Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 215: Malicious Amusement

"The first glance at those Sharingan made me think Itachi had returned."

Kisame opened his eyes and looked at Sasuke, who bore some resemblance to Itachi as he walked towards him, feeling somewhat nostalgic.

Unfortunately, the newcomer was wearing an Uchiha kimono, not the black cloak with red clouds.

"Do you respect Itachi?"

Sasuke activated his Eternal Mangekyōu Sharingan and asked Kisame, who was soaking in the hot spring.

From Kisame's tone, Sasuke detected a sense of respect.

"Of course. It's hard not to respect someone like Itachi," Kisame said, his eyes flashing with memories as he nodded.

After speaking, he came to his senses and stood up from the hot spring, saying, "Do you mind if I get dressed?"

Sasuke averted his gaze, nodded, and turned his back to Kisame.

Kisame stepped out of the hot spring, quickly donned his Akatsuki cloak, and without any intention of betraying Sasuke, continued, "Well then, let's get down to business."

"Though it might be pointless, I still want to ask. Itachi's brother Sasuke, why have you come to find me?"

Sasuke turned around and calmly replied, "Submit, or die."

"So it's like that," Kisame sighed.

"Though I don't know the reason, it's surprising that the old man Hagoromo has now turned against the Akatsuki. I had a pleasant conversation with him not long ago."

As Kisame spoke, he lifted the Samehada, which was also enjoying the hot spring, and slung it over his shoulder.

Allowing the water droplets from the Samehada to soak his clothes, he glanced at Sasuke's face, which bore some resemblance to Itachi's, causing a slight twitch on his shark-like face, and said, "Making you come all this way to be my opponent feels like a peculiar sort of amusement."

"Unimportant matters need not be mentioned," Sasuke said coldly.

He looked at Kisame and asked once more, "Submit? Or die?"

Kisame shook his head calmly, "As a senior, I don't want to show weakness in front of a junior."

Sasuke nodded in understanding.

"In that case…"

*Sching!*

Sasuke drew the ninja sword from his back without further words, and the battle commenced immediately.

"Kakuzu, we have two unexpected guests."

"I see them."

"You two!! Interested in joining the Jashin cult? We offer various benefits."

"They won't."

In the Rocky Mountain Range, where it perpetually rained stones and the air was poor, Kakuzu and Hidan were calmly discussing the pair of men and women who suddenly appeared and blocked their path, before suddenly beginning to argue.

"Why can't they join the Jashin cult?"

"Because they don't believe."

"I can make them believe."

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"Because they are my targets."

Kakuzu said as he pushed away Hidan's head, which was angrily colliding with him, opened his ninja pouch, and took out a thick bounty list.

He looked up, carefully examining the faces of the pair again, and quickly pulled out two new pieces of paper from the bounty list. After a comparison, he confirmed, "Uchiha Kei, bounty 60 million ryo."

"Uchiha Izumi, bounty 62 million ryo."

"Together, that's 122 million ryo. This is a big job, and I can't let it go."

Hidan sneered at this, "Money, money, money. Kakuzu, you atheist, stop measuring people with the lowly standard of money. Personal faith is priceless! It's something you'll never earn in your lifetime! Got it?"

"You can believe all you want. These two are mine," Kakuzu said expressionlessly.

Hidan argued, "We finally encounter two high-quality talents, let me preach to them, okay? I've given in to you so many times before."

Kakuzu's expression remained unchanged, "Then give in once more."

"A non-believer who should be plastered on the wall forever! My patience has its limits!"

"Limits can be extended."

"Kakuzu, aren't you afraid I'll turn against you?"

"Great, your bounty has been posted at the exchange for a long time."

"…."

Though the unexpected guests were in front, Kakuzu and Hidan suddenly started arguing and seemed ready to fight.

Across from them.

Uchiha Izumi watched their performance the whole time and said in confusion, "Are you sure you've got the right people? These two seem a bit brainless."

"Brainless or not, they are indeed our targets," Uchiha Kei said, stroking his chin, "I'm more curious about something now."

"What?" Uchiha Izumi asked.

Uchiha Kei replied seriously, "Why is your bounty 2 million ryo higher than mine?"

They were both Uchiha, of similar age, and both had awakened the Mangekyōu Sharingan.

Those placing the bounties couldn't possibly know the outcome of their internal battles.

Why was his bounty 2 million ryo less than Izumi's?

Uchiha Kei was perplexed.

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Izumi was speechless, not expecting that this would be what her companion was thinking about.

Feeling tired, she said, "If you think your bounty is low, you can go to the exchange and add to your own bounty."

"Great idea!" Uchiha Kei's eyes lit up, "I can add 3 million ryo to mine, then I'll be higher than yours."

Uchiha Izumi: "…Do you have money?"

"I don't." Uchiha Kei's head raised momentarily, then dropped as he sighed deeply.

He had handed all his money over to his wife, so he had none left.

Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Kei were still conversing.

At this time, Kakuzu and Hidan, who seemed ready to fight, suddenly stopped.

"Kakuzu, this time our act didn't work. They didn't fall for it and are even having a private chat, not giving our hard work any attention!" Hidan turned to the two Uchiha, feeling indignant.

Kakuzu and Hidan did often argue, that was true.

But often, they would deliberately argue and even prepare to fight in front of enemies.

The purpose was to see the enemies' faces light up with hope, eagerly awaiting them to fight, only to realize they had been fooled, experiencing a shift in mood from heaven to hell.

This tactic usually worked well...

But this time, it failed.

"Then let's not delay any longer and get straight to the fight," Kakuzu said coldly.

With years of experience, he could easily tell that the two Uchiha weren't here for pleasantries. There was no need to waste words asking more.

But before attacking, Kakuzu reminded, "Be careful, they both have Mangekyōu Sharingan."

"Eyes like Uchiha Itachi's? Got it."

Hidan raised his Bloody Triple-Bladed Scythe, moved swiftly, and along with Kakuzu, rushed towards the two Uchiha.

"They don't waste time," Uchiha Kei chuckled.

"In that case, let's fight!"

"I'll take Hidan, you take Kakuzu," Uchiha Izumi said.

Uchiha Kei nodded.

In the next second.

The two closed and reopened their eyes.

Two pairs of Mangekyōu Sharingan activated simultaneously.