Born in Sunagakure, dedicated to antagonizing Konoha for decades

The last time Onoki's nephew came to the Land of Earth, wasn't it because Onoki somehow found out that Sunagakure also had a complete version of the Tailed Beast Sealing Technique, but didn't want to spend money to buy it? They still haven't finished paying off their loan from over ten years ago, and Sunagakure wouldn't sell it, so they sent their most trusted nephew to Hanonon.

Every village has the Tailed Beast Sealing Technique, but apart from Konoha, the Tailed Beast Sealing Techniques of other villages were all substandard. The original sealing technique of Sunagakure was passed down from many years ago, and it is no wonder that the animal skin on which the sealing technique was recorded is almost weathered and incomplete.

The other villages' tailed beast sealing techniques were given away for free when Konoha held a tailed beast auction back then.

However, back then, when they bought the Tailed Beasts from Hashirama Senju, they originally intended to use them as nuclear weapons for the village. While the Tailed Beasts were indeed nuclear weapons, they were also ticking time bombs for their own village. Tobirama Senju was also quite cunning; the Tailed Beast Sealing Technique that came with the purchase wasn't the complete version. It was only slightly more complete than the one Sunagakure had used before. Controlling the Tailed Beasts to use as nuclear weapons was out of the question. They were already praying that the Tailed Beasts wouldn't cause trouble. This is why Onoki sent his nephew to try and obtain the complete Tailed Beast Sealing Technique when he heard that Sunagakure had it. Firstly, they genuinely wanted to get their hands on the Tailed Beast Sealing Technique, and secondly, even if they couldn't get it, Onoki didn't want the sealing technique to fall into Sunagakure's hands.

It's like everyone was starting from the same starting line, and having Konoha above them was already a lot of pressure. If another village came along, that's something no one wants to see. Moreover, Konoha doesn't want to see any village become powerful enough to be on the same level as them. Peace is built on absolute strength, not on everyone loving each other like a family.

Therefore, Onoki did not want to see Sunagakure develop peacefully without the threat of the fat cat. Chiyo naturally did not want to see Onoki actually succeed in researching the power of the tailed beasts and creating some kind of nuclear weapon, even if the possibility was very small. As long as there was such a possibility, it was unacceptable.

"Whether he succeeds or not is his business, but what we need to do is absolutely prevent him from succeeding. Remember to hide your identities, and it's best not to let Onoki suspect us. As for who will take the blame... that depends on your own methods."

Chiyo said calmly, "The Land of Earth is right next to our Land of Wind. If Onoki really succeeds, I bet he won't go to the Land of Fire or the Land of Lightning first, but to our Land of Wind."

Just like how if they become powerful, the first country they would seek out is the Land of Earth, since the two sides are geographically close. Clearing out the smaller monsters first and then attacking the larger ones is the most traditional and practical way to fight.

However, some things can be done, but they must be done secretly. If that cunning Onoki finds out they were the ones who did it, he'll inevitably start scheming again...

"Alright, I'll go visit Iwagakure when I have time. Come to think of it, I've never been to Iwagakure before, so it would be good to go and see it for myself."

Shinto isn't in a hurry at all. Currently, only Orochimaru in the ninja world possesses such advanced skills as scientific research projects. However, Orochimaru is still a handsome young man of twelve or thirteen who spends his days contemplating the laws of life and death. It will be many years before he awakens his talent and becomes a scientist. Even the orthodox scientists haven't returned to their positions yet, so what can those experts and professors from Iwagakure possibly research?

However, it would be good to go to Iwagakure to see the local customs and culture. Over the years, apart from Konoha, which he had visited a few times, he had never been to any other place in the ninja world.

......

"Big brother, can you take me with you when you go to Iwagakure this time?"

After dinner, instead of chasing girls, handsome Scorpion's dad followed Shinto to his room and shamelessly asked to team up with him.

After dinner, his uncle and mother were discussing with his older brother the idea of ​​causing trouble in Iwagakure. However, he wisely kept quiet. He knew that even if he asked his mother about the Tailed Beasts, a catastrophic creature, she wouldn't agree. Firstly, the danger was too high, and secondly, he needed to hide his identity. His puppeteer attributes were too obvious; whenever he made a move, he would either unleash puppets or use chakra threads. This kind of behavior made it clear that he was from Sunagakure.

However, he recently tasted the sweetness of fame. Although he is only slightly famous, he is looked at with admiration wherever he goes. This feeling is completely different from the feeling he had before when people looked at him because his father was the first generation and his mother was the first generation.

Previously, he earned respect, not admiration, through his parents; now, he earns that admiration through his own strength. Therefore, given his older brother's penchant for making headlines whenever he goes out, he figured that if he didn't take on a supporting role this time, he might miss an opportunity to become famous throughout the ninja world.

Five years ago, his older brother told him to patiently wait for his opportunity. Five years! He's waited a full five years! And he's still just a second or third-tier celebrity. If he keeps waiting... he'll be getting married in two years!

That Kobe guy, whatever his name is, played as a substitute for two years, but he's been playing for five years already!

"...I have no problem taking you along, but you know the purpose of this trip. We might even have to fight a tailed beast. The One-Tailed Beast is so weak that even my Chikamatsu Ten Puppet Masters are useless against it. If we have to fight the Four-Tailed and Five-Tailed Beasts, you won't have any chance to show your skills!"

Looking at Sasori's impatient father, Masato knew exactly what he was thinking: he just wanted to stand out. He had been a minor celebrity for so many years. Although the ninja world knew that he, the son of the First Kazekage, had inherited his mother's genes and was a genius puppeteer, he wasn't very famous and didn't have any outstanding achievements. The only one he had was last year when he single-handedly defeated several Jonin from Kirigakure.

Normally, this would be considered an impressive achievement, but in this era dominated by Konoha's White Fang and Sunagakure's Golden Lion, a fourteen-year-old single-handedly defeating several unknown Jonin is really nothing special. If it weren't for the added bonus of being the son of the First Kazekage and Chiyo, it wouldn't even make the headlines. And what's even more tragic is that the next day, it was overshadowed by news of Hatake Sakumo's solo incursion into Iwagakure seven times...

It gave him a feeling of wearing leather pants.

104. The reason why single people are hiding in the sea has been found.

"I... I'll just go and take a look. I can't beat the tailed beasts, but the Iwa ninjas can surely handle them, right? My taijutsu isn't weak either."

Although his older brother's words were a bit harsh, Sasori's father thought about it and realized they made sense. Although he had never seen a Tailed Beast, the books mentioned that the Tailed Beasts were formed from chakra, capable of both physical and offensive attacks, and immune to poison. Even his mother, the number one puppet master in the ninja world, couldn't handle the One-Tailed Beast. His puppets weren't even as good as his mother's Ten Ninja. Fighting a Tailed Beast would be like suicide.

However, he didn't want to give up this golden opportunity to stand out. If he missed this chance, he didn't know when he would get another one. So he stretched out his arm and showed off his "unicorn arm" in front of his older brother. Look at those muscle lines, is that something a puppeteer can have?

"...Okay, you register with your uncle tomorrow, and we'll leave at ten o'clock."

Shindou looked helplessly at the slender little hand showing off her "unicorn arm" and said that although because of him, Sasori's father's hand-to-hand combat strength was not as weak as that of traditional puppeteers, people's energy is always limited. Without outstanding talent, it is almost impossible to develop in all aspects. Sasori's father's talent points were all put into puppetry. His hand-to-hand combat talent was only so-so. He could get by with some minor Jonin with his taijutsu. If he really encountered a strong person, his taijutsu was not enough. However, he was already much stronger than those traditional puppeteers in the village. If Luomen's hand-to-hand combat strength was this strong back then, he would not have been killed instantly by Hatake Sakumo without even having a chance to react after getting close.

Moreover, seeing that Sasori's father has been in the industry for so many years and is still only a second or third-tier celebrity is indeed a disgrace to the family. His father was the First Kazekage, his mother was the number one puppeteer and poison master in the ninja world, his older brother was even the Golden Lion who beat Onoki, and even his uncle was the Minister of Military Affairs of Sunagakure. Only he, who debuted at the age of nine and is still a second or third-tier celebrity at the age of fifteen... It's a disgrace to the family.

If this kid doesn't make it big, he'll be in trouble when his depression flares up. He doesn't have the same resilience as Wang Piku.

...

"puff!"

"What?! You're going to Iwagakure with Masato?! σ(⊙▽⊙a)"

The next morning, while Haizou was leisurely eating breakfast, preparing to clock in at Kazekage Tower, he overheard his nephew going to Iwagakure with Shinto to cause trouble. He almost spat out his breakfast milk onto Chiyo, who was squinting her eyes, but luckily he reacted quickly and turned the nozzle around.

My nephew has gone mad!

Don't they know how dangerous the Tailed Beasts are? If it weren't for Shinto's strength in almost crashing Onoki's plane and his ability to fly, he wouldn't have wanted Shinto to cause trouble in Iwagakure. He could have just sent a few elite Anbu members to try their luck. Anyway, he wouldn't believe that Shamon hadn't researched any Tailed Beasts after so many years. What could a poor village like Iwagakure possibly research? Scientific research projects are incredibly expensive. Iwagakure has been paying off its loans to them for over a decade and still hasn't finished. They have no funds to research that kind of thing.

Now even his own nephew wants to join in the fun with Shinjiro.

You're a puppeteer, not some tough superhero! You think you can just get whipped down by a tail and have to go check in with your dad?!

"How old are you? Stop making such a fuss. It's just going to Iwagakure. We've even been to Konoha. It's just a small village like Iwagakure. A good man should have ambitions beyond his hometown. Jie is fifteen years old now. He'll be married and settled down in a couple of years. It's not a good thing for him to stay in the village all day. If we don't let him take over, people outside will really think that I'm the only genius in Sunagakure! Aunt Chiyo, don't you think so?"

Since he had promised handsome Sasori's father that he would take him flying, Shinto naturally had to speak up for him. Seeing Kaizo's shocked and milk-spraying expression, he finished speaking with a look of disgust and then fawned over Chiyo.

At home, Haizo's status was lower than that of Handsome Scorpion. Handsome Scorpion registered his marriage with him only because he was the village's Minister of Military Affairs in charge of managing the Jonin class. Even if someone was a member of the royal family, they couldn't be treated specially and had to report to the authorities when leaving the village.

"Hehe, don't try to flatter me with that. I didn't say I couldn't let Jie go. The eagle will spread its wings and fly high one day."

Chiyo looked at her beloved son with satisfaction. It was a good thing that her son was ambitious. Although the risk of encountering a tailed beast in Iwagakure was very high, her nephew never did anything without a certainty. Since her nephew was confident that he could carry her son, it was time for her son, who had been a substitute for so many years, to step up!

Thinking about it, my precious son was just unlucky. He happened to be born in an era when the White Fang of Konoha and her nephew were vying for supremacy. This era was just like the era when Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were competing. Everyone else had to be overshadowed by the two of them. It was really too difficult.

Her precious son is very talented. If it were in the past, with the support of Chiyo and the legitimate heir of Sunagakure, he would definitely be a top child star who would reach the peak right from his debut. But now, he finally makes the headlines but can't even make a splash before being overshadowed by the news about White Fang.

It's not that they lack resources, nor that her son can't be promoted; it's just that these two are too ruthless and do absolutely nothing right...ヽ(ー_ー)ノ

"Sister, you..."

The two boys were crazy enough, but Haicang didn't expect his sister to actually agree. He suspected that his nephew might have been switched at birth, which was why his sister was so eager to send her son to his death.

"What's with all this 'you' and 'me' stuff? You're a grown man, why are you being so nosy? You're not getting any younger, you should spend more time thinking about yourself and hurry up and find a woman to marry. I think someone came to propose to you yesterday, you can ask Aunt Chiyo if you don't believe me. Jie, let's go!"

Shinto noticed that Kaizo was acting like he was going through menopause, not at all as composed as he was in the original story. He even wondered if Kaizo had been possessed by some maternal being...

...

Logically speaking, someone like Kaizo, born into a wealthy and powerful family, the younger brother of the Second Generation Flower of the Ninja World, Chiyo, and without the cool attire of Piccolo, should have no trouble finding a wife, given his background, talent, and looks. However, this guy doesn't seem to have the same strong curiosity about women as Sasori's father, and he's not very popular with them. From the time Shinto was born until now, he's never seen Kaizo actively flirt with any girl, nor has he ever seen any girl make a move on him. You know, girls in the Naruto world are quite outgoing, okay?

After Shamen took office and became the Grand Councilor, his lifestyle became a routine of going back and forth between Fengying Tower and home. He already had poor luck with the opposite sex, and he was also busy with work!

The reason why the sea hides so many single people has finally been found!

105. What is the current price range for Tailed Beasts?

"There's fighting ahead, it's our people!"

"Hey? Big brother, isn't that Kakuzu? What's he doing in the Land of Wind?"

After enduring months of sandstorms and leaving the village, Masato and Sasori's father finally arrived at the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth. Fifty meters ahead of them, a burly man with eyes gleaming with a familiar green light surrounded a group of Sand Ninja underlings and a richly dressed nobleman. Sasori's father immediately recognized that unforgettable green light. Back when he first debuted, he had witnessed Kakuzu's ninjutsu, which had broadened his understanding of ninjutsu. In addition, Kakuzu's story had moved him deeply, so it was impossible for him not to remember it.

"What else could they be doing? Didn't you see that noble lord? He's obviously here to do business..."

"Hey! You, the one glowing green up ahead, listen up! You're surrounded! You have three seconds to put your hands on your head and crouch down on the ground!"

Masato never expected that Sasori's dad and Kakuzu would actually have such a connection. The first time he left the village, he ran into Kakuzu who was staking out the place, and this time it was another coincidental encounter.

However... Kakuzu has rarely done business in large ninja villages like theirs in recent years, almost always heading to smaller ones. To those smaller villages, he's practically a father figure. He's been the most notorious rogue ninja with the highest bounty on the black market these past few years; once he sets his sights on someone, their head is practically guaranteed to be taken, even if they hide in some remote mountain valley. His seemingly endless time has given Kakuzu extraordinary perseverance and patience; if he can't find someone, he can lie in wait forever...

However, since this guy never comes to the Five Great Ninja Villages, the Five Great Ninja Villages are too lazy to pay attention to him. As Hashirama Senju once said, existence has its purpose, and he also needs to make a living.

I never expected this guy to be camped out at the border between two countries. He's a real genius.

"Samato-sama!!"

"Phew... Great! Lord Shinto is here..."

Shinto's loud shout surprised the Sand Ninja underlings who were originally thinking about how to leave their last words asking the neighbors to take care of their wives and children. Kakuzu's reputation as a bounty hunter traitor was just too great!

I never expected that such a boss would appear on a simple B-level escort mission.

"Golden Lion... Miyamoto Masato, and Miyamoto's genius puppeteer, Miyamoto Jie..."

The Sand Ninja underlings were overjoyed, while Kakuzu on the other side didn't make a move. Instead, he turned around and looked warily in their direction, or more accurately, at Shinto. After all, this guy had taken out four of his hearts back then, and now, five years later, he was even chopping down Onoki. It was no wonder he was worried.

In the past few years, he never came to the five great ninja villages, especially Konoha and Sunagakure. He would always take a detour. After all, the battle between the White Fang of Konoha and the Golden Shiki of Sunagakure, who led the ANBU of their respective villages, was too fierce in the past few years. The two of them were like murderous maniacs, and they killed more people than he did in the headhunting business.

The Sand Village's Golden Lion could take down four of his own hearts in one go, and he was incredibly tough. Meanwhile, Konoha, after the deaths of Hashirama and Tobirama, was no longer worried, but then Konoha's White Fang appeared, capable of going toe-to-toe with the Sand Village's Golden Lion. The other three great ninja villages aren't necessarily safe either.

So he usually stakes out the border. Who the hell is fate? It's really inexplicable. He just happened to be passing through and doing some small business, and yet they still managed to meet.

I need to buy some pomelo leaves to take a bath after I get back.....ヽ(ー_ー)ノ

"You guys go first, I'll take care of things here."

"Don't be so tense! I don't eat people. We're all old acquaintances, after all. Fighting and killing would disrupt social order. By the way! Kakuzu, when did you become so indiscriminate in your choices, even accepting such low-level bounties?"

Shinto and Sasori's father walked up and waved to the Sand Ninja underlings. After they left, seeing Kakuzu still looking tense and ready to fight, he patted him on the shoulder and said...

Watching the departing Sand Ninja underlings, one leading four—a Jonin leading four Chunin—and it was an escort mission, which usually wouldn't exceed B-rank, meant that the nobleman's worth shouldn't be very high. Given Kakuzu's current status, he shouldn't even be interested. The amount Kakuzu is offering now is definitely in the tens of millions.

"...I was just heading to Iwagakure to do business and happened to run into them. Money is money, after all. Why aren't you, the ANBU action captain of Sunagakure, fighting Konoha's White Fang? What are you doing here with this brat?"

Kakuzu secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Masato didn't intend to make a move.

"Yeah, that's true. The ninja world's economy is starting to recover, and everything's going up in price. A bowl of ramen costs five ryo, it's ridiculously expensive! But you don't know, I just retired from the Anbu. I got a bit tired of fighting for so long, so I brought my brother out for a trip. We were just planning to go to the Land of Earth to enjoy its beautiful scenery anyway. Want to come along?"

When Masato heard that Kakuzu was going to Iwagakure to discuss business, he immediately perked up. Go to Iwagakure to discuss business? With whom?

Who else could it be but Onoki?

However, considering that Chiyo said Onoki was planning a tailed beast research project and is now doing business with Kakuzu, there must be a story behind this!

"No need, I'm used to being alone."

As soon as Masato sent out a team request, Kakuzu immediately shook his head. Once bitten, twice shy; the village's betrayal of him years ago had deeply wounded him, making him distrustful of teammates, especially since Kakuzu was known as a jinx in the ninja world...

"It's alright, we can look out for each other on the road. You know Onoki is notoriously cunning, and I, Jinbe, have the utmost respect for someone like Kakuzu. How could I just watch you get tricked by Onoki? Let's go together! By the way, Kakuzu, you've been in the ninja world for so many years, what's the price range for tailed beasts now, like... the Four-Tails and Five-Tails of Iwagakure..."

Without giving Kakuzu a chance to speak, Shinto grabbed Kakuzu and said as he walked away.

shock!!!

"Hmm... Tailed beasts are priceless, but now all the tailed beasts in the ninja world have owners. Except for the Seven-Tails, the other tailed beasts are all in the hands of the major ninja villages. Even if you actually captured the Four- or Five-Tails, no ninja village would dare to buy them. But... you're not going to get the Four- or Five-Tails this time, are you?"

Speaking of his professional knowledge, Kakuzu launched into a long and eloquent analysis like an economist, completely forgetting that he had been forced into a team.

He was shocked. This golden lion had an enormous appetite. On its first business deal, it wanted to take on such a huge order of tailed beasts. Wasn't it afraid of being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of food?

"How about it? Interested in a collaboration? You've been in the black market for so long, you must have some connections. Let's go big. I'll handle the tailed beasts, you find the sales channels, and we'll split the profits 50/50. With your status, Kakuzu, it's so undignified of you to be running around the world for tens of millions every day. If you pull off this deal, your reputation will absolutely shock the ninja world, and your prestige will rise by more than one level. You'll be making tens or hundreds of millions a year just from the black market endorsement fees. You won't be struggling to make ends meet like you are now, running around the ninja world for a mere ten or twenty million!"

106. Did Onoki win the lottery?