Defeating Deidara

On the border of Iwagakure, in a barren rocky desert.

Xingye walked alone through the desert, his Byakugan scanning everything around him in all directions.

According to the information provided by the system, Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands would be passing through here on their way to the Land of Earth for a mission.

"Deidara," Xingye murmured to himself. "An explosive Earth Release artist, skilled in clay explosions."

"Sasori of the Red Sands, skilled in the Puppet Technique and in possession of the Third Kazekage's puppet."

"The two of them together will certainly be difficult to deal with."

A cold smile flickered across Xingye's eyes.

"But today, they'll be facing me."

Just then, a rumble came from the sky in the distance.

Xingye looked up and saw a huge Clay Bird flying through the air.

Two people sat on its back: on the left was a young man with long blond hair and mouths on his right hand and chest; on the right was a red-haired man completely encased in a puppet.

They were none other than Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands from the Akatsuki.

"Sasori," Deidara said excitedly, "I can sense a powerful chakra up ahead."

"This is sure to be a spectacular artistic performance."

Sasori said coldly, "Deidara, don't forget our mission."

"We're just passing through. There's no need to cause trouble."

Deidara scoffed. "Art is an Explosion. Without explosions, art isn't art."

"Let's see what kind of art the chakra up ahead can create."

Deidara jumped off the Clay Bird and formed hand seals. He spat out clay, which quickly transformed into a giant Clay Bird.

"Go! Art!"

The giant Clay Bird charged at Xingye, then exploded in midair.

A tremendous blast echoed through the desert as clouds of dust billowed everywhere.

But when the dust cleared, Xingye was still standing where he had been, completely unharmed.

Susanoo!

Orange Chakra Armor enveloped Xingye, completely blocking the explosion.

Deidara's pupils contracted. "Susanoo? Another Uchiha?"

Xingye looked at Deidara and said calmly, "Deidara of the Akatsuki, your art is certainly impressive."

"But the art of explosions is meaningless in the face of absolute power."

Deidara flew into a rage. "What do you know about art?"

"Art is the beauty of an instant explosion!"

"I'll show you what real art is!"

Deidara formed hand seals. A large amount of clay poured from his mouth, rapidly forming countless Clay Spiders.

"Go! My army of art!"

Hundreds of Clay Spiders charged at Xingye, each exploding as it drew near him.

Rumble!

The successive explosions shook the entire desert, filling the air with dust.

But Xingye remained standing where he was, Susanoo Healing completely blocking the blasts.

Xingye sneered as his Mangekyō Sharingan slowly began to spin.

"Deidara, is your art nothing but explosions?"

"Let me show you what real art looks like."

Susanoo Second Form!

Chakra formed into a massive samurai's armor, which swung a Chakra Blade at Deidara.

Deidara quickly retreated, creating more Clay Spiders to block Susanoo.

"Sasori!" Deidara shouted. "Are you going to just stand there?"

Sasori sighed, and his puppet began to move.

"Deidara, you're always so impulsive."

The puppet released countless Chakra Threads, connecting the Clay Spiders and forming a huge puppet formation.

"Uchiha Xingye," Sasori said coldly, "your Susanoo is indeed powerful."

"But my Puppet Technique is no simple matter either."

Sasori formed hand seals, and ten puppets charged at Xingye at once.

Each puppet had a different ability: some specialized in poison, some in offense, and others in defense.

Xingye watched the puppets charging toward him as the pattern of his Mangekyō Sharingan changed.

"The Puppet Technique?" Xingye sneered. "Then let's see how strong your puppets really are."

Instead of attacking the puppets directly, Xingye used his Byakugan to lock onto the Chakra Threads.

Through his Byakugan, he could clearly see the Chakra Threads controlling each puppet.

"Found them." A cold glint flashed in Xingye's eyes.

Lightning Release: Chidori!

Xingye vanished in an instant, reappearing in the middle of the puppet formation.

Chidori precisely severed the Chakra Threads controlling all ten puppets.

The puppets immediately lost control and slumped to the ground.

Sasori's pupils contracted. "How can you see the Chakra Threads?"

"Byakugan," Xingye replied.

"No matter how powerful your Puppet Technique is, you still need Chakra Threads to control the puppets."

"Once I cut the threads, your puppets are nothing but scrap metal."

Sasori's expression changed. He had never encountered an opponent who could see through Chakra Threads before.

"Deidara!" Sasori shouted. "Attack with everything you've got!"

Deidara nodded and formed hand seals as a large amount of clay poured from his mouth.

"C3!"

A huge Clay Bomb appeared in Deidara's hand.

"This is art! The art of C3!"

Deidara hurled the Clay Bomb at Xingye, then quickly retreated.

Xingye looked at the enormous Clay Bomb, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"C3? That's certainly powerful."

"But I have ten thousand ways to make it useless."

Instead of using Susanoo Healing to block it, Xingye released the power of his Rinnegan Prototype.

Shinra Tensei!

An invisible repulsive force burst out from Xingye and sent the Clay Bomb flying back into the sky.

The Clay Bomb exploded in midair, sending a huge mushroom cloud rising into the sky.

Deidara stared in shock. "What kind of technique is that?"

"Shinra Tensei," Xingye said. "It uses repulsive force to deflect any attack."

"Your bombs are useless against me."

Deidara's expression changed. For the first time, he had encountered an opponent who could completely counter his abilities.

"Damn Uchiha!" Deidara cursed. "My art is invincible!"

"Art is an Explosion! Without explosions, art isn't art!"

Deidara suddenly formed hand seals, and his body began to glow.

"I'll show you the greatest art of all!"

"C0!"

Xingye's pupils contracted.

C0, Deidara's ultimate technique, turned himself into a massive bomb.

Once activated, it would flatten everything within a few hundred meters.

"Deidara, what are you doing?" Sasori cried in shock.

"Don't mind me, Sasori!" Deidara laughed maniacally. "This is art! The greatest art of all!"

"Art is a moment of brilliance!"

Deidara's body began to swell, on the verge of exploding.

Xingye didn't panic. The pattern of his Mangekyō Sharingan changed.

"Deidara, do you think sacrificing yourself will let you kill me?"

"Then show me how powerful your art is."

Perfect Susanoo Healing!

A gigantic chakra warrior rose from the ground, completely encasing Xingye.

Rumble!

A massive explosion erupted, flattening the entire desert.

When the dust cleared, Susanoo Healing was still standing tall, and Xingye remained completely unharmed.

Deidara, however, had vanished in the explosion.

Sasori watched in silence for a moment.

"Deidara," he murmured, "in the end, you still chose this kind of fate."

Xingye withdrew Susanoo Healing and looked at Sasori.

"Sasori of the Red Sands," Xingye said. "Do you want to keep fighting?"

Sasori fell silent for a moment, then put away his puppet.

"I won't continue," Sasori said flatly. "Deidara is dead. I can't defeat you alone."

"Then will you surrender?" Xingye asked.

"I can spare your life, as long as you join me."

Sasori sneered. "Surrender? I'm Sasori of the Red Sands. I never surrender."

"The Akatsuki's plan is the Eye of the Moon Plan—to plunge the entire Shinobi World into an illusion," Xingye said.

"Are you really willing to become Black Zetsu's pawn?"

Sasori fell silent. "The Eye of the Moon Plan... I've heard of it, but I don't know the details."

"The Eye of the Moon Plan is to trap the entire Shinobi World in the illusion of Infinite Tsukuyomi," Xingye said.

"Everyone will become a puppet, living forever in a false dream."

"And the mastermind behind the Akatsuki isn't the Uchiha Madara you think it is."

"The real mastermind is a being called Black Zetsu."

"He's manipulating Obito and the Akatsuki, all to revive Kaguya Otsutsuki."

Sasori was shocked. "Black Zetsu? Kaguya Otsutsuki? I've never heard those names before."

"You'll learn about them," Xingye said.

"The Akatsuki has been used by Black Zetsu."

"And Sasori, is the art you pursue really about making puppets immortal?"

"Or are you truly seeking eternal art?"

Sasori's pupils contracted, as if Xingye had struck at the heart of his deepest concerns.

Xingye continued, "I know you're pursuing eternal art."

"You turn human bodies into puppets so that your art can last forever."

"But true art isn't about an undying body."

"It's a spirit that can be passed down."

"The Puppet Technique is indeed powerful, but if all you pursue is an undying body, you'll never reach the true realm of art."

Sasori fell silent. Xingye's words had touched the question that troubled him most deep down.

"Then tell me," Sasori said slowly. "What is true art?"

"True art is creation," Xingye replied.

"Not an undying body, but creation that can influence others and change the world."

"Your Puppet Technique is powerful, but if you only use it to fight, it's just a tool."

"But if you use it to create beautiful works that everyone can admire and remember, that's true art."

Sasori was silent for a long time, then finally nodded.

"Perhaps you're right," Sasori said flatly. "I've been pursuing an undying body all this time, yet forgotten the true nature of art."

"Sasori, join me," Xingye said.

"I'll give you a chance to show the world what true art is."

"Together, we'll destroy the Akatsuki and stop the Eye of the Moon Plan."

"Then we'll build a new world, one where art can bloom freely."

Sasori fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Fine," Sasori said. "I'll join you."

The system's notification sounded.

[System Notification: Successfully recruited Sasori of the Red Sands]

[Acquired traits: Recruitment (Blue), Puppet Technique Mastery (Red), Poison Technique Mastery (Purple), Artistic Perception (Blue)]

[Traits plundered from Sasori: Puppet Chakra (Blue), Chakra Control (Green), Perception (Green)]

Xingye was delighted. Puppet Technique Mastery was a red-tier trait, a priceless prize.

Sasori of the Red Sands looked at Xingye and asked, "What do you want me to do next?"

Xingye said, "First, return to the Akatsuki and continue playing your role."

"Don't let anyone else find out that you've betrayed them."

"Second, secretly gather information about the Akatsuki, including their plans, base locations, and members' movements."

"Third, when the time comes, I'll have you help us bring down the Akatsuki from within."

Sasori nodded. "Understood."

Xingye continued, "There's also the matter of Deidara's death."

"I'll report to the Akatsuki that 'Deidara died in battle against me.'"

"That way, the Akatsuki will be wary of me, and we'll be ready for the battles to come."

Sasori nodded. "All right."

Xingye said, "Sasori, the next little while is going to be dangerous."

"The Akatsuki won't be easy to deal with. You'll need to be careful."

Sasori said, "Don't worry. I, Sasori of the Red Sands, won't be so easy to kill."

Xingye nodded. "Good. Then go back."

"I'll contact you and pass along information."

Sasori turned and left, his figure gradually disappearing into the desert.

Xingye stood alone, watching in the direction Sasori had gone.

"That makes two," Xingye murmured. "Kisame and Sasori have both joined my side."

"Next, I'll bring more Akatsuki members over."

The system notification sounded again.

[System Notification: Eight members remain in the Akatsuki]

[Suggestion: Continue recruiting, or directly fight and kill them]

A cold glint flashed in Xingye's eyes.

"Akatsuki, your end is near."

Xingye turned and prepared to return to Konoha.

The next battle was already brewing.