Naruto: Experience Pain, Start by Copying the Entire Shinobi World

The Land of Water, a country shrouded in mist year-round.

In the taverns of remote towns, the air was filled with the smell of cheap liquor and damp mold, mixed with the salty, fishy smell of fishermen.

Qian Xuan pushed open the door and entered, frowning.

It's a tavern again.

Why does it seem like the ninja world's "important meetings" are all held in places like this?

My first meeting with Mei Terumi was also like that.

His gaze swept across the room and locked onto the figure drinking alone in the corner.

The man was dressed in ordinary traveler's clothes, with a white headscarf wrapped around his head, revealing only a pair of eyes that were somewhat cloudy from the erosion of time, yet still as sharp as a hawk's.

Kakuzu.

An old-timer from the First Hokage era, a rogue ninja from Takigakure, the ace of the underground money exchange, a man who has money etched into his soul.

Qianxuan pulled out the chair opposite him, sat down by himself, and poured himself a glass of murky, cheap wine.

He said nothing, but simply looked at Kakuzu quietly.

He believed that his expression at that moment should be kind, approachable, and full of sincerity in "recruiting talents".

But in Kakuzu's eyes, this young man who appeared before him without warning and whose body showed no chakra fluctuations was like a primordial beast that had suppressed all its aura.

Danger!

Extremely dangerous!

This was a feeling he had only experienced in his long life, second only to when he faced the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

Kakuzu's hand, which was under the table, quietly formed a hand seal.

There was no probing, no idle chatter.

The best way to deal with danger is to eliminate it completely.

"Fire Release: Head Carving!"

A hideous mask emerged from behind him, spewing out a deluge of flames that instantly engulfed Qian Xuan along with the tables and chairs around him.

The temperature in the entire tavern suddenly rose.

The patrons gasped in alarm and scrambled to escape.

They didn't stop fighting.

"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"

Gale-force winds and lightning followed one after another, making the sea of ​​fire even more violent. The terrifying energy fluctuations almost blew the small tavern away.

However, Kakuzu showed no sign of triumph.

His pupils, on the contrary, contracted to their maximum size.

Because, in the heart of that elemental storm powerful enough to melt gold and iron, that young man still sat there quietly.

Even the way he held the wine glass hadn't changed.

All the flames, gales, and lightning, within three inches of his body, seemed to have struck an invisible, insurmountable wall, and were mysteriously and completely annihilated.

"this……"

Kakuzu had lived for nearly a hundred years and had never seen such a bizarre scene.

What kind of ninjutsu is this?

No, this goes beyond the scope of ninjutsu!

"Is the warm-up over?"

Qianxuan put down his wine cup, but the inferior wine inside didn't even ripple because of the commotion.

He raised his eyes and looked at Kakuzu.

It was just that one glance.

Kakuzu felt as if his heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

A fear originating from the depths of his soul froze the blood in his body.

run!

That was the only thought in his mind.

Without hesitation, he turned around, activated his earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique for escaping into the ground), and his body was about to sink into the ground.

But his body felt as if it were filled with lead, frozen in place, unable to move.

It's not that it can't move.

They dared not move.

An indescribable, terrifying pressure slowly emanated from the young man.

That wasn't just chakra pressure; it was a higher level of absolute "presence" that seemed capable of completely crushing a person's spirit and will.

The air became viscous, and the light began to distort.

Kakuzu felt as if he had been thrown into the deep sea, thousands of meters below the surface, surrounded by terrifying pressure that could crush even steel into thin sheets.

His body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Those legs, which had weathered the Warring States period, witnessed the establishment of ninja villages, and fought against the First Hokage, were now trembling violently, like a leaf.

"Thump."

Kakuzu knelt down.

It wasn't that he wanted to kneel, but that his body could no longer support him to stand.

He struggled to lift his head, looking at the man walking towards him step by step, his cloudy eyes filled with horror and despair.

Hashirama Senju...

No, this man is even more terrifying than Hashirama Senju!

Hashirama Senju's power was the kind of power that was as vast as a mountain and as majestic as the sea, a power that was upright and honorable.

The power of the man before us is unknown, unpredictable, and completely unreasonable!

Qianxuan walked up to him and looked down at him.

I silently gave the Second Hokage a thumbs up in my heart.

As expected of a master of forbidden techniques, he can even make a big deal out of a chakra pressure technique. This improved version of "aura crushing" is really good at showing off.

"Kakuzu".

Qian Xuan spoke, his voice calm.

"I've come to offer you a job."

Kakuzu was stunned.

He thought he had misheard.

Work?

Under such absolute overwhelming power, he thought that what awaited him was death, or having his heart taken away.

But what the other person was talking about was... work?

Kakuzu remained silent for a long time before finally managing to squeeze out a hoarse voice from his throat: "What kind of work?"

He has given up resisting.

Any resistance against this man is futile.

"Konohagakure, Treasurer."

Chigen revealed the position that even Tsunade found troublesome.

"..."

Kakuzu was stunned again.

His mind, filled with money and killing, completely shut down at that moment.

Leaf Village?

Chief Financial Officer?

He looked at Qian Xuan with the same gaze he would give a madman.

Who is he?

An S-rank rogue ninja, a monster of the underground gold exchange, an executioner who would kill anyone for money.

What is Konoha?

The largest ninja village in the ninja world, the strongest and wealthiest village among the five great nations.

To put an executioner in charge of a country's purse strings?

How utterly absurd is this?!

"Are you... joking?"

Kakuzu's voice trembled slightly, a tremor he himself was unaware of.

Do I look like I'm joking?

Qianxuan countered with a question.

Kakuzu looked at his calm face and fell silent.

Not like.

This man, from the moment he appeared until now, has not shown any sign of joking.

But...why?

"Why me?"

He asked the question that had been nagging at him.

"Because you love money."

Sengen's answer was so simple and blunt that Kakuzu couldn't understand it.

"You love money, understand money, know how to make money, and know how to save money."

Sengen crouched down, looking directly at Kakuzu.

"I entrust Konoha's finances to you. You will protect every penny of the village as if it were your own heart."

"I don't need your loyalty, I only need your greed."

Kakuzu was completely dumbfounded.

In his life, he has heard countless lies and betrayals.

He once attempted to assassinate the First Hokage for the sake of the village, narrowly escaping death.

But what awaited him was not the glory of a hero, but the guilt and punishment for failing the mission.

From that day on, he no longer trusted any person or organization.

He only believes in money.

Because money is the only thing that will never betray you.

But today, this man, who was as strong as a monster, told him that what he valued most in his life, and what he was most proud of, and what others despised, was... greed.

This is simply...

It’s just...

"you mean……"

Kakuzu's voice was dry.

"Let me... go to Konoha and become a butler?"

"It's the CFO."

Qianxuan corrected him,

"You have veto power over all village expenditures. No one can order you around except the Hokage."

boom!

Kakuzu felt as if something had exploded in his mind.

Veto power?

The highest financial authority besides the Hokage?

This means he will control the economic lifeline of the entire Hidden Leaf Village!

This...this...

This power is more tempting than all the money he could earn as a bounty hunter his whole life!

"I...I..."

"Name your annual salary."

Qianxuan dropped another bombshell.

"In addition, you will receive 10% of the profits from all the extra income you earn for the village."

Kakuzu's breathing suddenly became heavy.

His eyes began to redden.

That wasn't murderous intent, but rather a gleam of extreme excitement and greed.

He looked at Qianxuan as if he were looking at a walking, glittering golden mountain.

What kind of brain circuit does this man have?

Isn't he afraid I'll run off with all of Konoha's money?

As if seeing through his thoughts, Qianxuan smiled.

"You can give it a try."

He stood up and patted Kakuzu on the shoulder.

The movement was very light, yet it caused Kakuzu's body to stiffen abruptly.

That terrifying pressure, capable of crushing souls, descended once more, only to vanish in an instant.

Kakuzu understood.

This is a warning.

He can have power, he can have money.

But the prerequisite is that he must obey.

Otherwise, this man could take everything from him at any time, including his life.

"I...damn it."

Kakuzu squeezed out two words through his teeth.

He had no other choice.

And... I couldn't refuse.

"A wise choice."

Qianxuan nodded in satisfaction.

"Let's go, Treasurer. Our Konoha's accounts are waiting for you to sort them out."

After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the tavern.

Kakuzu got up from the ground and looked at the man's back with an extremely complicated expression.

He felt as if he had just had a bizarre dream.

So I was just... "kidnapped" and sent to Konoha to become an official?

And, is he in charge of the money?

This world is becoming increasingly incomprehensible.