Kisame’s injuries had pletely healed by the he still felt rather speechless about Senshi. Previously, that guy had go him so hard that if not for Samehada transferring him chakra and helping him heal, he might well have died right there in the Kirigakure.

  And now, Senshi was ag as though nothing had happened—once agaiing him as a partner for the mission, as if it wasn’t just retly that Senshi had nearly beaten him to death on the spot.

  Afterward, with Karin in tow, Senshi headed back to the hot-spring inhey were staying.

  Ihe inn, Kakuzu was soaking fortably in a hot spring, getting ready for bed.

  “Ah! It’s been ages since I st had a nice soak and then drifted off to sleep.”

  Lookiremely satisfied, Kakuzu y down on his bed. He felt a bit of gratitude and pity for Kisame, guessing that Senshi must have been off “t” Kisame instead of b him. The thought made Kakuzu’s pale-green eyes light up with a hint of amusement.

  Once he got himself settled in, Kakuzu closed his eyes. For some reason, after shutting his eyes, he found himself peeking at the door o time. Every time he got cozy, about to enjoy some det rest, that “mission maniac” Senshi would e crashing in. Fortunately, Senshi arently busy tormenting Kisame this time, not showing up at the worst possible moment.

  Thus, Kakuzu eased his entire body and shut his eyes, ready to slip into dreamnd.

  Bang—

  Before the te and bliss could even fade, Senshi already performed his signature move: kig the door wide open, then flickering in with a body-flicker to stand right by Kakuzu’s bed, deftly reag out to grab him.

  Kakuzu’s pale-green eyes snapped wide open! He could practically recite what Senshi would say :

  “Hey, Kaku! There’s a new mission. Why’re you sleeping? Get up a’s go!”

  “Why waste your limited life on the meaningless act of sleeping?”

  “Kaku! New mission’s in—why’re you still asleep?”

  Senshi seized hold of Kakuzu, shaking him, all while parrotting the very lines Kakuzu had memorized. And as Kakuzu well knew, if he stubbornly refused to get up, Senshi would just sling him over his shoulder to carry him off to the mission.

  “Sigh…”

  Exhaling in resignation, Kakuzu asked:

  “What about Kisame? ’t you team up with him instead?”

  Senshi chuckled:

  “He’s ing, of course. We’ll all head out on this mission together.”

  “Hmm?” Kakuzu grunted, instantly feelier. At least now it wasn’t only him being tormented by Senshi.

  Despite not wanting to at all, Kakuzu left his fy bed. Ever since embarking on the ninja path, he couldn’t recall many times he’d slept peacefully. So was this his so-called “ninja way?” Kakuzu sighed inwardly.

  Under Senshi’s lead, the group of four soon made their way to the Kiri’s bck market. By now it was nighttime, so traveling uhe stars left Karin feeling rather sleepy. But that wasn’t a big issue—she soon dozed off on Senshi’s back, drooling in a pleasant dream.

  On the way, at an interse, the Wood e brought Terumi Mei and the others—who had their chakra sealed—over to rejoin them.

  In the main hall of the Kiri bck market, the manager verified Terumi Mei’s group’s identities and firmed that their chakras had been sealed. Then, pulling out a small card from his coat pocket, he ha to Senshi.

  “Bring them to the address shown on this card. Wait for the employer to pick them up, and you’ll receive the ission.”

  Senshi took the card, studied it carefully, and he note indicated a valley just outside the Kirigakure, not far away. He double-checked the location and led everyooward that valley.

  “Hold on. Are we just going te right in there?” “What if it’s a trap?” Ao asked. Having his chakra sealed made him feel very insecure.

  Senshi shrugged:

  “If it’s a trap, you always request a rescue mission. Then I’ll help you get out.”

  Hearing that, Ao promptly shut his mouth. Another word or two, and he might lose everything.

  So Senshi followed the route on the map, approag that valley. Pces like that were scattered around outside the Kiri. This one was where the Blood Mist shinobi had been told to meet and take the “targets,” pleting the transa.

  Leading the Blood Mist’s forces here was Kondō Ryū, a jōnin of the Kiri with two swords strapped to his back, eyes never leaving the valley entrance.

  Swish—

  A Blood Mist ninja flickered into view behind him, dropping to one ko report:

  “Lord Kondō, the targets are approag!”

  Kondō Ryū nodded slightly:

  “How many came? Are Terumi Mei and the four of them truly captured?”

  The rep ninja stated:

  “They came with four people—three capable shinobi and a young girl. Among the three shinobi, one is Kiri’s own S-rank rogue Kisame.

  The other two are Kakuzu—well-known in multiple bck markets—and that newly famous Ame bck-market shinobi, Uzumaki Senshi.

  As for Terumi Mei’s group of four, they have indeed fallen into their hands and had their chakra sealed.”

  Hearing this, Kondō Ryū felt fully reassured. He eve out a grin revealing shark-like teeth.

  “So it’s the Senshi–Kakuzu bo, huh? No wohey’re said to have a 100% success rate at missions. They so easily captured Terumi Mei’s group. Bring them to me.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  With that, the ninja vanished via another flicker.

  At the valley entrance, Senshi had already deployed his “Mantra” style perception, c the entire area. He could sense every movement. He even discovered a “big fish” from the Blood Mist lurking about. But he wasn’t in a hurry; he wao follow the trail all the the and take out the Blood Mist higher-ups in one swoop.

  Swish—

  A Blood Mist ninja used the Body Flicker Teique to appear before Senshi.

  “Lead the way,”

  Senshi said, as though he’d anticipated the ninja’s arrival all along. Surprised for a sed, the man guided Senshi’s party forward to meet Kondō Ryū. Watg from the valley, Kondō had also seen them and became more polite upon seeing Senshi’s group.

  Approag Kakuzu, he handed over a box:

  “Kaku, here’s your ission fee. Have a t.”

  Senshi waved, calling out to Kakuzu. He was already aced to that routihe job was taken under Kakuzu’s hen they split the proceeds fifty-fifty. Kakuzu couldn’t quite uand why Senshi, that “shameless swindler,” even needed him when Senshi was fully capable alone. But after ting the mowice, verifying no issues, Kakuzu felt a rush at the sight of so much cash—he’d get a det share. His earlier annoya being rudely awakened va once.

  Meanwhile, Kondō Ryū and his subordinates checked on Terumi Mei’s group, firming they really had sealed chakras. Kondō decided to take them to the fa’s base.

  Around the Kirigakure y numerous scattered isnds, and the Blood Mist base was on one such ishe vilge. Oisfied with the four’s dition, Kondō brought them along.

  Ihe Blood Mist hideout, Karatachi Tachii and Hōzuki Getsuki were awaiting good news from Kondō Ryū. In the Kiri, both the Hōzuki d the Karatachi were big families. The Hōzuki had produced the Seizukage, Hōzuki Gesu, and the Karatachi had produced the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura.

  Karatachi Tachii and Hōzuki Getsuki were both elders within the Kiri. But right now, the vilge was mostly in Elder Genji’s hands, so these two had limited official influence. Additionally, they were staunch supporters of the Fourth Mizukage’s “Blood Mist” policies—when Yagura was being trolled by Tobi, they had also been brainwashed into believing the Blood Mist approach represehe true “Will of Water,” necessary for a strong Kirigakure. They saw Genji’s people—Terumi Mei, Gonbee, Ao, Chōjūrō—as hindrao the Kiri’s revival. Thus they wao remove Genji’s subordinates, even “the Lackey's Lackey,” namely people like Chōjūrō.

  They had great faith in Kondō Ryū’s abilities. He was ae jōnin, solid in both skill and reliability. Yet they had no clue Kondō would bring them a “new boss” today.

  Soon enough, Kondō Ryū arrived at Karatachi Tachii’s office.

  “How did it go?”

  Karatachi Tachii asked immediately upon seeing him.

  Kondō Ryū gave a slight bow, speaking politely:

  “Lord Tachii, everythi exceptionally well.

  That ninja from the Ame is indeed formidable.

  I’ve verified that Terumi Mei’s four subordinates are who we thought—no mistakes. Their chakras are fully sealed. I’ve already brought them here. Shall I have them brought in for you and Elder Getsuki?”

  Karatachi Tachii, overjoyed, excimed:

  “Bring them!”

  “Yes, sir!”

  Kondō Ryū nodded a out to make arras.

  Bleam