The suicide of the Fourth Mizukage sent shockwaves through many, especially Uchiha Madara, disguised as "Aburame." The orange mask remained absurdly ridiculous as always, but the voice it emitted was deep and brimming with murderous intent.
How could it have happened in the time it takes to complete a few B-rank missions? How did the Fourth Mizukage break free from his genjutsu and commit suicide? And just as she emerged, she managed to resolve the infighting in the Kirigakure? How did Terumi Mei escape the control of Mangetsu? And that kid Yagura actually broke his genjutsu!
Aburame's anger burned fiercely.
"It's a shame we lost her in the Kirigakure…" Nagato, appearing as the calm visage of the Six Paths of Pain, said lightly, unconcerned by the black-tinged aura pressing down on Madara from the shadows. The advantage of appearing as Pain was clear: no matter how much Nagato's original self gloat, Madara could not see it.
"You underestimated that woman. Terumi Mei cannot be taken lightly," Madara declared, watching the torrential rain outside the corridor.
"Is that so? Only someone truly formidable would earn such a remark," Nagato replied politely, also gazing at the pouring rain.
"Be careful. Akatsuki should not operate outside the country yet. Losing Amegakure now would make the next Tailed Beast operation difficult," the masked man warned. Madara needed Nagato's Sharingan and his Outer Path Gedo Statue—both crucial to his plans. Learning of the Mizukage's self-sacrifice, his first thought was to warn Nagato not to lose Amegakure. But this warning was meaningless. Neither Akatsuki nor Konan were the village's true rulers; Madara was secretly in control of the Mizukage's position.
"I understand," Nagato said. The gloating in his eyes was unmistakable. By the second day after receiving the intelligence, Nagato already knew the Fourth Mizukage had died, Terumi Mei had risen, and the one who indirectly enabled all of this was none other than Kita, practicing her dual-sword techniques on the rooftop. Madara himself had nudged events along just a little.
"How are the new members?"
The positions were still vacant. With the Mizukage's replacement, Akatsuki's missions increased; for nearly a month, each team acted twice a week.
"I intended to bring in Hozuki Mangetsu, but he was eliminated. Kita is temporarily filling in," Madara stated sharply, though Nagato immediately objected.
"That's impossible. She can only serve as an external operative."
"You trust Kita too much, Pain. That woman's strength is considerable. Letting her act alone will fracture Akatsuki."
"Do you wish to see Akatsuki lose Amegakure, as you lost control in Kirigakure?" Nagato's tone was calm but pointed. Madara was taken aback. He often overlooked Kita's true nature. As a non-human, if she became the village's leader, how would things unfold? After careful consideration, he abandoned political thought, fell silent for a moment, then spoke.
"Fill the personnel gap as soon as possible. Don't bother me for now," he said, his figure dissolving into the air. Pain responded coldly; Madara's presence vanished completely.
Far below, controlling Pain, Nagato grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and asked Konan, who was catching up on her shows.
"Do you think he came here knowing already, or after investigating?"
Konan glanced at the calendar on the wall and answered quickly.
"Three days ahead of him." She added, "Don't get too excited. The intel from Kirigakure cuts off there."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Kita mentioned it. But from my analysis, Terumi Mei is not merciful. Right now she doesn't have time to deal with the Mangetsu faction. Kita's planted eyes will be eliminated soon. Once that happens, the info line is dead. The Five Great Nations—there's no way to re-enter."
"No problem. If it's cut, it's cut. Madara loses it too," Nagato replied, glancing at the clock: ten a.m. Konan should be at work—or should have been an hour ago.
"Konan, don't you think it's time to get to work?"
"Nope." Konan replied calmly, not even turning her head. "Who's the leader, and who should work?"
"You are the leader!" someone said, flattery dripping. Konan smirked, grabbed some seeds, and continued watching TV. "Then I order you to work."
"Uh… so I'm the leader?"
"Then I'll take half a day of sick leave."
Zetsu wanted to relax like Konan, watching The Sword of Shinobi Love, but his superior wouldn't allow leave. He couldn't even watch a rerun. Madara had lost control of Kirigakure, but he didn't know how, and Terumi Mei knew about the Fourth Mizukage's possession by Madara, so Zetsu had to investigate.
If only I had left my Kirigakure subordinates there, I wouldn't have to run around myself. Then I could be watching Lord Amano's beautiful profile on a big new TV.
"Don't daydream while working. I know what you're thinking," Black Zetsu grumbled. White Zetsu, imagining Lord Amano's bath scenes, seriously impacted his work efficiency.
"I want to watch!" White Zetsu protested, releasing his Mayfly Technique underground, moving unseen through the terrain.
"Even if you want to, hold it. Madara wants work done—finish investigation quickly!"
Distracted, Black Zetsu collided with a tree root, missing White Zetsu.
"Watch where you're going, you blind fool!"
"Whoa, this tree is massive! Let's check it out." White Zetsu started climbing. Black Zetsu internally panicked; his partner was both stupid and uncontrollable.
"The mission is to investigate Terumi Mei. Do you want Madara to scold us?!" Black Zetsu yelled, hitting White Zetsu, who shrieked in pain.
"Why are you hitting me?"
"Why can't I? Mission, mission! How are you a ninja?"
"I'm not a ninja! I want to see the tree." Stubbornly, White Zetsu split into two halves—half a pitcher plant, half a body—tearing his covering.
"Figure it out yourself. I'm not sticking with you." Black Zetsu followed after a moment, and White Zetsu's halves merged once again. "After checking, go immediately. No delays, or we miss the rerun."
"Mm, you're the best~"
Black Zetsu facepalmed. Madara, what have you done to them over the years? One falls asleep in under a minute, the other is obsessed with excrement…
How Terumi Mei knew about the Fourth Mizukage's possession by Madara was nearly impossible to trace. Only three knew: the deceased Fourth Mizukage Yagura, Terumi Mei herself, and the true culprit, Kita. If Madara hadn't ordered Zetsu to evacuate the White Zetsu underlings from Kirigakure, he would have known it was Kita immediately. But alas, there are no ifs in life.
However, some things could be inferred. They could not determine how Terumi Mei helped Yagura escape, but they could analyze Hozuki Mangetsu's death.
Even though Mangetsu's body was processed to erase all ninja-related evidence, small traces remained: cause of death, wounds, and the killer's method.
Zetsu deduced from Mangetsu's dispersed chakra that the assailant was a lightning-type and a skilled swordsman.
Lightning.
Konoha Kakashi, Fourth Raikag, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki Killer B, and Amegakure, Kita.
The fatal blow pierced the heart, splitting chest and abdomen, leaving faint burn marks—traces of ninja combat techniques. Many use ninja body arts, but only one could kill Mangetsu this way.
Kita.
Madara's expression darkened as if he might destroy the world. If White Zetsu didn't know the Tailed Beasts were incomplete, he would think Madara was about to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi.
He wasn't planning Infinite Tsukuyomi. He was plotting Kita's death.
Kita was formidable, with excellent combat sense and raw power. Even in a serious fight, it would be fifty-fifty. But this was not absolute—he had a chance. Even if defeated, she could not kill him; besides, he still had Izanagi. Killing Kita was possible.
"Zetsu, lure Kita out of the village," Madara ordered.
White Zetsu stared, dumbfounded. "Huh? Why?"
"Finally decided to eliminate her," Black Zetsu's hoarse voice contained a hint of gloating. Hidden beneath the mask, his frown reflected subtle negative emotion. Keeping Kita alive had once been a threat to him, but now she was even more troublesome.
"Come to think of it, aside from causing trouble, she's of little use."
Madara stepped forward. "Act quickly. Don't screw this up."
"I understand," Zetsu replied, sinking into the ground. Madara turned to the huge wooden shelf filled with dozens, nearly a hundred, of square containers holding vivid red eyes.
"Next… whose eyes are suitable to use?"