Naruto: Reborn as Kakuzu, the Immortal Assassin

Kakuzu lifted his head and stared silently at Gotou Tsubasa, saying nothing. He understood the value of speaking less to avoid making mistakes, especially when he was on someone else's turf. Having only been in this world for a few days, he relied on the memories in his mind to navigate this unfamiliar environment. Listening more and talking less was the safest approach to avoid revealing any flaws.

Tsubasa, observing Kakuzu's expression, came to his own conclusions. Asking Kakuzu to go up against the First Hokage of Konohagakure—Hashirama Senju—was indeed a tall order. However... a glint of gold flashed in Tsubasa's eyes. No matter how difficult the mission, he was determined to instill his philosophy in Kakuzu.

"Kakuzu, I'm sure you've heard of Hashirama Senju's power. He's the one who proposed the one nation, one village system, a visionary leader of incredible strength. But even he is not invincible."

"You can employ assassination, poison, or strike while he's asleep. No matter how strong a man is, there's always a moment of vulnerability."

As Tsubasa prattled on, Kakuzu bit his lip to stifle his laughter.

Don't laugh. I absolutely can't laugh! he thought, struggling to maintain a composed expression. To Kakuzu, Tsubasa's elaborate suggestions seemed far less effective than simply throwing a shuriken from 800 meters away.

When Tsubasa finished, he noticed Kakuzu remained unmoved. Clearing his throat awkwardly, Tsubasa decided to sweeten the deal.

"Kakuzu, I understand how challenging this mission is, but great difficulties come with great opportunities. If you complete this mission, I'll grant you the Earth Grudge Fear Technique, the most treasured jutsu of Takigakure."

Tsubasa slapped Kakuzu's shoulder firmly, his tone full of encouragement.

"You've been trained by our clan since childhood. I may grow old one day, but the future belongs to you. I trust you'll handle it well."

Kakuzu, catching the implied promise of succession, feigned gratitude.

"Don't worry, my lord. Hashirama Senju may be powerful, but I, Kakuzu, am no ordinary ninja. I will bring you his head."

"Good. With that, I feel at ease. Go prepare yourself—I will personally see you off," Tsubasa replied with a satisfied nod.

With the act complete, Kakuzu respectfully took the mission scroll and exited Tsubasa's office. Watching Kakuzu's retreating figure, Tsubasa's gaze lingered until he was sure the man was out of earshot.

Standing nearby, Chiba Mei crossed her arms, a faint sneer appearing on her lips.

"My lord, you don't seriously intend to give Kakuzu the Earth Grudge Fear Technique, do you?"

Tsubasa chuckled, sipping tea from the cup on his desk as a nostalgic look crossed his face.

"Years ago, I had the fortune of witnessing Hashirama Senju clash with the Uchiha at the Naka River in the Land of Fire. What a spectacle it was."

"Kakuzu won't be coming back. As for this mission's reward, over a billion ryo... Well, we'll consider it completed. After all, we'll lose an elite jonin in the process. Even if we can't claim the full amount, we can at least secure half. Do you understand?"

Tsubasa's excitement over the payment was evident. In the shinobi world, currency was standardized across the Five Great Nations, making it universally valuable. By the logic of inflation, money would only depreciate over time. A bounty of one billion ryo today could easily be worth ten times more in a few decades.

With this fortune, whether it was to develop the village or build himself a lavish estate, Tsubasa wouldn't have to worry about funds ever again. The cost? Merely Kakuzu's life—a negligible price to pay for such a lucrative deal.

Chiba Mei raised another concern. "But my lord, what if Kakuzu isn't killed by Hashirama Senju? What then?"

Tsubasa's expression immediately turned serious, the mirth disappearing from his face. Setting his tea down, he responded coldly.

"The likelihood of Kakuzu surviving against the God of Shinobi is negligible, but unforeseen events can happen. If by some miracle he returns, you know what to do."

Chiba Mei nodded, understanding the unspoken command. "If the mission fails, the fault lies not with the village but with Kakuzu's incompetence. And incompetence must be punished—whether by imprisonment or as a scapegoat to appease the client."

Satisfied, Tsubasa patted her shoulder, a silent affirmation that she understood perfectly. A knowing smile crept onto Chiba Mei's face as well.

...

Outside the Office

Kakuzu stood under a tree twenty meters away, his eyes closed as he silently waited. The wind carried faint murmurs from the office to his ears.

To a skilled ninja like Kakuzu, separating useful information from background noise was second nature. The whispering wind carried more than just the rustling of branches or the movement of sand—it carried words.

Assassination, God of Shinobi, reward, impossible mission, dungeon...

Kakuzu's expression darkened, and a cold smile played on his lips.

So that's how it is...

A myriad of names echoed clearly in Kakuzu's mind, bringing a faint smile to his lips. Stepping forward, he made his way home at a steady pace.

Once there, Kakuzu didn't immediately begin preparing for the assassination, nor did he focus on planning his escape route. Instead, he took a long, relaxing hot bath.

While soaking in the water, he carefully revisited the memories of the "original host." After finishing his bath, he dressed himself and retrieved a sheet of white paper from his ninja tools pouch.

This wasn't ordinary paper—it was chakra paper, a tool essential to every major shinobi clan.

Extending his right hand, Kakuzu held the paper between his index and ring fingers. He concentrated, directing chakra from his heart. In less than a second, a warm energy coursed through his body, easily flowing wherever he directed it.

This was the essence of chakra: energy generated by 1.3 trillion cells in the body, all converging at the heart. When a shinobi needed this power, they could draw upon it effortlessly, wielding it as if it were an extension of their own will.

Kakuzu channeled the chakra from his heart to the two fingers holding the paper.

Swish!

With a slicing sound, the chakra paper split into four pieces. As the fragments drifted through the air, each exhibited a different reaction—one crumbled into dust, another became creased, a third burned to ashes, and the fourth grew damp with water.

"Oh? All five chakra natures?" Kakuzu murmured as he glanced at his right hand.

This result didn't surprise him. As a top-tier shinobi and a weapon of destruction, he was already at the level of an Elite Jōnin. Mastering all five chakra natures wasn't unexpected.

From the reactions of the chakra paper, it was evident that his affinities leaned towards Wind Release and Earth Release. However, Kakuzu wasn't satisfied with just this. He knew there was still one technique—his life's work—that he had yet to master:

Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Fear!