Battling Deidara: Art is Patrick Star

Above the canyon, Deidara stood on his Clay Giant Bird, looking down at Uchiha Rìtiān.

"Kid, show me what you've got. Let me see your art, hmm." Deidara wore a crazed grin.

Uchiha Rìtiān stood on the ground, his Sharingan spinning.

"Art?" Uchiha Rìtiān curled his lip. "Your art is explosions? That's so low-class."

"Low-class? What's that supposed to mean?" Deidara frowned.

"It means garbage," Uchiha Rìtiān said with a grin. "True art is perfect. It's eternal."

"Your explosions go bang and disappear. You call that art?"

Deidara's expression instantly darkened.

"What did you say?!"

"I said your art is garbage." Uchiha Rìtiān shrugged. "Got a problem with that?"

"Bastard!" Deidara flew into a rage. "I'll show you what true art is!"

"C3: Eighteen!"

He threw an enormous clay doll down at Uchiha Rìtiān.

Uchiha Rìtiān's pupils contracted.

C3? That was an incredibly powerful explosive ninjutsu!

I can't take it head-on!

Uchiha Rìtiān flickered, activating the Body Flicker Technique and dodging in an instant.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion rang out, shaking the entire canyon.

An enormous crater was blasted into the ground.

Dust and smoke filled the air.

"Uchiha Rìtiān!" Jingyue shouted worriedly.

The dust cleared, revealing Uchiha Rìtiān standing a short distance away, completely unharmed.

"That's all the power you've got?" Uchiha Rìtiān dusted himself off. "Not that impressive."

Deidara's pupils contracted.

He dodged it?

This kid's speed... was actually that fast?

"Interesting, hmm." Deidara's grin grew even more crazed.

"Then try this!"

"C4: Karura!"

An enormous Clay Bird flew from Deidara's hands and exploded in midair.

Countless tiny clay particles drifted down, filling the air.

Uchiha Rìtiān's expression changed.

C4: Karura!

That stuff exploded inside people, blowing them to pieces!

"Hold your breath!" Uchiha Rìtiān shouted. "This stuff is poisonous!"

Jingyue immediately held her breath.

Hayate also struggled to cover his mouth.

Uchiha Rìtiān rapidly formed hand seals.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A fierce gust swept out, blowing away all the clay particles.

Deidara froze for a moment.

Wind Release?

This kid... how many kinds of ninjutsu did he know?

"What? Surprised?" Uchiha Rìtiān said with a grin. "I've got plenty more up my sleeve."

Deidara sneered. "What good is knowing so much? You still have to beat me!"

He clapped his hands together and made another large swarm of Clay Spiders.

"Go, my darlings!"

The densely packed Clay Spiders crawled toward Uchiha Rìtiān.

The corners of Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth lifted.

Think you can win with numbers? How naive.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

An enormous fireball burst forth, burning all the Clay Spiders to ash.

Ding! Successfully countered Deidara's C4. Show-Off Points +150!

Deidara's expression grew uglier and uglier.

This kid... why was he so hard to deal with?

"Blondie, is that all you've got?" Uchiha Rìtiān taunted. "If you can't hack it, hurry home and have your milk."

"Bastard!" Deidara was utterly furious.

"I'll kill you!"

He pulled a lump of clay from inside his clothes and molded it into a strange shape.

"Have a taste of... my ultimate art!"

"C0: Self-Destruct!"

Uchiha Rìtiān's pupils constricted sharply.

Self-destruct?!

Had Deidara gone mad? He was actually going to blow himself up?

No, this should be his clone, right?

In the original story, Deidara had used a self-destructing clone against Sasuke.

Uchiha Rìtiān sneered.

Trying that trick on me? You've got a long way to go.

"Want to blow yourself up? Not so fast!"

Uchiha Rìtiān rapidly formed hand seals.

"Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique!"

Deidara's movements abruptly stopped.

He was caught in the genjutsu!

Now!

Uchiha Rìtiān pulled a specially made kunai from inside his clothes and hurled it at Deidara.

"Lightning Release: Earth Flow!"

Coated in Lightning Release chakra, the kunai moved as fast as lightning.

Deidara had just broken free of the genjutsu when he saw the kunai flying right at him.

"What?!"

He tried to dodge, but it was already too late.

Shhk!

The kunai pierced his shoulder.

"Aaah!" Deidara screamed and fell off the Clay Giant Bird.

Thud!

He slammed heavily into the ground.

Uchiha Rìtiān walked over and planted his foot on Deidara's chest.

"Well, Blondie? Admit defeat?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked with a grin.

Deidara glared fiercely at Uchiha Rìtiān, his eyes full of defiance.

"You... you cheated!" Deidara said through gritted teeth. "You actually used genjutsu!"

"All's fair in war. Don't you even understand that?" Uchiha Rìtiān curled his lip. "You lost. Why make excuses?"

Deidara trembled with rage, but he had nothing to say.

Indeed, he had lost.

He had lost completely.

Ding! Defeated Deidara (clone version). Show-Off Points +300!

Achievement unlocked: Artist's Bane. Effect: Damage against artistic enemies +10%.

Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth twitched. What kind of ridiculous achievement was that?

Just then-

Bang!

Deidara's body suddenly began to swell.

"Oh no!" Uchiha Rìtiān's expression changed, and he immediately retreated.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion rang out.

Deidara's body exploded with immense force.

Uchiha Rìtiān used the Body Flicker Technique to retreat to a safe distance.

"It really was a clone..." Uchiha Rìtiān murmured.

The real one had fled long ago.

How crafty.

But... that made it interesting.

The corners of Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth lifted.

"Uchiha Rìtiān! Are you okay?" Jingyue ran over, her face full of concern.

"I'm fine." Uchiha Rìtiān smiled. "That guy got away."

Jingyue sighed in relief. "As long as you're okay."

There was a little more... admiration in the way she looked at Uchiha Rìtiān?

Uchiha Rìtiān keenly noticed it and felt delighted.

Hehe, even an ice queen could admire someone.

"By the way, how's Hayate?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked.

"Nothing serious. He was just injured by the explosion. He'll be fine after a few days of rest," Jingyue said.

Uchiha Rìtiān nodded. "That's good."

Just then, Shikaku returned.

His expression did not look good.

"Teacher Shikaku, how did it go?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked.

Shikaku shook his head. "Sasori got away."

"That puppet master... was too strong."

Uchiha Rìtiān frowned.

Sasori got away?

Then over in Sunagakure...

"Uncle Shikaku, we have to hurry to Sunagakure," Uchiha Rìtiān said gravely. "Sasori's target is the One-Tail. Sunagakure is in danger."

Shikaku nodded. "I know."

"We'll leave immediately."

He looked at Yamada. "Mr. Yamada, we need to pick up the pace."

Yamada's face was pale, and he hurriedly nodded. "Yes, yes, of course! Whatever you say!"

The caravan immediately picked up speed, hurrying toward Sunagakure.

Uchiha Rìtiān walked at the rear of the group, his brow tightly furrowed.

Sasori and Deidara had both come. It looked like the Akatsuki was dead set on capturing the One-Tail.

Could Sunagakure... hold out?

And Gaara...

Uchiha Rìtiān clenched his fists.

He had to do something.

He absolutely could not let the Akatsuki capture Gaara!

Ding! Crisis in Sunagakure detected. Mission triggered: Protect Sunagakure.

Mission requirement: Stop the Akatsuki from capturing the One-Tail Jinchuriki, Gaara.

Mission rewards: Sunagakure favorability +50, Show-Off Points +1,000, Mangekyō Sharingan Evolution Clue Fragment x1.

Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes lit up.

A Mangekyō clue fragment!

With the previous eight, that would make nine!

Once his Sharingan evolved into a Mangekyō, its abilities would definitely be ridiculously powerful!

"Don't worry. I'll take this mission!"

Uchiha Rìtiān's gaze grew resolute.

Sunagakure, Gaara...

Wait for me!