"Lord Kakuzu."
Kakuzu slipped the payment note into his cloak. His sharp green eyes glanced at the black ninja cat.
"Another job?"
The cat calmly licked its paw. Its emerald eyes curved with amusement.
"Of course. The Ginza Merchant Alliance, jointly established by the ninja cats and the Uchiha, never lacks business."
It continued unhurriedly,
"For the Kirigakure forces invading this region, the Uchiha have issued additional bounties."
"Killing a Kirigakure chunin earns two hundred thousand ryō."
"A jonin earns one million."
"Proof of the kill is the head. Payment is immediate. No delays."
Kakuzu fell silent for a moment.
Under normal circumstances, he preferred not to provoke the Five Great Villages.
But then again—
If the money was good, who cared who the target was?
Killing five chunin, or one jonin, would equal the reward of an S-rank mission.
And S-rank missions usually required risking one's life anyway.
"…Fine."
Seeing him agree, the cat flicked its tail happily.
"Then I wish you an enjoyable hunt, Lord Kakuzu."
Kakuzu placed his hand on the doorframe but paused.
Without turning around, he suddenly asked,
"By the way… is this mission just for me?"
"Or for all bounty hunters?"
"Hehe…"
The cat chuckled softly.
"Surely you jest, Lord Kakuzu."
"Kirigakure's reputation alone would make most wandering ninja collapse in fear."
"Who would dare accept such work?"
"Deals of this scale are naturally reserved for long-term partners of proven strength and reliability… like you."
In truth, ninety-nine percent of rogue ninja were worthless.
Bandits.
Bullies.
Thugs.
Most would lose to even a mid-level ninja from the Five Villages.
Skilled outliers like Kakuzu were rare—and notoriously difficult to deal with.
The cat remembered how one of its kin had once tried negotiating with the rogue ninja Hiruko.
It had nearly been killed.
The memory still sent chills through its fur.
"Good."
Kakuzu received the answer he wanted.
Without another word, he pushed open the door and disappeared down the stairs.
Streets of Infinite City
Walking through the noisy streets of Infinite City, Kakuzu began planning.
Kirigakure had brought a large force.
Charging alone would be inefficient—
Even dangerous.
He needed… assistance.
Turning a corner, he checked several markings along the streets and headed toward the city's bounty black market.
He planned to recruit a group of desperadoes.
Their strength might be mediocre—
But greed made them useful.
They could serve as expendable vanguards.
Distractions.
Cannon fodder.
All of which would make hunting Kirigakure ninja safer and more efficient.
As for payment…
Kakuzu sneered.
He could simply give them one-fifth of the bounty paid by the Uchiha.
Of course—
That assumed they lived long enough to collect.
As he passed through a crowded intersection, Kakuzu noticed two men in ordinary clothing ahead.
Their presence was unmistakable.
That cold chakra…
No doubt about it.
Uchiha.
Strong too.
Possibly high-ranking.
They arrived this quickly?
The thought of the Uchiha Red Guard competing with him for bounty money made Kakuzu accelerate his steps.
In his mind, piles of banknotes were already flying away.
"General… that man seems suspicious."
Uchiha Shisui had noticed Kakuzu at the same moment.
The young ninja's sharp eyes were full of vigilance.
His right hand rested on the short blade at his waist.
"Should we follow him?"
The Red Guard had only just arrived in the city.
A dangerous-looking ninja appearing immediately was naturally alarming.
"In the ninja world," Anlan replied calmly,
"who doesn't have something suspicious about them?"
"Don't complicate things."
He watched Kakuzu disappear around a corner—his hired enforcer.
Then he smiled and lightly patted Shisui's tense shoulder.
"Besides, the killing intent you're radiating makes you look just as dangerous."
"…Eh?"
Shisui blinked in surprise and quickly suppressed his chakra aura.
His clear eyes looked almost innocent.
Anlan simply turned and continued walking.
"Come."
"We have business to attend to."
The Tavern
They crossed several streets before arriving at the same tavern Kakuzu had visited earlier.
Shisui grew increasingly confused as Anlan entered confidently and climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Inside the private room—
Shisui froze.
A black ninja cat sat calmly on the tea table.
Beside it stood a red-haired woman holding a baby.
"Lord Anlan. Lord Shisui."
The cat greeted them.
Then glanced toward the woman.
Understanding immediately, she carefully placed the infant on a soft cushion and bowed deeply until her forehead touched the tatami.
"I am Uzumaki Minako."
"I greet the two lords of the upper clan."
Anlan remained calm.
To him, this was natural.
If someone reincarnated into a feudal ninja world and still insisted on perfect equality—
That would be the real joke.
Shisui, however, was embarrassed.
He quickly stepped aside, face flushing slightly.
Uzumaki…
That surname belongs to the Land of Whirlpools…
Wait—that's not the important part.
Why are they here?
Seeing his confusion, Anlan waved casually.
"Shisui, speak with Lady Minako and understand the situation."
"Lady Minako, please don't worry."
"You are safe now."
"Chief, come with me."
Anlan walked toward the inner room.
The black cat—nicknamed Chief—jumped off the table and followed him.
Shisui watched them disappear behind the curtain before turning back to the kneeling woman.
"Please stand up, madam."
Minako looked at the gentle young ninja.
His attitude eased her tension slightly.
Suddenly—
The baby began crying.
Minako panicked immediately.
She feared the sound might anger the Uchiha.
"I'm terribly sorry, Lord Shisui…"
"Karen must be hungry."
"May I… feed her first?"
Shisui nodded quickly.
He almost reached for a soldier ration pill before realizing what she meant.
As Minako turned slightly to nurse the baby—
Shisui's ears turned red.
"Please… go ahead."
He quickly turned to face the wall.
While waiting, he quietly examined the elegant room.
Outside the window, Infinite City buzzed with activity.
Inside, only the soft sound of the baby drinking milk and Minako's gentle humming filled the silence.
Inner Room
"How did things go?"
Anlan sat calmly while the black cat stretched across a cushion.
"The mother and daughter are in acceptable condition," the cat replied.
"With rest, they should recover."
"No husband?"
"According to Minako, he was killed by Grass ninja."
"…Unfortunate."
Seeing Anlan didn't ask further questions, the cat continued.
"I also delivered the new hunting mission to Kakuzu."
"He accepted?"
"Of course."
"Send the intelligence to Mikoto later."
"Understood."
Anlan nodded slightly.
The order for Kakuzu to hunt Kirigakure was merely a casual move.
If it inflicted damage, good.
If not, it didn't matter.
After all—
Kakuzu was an outsider.
He cared about money, not loyalty.
Anlan had no illusions that a bounty hunter would truly fight for the Uchiha.
"The Uzumaki mother and daughter must be properly settled," Anlan continued.
"As for the troublesome merchants and the cheap combustible goods in Ginza warehouses…"
"Leave them here in Infinite City as bait."
The black cat rubbed its head against Anlan's arm.
Its voice grew colder.
"Everything is arranged."
"Our people are watching the city lord's residence day and night."
"If Kirigakure invades the city, those nobles who took our protection money but refused cooperation will unfortunately… perish."
"Then the Uchiha Red Guard will arrive as saviors."
"Our allied nobles will petition the Daimyō to allow the Uchiha to permanently station troops in Infinite City."
"And authorize us to expand our forces."
"In that way…"
"A second Konoha can be built within the Land of Fire under the Daimyō's authority."
"The Daimyō will likely welcome the chance to balance Hiruzen Sarutobi."
At the end of the explanation, the cat sighed mournfully.
"Still… it's a shame about Infinite City."
"Every brick here was bought with our money."
Anlan lifted the cat and stroked its fur calmly.
"Nothing worth regretting."
"The old must fall for the new to rise."
"But ensure the civilians are organized."
"They must not be slaughtered by Kirigakure."
Sunlight filtered through the wooden lattice windows.
Light and shadow crossed Anlan's face.
He nodded slightly.
As if he could already see a blade growing in the darkness—
A blade pointing toward the future of the Uchiha.
"Prepare a false supply shipment entering the city," Anlan ordered.
"Then spread a rumor two days later."
"Tell everyone…"
"That Infinite City stores one hundred million ryō worth of Uchiha war supplies."
Konoha's yearly budget from the Land of Fire was roughly 1.5 billion ryō.
Other villages received around one billion.
Now imagine—
One hundred million ryō.
All prepared specifically to fight Kirigakure.
Sitting openly in Infinite City.
Would Kirigakure ignore such treasure?
Impossible.
The only question was—
Would they attack the Konoha eastern army first…
Or split their forces to seize the fortune?
The cat nodded seriously.
"I understand."
"When the ten battalion commanders arrive, please examine them personally."
"Just in case."
"Of course."
From orphans to commanders—
Some would remain loyal.
Others might fall to ambition.
But with the Sharingan, betrayal would not be tolerated.
As long as Anlan maintained control within the clan—
Everything beyond could run smoothly under his command.