Seeing the Clay Birds flying toward him, the Second Tsuchikage swiftly leaped to the side, avoiding the explosions.
He spun once in midair, but his hands had already come together before him.
"Can't use Dust Release?"
Mu's calm voice came from behind the bandages, making it impossible to tell whether it was a question or a faint disappointment.
Between his palms, a milky-white sphere of light rapidly condensed. The cylindrical mass of energy radiated a chilling pressure.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World."
The instant his words fell, the milky-white beam shot from between his palms like a spear of light piercing heaven and earth, heading straight for Deidara.
Deidara's pupils suddenly contracted.
As Ōnoki's disciple, he was more familiar with this attack than anyone.
He understood the power of Dust Release better than anyone else.
Without a moment's hesitation, he yanked hard on the Clay Bird's control strings. The giant clay bird rolled sideways like a startled sparrow, and the beam skimmed past the edge of its wing, instantly breaking half of it down into atoms without leaving even a scrap behind.
Deidara clicked his tongue and quickly guided the damaged bird into a glide toward the distance. At the same time, he gradually moved in another direction, trying to draw the fight away from the main battlefield so the Fourth Division would not be caught up in it.
Mu hovered in the air, watching the white figure retreat into the distance. A barely noticeable hint of approval seemed to flash through his hollow eyes.
Without hesitation, he moved, rising into the sky like a silent gust of wind as he pursued Deidara.
Elsewhere, Ning Xue stood where he was, looking at the Third Raikage before turning his gaze to the Second Mizukage.
He fell silent for a