Naruto, starting with immortality, I'm going to buy up the ninja world!

Chapter 39 Kakuzu: A Certain Drifter's Half a Lifetime

Two figures sat down on the roots of a large tree in the woods, with Kakuzu listening to Tetsuya tell him about his grand plan to make money.

"Listen to me, look at the entire ninja world, who is the richest? Is it the ninjas? Is it the ninja villages? No, it's neither."

The truly wealthy were the high-ranking officials, nobles, and emperors.

Are ninja villages powerful? Admittedly, their ninjas are very skilled, but in crucial moments, don't they still rely on funding from the Daimyo's government?

Listening to Tetsuya's words, Kakuzu seemed to be deep in thought, and then nodded in agreement from time to time.

"So, you can't get rich as a ninja. But you can do business, especially with nobles."

Tetsuya continued to offer empty promises to Kazuya.

Market monopoly, capital accumulation, money-power transactions, land grabbing for production, financial control of the market, capital hijacking the ninja world.

These things almost gave Kakuzu an orgasm.

An excited Kakuzu immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Tetsuya.

"Having spent half his life wandering and struggling for money, he thought he was the most knowledgeable person in the world when it came to making money."

Meeting you today, sir, I realize that I am but a frog in a well, looking at the sky from the bottom of the well.

Compared to you, sir, I am like a firefly compared to the bright moon in the sky. After listening to your words, my admiration for you is as boundless as a surging river.

From now on, I am willing to serve as your vanguard and follow your lead without question.

Tetsuya chuckled upon hearing Kakuzu's words, thinking, "I never expected you, you stingy black-faced devil, to actually know how to talk."

That makes sense. Even if the other person can't speak, they've lived for so long and seen so many people that they've picked up some knowledge from what they've heard and seen.

"Hey, Kakuzu, there's no point in you saying that. We share a common hobby or ideal. We're like-minded partners. How about you and I make money together?"

"Then Kakuzu will respectfully comply."

First, he beat the guy up, then he took out something the guy was interested in. This two-pronged approach meant that even the villain wouldn't risk his life for him.

"Okay, from now on we're friends and partners, so don't be too nervous."

Tetsuya patted him on the shoulder.

"In the battle just now, you lost four of your five hearts. Go and get them back to restore your strength. After you're done, you can wait for me at the Chiba Grand Hotel in the capital of the Land of Fire. Here, take this."

As he spoke, Tetsuya took a key out of his pocket.

"This is... a key?"

Kakuzu was somewhat excited. Could it be the key to the vault?

"This is the key to the main entrance of the Chiba Grand Hotel, and it's also a token. If you take this to the Chiba Grand Hotel, the people there won't make things difficult for you."

Upon hearing this, Kakuzu suddenly recalled the previous intelligence, which stated that Chiba Tetsuya was being protected by a powerful ninja.

After his previous battle with Tetsuya, he thought the intelligence was wrong and that there were no ninjas, and that the powerful one was himself.

It now appears that the intelligence was correct; it was just that because there was a ninja protecting him before, no one could force Tetsuya to take action, leading the intelligence broker to believe that Tetsuya was just an ordinary person under someone's protection.

Thinking about it carefully, following Tetsuya means having at least two powerful individuals, including Tetsuya himself, to protect you. Two S-rank rogue ninjas or stronger—that's quite a foundation.

Adding to what Tetsuya had told him earlier, Kakuzu was startled.

This Chiba Tetsuya is really planning something big. He has money and experts. If I follow him, everything will go smoothly for me.

Even so, that didn't stop Kakuzu from going back and tearing out the heart of that information broker.

"Alright, then I'll head out now. I'll come back to the Chiba Grand Hotel to see you, sir, once I've recovered."

"Sure, goodbye then."

He waved goodbye to Kakuzu.

Kakuzu vanished into the forest in an instant.

"Ah, that's great. Even in an era where overpowered characters were rampant, Kakuzu's strength would be considered top-tier, let alone now."

Moreover, what people admire most about Kakuzu is not his strength, but his ability to make money.

Kakuzu loves money and is quite adept at making money, plus he's shown Kakuzu a path to wealth.

Thinking of Tetsuya, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.

To put it bluntly, the ninja world is a feudal society, which allowed Kakuzu to rise to power through capitalism.

hehehehe...

Just as he was lost in thought, a surge of chakra came through.

Tetsuya immediately realized what was happening.

"It seems that the ninjas from Konoha have noticed the commotion and come over. Tsk, I wonder if they have seen Susanoo."

But it doesn't matter, Izuna is always a safety net.

He had saved Tobirama using Izuna's identity, and he didn't believe that Tobirama hadn't told the Third Hokage and the others that Izuna was still alive.

Thinking it over, Tetsuya quickly left the scene.

Let's leave it to Izuna for now.

Shortly after Tetsuya left, several Konoha ninja wearing animal masks appeared.

"This should be the place. It looks like a battle did take place here."

The masked ninja in the lead looked at the traces left by the battle before him and couldn't help but feel a little shocked.

This level of destruction is probably beyond what ordinary people could leave behind, not to mention the golden giant they saw earlier...

"Investigate the scene and don't overlook any clues."

"Yes!"

The masked ninjas began to examine the scene and investigate any clues left behind.

Soon, a piece of intelligence was delivered to the Hokage's office desk.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, carefully read the intelligence report, his brows gradually furrowing.

"A golden giant... could it be a Susanoo of the Uchiha clan...?"

As he pondered, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on his pipe, and the Hokage's office was soon filled with smoke.

According to their teacher's teachings, the Uchiha clan was always a target of their suspicion. Whether they were in the village or on missions outside, there were always people watching the Uchiha clan.

He knew all the movements of the Uchiha clan in the village, so it couldn't be the Uchiha clan from Konoha.

He remembered what his teacher, Tobirama Senju, had told him back then.

The powerful Uchiha clan member, Uchiha Izuna, who was resurrected from the dead, is currently somewhere in the ninja world, and he could come to Konoha at any time.

And now...

"Could it be that Uchiha Izuna has returned? What should I do then?"

He took another deep drag on his pipe, and smoke billowed up.

"Clang!"

Suddenly, a loud bang was heard, and the door to the Hokage's office was pushed open.

A one-eyed man walked in. He had a cold face and a distinct cross-shaped scar on his chin.

"Monkey, something's happened outside the village! The Uchiha clan has left the village without permission and is fighting with ninjas from other villages. This is undoubtedly treason, and we must punish this evil Uchiha clan!"

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed.

We just received intelligence from the Anbu. How did you, Shimura Danzo, know about this?

Are there Root members in the Dark Side?!

You, Shimura Danzo, you're really something.