Chương 135: This Is The Real Art!

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Following the explosion of the massive spiral wheel, a colossal mushroom cloud rose in the distance. Immediately afterward, a powerful shockwave surged in all directions.

Caught in the force of the blast, Deidara couldn't control his body and was thrown several meters away, tumbling across the ground before finally coming to a stop.

Yet, despite all this, Deidara remained frozen, completely stunned.

The explosion he had just witnessed was beyond anything he had ever imagined. It left him in a state of shock, unable to fully comprehend what had happened.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Deidara could hear his own heart pounding violently in his chest, and he couldn't help but swallow hard.

"This... this is a real explosion!" he thought.

Compared to the detonation he had just witnessed, his own creations seemed like mere child's play. No wonder that Konoha ninja had dismissed his art as something akin to a child playing with toys. Even he had to admit it now—his explosions were nothing more than popping balloons compared to this.

"How about it? Now do you see how childish those little explosions of yours are?" Takuya Senju appeared beside Deidara, a smile on his face.

"May I have your name?" Deidara suddenly asked. "I want to be your student!"

For the first time, Deidara questioned his own art. The explosion that Takuya Senju had just unleashed was, in his eyes, the true definition of art. To master this art himself, he felt he had to become this man's disciple.

"I have no intention of taking on a disciple," Takuya Senju responded without hesitation. "Besides, I'm not interested in troublesome kids."

"Then... if I can't become your student, can you at least teach me that jutsu you just used? That explosion was incredible," Deidara asked, his voice filled with hope.

"Impossible," Takuya replied flatly. "I have other matters to attend to. You'll have to figure it out on your own."

With that, Takuya shook his head, turned away from Deidara, and began walking in the direction of Iwagakure.

"Damn it!" Deidara cursed, clenching his fists as he watched Takuya walk away. "It's just an explosion! Sooner or later, I'll master this art on my own."

Takuya Senju's rejection didn't dampen Deidara's spirits—instead, it ignited a fire within him. He was determined. One day, he would create an explosion as powerful as the one he had just witnessed.

With that resolve, Deidara leaped onto the back of his large white bird and slowly ascended into the sky. The clouds that had once filled the heavens had been completely obliterated by the explosion, leaving the sky clear and vast.

From this vantage point, Deidara could see the aftermath of the explosion clearly—a bottomless crater nearly a hundred miles in diameter. Despite having mentally prepared himself, Deidara couldn't help but gasp at the sheer scale of the devastation.

Such power could easily wipe out Iwagakure, he thought. Who was that man, to wield such destructive force with such ease?

Doubt began to creep into Deidara's mind. Could he truly create art that surpassed this explosion?

Meanwhile, in Iwagakure, the peaceful daily life of its citizens was shattered by the sudden tremor of the earth. Then came the deafening explosion, followed by an overwhelming shockwave. The entire village felt the reverberation, as if the very earth beneath them was trembling.

"What was that? What happened?"

"I heard an explosion! Could it be that fool Deidara again?"

"No way. That felt like an earthquake. What kind of explosion could be so powerful?"

The people in the streets began to talk anxiously among themselves, while several of Iwagakure's Anbu ninjas swiftly made their way to the Tsuchikage's office.

Inside,Kitsuchi sat with a deep frown as he listened to the report from the kneeling Anbu.

"You mean to tell me someone just caused a massive explosion in the Gobi Desert near our borders?"

"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage," the Anbu responded respectfully.

"Was it Deidara?" Kitsuchi asked, his tone grave. If Deidara was responsible for such a large-scale explosion, it would require immediate action. He would need to place strict limitations on Deidara and perhaps assign someone to keep an eye on him at all times.

"Lord Tsuchikage, it wasn't Deidara," the Anbu replied confidently.

"Oh? And how can you be so sure?"Kitsuchi asked, curiosity piqued.

"Based on eyewitness accounts, a massive mushroom cloud rose in the distant Gobi Desert. The height of the cloud alone was nearly a thousand meters. The explosion's power is estimated to be sufficient to destroy Iwagakure in an instant. Although Deidara is talented, he simply doesn't have the ability to create such an explosion," the Anbu calmly explained.

"You're right..."Kitsuchi stroked his chin, his frown deepening. If it had been Deidara, he could have taken measures based on what he knew about the boy. But if it was someone else, it could prove to be far more troublesome. From the Anbu's description, this mysterious person could obliterate Iwagakure with ease if they wished.

"It seems I must inform Lord Hokage about this matter," Kitsuchi decided after a moment of thought. The appearance of such a powerful and mysterious individual was not something he could afford to keep hidden.

"Hahahaha... Kitsuchi, there's no need to report anything," a booming laugh echoed through the office.Kurotsuchi looked up to see Takuya Senju entering the room.

"Lord Hokage?!" Kitsuchi's eyes widened in surprise and relief. He quickly moved aside to allow Takuya to take his seat.

"Lord Hokage, why didn't you inform us of your visit? We would have prepared a proper reception," Kitsuchi said with a smile.

This couldn't have come at a better time, he thought. As soon as a mysterious figure appeared, Lord Takuya Senju arrived in person. With him here, the situation should be resolved quickly. At least, there was no need to worry about Iwagakure's safety for the time being.

After all, no matter how powerful this mysterious individual might be, could they possibly be stronger than the man known as the strongest in the ninja world?

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"Tsuchikage, you mentioned you had something to report?" Takuya Senju asked, his gaze steady as he looked at Kitsuchi.

As the de facto ruler of the ninja world, Takuya's influence extended over Iwagakure. Naturally, he was attentive to any issues arising within its borders.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," Kitsuchi began. "Anbu reported that a mysterious individual caused a massive explosion in a desert in the Land of Earth. The explosion's power could easily wipe out a village. To prevent any future threats, I thought it best to inform you."

"You don't need to worry about the explosion," Takuya replied, rubbing his nose awkwardly. "It's nothing to be concerned about."

"Why not?"Kitsuchi asked, clearly puzzled. "Lord Hokage, it would be prudent to investigate. If this mysterious person has any ill intentions toward Iwagakure or other villages, it could be dangerous. Such a person should be monitored closely."

"Actually... the mysterious person you mentioned is me," Takuya admitted with a hint of embarrassment.

"Huh? Lord Hokage, what do you mean?" Kitsuchi asked, eyes wide in disbelief.

"The explosion you mentioned was caused by me not long ago," Takuya explained with a wry smile.

"Is that so..." Kitsuchi sighed in relief. If the explosion was Takuya's doing, there was no need for concern. With his strength, if he had wanted to destroy Iwagakure, it would have been a trivial task. He could have wiped it off the map just as easily as he had done with the Hidden Hot Water Village.

"Was someone attacking you, Lord Hokage?" Kitsuchi asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"No, no one attacked me," Takuya replied. "I encountered a young man with blond hair who claimed that his explosions were the pinnacle of art. He was quite adamant about making the entire ninja world acknowledge his 'art,' which I found a bit extreme. So, I created a larger explosion right in front of him. That should keep him from causing trouble until he can surpass it."

"That fool Deidara! He's always causing problems," Kitsuchi grumbled, immediately recognizing who Takuya was referring to. "He needs to be disciplined when he returns to the village."

"But, Hokage-sama, your dedication to maintaining stability in the ninja world is truly admirable," Kitsuchi said with respect. "People outside often call you a cold-blooded killer, but now it seems those rumors are far from the truth."

"Ahem... Well, seeing is believing," Takuya chuckled softly.

"By the way, Lord Hokage, what brings you to Iwagakure this time?" Kitsuchi inquired. Normally, Takuya's orders were delivered through information scrolls. For him to visit in person, it had to be something of great importance.

"I've been collecting the tailed beasts," Takuya said matter-of-factly. "Iwagakure is home to both the Four-Tails and the Five-Tails. I hope you can hand over their Jinchūriki."

Kitsuchi hesitated for a moment, but then nodded in agreement. "I'll have someone summon the Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails immediately."

In truth, Kitsuchi had no real choice in the matter. Although he felt sympathy for Roshi and Han, there was no room for defiance when Takuya had spoken.

Soon, led by an Anbu operative, several figures entered the room. The first was Roshi, a bearded man clad in purple. The second was Han, a man who kept his face hidden beneath a hat and mask, his body covered in heavy armor. Behind them was a young girl with short black hair.

"Tsuchikage, who wanted to see me? I can't even get a moment's rest," Roshi grumbled. "And have you given any thought to my request to travel the world without Anbu trailing me?"

"Roshi, hold your tongue for now. This is Lord Hokage. He's the one who requested your presence," Kitsuchi said.

Roshi and Han turned to face Takuya, surprise evident in their expressions. "Lord Hokage? What business do you have with us?"

"Roshi, Han, I intend to extract the tailed beasts from within you," Takuya stated calmly.

"What?!" Both Jinchūriki were stunned. The extraction of their tailed beasts was essentially a death sentence. While neither had fully embraced their roles as Jinchūriki, the thought of losing their tailed beasts—and with it, their lives—had never crossed their minds.

"I realize this is sudden," Takuya continued, "but I strongly advise against resistance or attempts to flee. It will only lead to unnecessary suffering."

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