Chapter 455: Kill Switch
Buried deep within the jagged mountain ranges and bordering the Land of Earth, far from the prying eyes of the Five Great Nations, was an undisclosed cavern.
The only light came from a few flickering torches mounted on the walls.
Jasper stood still, his usual arrogance tempered by the weight of the moment. Before him, the ground rippled like water. Two large, flytrap-like extensions emerged from the soil, followed by the black and white visage of Zetsu.
"The preparations are complete," Black Zetsu rasped.
"Finally," Jasper muttered, crossing his arms. He tried to project boredom, but that was far from the truth. This wasn’t a game anymore. The safety nets of the Leaf Village were gone, and he was standing in the dark with monsters. "I was waiting here for days."
"You’re quite impatient," White Zetsu chirped. "Most your age would never get this opportunity."
"Just get on with it," Jasper replied.
Zetsu rose fully from the ground, holding a bundle of black fabric. He extended a pale, vine-like arm, offering the garment to Jasper.
Jasper took it and unfolded it, letting the long, black cloak cascade down. The red clouds stitched onto the darkness were the iconic robe of the Akatsuki.
He slipped his arms through the sleeves and zipped it up until the high collar obscured the lower half of his face. It fit perfectly.
"And this," White Zetsu said, holding out a small, porcelain pot and a brush. "The ritual."
Jasper extended his hands. He watched as Zetsu carefully painted his fingernails a deep, bruised purple. It was a strange tradition, almost vain for a group of S-rank murderers. But Jasper knew the significance of uniformity in a group of individualistic sociopaths.