Chapter 30 - 30: Man... Kakuzu Would Be So Jealous
Zeldris's calm declaration hit the air like a detonation.
"Fifty million ryo," he said.
Across from him, Obito flinched like someone just unplugged his mask from reality.
"...What?!"
The Uchiha's lone visible eye widened. For a moment, Obito genuinely believed he'd misheard. But no—Zeldris casually raised five fingers, like he was offering a bulk discount on pain.
Fifty. Million. Ryo.
Obito's thoughts spiraled. Is this guy trying to rob me? Does he think the Akatsuki has a side business in printing money?
Sure, the organization had resources—Kakuzu practically shook down half the black market every Tuesday—but this? This was audacity with paperwork.
Zeldris gave a light shrug. Cool. Collected. Annoyingly charismatic.
"What's wrong?" he said. "You hesitating over pocket change now?"
The smugness in his voice was the kind that could start wars—or get you punched into a crater.
Obito could practically hear Kakuzu screaming from across the continent. Fifty million?! Is this guy made of Ryo?!
Sasori, standing off to the side, blinked slowly.
"...Wasn't it ten million just two minutes ago?" he muttered.
He turned toward Zeldris with a look usually reserved for exotic insects or tax fraud.
"When did you become a high-tier con man?"
Zeldris put on the most innocent expression known to shinobi-kind.
"Market inflation," he said with a straight face. "Besides, you hit my guy. Medical bills. Psychological trauma. Puppet therapy's not cheap."
Obito's eye twitched.
"I didn't even touch him."
Zeldris raised an eyebrow. "But you could've. Intent matters."
Obito genuinely debated phasing through the floor just to escape this conversation. But deep down, he knew the truth.
Zeldris wasn't bluffing.
Annoying? Yes.
Unreasonable? Also yes.
But useless? Not even close.
Fifty million was highway robbery.
But if it meant not wasting time, energy, or another three dozen expendable rogue nin...
"...Fine," Obito muttered. "Deal."
Zeldris smiled like he just sold a half-used kunai for full price.
So the Akatsuki really had money like that, huh?
He could practically hear Kakuzu having a coronary.
"Fifty million?! I don't even spend that much on thread!"
Obito pulled a slim black card from his cloak and tossed it through the air. Zeldris caught it between two fingers, graceful as ever.
"If you need me," Zeldris said coolly, "just crush it."
Obito nodded once. "I'll contact you soon."
And just like that, he vanished into a swirling vortex of space-time and mild financial resentment.
A moment passed.
Sasori stared at Zeldris like he wasn't sure if he wanted to applaud or strangle him.
"...Our new boss?" he asked flatly.
Zeldris grinned.
"Our very generous one."
The Next Day
The news hit the shinobi world like a Rasengan to the face.
The Third Kazekage—dead.
A shinobi known for his terrifying magnet release and iron sand mastery... gone.
Tensions flared across the villages like wildfire. Whispers of war buzzed through every tavern, every hidden outpost.
In Konoha, the Hokage's office was silent.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat stiffly behind his desk, the intel report in his hand like a ghost he couldn't shake. His pipe burned low, forgotten.
"...The Third Kazekage is dead," he said aloud, still trying to make sense of it.
Danzo stood across from him, eyes sharp behind the shadows.
Even he looked rattled—though in Danzo terms, that meant blinking more than once.
"The strongest Kazekage... killed." His voice was low. Measured. "And the team we sent after Zeldris... wiped out. Also in Wind Country."
He narrowed his one visible eye.
"That's not a coincidence."
Hiruzen didn't respond at first. He stared out the window, the clouds outside shifting slowly over the village.
Could it have been Zeldris?
The boy was powerful, no doubt. A prodigy. But to take down the Third Kazekage? That was another level entirely.
Danzo leaned in slightly, voice tense.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Their eyes met. For a brief second, neither spoke. Then—
"No," Hiruzen said. "It's unlikely. Zeldris is strong... but that strong?"
Still, doubt lingered. It clung to the corners of the room like smoke.
Danzo crossed his arms.
"Regardless of who did it... the balance is broken."
Hiruzen nodded, the lines on his face deeper than ever.
"Kazekage dead. ANBU missing. Zeldris rogue."
His eyes narrowed.
"The peace... is cracking."
Meanwhile, somewhere far away...
Kakuzu paused mid-count.
Stacks of cash lay neatly before him.
He frowned.
Somewhere... somehow...
He sensed someone was spending his money.
He didn't know who yet.
But when he found out?
They were going to pay. With interest.
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