Sakura let out a cold, derisive snort.
"Pakkun said he couldn't pick up even a trace of Naruto's scent. It's as if he doesn't exist at all, or maybe his smell has changed, which is why we can't find him."
That was strange. How on earth could something change Naruto's scent so much that even Kakashi's ninja hounds couldn't track him?
"Also," Sakura continued, "Kakashi-sensei once said that Naruto will definitely go looking for Sasuke. So if we find Sasuke first, we'll find Naruto too."
Suddenly, Pakkun became alert and glanced around.
"I smell Sasuke," Pakkun announced. "He's nearby!"
"Where?" Sakura asked excitedly. "Can we find him?"
"Of course," Pakkun replied. "Follow me."
Sakura and Tayuya both got ready for battle. At this point, their clearest lead was Sasuke. Whether Tayuya wanted to find Naruto or not, she didn't have any other choice now.
The two of them moved through the crowded streets. People were rushing home now because it looked like rain.
"He's directly above us!" Pakkun barked. "Right here—exactly here!"
Sakura barely noticed her, but Tayuya's eyes widened in shock when a red-haired girl wearing glasses passed by them.
The girl recognized Tayuya too, then immediately turned and ran away.
Tayuya gave a sly grin and grabbed Sakura's arm.
"I know that brat," she sneered. "Come on, pinky. That girl knows where your Uchiha is!"
"What?" Sakura asked as she ran after Tayuya. "You know her? How do you know her?"
While running, Tayuya explained,
"That brat was working with the bastard who branded me with this cursed seal. I survived, and that man pulled me out of the hideout. When my homeland was destroyed, he gave me the strength to rise above it. Survive by rising above others, or fade into obscurity—that's my life. I must make that brat pay and let her taste my power. Hurry up! Don't let her escape!"
As she spoke, she pulled out her flute.
******
##Naruto vs Deidara##
Deidara staggered to his feet, bleeding from the wounds caused by Naruto's explosive tags and the scrapes from his fall. Fortunately, the hardened clay beneath him cushioned his fall just enough to save his life. Wincing in pain, he let out a mocking laugh.
"Got him... Finally made that punk pay."
Limping badly, Deidara stumbled toward the riverbank where Naruto lay still, face-down on the rocks beside the river, surrounded by a growing pool of blood.
I hope he isn't dead. If he'd accidentally killed the Jinchuriki and ruined the plan, Leader would have him executed.
Naruto didn't move, but Deidara could feel the agony radiating from his body.
But as long as he was alive and hadn't drowned, he'd pull through. The Nine-Tails would heal all his injuries.
"Come out, you Nine-Tails brat." Deidara reached out to grab Naruto as he approached. "I'll drag you to meet Leader while you're unconscious. I'm sure he's dying to see you—he'll be absolutely delighted."
"You can rot in hell waiting for him. He'll come looking for you soon enough."
Before Deidara could react, he heard Naruto shout:
[Wind Release: Wind God's Fist!]
A powerful blow suddenly struck Deidara from behind. He was sent flying across the river and crashed heavily onto the opposite bank.
The Naruto on the river's surface burst into a puff of smoke and vanished.
On a large boulder within the canyon, a hooded cloak slipped off, revealing Naruto's figure. He had used the special inner layer of his traveling cloak to perform an invisibility jutsu. It was a basic, low-level E-ranked ninjutsu.
Deidara lay writhing in pain on that rock. He was sure his spine was shattered—it felt like it was on fire now.
"H-He's still standing?! That kid's a monster…"
His attention turned back to Naruto.
He and his shadow clones were equally battered. His Root uniform was torn to shreds, its top half scorched and riddled with wounds. Blood trickled steadily down his right cheek.
Naruto snarled furiously, his teeth gritted—whether from fury or agony, Deidara couldn't say. He pressed his hand against his bleeding face, trying to stem the bleeding like someone plugging a leak.
"I… I'll kill you."
Deidara looked at the furious Naruto and gave a mocking laugh.
"Come on then, show me what you've got. I'll blow you into pieces. Let's see how you survive this time."
He reached for his clay pouch, but it was gone—blown away by the earlier blast.
Realizing he had run out of ammunition, Deidara watched as Naruto created two shadow clones. The real Naruto extended his right arm and began forming a Rasengan.
Electric surges raced through his arm as his two clones grabbed it.
The Rasengan crackled with lightning as it condensed into a fist-sized sphere.
The high-pitched buzz grew deafening, even causing ripples across the river water in front of Naruto.
Gripping his left fist, Naruto's entire arm glowed with golden light. The buzzing intensified further, and the river water started churning violently.
A chill of dread ran through Deidara as he tried to move—but found himself completely immobilized.
"What's going on?"
"Can't move?" Naruto asked, still holding his right eye as his technique neared completion. "Good. I didn't use this jutsu just for fun. I've infused Lightning Release chakra into my Rasengan, which is now pulsing with electric energy outward. You're too close—you're getting hit by continuous shocks. Your body is paralyzed. Given your terrible condition right now, you can't move at all. You're at my complete mercy."
"N-No!"
Deidara screamed in his mind, frantic with fear. He had used every technique at his disposal, yet remained completely immobilized. "Is he actually going to—"
With one hand, Naruto's Shadow Clone steadied his arm and made the final preparations.
"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei. Farewell, Deidara. [Lightning Release: Rasengan!]"
Naruto lowered his hand from his right eye, releasing all the energy accumulated in his arm into a swirling sphere.
As this blue Rasengan left Naruto's palm, it crackled with arcs of high-voltage electricity.
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