Kakuzu knew very well that Uchiha Su was powerful—there was no doubt about that.
A bounty of three hundred million ryo had been placed on Uchiha Su's head at the Bounty Exchange. Countless bounty hunters, dreaming of striking it rich overnight, had taken on the mission. Yet every single time, those who went after him never returned.
Not one.
Kakuzu himself had once been tempted by that enormous reward. But temptation was one thing—recklessness was another. He understood his own limits clearly. No matter how greedy he was, he would never gamble his life on something he knew he couldn't win.
However, what truly puzzled him was something else entirely—
Why was Uchiha Su here, in the Land of Tea?
Kakuzu had come to this country for a simple reason: to collect a bounty. The Land of Tea was weak, its ninja forces unimpressive, and its leadership corrupt. To him, it was a safe hunting ground—an easy place to earn money.
He had just completed his mission. His target lay dead at his feet, and he had been moments away from taking the head to exchange for his reward.
And then—
The sky fell.
A massive creature, like a giant statue carved from stone, had descended from the heavens. The sheer force of its landing created a shockwave so devastating that Kakuzu had been forced to sacrifice one of his hearts just to survive.
Even now, the memory sent a chill down his spine.
Before arriving in the Land of Tea, he had conducted thorough investigations. He had confirmed that there were no threats here—nothing that could endanger him.
And yet, Uchiha Su had appeared.
It was simply his misfortune.
"Two left."
Uchiha Su raised two fingers, smiling brightly as he spoke.
To Kakuzu, that smile was more terrifying than any threat.
The secret technique Earth Grudge Fear was his greatest trump card. It granted him multiple lives—each heart representing both a life and an elemental affinity. With all five hearts intact, Kakuzu was at his peak strength.
But now—
"I surren—!"
Kakuzu tried to shout.
Before he could finish, another bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking him mercilessly.
Another heart shattered.
"Only one left," Uchiha Su said calmly, tilting his head slightly. "Tell me… if I call down another heavenly punishment, will you still be able to stand here alive?"
Kakuzu froze.
Then, without hesitation, he threw away his ninja tool bag.
"I surrender."
He did not kneel, nor did he beg. But his actions made his decision clear—he had no intention of resisting any further.
Kakuzu was not afraid of death.
What he feared was something far worse—
Dying without money.
In his world, money was everything. It was more reliable than comrades, more trustworthy than love, and more enduring than loyalty. People betrayed. Bonds broke.
But money?
Money never lied.
Uchiha Su walked forward slowly and stopped in front of him. He observed Kakuzu silently for a moment before speaking.
"Kakuzu. Former member of Takigakure's assassination unit."
Kakuzu's expression changed slightly.
"You once accepted a mission to assassinate the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama," Uchiha Su continued. "But you were utterly defeated by his Wood Release."
"You fled."
Kakuzu clenched his fists slightly but remained silent.
"When you returned to your village, you were not praised. Instead, you were blamed and imprisoned."
"Eventually, you broke out of prison, stole the forbidden technique Earth Grudge Fear, and killed the village elders—taking their hearts."
"Since then, you've wandered the Ninja World as a bounty hunter."
Uchiha Su spoke calmly, as though recounting a story he had heard long ago.
But to Kakuzu, every word struck like a hammer.
"That's not entirely true," Kakuzu muttered.
He lifted his head slightly, his voice low and heavy.
"I failed the mission. I accept that."
"But I was the only one who dared to take it."
"They called it honor… until I failed."
His eyes darkened.
"Then suddenly, I became a criminal."
"If it had just been punishment, I might have accepted it."
"But execution?"
He let out a cold laugh.
"They wanted my life. So I took theirs first."
Silence fell for a moment.
Then—
"Are you interested in working for me?"
Kakuzu blinked.
For a moment, he thought he had misheard.
"Working for you?" he repeated. "What's the salary?"
The question came out almost instantly, without hesitation.
Uchiha Su didn't seem surprised.
"I'll provide you with a house and a shop," he said. "You can either run the shop yourself or rent it out."
Kakuzu's eyes flickered slightly.
"Your main responsibility will be simple—monitor the Great Nobles in the Land of Water. Check for tax evasion, corruption, and hidden wealth."
"As for your salary, I'll match the monthly income of an elite jonin."
Kakuzu's breathing grew slightly heavier.
"Once you've proven yourself, I'll give you greater authority. Eventually, you may even manage the entire financial system of the Hidden Mist."
Uchiha Su paused, then added:
"If you perform well, I'll appoint you as Finance Officer."
Kakuzu's eyes widened slightly.
"In the future," Uchiha Su continued, "you can even take a surname for yourself."
He thought for a moment.
"Actually… not just you. All commoners in the Land of Water who lack surnames will be required to adopt one."
This wasn't just recruitment.
This was reform.
Kakuzu fell silent.
From a purely financial perspective, the offer was extremely attractive.
A stable income.
Authority over money.
And most importantly—
Access to wealth.
Uchiha Su watched him carefully.
He knew Kakuzu's value.
This man was not just strong—his financial acumen was extraordinary. More importantly, despite his obsession with money, Kakuzu had principles.
He would kill for money.
But he would never embezzle public funds.
That alone made him perfect for the role.
And—
Uchiha Su was genuinely curious.
What would happen when a man obsessed with money confronted a group of nobles obsessed with avoiding taxes?
The thought alone was amusing.
After a long pause, Kakuzu spoke again.
"I have conditions."
Uchiha Su's expression darkened slightly.
"Conditions?"
"Yes," Kakuzu said firmly. "An employment relationship is sacred."
"I will work for you."
"But I will also continue taking bounty missions."
Uchiha Su said nothing.
"You are not allowed to take a share of those earnings," Kakuzu added quickly.
Then, after a brief pause, he reluctantly said, "If it's an official mission from your village… then you can take your cut."
Uchiha Su stared at him for a moment.
Then he asked, "Anything else?"
Kakuzu hesitated.
He wanted to ask more—about promotions, raises, benefits—but under Uchiha Su's gaze, he held back.
"No."
"Good."
Uchiha Su nodded.
"Then start working."
He gestured toward the ruins.
"Search the royal capital for any remaining valuables."
Kakuzu's eyes lit up instantly.
"But," Uchiha Su added coldly, "you are not allowed to keep anything for yourself."
Kakuzu froze.
"All recovered valuables will be collected, evaluated, and redistributed as rewards to the army."
Kakuzu's expression stiffened.
That hurt.
But he still nodded.
Because in the long run—
This arrangement was far more profitable.
Without another word, he turned and began dragging his heavily injured body through the ruins.
Despite having lost four hearts, despite his battered condition—
He worked.
Relentlessly.
The others watched in stunned silence.
"He's… incredible," Hyuga Hizashi muttered."Interesting," Uchiha Hikari said quietly.
"A perfect candidate for Finance Officer," Uchiha Nami concluded.
Uchiha Su smiled faintly.
"When he's done, I'll have a proper discussion with him about the village's economic system."
His gaze turned thoughtful.
For too long, he had neglected financial management.
Now—
That would change.
He would reclaim full control over the economy.
The minting rights.
The currency.
Everything.
And with Kakuzu at his side—
The Land of Water would become stronger than ever.
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