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Deidara stared at the three intruders, his brow furrowed in thought. The grotesque figure in the center was unfamiliar to him, but the two on either side seemed vaguely familiar, as if he had encountered them somewhere before—though the memory was hazy.
Although Deidara couldn't recall their names, it was clear that these three knew who he was. Their arrival here wasn't coincidental; they had come specifically for him. And in the ninja world, these three were infamous figures whose names struck fear into the hearts of many.
The towering shark-faced man on the right was Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and wielder of the legendary Samehada. A former S-rank missing-nin from Kirigakure, Kisame's reputation preceded him. In the center crouched Sasori of the Red Sand, a prodigious puppet master and former S-rank missing-nin from Sunagakure. On the left stood the young yet deadly Uchiha Itachi, the prodigy responsible for the massacre of the Uchiha clan two years prior. Like the others, he was an S-rank missing-nin from Konohagakure.
Each of them exuded an aura of danger, their power undeniable. That all three had come together for Deidara could only mean trouble. Standing motionless behind him, they radiated an oppressive presence that sent chills down his spine.
Finally, Uchiha Itachi broke the silence with his calm, emotionless voice. "You are Deidara, correct? We represent our organization, Akatsuki, and have come to extend an invitation for you to join us. We hope you will come willingly."
However, Deidara's reaction was far from subdued. Rising to his feet, he glared at the trio with obvious irritation. "Akatsuki? Never heard of it! This is my place, so get out of here! Don't interfere with my appreciation of art!!! Hmm!"
Kisame smirked, his sharp teeth glinting menacingly. "Just as Zetsu said—this guy isn't going to cooperate easily." Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi remained impassive, seemingly unfazed by Deidara's outburst.
"Art?" Sasori's muffled voice echoed faintly as he tilted his head slightly upward. His tone dripped with disdain. "He's got some spirit, but this brat looks like the type who won't live long."
"It's Leader-sama's order," Itachi stated flatly. "This guy's abilities might prove useful."
"My abilities?" Deidara frowned, studying the trio skeptically. He was certain he'd never met or even seen them before.
Kisame's raspy voice cut through the air once more. "You're the rogue shinobi assisting anti-government factions with terrorist attacks across neighboring countries, right? What's the point of taking on such tasks?"
"Point? There is none!" Deidara retorted proudly. "I simply accept commissions to create explosions—they're all part of my artwork, hmm!! But I've moved on from those boring missions now. I've found a new direction for my art!!! Hmm!"
"Artwork?" Sasori muttered, raising his head slightly to glance at Deidara with thinly veiled contempt. However, Deidara, now fully immersed in discussing his creations, became visibly animated.
"Look at this!! Isn't it amazing?" Deidara held up the small clay pig model in his hand, presenting it to the trio with fervent enthusiasm. "This form is crafted using refined lines to achieve a two-dimensional transformation—it's a masterpiece! But my art doesn't stop there. My works are dynamic, not static objects meant merely for display, hmm! This one explodes, you see!! Explosions elevate its existence, transforming it into true art!!! In that fleeting moment of detonation, I experience the essence of art itself!! Hmm, art is an explosion!!!!"
Deidora's passionate declaration reverberated throughout the ancient temple, his expression wild with zeal. For several moments, the trio remained silent, their expressions unchanged. Finally, Sasori's impatient voice broke the tension. "How tiresome!!" Kisame chuckled mockingly. "Are you done yet?" His shark-like grin seemed to sneer at Deidara's grandiose claims. "It seems he's finished," Itachi remarked coolly, his tone devoid of emotion.
Without waiting for further discussion, Itachi stepped forward calmly. "Enough. Let me handle this."
"Huh? You want to fight me?" Deidara snapped out of his artistic fervor, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Itachi warily. He knew better than to underestimate these three formidable opponents.
Itachi didn't respond directly. Instead, his dark eyes began to shift, morphing into the unmistakable crimson Sharingan. Three black tomoe swirled lazily around the central pupil, exuding an eerie aura.
"Hmm!!" Deidara's pupils contracted slightly as he recognized the Sharingan. "A Sharingan just like Miao's!! So this guy is from the Uchiha clan… Which means he must be Uchiha Itachi."
Deidara was well aware of the Uchiha massacre, and with the addition of Itachi's slashed Leaf forehead protector, the conclusion was inevitable.
"If I win, you'll join Akatsuki," Itachi stated matter-of-factly.
"Hmph!!" Deidara suppressed his unease, forcing a confident smirk. "Don't underestimate my art! Experience it firsthand!!!" With that, he hurled the clay pig toward Itachi.
Itachi's movements were swift and precise. His Sharingan eyes remained calm, as though he had already foreseen Deidara's actions. He leapt backward effortlessly, but the clay pig pursued him relentlessly, closing the distance rapidly.
"Ha!!!" Deidara brought his index and middle fingers together in front of his chest, shouting loudly. "Boom!!!!" A deafening explosion rocked the temple, blowing a massive hole in the wall. Thick smoke billowed through the air, obscuring everything within the vicinity.