On the bridge, Kakuzu moved like a blur—his body clearly accelerated by Wind Release–assisted movement.
At this speed, even if Daichi tried to dodge Kakuzu's tendril attacks with taijutsu like before, it would be nearly impossible.
Unless he had a substitution prepared in advance.
But clearly—
Daichi had already used his final technique to restrain Little Woodbug, fully prepared to die.
Moments later, a fist the size of a clay pot stopped right in front of Daichi's head.
Kakuzu halted.
Whoosh—
The pressure wave slapped against Daichi's face. His eyelids twitched as he forced them open a sliver, trying to see what was happening—
Thud.
Pain flared at the back of his neck.
Daichi lost consciousness.
Kakuzu ignored both Daichi and the restrained Little Woodbug and continued walking forward.
"Big brother!!"
The noise made Kakuzu frown. He stopped, turned around, and shot them a vicious look.
"Shut up."
"Make another sound, and I'll kill both of you."
"Ugh—"
Little Woodbug immediately fell silent.
Three to four minutes later, Kaito had essentially finished learning everything Taidō had to offer.
In simple terms—
Taidō was no longer useful.
Kaito seized an opening. His blade tilted, perfectly deflecting Taidō's strike, then shot straight through—
Puchi!
The short blade pierced Taidō's right shoulder.
Blood sprayed.
Taidō stiffened, forcibly retreating a step to widen the distance. As the blade was pulled free, blood gushed again.
"So,"
"this samurai actually has some skill."
Kakuzu walked over, sounding genuinely impressed.
Kaito flicked his blade, shaking the blood from its tip. Through his Chakra Eye, he assessed Taidō's condition.
He was at his limit.
Kaito sheathed the blade and waved his hand.
"That's enough."
"Have the guards arrest them and take them to prison."
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof!
"Seal their chakra and escort them one by one to the men's prison."
"Yes!"
"Oh right," Kaito added,
"Treat his wound first. Don't let him die in the cell."
"Yes!"
The clone scratched his head.
"After that, can I go hang around the outer city?"
"???"
Kaito tossed him a communicator.
"Do whatever you want. Just don't cause trouble."
"Roger!"
"And don't use this face."
"Yes, sir!"
Kakuzu glanced at the overly lively shadow clone.
"…Is your clone always like that?"
"Don't mind him," Kaito said flatly.
"He's been suppressed for too long. Let him blow off some steam."
He unlocked the tower door.
"Come on. You said you had something to talk to me about."
Kakuzu nodded.
"…Yeah. I do."
Behind them—
"Hey! It's me! The all-powerful, omnipotent Lord All-Powerful!"
"All of you get down here and help clean up the battlefield!"
Kakuzu: "???"
Inner City – Tower No. 13
The inner city contained twenty-eight towers in total.
Tower No. 13 belonged exclusively to Kaito—his laboratory, living quarters, and a direct access point to the underground Dragon Vein core.
On the third floor, the lights turned on.
Kaito entered, opened the freezer, and took out another bottle of Cactus Brew. He set out two clean glasses, poured one for himself and one for Kakuzu, then stood by the window, sipping while enjoying the night breeze.
"Have you decided, Kakuzu?"
Kakuzu sat down on the sofa, leaning back.
He didn't touch the drink.
Too cautious to drink anything offered so casually.
"I can agree to your proposal," he said slowly.
"But tell me this first."
"Why are you capturing those ninja?"
"People who are useless except for turning into money."
Kaito set the glass down using chakra threads and refilled it.
"Everyone dies eventually," he said lightly.
"Some deaths are heavier than mountains."
"Others are lighter than feathers."
"Say it plainly," Kakuzu snapped.
"I don't understand your cryptic nonsense."
"—A resting place."
Kaito drank again.
"To build a resting place," he continued,
"many lives inevitably have to be expended."
"They were young people who struggled for peace."
"You say that like you're ancient," Kakuzu scoffed.
Kaito chuckled.
"People can never truly understand what lies beyond their cognition."
"That's why complete mutual understanding doesn't exist."
He moved to a separate sofa and leaned back.
"A resting place."
"A city where everyone can live safely."
"Only those who follow the rules may stay."
"No status gaps."
"Nobles, ninja, civilians, refugees—it doesn't matter."
"In short—"
"I want to build a city that transcends this world's understanding."
"A place of rest."
"For anyone who truly wants to live."
He looked at Kakuzu.
"So—interested?"
"You still haven't told me their fate," Kakuzu said coldly.
"Answer me."
Kaito met his gaze.
Then he laughed.
Quiet laughter grew louder, echoing through the room—until it faded into silence.
"They have two choices."
"Attempting to assassinate a state minister is a capital crime."
"First—become protectors of this nation and die for it."
"Second—voluntarily offer their bodies and die for it."
Kakuzu understood immediately.
"Test subjects."
He wasn't a good person—but he needed to know whether this organization was worth joining.
"At least it's better than Taki," he muttered.
"Sending me to assassinate the First Hokage… then trying to execute me when I failed."
"That kind of betrayal," he said quietly, "rots the heart."
"More or less," Kaito replied.
"But I will remember their names."
"They'll be recorded as those who gave everything for the city's future."
"Disgusting," Kakuzu said bluntly.
"A bunch of murderers forced into experiments."
"And you turn them into 'heroes' with words."
Kaito poured another drink.
"History is written by the victors."
"A resting place is never built easily."
"I'm just doing what needs to be done."
"And what do you gain from this?" Kakuzu asked.
"Nothing."
Kaito lay back, hands behind his head, staring at the wall lamp.
"I'm just someone without a clear goal."
"Power changes many things."
"But it also makes unreachable things suddenly easy."
He glanced at Kakuzu.
"So tell me."
"Besides money—what reason do you have to keep living?"
Silence filled the room.
People chase desires all their lives.
And once they achieve them, those desires lose meaning.
Like snacks you begged for as a child—
only to realize they're ordinary once you grow up.
And by then,
you no longer want them.
At last, Kaito spoke again.
"People only truly understand themselves at the moment of death."
"But by then, it's already decided."
"So—"
"This is my third invitation."
"Will you join White Cross?"
"Find your own purpose—while helping build a peaceful world."
Kakuzu remained silent.
Then he raised his hand and clasped Kaito's.
After a moment, he released it and stood.
At the door, he paused, speaking with his back turned.
"I once had comrades."
"They abandoned me."
"So I believed money was the only thing worth trusting."
"Now," he added,
"there's you."
"Your organization lacks grand ambitions."
"But that's exactly why I don't hate it."
"Organizations driven by ambition sacrifice everything—including comrades."
He turned slightly.
"So—what's my codename?"
Kaito put his mask back on, fingers interlaced.
"White Cross – Fourth Seat."
"Post-Op Doctor — Immortal."
"…Fine."
Kakuzu paused again.
"Wait. Are there two people stronger than me above me?"
"No."
"???"
"Ranking isn't based on strength."
"Then on what?"
Kaito answered solemnly:
"Looks."
"…"
"And Fourth plus 'Immortal' sounds cool."
"…"
Kaito gave a thumbs-up.
"Super cool."
"…I finally understand why your shadow clone acts like that," Kakuzu muttered.
"Same mold."
"I'll come find you tomorrow."
"Okay."
The next morning, Rasa and Pakura departed with intelligence scrolls.
Karura watched them leave the inner city gate before turning back.
Kaito was waiting nearby—Kakuzu beside him.
"All-Powerful Lord," Karura said stiffly.
"Come on," Kaito replied.
"I'll take you to see some… friends of yours."
"My… friends?"
"Yes."
"People who, like you, tried to assassinate me."
"…"
"…"
Even Kakuzu fell silent.
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