Codename: Ghost Gate Jiao Taro

The Money Exchange Halls, of which there were five throughout the shinobi world, were, by no coincidence, situated within the borders of the five great nations.

These were underground black markets, bustling with countless dirty money, secret intelligence, and all manner of illicit goods that could not see the light of day.

Of course, the most distinctive business of the Exchange Halls was, without a doubt, the posting of bounties.

Here, as long as you could pay the price, you could put a bounty on anyone’s head—even the lords and Kage of the five great nations were not exempt.

Because of his conspicuous appearance, Kisame had prepared ahead of time, donning a black cloak with a deep hood that concealed his face completely, to avoid unnecessary trouble.

He stepped into the building and headed straight for the restroom. There, through a hidden door behind the toilets, he slipped seamlessly into the underground Exchange Hall.

Above ground, the streets were desolate and cold, but down here, it was a sea of people—samurai, ronin, bounty ninja filled the hall to capacity, their voices blending into an incessant cacophony.

A stranger might mistake the place for a crowded marketplace.

Guided by memory, Kisame made his way without hesitation to the mortuary. Business here was booming, or perhaps it would be more apt to say it was plagued by a surplus of corpses rather than people.

A few bounty hunters stood in line before him, each presenting their kill to the proprietor for identification and registration. The owner would then reclaim the body and issue the bounty on the spot.

Generally, most corpses fetched anywhere from hundreds of thousands to several million ryo.

Finally, it was Kisame’s turn.

He produced a storage scroll, withdrew the bodies of the Steel Brothers, and identified them for the proprietor.

“Are these the S-class rogue ninjas from the Village Hidden in the Clouds—the Steel Brothers?” the owner exclaimed, visibly startled. He checked the register for a long while, carefully verifying their identities, before retrieving a suitcase stuffed with cash and handing it to Kisame.

Kisame opened the case, counted the money, found the amount correct, and prepared to leave.

But at that moment, the proprietor called out to him with a friendly smile. “Sir, is this your first time as a bounty hunter? If you don’t mind leaving your name or alias, I can register you and issue an ID. It’ll save you a lot of time in the future—no more waiting in line.”

Kisame glanced at the owner.

He knew this man was just a front, an ordinary worker; the real master of the Exchange Hall was someone else entirely, shrouded in mystery.

“Very well. My name is…” Kisame nodded, thought for a moment, then casually invented a name. “Kaimon Shakitaro.”

After giving his alias, Kisame walked over to the lounge and settled himself imposingly on the sofa.

“Thank you for waiting, Lord Shakitaro.”

Soon after, the owner returned with the identification, handing it to Kisame with great respect. Kisame did not linger; he accepted the ID, picked up his suitcase, and left.

“Is it really him?”

As Kisame’s figure disappeared, several ninjas exchanged furtive glances, then followed after him.

Clang.

Kisame pushed open the hidden restroom door, when suddenly he felt a surge of urgency.

He approached a urinal, set his suitcase on the ground, and began to relieve himself.

At that moment, two ninjas came in as well. Whether by coincidence or not, they took up positions on either side of Kisame, hemming him in.

Kisame paid them no mind and continued his business, which seemed inexhaustible, the stream unabated for two whole minutes.

The two ninjas, long finished, stood awkwardly on either side. Neither leaving nor staying seemed appropriate.

Is this guy’s kidney function really that good?

They couldn’t help but steal a glance at Kisame, and their faces changed instantly. Silently, they zipped up and left with their heads held low.

At last, Kisame finished, washed his hands, picked up the suitcase, and strode out feeling refreshed.

“Don’t act outside the Exchange Hall. Follow him a bit further, then seize the chance to grab the money,” whispered the two ninjas to their companions.

It was clear this was not their first time at such business.

They trailed Kisame from a distance, out of the building and through winding alleys until, finally, they entered a narrow side street.

“Now! Get him!”

They rushed in together.

A few muffled groans, screams, and feeble pleas for mercy echoed from the alley.

Kisame emerged without a scratch. He had not only dispatched the would-be robbers, but had also relieved them of a fair amount of cash.

Ten minutes later.

“Let’s go,” Kisame said as he returned to the inn, urging the Snow Woman and her child to depart.

“Where are we going?” the Snow Woman asked cautiously.

“To a safer, more peaceful place in this country.”

…

A week passed.

The three of them arrived at the western coast of the Land of Water, entering a bustling seaside town.

This was one of the nation’s key port cities. Each day, countless merchant ships departed from its docks, trading with the great nations across the sea routes.

As a major economic hub, its security was first-rate—among the best in the entire Land of Water.

But naturally, the cost of living here was high, prices steep, unaffordable for most families.

Upon arrival, Kisame showed great generosity, spending over fifteen million ryo to purchase a detached villa by the sea, complete with a courtyard.

Should he ever retire from the shinobi life, this would be an ideal place to settle down.

Until then—

“You two will live here from now on. I’ll go buy some daily necessities.”

He gave his instructions to the Snow Woman and set out shopping.

Watching Kisame’s departing figure, the Snow Woman felt as if she were dreaming. Only now did she truly believe in his goodwill.

Over the next few days, Kisame furnished the villa with appliances, furniture, and fitness equipment. He also opened a bank account for the Snow Woman and deposited enough money for their living expenses.

At dusk, as the sea breeze whispered and the setting sun cast its golden glow, Kisame finished his daily training in the courtyard, shirtless and dripping with sweat.

Yes, his body was even stronger now.

Admiring himself in the mirror, Kisame nodded with satisfaction, then pushed open the sliding glass doors and stepped inside.

He entered just as the Snow Woman emerged from the bathroom, having just showered, gently toweling her damp hair.

Kisame paused, but not for her beauty or figure. What caught his eye was that her long, once-black hair had turned pure white, like snow.

Sensing Kisame’s gaze, the Snow Woman blushed and hurried to explain. Her natural white hair had always attracted too much attention, so she had dyed it black to hide her identity and avoid calamity.

“It’s beautiful,” Kisame said honestly. With such a lovely mother, it was no wonder her son Haku was fairer than most girls.

“Kisame, why don’t you take a bath first? I’ll get dinner started,” the Snow Woman said with a smile, quickly drying her hair.

“All right,” Kisame agreed and headed into the bathroom.

Thus, peaceful days passed for a while.

After settling the Snow Woman and her child, Kisame prepared to return to Kirigakure.

He had already been away from the village for nearly a month, and the Chunin Exams were about to begin; he needed to return and regroup.

Before leaving, he handed the Snow Woman a scroll that could summon a shark, instructing her to contact him if necessary or use the summoned creature to escape to sea in case of danger.

“Kisame, I don’t know how to thank you,” the Snow Woman said softly, her eyes like water.

In the days they had spent together, she had discovered that beneath Kisame’s cold and fierce exterior lay a courteous, attentive, and warm soul.

“If you truly wish to thank me, raise your child well. Someday, I may need him to serve me,” Kisame replied, glancing at the cradle where Haku slept.

Haku was exceptionally gifted, a rare Ice Release shinobi. If, when grown, he could survive the transformation with monster cells, his bloodline potential would be unmatched.

“To fight alongside a man like Kisame would be an honor for Haku,” the Snow Woman said, smiling with genuine happiness for her son.

Her outlook had changed. She now understood that simply running from one’s destiny was futile. If she could become as strong as Kisame, there would be nothing left to fear—her happiness would be within reach.

She, too, had quietly resumed her training, diligently practicing her Ice Release techniques.

“Well then, I’m off,” Kisame said, seeing that there was nothing further to discuss, and turned to leave the courtyard.

At that moment, the Snow Woman hesitated, then suddenly rushed forward and hugged Kisame tightly from behind.

“Kisame, you really are a manly man, someone one could rely on. If you have the time, please come visit us often,” she murmured, pressing her face against his broad back.

She was, after all, a married woman—bold in her affections.

Kisame did not turn around. He stood in silence for a moment before replying, “But, madam, I’m only twelve years old. I’m still a child.”

With that, he walked away, leaving the Snow Woman dumbfounded.

Snow Village.

A mysterious man, wearing a headscarf and mask, with the forehead protector of the Hidden Waterfall Village slashed across the symbol, arrived in the village.

He was Kakuzu, the bounty ninja who worshipped money above all.

“Too late, it seems,” Kakuzu muttered, frowning at the corpses of villagers strewn across the courtyard.

He had been hunting the rogue Steel Brothers from the Cloud Village for some time.

Killing them would not only net him a hefty bounty, but also supply him with a fresh Lightning Release heart, further enhancing his power and longevity.

He had invested months of effort in this pursuit and was not about to give up.

But a few days later, when Kakuzu reached the Exchange Hall in the Land of Water, he learned that his prey had already been claimed by someone else.

Disappointed, he asked the owner for a name.

Kaimon Shakitaro.

Sounded like quite a formidable fellow.

Kakuzu made a note of it.

Meanwhile, the so-called Kaimon Shakitaro, after days of arduous travel, had already returned to Kirigakure.