The ninja world.
Between Konohagakure and Iwagakure lay Takigakure.
Inside a dim secret chamber, the elders of Takigakure stood with stern faces.
Their eyes were fixed on the two young men standing in the center.
The leader spoke in a low and solemn voice, “Toji, Kakuzu.
You two are the strongest ninjas of this generation in Takigakure.
The village now has a mission for both of you.” “Assassinate Hashirama Senju, the Hokage of Konoha.
Whoever brings back his head and makes Takigakure famous across the ninja world shall become the next leader of the village.” * * * After leaving the chamber with Kakuzu, Toji removed his mask.
He narrowed his eyes and enjoyed the sunlight shining down on him.
He stood over six feet tall, wearing a tight black shirt that outlined his lean and powerful muscles.
His lower half was dressed in loose white martial arts pants.
A long slanted scar at the corner of his eye gave him a wild and untamed look.
Toji was a transmigrator, eighteen years old this year.
Ten years ago, he had been staying up late studying medical PhD exam materials.
The moment he opened his eyes, he had crossed into the Naruto world and became an unnoticed orphan in Takigakure.
There was no system, no kekkei genkai, and his talent in ninjutsu was painfully ordinary.
To avoid becoming cannon fodder, he could only choose to train in taijutsu and medical ninjutsu.
Fortunately, this body had excellent talent for taijutsu.
He successfully rose alongside Kakuzu, who excelled in elemental techniques.
Together, they were known as the “Strongest Duo of Takigakure,” and formed a fairly deep friendship.
But even among the strongest, there were differences.
Toji knew clearly that with only him and Kakuzu, trying to assassinate Hashirama was nothing more than a fool’s dream.
He did not even have the courage to throw a shuriken from one kilometre away and run.
He glanced at the man beside him.
Kakuzu looked little different from how he would decades later.
He still wore a mask and had long black hair.
The only difference was that his body did not yet bear the countless stitches of the future.
“Hey, Kakuzu, what do you think?” Toji asked casually, both hands resting behind his head.
Kakuzu frowned.
“What do you mean?” “Obviously the mission to assassinate Hashirama Senju.” “The village’s mission must be carried out,” Kakuzu replied in a deep voice.
“Do you really think that?” Toji stared at him.
“You know as well as I do that we’re no match for that God of Shinobi.
The elders know it too, yet they still sent us… don’t you find that strange?” When Kakuzu said nothing, Toji continued with a mocking tone, “If you ask me, the higher-ups want to use Hashirama’s hand to get rid of us.
We’ve become too strong.
Strong enough to make them uneasy.” Kakuzu remained silent, but the flicker in his eyes had already exposed his thoughts.
Anyone who could become a jōnin in a resource-starved place like Takigakure was no fool.
Toji’s words had simply shattered the last trace of fantasy he still held toward the village.
“A ninja’s life is nothing but the fate of being chosen,” Toji said with a sigh.
Then his tone changed.
“But we’re different.
We’re the strongest duo of Takigakure.
We have the right to choose.” His eyes burned brightly.
“So, should we kill them?
Right here.
Right now.” Kakuzu’s stiff face suddenly split into a grin.
“Toji, you’re a lawless madman.
But I like that.
Then let’s kill them.” * * * And just like that, the two immediately returned to the chamber and began a massacre.
They killed every single member of Takigakure’s leadership.
Not one was left alive.
The chamber soon filled with the sharp smell of blood.
Toji grabbed a black cloth and wiped the blood from his fists clean.
“Weak…
far too weak.” As a transmigrator unbound by the ninja world’s twisted hierarchy, he felt no burden at all when killing a group of elders.
A moment later, Kakuzu walked out from one of the rooms.
In his hands were two items: a scroll, and a gourd-shaped glass bottle filled with clear water.
Toji recognized both at once.
They were Takigakure’s most precious treasures.
The first was the secret technique, Earth Grudge Fear.
It was this technique that would later grant Kakuzu immortality and strength close to Kage level.
The second was the Hero Water.
Drinking it could increase chakra dozens of times over, but the price was the user’s lifespan.
“Everything is here,” Kakuzu said.
“How do you plan to deal with them?” Toji lowered his head and examined the Earth Grudge Fear scroll.
To his surprise, it was a combination of summoning and secret arts.
One had to first make a contract with Earth Grudge Fear before learning it.
The entity itself was only a mass of living black threads without much intelligence.
He immediately answered, “First, sign the summoning contract with Earth Grudge Fear.
After memorizing the technique, burn the scroll.
Once we leave this room, no third person can know this power exists.
As for the Hero Water, we split it equally.” Kakuzu casually tossed the bottle to him.
“Using Hero Water means death.
I have no use for it, so it’s all yours.
The elders’ money belongs to me.” “Fine.” Knowing Kakuzu’s love of money, Toji agreed without hesitation.
After establishing the summoning contract, the two quickly memorized the contents of the technique.
Then Kakuzu formed hand seals and fired a burst of fire release.
The scroll was instantly swallowed by flames, leaving not even a trace of ash behind.
Once everything was done, Kakuzu looked at Toji and spoke seriously, “What are you planning to do next?
Burn all the bodies and blame it on Kusa ninja, Shimo ninja, Iwa ninja, or Leaf ninja.
Any one of them would work.
Then you can stay in the village and become a hero.” He paused, then added in a calm tone, “Or blame it on me.
Just say I killed the elders.” “Forget it.” Toji shook his head.
“There’s no reason for me to stay in Takigakure anymore.
The strongest duo of Takigakure becoming missing-nin together.
That’s pretty ironic.” He fell silent for a moment, then made an offer.
“I’m planning to change my identity and develop myself in Konoha.
Kakuzu, want to come with me?” This was a decision he had made after careful thought.
First, Konoha had the best city construction in the ninja world.
As long as you had money, you could live a rich and peaceful life.
Second, Konoha was full of talent.
Earth Grudge Fear was powerful because it allowed one to grow stronger simply by taking the hearts of powerful people.
Konoha gathered the most bloodline clans and strongest experts in the world.
High-quality hearts would appear endlessly there.
Toji would not need to risk himself fighting.
He only needed to sit back, profit, and collect corpses.
That place held the road for him to rise to the top.
“Go to Konoha?” Kakuzu did not even think before shaking his head.
“Too dangerous.
I’m not interested.
I’m going to become a bounty hunter.” Just as expected, history had returned to its proper track.
Toji shrugged.
“Then this is goodbye.
Good luck, Kakuzu.” “I’m stronger than you.
Worry about yourself instead.” Kakuzu scoffed, turned around, and waved without looking back.
“Don’t die, Toji.
I hope I’ll still see you alive in a few years.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Silver_Shark Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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