Naruto: Reborn as Kakuzu, the Immortal Assassin

For a ninja, a summoning beast can be a critical asset in battle. It was about time for Kakuzu to find one of his own. After his confrontation with the Three-Tails today, an idea began to take shape in his mind.

A summoning beast that complements a ninja's abilities can create a seamless synergy. Ideally, it would fill in the gaps of his strengths and weaknesses. A beast capable of flight would undoubtedly be a game-changer, granting him a high-altitude advantage few ninja could counter. From the skies, he could enhance his evasion and create countless opportunities for attack.

These thoughts raced through Kakuzu's mind, forming a resolution. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the idea to the back of his mind for now.

The Three-Tails roared furiously, slamming three of its massive tails in Kakuzu's direction. In a blur, Kakuzu dodged the assault. One tail smashed into his reinforced back armor with a deafening metallic clang.

As Kakuzu sprinted across the Three-Tails' massive shell, his arms darkened—Earth Release: Hardening Jutsu. He focused his strength, channeling it into his right hand.

"Hah!" Kakuzu transformed his palm into a blade, targeting a protruding spike on the creature's shell.

Clang!

The sharp collision of hardened flesh and armor reverberated through the air. Kakuzu twisted his wrist and wrenched off a fragment of the shell—a piece no larger than a third of his palm.

"That'll do," he muttered, holding the shard. Inside it lay the genetic material of the Three-Tails—a vital component for his plans.

Leaping off the beast, Kakuzu landed on the water's surface with a splash, dashing away at incredible speed.

Behind him, the Three-Tails roared in frustration, its immense chakra coalescing into a tailed beast bomb. Kakuzu glanced back briefly, a smirk curling at the corner of his lips.

"I already said I wasn't planning to take you down today," he muttered. "Save your energy for our next encounter."

Forming a hand sign, Kakuzu summoned over a hundred shadow clones. This time, their purpose wasn't mere distraction.

"I'll leave you a parting gift," Kakuzu said coldly.

The clones charged toward the Three-Tails, their movements relentless. The beast sensed danger, slamming its tails against the water's surface with brute force. Towering waves surged outward, wiping out many clones, but a handful pressed forward, undeterred.

Ten clones reached the creature's massive body. With swift precision, they pulled out pre-prepared explosive tags, hurling them at the beast while weaving hand seals.

"Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags!"

Shadow clones can execute it effectively as well.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

One explosive tag might barely tickle the Three-Tails, but dozens, even hundreds, detonating simultaneously? That was an entirely different story.

The creature howled in pain, abandoning its tailed beast bomb. The explosions left it writhing, its anguished roars echoing across the water.

...

Meanwhile, in the southwestern part of the Land of Water, the central continent bustled with activity. Hidden Mist Village, the heart of the country's power, was nestled here.

Unlike many regions of the Land of Water, the skies above Hidden Mist Village were often clear, offering sunny days nearly half the year despite the misty reputation.

Today was one such day. Beneath the brilliant sun, villagers moved to and fro, carrying fishing nets and boarding boats at the docks. The perfect weather promised a bountiful catch, and laughter filled the air as the townsfolk chatted cheerfully.

Suddenly—

Splash! Splash! Splash!

The sound of hurried footsteps slapping against the water broke the serene atmosphere. Startled, the villagers turned to see two ninja in uniform racing across the water, their expressions grim.

"What's going on?" someone murmured.

Due to its unique geography, Hidden Mist Village had streams flowing throughout its streets, giving it the appearance of a city built on water. To maintain order, the village leadership had forbidden ninja from using water-walking techniques unless in emergencies, as it disturbed the villagers' daily lives and caused unnecessary alarm.

Yet here were two ninja sprinting at full speed, clearly in defiance of that rule.

The patrolling guards considered intercepting them but froze when they recognized the pair: Chuki and Mufu, disciples of the First Mizukage.

Whispers spread among the guards and villagers alike. Rumors of unrest within the village's leadership had been circulating for days. The furious expressions of the two disciples only fueled suspicions that the rumors were true.

At the heart of Hidden Mist Village stood the Mizukage's towering office—a place of power where only the highest-ranking officials could tread.

Inside the grand office, a man dressed in a simple white robe with wide sleeves rose from the Mizukage's chair. His long blond hair was slicked back, and his thin eyes gleamed with calm authority. A pair of small mustaches framed his mouth.

"Everyone, please settle down," he said, addressing the gathered elders of the Land of Water. "I understand your concerns, and I assure you, they will all be addressed."

The room fell silent as everyone's attention was drawn to a calm yet authoritative voice.

"Everyone, please listen to me," said Hōzuki Gengetsu, the acting Mizukage, his tone commanding yet soothing. "I've heard about what happened to your homes. It was truly an unforeseen tragedy."

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing.

"But there's no need to worry about losing your houses. I will issue an immediate order to have the village arrange accommodations for all of you. How does that sound?"

The villagers, who had been murmuring anxiously, quieted down. Their eyes brightened with hope. Could this really be true? Was their status about to shift from displaced islanders to full-fledged residents of Kirigakure? It all felt too sudden, almost too good to be true.

Hōzuki Gengetsu observed their reactions carefully, a faint smile playing on his lips. He then added,

"For those who don't wish to stay in Kirigakure, the village will provide appropriate compensation. Rest assured, as long as you're citizens of the Land of Water, I will not abandon a single one of you!"

The moment he finished, applause erupted in the office.

"Mizukage-sama is truly a good man!"

"This is the Mizukage we've always hoped for!"

"With such a leader, Kirigakure is blessed, and so is the Land of Water!"

The room was filled with praise, and Hōzuki Gengetsu basked in their admiration, his composed demeanor never faltering.

But just as the atmosphere reached its peak of harmony—

BAM!

The office door burst open as two figures stormed in, radiating fury.

The sudden intrusion startled the villagers, who exchanged confused glances. Even Hōzuki Gengetsu's smile faltered slightly, his expression becoming more serious.

"All right," he said, waving a hand toward the crowd. "You've all had a long journey. Please go and rest at the accommodations the village has arranged for you."

At his command, a group of shinobi stepped forward to guide the villagers out. Soon, the room was empty, leaving only three people: Hōzuki Gengetsu, Chūki, and Mufū.

As the villagers left, Chūki's expression remained calm, but Mufū couldn't contain his rage. He stormed forward, grabbing Hōzuki Gengetsu by the collar.

"You should've been the first to know about Lord Byakuren's death!" Mufū roared, his voice trembling with anger. "But instead of avenging him, you submitted your application for the position of Second Mizukage to the Elders! How dare you?!"

Hōzuki Gengetsu frowned, brushing off Mufū's hand with clear distaste.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, his tone cold. "But let me make one thing clear—what's done is done. The dead cannot return to life. I suggest you grieve and move on. My position here was recommended by the great clans, and I intend to fulfill my duties."

"You—!"

Mufū clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking as his body trembled with suppressed rage. He knew the truth—Hōzuki Gengetsu's appointment as the Second Mizukage was already a foregone conclusion. There was nothing he could do to change it.

Taking a deep breath, he pressed on.

"Fine! Then tell me this—what do you plan to do about the First Mizukage's murder?!"

Hōzuki Gengetsu stroked his signature mustache thoughtfully, his expression unreadable. He couldn't dodge this question—not when the victim was the very leader of Kirigakure. If he failed to act, the other shinobi would surely accuse him of cowardice.

Finally, he sighed and waved dismissively as he walked toward the door.

"I've already gathered intelligence on the matter. The culprit is a man named Kakuzu. While he has ties to Konohagakure, he is not one of their shinobi."

He stopped at the doorway and glanced back at Mufū, his eyes sharp.

"I'll deploy the assassination unit to hunt him down. But don't expect me to send an entire force. That would risk a war with another nation."

With that, Hōzuki Gengetsu exited the room, leaving his words to hang in the air.

Mufū slammed his fist onto the desk, the impact echoing through the office. His frustration was palpable.

"Unacceptable!" he snarled, his voice low but filled with venom. "He stole my sensei's position, and now he's brushing off his duty to avenge him? This is unforgivable!"

Chūki adjusted his glasses, stepping forward as if to offer a word of comfort, but Mufū suddenly lifted his head. His eyes burned with fury and resolve.

He remembered his master's words: "The clans of Kirigakure, especially those with kekkei genkai, always act out of self-interest. They never prioritize the village's well-being. That's why they must be kept in check."

Now, those words resonated with a new clarity.

"Hōzuki Gengetsu… the clans with their kekkei genkai… just wait. One day, I'll wipe all of you out!"

----------------

For each 100 Power Stones +1 Chapter

Read more than +100 chapters and support me on Patreon

Patreon(.)com/Jixo