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 Black 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 Black 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, Black 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 gladly, 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 Black and White Zetsu bickering. Instead, she heard a woman's voice.
"No! My favorite is you, Kagemasa-kun!"
The pitch-black cave was illuminated only by the flickering square screen of a TV. Black 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 glanced at the drama's title, The Temptation of Returning Home. Oh, this show had once been incredibly popular—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!" Black 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 Black 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 plant leaf was torn, White Zetsu lost an arm, and Black 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 blade. White Zetsu's arm lay 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. Black and White Zetsu lay 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!" Black Zetsu protested.
"SLAP!"
White Zetsu's severed arm landed on Black Zetsu. Zaraki Kita watched casually, striking their heads with little respect, occasionally flicking the pitcher plant'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 plant's leaves were gone.
Before leaving, she decided to tap a short code on their heads.
—Understood?
Black and White Zetsu nodded hastily. Zaraki Kita was satisfied, tossed the severed arm aside, and strode out.
The code translated to:
—I plan 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 later, Black and White Zetsu's dual screams echoed through the tunnels.
Spoilers… so satisfying.
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