Kawasaki's contemptuous gaze infuriated Deidara.
"Hmph! I only fell for your trick last time. I won't lose so easily again!"
Kawasaki remained perfectly still. "Don't worry, I won't use genjutsu this time."
Deidara scoffed and flexed his wrists slightly. The three mouths on his body began to chew clay, mixing it to the perfect consistency. They were still some distance from their destination, and with few scouts in the area, it was the perfect place to make a move.
A lump of clay emerged from the mouth on his palm. With a quick knead, it took the shape of a bird. He tossed it into the air, and upon leaving his hand, it expanded into a giant avian creature. Deidara leaped onto its back.
Seeing that Kawasaki still hadn't moved, he grew angry. "Kawasaki, you'll regret looking down on me!"
Kawasaki simply yawned. "Hurry it up. I'm getting impatient."
Deidara snorted again, his mouths chewing more clay. He spat out another lump and, with both hands, molded the material into a swarm of tiny spiders. The giant bird flapped its wings, ascending into the sky. From above, Deidara scattered the spiders, which rained down on the ground below.
With a wave of his hands, Deidara yelled.
"Katsu!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
A chain of explosions erupted, one after another, kicking up a massive cloud of dust. Without even waiting to see the result, Deidara immediately began crafting more clay bombs. It would be ridiculous if the head of the Uchiha clan was killed so easily. He worked quickly, swiftly forming a clay clone of himself. His real body, meanwhile, merged into the giant clay bird.
When the dust settled, Kawasaki was standing amidst the devastation, enveloped by a golden skeletal frame. He looked up to see Deidara seemingly preparing another bomb.
Kawasaki formed a series of hand signs.
"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"
Opening his mouth, Kawasaki unleashed a blade of pressurized water that shot upward, cleanly slicing off the giant bird's wings. The creature wobbled and began to plummet from the sky. Deidara leaped from its back in mid-air, tossing two bird bombs and two grasshopper bombs, all of which Kawasaki easily dodged.
A slight smile played on Kawasaki's lips. "Deidara, I don't approve of this kind of art."
"I'll show you my ultimate art, un!" Deidara snarled, his face contorted with rage. He stomped his foot, and his body began to swell. "Art is an explosion! Katsu!"
But as Deidara's clone began to bloat, Kawasaki had already activated his Mangekyo Sharingan. He knew this move well—it was Deidara's self-destructing clone. Anyone else might have been fooled, but Kawasaki saw through it instantly. If he focused on the clone, the real Deidara would escape. His Mangekyo Sharingan's perception was incredibly sharp, and he had noticed that Deidara hadn't performed the hand signs for the Hidden Mole Jutsu during the self-destruction sequence.
This meant Deidara had swapped his real body with the clone even earlier.
Kawasaki's eyes narrowed as he instantly recalled the giant clay bird he had just shot down.
Just before the clone detonated, the real Deidara had slipped out of the fallen bird's clay body. He immediately used the Earth Style: Hidden Mole Jutsu to burrow underground and began to move away stealthily.
That was right—his plan was to escape. He had never intended to fall for Kawasaki's bait. After all, this was the head of a clan; he knew he was no match for him right now. Retreat was the wisest course of action. Though he didn't know why Kawasaki had brought him out here, he was sure it was for nothing good.
At that moment, the clone swelled to its limit and erupted.
BOOM!
A colossal fireball and shockwave expanded in all directions. The blast tore through the nearby trees and scorched the earth, leaving the area a ravaged wasteland. Trees on the periphery were uprooted and flung aside. The entire forest trembled, and the tremor was felt for several kilometers.
Meanwhile, on the edge of the Land of Fire, over a hundred figures were quietly converging on the Four Nations Road. This group was none other than the Uchiha clan members who had evacuated from the Sound Village. Though they had not been in combat recently, their mysterious disappearance was a key part of Kawasaki's plan. They had been lying low on the border of the Land of Fire, ensuring they were not detected by any faction, especially Konoha's spies.
With Shisui and Itachi absent, the group was led by the sixty-year-old Third Elder, Takuya. Despite his age and lack of recent combat, his skills from his youth remained, allowing him to keep pace with the rest of the clan. After receiving Kawasaki's message, Elder Takuya had immediately led the clan to rendezvous with him. They had traveled openly, deliberately allowing the border patrols to spot the Uchiha clan's movements.
Their route was clear: the main road connecting the border to the Hidden Stone. The road itself was originally nameless. To its left was the Land of Grass, to its right the Land of Waterfalls. Behind it lay the Land of Fire, and ahead was the Land of Earth. This small, unincorporated territory was a hub for spies from all nations to exchange information, so news traveled fast. Over time, it had come to be known as the Four Nations Road.
This path was the very route the Hidden Stone would have to take to attack the Hidden Cloud, and it was also the location Kawasaki had chosen to meet with Onoki.
Just as Deidara's clone exploded, the Uchiha clan happened to be nearby. The violent blast drew the attention of every Uchiha. In the distance, at the epicenter of the explosion, a shining golden Susanoo manifested.
Elder Takuya's face lit up with joy. "It's the Patriarch! Quicken your pace! We must rendezvous with the Patriarch!"
The other Uchiha looked on with reverence at the towering, majestic Susanoo. It was a sight that embodied the dreams of every clan member.
Deidara poked his head out of the ground to survey the result of his explosion. To his shock, a golden giant stood in the center of the blast crater under the dark night sky. It was a fifty-meter-tall Susanoo, complete with flesh and blood, and clad in Tengu armor. Unlike Itachi's, Kawasaki's Tengu form was a complete, full-body manifestation. The moonlight cast a hazy glow upon the titan.
From within the Susanoo, Kawasaki's gaze swept the area and immediately locked onto Deidara's head emerging from the earth.
"Deidara, your clay explosion art ends here."
"Damn it!" Deidara climbed out of the ground, his mouth already chewing new clay. He would not admit defeat so easily. He spat out large amounts of clay from the mouths on his hands, and two crude clay puppets formed on the ground. They staggered forward, running toward Kawasaki.
"Let me show you the clay puppets I learned from Master Sasori, un!"
Seeing the two puppets, Kawasaki's eyes lit up. The technique was quite interesting. In theory, if Deidara had enough chakra, he could create an infinite number of them. Curious, he decided to see just how many Deidara could make.
Kawasaki dismissed his Susanoo, drew his sword, and charged at the two clay puppets. Their taijutsu was mediocre, at least in his eyes. Without using any ninjutsu, he swung his sword twice. The two clay puppets were instantly sliced into four pieces and fell to the ground.
Deidara spat out clay threads from the mouths on his hands, connecting them to the puppet fragments on the ground. The pieces immediately began to contort and reshape themselves into a variety of smaller objects. Every piece of clay Kawasaki had severed became a new creation once Deidara connected a fresh thread.
Kawasaki had to applaud Deidara's imagination; it was certainly creative. He noticed that even when the clay was cut into insect-sized pieces, Deidara could still control them with ease. It seemed Deidara truly had a talent for puppetry.
The clay pieces leaped about on the ground, and once they latched onto a target, they were difficult to remove. This was because...
Seeing the number of clay pieces increasing, Kawasaki feigned carelessness and allowed himself to be swarmed. The moment the first piece of clay landed on him, countless others followed suit. They gradually softened and fused together, completely encasing Kawasaki.
"Explosions are art, hah!"
BOOM! Another massive explosion rocked the forest.
Deidara could barely contain his excitement. Was the head of the Uchiha clan really going to fall at his hands?
But then, the giant Susanoo manifested once more. Kawasaki stood within it, completely unscathed. The explosion had not harmed him in the slightest.
"Damn it, is the Susanoo's defense really that strong, un!" Witnessing Kawasaki's complete immunity, Deidara felt a wave of helplessness and decided to retreat. The small mouth on his hand began chewing again, and he fashioned a massive, bird-shaped piece of clay. "I'll be back when I've prepared even stronger clay, un!"
Just as Kawasaki was about to act, he seemed to sense something and stopped, even dismissing his Susanoo.
Deidara leaped onto the giant clay bird, preparing to take flight. But suddenly, a large net fell from the sky, blanketing him from head to toe. The net was incredibly heavy, pinning him to the ground.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Sounds of movement echoed through the trees as countless Uchiha clan members rushed out from the dense forest. In an instant, they had Deidara completely surrounded. Leading the group was Elder Takuya, who stepped forward and bowed to Kawasaki. "Patriarch!"
The other Uchiha followed suit, greeting their leader with respect. Kawasaki waved his hand, and the clan fell silent.
He walked over to the netted Deidara. "Deidara, what do you think? I told you your clay explosion art is too limited."
Deidara struggled violently, his voice defiant. "Once I develop a stronger bomb, I'll definitely blast through your Susanoo, un!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Kawasaki shook his head, clicking his tongue. "You couldn't beat me even without the Susanoo."
"Impossible! Without the Susanoo, you can't escape my explosions!"
Kawasaki stroked his chin. "How about this? I'll have an Uchiha who hasn't awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan fight you. If you can't even beat him, you have to admit your clay explosion art is too limited. Care to try?"
Deidara fell into thought.
Kawasaki continued to taunt him with a grin. "Don't tell me... don't tell me you don't believe in your own art of explosion?"
Deidara bristled at the mockery. "Of course I do! Explosions are art! I'll take the challenge, un!"
"Release him," Kawasaki ordered with a wave of his hand. Though the other Uchiha were confused, they followed their patriarch's command without question, quickly undoing the net restraining Deidara.
"Deidara, you must be low on clay bombs by now. Do you need to prepare some more?"
Deidara checked the pouch at his waist and found it nearly empty. "Hmph!" He sneered, taking out the storage scroll Kawasaki had returned to him. He unsealed it and retrieved a large quantity of clay. However, this clay wasn't ready to use; it still needed to be mixed and proportioned before it could be detonated.
While Deidara was busy preparing his clay, Kawasaki took the opportunity to check on his clan's progress. He confirmed that Takuya had executed his orders perfectly, ensuring that everyone on the border knew the Uchiha clan was heading this way. They were now close to the rendezvous point with Onoki. He had to deal with Deidara quickly and bring him along to maximize their leverage.
Kawasaki calculated the time and considered the current situation on the Land of Water battlefield. He first summoned a crow, attached a scroll containing instructions for Itachi and Shisui, and sent it on its way. Then, he turned to Takuya.
"Third Elder, you're skilled with Ninja Cat summoning, correct?"
"Yes, Patriarch. What are your orders?"
Kawasaki pondered for a moment. "Can you use a Reverse Summoning to bring Yougetsu here?"
"No problem," Takuya replied. "Kitsuritsumaru can handle it." The elder bit his thumb. "Summoning Jutsu!"
In a puff of smoke, a fat orange ninja cat appeared. It looked fierce, with a patch over one of its eyes. "Takuya, it's been a while since you bought me dried fish, meow." Its voice was deep, clearly that of an older cat.
Takuya chuckled apologetically. "My apologies, Kitsuritsumaru. I've been busy with missions lately. I'll be sure to make it up to you when I get back."
"What did you call me for?" Kitsuritsumaru nodded, a satisfied look on its face.
"I need you to summon Yougetsu here. The Patriarch requires his assistance."
Kitsuritsumaru agreed. Standing on its hind legs, it bit its paw and began to form hand signs. Though its paws were chubby, they were surprisingly nimble, forming each seal with perfect clarity and precision. Among summoning animals, those with long enough digits could perform hand signs; otherwise, they had to rely on summoning circles.
"Reverse Summoning Jutsu!" With a loud poof and a cloud of smoke, Yougetsu, who had been on the battlefield in the Land of Water, was summoned to their location.
Having completed the summoning, Kitsuritsumaru looked tired. "Takuya, don't forget my dried fish." With that, it vanished in a puff of smoke.
Yougetsu stood there stunned for a moment. Just a second ago, he had been talking with the two Jinchuriki from the Hidden Cloud. Now, he was here.
"Yougetsu, report on the situation in the Land of Water," Kawasaki's voice cut through his confusion. Yougetsu snapped to attention, realizing he had been reverse summoned. He immediately began to describe the details of the battlefield.
Just moments earlier, at the Hidden Cloud's base on Tsuzawa Island in the Land of Water.
Having received a message from the Fourth Raikage, a recovered Killer Bee, along with a still-healing Yugito Nii, had come to thank the Uchiha.
"Yo! My dudes, thanks for the save, you hear! That woulda been a disaster, you fools, you knaves!" The final strike from the Tate Eboshi had left several holes in Killer Bee's body, instantly neutralizing him and poisoning him. If Itachi hadn't arrived in time, Bee might have been captured. He was a crucial part of their forces against the Hidden Mist; his capture would have meant a total loss for the Cloud.
Itachi and Shisui found Killer Bee's mode of communication somewhat jarring and looked on with a hint of helplessness. Yougetsu stepped in to respond. "We are allies. It was nothing. As long as the Uchiha are here, your safety is our responsibility." He spoke with a face full of pride, honored by the trust the Hidden Cloud placed in the Uchiha.
Beside them, Yugito's face was still pale. Her injury was the most peculiar. There were no external wounds, but her internal organs seemed to have suffered heavy damage. The Hidden Cloud's medical ninja were at a loss. As a Jinchuriki, she possessed incredible healing abilities, but her recovery was still slow, a testament to the strange power of the curse jutsu used against her.
She recalled how, when they first arrived on the island, she had been so certain they wouldn't need the Uchiha's help, only to have her words thrown back in her face shortly after. Though she felt a little embarrassed, they had saved her life, and gratitude was necessary.
"Um... Yougetsu, thank you and Shisui for saving me."
Seeing the normally proud Yugito thank him so humbly filled Yougetsu with immense satisfaction.
"Ahahaha, it's nothing! What are allies for, after all..."
Poof!
Before he could finish his sentence, Yougetsu vanished on the spot. Everyone was momentarily stunned before they realized what had happened—Reverse Summoning Jutsu.
While the Hidden Cloud ninja were still processing the situation, Shisui summoned a crow. "Caw! Caw! Caw!" He took the intelligence scroll from the summoning animal, read it, and then passed it to Itachi.
Seeing the focused gazes of the Cloud ninja, Shisui's expression turned grave. "This is bad. The Hidden Mist's tsunami strategy has exposed the location and scale of your reinforcements." He continued, "Konoha has granted the Hidden Stone's request for passage. The Stone has already dispatched their forces and plans to cut through the Land of Fire to launch a surprise attack on your homeland."
Though Killer Bee's injuries weren't fully healed, it didn't stop him from rapping. "Those Hidden Stone bastards, pickin' a time like this, the worst! They're fools, they're cursed!"
Shisui shook his head. "Don't worry. Our Patriarch has already departed personally and is leading our clan members to intercept the Hidden Stone on the border. If the battle there becomes too intense, Itachi and I may be recalled to assist."
"We expect the Hidden Mist to increase their offensive here," he warned. "You must be on your guard."
The faces of Killer Bee and Yugito turned grim. The Hidden Stone had always been the biggest variable in the war. The core of Kawasaki's deal with the Hidden Cloud was that he would be responsible for holding them back. Everything had been going smoothly until now. Even the powerful Akatsuki members hired by the Mist had been defeated one by one by the Uchiha.
However, the Mist's tsunami tactic had delayed the Cloud's reinforcements, and now both of their Jinchuriki were injured. For the Stone to attack the Cloud's homeland at this juncture meant Kawasaki would surely have to pull his two Mangekyo users to the new front. They had to be wary of the Hidden Cloud, but also of a potential alliance between Konoha and the Hidden Stone.
This cascade of events meant the two injured Jinchuriki of the Hidden Cloud would have to face the Hidden Mist's counterattack alone.