Encounter (Part Two)

Qi Shuang was just about to look up when a massive white centipede burst from the ground beside his feet and wound its way up his legs.

"Deidara?" Seeing the white centipede, he guessed the newcomer's identity.

The white centipede was made of clay, and throughout the entire ninja world, Deidara was the only one who used clay in battle.

However, his opponent had acted so quickly that he clearly had no intention of giving Qi Shuang a chance to respond.

Just then, an excited voice came from the sky.

"Art is an explosion! Katsu—"

The white centipede wrapped around Qi Shuang exploded on cue.

Boom!

Crimson flames instantly swallowed him. Aside from that blinding red light, nothing could be seen. His ears rang with a thunderous roar, leaving his scalp numb from the shock.

He felt as if an elephant had slammed into him head-on. A terrifying force sent him flying the instant the explosion went off.

Although the semi-fluid ice slurry covering his body protected him, the terrifying shockwave still left his blood and qi churning, making him extremely uncomfortable.

The violent impact also completely interrupted his technique, separating him from Kakuzu.

At the same time, a young man with a yellow ponytail rode a white monstrous bird through the sky, diving toward the humanoid ice sculpture that had been blasted away.

It was Deidara, the other Akatsuki member partnered with Kakuzu.

In an instant, the monstrous bird seized the humanoid ice sculpture, and Deidara used the momentum to haul it onto the bird's back.

At that moment, Kakuzu was almost completely encased in ice. Only his head remained outside, leaving him in an extremely awkward state.

"Senior Kakuzu, you owe me one today! Hmm..." Deidara gazed at the humanoid ice sculpture with unconcealed smugness.

That fellow Kakuzu