The First Military Region of the capital, Shion City, is separated from the commercial street by a wall, dividing the outside and inside into two distinct worlds.
Compared to the prosperity and bustle of the commercial street, the First Military Region, established against the backdrop of Shion City, has an official designation, and its atmosphere is undoubtedly solemn and heavy, a complete inverse to the clamor outside.
The wall separating the commercial area from the First Military Region is also impressively tall, much like the outer wall surrounding Konoha Village, though in terms of sturdiness, it far surpasses the wall enclosing all of Konoha.
Although the interior has undergone a second spatial expansion, it still cannot be compared to the size of a Ninja Village.
This is only natural, after all, a Ninja Village manages its ninja and civilian populations intermixed, but in the Land of Demons, civilians and the ninja representing the military are managed separately.
The ninja teams visible within Shion City are merely the Security Team responsible for maintaining order.
Upon entering the administrative district, aside from the necessary guards, there is not the slightest trace or sound in those places suitable for hidden personnel, proving the hidden guards' concealment abilities are truly excellent.
Silently assembling so many formidable ninja, Kakuzu's interest in what the Land of Demons was planning for the future grew ever keener.
Organization, strength, money, planning... the only uncertain thing left, is their ultimate goal.
It's impossible that it's just for some idle amusement.
Besides, a forty-year work contract, to him, is merely a fleeting experience in his long life.
Just like his nearly forty years as a bounty hunter—this is simply a change in lifestyle for him.
This is probably the composure of the long-lived—there is no need to concern himself over lifespan at all.
Perhaps this will be a most novel journey in life.
"Hmm?"
The one responsible for bringing Kakuzu in was not the Insect Man, but another staff member from the military.
The one who brushed past him was a man with black hair and a rather handsome face.
He wore formal black attire embroidered with the Shion Flower, but there was another insignia on both shoulders.
It could only be described as the famed Uchiha fan crest.
That was the family emblem of the Uchiha Clan, the great house of Konoha.
This unfamiliar-faced man, is he a ninja from the Uchiha Clan?
A messenger sent by Konoha?
No—aside from the fact that outsiders are not allowed in here, just the fact that this Uchiha ninja wears the official uniform with the Shion Flower crest is already extremely thought-provoking.
It can only mean one thing: this is not an Uchiha ninja affiliated with Konoha, but one working for the military organization of the Land of Demons.
The lower-level staff member leading Kakuzu in also offered a slight bow to that Uchiha ninja. Judging by appearances, he is of higher rank, and it seemed he was a common sight here.
How interesting... Kakuzu remained impassive.
Though this surprised him, it merely piqued his inner curiosity.
As he suspected, the military institutions in the Land of Demons are anything but simple.
From his gait, and his posture without any weakness, that Uchiha ninja was at least Jonin level. Even if he had only one heart, he might not be Kakuzu's match.
Kakuzu understood this perfectly well.
"Mr. Kakuzu, we have arrived."
The staff member leading the way stopped before a door, knocked, and upon hearing an invitation to enter from inside, turned the handle and guided Kakuzu into the office.
The office environment was simple—neither lavish nor humble—just somewhere in between.
There were green plants growing in flowerpots by the window. Near the wall stood glass cabinets storing all kinds of books, documents, and files, which had piled up thickly.
A man in his twenties sat at the desk, handling documents that were neatly arranged on the table, alongside a cup of tea that was already half finished.
After bringing Kakuzu in, the staff member quietly exited the office, leaving the space to Kakuzu and Hakushi alone.
"I have long heard of your reputation, Undead Kakuzu. Please, have a seat."
Hakushi stood up from his position and gestured politely.
Following Hakushi's request, Kakuzu sat down in the spacious chair that had already been prepared in front of the desk.
"Regarding the employment contract, I have already drawn it up here, Mr. Kakuzu. You can take it and review it at your leisure; once you've signed it, just return it to me. If there is anything you're unsatisfied with, we can sit down and negotiate more slowly."
Hakushi took a contract from the drawer and placed it on the edge of the desk nearest to Kakuzu.
Kakuzu did not take it, but instead fixed Hakushi with a strange yet knowing gaze.
"You were formerly a member of the Medical Ninja unit in Konoha's White Fang Squad?"
Though it sounded like a question, his tone was actually quite certain.
After all, the underground black market posted a forty-five-million-ryo bounty for this man, and for someone like Kakuzu, who reads people for their monetary worth, that was a name he would not forget.
At the same time, he now understood what the Insect Man meant by three leaders.
Because, apart from the captain, White Fang Hatake Sakumo, who was dead, the three members of the former White Fang Squad had all betrayed Konoha and become internationally infamous S-Class Renegade Ninja.
Especially Hyuga Ayane, who possesses the Byakugan; her bounty was close to a hundred million ryo.
To command such a bounty at barely over twenty, it was only a matter of time before she surpassed Hanzou and even her mentor, Hatake Sakumo.
"Yes, that's right. And at the same time, I am also the direct superior of the Nokizaru Group under the leadership of the Insect Man. The Nokizaru Group counts as a special-operations secret unit here on the military side."