The desert wind whipped grit into their faces, stinging painfully.
Chiya, who had already been about to turn and leave, paused midstep.
Just moments ago, he had been reflecting on life, ready to begin the "two-man war against the Shinobi World" that belonged to him and Sasuke. Yet the rats behind him, who should have fled with their tails between their legs, apparently had no intention of quietly leaving the stage.
"Hey! You brat in the black robe! And you Uchiha bastard!"
A hysterical roar rang out from high above, making the surrounding air buzz.
Chiya picked at his ear impatiently and turned his head, a flicker of irritation at the interruption crossing his purple Rinnegan.
High in the sky, Deidara, who should have followed Obito into the Kamui Dimension, had actually returned.
He rode on the back of that enormous Clay Bird, his blond hair whipping wildly in the wind, his entire face contorted with overwhelming rage and jealousy.
For an obsessive like Deidara, being ignored hurt far more than being defeated.
Especially when he was ignored by those eyes-the Sharingan that reminded him of the terror of once being at Uchiha Itachi's mercy!
"What's with those looks?"
"Are you looking down on my art? Hm?!"
Deidara plunged both hands into the clay pouches at his waist, chewing frantically.
"That coward Obito might be scared of you, but I'm not!"
"Since you love acting so cool, let me show you the ultimate art that truly enriches the soul!"
"C3 No. 18!!"
With a thunderous shout, Deidara hurled a bizarre, winged, doll-shaped Clay Bomb down from high above.
The instant it left his hands, it began swelling in the wind.
In the blink of an eye, it grew to the size of a small mountain and plunged straight toward Chiya