After the battle, Mu began to clear the battlefield.
Mu took the heads of Gold and Silver Brothers, intending to send them to Hidden Cloud Village as a gesture of goodwill.
Afterward, he put Gold and Silver Brothers' bodies into a scroll.
He planned to hand them over to Iwagakure's research department.
They would be used for human cell research.
He wanted to see how this guy resisted the Nine-Tailed's power.
If he could resist the Nine-Tailed's power, could Hashirama's cells also barely resist it?
If Hashirama's cells were fused with Gold and Silver Brothers' six paths bloodline, and then injected with the Nine-Tailed's power,
would that give birth to cells stronger than Hashirama's, or perhaps Hashirama's cells 2.0?
(Gold and Silver Brothers are explicitly stated in the original work to have the six paths bloodline; this is not my original creation, but a real fact from the original work.)
"How will you handle those Six Paths Treasures? I don't believe you'd return such good items to Hidden Cloud Village..." Hōzuki Gengetsu said, looking at Mu with a playful smile.
"What Six Paths Treasures?"
"They were lying on the ground, and no one picked them up, so I thought no one wanted them..."
"I picked these up. I don't know what you're talking about..." Mu subtly put the Six Paths Treasures into his bag.
He looked down and exclaimed, "Oh, how did these Six Paths Treasures get in here by themselves?"
"Huh? How did these Six Paths Treasures get in here by themselves? It seems these items are destined for my Western lands!" Mu exclaimed with emotion.
(Iwagakure is in the west.)
Hōzuki Gengetsu's mouth twitched. "I knew it. No wonder you were so eager to get revenge. I knew you, Mu, wouldn't get up early without a profit."
"You forgot to turn off auto-pickup, didn't you?"
Hōzuki Gengetsu rubbed his head and suddenly saw a round lump of Black Soil in the bushes.
Kakuzu was hiding in the bushes, hoping the two would forget about him.
After all, Kakuzu himself was also a wanted criminal, and these two were powerful figures of the righteous path, who might just kill him on a whim.
"Hey! How long are you going to hide?" Hōzuki Gengetsu said blandly as he approached Kakuzu from behind.
"I remember you're also a wanted criminal. I never thought that a Ninja who dared to assassinate Senju Hashirama would fall so low as to become a bounty hunter."
Hōzuki Gengetsu also remembered Kakuzu.
Although Kakuzu only showed his face for a moment before being instantly defeated,
he still made a name for himself in the Ninja World, getting an assist.
To have such a reputation and fall to this point... it was truly lamentable.
"Although I don't know why you became a rogue Ninja, putting aside your ignorance, I do admire your courage in raising your sword against Senju Hashirama. Forget it, I'll give you a quick death!" Hōzuki Gengetsu condensed Water Gun Technique in his hand, aiming at the back of Kakuzu's head.
"Alas!" Kakuzu sighed, "The Village wronged me!"
He then helplessly closed his eyes, awaiting death.
Mu looked at Kakuzu and suddenly remembered something.
"Wait!" Mu stepped forward and pulled Hōzuki Gengetsu.
Kakuzu's eyes lit up, and he looked at Mu with pitiful, hopeful eyes.
Could there still be a turn of events?
"What is it?" Hōzuki Gengetsu's hand froze in mid-air, slightly puzzled, not understanding why Mu was stopping him.
Mu glanced indifferently at Kakuzu.
"This person is destined for my Iwagakure!" Mu said meaningfully.
Hōzuki Gengetsu's mouth twitched again.
Mu leaned over and whispered a few words into Hōzuki Gengetsu's ear.
Kakuzu stood there like a figurine, anxiously watching the two.
His fate was in their hands.
"Is that really okay? Are you sure this guy is reliable?" Hōzuki Gengetsu couldn't help but ask after hearing Mu's words.
"First, let him work with you in the film company industry. Let me see his abilities, and then I'll further promote him to a higher position." Mu nodded, indicating reassurance.
His Iwagakure was in dire need of someone who could make money.
And Kakuzu was perfectly capable; at least in the original work, his money-making ability was decent.
Although putting him in Iwagakure
was like putting a mouse in a rice jar,
Kakuzu also had an advantage.
Although he loved money, he didn't spend it.
What was important was enjoying the process of making money; such a person had financial management skills.
However, Mu was also prepared.
He planned to have Kakuzu work with Hōzuki Gengetsu in Iwagakure's art and film industry first, to see how his money-making and operational abilities were.
If he was acceptable, Mu could gradually promote him and slowly put him in charge of Iwagakure's finances, which would also be a capable person he left for Ōnoki.
To sum it up in one sentence:
First, let Kakuzu train and test his abilities at the grassroots level.
If acceptable, he would become an Iwagakure entrepreneur.
If excellent, he would control financial power.
If not, Kakuzu's strength as a Kage-level Ninja for Iwagakure would also be good!
In short, Iwagakure would not lose out.
Although he might face criticism and curses from Takigakure for this,
what level was his Iwagakure?
Currently, it was a super great Ninja Village in the Ninja World, the big brother of the Ninja World.
Even Konoha had to be obedient; why would he be afraid of Takigakure!
"Alright, you are the Tsuchikage, and I am currently just your subordinate, so I'll listen to you!" Hōzuki Gengetsu lowered his finger, stopping the Water Gun Technique.
Mu adjusted his clothes and looked at Kakuzu.
"You are destined for my Iwagakure. Are you willing to join my..."
"I am!" Before he could finish speaking, Kakuzu excitedly agreed directly.
"I want to improve so much!"
"I've always yearned for Iwagakure since I was a child. When I was about one year old, I felt that Iwagakure was my spiritual home!"
"Our Iwagakure is truly amazing. In fact, I, Kakuzu, have long been an Iwagakure person..." Kakuzu said with great emotion.
The number one Ninja Village in the current Ninja World was extending an olive branch to him.
If he still hesitated, he would be an idiot.
Working in gray or black industries, or joining the establishment?
He could still distinguish between them.
"Wait, although you are younger than me, when you were born, was Iwagakure definitely established? Konoha probably wasn't even established then, right?" Hōzuki Gengetsu unhesitatingly exposed Kakuzu.
Kakuzu's face stiffened, but he continued to express himself.
"These are not important. What's important is that I have an Iwagakure heart!"
"I can also talk, I can also love the Village, and I can also sing a song for Iwagakure to hear!" Kakuzu seemed to radiate righteous light.
"Pfft, hahahaha, I'm dying of laughter..." Hōzuki Gengetsu laughed uncontrollably. He couldn't remember how many times he had failed to hold back his laughter today.
He finally understood how Iwagakure had developed.
All their teammates were picked up along the way.
He heard that the Fūma was even a Ninja clan that Mu went out and picked up.
Even Mu had a suppressed smile.
Kakuzu's face stiffened, realizing he had overdone it.
"Alright, alright, I get it. I know your defection from Takigakure was a last resort, and I won't pursue it. I'll handle the Takigakure side, but from now on, you need to consider your social impact regarding what you should and shouldn't do!" Mu patted Kakuzu's shoulder, speaking earnestly.
Kakuzu nodded repeatedly.
He even began to fantasize about how he would stage a comeback in the future.
He could even write a novel to fiercely slap Takigakure's face.
"After Defecting, I Chose Iwagakure, Why Are You Crying?"