Deidara, the fleeting artist

Hozuki Mangetsu leads the group, followed closely by Kimimaro, Karin, and Yakumo.

The four of them, clearly outsiders, walked the streets of Kumogakure, making it difficult for them to go unnoticed.

"Hmph, isn't this the guy from the Land of Water?" A haughty voice rang out. The four looked in the direction of the voice and saw an Old Man with a bulbous nose leading a large group of ninjas standing behind them.

Through Ōnoki Hozuki Mangetsu's perspective, Tōka could clearly see everything that was happening here.

Kimimaro, Karin, Yakumo stood Budong behind Hozuki Mangetsu, already knowing that the guy in front of them was Tōka's puppet.

Therefore, the three wisely chose to remain silent.

"Is Kirigakure out of people? They actually sent out such a brat?" Ōnoki glanced at Karin, looking at the group with suspicion.

This time, Kirigakure agreed to help, but considering the situation in the Land of Water, they couldn't send a very strong team.

But surely we can't send a bunch of insignificant kids who aren't even cannon fodder to just be there as bystanders?

"That's enough of a brat," Hozuki Mangetsu said coldly, turning and leaving without paying attention to Ōnoki's gloomy, dark expression.

"Hmph, Hozuki Mangetsu..." Ōnoki stared coldly at the group from Kirigakure.

Unlike the group from Iwagakure, Hozuki Mangetsu and his companions headed in a completely different direction and entered the central commercial area of Kumogakure.

On the bustling streets, the customs and traditions of the Land of Lightning are quite different from those of the Great Nations.

"Do you feel anything different about the Land of Lightning?" Hozuki Mangetsu grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.

"Black," Yakumo said rather subtly.

"Ugly," Karin said bluntly.

"Strong." Kimimaro was more normal, noticing the physical attributes of most people in the Land of Lightning: tall, strong, and with a healthy tan.

"Let's go to the inn first, then check out the Kumogakure's Ninja Academy." Hozuki Mangetsu offered no comment on the three's answer.

Meanwhile, Tōka, who was observing all of this from Hozuki Mangetsu's perspective, secretly commented on the three people's observation points.

In other words, the two little girls only focused on appearance, which is completely unacceptable for a ninja.

Only Kimimaro noticed Tōka wanted the three of them to see.

Kumogakure is a martial arts-oriented ninja village that possesses two Jinchūriki, the Two-Tails and the Eight-Tails, and emphasizes swordsmanship and Taijutsu.

Learn Lightning Release, master Lightning Release, and use Lightning Release to stimulate the body and activate cell activity to reach the body's strongest state!

The Cloud Ninja's fighting style is simple and direct, with high burst damage and high output. Most of their ninjas focus on training in both Ninjutsu and Taijutsu.

The four checked into an inn and then headed directly to the Ninja Academy in Kumogakure.

Kumogakure is built among towering mountain peaks, where deafening thunder echoes in the sky. Rivers in the central mountain range create a winding coastline at their estuary, resulting in numerous Hot Spring areas within the Land of Lightning.

The Land of Lightning reveres martial prowess. From the Raikage down to the Cloud Ninja, and even the students in the schools, everyone is a true martial arts fighter.

Bang bang bang!

Beyond a mountain peak, the school of Kumogakure is built atop the Cloud Gorge, requiring students to climb hundreds of meters of peak every day to get to school.

It is a form of physical training for students, conducted day after day, year after year.

Hozuki Mangetsu and his group of four leisurely climbed the Cloud Gorge. Hozuki Mangetsu and Kimimaro had enough stamina to not even have a problem sprinting at full speed.

However, Yakumo and Karin, who was only six years old, did not have that kind of stamina.

Sudden!

Three dark figures descended from the sky, tracing an arc in the air as they flew straight down the hillside. Hozuki Mangetsu, with lightning speed, grabbed Yakumo and Karin, one in each hand.

Whoosh!

He dodged with a Body Flicker Technique.

Bang bang bang!!

A white shadow flashed by, Kimimaro kicked the three of them back one by one. Although the method was a bit rough, it prevented the three brats from rolling down the hillside.

Immediately afterwards, a boy with long blond Long Hair and wearing Stone Ninja Forehead Protector walked down, his fists clenched.

"That Old Man is really useless; he can't even handle such weak Cloud Ninja!... Hmm!"

Deidara arrogantly stepped on a ten-year-old boy's head, and no matter how hard the boy struggled, he couldn't get up.

"Deidara, don't cause trouble, okay?" Kurotsuchi was two years younger, followed along with a helpless expression, followed by a large, easygoing fat man at the very back.

Upon seeing this scene, Hozuki Mangetsu —no, Tōka, who was controlling Hozuki Mangetsu— raised an eyebrow slightly. These were Deidara, Kurotsuchi, and Akatsuchi from Iwagakure!

Ōnoki even brought his own granddaughter?

You're very confident!

"Kimimaro, go test that blond guy's strength," Hozuki Mangetsu said in a deep voice. Kimimaro had already awakened the Shikotsumyaku, so his combat power shouldn't be inferior to Deidara's at the same age.

Kimimaro would likely not utter a single word more than ordered by Tōka.

In an instant, Kimimaro's gentle aura changed drastically, becoming cold, sharp, and filled with a murderous intent.

Deidara and his two companions, who were not far away, had obviously also noticed the commotion on Kimimaro's side.

"Oh? Finally, some interesting guys have arrived!... Hmm!" Deidara's eyes gleamed with excitement, and one hand was already reaching into the satchel at his waist.

The mouth in its palm tore off a piece of Explosive Tag clay and chewed it continuously.

Hozuki Mangetsu, carrying Yakumo and Karin, sank into the ground, then gathered his strength and leaped high onto a tall rock.

Looking down, the view encompasses the entire Battlefield below.

Puff puff...

Deidara raised his hand and flung out three small, white, clay birds made from Explosive Clay from his palm. The birds were incredibly fast, almost like thrown Shuriken.

Three small birds, forming a triangular shape, flapped their wings and flew straight towards Kimimaro.

Kimimaro was unsure of Deidara's abilities, but his fighting instincts told him that he absolutely could not allow this strange flying object to get close.

"Drink!"

Deidara clasped his hands together, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes.

Jutsu Formula activation!

The three small birds surrounding Kimimaro exploded with a loud bang, and a cloud of white smoke completely enveloped Kimimaro.

Visibility was obscured by smoke and dust, making it difficult for ordinary eyes to see through.

"Deidara, you went too far!" Kurotsuchi complained from the side, feeling a headache coming on, wondering how she was going to explain it to the Old Man later.

"That guy isn't dead yet!... Hmm!" Deidara was stunned for a moment, then revealed a look of manic excitement.

Only by blowing up the powerful can his art be elevated!

Deidara swung his arm, and a ball of Explosive Clay shot out from his palm. With a "poof," a huge cloud of White Smoke rose up, and the Explosive Clay transformed into a giant bird.

Deidara leaped and landed behind the giant white bird, which flapped its wings and soared into the sky.

At the same time, Kimimaro, whose body was covered with countless white bones, emerged from the smoke.

The little bird was very fast, and Deidara had the initiative, so Kimimaro didn't have time to dodge. That's why he chose to use his bones to defend.

"The ability to fly..." Kimimaro stared expressionlessly at Deidara in the sky. After a brief exchange, both sides had gained a general understanding of each other's abilities.

"Ordinary bombs can't break through the defenses? Then let's try the C1 bomb first... Hmm!" Deidara clasped his hands together in a mudra, forming the seals of the zodiac signs.

A whole bunch of tiny white spiders crawled out of the mouth in my palm.

C1· Clay Spider, resembling a small spider, can climb onto a person and explode. It has the least explosive power and belongs to the category of small-scale Explosive Clay.

It is primarily used in covert operations or to stage surprise attacks.

Deidara's purpose here is to test Kimimaro's speed and defensive capabilities!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

Countless tiny spiders descended from the sky, and the sky was filled with white, round objects, like a large snowflake gradually enlarging as it fell.

"Is it still a bomb? At this level, just dodge..."

The thought flashed through his mind, Kimimaro's eyes narrowed as he locked onto the spot where the little spider had landed. He bent over slightly.

The movement resembled that of a cheetah about to pounce on its prey.

"Right here!" Kimimaro's pupils contracted slightly, and with a leap, the chakra gathered in his feet exploded instantly.

His body suddenly shot backward.

However, Deidara's little spider can be controlled remotely, and its hind legs are exceptionally thick and long, making it adept at jumping and chasing enemies!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

Countless tiny spiders charged up and leaped high. These spiders, no bigger than a thumb, possessed astonishing jumping ability, and with one leap, they brought Kimimaro right up to him.

He was only three steps away from Kimimaro's face!

Like a shadow in the darkness, it followed closely as the body moved.

"Drink!" Deidara, high in the sky, saw this, his eyes narrowed, and he raised his Sword Hand Seal and shouted loudly.

The Jutsu Formula was activated, Explosive Clay became extremely unstable.

Rumble!!

Like tiny spiders, densely packed with dandruff and debris, suddenly exploding, the layers of shockwaves stacking together to form a massive shockwave.

Kimimaro had no idea that Deidara's little spider was this fast; not only could it keep up with him, but it was even faster.

At the most critical moment, Kimimaro simply adopted the most basic defensive posture, crossing his arms in front of him and burying his face in his arms.

The shockwave struck suddenly, Kimimaro's body was instantly thrown back!

Bang!

With a loud crash, Kimimaro slammed straight into a giant rock. The hard rock shattered, and dark cracks spread from the middle to both sides.

Sand and gravel flew everywhere, and dust billowed up.

"He should be dead... um." Deidara sat on the giant bird circling in the air, staring down in confusion. Smoke and dust completely engulfed Kimimaro, and he couldn't see what was happening below.

Sudden!

A cold, deep voice rang out.

"Finger Bullet!"

A pair of slender arms were raised high, fingers spread out and pointed at the giant bird in the air.

Puff puff puff!!

The ten finger Finger Bones were launched out like bullets in an instant. Using the power of the Shikotsumyaku, the Finger Bones could grow indefinitely, and even if all the Finger Bones were launched, they could be recreated.

Its attack power is so great that it can easily penetrate even stone slabs!

Deidara, who was preparing to descend and investigate the situation, was caught off guard by the sudden long-range attack and kicked himself away.

The Finger Bones pierced through the giant bird's wing, causing the bird to lose its balance instantly and crash to the ground like a plane.

Deidara, who had just leaped out of the giant bird, changed his hand seals, and another large white bird emerged from the mouth in his palm.

He flipped over and sat back on the large bird, avoiding a heavy crash to the ground and injury.

Kimimaro's expression darkened, his gaze hardening. He lowered his stance, gathering chakra in his legs, preparing to leap high...

Suddenly, Hozuki Mangetsu's voice rang in my ears.

That's enough, that's fine.

Before anyone knew it, Hozuki Mangetsu had already appeared beside Kimimaro, with Yakumo and Karin following behind him.

At the same time, an Old Man with a bulbous nose inexplicably floated in the sky behind Deidara.

He stretched out his hands and placed them on the large bird beneath Deidara, shouting, "Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique!"

The weight of the giant bird beneath Deidara suddenly doubled, and its flapping wings could no longer support the terrifying Gravity.

With a whoosh!

The giant bird, along with Deidara himself, plummeted like an arrow released from a bow.

Boom!

The earth seemed to have been cracked open, and thick smoke billowed over, engulfing the entire mountainside.

Ōnoki landed lightly, just as Deidara climbed out of the rubble, Dust-Covered and glaring at Ōnoki.

"Old Man, you want to kill me, don't you... um!" Deidara groaned, rubbing his backside that had been smashed into four pieces.

"Hmph!" Ōnoki snorted coldly without replying, and instead turned to look at Hozuki Mangetsu and his group.

To be precise, Ōnoki's gaze fell on Kimimaro was standing next to Hozuki Mangetsu.

Is it the Bone Release Secret Technique of Kirigakure, or the Shikotsumyaku) of the Kirigakure Kaguya Clan?

Could the other two be the new generation of powerful members of the Yuki Clan and Hozuki Clan?

"Hozuki Mangetsu, the kid next to you is quite strong!" Ōnoki asked with a smile, just as he wouldn't fully reveal his power to Kakuzu and Sasori.

Ōnoki had no idea how many powerful warriors Kirigakure had mobilized for the Lightning Prison Plan.

If the three major families of the Land of Water could send their members, that would be great...

"How can anyone compare to the Tsuchikage's beloved disciple?" Hozuki Mangetsu replied with a forced smile. Trying to trick him into revealing anything? No way!

"Haha! Did you hear that, Old Man? People can appreciate my art!... Hmm!"

Before Ōnoki Mirai speak, Deidara, who had just finished combing his messy hair, jumped out first, grinning from ear to ear, and burst into laughter.

Kurotsuchi stood behind Deidara with a helpless expression, shrugging at Ōnoki.

"Hey, you guys think my art is perfect too, right?... Yeah!" Deidara asked himself, rubbing his chin, completely oblivious to Ōnoki's face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Heh... Your disciple is quite interesting, Tsuchikage!" Hozuki Mangetsu smiled faintly, then led Kimimaro and the other two away.

Upon hearing this, a vein bulged on Ōnoki's forehead, and he glared coldly at Deidara, who seemed to lack common sense.

As the disciple of the Tsuchikage, this idiot has completely disgraced the entire Land of Earth!

"You idiot, which eye of yours saw anyone appreciating your art?" Ōnoki angrily punched Deidara, sending him flying.

That's clearly mocking you!