"You really went to great lengths just to let that woman escape."
Shigure looked calmly at Zetsu standing before him.
"But if she escaped… what were you planning to do next?"
Hearing this, Zetsu gave an awkward smile.
"So Lord Shigure knew all along."
Shigure was genuinely interested in the being before him. Black Zetsu was far from weak.
After all, he had once stabbed Madara Uchiha straight through the heart—no ordinary feat.
This Zetsu, possessed by Black Zetsu, was completely different from a normal White Zetsu.
"Since Lord Shigure doesn't intend to keep talking," Zetsu said slowly, "then I'll have to—!"
Before he could finish, his expression suddenly changed.
He could no longer sense the ground beneath him.
Shigure smiled.
"While you were spouting nonsense, did you really think I was just standing here doing nothing?"
As he spoke, pale mist began spreading outward.
Cold fog surged up from underground, swallowing the surroundings whole.
The earth itself was sealed off.
Shigure looked at the Black-and-White Zetsu trapped before him.
"So now—how do you plan to escape?"
With a casual motion, Shigure raised his hand.
Two sharp ice spikes formed instantly and pierced straight through Zetsu's body.
Zetsu felt no pain—but terror flooded his expression.
He had dared to appear openly because he could dive underground at any moment.
He never expected Shigure to neutralize that ability the instant he showed himself.
"Earlier, I felt a strange gaze watching me," Shigure said lightly.
"That was you, wasn't it?"
He smiled.
"Not bad. To avoid my perception entirely… that's a very special ability."
At that moment, Black Zetsu finally understood.
It didn't matter that Konan had escaped.
Shigure's attention had been drawn to him instead—and that was far more dangerous.
The mist cut him off from the ground completely.
With ice spikes pinning him in place, Zetsu could only watch as Shigure walked toward him, step by step.
"Lord Shigure, please spare me!"
"I'm just a nobody—hardly worth your notice!"
"A nobody?" Shigure chuckled.
"I don't think so."
He reached out—
And suddenly, a spiraling spatial distortion bloomed in the air.
Shigure's eyes narrowed.
He lunged forward—but it was already too late.
Zetsu vanished.
"Obito."
Shigure straightened slowly.
"So Zetsu really is that important to you."
He looked up at the sky.
Konan's presence was gone as well—rescued, no doubt, by Obito.
That was fine.
In fact, it was better this way.
Shigure had already left something behind on Konan. Letting her go had been intentional—partly to draw out Zetsu, and partly to trace the Akatsuki's base.
Waiting for the Akatsuki to come to him was never his style.
It was far more efficient to hunt them down himself—and erase them completely.
If the Akatsuki were destroyed early, the Fourth Shinobi World War would never begin.
And Shigure would still obtain everything he wanted regardless.
"Go," Shigure said calmly.
"Return safely—all of you."
Internally, he spoke to the Great Sage.
"How's the analysis?"
[Great Sage: Konan analysis complete. Black Zetsu analysis 70% complete—analysis interrupted.]
A pity—but not a problem.
There would be another chance.
[Congratulations, Host. New skill acquired: Paper Shiki Jutsu.]
Not Paper Release, but Paper Shiki Jutsu.
That confirmed it—Konan's ability wasn't a Bloodline Limit.
[Great Sage: This is a special forbidden Ninjutsu that requires extraordinary talent in paper manipulation.]
Paper manipulation…
A rare and impressive talent.
It seemed Konan herself possessed unique aptitude, allowing her to develop such a technique.
That could wait.
Right now, Shigure needed to see Kisame.
Whether Kisame would truly betray the Akatsuki—or not—had to be confirmed personally.
A Flying Nimbus materialized beneath Shigure's feet.
He leapt onto it and shot off into the distance.
By then, Kisame had already caught up to Deidara.
Deep within a forest, the two were locked in fierce combat.
Kisame stood calmly, Samehada resting against his shoulder, watching Deidara rage.
"Damn it! Damn it, damn it!"
"This is the fourth time! You keep destroying my carefully prepared bombs!"
"You bastard—!"
Crack!
Bang!
Kisame stomped Deidara's face into the ground, smashing him into the mud.
"Pathetic," Kisame said coldly.
"I never thought much of your jutsu. Sasori's puppets had some merit—but your explosives are completely meaningless."
He pressed Samehada directly against Deidara's stomach.
"Still thinking of using clay bombs?"
"That assumes you still have chakra."
At that moment, a spatial vortex opened.
Obito stepped out.
"Long time no see, Kisame."
Kisame glanced sideways.
"We'll talk later. I'll finish this first."
Deidara stared between the masked man and Kisame.
These two… knew each other?
"I'm afraid you can't," Obito said calmly.
"I'm here to save him."
Kisame paused briefly.
"Is that so?"
"Then I'm sorry," he continued, his lips curling into a grin.
"My orders are to deal with Deidara."
"Even if I wasn't told to kill him…"
"I won't let you take him."
"Do you really think you can stop me?"
Kisame smiled.
"Or rather—do you think you can stop me?"
Behind the mask, Obito's expression darkened.
There was no hesitation in Kisame's eyes.
No reluctance.
It was clear now—
Kisame Hoshigaki had completely severed ties with the Akatsuki.
"I originally wanted you to return to the Akatsuki," Obito said flatly.
"But now, it seems you don't need to at all."
Kisame nodded without hesitation.
"That's right."
"I don't need to."
As he spoke, Kisame turned his head back toward Deidara, raising Samehada, clearly intending to sever his head on the spot.
In the next instant, Obito moved.
He charged straight at Kisame.
Kisame reacted immediately, swinging Samehada backhanded with terrifying force.
—but Obito's body phased through the blade.
Passing straight through Kisame, Obito grabbed Deidara and yanked him off the ground.
The moment he secured him, Obito pulled back, retreating a safe distance away.
Facing Kisame once more, Obito let out a silent sigh.
"Kisame," he asked, his voice low,
"Did you tell him everything about the Akatsuki?"
Kisame grinned.
"What do you think?"
That was answer enough.
Obito closed his eyes briefly.
No matter what, this information could not be allowed to spread from Kirigakure.
The Hidden Mist Village had to be erased completely.
It no longer deserved to exist in this world.
A sharp, dangerous light flashed in Obito's eyes.
"Go back and tell him," Obito said coldly.
"We'll be paying a visit very soon."
"Tell him to be ready."
"The Hidden Mist must disappear."
"He doesn't need you to tell me."
A calm voice suddenly spoke from behind Obito.
"I heard it myself."
Obito's heart lurched.
He spun around—
Shigure stood there.
So fast…
He had crossed that distance already?
Obito's expression darkened instantly.
(End of Chapter)
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