"He loves money, doesn't he?"
"We don't need his life; we just need his Earth Grudge Fear. If he wants gold, we'll simply buy it from him," Hiruzen said calmly.
The value of the Earth Grudge Fear was astronomical. Lady Mito had already confird its utility. On one hand, the "Neural Threads" were the primary material needed to bridge the severed ridians in Master Tobirama's new body. On the other hand, the ability to stitch flesh and redirect chakra pathways was a cornerstone of the dical revolution Hiruzen was building.
Technically, Hiruzen didn't need the threads to revive his teacher; Hiruko's cellular fusion theories were stable enough to be functional. But Hiruzen wanted perfection. Bringing his Master back in a flawed body felt disrespectful. He wanted the best "hardware" available.
Danzo Shimura furrowed his brow. "Buy it?"
The "Darkness of the Shinobi" didn't have a habit of paying for things. Whether inside or outside the village, his instinct was always to take what he needed by force. But now, with the Hokage's hand firmly on the leash, he found his options limited.
Hiruzen caught the look on Danzo's face. "Naturally, if he tries to play hero or double-cross us, we'll put him in the ground."
"But a trade is preferable. Not just for Lord Hashirama's reputation, but for the sake of future business. If we play this right, we'll have a permanent source for high-level biological materials."
Danzo nodded. He recognized the tactical difficulty. Capturing a shinobi like Kakuzu—an immortal monster with decades of experience—without destroying his unique anatomy was a low-probability play. In a life-or-death struggle, the Earth Grudge Fear threads would likely be shredded.
Besides, if the technique were easy to master, the Hidden Waterfall would have used it to rule the world. Kakuzu was a specialist. Keeping him alive and cooperative was worth more than a few stolen scrolls.
"How do we bait him?" Danzo asked. "And Hiruzen... the village is broke. I know Koharu and Homura are talking to the Land of Fire's treasury, but we don't have the liquid capital for an S-rank acquisition."
Hiruzen chuckled.
"We leak a rumor in the black market. Tell the underground that a wealthy noble is looking for the 'Threads of Immortality.' Tell them price is no object. We'll place simultaneous 'Want Ads' in every bounty station in the Five Nations."
"The persona: a decadent, arrogant aristocrat who has never seen real power, obsessed with living forever. We set the eting point in the outskirts of the Fire Capital."
To a man like Kakuzu, a direct approach by a Hidden Village was a threat. But a request from a "fat, stupid noble"? That was a paycheck. By eting in the capital instead of Konoha, they lowered his guard and added "Face" to the noble-buyer persona.
"As for the money, don't worry, Danzo."
"In three to five years, your only headache will be finding enough projects to spend our budget on," Hiruzen mused. "To a ninja, money is both everything and nothing."
In Arata's view, money in a world of super-powers had a steep Marginal Utility. For a Genin or Chunin, cash was a necessity. But for a Jonin or a Kage, money was just paper—they could take whatever they wanted.
Money only beca "Real Power" when it was converted through two channels:
Technological Supremacy: Using cash to burn through R&D cycles. Turning "Handcrafted Artisanal Jutsu" into mass-produced industrial warfare. The Healing Scrolls were just the prototype. Hiruzen's true ambition was a stabilized Hashirama Vaccine. He wanted to turn every Leaf Shinobi into a "Konoha Superman" with massive chakra reserves.
The Social Safety Net: Creating a village that functioned as a "Company-State." By providing pensions, orphan support, and healthcare, he created a loyalty that couldn't be broken by a higher bid from another village.
"Is that so, Hiruzen?" Danzo asked, sounding skeptical. "You're being awfully mysterious about these 'Economic Engines.'"
"No mystery. I told you, Danzo, I'm bringing you along for the ride. I need my Commander by my side."
"We're going to the Capital to pick up our first paynt. And while we're there, we'll interview our new 'Accountant,' Kakuzu."
"The Hokage and the Anbu Commander personally greeting a rogue from the Waterfall?" Hiruzen grinned. "He should feel honored."
Danzo snorted, but a surge of pride ward his chest. The strongest duo in the Leaf... I suppose Kakuzu is lucky we're even offering to pay.
One Month Later. The Uchiha Compound.
Fugaku Uchiha sat by a crib, watching a tiny, wailing infant. He looked like a man who had been awake for a week straight.
He wasn't ready to be a father. He was a warrior, a leader of the Police Force—and yet, here he was, changing diapers.
He blad Elder Isshin. If the old man hadn't been preaching "patience" and "hiding" for the last year, Fugaku wouldn't have had so much free ti to spend with Mikoto.
"Is my life as a cool, detached shinobi over?" Fugaku sighed. "I suppose there's no going back now."
He looked down at the baby's face. "I'll be a good father. I have to be."
At that mont, Elder Isshin strode into the room, a wide, toothy grin on his aged face. "Fugaku! I heard the news! A son!"
"This is exactly what we need! A booming population is the only way the Uchiha have a future."
"Have you nad him?"
Fugaku quickly suppressed his annoyance. "His na is Itachi. I hope he becos wise and sharp—soone who can see the dangers and opportunities for our clan before they arrive."
"A fine na! A great na!" Isshin set down a bag of high-grade formula and baby supplies. "Mark my words, Fugaku. This boy is the next Madara! Or perhaps the next Izuna!"
Fugaku's lip twitched. Lately, the Elder seed to be losing his grip. Hiruzen's "Golden Cage" strategy—bringing the Uchiha into the Patrol Net and providing high-paying steady work—had divided the clan. Isshin had spent all his energy trying to fra the Hokage's generosity as "sugar-coated poison."
"Don't let the pressure get to you, Elder," Fugaku said quietly. He was worried the old man might have a stroke from sheer resentnt.
"Pressure? I have no pressure!" Isshin huffed, though his eyes were wild. "Hiruzen's little welfare ga won't last forever. Konoha is going to run out of gold soon! He's spending like a madman!"
"I am going to live to see the Uchiha restoration! I am going to outlive that Monkey if it's the last thing I do!"
Fugaku nodded politely, but his heart sank. The Elder's ntal state was becoming increasingly... erratic.
While Isshin was predicting Konoha's bankruptcy, the n responsible for the village's bank account were already on the move.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura traveled light, dressed in simple traveling cloaks. Tucked into Hiruzen's internal scrolls were the first completed batch of the "Sage Vitality Pills."(Kensei-tan)
They were heading for the Fire Capital. It was ti to cash in.
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