Kakashi Hatake was still lost in thought.
Then he heard Deidara change tack and say:
"Still, I don't like fighting in the air either."
"So I'll grant your request and fight you on the ground!"
Kakashi Hatake froze, looking at Deidara with a slightly strange expression.
Whether Deidara was being arrogant and conceited or was "harboring kind intentions,"
his response finally allowed the tightly wound Kakashi Hatake to breathe a sigh of relief.
Deidara kept his word, steering the giant clay bird straight down from the sky.
The moment they landed, Kakashi Hatake made his move.
His fingers rapidly formed hand seals as he muttered nonstop.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Rumble!
The ground around the battlefield where Kakashi Hatake and Deidara stood began to heave.
Four enormous earthen walls rose rapidly from below, enclosing the battlefield around the two of them.
The corners of Deidara's mouth lifted. He simply watched the four walls rise around him without making a move.
"Heh! You think this ninjutsu alone can trap me?"
Brimming with fighting spirit, Kakashi Hatake said:
"Why not try it and find out?"
Deidara nodded decisively and said:
"All right, I'll test how strong this ninjutsu is."
Then he craned his neck and shouted:
"Old man, capture those target boys as planned. I'll keep this troublesome fellow occupied."
Kakashi Hatake's brow furrowed involuntarily, and he felt increasingly helpless.
Asking him to face two Kage Level fighters at once was already rather "unreasonable."
He had finally managed to come up with a way to trap Deidara.
But Mujo, the lord of Hozuki Castle, had been left unchecked outside.
How Kakashi Hatake wished he had a trusted comrade who could lend a hand right now!
In a momentary daze, he seemed to see himself fighting alongside Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara again.