Akatsuki Origins: Resources

(If you don't know which is which & who is who, go back & reread the 1st 2.)

I'm really enjoying this, it's been forever since we just sat & talked.

Yes, it has been too long. Who would you like to hear about next Konan?

Hmmmm....what about Kakuzu? I've always had questions about him.

Understandably so. I must admit, even my knowledge on him is, at best, full of holes. This is undoubtedly due to his age, his experience with covering his tracks, & how secretive he is.

His age? He couldn't be that much older than the rest of us....could he?

He is almost 100 years old Konan. His life is sustained by the organs he harvests by using his "Necromancy Earth Art" jutsu.

He harvests organs? Disgusting. Wait.... if Kakuzu is that old, he'd be almost as old as...

Yes, I'm certain they're around the same age Konan. Anyway, by using his Necromancy Earth Art, he steals ninja's organs while they are still functioning & integrates them into his own body. It also allows him to steal the chakra of others, giving him the ability to use most chakra natures.

Just like you.

Yes, except I don't have to steal hearts to do it. My Kekkai Genkai allows me to do that.

I was just saying, it's similar.

I know Konan. Also unlike me, his diversity with techniques is very limited. He keeps each heart sealed in a mask, while by using his threads they can have some physical form of their own, each form can only use 1 jutsu.

Only 1?

Yes. The 1st mask is an eagle, & it allows him to use his "Gale Force Jutsu". The 2nd is a bull, which allows him to use a lightning style jutsu he calls "Piercing Darkness". The 3rd is a tiger, which gives him a vicious fire style jutsu known simply as "Searing Pain"...

Sounds like a tribute to you Nagato.

I doubt it Konan, even if it was, he's not my type & way too old for me.

For a moment, Konan laughs out loud. When she stops, she smiles up at Nagato & both of them smile at the other warmly.

I've never heard you tell so many jokes before. What brought this about?

Tobi, he always seemed so happy & carefree. I thought it might help to try & be like that at times that allow it.

I....I'm glad to see you smile again Nagato.

I'm happy to have something to smile about Konan. Anyway, as for the 4th mask....

Nagato, while this is very informative & I do enjoy it, I really am more curious about why Kakuzu is around more than what he is capable of.

Ok. Kakuzu comes from the Village Hidden in a Waterfall. While he was there, he was charged with a mission, to kill a man known as Hashirama Senju.

I know I've heard that name before. Why does it sound familiar?

He was the Leaf Village's 1st Hokage, & the only user of the Wood Style jutsus. Kakuzu was defeated, but was able to return to his village. They knew how difficult of a task it was to defeat the Senju, yet they still gave him the stigma of a failure, & all that came with it.

What does that mean? What happened?

He was imprisoned & tortured, made to watch the people he loved get tortured. Not all of them survived. Kakuzu risked life & limb for his village, & because of a single failure, they made everybody he cared about suffer.

That.....that's deplorable. It...it's simply....it's sick. So he's like Kisame, he seeks revenge & full of spite.

No. You would think so, but he isn't. It hurt him, changed him in some ways, but he isn't vengeful. Kakuzu is a strange man; & not just by his appearance, or his battle style, or even by some of his actions. Kakuzu is a scientist & a poet, a lover & a fighter. In many ways, he is like Orochimaru, which probably why they got along before his defection. Somewhere, inside that mess of threads that he's become, he keeps the bodies of his loved ones. At the very least, parts of them, to bring them back. He seeks the resources he needs to experiment, to find a way to resurrect the ones he loved & lost so long ago.

Wow, I never would have guessed it. He must really love them then.

It isn't about love. He's just as selfish & greedy as others. It's been nearly a century, they're in a better place, wherever that is. He is willing to take them away from that for his own selfish desires, to give himself the life he wants no matter what it means to others. He is only after the resources he needs to accomplish that & succeed, no more.

Ninja Facts: Kakuzu

Of course it's Kakuzu, who else would it be?!

Age: 91
Birthday: August 15th
Weight: 139.3 lbs
Height: 6' (approx.)
Chakra Types: Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, Lightning
Signature Jutsus: Necromancy Earth Art, Earth Spear, Searing Pain, Piercing Darkness, Gale Force
Reg. #/Mission Stats: Unknown

Random Points of Interest

Kakuzu's name is based off of the term "kakugyo", the bishop in shogi (japanese chess)

Kakuzu's favorite food is liver, while his least favorite is kurikinton (sweet potato mixed with cooked chestnuts)

He is the 2nd tallest member of Akatsuki, after Kisame.

Notable Quotes

(To Hidan) "Even Hell runs on money. I'd be just fine."

"Start training your mind instead of your body, Hidan."

(To Shikamaru) "You actually think, unlike my partner."

(To Kakashi) "Heh....No one is immortal."

Chock full of info, I know. Come back soon for more Ninja Facts!