Darkened Gaara, Doomed Deidara

While Naruto's true body was in Yukigakure, the Female Avatar was not idle either.

Pain had also assigned her a mission to capture a Tailed Beast. She insisted, however, on going to Sunagakure first to see how Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands would capture the One-Tail.

Deidara had rolled his eyes at the Female Avatar more times than he could count. He had little affection for a member who appeared and disappeared without warning.

Especially when she possessed the same Explosion Release and methods of attack as he did!

How could anyone else deserve to wield such beautiful "art"?

For nearly three years, he had wanted to pit his "art" against hers, but the Female Avatar always slipped away in time, vanishing without a trace.

"Hey, what are you doing here? Finally decided to show yourself?"

Deidara was about to climb onto the White Clay Bird and fly into Sunagakure to capture Gaara when he put the question to the Female Avatar.

As in the original story, Sasori of the Red Sands had activated his undercover agent and entered Sunagakure without a hitch.

Deidara had once again insisted on capturing Gaara himself to show off his "art."

"I'm here to save you when you're about to get yourself killed!" the Female Avatar said with a grin.

"Hmph! Big talk! Now watch what real art looks like. Just because you have the same Explosion Release as me doesn't mean you can create art more perfect than mine!"

Deidara shot the Female Avatar a cold glare, then flew over Sunagakure.

This time, because of Naruto's interference, Gaara had never been talked into changing his ways. He remained volatile and consumed by darkness.

Over the past three years, though, his strength had grown too, surpassing even his strength in the original