Black Zetsu: Obito, I see you're just reluctant to part with Kakashi, aren't you?

The white clay bird crafted by Deidara soared above!

"Deidara-senpai, Sasori-senpai, those look like Konoha ninja?"

Uchiha Obito, disguised as the Akatsuki intern "Tobi," pointed at Kakashi and the others ahead with an exaggerated voice, shouting at the hunched Sasori and the blond-haired Deidara in front: "But why do those two Konoha ninja look just like the First Hokage and Second Hokage from the Konoha Ninja Rock?"

"Could it be—ghosts?"

With that, Tobi cowered behind Deidara in a feigned fright: "Deidara-senpai, protect me. You know I'm terrified of nasty things."

Deidara shoved Tobi away with a look of disgust: "As an Akatsuki intern, how can you be such a coward?"

"Even if that really is the First and Second Hokage, it's nothing to get worked up over, yeah."

"At this rate, when will you ever become a full Akatsuki member?"

"Impure World Reincarnation?" Sasori ignored Tobi's antics, his gaze fixed ahead on Senju Tobirama, Kakashi, Hyuga Nozomu, who were watching him warily, and Senju Hashirama, who was simply staring back. His voice was low: "Is it that Hyuga Chiba, or—is there someone else inside Sunagakure?"

As an S-Rank Rogue Ninja from Sunagakure, Sasori knew well what the people of this village were capable of.

Not only was "Impure World Reincarnation" a Konoha jutsu, but even if Rasa and his men were given the method to learn it, they likely couldn't master it, and they'd have almost no chance of obtaining samples of the First and Second Hokage's bodies.

"Impure World Reincarnation? I recall that's a jutsu invented by the Second Hokage to temporarily bring the dead back to the world, yeah." After hearing Sasori's words, Deidara thought for a moment, then asked: "Sasori-danna, are you interested in the First and Second Hokage?"

At this, Sasori shook his head, somewhat disappointed: "If the First and Second Hokage were alive, I'd be interested in turning them into my human puppets."

"But unfortunately, they're only Impure World Reincarnation bodies now—they can't realize my art."

Sasori wasn't actually that old, and he had already turned the Third Kazekage into a human puppet.

So in his eyes, Konoha's First and Second Hokage were no different from the average Kage Level of other villages.

"Sasori-danna, you're wrong there." Deidara didn't mind most of Sasori's words, but the moment he heard the keyword "art," he immediately retorted: "Art is an explosion."

"Only that instant burst of flame is the most perfect art, yeah."

Hearing this, Sasori replied with some displeasure: "Something that fades in an instant—what art is there in that?"

"Only by turning them into puppets, eternal in this world, is true art."

"No, art is the instant explosion, not some eternal puppet, yeah." On a matter concerning his art, Deidara refused to back down and continued to argue.

"Deidara, are you trying to make me angry?" Sasori's voice turned cold, and from behind him extended a scorpion-like iron tail puppet mechanism, its tip dripping with some kind of poison.

"I won't yield on art, yeah." Deidara also reached his right hand, which had a mouth on its palm, into the pouch at his right waist, ready to pull out his explosive clay.

"Alright, alright." Seeing the atmosphere growing tense, Tobi quickly stepped in to mediate: "Deidara-senpai, Sasori-senpai, don't get worked up."

"Don't forget, the leader's mission for us is to recruit Konoha's S-Rank Rogue Ninja, that Hyuga brat Hyuga Chiba with the Tenseigan, into Akatsuki."

"If he refuses, kill him and bring back his Tenseigan."

"According to the intel from Zetsu, Hyuga Chiba entered Sunagakure likely to kill the One-Tailed Jinchuriki, seize the One-Tail, and become the new One-Tailed Jinchuriki himself."

"That way, he can gain an endless supply of chakra and keep activating that terrifying-sounding 'Tenseigan Chakra Mode'."

"If he actually succeeds, whether we want to recruit him or kill him and take his eyes, it'll be a lot more troublesome."

"Senpai, how about you two save the arguing until after the mission?"

"Hmph!" Deidara pulled his right hand out of the pouch, snorting lightly: "What Tenseigan, One-Tailed Jinchuriki—am I supposed to be afraid of him?"

"Who do you think I am? I'll just fly my explosive giant bird over there, yeah."

"As expected of Deidara-senpai, not even batting an eye at a Tenseigan user with the One-Tail." Seeing this, Tobi immediately laid on a flurry of flattery.

"Enough talk." Deidara cut off Tobi's praise, then asked: "I recall the leader only sent the two of us to recruit Hyuga Chiba. Why did you, an intern, insist on tagging along?"

"If we really end up fighting Hyuga Chiba, we can't protect you, yeah."

"That is a bit odd." Sasori also stared at Tobi, his gaze growing suspicious: "You were suddenly brought in by the leader, and we know nothing about your past."

"And now you're so eager to come with us—what exactly is your goal?"

"Oh, Deidara-senpai, Sasori-senpai, don't look at me like that—I'll get shy." Tobi quickly covered his face, already hidden behind a mask, and shouted: "It's just because I'm an intern that I want to become a full member like you two as soon as possible, so I came along to learn."

As if to change the subject, or for some other purpose, Tobi pointed ahead at Kakashi and the others, who were staring back with bewildered expressions, and said: "The First and Second Hokage both came from Sunagakure's side, so they must be connected to Hyuga Chiba."

"The other two Konoha ninja might also become obstacles."

"How about you two senpai go to Sunagakure first to recruit Hyuga Chiba, and leave these Konoha ninja to me?"

"You want to take on two Konoha Jonin and the Impure World Reincarnation First and Second Hokage alone?" Hearing Tobi's words, Sasori grew even more wary.

After all, even for him and Deidara, dealing with Kakashi and the others now wouldn't be easy.

Otherwise, they'd have already taken care of those annoying eyesores.

"Hehe!" Tobi scratched his head sheepishly: "Sasori-senpai, don't look at me like that."

"Fight them? I definitely can't beat them."

"But stalling them for a while, I'm fairly confident I can manage."

"Still, I can't hold them off for long—senpai, you'll have to move fast."

At that moment, Zetsu, observing from underground—or rather, Black Zetsu within him—couldn't help but curse inwardly: "This fool!"

Tobi, in his Tobi guise, had stuck close to Deidara and the others to make it easier to strike at Hyuga Chiba.

But Black Zetsu hadn't expected that the moment this guy saw Kakashi, it was like he was bewitched—he dared to change the plan on the fly without consulting him.