Team Hawk made its way through the rugged mountains along the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain, trying to find a relatively concealed route in using the intelligence they had obtained. The surrounding rocks were an unhealthy grayish white, vegetation was sparse, and the air carried the damp, oppressive heaviness that preceded rain.
Sasuke, walking at the front, suddenly stopped. His Sharingan activated instantly, his icy gaze sweeping toward a steep cliff ahead and to one side.
"Oh? You spotted me? Hmm!" A slightly flippant voice drifted down from the cliff. The blond youth Deidara sat atop his enormous white clay owl, propping his chin on one hand as he looked down at the four of them with interest. "The Sharingan really is a pain, hmm. You're Uchiha Itachi's little brother? I heard you deserted Konoha? Hmm!"
Sasuke's gaze sharpened slightly. He had not expected to encounter a full-fledged member of the Akatsuki so soon. "Someone from the Akatsuki..."
"That's right! I'm Deidara, an artist who pursues the art of the instant! Hmm!" Deidara leaped off the owl and landed on a boulder a short distance in front of Sasuke. He planted his hands on his hips, wearing a supremely confident smile, though a barely perceptible trace of obsession and resentment lurked deep in his eyes. "Those loathsome Sharingan eyes of your brother's... that look that dismissed my art... really pisses me off! Hmm! Since I can't find him right now, I'll test my skills on you first! Let's see if your Sharingan is just as sickening as his! Hmm!"
Before he had finished speaking, both hands plunged into the Ninja Tool Pouches at his waist. He scattered countless tiny Clay Spiders that moved like living creatures, surging toward Team Hawk in a white tide!