The morning sun cast dappled shadows across the crowded market as Hinata wandered among the stalls, her eyes wide with wonder at the array of baked goods on display. She was just reaching for a warm loaf when the world suddenly shifted around her. A hand slipped over her mouth, the grip cold and unyielding, and she barely registered the faint prick of a needle at the base of her neck before everything blurred, her thoughts turning hazy.
As her vision dimmed, she glimpsed a figure—tall, red-haired, and indifferent, his gaze detached as he led her away into the shadows of a narrow alley. Hinata struggled to hold onto her senses, but the drug took effect too quickly, drowning her in darkness.
When she came to, her wrists were bound, the coarse ropes biting into her skin. She blinked, her vision sharpening to the dim glow of a torch flickering from the far side of a cramped stone cell. The faint scent of damp stone filled the room, accompanied by the terrified murmurs of other girls, huddled against the cold, unforgiving walls.
A wave of fear hit her as she registered her surroundings. She was no longer in the Land of Stars' lively marketplace but somewhere hidden, somewhere dark and forsaken. She'd been taken—vanished without a trace.
Her heart pounded as the cell door creaked open. A guard entered, and just behind him, the red-haired man stepped in, his expression cool, almost bored, as his gaze swept across the girls. When his eyes settled on her, there was nothing resembling recognition or sympathy—just cold calculation.
The sight of him sent a chill down her spine. Hinata summoned the courage to speak, her voice wavering. "Why… why are you doing this?"
The man—Sasori, she thought she heard him called—didn't even flinch. "I'm not doing anything to you, just delivering," he replied, his tone flat. He looked her over as though she were nothing more than an object to be appraised. "It's not personal. Just business."
Hinata swallowed, her pulse racing. "Please… where are you taking me?"
Sasori's gaze remained detached. "To people who value you in their own way." He signaled to the guard with a curt nod. "The slave trader will handle the rest." Turning away, he added, almost to himself, "I have other business to attend to—someone else to kill, and this time, I don't plan on missing."
Hinata's heart sank as she heard his words, and before she could say another word, Sasori was gone, his footsteps fading into silence.
The guard's rough hands yanked her to her feet, his voice a low, gruff murmur. "You're going to make the boss very wealthy, princess. This brothel chain's always looking for high value."
Tears pricked her eyes, but she forced herself to stay steady, holding onto whatever shreds of courage she had left. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of breaking her spirit—not now, not ever.
The tunnel reverberated with the booming echoes of Deidara's explosions as Sasuke and Sara dodged through the confined space, the walls trembling under each blast. Shards of rock and dust filled the air, but the two Royal Guards stayed on their feet, skillfully weaving through the chaos. Amidst the flames and rubble, Sasuke's voice cut through the noise.
"Are you done hiding behind your toys?" he taunted, his eyes sharp. "Why don't you fight us directly, or are explosions all you've got?"
Deidara's lips curled into an annoyed grin. "You Leaf shinobi, always so eager to test your limits." With a shrug, he dismissed the clay birds hovering around him, letting them fall inert to the ground. "Fine. Let's see if you can keep up."
He moved with startling speed, blurring forward before either of them could react. In an instant, his fist connected with Sara's midsection, sending her skidding backward as the impact knocked the wind out of her. Sasuke lunged forward to retaliate, but Deidara sidestepped with ease, catching Sasuke's wrist and twisting it painfully behind him before throwing him toward the wall.
Sasuke managed to brace himself just in time, gritting his teeth as he regained his footing. Sara lunged at Deidara from the side, her movements sharp and precise, but Deidara danced around her strikes, his hands moving like a blur. He delivered a flurry of blows, each one hitting with pinpoint precision, targeting pressure points and weak spots that sent pain radiating through her body. Within seconds, he had her on the ground, gasping for air.
"You think you can stand against a Master Thief?" Deidara sneered, circling them as they tried to recover. "The title isn't for show. It's a level you Royal Guards could only dream of reaching."
Sasuke grunted, wiping the blood from his mouth as he pushed himself up, his eyes blazing with determination. He lunged again, his Sharingan tracking Deidara's every move, but even with the enhanced sight, Deidara's speed and precision were overwhelming. Sasuke threw a punch, only for Deidara to deflect it effortlessly, twisting his arm and delivering a sharp kick to his knee, bringing him down again. Before Sasuke could counter, Deidara's fist collided with his jaw, sending him sprawling across the tunnel floor.
Sara, already weakened, attempted another attack, but Deidara blocked her strikes as if they were nothing, grabbing her by the collar and shoving her back against the wall with a force that made her vision blur. Both of them were struggling to keep up, their energy waning as Deidara barely broke a sweat, toying with them with a cold, unyielding smirk.
"Is that all?" Deidara laughed, glancing down at the two battered shinobi with disdain. "And they call you the Leaf's finest?"
But before either of them could respond, a faint glint caught Sasuke's eye—a thread, thin and barely visible, slipping through the shadows and winding around his wrist. He barely had time to react before his vision swam, a numbing cold spreading through his body. The same threads coiled around Sara, tightening briefly before disappearing back into the darkness.
Deidara noticed the threads too late, frowning as Sasuke and Sara staggered, their limbs growing heavy and unresponsive. He turned to see Sasori stepping out from the shadows, his expression impassive.
"Really, Sasori?" Deidara snapped, crossing his arms in irritation. "I had them right where I wanted them."
"We don't have time for your ego," Sasori replied coolly, his gaze flicking to Sasuke and Sara as they collapsed to the ground, the poison from his threads taking full effect. "The mission is more important than your games. Hidan interfered, and I couldn't kill Akuma. We need to regroup."
Deidara muttered something under his breath, casting one last disdainful look at the fallen guards before turning away. "Fine. But next time, let me handle it my way."
Sasori ignored him, already retreating into the shadows, with Deidara following reluctantly. Their footsteps faded, leaving Sasuke and Sara sprawled in the tunnel, barely conscious, but each managed to reach into their belts and pull out a vial of the emergency antidote carried by all Royal Guards. Slowly, the numbing effects of the poison began to fade, leaving them bruised, weakened, but alive—just barely.
As the antidote worked through their systems, they both exchanged a look, the reality of their defeat stark on their faces. The strength of the Master Thieves was beyond anything they had anticipated, a humbling reminder of the challenge that lay ahead.
As Sasori and Deidara slipped out of the tunnels and into the cover of the forest, they reached the waiting carriage at the edge of the city. Deidara climbed in, slumping back with an irritated huff, content to leave the mayhem behind. Sasori, however, remained standing outside the carriage, his eyes scanning the darkness, the faintest hint of satisfaction in his gaze.
Then, just as he'd anticipated, a shadow broke free from the tree line. Sasori's smirk widened as Naruto stepped into the open, his expression like steel. Sasori's eyes gleamed with restrained excitement; it was a fortuitous end to the night's chaos. Not only had he captured and sold the Hyuga heiress, but now Akuma himself had walked right into his hands.
Deidara glanced lazily over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing with a touch of disdain. "Well, well, looks like the deadbeat found us," he drawled, stretching out his arms as if settling in for a show. "This oughta be good."
Sasori, ignoring Deidara's commentary, addressed Naruto with a chilling calm. "Perfect timing, Akuma," he said, his voice carrying an almost polite detachment. "I was hoping we'd tie up all loose ends in one go. Your girl fetched a decent price, but it seems tonight's pay will be far more… substantial."
Naruto's gaze hardened, his fists clenching at his sides. "Where is she, Sasori?" His voice was cold, controlled, but a dangerous glint flickered in his eyes.
Sasori shrugged, feigning indifference. "She's beyond your reach now. Nothing personal. Just business."
The answer was met with silence, and Sasori watched with a faint, taunting smirk as Naruto let the words settle. For a brief moment, neither man moved. Then, with a speed that would have surprised most, Naruto charged, kunai flashing in the moonlight. Sasori's fingers twitched, and almost instantly, thin, nearly invisible threads shot out to intercept him.
Naruto dodged, twisting his body to avoid the strands, and closed the distance in a blink. He swung his kunai with lethal precision, aiming for Sasori's heart. But Sasori was quick, sidestepping and deflecting the attack with a practiced ease. The two moved in a deadly dance, each strike met with an equally swift counter.
Deidara, leaning against the carriage door, watched with a lazy grin. "Not bad, Sasori. Though, if I had my bet on who's quicker…" He left the sentence hanging, amused as Sasori's eyes flickered with faint annoyance.
Naruto lunged forward, forcing Sasori to backpedal, his eyes cold and focused. "You sold her, didn't you?" he spat, his voice low with anger.
Sasori merely shrugged as he sidestepped another attack. "A Master Thief collects what's owed, Akuma. But if it makes you feel better to fight, by all means." His fingers moved with an almost dismissive flick, releasing another web of threads toward Naruto. This time, Naruto deflected them effortlessly, his movements sharp and unyielding as he circled Sasori, closing in.
Sasori, unfazed, studied Naruto with a slight grin. "You're just prolonging the inevitable."
Naruto didn't answer. Instead, he pressed the assault, his speed intensifying. For a moment, Sasori faltered, his stance shifting. He was quicker than most, but Naruto's focus and fury made every move unpredictable, keeping him on edge.
Naruto's intensity grew with each step, every strike more relentless than the last. Sasori's calm demeanor was beginning to crack, his calculated movements faltering under the unrelenting force. The two Master Thieves were locked in a brutal, silent exchange—each strike a gamble, each step an inch closer to victory or defeat.
Sasori managed a quick backward roll to gain distance, his threads lashing out to maintain a perimeter of defense, but Naruto anticipated the maneuver. He sidestepped, ducking low and launching forward, his kunai flashing dangerously as he sliced through Sasori's strands. Sasori barely pulled back in time, only to find Naruto right in his face again, his movements quick and merciless.
"Persistent, aren't you?" Sasori muttered, his tone strained as he launched another barrage of poison-tipped threads toward Naruto's face. But Naruto shifted seamlessly, dodging the assault and closing the gap once more. His silence, combined with the cold focus in his gaze, sent a rare shiver down Sasori's spine.
Deidara, still observing from the carriage, let out a low whistle, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Seems like Akuma's having a little fun with you, huh? Didn't expect to see you sweat, Sasori."
Sasori ignored the jab, though his jaw tightened imperceptibly. With a flick of his wrist, he released a new wave of threads, this time faster and denser, hoping to overwhelm Naruto by sheer volume. But Naruto moved with brutal efficiency, slashing through them, the glint of his kunai catching the moonlight as he pressed forward without a word, his expression as unreadable as the steel in his grip.
Naruto's fist shot out, catching Sasori off guard and slamming into his ribs. Sasori staggered, a low hiss escaping his lips as he felt the sharp pang of pain. He had underestimated his opponent's strength, a mistake he rarely made. Frustration simmered beneath his calm exterior, and he unleashed another hidden blade, aiming to turn Naruto's momentum against him. Yet Naruto twisted out of range, his movements fluid and seamless, as if anticipating Sasori's every move.
For a brief moment, they locked eyes, and in Sasori's gaze was a flicker of something that Naruto recognized—hesitation.
Naruto pressed his advantage, his movements quickening as he chipped away at Sasori's defenses. Blood speckled the ground, the cuts beginning to take their toll on Sasori, each one making his reactions just a bit slower. Sasori knew he was losing control, a rare and unsettling sensation for him. He needed distance, but Naruto allowed him no such luxury, darting in close again, his strikes merciless and unyielding.
Sasori drew a deep breath, his mind racing through options. With a deft flick of his wrist, he unleashed a thicker, stronger strand of threads, attempting to snare Naruto's limbs and lock him in place. For a split second, Naruto hesitated, sensing the trap, but it was enough for Sasori to land a shallow cut across Naruto's side.
Yet even as blood seeped from the wound, Naruto didn't falter. Instead, he responded by slamming his elbow into Sasori's face, sending him reeling. Sasori stumbled back, blood trickling from his lip, his vision blurring momentarily. He barely had time to refocus before Naruto was upon him once more, unrelenting, his kunai striking like a viper.
Deidara leaned forward, his expression a mix of amusement and mild disbelief. "Didn't think Akuma had this much fight in him," he muttered, watching as Sasori, for the first time, truly struggled to keep pace.
Naruto closed the distance again, his eyes cold and calculating. Sasori barely managed to deflect the next strike, but Naruto was faster, ducking low and sweeping Sasori's leg, sending him to the ground. In an instant, Naruto's kunai was at his throat, his gaze like ice.
For a brief moment, Sasori's gaze flickered with fear, something rare and unsettling for him. Deidara let out a low chuckle from his perch, his amusement plain as he saw his partner at the edge of defeat.
But Sasori's hand moved subtly, releasing a burst of smoke. Naruto instinctively shielded his eyes, giving Sasori the split-second he needed to roll away and get to his feet. He staggered, his composure shattered, breathing heavily as he glared at Naruto.
"Not bad, Akuma," Sasori muttered, his voice laced with frustration. But there was something else there, too—a cold, calculating shift, a last-resort plan forming in his mind.
Naruto didn't respond. He only raised his kunai, his expression unreadable as he closed in once more, intent on finishing what he had started. Sasori could feel the cold finality of the moment, the inevitability pressing down on him as he braced himself, his threads snapping taut one last time.
Sasori's composure cracked as Naruto's kunai tore through his defenses with brutal precision. In a single, swift move, Naruto closed in and drove his blade deep into Sasori's side, the lethal blow finally drawing a sharp cry from him. The pain, more severe than any he'd felt in years, sent a tremor of shock through his system. His breaths turned shallow, his vision swimming as he staggered back, clutching his side.
"Deidara!" he gasped, his voice desperate as he struggled to keep his footing, his once-calm demeanor breaking apart. "A little help here!"
Deidara watched from his position on the carriage, a lazy smirk spreading across his face as he crossed his arms, clearly amused. "Help?" he chuckled, his voice dripping with mockery. "Why, Sasori, didn't think you'd need me to save your skin. Thought you had everything under control, hm?"
Sasori gritted his teeth, feeling a surge of betrayal, but his attention snapped back to Naruto, who was now stalking forward, a dark aura seeping from him like shadows rising in the moonlight. His eyes had turned feral, a glint of something otherworldly and furious sparking within their blue depths as he closed in on Sasori, kunai at the ready.
Naruto's silent fury grew with every step, his presence pressing down like a storm cloud ready to break. The weight of his bloodlust filled the air, thick and heavy, making Sasori's skin crawl as he realized the extent of his opponent's wrath. He tried to retreat, stumbling backward, his hands trembling as he attempted to summon his threads in defense, but they trembled and faltered, weakened by the injuries and his own panic.
"Deidara, damn you!" Sasori spat, a rare desperation in his tone as he struggled to maintain control. But Deidara only laughed, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
Naruto's expression remained cold, almost indifferent, as he watched Sasori unravel. Without hesitation, he moved in again, slashing through Sasori's threads with a deadly elegance, landing another vicious blow across his chest. Blood sprayed from the wound, staining the ground as Sasori faltered, his vision blurring, his strength draining rapidly.
"Can't handle your own business, Sasori?" Deidara taunted, leaning back in his seat, savoring every second of his partner's downfall. "Maybe 'Master Thief' is too generous a title for you."
Naruto's silence spoke volumes as he advanced, each step measured, each breath even. Sasori, for the first time, felt the thrill of fear tighten his chest. His threads lashed out in desperation, attempting to block the path to his demise, but Naruto's kunai severed them with brutal efficiency, slicing through each web-like barrier with practiced precision.
Blood streaked from the wounds on Sasori's body, each cut marking Naruto's dominance in this deadly dance. Sasori's gaze shifted frantically, his focus cracking, and his expression slipped into something Naruto hadn't seen from the seasoned killer before: desperation. As Naruto closed in, Sasori's hands twitched, attempting a final defensive maneuver, but Naruto sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid and deadly.
"Wait," Sasori choked out, the cold arrogance now fractured with panic. "The Hyuga… you want to know where she is?"
Naruto's gaze narrowed, but he continued his approach, his expression unreadable.
"She's in the next city—the borderlands of Wind!" Sasori's voice was raw, his control slipping. "I sold her, but she's unharmed. I'll tell you everything—just spare me."
Naruto's eyes remained fixed on Sasori, an icy gleam that betrayed nothing. The words spilled from Sasori's mouth in a frantic bid for mercy, his fear palpable, each syllable laden with the weight of a man bargaining his last hopes.
"Akuma," Sasori gasped, his breath rattling. "You don't have to—"
Sasori barely raised his defenses before Naruto's kunai flashed, a relentless sequence of blows crashing down on him. Each strike was a calculated dismantling of Sasori's defense, every movement fluid and fierce. Naruto cut through Sasori's arm, severing it cleanly, rendering his weaponry useless in an instant. Before Sasori could recoil, Naruto pivoted, bringing his heel down sharply on Sasori's knee, dropping him to the ground with brutal finality.
Sasori gasped, but the moment he tried to scramble away, Naruto was upon him again, slicing through the remaining threads with ruthless efficiency. Blood pooled as Naruto drove a series of rapid, punishing strikes to Sasori's chest, each blow connecting with lethal precision, a steady dismantling of his opponent's ability to fight.
Desperate, Sasori raised his remaining hand in surrender, but Naruto's resolve was as immovable as his strikes. With a fluid, final move, Naruto brought his kunai down in a deadly arc, a strike aimed directly at Sasori's heart. The blade cut deep, ending the battle as Sasori's body sagged in final defeat.
Deidara, still observing from the sidelines, raised a brow, his amusement briefly replaced with something close to admiration. He had known Akuma was skilled, but witnessing this cold, systematic execution—a masterful dispatch reminiscent of the deadliest shinobi techniques—left him in silent respect for the deadly artistry before him.
A slow, sardonic clap echoed through the clearing, the sound breaking the charged silence. Naruto's head turned sharply toward it, and he found Deidara leaning against the carriage, a lazy smirk stretched across his face.
"Well, well, Akuma," Deidara drawled, his applause mocking and slow. "You really did a number on Sasori here—didn't expect to see him beg, though, not after everything." Deidara strolled forward, gaze flicking from Naruto to the fallen Sasori, who lay motionless on the ground. He crouched by his former partner's side, unbothered, and rifled through Sasori's cloak until he found a small leather pouch. He held it up with a shrug, examining it like a casual souvenir.
Naruto didn't relax, his expression remaining as hard as stone, but Deidara raised a hand, almost amused. "Relax, will ya? I'm not here for round two. In truth," he chuckled, giving Naruto a sideways glance, "I'm not even sure I could take you down, not right now."
Naruto's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent.
Deidara stood, watching him with a strange glint of respect. "Wouldn't feel right, anyway. After all, you and I—we're the last ones standing from the old days, from the Leaf raid." He gave a short, sardonic laugh. "Guess that makes us two relics of a long-gone crew. Nostalgic, isn't it?"
He shifted, eyes briefly flicking to the forest beyond. "But Sasori told you the truth," he went on, almost offhandedly. "Your girl's been sent off to the Borderlands of Wind, right into the arms of a syndicate. You'll have quite the welcome waiting for you when you get there." He gave Naruto a knowing smile, a trace of something uncharacteristically thoughtful in his expression.
Naruto's hands clenched, but Deidara just grinned wider, undeterred. "Me?" he shrugged. "This job's done. Besides, it's not my style to cut down what's left of the old crew just to make some cash." He gave a final clap, more subdued, as if bidding farewell to a ghost. "Consider this my parting gift, Akuma. Farewell."
With that, Deidara turned, his smirk fading as he melted into the shadows, leaving Naruto alone in the clearing, the silence returning with the weight of an era ending, and a final path stretching before him toward the Borderlands.