"Interrogation followed by death?" Onoki suggested.

"That first part is unlikely to actually work." I interrupted. "As a materialized will, it doesn't feel pain, and it is completely incapable of not following its basic nature. Since it was created by the Juubi, just killing it outright is probably safer. We still have that other one, too."

"The intelligence gains..." Hiruzen murmured. "Yamana- No. It doesn't have a brain, does it?"

"No."

"Even if it did, forceful mind invasions aren't likely to work on a creature that would have to be over a thousand years old by now." Hiruzen shook his head. "Is there any reason to keep it around?"

"Nothing wise or usable."

"Best to go with safety, then." Hiruzen nodded. His eyes turned to Black Zetsu, still attempting to escape from my barrier. "Though it does beg the question. How, precisely, does one kill a being that lacks any vital organs?"

"Specialist tools." In the other realm, I charged the Proof of Courage with Darkness, and then threw it forwards as fast as I could. Here, I let the barrier collapse, and timed it with the summoning of the Proof of Courage and the activation of Hastega.

End result?

The Proof of Courage buried itself in Black Zetsu, spearing more than just his body. To my sight, and invisible to anybody else, I could see how it pierced both the Heart and the Soul. Perfect aim.

Disgusting.

The Proof of Courage pulsed, and the Heart and Soul broke. A low, keening wail echoed throughout the room, fading shortly.

Hmm. No reaction from the Juubi. Excellent.

"That sounded familiar." Naruto frowned.

"Orochimaru." Sasuke all but growled.

"Oh, right!" Naruto smacked his fist into his hand. He turned to look at me, lips pursed. "But, didn't you burn away his-"

"Yes."

"Neat." Naruto looked back at Zetsu. "Is he meant to be dripping like that?"

"Give it a moment." The body was already beginning to disintegrate, having lost cohesion when the Heart and Soul had broken. Now, the black material was turning into smoke and fading in a manner that was surprisingly reminiscent of the way a Heartless would die after being killed by a Keyblade.

The full process took only mere seconds. Soon, the only thing that remained was the Proof of Courage, buried in the wall.

I feel stained simply from touching that creature. A cleansing is in order.

"I still don't get why it looks like a key." Naruto said. "Seriously. Does it unlock things?"

This boy should watch his tongue.

Oh yes. "It does, actually. If you stick it in people, it'll unlock their deaths."

And so much more asides.

"You can do that with a normal weapon." Naruto pointed at me. "You don't need a giant key to do that."

Am I being insulted?

"I'd be careful to not insult it, Naruto."

Yes.

"It's a giant, fancy key. What's it going to do?"

Irreverent brat.

The Proof of Courage vibrated ominously. Naruto's eyes darted to it just in time to see it lurch out of the wall, spinning in the air. He ducked as it passed through where his forehead once was, staring at it with wide eyes.

"I'd be careful not to insult it, Naruto." I repeated as the Proof of Courage stopped just behind me, glowing slightly. "It is not something one would want to have angry at them."

He held his hands up in surrender, smiling a sheepish wary grin. "Er- sorry! No hard feelings, right?"

Hmph.

The Proof of Courage pulsed, and vanished in a burst of light a moment later as I called it back into the other dimension.

"Was that a yes?" Naruto quickly questioned me. "That was a yes, right? Please?"

"Eh." I turned away from him, towards Zetsu.

He... actually, he looked pretty bad. The side of his body that Black Zetsu had been covering was misshapen, a mass of extremely pale, deformed skin and flesh. Spikes and protrusions extended from his body, especially at the waist. He didn't really have a right arm; it was fused to his chest and leg. Even the leg itself was quite thick, unnaturally so. His mouth stretched inhumanly wide on the right side, almost to the side of his head.

Nobody would mistake him for a normal Human. And yet...

The Heart and the Soul were just too reminiscent of a Human for him to be unrelated to one.

He was also quite terrified. A terror mostly caused by the death of Black Zetsu... and subsequently, also aimed at me.

"And you..." I floated around him, examining him. "You are certainly a strange one, aren't you? Well..." I turned to Hiruzen. "Should I go get Inoichi so we can get this over and done with?"

Hiruzen nodded.

I vanished into a Corridor of Darkness, and reappeared in Konohagakure. The way back would need to be normal teleportation, as Inoichi wouldn't be safe in the Corridors. I'll start the preparation for that now, actually. Time is valuable.

Inoichi... is currently with Chouza and Shikaku. Akimichi Bar and Barbeque. Private booth. Unfortunate to interrupt, but...

"Inoichi, the Hokage needs to borrow you for a moment." I spoke, appearing in their booth. Both Chouza and Inoichi startled, their hands moving to their weapons before they caught up with the fact that it was me. "Zetsu of the Akatsuki was captured, and we need you to get everything you can from him."

Inoichi sighed, putting down his fork. "I guess we're not getting that dinner."

Chouza waved his hand. "Don't worry about it. There's always next time."

"I'm sorry, but time is of the essence." I apologized. "Do you have anything you need to get?"

"No." Inoichi shook his head, standing up. "Let's go."

"Understood." I floated a bit closer. Finished preparing the magic just in time, too. "We're going."

For a brief moment, space twisted. It was probably the longest ranged spatial teleport I'd ever done, though, so that wasn't surprising.

But, it lasted only a moment. A pop of displaced air heralded our arrival. Inoichi quickly scanned the room, bowing to Hiruzen as he did. "Hokage-sama."

"I trust you're aware of the situation?" He asked.

Inoichi turned towards Zetsu, still entangled in wires. "I'm fairly certain I have it figured out. By your leave?"

He nodded, and Inoichi stepped forwards, hand extending.

Zetsu... began to gather his Chakra, circulating it in his body.

Well, can't have that. I launched several needles of Darkness at him, piercing his body from every direction. Some went into his spine, some went into his arm, and some went through his legs. All of them pierced the release points of his Chakra Circulatory System; the primary and secondary Tenketsu.

The piercing alone would have damaged his Chakra Control significantly. The fact that it was My Darkness that pierced it allowed me to run further interference, more or less making it impossible for him to control his Chakra. "Don't think I don't see you gathering your Chakra there, Zetsu."

He let out a choked sound, his body slumping. My needles began to glow green as I channelled a low-power Cure through him.

It would have been troublesome if he'd just died after all this effort.

Inoichi's hand halted just above his head, and he raised an eyebrow at me. A wordless question.

"You're clear."

He nodded, and closed his eyes. "Psycho Mind Transmission." He grabbed Zetsu's forehead, breathing in.

"So, tell me." He murmured. "Who are you?"