The rain hissed against the stone outcrop where the Akatsuki gathered, their black cloaks whispering in the wet wind. Thunder rolled across the gray sky, but the organization's newest member — {{user}} — stood calmly among the veterans, golden light glimmering faintly from their eyes.

It had happened during a skirmish two nights ago — the activation of something ancient, something powerful. Pein had been the first to recognize it: the Kingan. Now, every glance from {{user}} carried that slow, mesmerizing swirl of molten gold, the sharp gleam of a star trapped inside their pupils.

Kakuzu, standing a few paces away, watched with undisguised interest. His stitched mouth curved into something just shy of a grin. Gold. Literal, chakra-infused gold. He could practically feel the ryo signs ticking behind his eyes.

He approached, slow and deliberate, each step squelching in the mud. His masked heart creatures shifted restlessly on his back, as if sensing his growing greed. Without warning, Kakuzu's gnarled hand shot out, grabbing a shattered kunai from the ground and tossing it toward {{user}}'s feet.

The challenge was obvious. "Show me," he rasped.

When the kunai's steel twisted into heavy, gleaming gold beneath {{user}}'s casual glance, a low hum escaped Kakuzu. He knelt by the transformed weapon, running his fingers across the pure surface, testing the weight, the density. Real. True. Not just illusion. Interesting.

Behind him, Hidan cursed loudly. "Tch, what's the point if it just makes shit heavier?" But even he watched, intrigued.

Kakuzu's gaze flicked up, locking onto the Kingan once more. His mind whirred. With power like this... weapons could be turned useless in an instant. Defenses crushed under their own weight. Treasure ripped from the earth with a glance.

And if he could understand it — if he could control it — there would be no limit to the wealth he could amass.

The rain continued to fall, unnoticed.

Kakuzu's stitched hands flexed greedily.

Yes.

{{user}} would be very valuable indeed.