#zangei

(Not shamefully at all)

(Please hear me out on this)

(Yes that bounty counter who had less screen time than TenTen)

(He didn't betray Kakuzu even after he died😭Does he even know he died😭)

(Love them)

(They gave me old married couple vibes)

Hidan:

Zangei:

Kakuzu:

Kakuzu: B-BOUNTY. I MEANT BOUNTY.

Zangei: *dabs his forehead* Of course, that would be 50 million ryō then.

He never imaged that love would come to him in the form of a cadaver.

But well, he never in his wildest dreams would have imaged any of that day to happen. Thats a lie. He expected this to happen, evenactually.

As the sun set, Zangei was still working, counting the money and guarding the corpses of the bounties, all while waiting for the hunters to arrive with their prey.

Two men walked in, finding the hidden entrence with ease. One careened fast on the rickety wooden floor, his jet black hair tied back in a low ponytail, with a few strands falling around his face. His sharp, golden eyes searched the room for anything suspicious.

The other man followed him, slowed down by the body thrown over his shoulder. His hair was cut short, a spiky dark blue, to not get in the way. His bright green eyes scanned his teammate in front of him, silently cursing. The man he carried was tall, too damn tall. Haru was not small, with his 172, almost 173 centimeters. But the man was well over 180. Kaito and the bingo book said 185. He hated it when he had to carry taller bodies. Kaito and the man were the same height. Much to Haru's chagrin, the taller man was clutching a deep wound on his shoulder with one hand. The Akatsuki member who they fought dealt quite a few good hits. Kaito's speed was their only advantage. Haru himself couldn't even manage to aproach the monster made out of treads. He thanked his saving grace, the poison they covered their weapons in. At the same time, the thick coat their victim wore made him feel uneasy. Wich was worse? Feeling the cold, dead body, or not feeling anything at all?

Blood dripped down the floor when Kaito stopped for a minute to open the door. For a moment, Haru wished he could feel blood spilling from the dead body. It strangely made him feel at ease: They were dead, and long dead.

But Ryuzaki's sleeveless vest was torn, and his black shirt soaked in blood, while the body on his back was just rigid, hidden in the clothing he wore.

They stepped in, the smell of decay hitting them hard, even after years of this job. Haru wasted no time unceremoniously tossing the body onto the table. Kaito opened the bounty book on the right place.

-Kakuzu, missing nin from Takigakure. Akatsuki. 85 years old. - He said, wasting no time. The bounty counter looked at the dead.

He laid there, splayed out on the table, a coated and masked man. Sharp eyes with red sclera and teal irises, rolled back into his head. Not something he says daily, but also not something that made him question the legitimacy. It could be poison, or just the way he is. He saw his fair share of unusual eyes. His coat was stained with dirt, most likely the result of a long mission. His skin was darker.

-Show his face. I can't give anything for a masked one, Ryuzaki. - Zangei responded harshly.

-Have i ever fooled you? - Kaito scoffed. He stained the man's face and clothes with his own blood, as he quickly worked off the mask and the hood.

Just as the exchange master had guessed, the man had sharper features. He did not look 85. Zangei guessed him to be about his own age, maybe 30, but certainly not more. Despite this, the bounty book also noted him as 85, and the photo was also the same. He had learned not to ask questions.

Otherwise, he had to admit, that the Akatsuki wasn't ugly. Long, dark brown hair matted in blood. He had some injuries, but the blood never soaked his coat. His face was scarred, telling the tale of an unfortunate past. A gasglow smile was stiched onto his face.

The photo mathed. All major features the same.

-Ryuzaki, Takeda. Stand back. - He didn't need to explain it. The two men stepped back, Kaito leaning against the wall. Zangei wanted to scold him for the blood stain it will leave, but decided its not worth the time. He prefered to check if the body was legit.

He placed his hand to the artery on the neck, while checking the injuries. A dead man was hard to fake.

The blood seemed real, but there were no major wounds. Poison. He knew the duo's fighting style well, and he did not expect less.

He was caught off guard, when he felt an unnatural heartbeat. The Akatsuki's eyes rolled back from his skull, and Zangei instincly jumped back.

The two men immidiatly drew their weapons, and they seemed just as suprised. Regardless, he was sure to note not to trust them again.

Zangei looked at the dead man, who sit up.

To be fair, in his many years of working with cadavers, a part of him was sure this will evenactually happen.

This is set six years before canon. Any opinions? Both positive and negative are appreciated!!