Tracking Zetsu’s movements wasn’t easy for ordinary people, but Zaraki Kita was no longer one of them. After becoming an external member of Akatsuki, she spent a long time studying Zetsu—both Bck and White. She analyzed him thoroughly, at least when it came to his abilities. Afterward, she decisively forced Zetsu to leave. Not through influence over Konan or pressure on Nagato—neither she nor Konan or Nagato could have eliminated Zetsu by force. No, Zetsu left of his own accord.

  The reason was simple: Zaraki Kita’s presence made them experience what it meant to have a shadow always by your side. As soon as intelligence-gathering work concluded, Zaraki Kita appeared beside Zetsu under the guise of assisting him, making it impossible for either Bck or White Zetsu to escape. Most importantly, they couldn’t kill her—she was far stronger than them. Even Uchiha Madara couldn’t stop her because, technically, she was helping Zetsu with intelligence work. In just a few years, Bck and White Zetsu accomplished what would normally take a decade. Madara realized that his own intelligence network couldn’t function if this continued, so he requested Zetsu leave Akatsuki. Nagato complied gdly, but sadly, those years of intelligence work had taught Zaraki Kita everything she needed to know.

  Losing both soldiers and resources—that’s the consequence.

  She found Zetsu three days after parting with Jiraiya, in a rather remote subterranean area. Entering the cave, she didn’t hear Bck and White Zetsu bickering. Instead, she heard a woman’s voice.

  “No! My favorite is you, Kagemasa-kun!”

  The pitch-bck cave was illuminated only by the flickering square screen of a TV. Bck and White Zetsu’s cores resembled alien-shaped melodramatic soap opera enthusiasts with the personalities of middle-aged women.

  “No, Yoko, leaving me is the only way you’ll be happy!” the male lead said.

  Zaraki Kita gnced at the drama’s title, The Temptation of Returning Home. Oh, this show had once been incredibly popur—emptying streets during its broadcast.

  “Kagemasa-kun, don’t leave Yoko~” White Zetsu cried emotionally.

  “Better for Makoto to rise to the top! If this guy reconciles with Yoko, I’ll quit watching!” Bck Zetsu raged.

  “Too cruel! Yoko is true love!”

  “Makoto is stronger!”

  Zaraki Kita wanted to make a sound to remind them she was there—but her vocal cords were damaged. She couldn’t cough, couldn’t make a sound. So she chose a more direct approach: throwing a kunai to destroy the slightly outdated TV.

  Neither Bck nor White Zetsu realized whether Kagemasa-kun had left or not.

  “Who?!”

  “Z-Zaraki Kita!”

  Zaraki Kita nodded and didn’t bother saying anything else. She attacked immediately. Screams and howls echoed for over half an hour. Then she found the switch for the incandescent light. A pitcher pnt leaf was torn, White Zetsu lost an arm, and Bck Zetsu could barely maintain his usual neat division. Bruises and swelling aside, their forms were grotesquely distorted. Even after long observation, Zaraki Kita didn’t fully understand their structure.

  With one breath, she sheathed her long bde. White Zetsu’s arm y neatly severed on the ground—no blood, no fluid, just a pristine white stump. Zaraki Kita picked up the arm, twirling it in her hand as she sat on the only chair in the cave. Bck and White Zetsu y sprawled on the floor.

  She used the severed arm as a weapon, hitting them in the face repeatedly, without a hint of expression.

  “You… you… how did you find me!” White Zetsu shouted.

  “I didn’t do anything to you!” Bck Zetsu protested.

  “SLAP!”

  White Zetsu’s severed arm nded on Bck Zetsu. Zaraki Kita watched casually, striking their heads with little respect, occasionally flicking the pitcher pnt’s leaves.

  Honestly, bullying them was pointless. Zetsu’s scheme to distract her was obviously Madara’s idea. While confirming her own intuition was correct, Zaraki Kita still needed to vent her frustration from dealing with those other mercenary groups. But she couldn’t kill them—Madara wouldn’t allow it. Nagato had warned her: if she provoked Madara too much, it wouldn’t end comfortably for her. But hitting Zetsu a few times? Madara wouldn’t interfere.

  “I’ll have my arm back,” White Zetsu said stubbornly. Zaraki Kita couldn’t resist—another beating ensued. This time, both sides of the pitcher pnt’s leaves were gone.

  Before leaving, she decided to tap a short code on their heads.

  —Understood?

  Bck and White Zetsu nodded hastily. Zaraki Kita was satisfied, tossed the severed arm aside, and strode out.

  The code transted to:

  —I pn to raise summoning crows. Lacking experience, find someone who can teach me.

  Just as she neared the exit, Zaraki Kita remembered one more thing and turned back to Zetsu, who looked horrified.

  —By the way, I’ve seen the ending of that show. After Kagemasa and Makoto married, Yoko killed Kagemasa, and Makoto died alongside him.

  She gestured, then left the cave. Moments ter, Bck and White Zetsu’s dual screams echoed through the tunnels.

  Spoilers… so satisfying.

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