In the 7th year of the New Ninja Calendar, six years since the founding of Konohagakure, the village bustled with vitality. After a year of effort, the lively atmosphere of Konoha had grown even more pronounced. Clans such as the Inuzuka and Aburame had joined the village, not only increasing its population but also contributing significantly to its strength as ninja clans.
Nestled in the northwest of Konoha was a small medicinal clinic.
"Atractylodes, poria, licorice," Kakuzu mut...
2025-01-13 09:53:16 +0000 UTC
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Kakuzu glanced at the night sky, its darkness unbroken by even a sliver of moonlight. Slowly, he stood and approached a hidden panel in the floor. With deliberate care, he pulled it open, revealing a staircase leading down into the shadowy depths of a meticulously constructed cellar.
Down below lay his treasure—a secure vault housing the 40 million ryō he had earned over the past six months. Carefully locking the fortune away, he returned upstairs and closed the panel seamlessly. It ...
2025-01-13 09:52:45 +0000 UTC
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"Kakuzu-san, please don't misunderstand. I'm a descendant of the Yuhi clan. I've just arrived in the village and have no place to stay, so I've temporarily taken shelter here. I mean no harm," Yuhi Kōri explained hastily.
"The Yuhi clan?" Kakuzu glanced at the oil painting on the easel and briefly recalled the earlier scene. "The most renowned illusionists of the Land of Fire?"
"You flatter me. Renowned is an exaggeration—we've only made modest achievements."
Since the ma...
2025-01-13 09:52:04 +0000 UTC
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In this world, it was considered a form of etiquette for tenants to visit their landlords upon moving in. Most people renting a place would come to greet the landlord, and over time, this custom had become widely accepted. However, this habit often left Kakuzu overwhelmed. With dozens, sometimes hundreds, of tenants under his roof, it became a chore he could hardly keep up with. Besides, Kakuzu wasn't one to fuss over formalities.
Given that everyone had just moved to Konohagakure, they...
2025-01-13 09:51:30 +0000 UTC
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A month had quietly passed.
"Boss, thanks to your luck, we've practically struck gold this past month!"
Inside the glass factory, a craftsman with dark circles under his eyes excitedly held out an account ledger to Kakuzu. For the past month, their quartz glass had taken Konohagakure by storm. The new glass had completely crushed traditional sand glass, winning the wholehearted approval of the village's residents. Now, people were flocking to place custom orders e...
2025-01-13 09:50:31 +0000 UTC
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The establishment of nations and villages marked the dawn of a new era while shaking the foundations of the old. However, if disputes were resolved by immediate conflict, what separated this new age from the Warring States Period?
Konohagakure's stance has always been to resolve conflicts through dialogue. As the Hokage, Senju Hashirama tirelessly worked toward this ideal, though achieving it still seemed far away.
On the borders between nations, peace was a fleeting dream. Territ...
2025-01-13 09:49:47 +0000 UTC
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'This kid… he wouldn't happen to be one of those children Senju Tobirama brought in from outside the village for his experiments, would he?' Kakuzu muttered, his thoughts drifting to the infamous Orochimaru.
Talking about abducting children and conducting human experiments always seemed to lead back to that snake. Some said Orochimaru's twisted nature was due to Danzo's influence, but Kakuzu believed otherwise. If anything, Orochimaru was more inspired by Tobirama. Many ...
2025-01-13 09:49:08 +0000 UTC
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At the gates of Konohagakure—those massive structures that would stand guard over the village for decades to come—two gatekeepers found themselves in an awkward situation. Today, Kakuzu was trying to leave, and they had no choice but to stop him.
"Kakuzu-sama, this isn't our decision. We wouldn't dare block your way on our own," one stammered.
"It's an order from the Assistant Hokage. It came just a couple of days ago. If you'd like, we could ask for his confirmation first?"
2025-01-13 09:48:37 +0000 UTC
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Kakuzu chose a plot of land far from the Hokage Tower, an empty expanse overgrown with weeds. It lay a full mile from Konoha's main street, but to Kakuzu, that was hardly a concern. The way he saw it, roads didn't exist naturally—they were created by the people who walked them. Eventually, Konoha's population would grow, and his chosen spot would become a bustling center.
Currently, Tobirama Senju stood before him, holding a thick stack of documents. Every page detailed the layers of ...
2025-01-13 09:48:01 +0000 UTC
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The morning sun bathed the lands of Konohagakure, signaling the retreat of darkness and the promise of a new beginning. Villagers gradually emerged, their presence breathing life into the bustling streets.
Kakuzu adjusted his loose, sleeveless jacket as the crisp autumn breeze swept past him. For someone with his well-built physique, the chill was more invigorating than uncomfortable.
Shhh—shhh—shhh.
"Good morning!" an elderly woman sweeping her storefront greet...
2025-01-13 09:47:22 +0000 UTC
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The village's development and establishment require mutual support and growth. A village cannot exist without its people, just as people cannot thrive without their village. The two are interdependent, advancing together. There's no need to return to the chaotic, violent days of the past—that is the purpose of a village's existence.
"Kakuzu, if you're interested in exploring a new way of life in this era, you might consider joining the Konohagakure family. Perhaps, decades from now, t...
2025-01-13 09:46:50 +0000 UTC
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In the heart of Konohagakure, the Hokage Tower stood tall and imposing. Compared to the completed structure in memory, the current building seemed less refined. However, its solid foundation, sturdy stone walls, and decorative wooden panels hinted at its eventual grandeur. In time, with the finishing touches added by the Second and Third Hokage, it would become the iconic Hokage Tower known to all.
Following Senju Momoka inside, the interior was noticeably devoid of guards. Instead, the...
2025-01-13 09:46:20 +0000 UTC
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As the ancient tree branches pierced through the ground, breaking free from the Water Prison and tightly binding themselves, Kakuzu felt a sense of disbelief. He could feel the abundant vitality and surging life force, yet none of it was his. It belonged entirely to the massive tree before him.
The branches coiled around him, rapidly siphoning away his chakra. As his strength waned, the tree grew even more robust. In mere seconds, a towering ancient tree had fully formed.
"So this...
2025-01-13 09:45:42 +0000 UTC
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The noon sun shone brightly, yet even its light couldn't pierce through the dense forest canopy. The autumn wind howled, bringing a biting chill that added an air of foreboding to the atmosphere.
Tobirama Senju formed the Seal of Confrontation with one hand.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Five bursts of smoke erupted around him, revealing five identical clones.
Shadow Clone Jutsu.
This technique, which Tobirama would later refine into the...
2025-01-13 09:45:10 +0000 UTC
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The blazing flames surged outward like the claws of a ferocious beast, greedily spreading in every direction. Yet, the real transformation was only just beginning.
Wind Release: Wind Pressure!
A razor-sharp gale sliced through the air, fueling the raging inferno. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Fire fed on wind, growing exponentially. By the time the flames nearly touched the ground, it was no longer a simple blaze—it had become an ocean of fire, crashing ...
2025-01-13 09:44:32 +0000 UTC
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The silver-haired man slid backward, his feet skimming the ground as he dodged. The sound of a fist slicing through the air echoed by his ear, the silver fox mask on his face narrowly avoiding Kakuzu's incoming punch.
Boom!
Kakuzu's fist struck the earth, creating a shockwave that tore through the ground. Dirt and debris exploded outward, leaving a gaping crater in its wake. Kakuzu's gaze flicked upward, his posture low and poised for another strike. His other fis...
2025-01-13 09:43:57 +0000 UTC
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The sun's rays bathed the earth, invigorating the flowers, grass, and trees below. The scenery mirrored Kakuzu's mood—unusually pleasant.
"Whips, wax, shackles… I wonder what other services they offer here."
"Ah, forget it. When in Rome… might as well see what they have to offer."
For Kakuzu, a millionaire accustomed to life's luxuries, the simplest pleasures were often the most satisfying. He was prepared to indulge in a unique experience, and su...
2025-01-13 09:43:28 +0000 UTC
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The midday sun blazed fiercely, casting its unrelenting rays over the vast landscape. High above, an eagle soared, its wings slicing through the air. On the ground below, ants marched in orderly lines, scouring for food. A tree snake slithered out of its hollow, its tongue flicking as it searched for prey.
Amid this backdrop, Kakuzu treaded slowly, his path cutting through the Land of Fire. As expected, no one had stopped or interrogated him. However, his face bore an unmistakable scowl...
2025-01-13 09:42:49 +0000 UTC
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The sun tilted westward, beginning to reveal the beauty of the sunset. The soft crimson afterglow blanketed the earth, harmonizing with the ground covered in autumn leaves to create a breathtaking spectacle. Occasionally, birds would glide across the sky, adding a touch of life to the serene scene.
Yet, the focal point of this picturesque landscape was unmistakably the valley shrouded in black smoke.
Ganraku gripped a kunai tightly, advancing step by step with the calculated preci...
2025-01-13 09:42:13 +0000 UTC
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Bang! Bang! Bang! A blackened arm slapped the dust off its surface, echoing like striking metal.
"As expected from someone trained in Iwagakure's explosive squad—your techniques could easily pulverize someone," Kakuzu remarked, his piercing gaze analyzing the situation. After their brief exchange, he had a clear understanding of Ganraku's abilities.
The constant Rat seal formed by Ganraku's hands wasn't for show—it channeled chakra through his body....
2025-01-13 09:41:29 +0000 UTC
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"Dammit, you nearly killed me!"
Deep gouges scarred the ground in front of Ganraku, evidence that he had leapt clear of the explosion just in time. His earlier composure was nowhere to be seen. The roast chicken he'd been holding was long forgotten, and his body tensed as his hands moved into position. Crossing his thumbs, his right hand gripped over his left, forming the Tiger Seal.
A chilling bloodlust radiated from his narrow pupils—Ganraku was genuinely enraged by Kakuzu.
2025-01-13 09:40:57 +0000 UTC
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A crimson maple leaf drifted to the ground, filling the last cracks of the earth and painting the landscape in vivid autumn red. The fiery hue extended beyond the valley floor, spreading to the mountain slopes on either side, heralding the arrival of fall. This was a secluded path on the outskirts of the Fire Country, located dozens of kilometers away from the nearest village. Framed by towering peaks resembling a canyon, the area remained undisturbed due to its remote location, preserving it...
2025-01-13 09:40:20 +0000 UTC
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"This is for you. I believe it will prove helpful."
The violet-haired woman retrieved an object from a refrigeration unit and handed it to Kakuzu. He took a closer look—it was a square ice block, still unmelted, with a small note sealed in its transparent center.
Kakuzu tucked the ice block and a bounty slip into his sleeve, then exited the establishment alongside the woman. Outside, Heisei Rokuno was still diligently standing guard.
"Kid, you're not hurt, are you?" Kakuzu...
2025-01-13 09:39:42 +0000 UTC
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The room was tense, filled with the faint hum of danger.
"You think you can toy with me?" Kakuzu growled, his hand shifting from a fist to a claw. He gripped Heisei Rokuno's neck, lifting the man entirely off the ground. Kakuzu's fury was palpable, a searing heat that filled the air. Anyone would be furious after being played, and Kakuzu was no exception.
"Argh…!" Rokuno's legs kicked desperately, trying to find purchase, but the floor stayed just out of reach. He clawed at Kaku...
2025-01-13 09:38:56 +0000 UTC
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"Hashirama Senju… that man again. No matter how much I try, I can't seem to avoid his shadow."
"What is this world trying to force on me? Do they want me to reenact the ridiculous feat of throwing 800 shuriken to take him down? Hah."
Kakuzu chuckled dryly. He knew there was no point in such theatrics. But this line of thought opened a new door for him.
"Hashirama's cells were used by many in later generations. They're even said to play a key role in future events. Perh...
2025-01-13 09:38:19 +0000 UTC
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In the past, this land was engulfed in blood and fire—clashes of blades and swords, endless battles between ninja clans and warring factions. The flames of war swept across the Shinobi World like drifting smoke, sparing no one. Men took up arms to defend their clans and families, while women and children left behind at home had no escape from the ravages of conflict.
The chaos paid no heed to age or innocence. But then came the establishment of the shinobi village system, where each n...
2025-01-13 09:37:22 +0000 UTC
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A quiet pavilion stood ten miles outside of Takigakure. Two men sat facing each other. On one side was Kakuzu, and on the other, a man in his fifties named Kimu, a figure of authority within the village.
Behind Kimu, about seven or eight meters away, stood over a dozen shinobi acting as guards. However, he had instructed them to keep their distance. He knew well enough that if Kakuzu turned hostile, they would be little more than fodder, unable to offer any real protection. Better for t...
2025-01-13 09:36:42 +0000 UTC
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Beyond the outskirts of Takigakure, the corpses of more than a dozen ninjas lay scattered across the road, their lifeless forms testament to a recent battle. At the center of the carnage stood Kakuzu, holding one of the village elders by the throat with a single hand.
The elder, despite his dire situation, formed hand seals with a desperate urgency. Electricity began crackling in his hands.
"Lightning Release: Thunderstrike—"
His words were cut short, his breath stolen by ...
2025-01-13 09:36:15 +0000 UTC
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"Kakuzu, there's nowhere left for you to run!"
Chiba Mei, hidden among the twenty ninja surrounding Kakuzu, gazed at him with a glint of triumph in his eyes. In a one-on-one fight, no one in Takigakure could stand a chance against Kakuzu—not even Chiba Mei himself. However, Mei had meticulously studied Kakuzu's arsenal of jutsu.
Earth Style: Earth Spear.
One of Kakuzu's signature techniques. By channeling Earth Style chakra, he could harden his body to an ...
2025-01-13 09:35:34 +0000 UTC
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Kakuzu rose slowly. The wounds burned through by Fire Release techniques began to mend themselves, the black threads in his body weaving seamlessly until every trace of the injury was erased. Within seconds, he stood tall, his gaze calm and unwavering as it locked onto Gotou Tsubasa.
Gotou Tsubasa had spent most of his life as a shinobi. His combat strategy was sound, but age had dulled the sharpness of his body. While he was still on par with elite jōnin in terms of experience and tac...
2025-01-13 09:34:48 +0000 UTC
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