We're almost done, oh no... This chapter has references to violence, and...that's pretty much it. This chapter is just here to tie up loose ends. Enjoy.


Akatsuki: Occidio, Eradico

Phase 9

Recolligo

The day of the shootout in the City of Leaves, 5:05 PM. Kisame is sitting on behind the wheel of a stolen car, face-to-face with Zetsu on his left side.

Zetsu Black: The other one is wounded. I'd say it's time we had a feast. Shall we?

Zetsu White: Yes, we shall.

Kisame nudges Itachi with his elbow.

Kisame: Itachi-san, hurry, get up! We need to get out, NOW.

Itachi: I'll handle it.

Kisame: You've lost too much blood, you can't-

Itachi: I SAID I'll handle it. Get out of the way.

Kisame: If I move, that thing is gonna eat me!

Zetsu Black: We'll have our feast whether you move or not.

Zetsu White: That's true, that's true.

Kisame: Don't count on it.

Kisame grabs one of Itachi's pistols and points it at Zetsu.

Kisame: Make one false move, and you're gonna be eating bullets.

As Kisame distracts Zetsu, Itachi slips out of the car and gets behind Zetsu.

Itachi: Turn around.

Zetsu does what Itachi says and turns to face him. Itachi looks into Zetsu's eyes. Itachi's eyes are now red with black comma-shaped swirls around the pupils. He uses his eyes to hypnotize Zetsu.

Itachi: Back away from the car.

Zetsu does as Itachi says.

Itachi: You will not attack us. You will do as I tell you.

Zetsu nods slowly.

Itachi: Jonin officers and ANBU special operatives are going to come after us. You will stay here and get rid of them for us.

Zetsu (both halves): Yes. We shall comply.

Itachi: One last thing. My partner and I are part of an organization which accepts your behavior. If you join us, we will let you have many feasts.

Zetsu Black: No punishment...

Zetsu White: ...for eating humans?

Itachi: Precisely. Stay here until you receive further instruction.

Itachi gives Zetsu a cell phone. He gets back into the car with Kisame.

Itachi: Problem solved. Now... Quickly...

Kisame: Leader-san won't be happy when he hears we failed, but we can't continue if you die.

Itachi: Besides... We may not have the Kyuubi, but we have a new recruit to compensate.

4 hours later, 9:20 PM. Pein is standing in front of his desk, his arms crossed. His wife, Konan, walks into the room and stands beside him.

Konan: We should call them now.

Pein: Yes. You call Tobi, I'll call Zetsu.

Konan: I can't call Tobi, he won't listen to me.

Pein: But I need to talk to the new recruit.

Konan: You'll be able to when he comes.

Pein: I suppose so. Make sure that when you call him that you tell him you're calling in my place.

Konan: Alrighty.

Pein dials a number into his cell phone. It rings once, and is then answered.

Tobi: Is Leader-san calling him?

Pein: Yes I am. I need to speak with Madara.

About a minute of silence passes. Tobi begins to talk again, but he is now acting very different. He is now in the persona of Uchiha Madara.

Madara: Did you need something?

Pein: We've made a few changes. To add extra security, the group has adopted code names, to be used when on the field. You shall refer to yourself as Tres Cthulhu.

Madara: Lovecraft?

Pein: Pardon?

Madara: You're referring to me as one of the H.P. Lovecraft beasts.

Pein: You can blame Hidan. You haven't met him yet, but he's one of the new members. He's a bit of a smartass, but he'll be needed to achieve our goal.

Madara: Is that all?

Pein: There's more. I need you and the renegade to go to the City of Leaves, and then back here. There's another new member I want you to meet there. He also suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder. Multiple personalities.

Madara: I'm all too aware of the meaning of that disorder, Pein.

Pein: My apologies. Meet up with him there. He'll be waiting for you. Konan is speaking with him at the moment, filling him in. Also, you shall refer to him as Octo Pinhead.

Madara: Barker.

Pein: Come again?

Madara: Now you're referring to Clive Barker. This "Hidan" appears to enjoy horror fiction. He seems like a strange guy.

Pein: He's the man who brutally murdered those two females from the City of Leaves.

Madara: Oh. That guy. The actor. I would've never guessed. Is that all now?

Pein: Yes. Get to him ASAP.

Madara: One last thing.

Pein: Yes?

Madara: You're getting a bit too bossy again. You're only playing leader, remember your place.

Madara hangs up. Pein turns to his right and sees Konan at the farther end of the room, ending her call with Zetsu.

Konan: How soon can we expect them?

Pein: Sometime tomorrow, most likely. We'll see.

Present time, 12:00 AM. Zetsu emerges from the ground near the entrance to the City of Rain. True to the city's name, it is raining heavily. Zetsu opens the plant surrounding him, and Tobi jumps out.

Tobi: He thinks traveling that way is weird, Zetsu-san.

Zetsu Black: It was the fastest way to get here, according to your directions.

Zetsu White: Five days of walking is much too long.

Zetsu Black: Too long indeed.

Tobi points at Zetsu.

Tobi: It ate Deidara-senpai.

Zetsu Black: We're not that careless.

Zetsu bows down, and Deidara comes tumbling out of the plant, unconscious.

Tobi: Did it need to knock him out?

Zetsu White: He squirmed too much. We have short tempers.

Zetsu Black: If he kept it up, we would've had him for a snack.

Zetsu White: Indeed, a quick snack.

Tobi: Leader-san wouldn't like that. Leader-san would have to kill it.

Zetsu White: He kills people when angry?

Tobi is silent for a moment, and he twiddles his thumbs.

Tobi: Sometimes. It shoots them in the face. If it wants the guy to suffer, it shoots them in the limbs first. Then, it shoots them in the head. Very messy. He gets covered in blood and other stuff.

Zetsu White: You don't mind that he kills people?

Tobi: No. He knows there's lot of other things in the world. They won't care.

Zetsu Black: This leader's name is Oz, if we're not mistaken.

Zetsu White: Lenore told us.

Zetsu Black: But those aren't your real names.

Tobi: They need fake names when they're not together. He'll tell you his name when he gets back to Leader-san.

Deidara begins to stir. Zetsu notices and kicks him onto his back.

Zetsu Black: We should hurry. The renegade is waking up.

Tobi: OK. This way.

Tobi grabs Deidara and carries him on his back. The three eventually make their way to an alley. Tobi moves a garbage can, revealing a door. He knocks three times, and the door slowly opens.