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The Seal of Fate
Chapter 7
The Frustrated Artists
With Naruto
Deidara's clay bird flapped its wings, rising higher into the sky as it carried him and Gaara further away from the battlefield. The faint hum of its motion blended with the desert winds as he adjusted his position, smirking down at the scene below. "Try not to take too long, yeah," Deidara called mockingly to Sasori, his tone laced with amusement. "I'd hate to have to clean up after you."
Sasori didn't spare him a glance, his unblinking gaze fixed on Naruto. "Go," he said flatly, his voice devoid of any warmth. "Keep the Kazekage secure. This one won't escape me."
Deidara muttered something under his breath, his smirk fading slightly as he directed the bird northward, following the same route they had been taking before Naruto's ambush. Each beat of the bird's wings carried them closer to the Akatsuki hideout. His sharp eye flicked downward occasionally, watching Sasori handle the confrontation.
Naruto's Tenchigan followed the motion of the bird, locking onto Gaara's faint chakra signature. It flickered like a fragile ember, weak and unsteady, threatening to vanish entirely. His jaw clenched, frustration and determination warring within him. 'He's moving away... Gaara's running out of time.'
Sasori's monotone voice cut through Naruto's thoughts, dragging his attention back to the immediate threat. "Your focus is wavering, jinchūriki. A fatal mistake."
Naruto's glowing lavender eyes snapped toward Sasori, taking in the puppeteer's unnervingly smooth movements as he landed lightly on a rocky outcropping. Thin, glimmering chakra threads burst from his fingertips, snaking through the air like ethereal tendrils. With a flick of his fingers, several wooden puppets emerged around him, their intricate designs gleaming ominously in the fading light.
The puppets moved with an eerie lifelike grace, their lifeless eyes seemingly fixated on Naruto as they creaked into position. The faint hum of their weapons echoed across the plateau, adding to the tension that hung heavy in the desert air.
Naruto's grip tightened on his staff, the lavender glow along its surface pulsing faintly in sync with his heightened chakra flow. His eyes darted between Sasori and Deidara, who was now little more than a distant silhouette in the sky. The decision gnawed at him, but Sasori left no room for hesitation.
Without delay, he attacked.
Sasori's cold, calculating gaze followed every move Naruto made. His fingers twitched with practiced precision, sending his puppets advancing in perfect sync. Each strike was a deadly masterpiece of coordination, intended to overwhelm and corner the jinchūriki. Naruto remained steadfast, his Tenchigan flaring brilliantly as it illuminated the intricate network of chakra threads controlling the puppets. His enhanced vision picked up every movement, but despite his incredible strength and speed, Sasori's relentless assault was tightening its grip. Every strike forced Naruto to react, and every second wasted brought Gaara closer to danger.
Naruto's staff clashed against the scorpion-like tail of a puppet that lunged toward him, its gleaming tip aimed for his chest. The impact sent a deafening crack through the air as the ground beneath his feet fractured. He planted himself firmly to absorb the blow, his unyielding body weathering the force with ease. With a burst of wind chakra, he deflected the tail, sending the puppet skidding backward. Yet, before he could reset his stance, another puppet was upon him. This one struck from his blind spot, its bladed arms slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Naruto twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the blades as they passed within inches of his torso. The movement was fluid, his durability ensuring he shrugged off the residual shock of the attack. But he wasn't unscathed. He landed hard, his boots cracking the stone beneath him, and immediately brought his staff around to deflect another wave of incoming senbon fired from a puppet positioned on the left.
His Tenchigan flickered toward the horizon, drawn to the faint, pulsing signature of Gaara's chakra. Deidara's clay bird was ascending higher, with Gaara draped lifelessly over its back like a trophy. The weak flickers of the Kazekage's chakra gnawed at Naruto, each one a reminder of how little time remained.
'Damn it!' Naruto thought, anger and frustration bubbling beneath his focused expression. 'I can't let him get away, but these puppets... they're endless.'
Another puppet lunged at him, its scythe-like blade sweeping low. Naruto leapt over the strike, using his staff to spin mid-air and deflect an incoming projectile. He landed in a crouch, his eyes glowing brighter as he tracked Sasori's movements. The puppeteer stood unmoving on a nearby outcrop, his fingers guiding the chaos with precise, deliberate control. Sasori wasn't just trying to kill him—he was forcing Naruto to expend energy and precious time.
Sasori's voice rang out, as cold and unrelenting as the attacks. "What will you do, jinchūriki? Stay and fight, or chase after your friend? Either way, you've already lost."
The taunt struck a nerve, but Naruto forced himself to push past it. His staff spun in his hands, deflecting another barrage of poisoned senbon. Every movement was sharp and calculated, but the mounting frustration within him grew heavier. His body, though strong and resilient, wasn't limitless. He could endure, but enduring wouldn't win this fight.
'Think!' Naruto berated himself as he blocked another puppet's strike. 'You wanted to beat them without relying on clones. To prove you could do it with just your strength and skill.' He gritted his teeth, parrying another attack. 'But this isn't about pride. This is about Gaara's life.'
The realization hit him like a wave. He had been foolish. His determination to test his limits was costing him the mission. Sasori's plan wasn't succeeding because he was stronger—it was succeeding because Naruto was letting his ego get in the way of his objective.
'This isn't about me,' Naruto thought, his Tenchigan flaring brighter as it locked onto Deidara's retreating figure. 'Gaara's life comes first.'
With newfound clarity, Naruto spun his staff in a wide arc, releasing a powerful gust of wind chakra. The blast sent the closest puppets staggering backward, buying him a moment of breathing room. He landed on a rocky outcrop, his sandals digging into the stone and leaving cracks in his wake. His grip on the staff tightened as he planted it into the ground, his lavender eyes glowing intensely.
"This ends now," he muttered under his breath, his voice low but resolute.
Forming a single hand seal, Naruto summoned a burst of smoke that engulfed him. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!".When it cleared, ten identical shadow clones stood beside him, each gripping a glowing staff that pulsed with faint lavender energy. The air around them buzzed with renewed energy as the clones sprang into action, moving with synchronized determination to engage Sasori's puppets.
Sasori's unblinking gaze swept over the clones, his voice calm but tinged with irritation. "Shadow clones... how predictable. Do you think this will save you?"
Naruto ignored the taunt. His clones moved like a coordinated storm, their chaotic attacks disrupting Sasori's meticulous control. One clone darted forward, intercepting a scythe-wielding puppet mid-strike and shattering its blade with a well-timed swing of its staff. Another clone leapt high, spinning in the air before smashing a spear-wielding puppet into pieces.
The desert air hummed with the tension of battle as Naruto's clones unleashed a relentless assault on Sasori's puppets, their coordinated strikes creating bursts of lavender energy that scattered wood and metal across the battlefield. Blades clashed with staffs in a symphony of chaos, but the original's focus had already shifted. As his clones continued to battle below, the original launched into the air, his Tenchigan locking onto Deidara's retreating figure.
The glowing patterns in his eyes flared brilliantly, guiding his every movement as he closed the distance between them. Each pulse of chakra through his staff propelled him forward with unrelenting speed, the desert wind whipping around him.
Deidara glanced back, his visible eye narrowing. "You just don't quit, do you?" he muttered, molding a lump of clay with deft fingers. The material shifted and expanded into a large, hawk-shaped bomb, its jagged wings radiating a faint hum of volatile energy. With a flick of his wrist, Deidara sent the creation streaking toward Naruto. "Let's see how you handle this, yeah!"
Naruto's Tenchigan glimmered, analyzing the incoming threat with precision. The explosive chakra within the hawk burned vividly in his vision, its trajectory clear. Without hesitation, he swung his staff upward, channeling wind chakra into a powerful burst that collided with the hawk mid-flight. The explosion ripped through the air in a fiery burst, but Naruto emerged unscathed, using the shockwave to propel himself even closer to Deidara.
"You're not getting away!" Naruto's voice rang out, fierce and resolute, cutting through the chaos. His Tenchigan locked onto Gaara's faint chakra signature, flickering like a fragile ember on Deidara's clay bird. Every second was critical, every move fueled by the urgency of his mission.
Below, the battlefield raged on as Naruto's clones clashed with Sasori's puppets. Each shadowy figure moved with chaotic precision, dismantling the puppet master's creations with bursts of wind-enhanced strikes. Sasori's cold gaze flicked upward momentarily, watching as Naruto surged toward Deidara. "The clones aren't just distractions," he murmured, his voice as sharp and cold as the poisoned blades of his puppets. "They're buying him time to escape. Clever… but futile."
Deidara's frustration was growing with every passing moment. His usual smirk faltered as he molded another creation, this one a sleek, serpent-like construct that coiled and twisted in his hands. "You're more trouble than you're worth," he muttered, hurling the serpent toward Naruto. Its segmented body writhed through the air, adapting fluidly to the wind and shifting unpredictably.
Naruto's Tenchigan flared as he tracked the serpent's erratic movements, the volatile energy within it glowing brightly in his vision. He shifted his grip on the staff, spinning it in a tight arc. A burst of wind chakra surged forward, slicing cleanly through the serpent's body. The clay construct detonated mid-air, the shockwave rumbling through the sky, but Naruto pressed on, his durable frame shrugging off the residual force.
Deidara gritted his teeth, reaching into his pouch once more. "You're really starting to piss me off, jinchūriki," he muttered, molding another creation. But his movements were less fluid now, frustration beginning to creep into his usually calm demeanor. Each flicker of Gaara's faint chakra in Naruto's Tenchigan was a constant reminder of what was at stake, and Naruto's resolve burned brighter with every step closer to his target.
With Sasori
Meanwhile, on the battlefield below, Sasori's eyes flicked upward briefly, irritation flashing across his usually impassive features. Despite his relentless assault, Naruto had broken through his carefully orchestrated trap, leaving the clones to handle his puppets. The clones, however, were proving to be far more than simple distractions. They moved with chaotic precision, their glowing staffs dismantling puppets faster than Sasori could replace them.
The clash intensified as Sasori pulled back several of his damaged puppets, creating a momentary lull. "It seems this won't be enough," Sasori murmured, his voice barely audible over the din. With a flick of his fingers, he pulled back several of his puppets, clearing the battlefield momentarily. His chakra threads surged, and from his cloak emerged a new figure in a puff of smoke—a dark, humanoid puppet adorned with metallic edges and intricate designs.
The Third Kazekage puppet.
The air grew heavier as the puppet floated into the fray, its presence commanding and ominous. Sasori's fingers moved with deliberate intent, guiding the puppet forward as it raised one arm. A stream of black iron sand poured from its mouth, forming into sharp, jagged weapons that hovered ominously in the air.
Sasori's voice rang out, cold and confident. "Let's see how you handle this, jinchūriki. The power of the Third Kazekage's Iron Sand… against your futile resistance."
With a flick of his fingers, the puppet raised an arm, releasing a stream of black iron sand that poured from its mouth. The sand twisted and shifted in mid-air, forming into sharp, jagged weapons that hovered ominously before launching forward with deadly precision.
One clone swung its staff, creating a gust of wind that deflected the initial assault, but the sheer force of the Iron Sand pushed them back. The clones regrouped, their glowing staffs flaring brighter as they prepared for the next onslaught. Sasori's fingers moved with fluid precision, guiding the sand into larger, more complex shapes—massive spears and spinning drills that surged toward the clones with unrelenting force.
Sasori's lips curled into a faint smirk as the Iron Sand closed in. "Your numbers mean nothing against perfection," he said, his tone dripping with contempt.
But the clones moved in unison, spinning their staffs in synchronized arcs. The lavender glow intensified, unleashing a powerful burst of wind chakra that shattered the sand constructs mid-air. The fragments scattered harmlessly to the ground, and the clones charged forward, their relentless assault targeting the Third Kazekage puppet.
Sasori's fingers twitched rapidly as he guided the puppet to evade their strikes, but the clones' chaotic movements disrupted his control. Their unpredictable attacks forced him to pull the puppet back, frustration bubbling beneath his cold exterior.
"Impossible," Sasori muttered, his eyes narrowing. "That weapon… it's not just chakra. It's something else."
Opposite him, one of the clones felt the faint pulse of his Tenchigan lock onto the Iron Sand's movements. His smirk widened as his voice carried over the battlefield. "What's wrong, puppet boy? Not so perfect after all, huh?"
Sasori's expression hardened, his fingers moving faster as he sent the Iron Sand surging upward, twisting and spiraling to intercept the original Naruto mid-air. The dark tendrils aimed to ensnare him, cutting off his advance toward Deidara.
Naruto's Tenchigan flared brilliantly, his eyes tracking the attack with razor-sharp clarity. With a sharp flick of his staff, he created a shockwave of wind chakra that split the Iron Sand apart, scattering the grains harmlessly into the air. He didn't break stride, using the recoil to propel himself closer to Deidara.
"Nice try," Naruto said, his voice steady and defiant. "But that won't stop me."
Sasori's frustration grew as his precision faltered against the unpredictable chaos of Naruto's clones. Below, his Third Kazekage puppet struggled to keep up with their relentless strikes, while above, Naruto was breaking through every obstacle he sent his way.
With Deidara
Deidara's visible eye twitched as he glanced back, frustration rippling beneath his otherwise smug demeanor. The jinchūriki was relentless, closing the gap with precision and unwavering resolve. "You're a tough one, aren't you?" he muttered, molding another lump of clay between his deft fingers. "Fine. Let's see how you like this, yeah."
His hands worked quickly, shaping the clay into something entirely different. The resulting creation resembled a swarm of twisting, insect-like constructs, their delicate forms bristling with thin, jagged limbs and glowing faintly with explosive energy. The swarm came to life, scattering into the air like a cloud of deadly locusts, each moving with erratic, unpredictable motion.
Naruto's Tenchigan glowed fiercely, its intricate patterns shifting as he tracked the individual movements of the swarm. Each insect shone brightly in his vision, the volatile chakra signatures pulsating erratically as they darted toward him. Their rapid, chaotic flight paths made them harder to predict than any of Deidara's previous creations.
Naruto spun his staff, the lavender glow intensifying as wind chakra surged through it. "You're trying to overwhelm me," he muttered, narrowing his eyes. "But I've seen through you."
The first wave of clay insects surged forward, their sharp, jagged limbs aimed to pierce before detonating. Naruto released a sharp burst of wind chakra, the gust scattering the front ranks of the swarm. Several detonated prematurely, bright flashes illuminating the twilight, but the swarm adapted, reforming and darting back toward him in an even tighter formation.
Deidara grinned as he observed the chaos. "Let's see you deal with my swarm, jinchūriki," he said, his tone dripping with amusement. "They'll tear you apart piece by piece, yeah."
Naruto's grip on his staff tightened, the electric hum of lightning chakra now mixing with the swirling wind. His Tenchigan flickered, calculating the positions of the remaining insects. "I've had enough of this," he muttered, his voice low but resolute.
He channeled lightning chakra through the staff, the glow shifting from lavender to crackling blue. With a decisive swing, he released an arc of lightning that coursed through the air, leaping from one clay insect to another in rapid succession. The electricity disrupted the volatile chakra within the constructs, defusing them instantly. One by one, the insects fell apart, harmless fragments of clay dropping to the desert below.
Deidara's grin faltered as he watched his creation unravel. "What the—?" he began, his visible eye narrowing in disbelief. "Lightning? You—"
Naruto didn't wait for him to finish. Using the momentum of his strike, he propelled himself forward, closing the distance between them in a burst of speed. The residual energy crackling along his staff reflected the determined fire in his eyes. "I told you, you're not getting away!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the roar of the wind.
Deidara's clay bird lurched upward as he guided it into a sharper ascent, trying to put distance between himself and the pursuing jinchūriki. "You're really starting to piss me off, kid," he muttered, molding another lump of clay with frantic precision. "But if it's a fight you want, I'll give you one to remember!"
This time, he created a massive, orb-like construct, its surface crawling with smaller, needle-like appendages. The construct floated ominously in the air, its energy radiating outward in palpable waves. Deidara hurled it toward Naruto, his grin returning. "Let's see you survive this, yeah!"
Naruto's Tenchigan flared brighter, dissecting the construct's chakra structure in an instant. The volatile energy rippled through its core, but his dojutsu also revealed its critical weakness. He channeled both wind and lightning chakra into his staff, the energy pulsing rhythmically as he prepared his counter.
As the orb closed in, Naruto swung his staff in a wide arc, releasing a spiraling burst of wind infused with crackling electricity. The combined elements struck the construct dead center, destabilizing its energy. It quivered violently before detonating, the explosion splitting harmlessly into smaller, muted bursts that dissipated into the air.
Naruto used the resulting shockwave to propel himself even closer to Deidara, his glowing Tenchigan locking onto Gaara's faint chakra signal. His jaw tightened as he focused entirely on his goal. 'I'm not falling for any more of your tricks,' he thought, his resolve unwavering.
Deidara's composure cracked as he saw the blonde emerge from the smoke, unharmed and closing the distance. "You're really starting to annoy me," he muttered, his hands moving to mold more clay. But his movements were rushed, his irritation betraying his confidence.
Naruto's voice rang out, steady and fierce. "You're not getting away. I'm taking Gaara back, and you can't stop me."
With Deidara
Deidara's visible eye twitched, his usual smirk faltering ever so slightly as he watched the arc of lightning rip through his carefully crafted swarm of clay constructs. The electricity danced along their bodies, defusing the volatile chakra he'd meticulously molded. The constructs fell apart mid-air, nothing more than harmless fragments of clay tumbling to the desert below.
"Tch," Deidara muttered under his breath, his fingers moving faster, molding another lump of clay with practiced precision. His eye narrowed, scanning Naruto as the jinchūriki surged closer, the glow of his staff oscillating between lavender and sharp electric blue. "Lightning," he growled, a mix of irritation and genuine surprise threading his voice. "Since when does he use lightning?"
The question gnawed at him, though he quickly masked the unease with his usual bravado. "Well, aren't you full of surprises, yeah," he called out, his grin returning, though it didn't quite reach his eye. "No matter. Lightning or not, you're just a brat playing with chakra. Let's see how long that lasts!"
Inside, though, his confidence wavered. 'Lightning neutralizes my explosives… and he's already figured that out. Damn jinchūriki. He's not just throwing power around—he's learning, adapting.' The thought grated at him. Deidara prided himself on being unpredictable, on forcing his opponents to react to his artistic creations. Yet here was Naruto, dismantling his strategy piece by piece, his glowing eyes analyzing everything with unnerving precision.
Deidara felt a flicker of unease creep into his chest. 'This isn't the same kid from Konoha. This one's sharper, faster, stronger—and worse, he's stubborn as hell.' He molded another clay creation, his fingers moving more urgently now. He couldn't afford to let the brat get any closer. "Persistent little—" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "No. He's just another obstacle to crush under my art. That's all."
But the doubt lingered.
With Naruto
Naruto didn't miss the shift in Deidara's demeanor, the momentary crack in his façade. It wasn't much, but it was enough to push his determination even higher. As he swung his staff, lightning crackling along its length, a memory surfaced—one of discovery, frustration, and growth.
Flashback Begin
It's after a few weeks of his Tenchigan awakening. The serene tranquility of the toad sanctuary contrasted sharply with Naruto's own inner chaos. Jiraiya and the elder toads had been experimenting with the unique abilities of his Tenchigan, urging him to unlock its potential. At first, Naruto had struggled to manage the sheer influx of information his eyes provided—the flow of natural energy, the threads of chakra, and the subtle patterns of elemental affinities that surrounded him.
"Yer dojutsu ain't just for seein', Naruto-chan,"Fukasaku had said one afternoon, perched on a mossy boulder as he observed Naruto's training. The elder toad's eyes glimmered with wisdom as he watched the blonde attempt to channel wind chakra into a simple jutsu. "It's for understandin'. Yer body, yer chakra, even the elements—they're all connected. That's the key."
Jiraiya, standing nearby with his arms crossed, chimed in, his tone thoughtful but firm. "The way it lets you perceive energy flows… it's almost like the Rinnegan in its scope. But this isn't just seeing chakra. This is something deeper."
Naruto had frowned then, his fists clenching as he struggled to maintain the balance of wild lightning energy sparking between his palms. "Yeah, well, if it's deeper, it's also more annoying," he grumbled. The crackling arcs lashed out unpredictably, forcing him to break concentration. "It's like the chakra doesn't wanna listen sometimes."
Fukasaku gave a low hum of approval. "Aye, 'cause it's new to ya. But give it time. If ya can see the flow of chakra, ya can guide it, control it. Like guiding a river instead of trying to dam it up."
Naruto had gritted his teeth, frustrated but unwilling to give up. "If I can guide it, I can beat it," he'd muttered under his breath, his determination pushing him to try again.
Jiraiya's gaze lingered on the arcs of electricity sparking in Naruto's hands. The sight brought an unbidden memory to his mind, one of another boy—Nagato, with his fiery red hair and metallic, ringed eyes. He had seen how the Rinnegan granted its wielder an inherent mastery over all elements, simplifying what should have been a complex process of learning and refinement. But this was different. Naruto's progress wasn't because of an innate mastery like the Rinnegan bestowed. No, this was something else entirely.
Jiraiya had rubbed his chin, his expression pensive as he voiced his thoughts. "The Rinnegan makes elemental mastery natural, like it's hardwired into you. But what you're doing, Naruto… it's not the same. It's like your Tenchigan doesn't just give you access—it lets you understand, analyze, and adapt in real-time. That's why you're picking up these affinities so quickly. But it's not a shortcut; it's work."
Fukasaku had nodded sagely. "He's right, Naruto-chan. The Rinnegan gives, but yer dojutsu makes ya earn it. And what ya earn sticks with ya stronger. That's why this'll be worth it in the long run."
Naruto had paused at that, the lightning energy in his hands stabilizing momentarily. "It's not about power," he'd murmured to himself. "It's about control. Okay… let's try again."
Flashback End
The memory faded as Naruto swung his staff, the crackling lightning slicing through the desert air. His Tenchigan flared, its intricate patterns glowing with intensity as he tracked Deidara's next move. 'They were right,' he thought, his grip tightening. 'It's not just about power. It's about control. And I'm getting there.'
The arcs of lightning defused another incoming explosive, scattering harmless fragments of clay across the sky. Naruto surged forward, the air around him crackling with the confidence of someone who had earned every ounce of his growing strength.
With Sasori
From the ground below, Sasori watched the battle with narrowed eyes. His gaze flicked between the arcs of lightning crackling through the sky and Deidara's increasingly frantic movements. His fingers twitched almost unconsciously, as if itching to control another puppet, but he remained still, his frustration simmering beneath his cold exterior.
"Pathetic," he muttered, his voice low and venomous. "Deidara's losing control of the situation."
His sharp eyes tracked Naruto's movements, analyzing the jinchūriki's patterns. The boy was fast—too fast. The glowing staff and the radiant energy of his Tenchigan created an almost ethereal figure against the desert backdrop. Yet it wasn't just raw power; it was precision, adaptability. Every swing, every counter, was calculated, dismantling Deidara's efforts with growing efficiency.
But the boy wasn't the only problem. Sasori's own battlefield below was far from under control. When Naruto's clones first swarmed him, Sasori had dismissed them as mere distractions, unworthy of serious effort. But now, as the relentless tide of shadow clones tore through his puppets, he knew he had gravely underestimated them.
The clones weren't just mindless copies—they were strategic and coordinated. Initially, they had fought with a mix of wind-enhanced strikes and calculated defensive maneuvers, but everything had shifted the moment the original Naruto began using lightning. It was as if they had taken that as their cue to escalate. They surged forward with unrelenting ferocity, wielding Rasengans, hurling explosive tags, and working in seamless unison to dismantle his army.
One clone darted through the chaos, spinning a Rasengan into the chest of a puppet, shattering it into splinters. Another clone hurled a barrage of explosive tags, forcing Sasori to pull his puppets back to avoid the fiery blasts. Each attack came with precision and purpose, systematically thinning his numbers.
Sasori's jaw tightened as he guided more of his puppets into the fray, but it was clear he was losing ground. The once-imposing wave of wooden and metal warriors was now a scattering of broken limbs and shattered weapons. The clones were dismantling his forces faster than he could deploy them. The best he could do was to dispel one of them. After that, whenever one of his puppets neared the clones, they would send a tornado of wind defensively, making it harder for his puppets.
"Annoying pests," Sasori hissed under his breath. He flicked his fingers sharply, summoning his strongest weapons. From his cloak emerged two more of his most prized puppets: the Mother and Father puppets, each armed with their devastating arsenal.
The battlefield seemed to still momentarily as the two puppets moved into position alongside the Third Kazekage puppet, their presence exuding an ominous aura. The Third Kazekage floated gracefully, its iron sand already swirling menacingly in the air. The Mother and Father puppets moved with synchronized precision, their bladed arms and concealed weapons glinting under the fading light.
Sasori's irritation deepened as he watched his prized puppets engage the clones. Despite their overwhelming firepower, the clones continued to fight back fiercely. One clone managed to deflect an iron sand spear with a Rasengan, the impact sending sand scattering across the battlefield. Another clone used the explosion of a tag to temporarily disrupt the synchronization of the Mother and Father puppets, forcing Sasori to recalibrate their movements.
"This wasn't supposed to be a spectacle," Sasori growled, his fingers tightening around the chakra threads as he worked to maintain control over the increasingly chaotic battle. He couldn't afford to lose these puppets, but the clones were leaving him with little choice. "If Deidara doesn't finish this soon, I will."
His cold eyes flicked back to the sky, narrowing as Naruto surged closer to Deidara again. The jinchūriki was proving far more resilient—and far more dangerous—than anticipated. His use of lightning chakra had turned the tide above, destabilizing Deidara's clay creations and rendering his explosive attacks ineffective. Sasori recognized the careful strategy at play, and it only added to his irritation.
"He's just a boy," Sasori muttered, though the words carried a weight of frustration. His puppets, his battlefield, even Deidara—everything was unraveling. "But even the strongest tools can break. I'll make sure of it."
As the clones continued their assault and the battle above raged on, Sasori's mind raced. He was a man of precision and control, a master of crafting perfect puppets and executing flawless strategies. Yet here he stood, watching his carefully orchestrated plans fall apart at the hands of a boy and his clones. It was unacceptable.
The puppet master's gaze darkened, his fingers twitching as he prepared his next move. If Deidara couldn't handle the jinchūriki, Sasori would ensure the situation was brought under control—one way or another.
Meanwhile
The desert stretched endlessly beneath the fading hues of twilight, its vast expanse broken only by the distant glow of battle. Flashes of lightning carved jagged streaks across the horizon, illuminating the ever-darkening sky. Explosions thundered in the distance, their fiery bursts briefly igniting the shadows. The charged hum of raw chakra thickened the air, mingling with the acrid scent of scorched sand.
From the north, two figures approached the chaos with deliberate, measured steps, their silhouettes cutting stark lines against the fading sun. Each movement carried an oppressive weight, as if the very desert recoiled at their presence. There was no urgency in their pace—only inevitability, like wolves circling a wounded prey.
The taller of the two strode with an air of ease, his Akatsuki cloak swaying gently with each step. Hoshigaki Kisame's predatory grin gleamed faintly in the dim light, serrated teeth flashing as he turned his gaze toward the source of the explosions. The bandaged mass of Samehada rested lazily against his shoulder, but the sword's faint hum betrayed its eagerness, as though it could sense the energy permeating the battlefield ahead.
"Quite the light show," Kisame said, his gravelly voice tinged with amusement. He gestured toward the chaos with a tilt of his chin. "Looks like Deidara's having some fun up there. But I didn't think the brat would give Sasori this much trouble."
Beside him, Uchiha Itachi moved with unsettling calm, his Sharingan glowing faintly beneath the folds of his cloak. His expression was impassive, the faint flicker of his crimson eyes betraying nothing as they analyzed the distant battlefield. Where Kisame's demeanor radiated a predatory thrill, Itachi's was cold and calculating, his every movement precise.
"Uzumaki Naruto," Itachi said quietly, his voice as steady as the desert wind. "He has grown stronger since our encounter in Konoha. Stronger than they anticipated."
Kisame chuckled, a low and rumbling sound that echoed across the empty sands. "Stronger, huh? That makes it more fun for us, doesn't it, Itachi-san? I've been itching to get in on the action."
Itachi didn't respond immediately, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed the distant figures. Naruto's glowing Tenchigan cut through the haze of explosions, his movements sharp and deliberate as he deflected Deidara's clay creations with bursts of wind and lightning chakra. Below, his clones swarmed Sasori's puppets with relentless coordination, dismantling the puppet master's forces piece by piece.
"He's not the same boy we faced before," Itachi said at last, his tone calm but edged with certainty. "And his resilience will not be easily broken."
Kisame's grin widened, his teeth glinting like a predator scenting blood. "Resilience, eh? Let's see how long that lasts when we get to him. Samehada's been starving for something interesting."
Itachi's gaze shifted slightly, his Sharingan locking onto Naruto as he deflected another wave of explosive clay. "We don't have the luxury of waiting," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "Leader-sama's patience is not infinite. We've delayed long enough."
Kisame let out a low laugh, adjusting Samehada on his shoulder. "Leader-sama's patience, huh? Guess we'd better not disappoint him. Can't have Deidara and Sasori messing this up either. Let's finish this before they make more of a mess."
And Cut.
That's it for this chapter folks. Hope you liked the surprise!
AN:
Damn, that's a fun chapter filled with action. Let me know how the scenes flowed as I had to eliminate 2k words since I felt it's essentially repeating what is already written in some way. This chapter finally shows Naruto's combat capacity against Akatsuki, especially the artist duo. His staff seems special hmm. Before it used Wind and now it's conducting lightning, what's next? It's gonna whip out some water?
Coming to the end, what do you think the well-mannered gentlemen in the end want? Whatever it is, they definitely don't want to disappoint their Leader.
Let me know in your reviews and do share your feedback and suggestions!
I'm very delighted to share that you can now read 2 early chapters on my patron. My user name is same BlackInfinity1289 on patron website.
Note: They are early access only, they will be eventually released here as well.
Also, if you want discuss about the story or the ideas, you can join my discord server. I go by Henry there, give me a ping to say hi.
link: discord. gg / SPsSwAcq4b
Hope to see you there!
Thank you for reading.
Good Day!
Black Infinity 1289,
Ja Ne.