Tsunade clearly knew about Kakuzu and also knew that in her current state, she couldn't deal with this enemy...
"Kakuzu, this is a misunderstanding."
Tsunade signaled the tense Asuma and Nohara Rin to move back, while she tried to negotiate in a calm tone: "As you can see, I'm leading a team to clear out this bandit hideout, and I have no intention of competing with you for business..."
Kakuzu chuckled coldly: "Oh, so are you planning to compensate me? How much can you offer?"
Tsunade's eyebrow twitched at such arrogance?
But considering her state, Tsunade suppressed her anger and said, "Alright, name your price."
"Hehehehe, exposed, aren't you..."
Kakuzu's low laughter echoed through the valley, sounding particularly eerie and oppressive: "Your negotiation experience is truly as childish as a toddler's, Tsunade."
"Rumors in the black market suggested that you can no longer fight like a ninja, and your concessions and retreat just now confirm that those intel reports are true!"
Aomi glanced at Tsunade, whose expression had drastically changed, and felt amused.
This is Tsunade's level of eloquence.
Back when Pain invaded Konoha in the original timeline, Nagato, who hadn't planned to destroy Konoha, was provoked by Tsunade, allowing Konoha's villagers to experience the full power of an enraged Rinnegan...
Truly the foremost master of reverse taunts.
"I've dealt with the Root, and your Konoha's lack of credibility makes me not want to do business with you..."
Kakuzu raised three fingers:
"What a great day, with the offspring of a Hokage, a little brat from the Uchiha Family, and a student of Sarutobi Hiruzen, taking your bodies to the Gold Exchange will meet my performance targets for the next three years..."
Nohara Rin, standing beside Aomi, was completely ignored by Kakuzu.
Aomi looked at Kakuzu, a subtle smile forming at the corner of his mouth. If things continued to develop like this, a famous scene might unfold!
He thought of the moment when Senju Tobirama held off the enemy for Sarutobi Hiruzen and others—the only one capable of fighting, holding off for several weaker ones...
Tsunade wanted to say something else, to attempt a final negotiation with Kakuzu...
But Kakuzu's actions already made his answer clear. A hideous black monster suddenly appeared from the side of the valley, opening its mouth wide behind a mask!
A tremendously fierce gale swept across the land, howling towards Aomi and the others!
"Wind Release: Suppression!"
The black monster seemingly didn't need to perform any hand seals to release jutsu, and in such a surprise attack, Asuma and Nohara Rin, uncomfortable with killing, couldn't even react, only able to watch the gale approach...
Aomi squinted at the Wind Release, only lifting Asuma and Nohara Rin to dodge the attack when the whirlwind was about to engulf them.
It seemed that even Aomi was somewhat intimidated by Kakuzu's momentum, merely managing to react in time.
In the distance, Kakuzu's eyes were filled with cold murderous intent and greed.
This Wind Release attack wasn't even a probe; Kakuzu poured a great deal of chakra into it right from the start...
Even among Kage Level powerhouses, Kakuzu's chakra level, with Earth Grudge Fear, was above average, and the scale of his full-force Wind Release had exceeded Asuma and Nohara Rin's imaginations!
"Damn it, damn it, why is he so strong!" Having brushed the line between life and death, an enraged and panicked Asuma cursed, clutching his fist weakly.
At this moment, both Nohara Rin and Asuma's bodies were sliced open by the sharp edges of the whirlwind, resulting in dense wounds.
If it hadn't been for Aomi, Kakuzu's attack just now would have turned the two of them into corpses inside the Gold Exchange.
Even Tsunade couldn't completely avoid it, her face cut by the Wind Release, trickling some blood.
Long-term laxity combined with psychological pressure had caused Tsunade's ninja combat state to plummet to the nadir.
"Tsunade-sensei, what should we do!" Asuma turned to look at Tsunade, but was stunned.
At this moment, Tsunade appeared even more helpless than he did.
Tsunade was trembling all over, her gaze repeatedly shifting over the bright red liquid on her hands, as well as the wounds and bloodstains on Asuma and Nohara Rin!
Tsunade seemed unable even to stand.
The sight of the crimson blood revived tragic memories in her mind, instantly demolishing her sanity—an illusion more potent than the Sharingan, shattering Tsunade's mental defenses...
In a daze, it was as if Tsunade saw the corpses of Aomi, Asuma, and Nohara Rin—Aomi, who in her hallucinations was like her brother, who had once brought her warmth with his smile, but whose dead body lay before her with even his organs hollowed out...
Tsunade's thoughts spun out of control, to the point where she even pondered that if Aomi fell into Kakuzu's hands, he most certainly would not have an intact corpse!
An Uchiha, whose entire body is full of treasures, with each part able to fetch a high price in the Gold Exchange, especially those invaluable Sharingan eyes...
How could Kakuzu possibly let Aomi go?
But the more Tsunade thought about it, the more severe her hemophobia became, to the point that she was trembling all over, unable to even stand steadily.
Kakuzu, delighted by Tsunade's reaction, seemed to see a great many gold coins beckoning to him!
He had expected Tsunade to at least put up some resistance, but it appeared she was even less than Asuma and Nohara Rin, those two kids!
At least, those two could still grip their Kunai tightly...
"Tsunade-sensei, what's wrong with you, what's wrong!" A panicked Asuma stared at Tsunade, immediately plunging into panic.
Tsunade, who was supposed to be the strongest force, had suddenly become like this?
If that's the case, then aren't they as good as finished?
In Asuma's mind, Aomi was undoubtedly a peerless genius. Still, Kakuzu seemed to be a ninja of the same rank as Tsunade, or even subtly superior.
The Wind Release from earlier was overwhelming, to say the least. How could Aomi possibly handle it!
Kakuzu, coldly observing the panicked Tsunade's Squad, mercilessly seized this prime opportunity:
"Fire Release: Headache!"
A great fire consumed the mountain wall, with endless flames roaring towards them!
The Kunai in Asuma's hand could no longer be held at that moment.
The Kunai fell to the ground with a clear sound, as his heart sank to the bottom...
Today, he had seen firsthand what a brutal battlefield looked like, and of an even greater significance, he previewed the terror of a serious Kage Level powerhouse!
Asuma froze, Nohara Rin was powerless, and Tsunade was deeply entrapped in her inner fears as the three of them seemingly gave up, eyes fixed as the flames drew ever closer...
Aomi surveyed the scene calmly, darting forward:
"Water Release: Water Array Wall!"