.

Unfortunately, both newcomers so far have been unable to withstand a single move from Itachi's Sharingan or Zabuza's steel ninja sword, easily turning into dead souls.

Itachi silently wiped his kunai.

He had long seen that Zabuza, the demon beside him, was a pure ninja with cruelty and savagery etched into his bones, easily angered and worshipping power.

But beneath that facade, Itachi keenly sensed that Zabuza seemed to be hiding a deeper secret.

Especially at the few gatherings organized by the organization, the seemingly impulsive conflict between him and Ringo Ameyuri, the genius girl from Kirigakure who was obsessed with finding information about the Raito Kiba, always made Itachi feel that it was somewhat deliberate.

Just as the two were preparing to dispose of the body and head to the underground gold exchange to redeem the eight million taels of bounty, a strange, pitcher plant-shaped figure slowly emerged from the tree trunk beside them, as if mold were growing there.

"Oh dear, the mission went very smoothly." Bai Jue's flippant voice rang out first.

"The objective is to confirm the death," Black Zetsu added in a deep voice. "The leader has new instructions."

Itachi and Zabuza both looked at Zetsu.

"North, the Land of Iron, the port city of Tsuruga." Zetsu relayed Pain's orders: "Investigate a bounty hunter named Kakuzu. Obtain as much detailed information about him as possible, and if conditions permit... attempt to contact or eliminate him."

“Kakuzu?” Itachi frowned slightly, searching his memory for the name.

“Kakuzu?” Zabuza seemed to have some recollection of him, and said in a gruff voice, “I’ve heard of this guy. He’s a veteran bounty hunter in the underground gold exchange, active for decades. He’s said to be an old monster from the same era as the First Hokage. But a few years ago, he was hired by that big businessman named Gato as a bodyguard, and I haven’t heard much about him taking on big bounty orders in recent years.”

He licked his lips, a battle-hungry glint in his eyes, and patted the heavy ninja sword on his shoulder: "Itachi, this time the target is mine. Perfect opportunity to test the sharpness of my new sword!"

Itachi had no objection and nodded calmly: "Okay. Focus on intelligence gathering, and decide on the battle as needed."

He was more interested in the strength and secret techniques of a veteran powerhouse like Kakuzu.

"Enough with the nagging!" Zabuza impatiently hoisted his greatsword. "Let's go, let's finish this quickly, that place is freezing cold."

The two figures quickly disappeared into the dark depths of the forest in the Land of Waterfalls, heading towards the cold Land of Iron in the north.

The cold wind blowing from the north seemed to bring an early sense of desolation.

------

The Land of Iron, Tsuruga Port on the northeastern coast.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty and damp scent, caressed this bustling port city.

As one of the few countries in the current ninja world without ninja villages and renowned for its samurai and exquisite forging techniques, the Land of Iron has always maintained a unique neutrality and isolation.

However, in recent years, with the rise of that star kingdom in the western part of the continent, everything has been quietly changing.

Tunha Port is more prosperous than ever before.

Huge cargo ships are docked at deep-water piers, and cranes roar as they hoist boxes of goods ashore or load tons of gleaming iron ore onto ships.

Most of these high-quality iron ores from various mines in the Land of Iron are destined for one place: the Land of Stars.

Despite the official condemnation and numerous conflicts surrounding the Star Kingdom's "unorthodox" system by major powers, the Star Kingdom's various products, ranging from inexpensive daily necessities to highly effective medical devices and exquisite luxury goods coveted by nobles from various countries, quickly captured the market with their unparalleled advantages.

Thus, a strange phenomenon emerged: while the daimyo and nobles of various countries loudly proclaimed their "boycott," they secretly engaged in massive trade with the Star Kingdom.

Tsuruga Port is one of the key nodes on this important trade route. At the port's largest berth, several large cargo ships flying the flag of the Cado Chamber of Commerce are busily loading cargo.

Short and stout, wearing round-framed glasses, Kado was holding an account book and calculator, his brow furrowed as he calculated the cost of the iron ore purchase, transportation expenses, and expected profit.

Standing beside him was a tall figure dressed in dark casual clothes, his face covered by a mask, revealing only a pair of emotionless, deep green eyes.

It was Kakuzu.

"Costs have gone up again! These mine owners in the Iron Kingdom are insatiable! And the shipping costs... tsk!"

"Moreover, the iron ore production in the Land of Iron is still too limited." Kado sighed, put away his calculator, and complained to Kakuzu beside him.

"These few shipments of ore probably won't even be enough to power a large steel mill in Star City for a few days. Market demand is too high, and the supply here simply can't keep up."

Kakuzu had no interest in business. He leaned against the stack of crates, looking bored, and even yawned.

Hearing Kado's complaint, he simply responded with a lazy "hmm".

He slowly pulled a bulging wallet from his pocket, took out a stack of brand-new, high-denomination banknotes bearing the emblem of the Star Kingdom, held them to his nose, took a deep breath, and revealed an almost intoxicated expression on his face.

Then, he began to count the banknotes over and over again with his stitched fingers, as if it were the most wonderful pastime in the world.

Since leaving the Star Ninja Anbu two years ago to continue partnering with the merchant Gato and traveling to various countries in the ninja world to do business, such escort missions have become commonplace for him, and he even finds them somewhat boring.

Most of the time, he only needed to provide protection when Kado was conducting business negotiations or transporting important supplies. Occasionally, when he was in a bad mood, he would go to a few rogue ninjas on the black market bounty list to "stretch his muscles" and exchange their heads for some pocket money.

Just as Kakuzu was immersed in the joy of counting money, his almost instinctive perception of killing intent, honed through countless battles, was suddenly triggered!
He abruptly stopped counting the money, his green eyes instantly sharpening as he looked up at the roof of an abandoned dock warehouse not far away.

Suddenly, two figures appeared there without anyone noticing.

They were all dressed in matching black robes with red cloud patterns, and wore straw hats with hanging wind chimes, obscuring their faces.

One of them was exceptionally tall and burly, with a heavy-looking steel ninja sword slung across his back. Even from a distance, one could feel the fierce aura emanating from him.

“Xiao…” Kado also noticed the uninvited guest, gasped, and his face turned pale instantly.

Over the years, he has expanded the Kado Trading Company throughout the ninja world, and the company naturally has a group of intelligence ninjas from the Land of Stars.

He knew little about the mysterious and dangerous Akatsuki organization in Amegakure, but he at least knew that there was such a powerful group of S-rank rogue ninjas, a group that even that person cared about!

Their appearance is definitely not a good thing.

Kakuzu slowly stuffed the banknotes back into his wallet and carefully put them away.

He stood up, cracked his neck, making a soft snap, and locked his green pupils onto the two people on the warehouse roof, especially the big guy with the knife on his back.

He could sense that the other party was targeting him.

“Kado,” Kakuzu’s voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of impatience, “inform ‘that person.’ There are two annoying flies here.”

The 'great one' he referred to was naturally the real boss behind them—Shura.

Upon hearing this, Kado felt as if he had been granted a pardon and nodded hurriedly. His short and stout body nimbly slipped into the cabin.

Kakuzu leaped lightly, his figure floating up as if weightless. In a few leaps, he had already covered a distance of dozens of meters, landing steadily on the roof of the abandoned warehouse, facing the two Akatsuki members from afar.

He sized up the other person, his tone carrying the arrogance of a seasoned powerhouse and a hint of annoyance at being disturbed: "Hmph, you're from the Akatsuki, huh... I've been in a bad mood lately and was just thinking of going to the exchange. Looks like someone's offering money to my doorstep."

"Arrogant!" Zabuza Momochi ripped off his straw hat, revealing a face covered in bandages, with only a pair of eyes filled with murderous intent remaining.

He grinned maliciously and drew the heavy steel ninja sword from his back, its blade reflecting a cold gleam in the sunlight.

"Let's see whose head is worth more today!"

Before he finished speaking, Zabuza suddenly exerted force with his feet, and cracks instantly appeared in the sturdy warehouse roof!
He charged toward Kakuzu like an arrow released from a bow, his massive ninja sword whistling through the air as he delivered a powerful vertical slash aimed straight for Kakuzu's head!

This strike was devoid of any fancy moves; it was purely a display of power and speed, demonstrating that his title of "Demon Man" was well-deserved.

Faced with this fierce and unparalleled strike, Kakuzu neither dodged nor evaded, and even let out a disdainful snort.

Just as the blade was about to strike him, his right arm, covered in stitches, suddenly swelled and changed color. His skin instantly turned a dark, iron-like color and developed eerie hardening patterns!
"Earth Release·Earth Spear!"

clang--! ! !
A deafening clang of metal clashing rang out!
Zabuza's slash, powerful enough to split rocks, was actually blocked by Kakuzu with just one arm!

The blade struck that dark arm, sparks flying, but only leaving a faint white mark!

"What?!" Zabuza's pupils shrank, his heart filled with horror.

Although his sword was not as famous as the seven ninja swords of Kirigakure, it was still made of fine steel and was extremely sharp. Combined with his strength, it was impossible for him to break through the defense.

Kakuzu used his right arm, which had blocked the attack, to swing it back, generating a tremendous force that forced Zabuza and his sword back several steps.

Kakuzu swung his arm and said sarcastically, "Not bad strength, but unfortunately, your sword is too dull."

"Damn it!" Zabuza was enraged. He roared and charged forward again with his sword!

This time, his swordsmanship became even more ferocious and swift, the blade light weaving a net of death that enveloped Kakuzu's vital points.

Chopping, hacking, slicing, and slashing—each move contains deadly intent.

Kakuzu remained composed. His body, enhanced by the Earth Grudge Technique, possessed both hardness and flexibility. Combined with his rich combat experience, he would either block with his arms, dodge to the side, or occasionally launch a counterattack from an extremely tricky angle.

His punches and kicks may seem simple and unadorned, but they contain terrifying power capable of splitting rocks and shattering stone. Every time he clashed with the ninja sword, Zabuza felt his arm go numb.

"Water Release·Water Fang Bullet!"

Zabuza quickly retreated and formed hand seals, using the abundant moisture in the port to instantly condense a water column to attack Kakuzu!
Kakuzu's eyes flickered slightly, and he quickly formed hand seals, his chest suddenly bulging:

"Fire Escape·Tou Ke Ku!"

A massive, extremely hot flame erupted from his mouth, like a wildfire, and instantly collided with the water column!
laugh--! ! !
Huge plumes of water vapor rose up, and white mist filled the air, obscuring the view.

The clash between water and fire produced a violent explosion and shockwave, blowing large sections of the warehouse roof tiles off!
Taking advantage of the obstructed view, Zabuza's figure disappeared into the water vapor like a ghost, silently sneaking to Kakuzu's side and rear. His ninja sword, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, pierced straight into Kakuzu's back!
This is the essence of the Fog Concealment Assassination Technique!

However, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, Kakuzu didn't even turn around. His left arm twisted in the opposite direction at an incredible angle, precisely catching the back of Zabuza's thrusting blade!
An earthy yellow light emanated from that arm, its power immense!

"Got you?" Kakuzu said coldly, his right hand outstretched, crackling with lightning!
"Thunder Escape·Pseudo Darkness!"

A sharp spear of lightning burst forth instantly, shooting straight at Zabuza's face, who was right in front of him!
Zabuza was terrified. He tried to draw his sword and retreat, but it was too late. He could only desperately turn his head to dodge!
Stab it!

Lightning flashed past his cheek, burning off part of the bandage on his face, revealing the hideous skin underneath, and even smelling of burning.

Although she dodged the fatal blow, she was still terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

"Damn it!" Zabuza was both shocked and furious. His opponent's combat experience, ninjutsu reserves, and reaction speed far exceeded his expectations.

This old guy is indeed not easy to deal with!

He launched another fierce attack with his sword, engaging Kakuzu in a fierce battle. The flashes of swords, fists, and ninjutsu light constantly illuminated the roof of the warehouse, accompanied by deafening roars.

The two fought from the rooftop into the air, then fell back to the ground. Wherever they passed, warehouse walls shattered and the ground cracked, the battle was extremely fierce.

Throughout the entire battle, Itachi Uchiha stood quietly on the edge of the rooftop, arms crossed, coldly observing the fight. His Sharingan beneath his hat slowly rotated, recording every ability and fighting habit Kakuzu displayed.

His main task was to gather intelligence, and since Zabuza was willing to take the lead, he was happy to have some peace and quiet.

At the same time, he was also wary of other possible unforeseen events.

·
"Is that all you've got, old man!" Zabuza grew increasingly frantic as he couldn't break through Zabuza's defenses.

He suddenly jumped back a step, and once again rapidly formed hand seals, this time with more than forty of them.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Above the rooftop, a ferocious water dragon rapidly took shape, roared, and charged towards Kakuzu!

The fact that Zabuza could unleash such a large-scale water jutsu at this distance and in this environment demonstrates that Zabuza's chakra reserves and control are quite astonishing.

Facing the surging water dragon, Kakuzu finally made a large movement for the first time.

He also performed hand seals, and his speed was even faster than Zabuza's!

"Tu Dun·Tu Liubi!"

A thick earthen wall suddenly rose from the roof, blocking the water dragon.

Boom!

The water jets collided violently with the earthen walls, sending up sprays of water and dust that filled the air, causing the entire warehouse roof to shake violently.

Taking advantage of this moment of obstructed vision, a cruel smile seemed to appear on the corner of Kakuzu's mouth beneath his mask.

He did not remain behind the earthen wall, but instead, under the cover of smoke and mist, silently slipped underground.

The next moment, just as Zabuza was about to launch an assassination, the roof beneath his feet suddenly cracked open, and countless black earth grudge tentacles, like ghostly hands reaching out from hell, suddenly wrapped around his feet, the powerful force trying to drag him into the ground!

At the same time, Kakuzu's main body burst out from the breach, and his fist, covered with the hard earth spear technique, struck Zabuza's chest!
This sneak attack was insidious and deadly!
However, at this critical moment, Itachi Uchiha, who had been standing still, finally moved.

His Sharingan had already seen through Kakuzu's movements.

"Art fire escape ho fireball!"

A massive, incredibly hot fireball was not aimed at Kakuzu, but instead struck the area beneath Zabuza's feet with pinpoint accuracy!

The exploding flames instantly engulfed the Earth Grudge Tentacles, and the scorching shockwave also slowed down Kakuzu's sneak attack.

Zabuza seized the opportunity to break free from the charred and retracted tentacles, leaping backward in a disheveled manner. He glanced at Itachi with suspicion, then stared intently at Kakuzu, who was slowly rising from the flames.

Kakuzu extinguished the sparks on his sleeve, and for the first time, his green eyes took on a serious look as he looked at the silent young man with the Sharingan.

"Sharingan... Uchiha clan?" Kakuzu's voice deepened: "It seems you've come here specifically for me today."

Itachi slightly lifted his straw hat, revealing a pair of scarlet Sharingan eyes that slowly rotated, and said in a calm and even voice, "Mr. Kakuzu, we mean no harm. We are simply here on behalf of Akatsuki to invite you to join us."

Kakuzu paused for a moment, then let out a low, mocking laugh: "An invitation? Inviting someone with a ninja sword and ninjutsu? That's quite something."

"It's just a necessary strength assessment." Itachi's tone remained calm: "It seems you are more qualified than the rumors suggest."

Kakuzu's laughter abruptly stopped, and a murderous glint reappeared in his green eyes: "Evaluate? You two juniors? Very well, killing you will make up for my loss of not being able to go to the gold exchange today!"

[PS: I'm exhausted. I've been busy all day. Luckily, I had some drafts prepared beforehand. This chapter is about 39,000 words. I need a break, I'm completely worn out.]

(End of this chapter)