"Hmm, that's the answer I wanted to hear."
Kamihane nodded in satisfaction, withdrawing from the 'Third Life Gate' state. As the azure steam dissipated, the terrifying pressure vanished completely.
Kakuzu had an illusion—for a fleeting mont, it seed as if the very air had begun to flow freely again.
Kamihane held Kakuzu's severed head, swinging it back and forth like a pocket watch before his eyes. 'Beco my subordinate,' he said.
'Subordinate?' Kakuzu retorted indignantly, 'How absurd. You lured out just to ask to beco your underling?'
'Exactly,' Kamihane replied with a light chuckle. 'I might even establish an organization later. Joining now would make you a founding mber.'
"Hmph, apart from money, I have no interest in anything else in this world," Kakuzu said instinctively.
Then he saw Kamihane walking toward his body, slender fingers reaching for the last mask on his back.
"But... if it's an organization founded by soone as strong as you, there should be plenty of opportunities to fight high-value targets, right? Being your subordinate... is ultimately a path filled with the scent of money..."
Kamihane paused his movent. "Decided?"
"Hmm, it's decided." Kakuzu's voice was muffled. "I'll be your assistant then."
"Good, I'm glad you've co around." Kamihane didn't remove the mask, instead flicking his hand to blow away the dust with a Wind Style jutsu. "You won't regret working under ."
Kamihane instantly beca much more polite, his smile radiating warm sunlight as he adjusted Kakuzu's head into place before courteously stepping back two paces to watch him slowly stitch his body back together.
"You'd better not entertain any thoughts of running away. Even if you hide at the ends of the earth, I'll find you and crush every last one of your hearts."
Kakuzu snorted coldly, 'The most important quality for a businessman is integrity. Since I've agreed, I won't go back on my word.'
'You destroyed four of my hearts... I'll need to replenish them soon...'
He turned his head, his chilling gaze fixed on a distant thicket.
'You brats hiding over there, co out now!'
Uchiha Nian's eyes flew open wide, his heart pounding wildly. When that icy gaze swept over him, a bone-chilling terror ran down his spine, and his legs trembled uncontrollably.
Just as he hesitated whether to flee, Orochimaru unexpectedly stood up and walked out with surprising composure.
'Hey, Orochimaru!' Nian reached out to pull him back, only to hear Kirito sigh faintly behind him before also rising from the bushes.
'They discovered us long ago. Now that we're trapped in this barrier, there's no other way out,' Kirito said helplessly.
Hearing this, Nian felt utterly hopeless, his face darkening as he walked out with the two.
'Three hearts—not a bad haul.'
Kakuzu chuckled darkly, tendrils of black threads seeping from the gaps in his wrists. With each step he took closer, Nian's face grew paler.
'This gentleman...' Orochimaru lifted his head, eting Kakuzu's eerie gaze directly. 'Might I ask if you are immortal?'
"Hmm?" Kakuzu raised an eyebrow, sowhat surprised by the brat's courage. "I am one who has existed as long as heaven and earth—ageless and undying."
Orochimaru froze, recalling the scenes of Kakuzu repeatedly reviving from death monts ago. His eyes flickered with excitent, devoid of any fear of impending death, as if he had offloaded all his cowardice onto Uchiha Nen behind him.
"So... such a ninjutsu truly exists in this world—one that grants eternal life!"
Kakuzu raised his hand high, aiming straight for Orochimaru's heart.
'Tsk, you really aren't picky, are you.'
Kamihane walked over with his hands behind his back, his tone laced with disdain. 'These three brats aren't even genin. Even if you take their hearts, you'll barely be scraping by—your strength will probably drop quite a bit, won't it?'
Kakuzu responded gruffly, 'It can't be helped. These brats just witnessed our entire battle and already have intel on both of us. We can't let them live!'
'What's the rush?'
Kamihane pushed Kakuzu aside and knelt down on one knee before Orochimaru. 'Orochimaru, you wouldn't tell anyone about what happened here, would you?'
'Huh? You know my na?' Orochimaru was sowhat surprised, unconsciously staring at the black ribbon covering the young man's eyes, as if trying to see through it.
Kamihane smiled faintly. 'Not just you, but also Kirito behind you, and... that one—you're called Uchiha Nian, right?'
'This...' Both Kirito and Nian were startled. The forr frowned, trying to recall if he had ever t this person before, while the latter looked utterly confused, certain he had never seen this young man since the day he could rember.
"Kirito, I know your sister."
\"You know my sister?\" Kirito finally let out a sigh of relief, his admiration for his older sister rising yet another notch in his heart.
\"Indeed, I even treated her to cake back in the day,\" Kamihane replied gently, sounding like a friendly neighborhood big brother reminiscing about everyday matters—a stark contrast to his ruthless deanor during the earlier battle.
\"But, familiarity aside, for your own good, don't go spreading word about what happened here...\"
Kirito blinked nervously, nodding like a woodpecker. \"Naturally, we didn't see a thing.\"
Kakuzu asked suspiciously, 'Hey, you're not really going to let these brats go, are you?'
'Why not? So what if they get the intel?' Kamihane stood up and patted Kakuzu on the shoulder. 'Relax, I'll personally take you hunting for so strong hearts later—all high-bounty criminals.'
The sudden movent startled Kakuzu, leaving him montarily stunned. The impression Kamihane left during battle was too intense; he still wasn't used to physical contact with him.
'Fine, if you say so.' He withdrew his hand resentfully and fell silent, lost in thought.
Kamihane didn't pay him any mind and instead said to Orochimaru, 'It seems you're quite interested in the power of immortality?'
Orochimaru didn't deny it, stating bluntly, 'Human life is too fragile. But witnessing the battle between you two today made realize that the human body contains power that ordinary people can never fully utilize in their lifeti. If we could break these shackles...'
'Looks like this experience has been quite enlightening for you,' Kamihane said with a smile, patting Orochimaru's head.
He leaned in closer, whispering into Orochimaru's ear, 'If one day you feel that Konoha can't provide you with the power of immortality, you're always welco to co find here...'
With that, he stood up, forming hand seals. A faint breeze seed to pass through the woods, causing the plants to sway gently, and the flow of air beca noticeably lighter.
'Alright, the barrier has been lifted. You may leave now.'
'Oh, right, that person...' Kamihane suddenly seed to rember sothing, pulling out a scroll from his robes and tossing it to Uchiha Nian.
Nian hastily reached out, barely managing to catch the scroll in his hands.
\"You seem decent enough, so I'll give you this jutsu. Whether you practice it yourself or hand it over to the village is up to you.\" Kamihane turned away, leaving behind an aloof and profound silhouette.
\"Ah.\" Nian's face flushed red. He even wondered if he was dreaming—not only had he survived, but it seed he'd also obtained so kind of secret technique?
This was... probably the first ti soone had ever given him sothing.
It wasn't until Kirito nudged him discreetly that he snapped out of his daze.
He hastily bowed, overwheld by the unexpected honor, and stamred, 'Thank you... big brother!'
In an instant, Kamihane's back seed to petrify, his lips twitching as shadows swallowed his entire face.
All of this fell into Kakuzu's sight, and imdiately, a thoughtful expression crossed his features.
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