Akatsuki... The Akatsuki Organization?!

They never expected that they would run into someone from the Uchiha Clan while trying to capture Deidara!

It could only be said that they were incredibly unlucky!

Uchiha Yu didn't waste any breath; to him, these three genin weren't even worth a warm-up.

In a few swift moves, without even using ninjutsu, he wiped out all three ninjas using only Konoha-Style Taijutsu.

"With strength like that, you dare to oppose me? Truly, morality has collapsed and the world is going to the dogs."

Uchiha Yu shook his head helplessly. Could just anyone challenge him these days?

Deidara looked at Uchiha Yu in astonishment, too excited to speak.

"Are you from the Uchiha Clan? You're so strong!"

Although Deidara could have dealt with those cannon-fodder ninjas himself, it certainly wouldn't have been as effortless as it was for Uchiha Yu.

Uchiha Yu clapped his hands and said, "My name is Uchiha Yu, and naturally, I am of the Uchiha Clan."

Before Deidara could say another word, a strange sound echoed from behind them.

"Uchiha Yu? Are you Uchiha Itachi's younger brother?"

Uchiha Yu turned around immediately, only to see two ninjas appearing behind him.

If they were just ordinary ninjas, it would be one thing, but what nearly suffocated Uchiha Yu was the fact that these two ninjas were...

Hoshigaki Kisame and Sasori!

Sasori was still tucked inside Hiruko, and together with Hoshigaki Kisame, they wore conical hats and the red-cloud robes of the Akatsuki.

The towering Hoshigaki Kisame brought an overwhelming sense of suffocation to Uchiha Yu.

"Who are you..." Uchiha Yu almost blurted out the name "Akatsuki."

But if he really said those three words... he figured he would be finished.

"They're rogue ninjas!"

Deidara looked at the forehead protector on Hoshigaki Kisame and his eyes widened instantly.

Rogue ninjas from the Land of Water!

"Deidara, come with us," Hoshigaki Kisame said to Deidara.

If not for Uchiha Yu, Uchiha Itachi would have returned to the Akatsuki after the Uchiha Clan massacre.

But the awkward part was that Uchiha Itachi was still dutifully serving as a ninja in Konoha.

Therefore, they had no choice but to recruit the ten-year-old Deidara ahead of schedule.

Although he was a bit young, he was a ninja nonetheless, and his strength and potential were quite impressive.

Recruiting Deidara early was the current plan of the Akatsuki.

Cold sweat beaded on Uchiha Yu's forehead.

These two guys were no simpletons, and they weren't the kind of "good" people like Orochimaru or Jiraiya.

If you gave Orochimaru some benefits, he might spare your life, and Jiraiya was certainly not one to kill the innocent.

But Hoshigaki Kisame and Sasori were completely different; the number of ninjas who had died at their hands was countless!

These were true harbingers of doom! Once they made a move, they would be aiming straight for his head!

"You guys go ahead, I'll be taking my leave," Uchiha Yu swallowed hard and began to back away slowly.

Hoshigaki Kisame glanced at Uchiha Yu and said, "Do you want to come with us as well?"

Uchiha Yu froze. Were they trying to recruit him too?

Was the Akatsuki that short on people?

Indeed, if following the original timeline, it should have been Uchiha Itachi who joined them to recruit Deidara.

Moreover, Uchiha Itachi would have done most of the heavy lifting, but now Uchiha Itachi was still a model youth and could not possibly have any dealings with them.

"I'm not going!" Uchiha Yu said. "I feel that your aura is far too lofty and grand; I'm not worthy of your company! The world is vast, so why don't we meet again if fate allows?"

"Whether you go or not is not up to you," Hoshigaki Kisame sneered, his hand slowly reaching toward the Samehada on his back.

Uchiha Yu felt his entire body go cold.

He began to weigh all the resources currently at his disposal.

After thinking it over, Uchiha Yu could only reach one conclusion.

With his current strength, even with his ocular powers fully activated, he was likely no match for Hoshigaki Kisame.

Fighting him head-on would undoubtedly lead to death.

Especially with Sasori standing right there; if he were even slightly careless, he would be turned into a puppet and left to discuss life with the Third Kazekage.

Deidara glanced at Uchiha Yu, then at Sasori and Hoshigaki Kisame, and said, "I'm not going with you! I'm going to Konoha!"

Sasori paused slightly and asked, "Why go to Konoha?"

Deidara put his hands on his hips and said, "Because there are many people in Konoha who recognize my art. They are the ones with true wisdom; I really can't talk to people like you who only know how to use brute force!"

"Art?" Sasori sneered. "Do you even know what true art is?"

Deidara held up a piece of Explosive Clay in his palm and said, "The explosion of that single moment! That is true art!"

Sasori let out a cold huff. "Absurd."

With that, a steel scorpion tail extended from the back of Hiruko and lashed out directly toward Deidara.

"Just come with me quietly." Sasori sneered, as if Deidara were already trapped in his grasp.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Uchiha Yu formed hand seals, and a blast of fire slammed directly into the scorpion tail.

With a boom, the tail was knocked off course, embedding itself into a nearby rock.

Uchiha Yu exhaled a puff of black mist, eyeing Sasori and Hoshigaki Kisame before him.

"I had my eye on Deidara first. Can't you two respect the order of arrival?"

Although Uchiha Yu knew he might not be a match for both of them, he had spent several days traveling just to reach Iwagakure and find Deidara.

It would be infuriating to have Sasori and Hoshigaki Kisame snatch him away now.

"Kid, I was only going to spare your life because you're only seven. Don't push your luck." Sasori's tone suddenly turned sinister.

Uchiha Yu took a deep breath and said, "How about we just sit down and talk this over?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Hiruko's mouth opened, and several poison needles shot toward Uchiha Yu!

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

Uchiha Yu slammed his palm onto the ground, and a tall wall rose up, blocking the needles.

With a series of clicks, the needles struck the wall, leaving a trail of cracks across the Earth Wall.

Such strong piercing power. Uchiha Yu took a deep breath; if they had been just a little bit stronger, he might have been finished.

"Interesting. You live up to the reputation of the Uchiha Clan." Sasori laughed. "If you come with us, I guarantee you will become countless times stronger than you are now."

Uchiha Yu leaped back several steps, standing more than ten meters away from Sasori, and shook his head. "I'll pass. I really don't want to go! Really!"

The Akatsuki organization was powerful, and it was full of talented individuals.

But he had only just turned seven and was already a rogue ninja; what kind of life was that?

Besides, while Pain was the nominal leader of Akatsuki, the true controllers were Obito and Zetsu.

Behind them stood Uchiha Madara and Kaguya Otsutsuki.

Uchiha Yu really did not want to get entangled with them.

Hoshigaki Kisame drew Samehada and said, "Since he refuses, then just kill Uchiha Yu! We'll take Deidara!"