The thing Kakuzu feared most had finally happened.
Muramasa was completely out of control.
Kakuzu had assumed that Muramasa had put up with his selfish behavior earlier because he had accepted the reality of their situation.
He never expected the man had simply been waiting for this moment.
"The leader's plan hasn't officially begun yet — I won't let you act recklessly!"
Kakuzu's face darkened, and he was fully prepared to fight.
"Reckless? If I wasn't drawn to the grand plan, I never would have joined you lot in the first place. Instead, I'm stuck running around like a corporate wage slave, working as a mercenary just to earn money. What do you take me for?"
"Since our leader hasn't made up his mind yet… I'll be the one to draw back the curtain on the new era!"
"Make your choice now. Either help me capture the Two‑Tails… or fight me here and now to the death."
"A friendly warning: if we fight right here, the Hidden Cloud will discover us in no time. Neither of us will be getting away."
Muramasa had finally shown his true colors.
Why had someone who hated working for others so much agreed to come here with Kakuzu? Why had he endured Kakuzu's side‑job profiteering earlier?
All for this moment.
Kakuzu knew he had no choice — unless he could kill Muramasa instantly.
But if he could do that… why would he have waited until now? He would have struck long ago.
"You will explain this to the leader yourself. I hope you are ready to face the wrath of a god."
Kakuzu snorted coldly and stepped toward the underground chamber.
Muramasa couldn't care less about threats — he feared no one.
As long as he brought back the Two‑Tails Jinchūriki, everything would be justified.
And if the Akatsuki leader still tried to hold him accountable? Then don't blame him for taking over.
---
The sounds of fierce combat echoed within the chamber, but were contained and did not travel far.
It was a fight to the death. Only the victor had the right to walk out.
Time passed. Eventually the chamber — nearly shaken apart — fell still.
Kakuzu and Muramasa lay on the ground, battered and gasping for breath.
The Two‑Tails Jinchūriki was pinned to the wall by blades, her body soaked in blood.
To capture her alive, both men had paid a heavy price.
Kakuzu had three of his hearts destroyed. Muramasa had been burned to death several times over.
Yet strangely, Muramasa seemed immortal. No matter how badly he was burned or injured, he wouldn't die.
His regenerative powers were incredible — wounds healed visibly, returning him to perfect shape instantly.
And his swordsmanship was exquisite. Several times during the fight, he had nearly cut her in two.
If not for the order to take her alive, the whole thing would have been much easier.
"Let's go. It won't be long before they track us here."
Muramasa pulled his cursed blade free, slung the unconscious Jinchūriki over his shoulder, and took the lead.
Kakuzu was furious. He narrowed his eyes and thought about attacking… but decided against it.
Muramasa already knew Kakuzu's secret of immortality. Yet Kakuzu still knew nothing about Muramasa's true nature.
Unless he found Muramasa's weakness, fighting him now would likely lead to disaster.
Shortly after they left, others finally arrived to investigate.
---
BOOM!
The Raikage smashed his desk to splinters with one punch.
"Find them! I want them found!"
The stolen corpses were a minor issue. But having a Jinchūriki snatched away right under his nose? That was a direct slap to his face.
No matter the cost — he would find them, rescue her, and tear those responsible limb from limb.
His teeth were nearly ground to dust from rage.
But every witness had been killed by Kakuzu and Muramasa. Searching an entire nation without a single clue was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Unsurprisingly, the Hidden Cloud's efforts ended in failure.
---
A few days later, Kakuzu and Muramasa first visited the Underground Exchange and sold every corpse they had collected.
Only then did they present Han's body and officially complete their assigned mission.
After waiting a day, the Crystal Heart was delivered — along with a massive cash reward.
Kakuzu's grim old face lit up with such greedy delight that Muramasa felt physically sick just looking at him.
But back at base, when they reported in… Nagato was utterly confused.
I sent you to steal a corpse from the Hidden Mist — not capture the Two‑Tails Jinchūriki!
Send her back?
Fat chance!
Now that she was in their hands, there was no way to return her.
But keeping her meant the plan had to begin much earlier than intended.
Nagato thought for a moment and made his decision.
If fate wanted it this way… so be it.
He called everyone together for another meeting, and to extract the Two‑Tails — no point letting it go to waste.
"Whoa! Good to see you both still alive!" Deidara chimed in the moment his projection appeared, dripping with sarcasm.
Others were more concerned: why another full assembly so soon after the last?
Something big must have happened.
Pain wasted no words.
"Kakuzu and Muramasa completed their last mission… and along the way, captured the Two‑Tails Jinchūriki."
Every eye turned toward the only two members physically present — Kakuzu, Muramasa, and the unconscious woman on the floor.
"Why start capturing Tailed Beasts already? We weren't ready!" Deidara demanded. He hated that someone else had taken the spotlight — especially someone he despised.
"The reasons are no longer important," Pain replied.
"We gather now to extract the Two‑Tails' chakra and feed it into the Gedo Statue. The process will take many days; find safe places to wait in the meantime."
"And since the Two‑Tails is secured… the plan officially begins now."
"In time, every team will receive their targets."
The sudden change caught them off guard — but mostly, it sparked excitement.
Nearly everyone here lived for chaos and great deeds. Who wanted to keep working odd jobs just for money?
Probably only Kakuzu was unhappy. But there was nothing he could do.
For now, Muramasa's achievements outweighed his disobedience.
The leader had chosen to overlook his recklessness — and instead accelerate the Tailed Beast plan.
"He's probably feeling very pleased with himself right now."
Kakuzu glanced at Muramasa, frowning, but said nothing.
Soon after, Akatsuki activated the Gedo Statue and began extracting the Two‑Tails' chakra.
____________________
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