Naruto: Reborn as Kakuzu, the Immortal Assassin

Kakuzu always had a lingering doubt: why was Hashirama always able to repay his gambling debts? His wife, Mito, never gave him money, and Hashirama himself was infamous for losing every bet he placed.

When Kakuzu finally asked, Hashirama scratched the back of his head, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Well... Madara helped me out a few times."

What?! The truth hit like a thunderbolt. It was Uchiha Madara who bailed him out. And obviously, Mito couldn't know about it. So... Hashirama and Madara were the real deal, while Mito was just an unfortunate casualty?

This revelation made Kakuzu think about Hashirama's granddaughter, Tsunade, who had inherited her grandfather's legendary gambling habits. Like Hashirama, Tsunade was infamous in the gambling halls of the Land of Fire, earning the moniker "The Fat Sheep."

But where did Tsunade get her gambling funds? Some claimed the Senju clan had deep pockets, but by that time, the Senju had long faded from prominence in Konoha. Any leftover assets would have likely been squandered by Hiruzen and Danzo.

Even so, Tsunade maintained her gambling lifestyle. Kakuzu suspected her source of funds was none other than Jiraiya. Despite his average looks, Jiraiya's writing was top-tier, a sure-fire platinum-level talent. Unlike some no-name writers struggling for scraps, Jiraiya was a literary giant, practically a chosen one.

Each month, he probably handed over his royalties to Tsunade. This arrangement bore a striking resemblance to Hashirama and Madara's dynamic. Unfortunately for Jiraiya, his lifelong pursuit of Tsunade's heart never bore fruit, whereas Hashirama had long since parted ways with Madara. With Madara gone, Hashirama was left without a safety net.

The thought of Madara cleaning up his messes left Hashirama both touched and melancholic. Now, with Madara gone, the emptiness in his heart could only be filled by gambling.

Kakuzu, however, merely smirked in silence. Money? He had already written that off—better than risking Hashirama throwing himself at his feet and begging. Who knew how much each kowtow from the First Hokage might cost?

Still, this matter couldn't simply end here. The mighty Senju brothers—Hashirama and Tobirama, the pillars of the clan—needed him to sustain them financially. Was this really appropriate?

"Lord Hokage, I'm willing to delay the debt repayment, but you need to tell me one thing... or else I'll go straight to Lady Mito."

...

A month passed.

On a moonless, starless night, with clouds shrouding the sky, the Second Biological Research Lab in Konoha was alive with activity.

Inside, Kakuzu and Tobirama exchanged glances. In front of them knelt two unconscious men, bound and ready for experimentation. Kakuzu gave Tobirama a slight nod.

"Let's begin."

Tobirama took a deep breath, swiftly weaving hand signs. Tiger → Snake → Dog → Dragon.

"Hah!"

A sharp shout echoed as chakra surged. The earth beneath their feet shifted, and tiny flecks of soil began to erode the unconscious men's bodies.

The excruciating pain jolted the men awake, their bloodshot eyes widening in agony. They howled, their screams reverberating through the lab. But it was futile.

As the soil completely enveloped their bodies, their voices ceased. Perhaps they had journeyed to another world.

When the ritual concluded, two souls were dragged back from the hands of the Shinigami. The resurrected individuals opened their black, cracked eyes, scanning their unfamiliar surroundings.

The two figures seemed dazed and disoriented.

Where... were they?

Even Tobirama froze for a moment, stunned. He had aimed to summon their Senju ancestors, but the results didn't match his expectations. These two weren't from the Land of Fire. Their appearance, attire, and voices were all wrong.

Kakuzu nudged him with an elbow.

"What are you staring at? We succeeded."

"Yes... we did."

A rare smile crossed Tobirama's face. Today marked a monumental achievement: they had stolen two souls from the Shinigami. This was a historic breakthrough in the shinobi world.

The two resurrected men remained in a state of shock, but Kakuzu and Tobirama were too elated to pay them any attention.

This was a giant leap for shinobi science—an accomplishment destined to be etched into history.

But then...

Boom!

A deafening explosion shattered their moment of triumph.

Kakuzu and Tobirama leapt to opposite sides, narrowly avoiding the massive wooden tendrils that erupted between them.

Both turned, their eyes widening in alarm.

The lab door had been blown apart, leaving a gaping hole. Through the dust and debris stepped Senju Hashirama, his fire-shadow cloak billowing.

But this wasn't the lighthearted, carefree Hashirama they were used to. His expression was grim, his aura oppressive.

Each step he took was deliberate, his piercing gaze fixed on Tobirama.

"Tobirama," Hashirama's voice was sharp and unforgiving. "Did you really think I wouldn't know what you two were up to?"

Caught like a child with his hand in the cookie jar, Tobirama panicked and glanced at Kakuzu.

"Kakuzu, you—"

"It's not his fault," Hashirama interrupted sternly.

"You really thought I wouldn't notice you two scheming together?"

Hearing those words, Kakuzu shot a glance at Tobirama. The look in his eyes clearly said, Oh, so it's my fault now? Calling Hashirama naive was one thing, but it turned out Tobirama was the real fool here. The ANBU unit he created was designed to report solely to the Hokage. Hashirama might not have been able to find the two of them, but the ANBU certainly could. And if the ANBU found them, it was as good as the Hokage finding them himself. Tobirama had just handed Hashirama the key to his plans—pure self-sabotage.

"I knew something was off the last time I saw Kakuzu at the gambling den," Tobirama muttered.

"What kind of research is conducted at night instead of during the day? That's why I followed him here today."

Kakuzu spread his hands in exasperation.

"Hashirama might play dumb but still figure things out eventually. I'm not responsible for your bad choices."

Tobirama tried to explain. "Brother, they were merely death-row inmates. I was just—"

"Silence!" Hashirama's voice cut through the air, his expression cold as ice. For once, he was truly angry. "What gives you the right to decide who lives or dies? Can you honestly say it wasn't just to further your experiments?"

Tobirama clenched his fists but said nothing. He raised his hands, forming seals in swift succession.

"Edo Tensei—Release!"

The two souls, dragged from the underworld without even understanding what had happened, were once again pulled into the abyss by the Shinigami, cast back into eternal slumber.

"You two, follow me," Hashirama ordered as he turned and walked out of the laboratory.

Kakuzu and Tobirama exchanged glances before reluctantly following.

As the three stood outside, gazing into the dark night, there was a deafening roar. Boom! Boom! Boom! Massive ancient trees erupted from the ground, intertwining and coiling together, engulfing the laboratory in an instant.

"From this moment on, this laboratory no longer exists," Hashirama declared, turning his sharp gaze on Tobirama. "You're coming back with me. You're under house arrest. Without my explicit permission, you're not to leave."

"Brother, I—" Tobirama started, but Hashirama wasn't in the mood to negotiate.

"I'll appoint someone else to oversee the biological research division. I never want to see such experiments again."

With those words, Tobirama's fate for the foreseeable future was sealed.

Hashirama's stern gaze then shifted to Kakuzu.

"As for you, Kakuzu, you're no longer allowed to engage in this kind of work. That's my final line."

Kakuzu sighed and shrugged, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. A few sentences were all it took to decide the matter. In the end, this world was still one where strength dictated justice.

Watching the Senju brothers walk away, Kakuzu let out a long sigh. As he looked up at the sky, he noticed the absence of the moon.

No wonder tonight feels so dark, he thought.

If only the moon were out, he might've considered filing a complaint with the Sage of Six Paths.

These Senju brothers—eating my food, using my resources—and now they leave me stranded here, ruining my cushy 650,000 ryō government job! This is outrageous!

As Kakuzu silently raged, one of his Earth Grudge Fear tendrils burst from the ground, stitching itself back to his wrist. In its grasp was a vial of blood. Kakuzu narrowed his eyes, examining the bottle closely. Judging by the dust on its surface, it hadn't been opened in months. Yet, the blood inside remained as vibrant and fluid as ever.

Such potent life force could only mean one thing: Hashirama's cells.

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