[Pokémon Breeder in One Piece] Chapter 316 (Patreon)

Land of Whirlpools.

As soon as Kakuzu and a group of shinobi landed on this small island, they were attacked. The cause was likely due to the presence of Asahi and a few other Uzumaki Clan shinobi in their ranks.

Earlier, Dak had promised Asahi that if he brought the Uzumaki Clan into Akatsuki, Dak would help him rescue his clan.

In the current ninja world, everyone knows about Akatsuki and the peace it has brought to the Land of Rain. For a clan like the Uzumaki Clan, known for their affinity for longevity and well-being, joining such an organization was highly appealing—especially after their pleas for help to Konoha had been repeatedly ignored.

When Asahi returned with a large force of Akatsuki shinobi, he would immediately establish unparalleled prestige and influence within his clan. The admiration of the people and the position of the next clan leader would be his for the taking.

"Damn it, why does it always have to be me? That guy, Izuna, is practically doing nothing all day. Why not send him?" Kakuzu grumbled non-stop.

Since joining Akatsuki, he had been busier than ever, though he didn't mind—it was a lucrative arrangement.

This was thanks to the "money-making schemes" proposed by Dak, such as an entertainment concept called "foot spas."

While brothels existed in the ninja world, they were generally frequented by the middle and lower classes. Wealthy and powerful figures avoided such places due to concerns over reputation or potential danger, even if they had numerous wives or lovers.

They preferred discreet meetings at their residences, which lacked the excitement of truly novel experiences.

This created the perfect opportunity for an establishment like "foot spas," which offered an air of legitimacy while catering to hidden desires. Being founded by the most powerful organization in the ninja world, Akatsuki, ensured both exclusivity and security.

After learning about these concepts, Kakuzu seemed to have unlocked a new side of himself, coming up with ideas that even surprised Dak. Confident in Kakuzu's abilities, Dak entrusted him with full authority over the matter.

However, others in Akatsuki enjoyed assigning Kakuzu various tasks, treating him like a workhorse.

This mission to help Asahi rescue his clan was one such assignment, handed down by Izuna.

Kakuzu, of course, wasn't happy. If Dak gave Izuna a task, why did it end up with him? It felt like bullying.

But there was no choice—Kakuzu couldn't defeat Izuna.

Fortunately, the mission wasn't particularly demanding. All Kakuzu had to do was stand by and ensure no formidable enemies appeared. Izuna had also allocated a substantial number of shinobi for the mission.

The total force consisted of 500 ninja, including 10 Jonin, 30 Uzumaki Clan shinobi, 30 Uchiha shinobi, 40 Chinoike clan members, and 400 ordinary ninja from Amegakure, with Kakuzu as the elite Jonin leading the charge.

With this many shinobi, not only could they rescue the Uzumaki Clan, but they could potentially conquer them outright.

"Lord Kakuzu, we're almost there," Asahi said, trying to placate the perpetually grumpy man.

"Hmph."

As they approached Uzushio Village, about 3 kilometers from their destination, they were ambushed again.

Fortunately, the Uzumaki Clan shinobi had sensed the ambush ahead of time and warned their comrades. The attackers failed to inflict any damage and lost many of their own in the initial clash.

The blood spilled by the fallen attackers became fuel for the Chinoike clan members, further strengthening their abilities.

"Is that... a Kekkei Genkai?" Kakuzu, watching the battlefield from the shadows, suddenly grew interested.

His role was to intervene only if a particularly powerful enemy appeared. So far, his subordinates had handled everything competently.

But seeing a Kekkei Genkai user on the opposing side changed his plans.

"So that's the surprise Izuna mentioned," Kakuzu muttered, recalling Izuna's cryptic remark before the mission: "You'll have a pleasant surprise this time."

Izuna must have known about this Kekkei Genkai user when gathering intelligence and deliberately sent Kakuzu to secure the prize.

Akatsuki's core members had shared detailed information about their abilities with each other to ensure smooth operations and accountability. This transparency was particularly meant to target anyone who might stray from their mission, except for Madara.

Madara's unwavering dedication to his vision of peace made him an exception. Even if his abilities were well-documented, no one could hope to defeat him.

After learning about Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear technique, Izuna began collecting information on powerful Kekkei Genkai users.

Earth Grudge Fear allowed Kakuzu to harvest hearts from other ninja, gaining their abilities and extending his life indefinitely—a pinnacle among forbidden techniques.

If Kakuzu could obtain five Kekkei Genkai hearts, his strength would surpass even his portrayal in the original series.

"Using mud-based jutsu, huh? Let's call it Mud Release—a combination of Water and Earth," Kakuzu mused as he stealthily approached his target.

The Mud Release ninja had no idea he was being hunted. While his Kekkei Genkai granted him unique abilities, his overall strength was mediocre due to his origins in a minor village.

"Secret Technique: Heart Snatch."

In an instant, Kakuzu pierced the Mud Release ninja's chest with a black tendril, ripping out his still-beating heart. Threads of black chakra stitched the heart into Kakuzu's body, replacing one of his old ones.

Discarding his Water-based heart, Kakuzu immediately felt the difference.

"Not bad. Mud Release: Bottomless Quagmire!"

With his newfound power, Kakuzu transformed the battlefield into a vast swamp, dragging his enemies to their doom.

By the time the skirmish ended, the opposing force of over a thousand had been reduced to mere remnants, most of whom surrendered.

Those who survived were taken as prisoners—some recruited, others destined to become experimental subjects.

With the path cleared, Asahi led his forces into Uzushio Village.

Arina, the elder guarding the village, had rallied his people to defend their home, prepared to fight to the death.

However, seeing Asahi and other clan members among the invaders quickly eased his fears. While Arina had mixed feelings about the future, he was ready to accept change for the clan's survival.

At his age, the position of clan leader mattered little to him.

What mattered was that the Uzumaki Clan had a future again.

(End of Chapter)

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