Luring Deidara Away

The golden ¥ symbol smashed straight through the giant shark-shaped water projectile!

"Isn't this chakra? What on earth is this?" Kisame Hoshigaki stared as if he'd just seen the sun rise in the west.

Before he could recover, the Money Scattering Technique slammed into Kisame Hoshigaki's chest.

With a scream, blood sprayed from Kisame Hoshigaki's chest, and he went flying backward.

Normally, that blow wouldn't have been enough to take Kisame Hoshigaki down.

But Kisame Hoshigaki's mind was blank, and he was completely unprepared. He flew through the air and crashed into the desert.

"What is that strange golden chakra pouring out of his body?" Sasori of the Red Sands narrowed his eyes, excitement written all over his face.

He wanted to try killing Uchiha Yu and turning him into a Human Puppet.

"That attack just now..." Deidara recalled the fierce explosion of golden chakra, his heart filled with shock.

"Now that's real art!" Deidara threw his arms around Uchiha Yu's leg. "I, Deidara, hereby declare you the strongest! You're the one true artist!"

Uchiha Yu dismissed Money Release Chakra Mode, his face twisted with pain.

Money Release Chakra Mode and the Money Scattering Technique had just cost him fifteen thousand ryo!

That was all his hard-earned money!

"Run! Hurry!"

Uchiha Yu grabbed Deidara and took off into the distance before Kisame Hoshigaki could get back up.

Sasori of the Red Sands didn't chase after them. He simply watched the two of them disappear into the distance.

"You can get up now," Sasori of the Red Sands said, looking down at Kisame Hoshigaki in the crater.

Kisame Hoshigaki took a deep breath and sprang out of the crater.

Samehada had already healed most of his wounds.

"No wonder the boss had his eye on that guy. He's got some real skill." Kisame Hoshigaki laughed and brushed the dust off himself. "We'll bring them back sooner or later!"

Sasori of the Red Sands nodded. "Let's leave it for today. There are other people keeping an eye on the two of them here. We don't want anyone else snatching them up."

With that, they left.

A small snake slithered out from a crack in the rocks, its tongue flicking.

Otogakure.

Orochimaru released the seal on his hands, a smile on his face.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan... Wood Release... and that strange chakra." Orochimaru's smile was chilling. "Now this is the ideal vessel I've always dreamed of!"

Outside Iwagakure.

Uchiha Yu took a deep breath. He glanced at Deidara, then looked back and saw that Kisame and Sasori of the Red Sands still hadn't caught up. He finally let out a sigh of relief and patted his chest.

"That was too close." Uchiha Yu found a rock and plopped down on it. "Without Money Release Chakra Mode, I might've been done for."

He'd suffered a small setback in that fight, but it had given him a clear sense of his own strength.

He was about as strong as an ordinary Jonin. With Money Release Chakra Mode activated, he could just about reach the threshold of Kage level.

Jonin were already quite strong in the Ninja World, but they were only the standard rank in the Akatsuki.

Without Money Release Chakra Mode, he was no match for Kisame.

"Good thing I got Deidara." Uchiha Yu stood up and said to Deidara, "You should come back to the Land of Fire with me. They're after you, and if you stay here, they'll get you sooner or later."

Deidara nodded furiously. He'd realized that without Uchiha Yu, he would've been in serious trouble today.

"Take me to Lord Tsuchikage. I'll explain the situation to him, then take you to the Land of Fire to lie low," Uchiha Yu said.

Deidara wasn't a missing-nin yet. He was just a prank-loving kid who often caused trouble.

And he was a student of Ōnoki of Both Scales, so he was someone of some standing.

If some strange organization had set its sights on him, Iwagakure really ought to protect him.

Besides, if Uchiha Yu simply took Deidara back with him, he wouldn't have a good excuse. This gave him a legitimate reason to take Deidara away.

Deidara nodded furiously again, his eyes full of anticipation.

He didn't want to stay here, either. It was just too scary.

He'd rather go to that Land of Fire place!

Inside Iwagakure.

Ōnoki stared at Uchiha Yu and Deidara in astonishment.

"What did you say? Missing-nin are after you?" Ōnoki floated in the air, just barely taller than Deidara.

He stroked his beard, unable to believe it.

Deidara nodded, tears streaming down his face. His voice trembling, he dropped to the ground with a thump and wailed, "That's right! One of them was crawling around on the ground like a cripple, and the other had a Land of Water Forehead Protector! They were both wearing Red Cloud Robes and straw hats, and they're at least above Kage level! I don't want to stay here! I want to go to the Land of Fire for safety!"

Uchiha Yu fell silent for a moment.

Damn, he was an even better actor than me!

Was this what Deidara had been like as a kid?

Ōnoki's face darkened.

Above Kage level? Were there even any fighters that strong in the Ninja World anymore?

Who did he think he was fooling?

But the description of the two men was probably accurate. It was worth looking into.

"Never mind that for now. Who are you?" Ōnoki asked, turning to Uchiha Yu.

Uchiha Yu turned around, revealing the Uchiha Clan crest on his back.

"I'm from the Uchiha Clan. I came to visit Iwagakure, and as soon as I arrived, I saw two missing-nin attacking Deidara! I drove them off."

Uchiha Yu didn't reveal his identity. That would only make things harder to explain.

What would the son of the Fifth Hokage be doing in Iwagakure for no reason?

And then trouble started as soon as he got there.

It would definitely make Ōnoki suspicious.

Ōnoki fell silent for a moment, and more or less figured out what had happened.

It was probably a case of missing-nin trying to abduct Deidara, and Uchiha Yu had stepped in to drive them away.

Uchiha Yu looked about seven, so his opponents were probably around Genin strength, Chunin at most.

He was just about to politely turn Uchiha Yu down when he saw his son Kitsuchi winking at him.

Kitsuchi: Say yes already! Get Deidara away from the village! I don't want to see the sewers blown up again!

Ōnoki took a deep breath and winked back at Kitsuchi.

Ōnoki: What if something happens to Deidara?

Kitsuchi winked back: If the sewers get blown up next time, I'm not helping!

Ōnoki: ...

After careful deliberation, Ōnoki finally made up his mind.

"Uchiha, for my student's safety, let him go to your Konoha to take refuge for the time being." Ōnoki smiled amiably. "Though my student is a bit of a handful and likes playing pranks. I hope you can understand!"

Uchiha Yu chuckled.

Don't worry. I know exactly what he's capable of.

I can handle one Deidara, can't I?

In response to our readers' requests, VIP members can now enjoy an ad-free experience.

Click to learn more.