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'How did he dodge that?' Kakuzu's eyes narrowed as he watched Shin blur backward, his speed rising just enough to escape the incoming blast. 'I was sure that hit would land... but he still managed to slip away.'
He paused, studying the shinobi across from him.
'No... he didn't just react. He pushed his body past its limits.'
Blood trickled from Shin's nostrils and ears. His frame hunched forward, swaying slightly with each breath. His eyes were squinted, his jaw tight, muscles visibly tensed against the pain.
'It's a temporary boost. He damaged his body for speed.' Kakuzu read the signs quickly. Years of hunting shinobi had taught him what to look for.
'He won't be able to keep that up. I need to finish him before he…'
His senses screamed.
He jumped back without hesitation, just as the ground beneath him exploded in a violent shockwave. Dust and shattered stone flew through the air.
Maki stood where he had been, violent chakra aura covering her entire body. Her eyes had changed into vertical slits, glowing with quiet fury. She held a massive, bandaged blade in her right hand, but the first thing she did wasn't attack.
She turned to Shin, scanning him quickly. Once she confirmed he was alive and still standing, she let out a breath of relief.
Then her gaze shifted to Kakuzu.
"Before I kill you," she said flatly, resting the massive sword on her shoulder, "I want to know who you are and why you attacked us."
Kakuzu didn't answer. His eyes analyzed her frame, taking in the muscle density, the sharp stance, the violent pulse of chakra that radiated from her like heat from a furnace.
'Close-range fighter. Strong build. Massive chakra pool... but more than that, her chakra feels unnatural. Too wild. This isn't an ordinary human chakra.'
He didn't flinch, but something in the back of his mind whispered that this bounty might've come with more risk than expected.
Still, 150 million Ryo was 150 million Ryo.
'She's worth the trouble,' he thought, licking his lower lip without thinking.
Maki's eyes narrowed. That single gesture, coupled with Kakuzu's abnormal appearance, was enough to disgust her.
"Kid, you don't know your place," Kakuzu said calmly, his chakra flaring like a rising tide. All around him, his elemental creatures trembled in response, twitching like puppets waiting for a command.
"Maki," Shin called out, forcing the words past clenched teeth, "those things can use elemental attacks - fire, lightning, and water. He's got Earth Release too. And he can extend his limbs with those black threads connecting his body. Watch for that." Shin quickly relayed all the information he had gathered.
The moment the elementals stirred, Maki flickered.
She was not just dodging attacks but also shifting the battlefield further from Shin.
'He needs time to recover. I need to keep them away from him,' she thought, circling wide before launching forward again.
Once she was satisfied with the distance, she charged.
'She's even faster than that guy with the thirty million Ryo bounty,' Kakuzu analyzed as Maki closed the distance to one of his elementals, swinging Samehada in a wide arc. The blade smashed into one of the elementals, sending it hurtling through the trees like a ragdoll before it finally hit the earth with a deafening crash.
'That's one down,' Maki noted, eyes already tracking the next.
She vanished again, reappearing near the second creature, but it was already retreating. Both remaining elementals turned toward Kakuzu, their movements grotesque as if they had just learned how to move. Each step they made shook the ground violently until they finally reached Kakuzu and leaped forward, merging back into his body.
For a moment, Maki's jaw dropped at the sight.
'What a disgusting technique,' she thought, but the shock was momentary as she charged.
She closed the distance with Kakuzu and struck his chest, Samehada shivering in anticipation. The impact landed hard, but instead of flesh, her blade met a surface that darkened in an instant, hardening into something almost metallic..
'He can harden his body?' Maki thought, but she didn't stop. The impact produced a loud thud, sending Kakuzu flying, however, he managed to regain his balance mid-air and landed swiftly.
'Her attacks send a lightning shockwave…' Kakuzu's expression was unreadable, his distorted face framed by metallic wires stretching from his mouth. 'If only that bastard hadn't destroyed my Wind Elemental, I might have stood a chance. But not now. This girl should have a bounty way higher than 150 million Ryo. I need to retreat.' It didn't take Kakuzu long to realize how strong Maki was. Her lightning affinity almost negated his impenetrable defenses, making the situation even worse.
"Your partner won't be coming," Maki smirked, noticing where Kakuzu's gaze lingered. 'Mei and Orihime should be enough to deal with him,' she thought. Maki had left the two of them to handle the Kusagakure nin while she came to Shin's rescue.
'If what this girl is saying is true, time is not only on their side, but I'm already in serious trouble,' Kakuzu thought calmly. Despite the odds stacked against him, he knew better than to panic or waste time in despair. He quickly analyzed the situation and came up with a plan that would almost guarantee his successful retreat.
'This should work. People like her will always prioritize their comrades over their opponent,' Kakuzu thought. One of his elementals detached from his body and charged toward Shin. Ordinarily, Maki wouldn't have been bothered, but this was a different situation.
'He can't defend himself against that thing in his current state,' Maki realized instantly. Without hesitation, she pivoted and charged straight for the elemental.
But the moment she closed the distance, her eyes caught the glimpse of chakra seals lining its body. There were dozens of them, already glowing faintly beneath the creature's grotesque surface.
'Explosive tags!'
Maki's instincts kicked in. She didn't waste time hesitating. She turned on her heel and leapt back, chakra surging into her legs as she pushed for maximum distance.
The elemental twitched.
And then it detonated.
The explosion was deafening, shaking the entire forest. A massive crater formed where the Water Elemental had stood moments before. However, despite the sheer power of the blast, Maki was unharmed. Explosive tags weren't enough to take her down, but Kakuzu's intention wasn't to defeat her - it was to buy time. And it worked. By the time the dust settled, Kakuzu was already gone. The few seconds the Water Elemental had delayed Maki were enough for him to cover a significant distance. With his chakra signature now erased, tracking him down would be nearly impossible.
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Kaoru entered the village head's room, and the moment he stepped inside, his jaw nearly hit the floor. The room, or rather, the residence, was the epitome of wealth and opulence. The floor was made of dark marble, with golden apples intricately carved into it.
'I hope that's not real gold,' Kaoru thought, unable to believe that some remote village could afford to waste money on such things. The walls were covered with so many paintings and expensive-looking, ornate weapons that the actual walls were barely visible. Despite it being daytime, the room was lit by countless candles mounted on tall candlesticks that towered over Kaoru.
Opposite the door stood a massive dark wood desk, adorned with carvings of a proud lion, a fierce tiger, and an elegant peacock. Behind the desk were two enormous windows draped with silk curtains. The outer layer was dark and the inner layer was a shimmering gold. But the main attraction of the room was its owner, the village head, seated in an impossibly wide chair. However, what caught Kaoru's attention the most wasn't the size of the chair, the room's excessive decor, or its luxurious style - it was the village head himself, who looked nothing like the image Kaoru had imagined.
In the ridiculously wide chair sat a thin and frail man, dressed in lavish clothing similar to the villager Kaoru had met earlier. Four out of five fingers on each hand were adorned with gold rings encrusted with precious stones, and even the pen he was writing with was made of gold.
'Am I dreaming?' Kaoru wondered as he walked toward the village head. 'How can a place like this exist in the Land of Water? And more importantly, why haven't I heard about it?'
"Ahem," Kaoru coughed to get the village head's attention. "My name is Takime Kaoru. I was told you could help me send a message to my village." Kaoru looked at the village head, trying to meet his gaze. He was curious to see his reaction.
"Oh, Lord Kaoru! We are so honored that the head of the renowned Takime clan is visiting our humble and poor village," the man said, struggling to even raise his gaze. A moment ago, his face had been filled with exhaustion, but now he wore a happy smile like he had just met his idol.
"Oh my, where are my manners? My name is Rinpo, and I am the head of this village," he finally managed to rise from his chair, stumbling a few times before bowing his head. But as he did, his head seemed to outweigh his body, causing him to nearly faceplant onto the desk. Thankfully, he caught himself with his hands just in time, regaining his balance.
Kaoru even rushed forward to help Rinpo stand, but as the man regained his balance, Kaoru decided not to intervene, not wanting to appear rude.
"Lord Kaoru, we will help you deliver the message and even arrange a ship for your return," Rinpo continued, walking toward Kaoru with a smile. But his expression suddenly turned serious. "Would it be possible to make a commission to Takimura?" he asked, meeting Kaoru's gaze.
"Thank you, Lord Rinpo, for your generosity," Kaoru said, bowing slightly to show gratitude. "I can't speak for all of Takimura, I don't hold that kind of power. But at the very least, I can deliver your request. And if it's within my power, I'll guarantee that we'll do our best to complete it," Kaoru answered after a brief moment of consideration.
"That's more than I could ever ask for," Rinpo said humbly, bowing again, which surprised Kaoru.
'This whole village, including its head, is weird. They're too frail and exhausted to be so rich and humble,' Kaoru thought. The only one who had acted like a normal human being was the guard, and even he was oddly weak for someone whose sole responsibility was protection. 'It feels like these guys were extremely poor and weak, but one day gained immense wealth.'
"What's the commission, if I may ask?" Kaoru asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"It's nothing major for a mighty village like Takimura, but for us…" A hint of sadness flashed in Rinpo's eyes, though only for a moment.
'That's probably the first genuine emotion I've seen so far,' Kaoru noted, not missing the sadness. 'Some things don't add up. If they're so rich, why haven't bandits, rogue nin, or even Kiri itself raided them? And how did they gain such wealth in the first place?' Kaoru's confusion grew, and his expression betrayed his thoughts. He wasn't skilled or experienced in diplomacy after all.
"Our village recently gained its wealth. We've been working tirelessly, and we only sell our product to Kiri, who pays us a fixed price. It's not much, but it's more than enough for simple villagers. More importantly, they provided protection," Rinpo explained. His words were deliberate, but they also carried a hint of hesitation.
'He seems unsure whether to tell me the whole truth or not,' Kaoru thought, realizing this tiny village likely had a big secret.
"If you're uncomfortable speaking about it, don't worry. Just tell me what the commission is, and I'll decide if I need more information based on that," Kaoru said, trying to be polite. 'You catch more bees with honey than with vinegar,' he thought.
"It's nothing like that, Lord Kaoru," Rinpo replied. "It's just that our contract with Kiri is still in effect, but they've stopped holding up their end, they're no longer providing protection. Pirates raided our small fishing outpost near the coast a week ago." Rinpo spoke quickly and briefly, showing he was resolved to ask for Takimura's help. "Since they've raided once, they'll come again. And this time, they won't stop at the outpost they'll come for our village, I'm afraid. All we need is protection from these pirates until…" He stopped abruptly, his gaze fixed on Kaoru.
"Until Kiri defeats Takimura and resumes protection, or Takimura wins, in which case you'd want to make the same deal with us. Correct?" Kaoru asked coldly, meeting Rinpo's gaze.
'What he's asking isn't unreasonable, but by applying pressure, I should be able to gain more,' Kaoru thought, maintaining his cold stare.
Rinpo hesitated before nodding. "We are just a small village, we can't anger Kirigakure or Takimura. I was going to send a letter to your village tomorrow anyway. Your appearance is just a lucky coincidence. Kiri hasn't been responding to our pleas, and now that the blizzard has stopped, the pirates may attack us any day."
Kaoru considered Rinpo's words for a moment before nodding slightly. "Alright. But if we're to help you, at least tell us what you're trading with Kiri."
**
A/N -
Let me know how you're feeling about this mysterious village arc. It's been an interesting shift to write - it's a little creepy, a little political, and juuust enough what-the-hell-is-going-on to keep Kaoru guessing (and you too, hopefully).
Also, Kaoru's been gradually taking a more central role, and that'll continue moving forward. His presence in the story will keep expanding as things escalate on both political and personal fronts.
Character Notes:
Maki - Curious monster - "I'll kill you, but first, tell me why you look like five corpses stitched into a trench coat."
Rinpo - Silk-robed mystery man - "Welcome to our totally-not-suspicious gold-plated village, Lord Kaoru."
Samehada – Drama queen sword – "I don't want to eat zombie chakra…"
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The link is also in the synopsis
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