The mushroom cloud that blotted out the sky took more than half an hour to fully dissipate.
Yet that terrifying energy fluctuation, powerful enough to reshape the terrain, was like a stone cast into a still lake, sending ripples throughout the ninja world.
It not only shook Iwagakure but also alerted all sorts of hidden forces thousands of miles away.
At the border of the Land of Earth, on a desolate stretch of Gobi wasteland.
A bizarre puppet, short in stature and wrapped from head to toe in a black robe patterned with red clouds, slowly came to a stop.
Behind the hard faceplate of the puppet Hiruko, Sasori of the Red Sands frowned deeply.
"Was that explosive chakra just now... Explosion Release?"
There was a trace of confusion in Sasori's voice.
"No. It was at least dozens of times more powerful than ordinary Explosion Release."
"This power... is somewhat interesting."
He had originally come to the Land of Earth's border on Pain's orders to recruit Deidara, an Explosion Release prodigy with some fame in the underground black market.
The Akatsuki Organization needed a new member, and Deidara needed a partner.
Now, it seemed this assignment was more interesting than he had expected.
Sasori followed the lingering chakra fluctuations all the way.
Before long, a terrifying crater over a thousand meters wide appeared in his sight.
"Hmm?!"
Even someone as well-traveled as Sasori felt his heart pound at the apocalyptic scene before him, as though a meteor from beyond the heavens had struck the earth.
Just how powerful would an Explosive Tag have to be to cause this level of destruction?
Even a Kage-level expert would probably be reduced to ashes if they took that head-on, wouldn't they?
Just as he was reeling in shock.
Two figures strolled over from