Naruto kept trying to intercept Deidara mid-air, but eventually, he grew tired of this chasing game.
"It's time I try something new," Naruto said, tearing off the bandages on his left arm and revealing a series of sealing runes beneath. In a puff of smoke, he summoned a Fuma Shuriken and hurled it straight toward Deidara.
Deidara sneered slightly as he watched the spinning weapon fly toward him.
"You idiot, you think a simple shuriken like that can hit me? Do you even know who you're fighting? Show me some real skill already!"
[Wind Release: Gale Palm!]
Before he could finish speaking, a powerful gust erupted from Naruto's direction, propelling the weapon forward—but that wasn't all.
The shuriken seemed to split apart—one flew in one direction, while another shot toward Deidara even faster.
It looked like it was being controlled—just like his dragon-shaped bombs, guided by the wind.
"What?" Deidara thought to himself, watching the weapon approach.
"They're Shadow Clones and Transformation Jutsu, you fool!"
As the shuriken neared Deidara, it suddenly exploded into a cloud of smoke, transforming into a Naruto holding a lit Explosive Tag.
"How's that for style?" Naruto smirked coldly. "Art is an Explosion!" With those words, a massive explosion erupted in midair.
From the smoke, Deidara and his clay dragon plummeted, his hooded cloak gone, revealing the black short-sleeved shirt he wore underneath.
"This lunatic... unbelievable, but this isn't over yet!" Anger burned inside him as he reached for more clay.
"I love combining Shadow Clones with Transformation Jutsu!" Deidara heard Naruto shout from above him as Naruto dropped from the sky, his right hand swinging back.
[Rasengan!]
Grabbing Deidara's neck from behind, Naruto pressed the swirling blue chakra sphere against his back.
Then, he drove his arm straight through Deidara's chest, ensuring certain death, as his arm had pierced clean through the enemy's body.
But when he tried pulling his arm back, he found it stuck. At the same time, Deidara's body began to lose its color, turning grayish-white.
"Are you kidding me—"
From a falling piece of clay, Deidara emerged once more. He formed a hand seal, covered in bruises and burns, yet wearing a victorious grin across his face.
"I win."
Naruto's clone exploded midair, and the real Naruto became trapped within the blast.
******
Sai and Maki waited beside a rocky outcrop for Naruto's arrival.
They had quickly reached their destination.
Of course, flying was the fastest way to travel, though it risked detection by enemies.
They arrived slightly earlier than Naruto. Now, all they could do was wait for their fearless leader to return so they could coordinate the next phase of their search plan.
"Whoa, you really fly just like Senior Deidara!"
The two turned around, looking toward the rocky ledge where they had been resting. A man wearing an orange mask with a spiral pattern sat atop it, swinging his legs casually.
"But I'll bet his art is better than yours."
Sai and Maki immediately assumed a fighting stance, drawing their tantōs and preparing for battle.
Sai's eyes narrowed.
"Maki, go find Naruto-senpai."
"Why?"
She asked, ready to attack the strange figure waving at them.
"That black hooded cloak of his has red clouds on it," Sai replied. "Naruto-senpai told us what that symbol means, right?"
"Then shouldn't we both fight him together?" Maki questioned.
Both Naruto and Sai had told her how powerful each member of Akatsuki was—they were some of the strongest ninja in history.
Sai shook his head.
"They always work in pairs. If he's here, where's the other one?"
Maki gasped sharply, her eyes widening.
"With Naruto-senpai. That's why you need to hurry and find him to make sure he's okay."
"I won't let you get away with that!" Tobi jumped down from the rock, landing heavily before pressing both hands to the ground. "[Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique]!"
Maki tried to flee, but suddenly Tobi appeared right in front of her.
"Hey there!"
"He's even faster than Naruto-senpai!" Maki exclaimed beside Sai.
Sai agreed with her observation.
"What do we do now, Senior Sai?"
"We need to get you through, Maki." Sai pulled out his scroll.
"[Super Beast Imitating Drawing]!"
A pack of ink lions burst forth from Sai's scroll, charging straight at Tobi.
Tobi yelped in surprise and dove underground again.
Sai then painted a bird and helped Maki onto it, guiding the ink bird into flight.
"Hurry and find Naruto-senpai!"
"Wait, I can't fly!" Maki shouted desperately as the ink bird carried her skyward.
As the ink bird carried Maki into the sky, Sai redirected his focus toward Tobi, who had just emerged from underground.
"That's pretty rude. The girl didn't even get to say goodbye to me, and I don't even know her name. Hey, what's your name? Mine's Tobi."
"Sai," Sai responded, readying himself for another fight. "Naruto-senpai once said that when meeting someone new, you should introduce yourself first—but that rule doesn't apply to people I'm about to kill."
******
## Near a village in the Land of Fire ##
After tracking the scent of Naruto and Sasuke, the Konoha team split up.
Kiba and Akamaru went off alone in search of Naruto, while Kakashi also worked solo, though his target was Sasuke. He believed that if he found Sasuke first, he would be able to help Naruto complete his mission, because he trusted that Naruto would definitely find Sasuke.
Shikamaru and Neji Hyuga also separated.
Now, only Sakura and Tayuya remained together—and clearly, their goals didn't align.
Pakkun was leading the group.
They were moving fast—the sky heavy with the threat of rain. Once it started, Naruto's and Sasuke's scents would be washed away completely. At that point, finding Naruto would become extremely difficult, and tracking down Sasuke practically impossible.
The small puppy ran ahead of them, while the two girls appeared to be arguing.
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