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Chapter 333: The Real and Fake Black Zetsu
🕑 Added 2025-02-01 15:11:13 +0000 UTCChapter 333: The Real and Fake Black Zetsu
“Half?”
Konan frowned. “Like the Six-Tails before, cutting off part of itself to survive?”
“No, the Nine-Tails’ body and soul were split into two equal parts.”
Nagato shook his head. “The other half is probably still in Konoha.”
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Kakashi, whom Shinichi had left behind. Nagato grabbed him by the throat and drained the remaining Three-Tails chakra.
“The Three-Tails isn’t complete either.” He frowned. “But unlike the Nine-Tails, there’s barely any chakra left. This doesn’t seem like Konoha’s doing—it’s probably Hyuga Fuji’s handiwork.”
Konan looked at him in confusion.
“Then why did we retreat? Wouldn’t it be better to capture the other half of the Nine-Tails and make the Ten-Tails even more complete? The stronger you are, the better.”
“There’s no time.” Nagato’s expression darkened.
“If Konoha used such a tactic to hide the Nine-Tails, it means they still have some strength left. If we keep pushing forward, we might encounter Hyuga Fuji before we even find the other half.”
Nagato casually tossed the drained Kakashi to the ground and sighed. His gaze turned toward Ideal City, his brows knitting together.
“Black Zetsu just sent a message—Hyuga Fuji has already dealt with the remaining members in Ideal City and is heading our way!”
Konan’s expression changed. “That fast? There’s no way Obito and the others lost so quickly!”
“They did.” Nagato nodded coldly.
With the Ten-Tails fused into him, using the Demonic Statue’s projection and communication abilities had become much simpler.
During the battle, Zetsu had warned him—Hyuga Fuji had pinpointed his location and was already on the move.
As for Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Obito, Orochimaru, and the rest—some had betrayed them, some had been defeated.
Ideal City was no longer under Akatsuki’s control.
Zetsu claimed he had received Madara’s final order to regroup with Nagato.
Seeing Konan’s lingering doubt, Nagato sighed and added, “If we stayed in Konoha, we’d just keep fighting their shinobi, wearing ourselves down while clearing obstacles for Hyuga Fuji.”
“…You don’t have to worry about me.”
Konan understood that Nagato was holding back for her sake. She sighed helplessly.
“I still have plenty of paper bombs left.”
Though she had used up a massive amount of them against Isshiki, she still had about a hundred million left.
However, with Ideal City lost and its production halted, replenishing them would be difficult.
From now on, she’d have to conserve her stockpile.
("Paper bombs don’t do much against me or Hyuga Fuji.")
Nagato glanced at her but chose not to argue, simply nodding in acknowledgment.
“Let’s not dwell on it. We need to regroup with Black Zetsu quickly.”
Konan was about to agree when something suddenly occurred to her.
“Wait, wasn’t Black Zetsu the only one who escaped?”
“How did he confirm that Hyuga Fuji was heading toward Konoha?”
“And wasn’t Black Zetsu always with White Zetsu?”
“You said only Black Zetsu contacted you—why wasn’t White Zetsu there?”
Nagato’s steps halted, his expression darkening.
All of Akatsuki’s members had been captured—yet somehow, Zetsu alone escaped. Was that normal?
Zetsu had never acted without White Zetsu before. Was that normal?
No. Not at all.
Nagato’s eyes narrowed.
“You and Shinichi go to our base in Bird Country and wait for me.”
“I’ll meet with Black Zetsu myself.”
Konan hesitated but knew she’d only slow him down. She gave a reluctant nod.
“Understood.”
---
Black Zetsu’s Flight
Black Zetsu moved through the terrain at top speed, his mind filled with panic.
Kaguya had already transferred her chakra into him, and both of them were on edge.
“Why is Hyuga Fuji chasing us?!”
“Why is Isshiki following us?!”
Just three kilometers behind, Hyuga Fuji followed at a steady pace.
No matter how fast Black Zetsu tried to flee, he couldn’t shake him off.
“Did my second brother realize Mother’s plan and regret releasing her?”
“Did Isshiki detect my presence?”
Zetsu and Kaguya exchanged worried thoughts.
After a moment, Zetsu suggested, “Mother, we can’t keep running.”
“We’re weaker than Hyuga Fuji. If this goes on, we’ll be caught.”
“Let me think.”
Kaguya’s mind raced.
Isshiki wanted the Ten-Tails’ power, or perhaps even her own.
To divert his attention, she needed to offer him something.
But… aside from the Ten-Tails, there was nothing left to use as bait.
If she lost the Ten-Tails, how could she return to power?
Would she be trapped on the Moon forever?
Kaguya’s frustration radiated through their chakra link.
Zetsu sensed her unwavering determination to return and proposed,
“Mother, I have an idea.”
“I’ll transfer all of the chakra you gave me back to you, and I’ll lead Hyuga Fuji away.”
“No!”
Kaguya instinctively rejected the idea but quickly fell silent.
If they couldn’t sacrifice the Ten-Tails, then Zetsu’s plan might be the only solution.
But without Zetsu’s centuries of experience, could she truly revive herself alone?
Before they could decide, the ominous presence behind them suddenly vanished.
Hyuga Fuji changed direction and left.
“What…?”
Both Zetsu and Kaguya were stunned.
Why had he stopped chasing them?
Zetsu hesitated. “Mother, what should we do?”
“It seems someone else diverted Hyuga Fuji’s attention. Forget him—we must find the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki before it’s too late.”
“…Understood.”
Zetsu resumed his journey, using Kaguya’s connection with the Ten-Tails to locate Nagato’s position.
Soon, he spotted Nagato waiting in the forest.
“Why is he here?” Zetsu frowned.
Shouldn’t Nagato be collecting Tailed Beasts?
But there was no time for doubts.
This location was just ten kilometers from where they had lost Hyuga Fuji—there was no telling when he might return.
Zetsu quickly assumed his usual demeanor and emerged from the shadows.
“Nagato, Ideal City has fallen!”
“Yume and Orochimaru betrayed us. Madara was defeated.”
“We must leave immediately—Hyuga Fuji is hunting you!”
Zetsu delivered his report in a deep, urgent tone, mimicking Black Zetsu II’s usual speech patterns.
He had no choice.
Madara had kept him a secret—to Akatsuki, there was only ever one Black Zetsu.
Now, facing a superior enemy, he had to assume that identity.
After all, Black Zetsu II was captured. No one could contradict his claims.
And no one understood Madara better than he did.
Nagato’s eyes remained cold as he scrutinized Zetsu.
“I’m already the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki. Why should I run?”
Zetsu flinched as Kaguya’s urgent thoughts flooded his mind.
He pressed on, maintaining his act.
“There’s no time! Madara’s final order was—”
“Nagato! Stay away from him—he’s fake!”
A second Black Zetsu suddenly burst from the shadows, shouting angrily:
“He’s Hyuga Fuji’s creation! I’m the real Black Zetsu!”
“???”
“???”
Nagato, who had been convinced Zetsu had betrayed him, now stared blankly at the two identical figures.
Zetsu himself was stunned.
Wait… you actually escaped?!
