Ninja World: I, Kisame Hoshigaki, am no longer human!

They actually sent the elite ninja Kakuzu to assassinate the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

The mission unsurprisingly failed, and Kakuzu was spared by the merciful Hashirama. Unfortunately, the higher-ups of Takigakure acted recklessly again, severely punishing Kakuzu and imprisoning him.

As a result, Kakuzu successfully escaped from prison. In revenge, he killed all the high-ranking officials of Takigakure and stole the village's treasure, the Earth Grudge Fear Technique.

After that, Takigakure never recovered and almost completely withdrew from the ninja world, ceasing all activity.

"If you don't court death, you won't die."

Kisame commented on the past of Takigakure.

He went to Takigakure to retrieve the Hero's Water, hoping the people there would be sensible and stop courting death. After all, he wasn't as kind and benevolent as Hashirama Senju.

Two days later.

Kisame crossed the Land of Fire and arrived at his destination, in front of a huge waterfall.

Rumble.

The waterfall plunges a hundred meters, splashing water as it hits the bottom of the pool, creating a thunderous roar.

Kisame found the location of Takigakure so easily because he sensed from afar that there was a vast and pure natural energy behind the waterfall.

That must be the water of heroes.

He flapped his wings and circled around to the side of the waterfall. Sure enough, halfway down the waterfall, he found a narrow passage, just big enough for one person to pass through.

Kisame landed and followed the path, successfully arriving behind the waterfall.

This is a cave, similar to the Water Curtain Cave.

Da da da.

Kisame waded through the puddles in the cave, wandered around, and soon discovered a deep pool. After a moment's thought, he jumped into the water with a splash and swam downwards.

Following the underwater current, Kisame ventured deep into the pool. When he resurfaced on the other side, he had finally arrived at Takigakure.

This is a beautiful village that is like a paradise.

In the center of the village, there is a huge lake with clear, clean water. Rows of wooden houses are built along the shore, arranged in a pleasing, staggered pattern.

On the island in the center of the lake stands a towering tree, hundreds of meters tall.

When Kisame saw the giant tree, his eyes lit up, and he immediately swam toward the island in the middle of the lake, climbing ashore a moment later.

Only by standing at the foot of this giant tree can one truly appreciate just how enormous it is.

Kisame roughly estimated that the tree in front of him was over forty meters in diameter, one hundred and fifty meters tall, and probably weighed several thousand tons. Its branches and leaves were so thick that they blocked out the entire sky above Takigakure, but some gaps were left so that sunlight could form beams that pierced through and cast beautiful spots of light on the lake and the shore.

It is said that this giant tree is over a thousand years old. Every hundred years, sacred water flows from its trunk, causing the chakra of those who drink it to increase tenfold.

That is the water of heroes.

"Could this big tree be part of the divine tree?"

Kisame looked at the giant tree in front of him, stroking his chin and muttering to himself.

That's because, in his perception, this big tree was constantly absorbing the natural energy around it, which is why it could grow so big, with its branches and leaves blocking out the sun.

It can absorb natural energy and has a lifespan of over a thousand years.

Combining these two points, Kisame reasonably speculated that the giant tree in Takigakure was likely a part of the divine tree planted by the Otsutsuki clan, which had accidentally fallen into this place.

It is similar to a meteorite that falls from the sky. Although the shapes are different, they are both related to the power of the Ten-Tails.

In Kisame's memory, the Hero's Water seemed to be located in a wooden house in the hollow at the base of this large tree.

However, he cannot go and take it directly now, because the ninjas of Takigakure have already discovered him.

A dozen or so ninjas wearing Takigakure headbands rushed over from the bridge across the lake and surrounded Kisame, shouting and yelling.

"Who are you, daring to trespass into Takigakure?"

A man with long green hair shouted at Kisame. He appeared to be the leader of the village, exuding an imposing aura and possessing a tremendous inner strength.

That was the chakra of the Seven-Tails, Jōmei.

This person is Yorufumi, the village chief of Takigakure, and also the current Jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails.

Faced with the questioning, Kisame remained calm and composed, reciting his prepared explanation to the group of Takigakure members with a smile:

"Everyone, don't be nervous or misunderstand. I am a bounty hunter. I have come to Takigakure with the corpse of a rogue ninja to claim the reward."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he magically produced Kakuzu's corpse from the Box of Bliss.

"This is……"

Led by Ye Feng, the group of Takigakure ninja saw Kakuzu's headband with a slash on his forehead, and after carefully recognizing the latter's appearance, one of them suddenly exclaimed in shock, "He's Kakuzu!"

Kakuzu.

The name sent a jolt through everyone, reminding them of the painful past of Takigakure.

Back then, after Kakuzu killed the high-ranking officials of Takigakure and defected, Takigakure did issue a warrant for his arrest. But decades have passed, and Kakuzu has vanished without a trace. No one has ever been able to find him, let alone kill him.

Until now.

This is Kisame's principle of conduct.

Although he came for the Hero's Water, he did not intend to steal it directly. Instead, he offered something of equal value to exchange with Takigakure.

First courtesy, then force.

He didn't want a disagreement to escalate into chaos and cause many deaths.

However, Ye Feng's response made Kisame narrow his eyes and frown slightly.

200. Fair trade

In Takigakure, under a towering tree, Kisame, an outsider, was surrounded by Yoru, the leader of the Takigakure village, and a large group of people.

"Is this really the corpse of the rogue ninja Kakuzu?"

Ye Feng frowned, glanced at the corpse on the ground, then looked at Kisame and asked in a suspicious tone.

Kakuzu's defection from Takigakure was thirty years ago. So much time has passed that the villagers have almost forgotten about it, and very few people recognize Kakuzu.

Therefore, Ye Feng had reason to suspect that the suspicious masked man in front of him had faked Kakuzu's corpse and come to Takigakure to scam the bounty.

Faced with Ye Feng's questioning, Kisame expressed his understanding. So he squatted down next to Kakuzu's corpse, grabbed one of the corpse's arms, and pulled hard.

Swish.

As Kisame ripped the arm off the corpse, a large number of black lines at the joints were exposed to everyone.

"You should be familiar with these black lines, right?" Kisame tossed the arm with the black lines attached to it to Ye Feng.

“This is… the Earthly Grudge.” Ye Feng was shocked and no longer doubted the identity of the corpse.

Earth Grudge Fear is a secret technique unique to Takigakure and can be considered the village's most prized possession. However, since Kakuzu killed all the high-ranking members of Takigakure and took Earth Grudge Fear, this technique has been lost to the village.

Thinking of this, Ye Feng stared intently at Kisame and asked in a deep voice, "Is the Earth Grudge Fear in your hands now?"

He had expected Kisame to be vague and avoid the question, but to his surprise, the latter nodded directly.

"of course."

Upon hearing this, all the ninjas from Takigakure, including Ye Feng, brightened up and began to breathe rapidly.

"Hand over the Earthly Grudge Yu," Ye Feng continued, his gaze sharpening and his tone carrying a hint of threat.

Kisame, however, seemed completely oblivious and instead said with a smile:

"The Earth Grudge Fear is a secret technique of Takigakure, and it is only right that it be returned to its rightful owner. However, before that, let's talk about money first. Kakuzu's bounty is fifty million ryo. In addition, I helped you find the Earth Grudge Fear, so I should give you some compensation for my trouble. I think fifty million will do, which will make it a round number, totaling one hundred million ryo."

One hundred million taels is not Kisame's exorbitant demand.

Kakuzu's bounty of fifty million ryo was set by Takigakure itself. As for Earth Grudge Fear, in Kisame's view, this secret technique that can make people live forever is worth far more than fifty million ryo; even fifty hundred million wouldn't be an exaggeration.

However, this number caused Ye Feng and the others to change their expressions.

Since its decline, Takigakure has been almost completely isolated from the world. The ninjas in the village can't get any missions and sometimes don't even have enough to eat.

Asking them to come up with 100 million taels now is simply a pipe dream; even selling the entire village wouldn't be enough.

But the land of resentment must be taken back.

Ye Feng then gave his men a meaningful look, and they all understood, taking up their weapons and closing in on Kisame, completely surrounding him.

As long as Ye Feng gives the order, they will rush up and hack the mysterious masked man to death.

"Before you make your move, I must warn you."

Kisame saw through everyone's intentions, but still calmly said to Ye Feng, "What do you think I had the right to kill Kakuzu? Besides, although I came here alone, I might have companions waiting for me outside the waterfall."

Upon hearing this, Ye Feng's gaze sharpened, and he immediately made a gesture, signaling his subordinates not to act rashly.

Indeed, the fact that he was able to kill Kakuzu, who had mastered the Earth Grudge Technique, is enough to demonstrate the power of this mysterious masked man.

This is a tough nut to crack.

If we forcefully attack this person, it will inevitably lead to a major battle. In that case, not only will our side suffer heavy casualties, but if this person escapes, we will also be unable to retrieve the Earthly Grudge Secret Technique.

Considering these circumstances, Ye Feng softened his tone and said to Kisame, "I will no longer be so aggressive."

"To be honest, we can't come up with 100 million taels; that's far too much money. How about we pay on credit first? I guarantee you, in the name of the leader of Takigakure, that we will raise the money as soon as possible and will never default on our debt."

"That won't do."

Kisame crossed his arms and shook his head, refusing on the spot. Seeing that Ye Feng's eyes turned cold and he was about to explode, he changed his tone and said, "However, it doesn't matter if you don't have money. You can exchange other things of equal value with me for Kakuzu's corpse and the Earth Grudge Fear Secret Technique."

"So... what do you want?" Ye Feng narrowed his eyes, already vaguely guessing the other party's true intention in coming to Takigakure.

really.

"Hero's Water".

Kisame uttered those four words.

Upon hearing this, the ninjas of Takigakure immediately erupted in chaos.

"No! Hero's Water is a priceless treasure passed down for thousands of years. From ancient times to the present, only ninjas in the village who are called heroes are qualified to drink it. It is absolutely impossible to give it to an outsider."

An older Taki ninja said decisively.