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Utatane called them out, but Kakuzu didn't seem particularly surprised.
It was as if Orochimaru leaking all of Akatsuki's secrets wasn't unexpected at all.
"Looks like Orochimaru spilled quite a bit of intel after getting caught. Konoha's advisor elder... now that's worth far more than medical supplies."
Kakuzu's eyes gleamed as he stared at Utatane, but not because he had any special interest in her. It was because her bounty was exceptionally high.
As a high-ranking member of the village, Utatane's head carried a hefty price. Add in her abrasive personality and the grudges she'd accumulated over the years, and her bounty had become a rare prize. Normally, it was near impossible to collect since she almost never left Konoha. Who would've thought they'd run into her on the border?
For someone obsessed with money like Kakuzu, this opportunity was like striking gold.
While Kakuzu had his sights on Utatane, Juzo Biwa grinned, hefting his Executioner's Blade. His sharp, shark-like teeth gleamed ominously.
Perhaps due to their isolation, many shinobi from the Land of Water had unusual appearances, especially those from bloodline clans.
When it came to raw power, all five great shinobi villages had their strengths. But in terms of looks, the Hidden Mist Village would rank at the bottom, with a gap so large it even surpassed the second-to-last, the Hidden Cloud Village.
"Well, isn't this an unexpected surprise. Uchiha Kazuki, isn't it Orochimaru fell at your hands, didn't he? And look who else we have—Shisui of the Body Flicker, renowned from the Third Great Ninja War, and Kakashi the Copy Ninja."
The intel from the bounty network was spot on. The medical supplies Konoha was transporting to the Land of Iron had indeed arrived. However, the personnel escorting them exceeded expectations.
"Akatsuki, you take on dangerous assassination missions, targeting key figures from various nations. Aren't you worried about retaliation from the Five Great Shinobi Villages?"
"Small-time Ame, after all, can't possibly withstand the might of the Five Great Nations."
Perhaps out of habit, Utatane threw out an accusation right away, lacing her words with veiled threats. Her tone implied that Akatsuki's secrecy was overrated—Konoha knew a lot about them.
But Utatane had miscalculated her audience. Every member of Akatsuki was a lawless S-rank criminal, unconcerned about retribution or consequences.
"Hahaha, is that so?" Juzo laughed loudly.
"Not long ago, our leader captured someone named Shinnosuke. He's one of your Konoha shinobi, isn't he? Tsk, tsk, he died horribly."
What?!
Hiruzen's son was gone.
His youngest son had mysteriously vanished in the Daimyo's residence. Now his eldest son, sent to investigate Akatsuki in Ame, had also disappeared without a trace.
The Third Hokage had been waiting for news. It seemed there was no need to wait any longer. Shinnosuke was dead.
"Your bounty is quite substantial," Kakuzu said, his green, glowing eyes once again fixating on Utatane's head.
While the other Konoha shinobi also had high bounties, Utatane's position as an elder of the village made her the ultimate prize.
Bringing in her head would fetch a fortune.
"Damn it!"
Utatane, who had hoped to intimidate the enemy, found herself outmaneuvered. Furious, she clenched her fists.
"Watch out!"
Always alert, Kakashi noticed Kakuzu preparing a sneak attack. He moved immediately to intercept.
However, as Kakashi charged, a towering figure stepped into his path.
"Not so fast, kid. My evaluation period isn't over yet, so why don't you just hand over your head? Copy Ninja Kakashi."
Dai, a newly joined Akatsuki member eager to pass his evaluation, blocked Kakashi without hesitation.
"I'm more interested in Uchiha Kazuki," Juzo said, glancing at Sasori.
Sasori gave no reaction, tacitly approving Juzo's choice.
While Juzo chose Kazuki, Sasori had his sights set on Shisui, whose reputation as "Shisui of the Body Flicker" was well-known.
"Die, kid!"
Juzo swung his Executioner's Blade in a diagonal arc, aiming for Kazuki's neck. Kazuki backflipped swiftly, creating some distance.
After glancing at Kakashi's situation, Kazuki gave Shisui a look, silently signaling him to hold the line. Then he led Juzo away from the others to avoid dragging them into his fight.
Meanwhile, Kakuzu was visibly excited, and Sasori silently launched a spiked tail from under his cloak, aiming at Shisui.
Shisui dodged with ease.
"It seems we need a more open space," Sasori remarked.
He clearly didn't want his fight interrupted. Since everyone had already picked their targets, it made sense to separate and fight on their own terms.
Juzo was locked onto Kazuki, Sasori faced Shisui, and Kakashi was held back by Dai. This left Utatane alone to face Kakuzu, whose mind was entirely focused on money.
Something felt off to Utatane, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it—until she realized she was the only one left standing against Kakuzu.
Looking into his glowing green eyes, Utatane couldn't help but curse inwardly.
Having spent years inactive and advancing in age, her combat skills had deteriorated significantly. Unlike Onoki or the Third Hokage, who maintained terrifying power into their old age, Utatane lacked the same strength.
If she were to die here...
Kazuki, observing from a distance, couldn't help but chuckle to himself. 'Well then, Elder Utatane, best of luck.'
Perched on a tree, Kazuki faced Juzo, who was vigilantly watching to prevent any genjutsu. Curious, Kazuki asked.
"I'm wondering, Juzo, why did you choose me? Do you think I'm weaker, or are you just interested?"
"Does it matter?" Juzo smirked, his sharp teeth glinting.
"If you want an answer, it's simple—there aren't many shinobi in your village who'd willingly face Shisui of the Body Flicker."
"Got it," Kazuki replied.
Juzo had chosen him because he thought Kazuki was the easier target. Shisui's reputation as a killer of many Mist Village shinobi during the war still loomed large.
Compared to the renowned Shisui, Kazuki's accomplishments were less well-known. Even if Orochimaru had fallen to him, others might assume it was due to a fluke or carelessness on Orochimaru's part.
"So, I'm the soft target?" Kazuki asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Maybe." Juzo, chatty as ever, continued talking, his shark-like mouth never stopping.
"I thought I'd just intercept some valuable supplies, but look what we caught—some big fish. Especially your Konoha elder. She's worth quite a bit."
'She is indeed worth a lot.'
Drawing his katana, Kazuki blocked Juzo's Executioner's Blade with ease while keeping an eye on the other battles unfolding nearby.