Naruto: Reborn as Kakuzu, the Immortal Assassin

Ninja World was a land filled with countless clans. Over time, more and more clans emerged, inevitably leading to escalating conflicts. Ninjas, armed with chakra as their weapon, resorted to the simplest and most effective method of resolving disputes—war.

The powerful clans waged battles against one another, fighting fiercely for dominance and resources. Meanwhile, smaller clans struggled to survive in the cracks, forming alliances or being swept into the chaos.

This unending cycle of slaughter earned this period the title of the Warring States Era. For over a century, this era of turmoil raged, until a shift began. Ninjas awakened to the possibility of peace and started forming villages, backed by nations that provided a steady supply of resources and funding.

These villages, in turn, were responsible for their nation's security and defense. This gave rise to the one-nation, one-village system that soon dominated the continent.

The five most powerful villages—Konohagakure, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure—were established. Alongside them, smaller nations also built their own villages.

One such nation was the Land of Waterfalls. Though small—only about one-tenth the size of a great nation—it founded its own hidden village, Takigakure.

A fierce wind swept through the land, scattering sand and pebbles in its wake. Trees on both sides swayed violently, their leaves rustling in the wind. High above, flocks of birds flew into the distance, their cries echoing like mournful laments.

Standing atop a mountain peak, a twenty-six-year-old man gazed out over the landscape, lost in thought.

"My name is Kakuzu. I was originally from the 21st century. I never imagined something as unbelievable as transmigrating could happen to me."

Kakuzu felt a twinge of nostalgia but wasn't overwhelmed. On the contrary, deep within, there was a hint of excitement.

In his previous life, he had been young but plagued by chronic illness. Suffering from endless pain and disease, his days were consumed by physical and mental exhaustion until the illness finally claimed his life.

But when he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a completely different world. Memories of the Warring States Era flooded his mind, along with the knowledge of the body's original owner.

Raising an arm, Kakuzu studied his hand, his deep eyes reflecting the thoughts racing through his mind.

"In this life, my name is still Kakuzu. I was born in the late Warring States Era, a time of chaos and bloodshed. I don't even remember what my parents looked like, as I was taken in by a ninja clan when I was very young. They trained me ruthlessly to become a skilled assassin."

"Life hasn't been particularly joyful in this world either. But at least my body is healthy, free of the constant pain that plagued my previous life. For the first time, I can live like a normal person."

Kakuzu delved into his memories.

He had killed his first target at the age of seven during a mission. Years of slaughter honed his strength, but also left him numb to the harsh realities of the ninja world.

Then came the founding of Takigakure.

The clan leader who had taken him in, Gotou Tsubasa, became the first village leader of Takigakure. Thanks to his strength, Kakuzu rose to the rank of Captain of the Second Unit.

For a moment, it seemed as if peace had finally dawned upon the ninja world.

Shaking off the memories, Kakuzu came to terms with the world he now lived in.

This was the predecessor to the Naruto world—a time belonging to the First Kage of each village.

As for his current identity?

On the surface, Kakuzu was just a jōnin of Takigakure. But he couldn't shake the feeling that he might end up like the unlucky fool from the original story who died to a Wind Release.

Because...

Shh!

A figure suddenly appeared behind Kakuzu, moving with the speed of the Body Flicker Technique.

It was a man clad in armor, a long sword strapped to his back. A vicious scar ran across his face, adding to his menacing aura.

"Kakuzu, your next assassination target has been assigned," the man said.

Kakuzu remained still, his eyes shifting slightly to glance at the newcomer. This was Chiba Mei, Captain of Takigakure's First Unit. Like Kakuzu, he was a formidable fighter, but he hailed from a noble family and was considered aristocracy in Takigakure.

Instead of immediately following Mei, Kakuzu asked, "The conflicts in the ninja world have barely settled. Why are we already moving again?"

Mei's expression tightened, clearly irritated by the question. But he replied nonetheless, "The village is newly established and needs funds. It's time for you to contribute."

'Oh? The words 'village,' 'bonds,' and 'for the greater good' are starting to surface now, are they?' Kakuzu thought, smirking inwardly.

Without another word, he stepped forward, brushing past Mei.

"Let's go."

The two walked in silence, with Kakuzu leading the way.

Takigakure, though newly founded, was far from prosperous. The village had a single main road running north to south, with winding dirt paths branching off from it. Houses dotted the area sparsely, most of them simple huts. Stone buildings were a rare sight.

Clearly, the village, born from the chaos of war, was still struggling to find its footing.

But not everything in Takigakure was bleak.

At its heart stood a three-story stone building, a testament to the village's aspirations despite its humble beginnings.

This place served as the command center of Takigakure—the very heart of the village. Accompanying Chiba Mei, Kakuzu stepped into the room where he met the supreme leader of Takigakure, Gotōu Tsubasa.

Gotōu Tsubasa was a man in his sixties. Despite his age, his eyes were sharp, and his presence exuded strength. Not only did he hold dominion over all of Takigakure, but his personal combat ability was formidable, at least at the level of an elite Jōnin.

"Gotōu-sama, may I ask why you've summoned me?" Kakuzu bowed respectfully, one hand over his chest.

The honorific "Sama" was how Kakuzu addressed Gotōu Tsubasa in his memories. While Gotōu was the head of Takigakure, he did not hold the title of "Kage." That honorific was reserved solely for the leaders of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Thus, "Sama" was the most appropriate form of address.

Gotōu Tsubasa regarded Kakuzu with a nod before reaching out with a bony hand to pick up a scroll from the table beside him. He handed it over to Kakuzu.

"Kakuzu, this is a new mission for the village. We're entrusting it to you. Don't disappoint me."

Kakuzu accepted the scroll with both hands and unrolled it. His sharp eyes scanned the contents quickly.

Target: Senju Hashirama.

Objective: Assassination.

A sharp intake of breath escaped Kakuzu as his black pupils widened in shock. His breathing grew ragged, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

In his mind, a memory from his previous life resurfaced—a meme from the internet about "throwing shuriken across 800 miles to kill the First Hokage."

'Is the legendary scene happening already?' Kakuzu thought, his emotions a swirl of disbelief and absurdity.

In his past life, he'd watched Naruto, but he'd done so haphazardly, skipping through its 720 episodes. While he couldn't recount every detail of the plot, certain iconic scenes immortalized in fan-made videos stuck with him. Like the one where he boasted to Kakashi that the first Konoha ninja he ever fought was none other than the First Hokage himself. Back then, that memory had been amusing.

But now, as he truly became Kakuzu and stood face-to-face with this mission, recalling that scene only made him break out in goosebumps, his breath growing even more uneven.

To Gotōu Tsubasa, however, Kakuzu's reaction painted a different picture.

"Kakuzu, are you… scared?" Gotōu asked, his voice carrying a hint of disapproval.

In Gotōu's eyes, Kakuzu had been trained from a young age to be a ruthless assassin. After countless missions and the baptism of blood, he should have become a cold and unfeeling machine, unburdened by fear or hesitation. Such emotions, Gotōu believed, had no place in Kakuzu's heart.

...

My new fanfic, I like it a lot, I hope you like it too.