59 Chapter 59 - Flytrap Guy

Deep within a cave unmarked on any map, two cloaked individuals faced each other. One rested in a cross-legged position while the other quietly watched. Both wore dark cloaks embroidered with red clouds. The individual sitting on the ground had an orange spiral mask that almost looked like a pumpkin hiding his face. The other person standing not far away had spiky green protrusions on its shoulders that looked like a venus flytrap. A half black and half white face between the two plant-like protrusions suddenly rose and looked at the cave ceiling.

Briefly, the plant-like person lowered his head and looked at the masked man with narrowed eyes. While the masked man focused on healing some internal wounds, the plant-like individual sank into the ground without saying anything.

In response, the masked individual opened his eyes, revealing a glowing red iris with four pupils. He stared at the now empty space in silence for a few moments before closing his eyes again.

…

...

...…

Elsewhere in the world, at the outskirts of the Land of Rain, a blue-haired woman wearing a similar garb to the people hiding in the cave stared quietly at a purple-haired man standing beneath a wide umbrella. Continuous rain poured down around them, turning the dirt below into an eternal mud. Singed grass below the purple-haired young-man's feet indicated his recent arrival.

"Hello, Origami Master-san. Nice to meet you in person," Jin greeted in a serious tone as his face contorted slightly due to a burning sensation from his Power Veins that had yet to settle down after arriving in this world.

"Mm," The blue-haired woman nodded. Her cold gaze focused on Jin as she processed a multitude of thoughts.

"Is it alright if I just call you Konan?" Jin probed.

In response, the woman only narrowed her eyes slightly.

To the woman's surprise, Jin suddenly frowned and turned his head. Then, in a subdued tone, he said, "Y'know, Konan, ever since I became a shinigami, I steadily realized, especially in the last few days, that my perception of life, death, and even soul has increased dramatically. It isn't perfect, but I can at least tell if something with a soul is nearby, especially a strong one."

Confused, Konan tilted her head slightly. The next moment, a heavy aura spread out from the purple-haired man. She faltered briefly as an illusory image of a blade slicing through her body startled her into action. On instinct, she narrowed her eyes and prepared a hand sign to mold chakra.

"Sorry. That wasn't directed at you," Jin apologized, briefly glancing back at her before looking away again.

Konan halted her jutsu. However, it was not only because of his apology. She also felt a sharp pain spreading into her body like tiny knives from the device that connected her to those strange people. As such, she hesitantly lowered her hands, a deep frown etched on her face. The pain disappeared the moment she dropped her hostility toward Jin.

Staring at a specific patch of grass further away, Jin channeled a large amount of magic, clapped his hands, and chanted, "Barrier Magic: Prism Blade Execution."

A massive western-style sword taller than fifty people stacked shoulder-to-shoulder with a crystalline appearance formed above that seemingly normal patch of grass before stabbing into the ground. Clumps of mud and grass exploded outward as the blade sliced into the earth.

"As a side note, I very much dislike being spied on," Jin dully commented, turning his head to look over Konan's shoulder.

Following Jin's gaze, Konan looked over her own shoulder. The next moment, she widened her eyes as a person who looked like a walking venus flytrap poked his head out of the ground like a sprouting flower.

"Haha. That was dangerous," The plant-like person said with a light chuckle. Rather, the white half of his face said it.

"Shut up for now," The black half retorted. Then, glaring at Jin, it briefly turned toward Konan and asked, "Who is this guy?"

Konan's forehead wrinkled a little. Then, she looked at Jin with a pondering gaze as though unsure how to answer.

"Just a wandering sage," Jin answered in Konan's place using a cold tone.

The black half of the flytrap-man frowned. His pure yellow eye narrowed to a slit, whereas the white half of his face raised its eyebrow.

"Wow! A sage!"

"Shut up. Don't believe him," The black half chided its white half. Then, glaring at Jin, it asked, "Whether or not that is true, why did you come here?"

Jin looked down at his phone which now had new mission parameters on it. Then, he casually answered, "I came here to stop a threat to this world from the outside… Do you plan to get in my way?"

Konan looked back and forth between the two people who glared at each other as though ready to attack each other at any moment. Although still wary of Jin, she remained standing closer to him instead of taking the side of the Zetsu guy she didn't particularly care for in the first place. Something about the guy rubbed her the wrong way, not to mention her general lack of interest in the other members of the organization aside from a certain skinny red-haired guy.

Jin and Zetsu maintained eye contact for a few seconds, but eventually, the plant-like man sank into the mud. A moment later, a full face that looked like the white half of the man popped out of the ground and said, "We'll be watching."

A katana blade stabbed the face. It immediately screamed in pain.

"Like I said before, I don't like being spied on. If you don't want to die, then keep your distance," Jin bluffed. Honestly, he had no idea how strong Zetsu actually was since the fictional Naruto works didn't make the guy's actual power level very clear.

Deep within the ground, the black Zetsu frowned. A sheen of sweat dripped from his white half as it writhed in pain.

"What the hell is this? It isn't chakra…"

Not wanting to test the waters against something that could notice him despite his Mayfly technique, he disappeared on the spot. He only left behind another white Zetsu to observe the two people from a great distance.

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Reached my 30-day writing goal, so I'll be posting 5 public chaps per week from here on out. 7 on da P@treon. Might set up some power stone goals later if I feel like I have enough time to stay ahead there.