Though Kita was curious about the strange severed arm she had discovered in the Land of Water, her abilities didn’t extend to this kind of scientific investigation. No matter how she infused it with chakra, there was no response. Any experimental attempt proved useless. Rather than a severed limb, it was more like a piece of wood. After exhausting all options, she had no choice but to package it and send it to Orochimaru. Research is better left to him anyway. She just hoped she could convince him to trade two bottles of red wine for three this time.

  As the only member of Akatsuki without a permanent partner—Kakuzu rarely botched missions. Aside from a few early mistakes as an inexperienced Akatsuki recruit, nearly ten years in the organization had left him almost fwless. Well, except for the occasional time he eliminated a partner along with a target he didn’t like. Beyond that, his efficiency was near fwless.

  But fwless didn’t mean infallible.

  The mission was simple: wipe out a gang of high-value bandits. High-value meant that among fewer than twenty bandits, four carried bounties exceeding thirty million ryo. Not necessarily because they were strong, but because bounty amounts reflected social threat, not raw power. These weren’t average bandits—they were roughly the level of Jonin. What made them formidable wasn’t just their strength, but their fwless teamwork. Many official ninja vilges had failed against them.

  Kakuzu, overestimating his own skill, stormed in alone. Four of his lives were consumed, and he barely survived. Aside from his decades-old fight with Hashirama Senju, it was the first time he’d been so badly wounded. Without a pce to properly recover, even his title of “Immortal” might have been at risk.

  Mission incomplete, Akatsuki’s credibility took a hit.

  “Be careful. These people are skilled at teamwork.”

  After gathering intel, Kakuzu cautiously warned Kita. To her, this was unusual—at eighty-four, Kakuzu considered nearly any opponent beneath him, aside from Pain.

  Skilled?

  Kakuzu shook his head, sitting up on the makeshift single bed. His bare torso was marred with chakra-stitched wounds and extensive burn marks. Four masks on his back were shattered, and even his normally reliable heart energy replenishment was cking.

  “Ordinary Jonin-level abilities, but their teamwork was fwless. I barely had an opening.”

  Underestimated them?

  Kita asked. Kakuzu hesitated before admitting the truth.

  “Partly, yes.”

  Kita nodded slightly, not intending to lecture an elder decades her senior.

  I understand. Thank you.

  Even without explicitly stating it, Kita knew Kakuzu’s warning came from a pce of camaraderie. She didn’t linger, stepping outside. Kakuzu watched the slender figure in her white-and-ink-bamboo patterned robe walk away, muttering the words of a defeated man.

  “Sorry.”

  As an external operative, it would be Kita cleaning up after Akatsuki’s failed mission.

  She waved it off, shaking her head. Don’t worry about it.

  Though she didn’t have the reforged it in hand, the one she held was serviceable. After notifying Pain, she began preparations. Few ninja earned Kakuzu’s praise.

  The basement lights bzed. A square wooden table was cluttered with scrolls and books. On the wall leaned wooden boards pstered with photo after photo of Madara, various angles and poses. Some showed Zetsu, Kisame, and Itachi. Notes, arrows drawn with marker—Kita had studied Madara extensively. Yet she ignored all that for now, heading straight to a corner shelf stacked with throwing stars, kunai, boxes of explosive tags, and neatly preserved rations.

  Though her abilities were formidable, underestimating opponents was not an option. Otherwise, she would end up like Kakuzu.

  The wooden door creaked open. Konan leaned against the wall, her soft long dress draping around her as she watched Kita prepare. It was a rare day off. Normally, Konan wouldn’t be working; she had intended to spend the day with her lover at home. But now, due to the mission, that pn was ruined. Rarely did they have an entire day together.

  “Heading out soon?” Konan asked. Kita, sealing kunai in her sleeve without looking back, gave a slight nod. Eight kunai, twelve shuriken, four explosive tags, two eight-meter steel wires, a bag of rations—enough for contingencies. She likely wouldn’t need most of it.

  Sorry… leaving you home on your day off.

  Uncommon as it was, Kita had to go on a mission today.

  Konan shook her head, stepping forward to adjust her lover’s robe. “Don’t say nonsense. There’s no other choice.” Deying by a day gave her more preparation time, but increased the mission’s difficulty. Adjusting Kita’s scarf, she added, “Even if Kakuzu underestimated them, few could push him that far. Be careful. Contact Nagato if danger arises. Understand?”

  Kita smiled, took Konan’s hand, drew her close, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

  Though this enemy bested Kakuzu, against me they won’t succeed. Don’t worry, everything’s fine.

  Indeed, Kita’s strength was considerable—even Pain would only have a seventy percent chance of winning against her. Konan’s worry was not for safety, but for the loss of a rare day together. She had pnned a luxurious meal at home, now spoiled.

  “Let’s go. Be careful on the way,” Konan said, releasing her embrace and pyfully pinching Kita’s cheek. “Don’t meet any of those Teru-Teru women this time, got it?”

  Kita ughed, nodding repeatedly.

  “Men are off-limits too!”

  She ughed again, gesturing an OK sign, and strode confidently out of the basement.

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