Konoha Drunkard

"...The Second Hokage said that the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan awakens because of the impact of negative emotions. Are you afraid that he will become the second Madara Uchiha..." Hatake Sakumo said. He had been the head of the Anbu for so long, and he was also a key figure in the training of Tobirama Senju. Tobirama Senju told him far more secrets than he told Shanks. With Shanks' big mouth, how could Tobirama Senju possibly tell him any secrets?

"Hey! It's not what you think. Shisui's mindset is still reassuring. Brother Kagami once told me that the Kaleidoscope has its advantages and disadvantages. Although it's very powerful, using it too much will cause blindness. He doesn't know how Madara avoids this problem. Brother Kagami used it once when he awakened and his eyesight started to decline. I'm worried about Shisui's glasses. I wanted to ask if you've noticed any problems with his eyesight recently." Shanks explained, making up an excuse.

"...I've only seen him once since he came back, and I didn't think there was anything wrong with him. Did you tell Lord Sandai about Brother Kagami?" Sakumo Hatake shook his head after recalling for a while.

"Back then, Brother Kagami entrusted me with keeping this a secret before he passed away. How could I possibly blabber about it everywhere? If I hadn't suspected that Shisui had awakened the Kaleidoscope, I would have almost forgotten that I had a pair of Kaleidoscopes here." Shanks shrugged.

"...I think this is a rather serious matter. You should tell Minato about it. After all, we're not familiar with the Kaleidoscope, and the Second Hokage has said that the Kaleidoscope is very ominous. It's better to take precautions," Hatake Sakumo said solemnly.

"It's hard to say. I'm just guessing. After all, it's impossible for a three-tomoe Sharingan to escape from a rampaging Five-Tails. But what if Shisui didn't awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan? Wouldn't I be a big mouth? Let's wait until I've met Shisui before we talk about it. Besides, the Mangekyou Sharingan isn't that powerful. I've beaten it up a few times already." Shanks pouted.

He knew why his best friend was worried. After all, he had also been brainwashed by Tobirama Senju. He wondered if Tobirama had been beaten up by Madara and his brother so much that he hated the Uchiha. Tobirama's problem was that he didn't have a strong enough mentality. His eyes would only mutate if he was stimulated. Did he really think he hadn't studied psychology?

Moreover, he really didn't keep the Kaleidoscope inside. Had Madara already defeated him? Even though he was an old man clinging to life... What he was worried about was that Shisui might not know about his eyes and use it recklessly. If that old fox Danzo found out, it would be a big problem. Danzo had tolerated him until now because although this rival's descendant was a genius, his strength wasn't too great yet, and Danzo could still protect him. If he knew that his rival's descendant had awakened the Kaleidoscope he had been longing for, then it would be a different story.

Years of pent-up resentment will erupt this time, and he probably won't even give his dream girl any face. Moreover, Danzo is adept at using underhanded tactics, which is troublesome for Shanks. He's just recovered from Minato's ordeal, and now it's Shisui's turn. Besides, Shanks can't even remember how Danzo killed Shisui. He really hasn't figured out how to defend against this attack.

"Nothing much happening in the Anbu today. Shisui should be back this afternoon. You might as well go check on him," Hatake Sakumo said after thinking for a moment, though he didn't agree with his best friend's claim that he wasn't a blabbermouth... But now wasn't the time to dwell on that. The Mangekyou Sharingan was the priority. He'd only heard about Madara's exploits from his father when he was a child, and he'd never actually encountered the Mangekyou Sharingan himself. However, since his father and Tobirama Senju valued it so much, there must be a reason.

"Help me get Minato back to rest. I'll tell Kakuzu to collect the money from Onoki. I think Iwagakure's spies in Konoha should have sent the message back by now," Shanks said smugly, his mouth practically splitting open at the thought of another 5 billion in revenue.

"......"

Hatake Sakumo looked at his best friend with sympathy. They were both forced into this situation by circumstances; he'd heard a few days ago that the Kato family had started selling their family heirlooms.

After his best friend took Minato away, Shanks also asked Miss Slug to inform Kakuzu to go and collect the money from Onoki. He also unexpectedly learned from Miss Slug about Sasori's glorious deeds, which almost scared him to death.

When Shanks returned to Konoha, Kakuzu did a few small business deals in the Land of Earth and then returned to the Land of Rain with the Land of Earth's specialties. He had a country to support, and Kakuzu couldn't just go out and farm resources on his own while neglecting the base.

When Kakuzu returned to the Land of Rain with billions of yen, he pulled out piles of cash from the sealed scroll right in front of the blond-haired, round-eyed man and Konan. Even Konan, who was known as the number one arms dealer and the richest woman in the ninja world, was stunned by this spectacular scene. She knew Kakuzu's way of making money, which was nothing more than accepting bounties and racking up kills. How many kills would he have to rack up to get this much money?

"...You conquered that city?" Xiao Nan said calmly, looking at the pile of banknotes.

"?????? What castle? This is a business deal I made with Onoki. What? Do we need to conquer a castle?" Kakuzu was confused by Konan's words. Didn't we say we were going to develop quietly? How come we're doing such a big deal now?

"...Scorpion wiped out the entire population of a town a couple of days ago." He's their finance minister, after all; they have to give him some face. Besides, they still need him to support them.

"...Why would he go and kill people instead of playing with his toys at home?" Kakuzu wasn't too concerned about the town being destroyed; instead, he was curious about why that nerdy kid was so impulsive.

........

Konan shook her head and remained silent; she was genuinely too embarrassed to speak. The reason Sasori attacked the city was because Konan hadn't given Kakuzu the toy list Sasori had given her. Sasori, with his fiery temper, would go out to hunt for food on his own. Orochimaru's research institute next door was like a fortress, surviving even a massive explosion, but after the last explosion in his toy house, he demanded a brand new one. However, Kakuzu only managed to get it done after several months of delay. He claimed the toy materials were brand new, but the wrench clearly showed signs of use. Did he think Kakuzu was blind? He could tolerate that; after all, everyone has been poor. But the toys Kakuzu brought back were either the wrong models or inferior products.

447. You have to pay for things.

Normally it wouldn't matter, but he was planning to use those materials to modify himself. Could he even use materials that melt when heated and become brittle when cooled? He admired Kakuzu for finding such inferior materials. In the end, Scorpion made a new list for Konan to give to Kakuzu, and marked the list with a pen that it had to be genuine!

He had prepared all the tools needed for the modification, but was missing the materials. He waited for months, but the materials never arrived. He tried to urge Xiao Nan, but it was no use. The person who paid for it hadn't returned yet.

Finally, Scorpion lost his temper and slipped out of the Land of Rain. He figured it was better to rely on himself than others. In a town not far from the Land of Iron, Scorpion found the materials he needed. When it came time to pay, he discovered that you had to pay for things. Since he had no money, Scorpion was provoked by the shopkeeper and began his conquest. He pulled out his toy Thousand People, which instantly killed anyone he saw. Although the toy Thousand People wasn't as flashy as Chiyo's Ten People, it had the advantage of sheer numbers. They were practically masters of slicing through anything. Ordinary people were powerless against these toys. When the blond-haired, circle-eyed man and Konan found Scorpion, the town was already a river of blood. Apart from Scorpion, there wasn't a single living creature left.

Xiao Nan was also having a headache. Having a snake-like creature in the house that people used to conduct experiments on all day was already inhumane. She never expected that such a handsome scorpion would be the same. Are all researchers so strange?

When they first joined the organization, they were told to develop in a low-key manner and not to be reckless. But now they have gone too far. After they found Scorpion, in order to help Scorpion cover up the battlefield of the crime, the rich man Nan casually threw hundreds of thousands of explosive talismans into the town, blowing the entire town to pieces, making it look like a battlefield of a national war.

..........

"What a mess." Shanks looked up at the sky, speechless. Just how much did Grandma Chiyo spoil little Scorpion that he didn't understand the concept of paying for things? As Scorpion's former teacher, Shanks hadn't even realized that little Scorpion could be so naive.

After briefly expressing his dismay at Scorpion's naiveté, Shanks didn't dwell on it further. Shisui was waiting for him, and he'd deal with Scorpion later when he had more time.

After dinner, Shanks headed straight for Shisui's house. The Uchiha clan was very quiet at night. As soon as it got dark, there were hardly any people coming out of the clan's territory. This would be impossible in the Senju clan's territory, where even late at night, the Senju clan's territory was bustling with activity. A bunch of kids were running around, and the sound of hot-tempered parents scolding their children would not stop until the middle of the night.

Living under the influence of the Uchiha clan for a long time, it's no wonder that every Uchiha has a deathly expression.

"Lord Shanks, what brings you here?" When Shanks arrived at Shisui's house, Shisui had clearly just returned from get off work and hadn't even changed out of his ninja outfit.

"I've been looking for you for half a year and couldn't find you. When I came back, I heard you brought a girl back. I came to see how you are. Are you alright? How is the Five-Tails' strength?" Shanks raised an eyebrow.

"You really caused me a lot of trouble, I almost didn't make it back." Shisui fell silent, probably thinking of the scene of the captain who took care of him and his teammate, the Five-Tails, being defeated.

"Don't look so gloomy. Everyone dies eventually. Since you became a ninja, you already have one foot in the coffin. If you're lucky, you might live a few more years, but if you're unlucky, you'll be gone in no time. If you're not even mentally prepared for this, don't even mention knowing me when you go out. I can't bear the shame. I've lost just as many people as you. If I were always like you, what would be the point of living? I'd just be sad all the time." Shanks patted him on the shoulder and said.

"Is there something you need, Lord Shanks?" Shisui asked after calming down.

"You awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, right? Don't try to hide it from me. Didn't Koharu tell you I can read minds? Besides, I was the one who sold the Five-Tails to Onoki. I know how powerful the Five-Tails is when it goes berserk. If you hadn't awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, would you have been able to escape from the berserk Five-Tails? Then you can release the Anbu Chief." Shanks pouted as he looked at Shisui, who was trying to find a way to justify himself.

"...I did awaken the Kaleidoscope, but I wish I hadn't." Shisui said, then closed his eyes. When he opened them again, both eyes had turned red, and a fat version of a shuriken appeared inside.

"To be honest, your kaleidoscope pattern is really ugly, much uglier than your grandfather's," Shanks said, looking at those eyes.

"What?! Lord Shanks, you're saying my grandfather also awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan?" Shisui asked Shanks in surprise. This was the first time he'd heard this news. His godmother had mentioned his grandfather a lot when he was little, but it was mostly romantic tales... They hadn't talked much about his strength.

"You were born of your father, and your father was born of his father. What's so strange about his father awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan... Your father's talent may be a bit weak, but that's because he passed on all of your grandfather's talent to you. Your grandfather was the number one genius of the Uchiha clan back then, and he only awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan once in a while." Shanks almost got himself confused.

"But why didn't Grandma Xiaochun mention it?" Zhishui asked curiously.

"This story goes back decades. Go get your old man's wine collection. I have the story, but I'm afraid you don't have enough wine," Shanks said, sitting imposingly in the living room.

.........

"Speaking of decades ago, when Fugaku Uchiha's grandfather was still the clan head, for some reason, the relationship between the Uchiha clan and Konoha began to diverge. At that time, the Second Hokage was in power, and since your grandfather was his disciple, the conflict was kept under control. However, due to World War I, the Second Hokage and the Second Raikage were ambushed and killed by Kinkaku and Ginkaku. Although the Second Hokage had already instructed Hiruzen Sarutobi to succeed as Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi was young at that time and couldn't control the established clans in the village. And your Uchiha clan..." "They're one of the founding clans of Konoha. So, back then, the three old Uchiha guys persuaded your grandfather to run for Hokage. And since your grandfather was Hiruzen Sarutobi's best friend, he naturally didn't want to take his best friend's Hokage position. But Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't have much of a foundation and didn't get much support from the clans. So your grandfather tricked the three old Uchiha guys into supporting Hiruzen Sarutobi as Hokage. After that, the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha slowly started to grow." Shanks took a sip of the sake Shisui handed him before beginning his storytelling.

448. I don't know if it's expired.

"I thought the conflict between the clan and the village was because the clan members were too arrogant! And then what happened?" Shisui suddenly realized that the conflict between the clan and Konoha had come about in this way. Shanks stopped and immediately asked.

"It's one thing that you Uchiha people look down on others, but that's just impressions, not the main point. He's a great contributor to Konoha, so it's understandable that he's a bit arrogant. The real reason is Madara's affair. You already know about Madara, so I won't go into details. As I mentioned earlier, your grandfather persuaded three old guys to support Hiruzen Sarutobi as Hokage. From that moment on, those three old guys hated your grandfather. However, your grandfather was the strongest shrew in the Uchiha clan back then, and they couldn't do anything about it, so they could only suppress their anger. Because of your grandfather, the conflict was temporarily suppressed. Later, because of Hanzo of the Salamander..." "When a coup d'état was launched in the Land of Rain, Hiruzen Sarutobi, fearing it would affect the entire ninja world, asked your grandfather to investigate. However, he was ambushed by Hanzo of the Salamander and his men. It was then that your grandfather awakened his Mangekyou Sharingan, severely injuring Hanzo and escaping. However, due to severe poisoning, he couldn't hold out for two years and died. A year before his death, fearing the three old Uchiha clans would discover his Mangekyou Sharingan and use it to harm the village, he replaced his eyes and entrusted them to me for safekeeping. They never discovered your grandfather's Mangekyou Sharingan awakening, so these Mangekyou Sharingan have been with me for decades; I wonder if they've expired." Shanks took a sip of his drink and continued telling the story.

"After my grandfather died, those three elders started instigating conflict between the family and the village?" A genius's brain is indeed good; he had only finished the first half of the story when Zhishui had already filled in the second half.

"That's about right. But what your grandfather was most worried about wasn't those three old guys. After all, those three old guys were narrow-minded. If they hadn't been afraid of death, they probably wouldn't have lived to that time. What your grandfather was worried about was Shimura Danzo, who was also a disciple of Tobirama Senju, and is now Danzo's advisor," Shanks continued.

"Danzo the advisor? What does this have to do with him?" Shisui's impression of Danzo was still that of a gloomy old man with one eye covered, one hand wrapped, and an SX symbol on his chin.

"Haha! That's a huge connection. Don't let Danzo's current appearance and sinister demeanor fool you; back in his youth, he was the pride of Konoha! Otherwise, do you think the Second Hokage would have taken him as a disciple? Speaking of which, his current state is partly due to your grandfather. You should know about your grandfather and Koharu, right? Back then, Danzo and Koharu were the most handsome couple in Konoha, a perfect match. It's like the saying, 'Why did fate create both Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang?' The Shimura clan produced Shimura Danzo, and the Uchiha clan naturally produced Uchiha Kagami. Moreover, Uchiha Kagami completely outclassed him in looks, personality, and talent. From then on, Danzo considered your grandfather his enemy. Originally, you..." "Grandpa intended to entrust his eyes to Danzo for safekeeping, but because he knows Danzo too well—Danzo inherited the Second Hokage's ideology and has never been friendly to the Uchiha clan—your grandpa had no choice but to entrust his eyes to me. And Danzo's actions over the years have proven your grandpa's thinking was correct. So, for your safety and for your grandmother Koharu's sake, you absolutely must not reveal that you've awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan. Danzo isn't taking action against you now partly because of Koharu, and partly because back then he thought your strength, like your father's, wasn't enough to pose a threat to him. If he finds out you've awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, hehe! You'll be in big trouble," Shanks said.

"But Lord Shanks, since you know who Danzo is, why do you still let him continue to be an advisor?" Shisui asked, puzzled.

"The Second Hokage's decision to appoint them as advisors was made before his death; I had no say in it. Besides, Danzo, aside from being somewhat unfriendly to you Uchiha and sometimes making foolish mistakes, hasn't done anything truly heinous against Konoha. I can't just kill him for no reason. Besides, I had a pretty good relationship with him when we were kids." Shanks shrugged. Danzo was meant to be the second male lead's experience point. If he took that too, the second male lead wouldn't have enough experience to save the world with Naruto. Who would fight Kaguya then? Kaguya only became weak-willed because she encountered the two main protagonists' halos; encountering him might even enhance her fighting power.

"Is there no way for the family and the village to resolve this? All three elders are already dead." Zhishui returned to the issue of the family and the village.

"This problem has been the biggest challenge for Konoha for the past fifty years. How am I supposed to know what to do? Your father and his brother Fugaku Uchiha worked hard for over a decade, but after your father passed away, their progress regressed. I reckon this problem will have to be solved by you and Itachi. Fortunately, Sakumo, Minato, and I can keep things under control for now, and those three old guys' sons don't dare to run wild. But in a few years, when Sakumo and I get old and can't fight anymore, it'll be hard to say. After all, in terms of geniuses, your Uchiha clan still has plenty of them," Shanks said.

“…What if we could change the minds of those three elders?” Shisui said seriously.

"Theoretically, yes, but you can control one person, not everyone. You can't persuade someone without ambition, no matter how much you talk. It's best not to use your Kotoamatsukami, and you shouldn't use the Kaleidoscope too much either, otherwise your little Haru-chan grandma will be heartbroken if you go blind one day." Shanks patted his shoulder.

"Lord Shanks, how...how did you know about my Kotoamatsukami?" Shisui looked at Shanks in shock.

"Everyone in the older generation of Konoha knows I can read minds, so what's so strange about that? Besides, I know more about the Mangekyou Sharingan than you do. I've fought with someone who has it more than once, and compared to that person, your strength is indeed a bit weak," Shanks said. Of course, he was referring to Madara, not that idiot Obito. Madara wasted Hashirama Senju's cells.

"Are there still Uchiha people who have awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan?" This was the first time Shisui had heard of this.

"Of course, but this guy isn't really a member of the Uchiha clan. You can't even imagine how strong he is. Just his Fire Release techniques alone are something you could never achieve in your entire life." Shanks took a big gulp of his drink. "Madara, your little fan is advertising for you again!"

449. Onoki, who values ​​integrity

"Not a member of the Uchiha clan? Then how come he has the Mangekyou Sharingan?" Shisui, like a well-behaved child, pricked up his ears to listen to the adult's story.

"I said he wasn't a member of the Uchiha clan because he left long ago. However, his talent is absolutely the strongest in the history of your Uchiha clan. He can unleash S-rank damage with a simple Fire Release technique, something even your grandfather couldn't do. Back when I fought him, he burned down an entire forest in the Land of Water with just one Fire Release technique. Otherwise, if your grandpa Shanks were so tough and not afraid of getting burned, he might not have been able to defeat him!" Shanks never holds back when it comes to his idol, praising him as much as he can.

"...Lord Shanks, you're not saying it's Uchiha Madara, are you?" Shisui almost believed it when he saw Shanks' exaggerated expression. In the history of the Uchiha, after Madara, who would dare to claim to be the strongest genius in the history of the Uchiha? But everyone knows that Madara has been dead for decades. Are you fighting with a ghost?

"Haha, he may be dead, but he lives on in my heart." Shanks swore to God he was indeed talking about his idol, Madara. But whether people believed him or not was up to them; he couldn't just openly reveal Madara's name, or he'd be considered an idiot.

"........"

Zhi Shui was speechless. He couldn't figure out which of the old man's words were true and which were false. After all, the old man had too much of a dark past, and his ability to fabricate news was unprecedented. If he believed him, what if it was fake? Wouldn't he be considered a fool? If he didn't believe him, what if it was true...? It didn't seem like anything would really happen. It wasn't something he could control. He was still just a low-level henchman in the Dark Division. He'd talk about it when he could climb to the level of a deputy head of the Dark Division.

"I've told you everything I needed to say. Just remember my words: never let anyone know you've awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan. The waters of Konoha run deep." Shanks didn't press Shisui for a reply since he didn't believe him. Even if he went to Minato or Hiruzen Sarutobi and told them he'd met Madara, they'd think he was a fool.

"Lord Shanks, you still haven't told us who the kaleidoscope is?" Shisui realized that Shanks was about to leave when he saw that he had almost been led astray again. He had been listening to the story all night, and the important point hadn't even been mentioned yet.

"Huh? Really? Didn't I mention it? Let me think... I don't think I did. That person's name is Shimura Hanzo. Not many people in the ninja world know of his existence. Just from the name, you can tell he's related to Shimura Danzo. That's right! He's the offspring of Danzo's father and your Uchiha girl. As for the details, you can ask your little girlfriend's grandma Koharu when you go to see her. Anyway, it's scandalous. The Third Hokage kept Shimura Hanzo's affair a secret for this reason. When your Uchiha clan found out, it almost caused a huge mess." Shanks said, shrugging his shoulders.

"So that person is a half-blood?" Shisui was shocked as if he had heard a shocking secret. He didn't even hear Shanks flirting with his girlfriend. Although he was not in the clan for many years, he was very clear about the clan rules. The first rule was that no one could have an affair with another clan. Even if he had connections, he wouldn't dare to bring his girlfriend back to the clan and settle her with Koharu Utatane. This was a taboo. Clans like the Uchiha Hyuga, which rely on bloodline limits, cared most about their bloodlines. He never expected that someone would break the taboo decades ago, and that the half-blood child would awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan, which no one in the clan had awakened in decades. Even a fool could tell how serious this was. No wonder he had never heard of it all these years.

"Alright, that's enough for today's story. Just keep it to yourself and don't go around babbling. Even without Sister Xiaochun's protection, you're no match for her." Shanks said, patting him on the shoulder before leaving.

.........

"Lord Tsuchikage, our spies in Konoha have reported that the Nine-Tails attacked Konoha again a month ago, but because Konoha seemed to be on guard, it didn't cause any substantial damage." A month after Shanks finished filming his scene with Minato, the Tsuchikage went to his office. The old man had been waiting for months and finally received news from Konoha. He regretted having Aoki pay the deposit, regretting that he hadn't listened to Shimura Hanzo's one-sided story. That was 10 billion, and he had even contributed 5 billion of it, which was half of his fortune.

What kind of place is Konoha? Judging from the strength of Konoha on paper, it's a den of dragons and tigers. I don't know why he, who is usually quite calm, gets all worked up when he hears the words "Konoha". It seems like Konoha has some kind of stupid halo this time. Onoki should just consider it a lesson learned and use the money to buy a coffin for that Shimura Hanzo.

After that, he didn't pay much attention to Konoha's affairs. As the Tsuchikage, he was very busy. Just when he had almost forgotten about the matter, the two of them actually got it done. Although they didn't cause any damage to Konoha, they did manage to bring out the Nine-Tails, which was a pleasant surprise for Onoki. The fact that no damage had been caused was because Konoha was on guard after the attack, but it didn't matter. This incident also made Onoki realize the efficiency of those two. If they did it again in a few years, he really didn't believe that Konoha could withstand it!

"This Shimura Hanzo is really something. Not only did he find out who the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is, but he also managed to release the Nine-Tails right under Konoha's nose." Even Aoki Nozomi, who was standing next to Onoki, had to admire the efficiency of Kakuzu and Shanks. What kind of place is Konoha? For decades, Konoha's White Fang has made it like an iron barrel. Not only are there various ANBU sentries on the perimeter, but there are also various barriers set up by the Uzumaki clan. Just infiltrating is a dangerous thing, let alone causing trouble in the territory of Konoha's White Fang, Shanks, and Yellow Flash. That's even more difficult than assassinating the Kage of a great village. I didn't expect that they could accomplish such a difficult task. The experts in the ninja world are indeed not to be underestimated. They all have real skills.

"Aoki, tell those old guys to get the money ready. If I'm not mistaken, Kakuzu is already on his way here," Onoki said to Touma.

"Lord Tsuchikage, shouldn't we do something? That's 10 billion yen, the village's annual income for a year." Aoki Nozomi seemed to be meeting the big boss for the first time. The big boss actually handed over the money so readily? Shouldn't they be thinking about how to sabotage him first?

"Shimura Hanzo is right. It's better for us business people to be honest," Onoki said calmly, though his heart was bleeding inside. Did they really want to pay this money? He'd be a fool to do so. But he had no choice. Those two were too powerful. They even managed to infiltrate Konoha and unleash the Nine-Tails. In the past, villages were always on guard against Konoha using tailed beasts to cause trouble. No one dared to release the Nine-Tails in Konoha. Shanks and White Fang's famous battle was when they released the One-Tail to take down Shamon. Now these two could do the same thing in Konoha without any news of them being killed, meaning they had already slipped away. If they could even infiltrate the impenetrable Konoha, then Iwagakure would be even easier for them. What if they didn't pay and released the Four- or Five-Tails in Iwagakure? He, an old man, couldn't withstand two tailed beasts... So, after much thought, he decided to pay the remaining amount. There would be many more opportunities to cooperate in the future.

450. Garp's parents were called in.

After arriving in the Land of Earth, Kakuzu didn't inform Onoki. Instead, he secretly infiltrated Iwagakure. Having done business with Onoki for so long, how could he not know what kind of person Onoki was? That cunning bastard was a master of betrayal. Kakuzu had tried to swindle Onoki several times over a mere one or two hundred million shikigami back then; otherwise, he would have been ruined long ago. This time, the amount was so large—who knew what underhanded tricks Onoki would pull this time? If it were just him alone, it wouldn't matter; they could always meet again, and he could find a chance to swindle Onoki in return. But this time, his good brother was also involved, and the other was the main force; he was just assisting and collecting the money. If he got swindled by Onoki this time, would Kakuzu still be able to face the ninja world? He couldn't even handle such a small matter.

Therefore, Kakuzu did not intend to conduct a legitimate transaction with Noki as before, but instead sneaked into the Tsuchikage's office to catch him off guard, so that he would not have time to cause trouble.

Kakuzu's idea was good, but he didn't know that Onoki had been frightened by Shanks' efficiency and had long ago sent Aoki to find those old guys to raise funds and put them in Tsuchikagerou to wait for his news.

So when Kakuzu arrived at Tsuchikage-ro, Onoki and Aoki Nozomi were still handling the village's trivial matters as usual, and they didn't care how he sneaked in. After all, if he could sneak into Konoha, it wouldn't be surprising if he sneaked into Iwagakure.

"Lord Kakuzu is indeed impatient. We have already prepared the remaining payment. A simple notification would have sufficed. Why did you have to come in person?" Onoki sat on the stool, looking at the documents in his hand. Without looking up, he waved for Aoki to hand over the remaining payment to Kakuzu.

"The Tsuchikage's methods are renowned throughout the ninja world, and with such a large deal, it's best to be cautious." Kakuzu took the sealing scroll handed over by Aoki Nozomi without even looking at it and put it directly into his ninja tool bag. Since Onoki had already prepared the remaining payment, there was still no need to deceive him. As the Tsuchikage, he still had to maintain his reputation.

"Why is it only Lord Kakuzu who came? Isn't Lord Shimura Hanzo here?" Ōnoki asked, looking up after finishing reading the documents in his hand.

“He still has a few business deals to make, so I’m the only one here this time. What? Does Lord Tsuchikage have any more business to discuss? If not, I’ll be leaving,” Kakuzu said.

"No, that's not the case. You know we in Iwagakure are poor, not as wealthy as Sunagakure. This business deal has already wiped out a year's income for Iwagakure. We can't afford another one." Onoki shrugged.

"I've received the final payment. I'll be going now. Let's cooperate again in the future." After saying this, Kakuzu disappeared into the Tsuchikage's office.

"...Lord Tsuchikage, are we just going to let him go like this?" He was still unwilling. This time, only Kakuzu came, and he was even in their village. He believed that as long as he summoned him, Kakuzu would definitely not be able to escape.