Kakuzu was feeling particularly unlucky, he had spent some time acquiring strong hearts to replace his old ones, but Pain wouldn't let him rest. Soon after, he was warned to regroup with Kisame and go after Yonbi, the Four-Tails.
And so there he was, walking through the land of the earth with Kisame, who had a disturbing look in his eyes.
Kakuzu momentarily considered collecting the bounty on his head, but he knew he was no match for that guy, especially since Kisame knew his abilities.
Lightning and fire could be useful against Samehada, but that wouldn't guarantee victory, especially after the last fiasco. Kakuzu felt particularly timid at this point, almost as if he had gone back in time to when he 'assassinated' Hashirama.
Kisame kept smiling, sometimes glancing at Kakuzu with those small eyes that sent shivers down his spine.
Kakuzu wondered how he got to this point, he just wanted to live out his 'retirement' making money, but he was recruited by Pain himself. He knew he would die if he ran away, especially with those ferns following him everywhere.
He desperately wanted to get off that 'pirate ship', unfortunately he couldn't, he could only maintain a cold expression while sighing inwardly.
//-//
As for Afro and Toji, they were following their usual activities, well, almost. Toji was no longer 'helping' people or killing criminals, instead, the pair were now wandering around bars listening to complaints and drinking.
Afro couldn't understand Toji's mind, so he gave up, simply enjoying the moment of calm. He knew that sooner or later, walking with Toji, there would be more combat.
He didn't dislike this life, on the contrary, he often enjoyed these moments, between relaxing and fighting. It was a life Afro could easily accept. When he traveled alone, he rarely found a good fight, but ever since he started traveling with Toji, increasingly powerful characters kept appearing.
Soon he saw Toji acting again, not that he was interested enough to follow him, but he had good senses, so when Toji approached a drunk, he pricked up his ears, curious about what his next action would be.
Beat the drunkard to make him stop drinking? Or impale him?
However, neither of those options followed, instead, Afro saw Toji sitting down next to the drunk and buying him a drink, leaving Afro stunned.
The drunk who initially wanted to kick Toji out changed his attitude very quickly, especially when Toji bought him even more drinks.
Afro soon heard what Toji really wanted.
-It's really tough, isn't it? Working so hard only for your wife to spend it all and still call you poor...- Toji feigned a sigh.
-Isn't that right? I wish that hag would try it. I work every day cutting wood, my hands are full of calluses, and yet there are always more blisters! I can barely feel my back!- the drunkard shouted.
Toji nodded, seemingly sympathizing, and Afro felt a chill down his spine, sensing that something was wrong, terribly wrong.
-So why don't you ask for a divorce?- Toji continued, feigning confusion.
-Ha! And let her keep my house? That shrew would take everything with her! Damn it! Not even in her wildest dreams!- He seemed incredibly furious.
-And if you had more money, would you help?- Toji tilted his head slightly, 'curious'.
-That woman is never satisfied! No matter how much money she has! What I need is to get rid of her! But my brother-in-law is married to the mayor's daughter!- The man banged his head on the counter, looking lifeless.
-Well, you could take the money and go far away, start a new life somewhere else.- Toji shrugged.
The man seemed to perk up for a moment, but then shook his head. -No, I'd need a lot of money for that, there's no way I could save up. That woman knows exactly how much I earn, and even my boss is friends with her brother!
Afro sensed that this guy's life was truly unhappy, but felt that Toji seemed increasingly strange, appearing very excited about it all.
Toji approached and spoke. - And... if you could get a lot of money, enough money to go far away, to change your life and start over, all at a very low cost.
The man finally seemed to awaken somewhat, looking at Toji with confusion and a hint of caution in his expression.
-What do you want? I'm telling you, I'm not a criminal! Don't ask me to do these bad things!- The man said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms, clearly on the defensive.
-None of that, 200,000 Ryo, what do you think? You can start over far away, open a shop, without having to kill yourself chopping wood anymore, get a real family, a wife who truly loves you...- Toji illustrated an incredibly beautiful scenario for him, leaving the man looking incredibly tempted.
Afro pursed his lips, he considered stopping paying attention, it seemed increasingly strange, but curiosity got the better of him.
-What do you want?- The man finally uncrossed his arms, moving a little closer to Toji and speaking in a low voice.
Toji followed suit, smiling and whispering something to the man. Afro didn't hear, but the next moment, the man's eyes widened, pointing at Toji with evident fear.
-Are you crazy?!- the man almost shouted, but instead, he managed to control himself and yelled.
-Don't worry, you can live a good life. It's only when you die that your debt will be paid. You can even forget about me, never seeing me again in your life.- Toji opened his hands, resting his elbows on the table, still smiling subtly. - Besides that, I follow the father of demons, have you heard of him? He is incredibly benevolent and powerful... You're practically getting a ticket to a happy afterlife!
This piqued Afro's curiosity, what had Toji asked for? Father of Devils? That name doesn't seem 'benevolent' at all.
The man seemed incredibly tempted, he also thought Toji was crazy, he needed his soul, only when he died, in exchange for 200,000 Ryo...
When Toji demanded his soul, he only thought that Toji might be from one of those cults, the man had never believed in such things, so he thought it was worth it.
The problem was whether Toji would actually give the money or if, in the next moment, Toji would appear to 'harvest' his soul.
Toji didn't say anything more, just leaned back in his chair and looked at the man with a smile.
The man drank more, drank until courage clouded any remaining sanity.
-Done! You want my soul, fine, I'll be dead anyway.- The man nodded, speaking with difficulty, almost collapsing.
Afro frowned. Soul? That demon thing again? Afro broke out in a cold sweat. He felt sorry for the man for a moment, but then let it go. In any case, it wasn't his soul.
Toji smiled and held out his hand. -You just need to shake my hand, and the deal will be sealed.
Then, after some hesitation, the man shook Toji's hand.
-Deal.- Toji nodded.