vstars Chapter 566 This is outrageous!
Chapter 566 This is outrageous!
"How despicable! These rats! How dare they attack ordinary civilians!" another Cloud Ninja cursed angrily.
"Don't worry, young man!" The Cloud Ninja who had initially tried to stop him had softened considerably. He even patted Zhang Hai on the shoulder, his eyes filled with sympathy. "You've suffered. We'll avenge you! Those guys from Iwagakure will never get away with this!"
He glanced at the document in Zhang Hai's hand, then at Kakuzu standing silently to the side, and finally nodded.
"Alright, in that case, come with me." The Cloud Ninja put away his kunai and gestured for the two to follow. "I will take you to report to Lord Raikage, and he will definitely agree to let you enroll. Our Cloud Village welcomes anyone with ambition who wants to avenge their comrades!"
In this way, Zhang Hai, with his superb acting skills and fabricated background, successfully gained the trust of the Cloud Ninja and, with "Uncle Dumb" Kakuzu, openly stepped into the heavily guarded Cloud Village.
Kakuzu, standing nearby, remained expressionless, but inwardly he felt a slight admiration for Zhang Hai's acting skills. He had lived so long and seen countless cunning individuals, but few could weave lies so convincingly that no one could doubt them. Moreover, this man's maturity far exceeded what one would expect for his age.
"This kid is not simple," Kakuzu thought to himself.
Even after entering the village, Zhang Hai remained vigilant. As he followed the Cloud Ninja, he whispered an explanation that only Kakuzu could hear: "Uncle Kakuzu, my uncle has lost his voice and his face is disfigured because he was seriously injured. He can't be seen by anyone, so he's wearing a mask. Don't say anything, I'll explain."
Kakuzu remained silent, only subtly pursing his lips. For a ninja who had lived for over a hundred years, the experience of impersonating a "mute" and "disfigured" "elder" was entirely new and unprecedented. What was even more novel was that he could walk openly on the streets of the ninja village, instead of being constantly hunted and living in the shadows as before. This feeling was quite peculiar.
The scene inside Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village) also shocked Zhang Hai. The architectural style here was vastly different from Konoha (Hidden Leaf Village), dominated by towering stone buildings, exuding a rugged and powerful aura. The ninjas were mostly burly, with serious faces, radiating a fierce presence. A faint aura of lightning chakra permeated the air, filling the entire village with vitality and energy.
Soon, the Cloud Ninja led them to the Cloud Village Ninja Academy.
"Alright, we've arrived." Yunren pointed to the equally towering building ahead. "This is the Ninja Academy. I'll go report first; please wait here for a moment."
Zhang Hai nodded, indicating that the Cloud Ninja could leave. After the Cloud Ninja left, Zhang Hai looked at Kakuzu.
"Uncle Kakuzu, we've arrived," Zhang Hai reminded him.
Kakuzu's gaze fell upon the entrance to the Ninja Academy. A fleeting flicker seemed to cross his cold, green eyes. The Ninja Academy… a place he had never been before. His entire life seemed to have been spent in killing and chasing money; he had never had such a "normal" experience.
Seeing Kakuzu's reaction, Zhang Hai felt a little curious. He didn't know what Kakuzu was thinking, but clearly, this "ninja academy" held some special significance for him.
"Did you notice anything along the way?" Zhang Hai asked quietly. He knew Kakuzu's abilities in infiltration and his sensitivity to powerful chakra.
Kakuzu shifted his gaze from the Ninja Academy to Zhang Hai. A faint glint flickered in his green eyes.
"Hmph." Kakuzu let out a nasal sound, his voice still hoarse and deep. "I sensed several powerful chakra fluctuations. One of them... is very similar to the mask I lost before."
Zhang Hai's heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, Kakuzu's target had appeared. The Raikage's chakra was pure lightning, and extremely powerful. Kakuzu's "mask" likely referred to the Raikage's chakra nature. This meant that Kakuzu had locked onto his target, and that target was very likely the Raikage himself!
“However…” Kakuzu’s voice rang out again, with a hint of amusement in his tone, “There seem to be some… well-hidden old guys here. Their chakra fluctuations, though not conspicuous, give me a very dangerous feeling.”
Zhang Hai became wary. The "old guys" Kakuzu mentioned were likely the Hidden Cloud Village's hidden trump cards, such as some retired but still powerful former shinobi. It seemed the Hidden Cloud Village was more complex than he had imagined.
"I will try my best to find their intelligence for you," Zhang Hai promised in a low voice. He knew that only by helping Kakuzu achieve his goal could he better control this powerful collaborator.
Kakuzu remained silent, his green eyes once again gazing into the depths of Kumogakure. His greedy yet indifferent expression seemed to indicate that he was already sketching out the image of the "collectible" he was about to acquire.
The torrential rain gradually subsided, turning into a light drizzle. Kakuzu's cold, green eyes appeared particularly sinister in the damp air. He turned to look at Zhang Hai, his voice hoarse and low.
"Why are you helping me?" Kakuzu suddenly asked, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible doubt and inquiry. Although he was greedy for money, it didn't mean he was stupid. He could sense that Zhang Hai's purpose was not simply to hire him; this young Konoha ninja seemed to be playing a much bigger game.
Zhang Hai knew that Kakuzu's greed was his weakness, but his suspiciousness and caution were also his characteristics. He had to provide a reasonable explanation to dispel Kakuzu's concerns.
“It’s very simple, Kakuzu.” Zhang Hai met Kakuzu’s gaze calmly, his eyes gleaming with confidence. “It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. I’ll help you get the heart you want, and you, in turn, will help me eliminate those who stand in my way. I’ll help you complete your ‘collection’ first, and then you’ll help me achieve my goal.”
Zhang Hai's explanation was straightforward and thorough, perfectly aligning with Kakuzu's principle of prioritizing interests. He didn't try to conceal his ambitions; instead, he laid them out in the open, allowing Kakuzu to clearly see the "exchange of interests" involved.
Kakuzu's green eyes flickered slightly. He didn't speak, seemingly pondering the veracity of Zhang Hai's words.
“I haven’t agreed to be employed by you yet.” Kakuzu suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of warning, as if reminding Zhang Hai that their cooperation was only temporary, not an employment relationship, and that he still retained the right to choose.