Naruto: Nawaki was already dead, how could you bring him back to life?

"You bastard, you made me lose two hearts, your one isn't enough to compensate me!"

Kakuzu's tone was icy, and the Earth Grudge Tentacles within his body flowed out like a continuous stream of black mist. He wanted to take Chiba's heart and forge it into a new mask!

"Wait, Lord Kakuzu, I have something to say."

Seeing that Kakuzu seemed to be about to unleash his inner power and fight him for three hundred rounds, Chiba quickly called for a stop.

"Say!"

As a contemporary of the First Hokage, Kakuzu still maintained a high level of courtesy when dealing with powerful individuals of his own caliber.

"Um, can I exchange my life for the ransom?" Chiba took out a scroll from his pocket and tentatively asked.

"No, this is a matter of principle!" Kakuzu refused without even thinking. "You'd better obediently turn into a corpse and come back to the Gold Exchange with me."

Chiba: "What if it's double?"

Kakuzu: "...Tell me about it."

Kakuzu's principle is to always look forward. There's no way around it; Chiba has given him so much, so this doesn't necessarily violate his principles.

"Lord Kakuzu, please take a look."

Seeing Kakuzu's reaction, Chiba chuckled to himself, knowing that his "life-saving charm" could now work. So, he tossed the scroll in his hand toward Kakuzu.

"Humph!"

Kakuzu snorted and caught the scroll, not caring if it was a trap, and began to read it without a second thought.

"This, this is...!"

But after just one glance, Kakuzu's pupils dilated in shock, and he felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

What did he see? All he could see were zeros, countless zeros, string after string of zeros. Kakuzu had worked his whole life and had never seen so much money before!

"This is a bounty list for powerful medical ninjas to solve all kinds of difficult and complicated diseases, which is offered by important figures."

Chiba explained smugly that although he was currently broke, he had ways to make money!

The most powerful people in Naruto are not the Five Kage, but the Daimyo and nobles of various countries. They control nearly 90% of the country's wealth, and the ninja villages all rely on their funding to survive.

As is well known, the wealthier people are, the more they value their lives.

These big shots are willing to spend a lot of money to prolong their lives. Asuma is just a drop in the ocean (around 20 million). It's no exaggeration to say that the bounty for one of these bounties is equivalent to ten of Kakuzu's usual bounties!

"Kurararara, be my child... my partner, Kakuzu."

Chiba encouraged, "Look, you're good at limb replantation, hemostasis, and suturing, while I'm good at all kinds of medical ninjutsu. If we join forces, we'll definitely make a fortune in the future."

Chiba has great ambitions. He not only wants Kakuzu to give up his plan to hunt him down, but he also wants to use the bond of interests to make Kakuzu work for him!

Imagine if he could establish an Akatsuki organization outside of Konoha, then who in the ninja world would dare to disobey Chiba's wishes?

What about Onoki, what about Shimura Danzo? They all have to kneel before him and sing "Conquer".

"This……"

Kakuzu rubbed his tentacles together; the usually cold and ruthless man suddenly became somewhat reserved.

He had killed most of his life, beheading countless people, and this was the first time he had ever heard that he had a talent for medicine, suddenly being asked to change careers to save people.

This is too...

"Just tell me whether you want to do it or not?"

"Dry!"

Faced with Chiba's impatient question, Kakuzu replied firmly.

Kakuzu will do anything as long as it makes money; that's his ninja way!

"Very good, very energetic!"

Chiba nodded in satisfaction and said in a commanding tone, "Then you can choose a bounty of seventy million taels. The reward is yours after it's done."

“From now on, we’ll go out and do it once a month, and split the bounty 50/50. Any objections?” Chiba asked.

"No, no, let me choose first."

Kakuzu had already removed the two masks from his shoulders and made no mention of his earlier attempt to dig out Chiba's heart. Now, faced with Chiba's forceful arrangement, he quickly expressed that he had no objection.

"Tsk, I still prefer your defiant attitude from earlier."

Chiba felt a little uncomfortable seeing Kakuzu being so easy to talk to, and secretly teased him.

Now that they have successfully defeated Kakuzu, the weight that had been hanging over Chiba's heart has finally been lifted.

He happily clicked on the system notification and looked at the rewards he hadn't had time to check earlier.

[Ding! Healing successful! Congratulations, host, you have obtained "Earthly Grudge (Remnant)"!]

"Holy crap, the Earth Grudge Yu...!"

"Wait, why is there another parenthesis in this? It's always this ridiculous stuff!"

Despite cursing inwardly, Chiba's lips curled up in a smile. Regardless of whether it was crippled or weak, these were all legitimate Earth Grudge Techniques!

Chiba clicked on the detailed introduction.

【"Earthly Grudge (Remnant)": An evil secret technique that retains most of the host's flesh and blood, transforming the excess into pitch-black tentacles to plunder the life force of others. It can only support one extra heart!】

"This is good, this is good!"

Chiba's eyes lit up. He wouldn't want to become a monster like Kakuzu, whose flesh and blood turned into tentacles.

Firstly, he might not be able to use the Eight Gates Formation anymore; secondly, even if he might not be able to use it anymore... then what's the point of him living?!

"Having an extra heart is like having an extra life, and this thing can even change its length and shape? And it can even leave the body?!"

"Wow...this is really fun to play!"

After some thought, Chiba gave this evaluation.

To be honest, Chiba was already impatient. He wished he could rush to Kumogakure right now, rape a few female ninjas in the street, and plunder their chakra nature and life force.

Thus, after acquiring the Lightning Release, he now possesses all seven chakra natures!

Swish!

While Kakuzu was selecting bounty missions, Chiba wrote a small note in front of him and used shikigami to send it back to Konoha along the way, telling everyone that there was no need for reinforcements and that he would explain to the Hokage in person after he returned to the village.

"Let's go with this one. There happens to be a place in the Land of Fire with a reasonable price."

"Okay, let's go."

……

The important figure chosen by Kakuzu is the younger brother of the current Daimyo of the Land of Fire. He was discovered by his wife while secretly riding a horse and was slashed countless times, reportedly even his private parts were cut off.

It was terrible. Many medical ninjas who came to the scene were helpless and could only freeze his severed limbs to keep him alive. As a result, his bounty soared to twice that of Asuma.

Soon, Chiba arrived with Kakuzu disguised as an assistant, and took on the mission by virtue of his identity as a senior physician in Konoha.

"Earthly Grudge - Stitching!"

"The art of healing and regeneration!"

Under the couple's enthusiastic nursing, the younger brother, whose real name is Da Ming, suddenly sprang up from the bed with a somersault.

"Am I being too aggressive? My hair has grown back?!"

"My silly little brother, you're finally awake!"

The daimyo of the Land of Fire, seeing his lively younger brother, was very satisfied with the skills of Chiba and his brother. He immediately showered them with 70 million ryo and verbally promised Chiba a favor.

"That's seventy million taels! And they got it so easily?"

After leaving the luxurious mansion, Kakuzu touched the thick wad of silver notes in his pocket, feeling dazed and unreal.

He used to work himself to the bone, killing countless people and spending countless days to earn seventy million taels of silver.

But today, following Chiba, he simply set someone's severed limb without doing anything else, and yet he easily earned 70 million taels of silver. Even considering the time spent traveling, it only took less than half a day!

"This is just the beginning. As long as we work together, there are still big opportunities to make money to come!"

Seeing Kakuzu's incredulous expression, Chiba, mimicking the capitalist's demeanor from his past life, patted his employee on the shoulder and offered a lucrative deal.

Seeing that Kakuzu did not dodge but allowed himself to be slapped, Chiba revealed a satisfied smile.

He knew that Kakuzu would soon be able to work for him.

"That's settled then. We'll meet at the usual place in a month."

Chiba waved his hand, about to turn and leave, when suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he spoke casually.

"By the way, could you return my colleague's body to me? That way I can report back to him. It would be best if you could also give me the body of another bounty hunter."

"……Can."

Kakuzu remained silent for a long time before taking out two scrolls from his robes and handing them to Chiba.

Chiba took the scroll and embarked on his journey back to Konoha.

……

Hokage's office.

"This Kakuzu claims to be a strongman from the same era as the First Hokage, and we are no match for him. So I tried to change his attitude towards Konoha and became his friend."

Chiba handed the two scrolls to Hiruzen Sarutobi and began to fabricate stories, leaving everyone in the office dumbfounded.

"He said he intercepted the bounty hunter and stole the body, and that Storm and the others didn't die at his hands. Of course, I don't know if that's true or not," Chiba said.

"Kakuzu, Kakuzu, I think I heard the First Hokage mention this name before..."

After hearing Chiba's story, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded calmly and said approvingly, "Hmm, Chiba, you handled this matter very well. Go back and get some rest."

In the end, Chiba provided a reasonable explanation, preventing Konoha's intelligence from leaking out and also eliminating a potential powerful enemy for Konoha.

That's enough; there's no need to delve into the details of the process.

"Yes, Hokage-sama!"

Chiba responded, turned and left the Hokage's office, heading towards home.

As soon as Chiba arrived at his doorstep, he saw a seductive figure leaning against his door, her golden vertical pupils staring at him with great interest.

[Ding! You have encountered a wild "Orochimaru". Do you wish to engage in battle?]