Naruto: Reborn as Kakuzu, the Immortal Assassin

Three days later, a genin from Takigakure stood respectfully outside a small house, his voice low and deferential.

"Captain Kakuzu, the village leader and the elders have been waiting outside for quite a while."

As he spoke, the genin nervously glanced toward the house. His mission was to urge Kakuzu to act, but he didn't dare be too direct. Instead, he danced around the point, hoping the message would land.

Inside, Kakuzu sat calmly, leisurely sipping tea. His reflection in the teacup showed a young man of only 26, yet his gaze carried the weight of countless battles. For the village, he had slain innumerable enemies—his contributions, if not celebrated, were undeniable.

And yet, in the end, the same village sought to trade his life for money. A mocking smirk tugged at his lips as he placed the teacup down.

"Let them wait," he said coldly.

"This..." The genin outside hesitated, wanting to protest, but Kakuzu's commanding tone made his heart tremble.

...

At the gates of Takigakure

Gotou Tsubasa stood with the village's senior officials, waiting for Kakuzu's arrival. Time dragged on, yet there was no sign of him.

"Lord Gotou," Chiba Mei volunteered. "Kakuzu's behavior is outrageous. Allow me to drag him out personally."

Chiba Mei was from a prominent clan, while Kakuzu was merely a skilled assassin elevated by the village's need. The disparity in their statuses ensured there was no camaraderie between them, despite being nominal allies.

Gotou Tsubasa, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, finally opened them, glancing toward Kakuzu's residence. His tone remained calm, devoid of any emotion.

"Mei, this is likely the last farewell we'll give him. Can't you be a little more patient? Besides, where else could Kakuzu go? He'll come eventually."

His confidence was born of years of control. Kakuzu had been shaped by the village's training since childhood—Gotou Tsubasa was sure he understood Kakuzu better than anyone.

After all, Kakuzu had already accepted the mission. If he dared abandon the task of assassinating Hashirama Senju, it would mean betraying the village outright. And did Kakuzu have the nerve for that?

Gotou Tsubasa's composure silenced the others. They returned to their quiet wait.

Unbeknownst to them, several kilometers away, Kakuzu had arrived at a secluded, elegant estate.

A chunin guard, clad in a vest, immediately recognized him and stepped forward, bowing.

"Captain Kakuzu, how can I assist you?"

Kakuzu glanced at the imposing manor.

"I need to see Lord Gotou."

The estate belonged to Gotou Tsubasa himself. The chunin, unaware of the plans surrounding Kakuzu, replied truthfully,

"Captain Kakuzu, my apologies, but the village leader is not at home. If it's urgent, I can deliver a message for you."

"Very well," Kakuzu said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Go inform him. I'll wait inside."

"Understood, Captain Kakuzu. Please, come in."

The chunin led him into the sprawling estate, intending to guide him to the reception hall.

However, Kakuzu suddenly halted. His sharp gaze fixated on a specific direction, and without another word, he strode toward it.

"Captain Kakuzu, please, this way..." The chunin's words fell on deaf ears.

Following a memory etched deep within his mind, Kakuzu approached the innermost room of the estate. Staring at the locked door, his hands formed a rapid sequence of seals. As the last seal completed, lightning chakra crackled around his right hand.

Lightning Release: Lightning Slash

His arm shot forward like a blade, leaving behind several afterimages.

Shhhhhh!

In mere seconds, the wooden door was reduced to splinters, the protective seals and barriers shattered by the lightning-enhanced attack. The room's interior was revealed—rows of scrolls lined one side, while another showcased jade ornaments and other treasures. It was clearly a secret stash of valuables.

Kakuzu stepped forward, but his sharp instincts caught the sound of projectiles slicing through the air.

He turned slightly as kunai whizzed past him.

"Stop right there! What do you think you're doing?!"

"That's the clan head's private training room—unauthorized entry is forbidden!"

"Not even you, Captain Kakuzu, are exempt!"

The destroyed barriers and the alarmed cries of the chunin had roused the entire estate. Loyal guards swarmed in from every direction, some darting along the ceilings, others readying their weapons or forming seals.

Kakuzu's smirk deepened.

"Interesting."

As he spoke, his hands blurred into another sequence of seals, this time faster and more intricate. Chakra surged within him, gathering at his throat.

Wind Style: Pressure Damage!

A ferocious gale erupted, spiraling outward with devastating force. Wind blades tore through the air, shredding furniture and walls alike. In some areas, the vortex intensified, forming miniature tornadoes that flung everything—tables, doors, and even people—into the sky.

Simultaneously, a series of deafening crashes echoed through the air. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Vases, porcelain, cups, and wooden posts shattered into fragments under the relentless barrage of wind blades. The immense repulsive force, the overwhelming gusts, and the razor-sharp slicing power combined to devastating effect.

Finally—BOOM!—the force exploded like a cannonball, blasting through the roof of the villa. The ceiling was sent flying into the sky before crashing back to the ground, turning everything upside down. The explosion's roar echoed across several kilometers, startling people in its wake. Villagers on the streets looked toward the rising plume of smoke, their faces filled with confusion and alarm. For a moment, no one could make sense of what had just happened.

Nearby, Gotou Tsubasa and his group turned toward the source of the explosion, their expressions immediately sharpening into alertness. After all, they were shinobi, and such occurrences could never be taken lightly.

An explosion within the village? Could it be an attack from another village or clan?

The possibility existed, but it seemed unlikely. The Shinobi World had just begun to settle into a fragile new order. Most people cherished the hard-earned peace, and even the warmongers wouldn't dare act recklessly in such a precarious era. At most, they might resort to assassinations or covert operations. But no one would openly provoke war, as doing so would turn them into a target of the entire shinobi world.

Moreover, the scale of the explosion wasn't large enough to suggest a full-blown assault. It lacked the magnitude of a declaration of war. Still…

After a few tense seconds of vigilance, Gotou, who had been protected at the center of his group, suddenly pushed past his companions and stared toward the source of the blast.

"Wait a second—that's my house!"

Meanwhile, Kakuzu surveyed the blood-soaked room, his ears filled with the unrelenting wails of agony. He showed little concern; such scenes were commonplace in the shinobi world. Without hesitation, he turned his attention back to the secret chamber.

The earlier explosion had significantly damaged the chamber, leaving a large section of the floor caved in. Kakuzu reached into the rubble, steadied his breath, and with a thunderous shout, he hauled out a massive safe from the debris.

Ignoring the lock, Kakuzu slammed his fist against the safe. When he withdrew his hand, a fist-sized dent was left on its surface. Through the hole, the contents became visible: a neatly stacked collection of scrolls. Each one bore the bold inscription:

Earth Grudge Fear

It wasn't surprising that Kakuzu knew the precise location of this secret technique. After all, he was the Captain of Takigakure's Second Squad.

...

Pls Drop some Power Stones