"Ah! Was that on purpose or by accident?!"

Senju Itama sat crouched in front of Gin watching the fight, but ended up splattered all over. She turned, glaring with wide eyes.

"On purpose-accidental."

Gin wiped his mouth carelessly, then tossed the stained handkerchief on her head.

"Oi, just wipe yourself with it~"

Truly the essence of a scumbag.

"Ugh…"

Furious, Itama yanked the cloth from her head, ready to explode—only to notice it was embroidered with strawberries. Nervous, she quickly hid it, hoping the two girls absorbed in the fight hadn't noticed.

"Hmph, enough chatter—surrender!"

Down in the battlefield, the Ghost Soldier squad leader, hearing Mu's attempt to recruit him, paused only a second before sneering. His long sword lunged forward.

"Bang!"

Caught off guard, Mu hastily blocked. The strike's force numbed his arms.

The leader's eyes glinted crimson under his mask—Sharingan! He'd slipped an illusion in before attacking. He thrust at Mu's vitals, certain of victory.

But—

"Splash!"

A water bullet whizzed from the side, smashing against his sword, diverting the killing thrust. The blade sliced only a few bandages under Mu's arm.

Cold sweat dripping, Mu leapt back, frowning at the strange restraining force he'd just felt.

"You're enemies—why save him?"

The leader turned sharply toward Hozuki Gengetsu, right hand cocked like a pistol.

"Oioioi, that guy's life belongs to me. I won't let some random dogs take it."

Gengetsu stroked his little mustache smugly, though his wary eyes told another story.

"Fine then—don't blame us for what happens."

The leader waved his hand. At once, the Ghost Soldier squad encircled both Mu and Gengetsu, the chill of their dark chakra filling the air.

"So much Yin chakra… A-Gin, what are they?"

Hikari's eyes narrowed, intrigued. Even among the Uchiha, chakra this pure was rare.

"Eh, I just got here too. Dunno~"

Gin, who actually knew their true identity, played dumb.

"They call themselves Ghost Soldiers… but I've never heard of them before."

Osamu's brows knit—there was no record of such a group in her intel. Perhaps a newly formed official force?

"Are they fighting or what?"

Itama, her hair still damp from Gin's handkerchief, pouted.

"Probably not."

Gin glanced up at the sudden thick fog—Gengetsu's work.

"This mist…"

"Fufufu, see you later, bandage man! Victory always belongs to Kiri!"

Gengetsu's laughter faded as he vanished in the mist. Even Sharingan couldn't find him.

"Pointless."

Mu too began fading away, his body vanishing into thin air from the feet upward until nothing remained.

"His chakra's gone… space-time ninjutsu?"

Hikari's sharp senses couldn't trace him. It was as if he'd vanished from the world.

Only Gin, with his unusual perception, caught the truth—Mu was still there, cloaked in a perfect invisibility.

Much better than Moonlight Hayate's flimsy phasing. A true voyeur's divine jutsu!

"Damn it! Search!"

The leader roared, red eyes blazing. His soldiers spread out, scouring the area.

"No more show. Let's go."

Gin clapped his hands, leaving with the three girls. They weren't the only ones watching.

Hidden in the shadows, Shamon stared hard at the Ghost Soldiers. Such a force, able to force back Mu and Gengetsu, was no ordinary militia. They required investigation.

"Big bro, those guys' chakra… it almost made me lose control."

Ginkaku emerged from an alley, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Interesting. Dig into them. What I thought would be a dull mission suddenly looks fun."

Kinkaku grinned. His warlike spirit burned.

…

The next days, Gin and the girls searched carefully for the Seven-Tails. Yet they found nothing.

They stayed at Taki's most luxurious hotel, heading out daily.

One evening, Osamu returned, exhausted.

"Gin-sensei, no reports of giant insects. Could the Seven-Tails have left the Land of Waterfalls?"

"You worked hard, Osamu~"

Gin reached to pat her head, but she dodged, cheeks faintly pink.

"I'm not a child anymore."

She was still haunted by that last incident with Oogami no Mitama—she dared not risk another intimate touch.

"…Sorry, sorry~" Gin chuckled, scratching his head. His disciple really had grown.

Moments later, Hikari arrived, slipping off her sandals with an annoyed sigh, her pale toes swollen from walking. Gin swallowed dryly.

"Find anything?"

"Same as yesterday. Nothing."

She massaged her toes absently, frowning.

"…Which proves no one else has found it either. If they had, a battle would've broken out."

"Fair enough. But for now—time to eat!"

"…What about Itama?"

"She'll get leftovers. Let the brat go hungry for once."

"BAM!!"

The door slammed open as Itama stormed in.

"You brat! You'll pay for that door!" Gin groaned, clutching his head.

"Hmph! I heard what you said! Leftovers?! You damned monkey! And I found important intel too!"

"…You? Intel?"

Gin blinked, skeptical.

"Humph!"

Itama puffed up, basking in everyone's stares, demanding tribute.

"…Fine, order whatever you want tonight."

"Yatta~!"

She spun in joy, then revealed her discovery.

She had overheard bounty hunters talking about someone named Kakuzu. She'd tailed them, knocked them out, and confirmed it.

"…So Kakuzu became a bounty hunter after all."

Gin's brow lifted. He had thought saving Kakuzu from becoming a Bijuu-vessel might change his path. Apparently not.

"Exactly. In just one week, he completed many high-level bounties. Based on their description—it's him."

"…Not bad, brat." Gin patted her head, this time without resistance.

Osamu, however, felt a strange pang. That… headpat position was hers… wasn't it?

"Gin, since we know where he is, shouldn't we—" Hikari began, lacing her sandals back on.

"Yes. We should—"

"…Eat first."

"…"

…

At the same time, Mu interrogated a trembling Taki-nin.

"You say you found your missing-nin's trail?"

"Yes, Lord Mu! Kakuzu is alive, working as a bounty hunter. I bought the info at the Exchange myself!"

Mu sneered.

"Are you seeking the Seven-Tails… or just using us to deal with your traitor?"

"N-No! Kakuzu was the last to see the beast! Capture him, and we'll learn its whereabouts!"

The Taki-nin's ulterior motive was clear—capture Kakuzu, and he'd return triumphant, claiming leadership of the village.

"Hmph. Mobilize the troops. We march on Kakuzu!"

Unlike Gin, Mu wasted no time.

…

In Kiri's hideout, a messenger whispered to Gengetsu.

"Lord Gengetsu, Iwa's forces just mobilized."

"Move out!"

…

At a small town near Taki's capital, Kakuzu walked alone, dragging a corpse. He slipped into a public latrine, past a hidden door, into the bounty hall.

"Ah, Kakuzu-sama! Another bounty?"

"Mm."

He dropped the body on the counter and tossed the bounty slip over.

The clerk checked the corpse thoroughly before nodding.

"As always—cash?"

"Cash."

Kakuzu meticulously counted every note when the money was delivered.

"Honestly, can't you trust us? We don't cheat."

"This is the fun part. I like counting more than spending."

Finally satisfied, Kakuzu stashed the money.

"…Any big bounties available?"

"Yes, but… Kakuzu-sama, watch your back. People are looking for you."

"…What do you mean?"

"Information fee~"

"…Hmph. Ridiculous."

Kakuzu scoffed, refusing to pay, and left.

Outside, rain began falling, shops shut early, the air tense.

"Clink."

A kunai flew past him, embedding where he'd just stood. Quality steel—definitely not local.

"Traitor Kakuzu! Surrender!"

From the trees, Taki-nin appeared—led by an elite jōnin Kakuzu once knew.

"…You again?"

So they'd come. But these weren't the only ones.

"Kill him!"

They charged.

Kakuzu didn't even blink. Hands flashed through seals—rainy nights suited Suiton best.

"Suiton: Suijinchū (Water Formation Wall)!"

A roaring torrent swept them from the air, smashing them unconscious in a single instant.

Only the leader remained, staring in shock as Kakuzu's cold gaze fixed on him.

"The end has come for traitors."

(End of Chapter)

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