Naruto: Reborn as Kakuzu, the Immortal Assassin

The morning light had yet to fully dispel the darkness.

Clang! Clang!

The sound of clashing blades echoed through the cliffside forest. The metallic hum of weapons and the sharp hiss of slicing air painted a chaotic picture. Sparks of blue chakra illuminated the dark forest, the sharp screech of birdsong cutting through the stillness.

But soon, the light and noise vanished, leaving the woods shrouded in eerie silence, as though nothing had happened. The only evidence of the chaos was a few lifeless, bloodied bodies scattered on the ground.

A man slowly lowered his arm. Blue electricity crackled briefly in his palm before fading into the void. Another group of enemies had been dealt with, yet Kakuzu's expression remained stoic, his sharp eyes fixed on the horizon. It was clear he sensed something ominous—numerous pairs of eyes lurking in the blackness, watching, waiting.

It felt like being stalked by a pack of hyenas. Their individual strength was laughable, but their persistence was maddening. They followed like shadows, waiting for the slightest slip, the tiniest opening to pounce and rip him to shreds.

"So this is what it feels like to be hunted by the Five Great Nations," Kakuzu muttered under his breath. He had anticipated this, but experiencing it firsthand was still infuriating.

He walked to the base of a tree and picked up his satchel. Let them follow if they dared. Once he reached the next town, they'd lose his trail.

Just as Kakuzu turned to leave, another figure leapt through the trees, landing beside him. It was none other than Ruto, his companion since their defection from Kirigakure.

Ruto glanced at the fallen Kirigakure shinobi, a flicker of unease crossing his eyes. He didn't want to fight his former comrades. He only wanted to survive. Yet neither the previous Mizukage nor the current one seemed willing to let him go.

"Kakuzu-sama," Ruto began, his voice trembling with emotion. "Please… can't you let them go? They were only following orders…" His voice cracked, revealing his lingering attachment to his village—a bond he couldn't sever despite the darkness that forced him to flee.

"Oh?" Kakuzu's gaze lingered on Ruto, his expression unreadable. "I could. After all, you are a Kirigakure shinobi. But let's not forget—this mess exists because of you. You'll pay the price, and then we'll discuss your terms."

Ruto's eyes widened, but before he could react, Kakuzu's tendril-like arm shot out, wrapping around his throat and lifting him into the air.

"Kakuzu-sama, wait!" Ruto choked, struggling against the tightening grip.

Kakuzu didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, he drew a kunai. The blade glinted in the moonlight before it descended with ruthless precision.

Shhhkk! Blood splattered the ground.

Two kilometers away, a group of Kirigakure shinobi froze, their eyes snapping open. Their synchronized reactions confirmed that they all felt it—Ruto was dead.

The shinobi exchanged bewildered glances, struggling to process what had happened. One of them glanced at the mission scroll in his hands. The target was supposed to be both Kakuzu and Ruto, but now it seemed Kakuzu had handed them one head on a platter.

"Well, that's one less problem to deal with," one muttered, drawing a pen to mark Ruto's name with an X.

Days later, by the edge of a raging river, a lone figure leaned against a large rock, breathing heavily. His bandaged face twitched with every painful breath. Layer upon layer of gauze covered his wounds, but the damage beneath was severe. Even after removing the bandages, his face would never be the same.

Yet, for Ruto, the disfigurement was a blessing. It meant freedom.

"Heh…" He let out a bitter laugh, his voice raspy. "Kakuzu-sama… I owe you one."

Ruto took a deep breath, steadying himself. With time, his wounds began to scab, and he carefully peeled off the bandages.

From that moment on, Ruto lived like a shadow, avoiding crowds and keeping his identity a secret. Eventually, his journey led him to a small island off the eastern coast of the Land of Water.

The island was home to an ancient clan—a relic of the Warring States Period. Known for their unique kekkei genkai, the clan once flourished. But time had not been kind. Now, they were little more than a dwindling family, struggling to survive.

Ruto, his appearance altered and his resolve hardened, set foot on the island. For him, this place was more than a refuge. It held the reason he needed to keep living.

"Ahh! Who are you?!"

A startled scream shattered the island's peace.

A young woman, cradling a baby in her arms, stared at Ruto in horror. Her beautiful face twisted in fear as she took in the grotesque scars on his head. She quickly placed the child down, her hands moving in a flurry of seals.

"Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!"

"Wait! Hizuko, it's me!"

The familiar voice stopped her just as molten lava began to form in her palms. Hizuko hesitated, scrutinizing the man before her.

"Ruto…?"

The name slipped from her lips in disbelief.

Two minutes later, after a brief exchange and the familiar sound of his voice, the beautiful woman finally confirmed the man before her was indeed her husband—the father of her child. With a cry, Hizuko threw herself into Ruto's arms.

"You scared me half to death! I sent people everywhere to look for you but couldn't be too obvious about it, fearing it might endanger our child. I thought you had died out there! You idiot!" Hizuko pounded on Ruto's chest a few times, venting the frustration and worry she had harbored for so long.

But it was clear from the joy in her eyes that she was genuinely relieved. Her husband had come back alive.

After a brief embrace, Ruto stepped aside to pick up their child, holding the baby close as he quickly recounted his experiences to Hizuko. She nodded as he spoke.

"It's fortunate Lord Kakuzu turned out to be a man of honor. Otherwise, who knows if we'd ever see each other again," Hizuko said, her tone full of gratitude. Ruto nodded in agreement.

The two of them sat down to discuss their future.

"Ruto, word has come from the village that the First Mizukage has been confirmed dead. The leader of the Hozuki clan is set to become the Second Mizukage. As a fellow shinobi, he's relatively fair to our kind. You should go to him and explain your situation. Clear your name," Hizuko suggested, her expression earnest.

However, Ruto shook his head in firm opposition. If he could, he would have called her naïve, but he knew better than to say that aloud. Instead, he patiently explained.

"I've met Hozuki Gengetsu. He's a kind and reasonable man—friendly to both shinobi and civilians. But right now, he's just assumed the mantle of Mizukage. He'll be focused on stabilizing the village, which means balancing power among the factions, including the remnants of Byakuren. To achieve that balance, I would undoubtedly become a scapegoat. Do you understand?"

Though his words were harsh, there was a tragic truth to them. Sacrificing individuals for the greater good of the village's stability was often an unavoidable reality for those in power.

Hizuko nodded hesitantly, still trying to process the complexities of his reasoning. She looked at her husband and asked, "Then what will you do? Live the rest of your life hiding your name and identity?"

"Of course not. No one will recognize me as I am now," Ruto replied confidently.

Hizuko glanced at him and couldn't help but agree. Ruto had undergone some extreme changes. Although Kakuzu wasn't a trained plastic surgeon, his experience in the art of dissection had made him highly skilled with a blade. A few precise cuts, and even Hizuko had to look twice to recognize her husband.

Ruto pondered for a moment, his gaze falling on the child in his arms, before making a sudden decision.

"Hizuko, from today onward, the child and I will take your family name. It will make things much simpler," he said.

Hizuko's face lit up with a smile. "That's fine by me! The surname 'Terumi' has such a nice ring to it!"

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