Deidara immediately stopped using chakra.
But he had overlooked one crucial detail: the Bursting Bugs hadn't just parasitized him—they had also infected the clay bird beneath him.
Although the clay bird was made of clay, it was chakra that allowed it to fly as if it were a living creature.
Each flap of the clay bird's wings signified the circulation of chakra within it.
Therefore, before Deidara himself showed any signs, the abdomen of the clay bird already had a hideous, massive spider mark bulging out.
That was the Bursting Bug inside the clay bird.
Very quickly…
Boom!
The now-mature Bursting Bug exploded within the bird, instantly reducing it to dust.
With nothing beneath him, Deidara began plummeting toward the ground.
From such a height, while he wouldn't be reduced to a bloody pulp, there was no doubt that he would lose at least a few limbs.
Seeing this, Deidara quickly formed another clay bird to carry him back into the sky.
As soon as he did, Deidara could feel the creature inside his own body becoming more active.
He unbuttoned his Akatsuki robe, pulled his shirt aside, and looked down at his chest, where the grotesque outline of the Bursting Bug was already visible, with several spider legs protruding.
"No wonder those guys were so determined to chase me down. They had this kind of secret technique. Although self-destruction would be a fine way to go, I still have many art projects to complete. It's not time for me to sacrifice myself for art just yet! Hmm!"
Deidara glanced in the direction where Team Rockhead had already fled.
This was the second time he had been outwitted by someone, after Uchiha Itachi.
Although he wanted to take out those guys, he thought about it and decided that his life was more important. He withdrew his gaze and allowed the new clay bird to fly far away, hoping to avoid any further trouble.
Meanwhile, sitting on the back of his clay bird, Deidara carefully pondered how to deal with the Bursting Bug inside him.
"Their secret technique is somewhat similar to my C4: Karura."
Thinking back, Deidara was now certain that the bright flash unleashed by Team Rockhead was merely a distraction.
The real threat had been the microscopic Bursting Bug eggs that had entered his body while he was briefly stunned.
In a way, it was similar to how his C4: Karura worked.
When he activated C4, the large human-shaped clay bomb would explode, and although it seemed like the damage was limited, the truth was that it released microscopic clay spiders into the air. These tiny spiders would be inhaled by living creatures, planting countless tiny bombs inside their bodies.
Once detonated, the bombs would destroy the body from the inside out, leaving no chance of survival.
Because of this, Deidara had a lot of experience with the concept of microscopic bombs that could lurk inside the human body and explode.
Now that he reversed his thinking, although there were differences with the chakra-absorbing Bursting Bugs, over time, he began to figure it out.
After a while, Deidara lifted his head, surrounded by nothing but white clouds.
Confident that no one would disturb him, he wasted no time. Grabbing a large handful of clay from his ninja pouch, he opened his mouth wide and swallowed it all.
Gulp~ Gulp~
Deidara's mouth and throat swelled as he quickly formed hand seals. The clay inside his body instantly transformed into microscopic clay spiders, which hopped around rapidly, spreading throughout his body and converging near the Bursting Bug.
By this point, the Bursting Bug had already expanded again due to his recent use of chakra.
Unbothered, Deidara ordered the mass of clay spiders to swarm the Bursting Bug like ants, swiftly merging with it.
If the Bursting Bug was forcibly disturbed, it would immediately explode.
But the clay spiders from C4: Karura were so tiny that the Bursting Bug didn't react at first.
By the time it realized something was wrong and tried to self-destruct, Deidara's body was already filled with clay spiders, which had taken control of it, turning the tables.
It was a game of reflexes.
Fortunately for Deidara, he won this round.
But it wasn't over yet.
Deidara pulled out a kunai and slashed across his chest, blood flowing freely.
Without changing his expression, he reached into his body and extracted the Bursting Bug. Then he packed the wound with some clay to seal it up.
Only then did he finally let out a sigh of relief.
"I almost messed up here. Hmm."
Though he said this, there wasn't a hint of regret on Deidara's face.
If he had to do it again, even knowing he'd run into Team Rockhead, he would still have blown up the Daimyo's mansion.
That was the professional integrity of a true artist.
Deidara examined the grotesque and ugly Bursting Bug in his hand, then casually tossed it aside.
Boom!
With the clay spiders no longer restraining it, the Bursting Bug finally exploded.
"Not bad, it's quite an interesting form of art."
And just like that, Deidara had cracked the secret technique of Team Rockhead, infamous throughout the ninja world.
As the saying goes, every profession has its specialists.
Deidara estimated that by now, Team Rockhead was likely far away, and if he pursued them, he probably wouldn't get any results.
Not wanting to waste more time, he controlled his clay bird, turning it in the direction of his original plan—to meet up with Sasori.
But he hadn't gone far.
Bang!
His clay bird suddenly slammed into something, its head denting inward as it plummeted toward the ground.
Deidara, nearly thrown off, steadied himself just in time, and with some effort, brought the clay bird back into the air.
Only then did he have the chance to inspect the bird's head, which looked as though it had been struck by a heavy hammer.
"What just happened?"
Deidara hadn't noticed what he had hit. His mind was preoccupied with how he was going to explain his lateness to Sasori.
Perplexed, Deidara scanned the sky around him. All he saw were blue skies and white clouds—nothing that could have blocked his way.
He tried sending the clay bird along the same path again.
Bang!
Once more, the clay bird's head caved in.
It felt as if there was an invisible wall blocking his path.
Deidara, experienced as he was, steadied the bird and stopped it in place.
He thought of something and reached out his hand, pressing forward.
Sure enough, an invisible barrier was preventing him from moving forward.
Deidara grinned and immediately recognized it.
"A barrier!"
As soon as he spoke, chakra flowed from his outstretched palm.
In the next instant, the scene before him changed dramatically.
It was as if the veil had been lifted.
A massive, magnificent airborne fortress appeared in front of him.
Deidara's mouth fell open in astonishment as he stared at the sight before him. He muttered to himself:
"If I could set off fireworks here, it would be the greatest masterpiece! Hmm!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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When an artist is suddenly inspired and filled with passion, what kind of display can be expected? The ruined mansion of the Daimyo already proved everything.
At this moment, thoughts of Sasori or the Akatsuki were completely forgotten by Deidara.
He immediately crafted a batch of clay bombs, sticking them to the barrier. Forming hand seals, he shouted:
"Ha!"
Boom!
The explosion resounded.
The barrier in front of him flickered briefly before a passageway large enough to pass through opened.
"So easy?"
Deidara had thought it would take several tries, but one explosion was enough.
Well, considering the style of this aerial fortress, it clearly didn't belong to the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Setting up such a large-scale hidden barrier was already surprising.
If its defensive strength had also been strong, such a force wouldn't have remained unknown in the ninja world.
Thinking this, Deidara, who had mostly recovered by now, smiled and controlled his clay bird, flying directly inside.
Even if it were one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, he wouldn't hesitate to barge in alone, let alone this aerial fortress that no one had ever heard of.
From this moment on, he would prepare to create an unprecedented, enormous firework here!
"Deidara."
Just as Deidara was excitedly fantasizing about the spectacular explosion of the fortress, he suddenly heard someone call his name.
He turned his head to see a young man, dressed simply in white, standing on a rooftop, level with him.
'There was no one here earlier.'
Though obsessed with his art and bold enough to invade the aerial fortress, Deidara hadn't lost his battle instincts. He remained vigilant.
When he entered, he had carefully scanned the surroundings and was sure that no one was nearby.
So, where did this man come from? How could he evade Deidara's detection?
Thinking this, Deidara quietly slipped his right hand into his ninja pouch, concealed by the wide sleeve of his Akatsuki uniform.
The person standing there was none other than Hagoromo Gensou.
He had deliberately allowed Deidara to enter and wasn't concerned about the latter's little movements.
Recalling what Hagoromo Morin had said earlier, Gensou decided to ask one question before taking action:
"Deidara, do you know the Hagoromo clan?"
Hearing this, while still preparing for combat, Deidara casually replied:
"The Hagoromo clan? Sounds artistic. Are they here? Perfect timing, I'm planning to set off a huge firework here soon. Hmm."
Gensou's mouth twitched slightly.
The response was exactly what Morin had described—almost spot on!
This brat had truly forgotten his connection to the Hagoromo clan.
Or perhaps, he had never really paid attention to it from the beginning.
Gensou had originally intended to speak to him as the clan leader.
But seeing the situation now, he decided to drop that idea.
It was better to discipline this brat first.
In the blink of an eye, Gensou disappeared from Deidara's sight.
"Where did he go?"
Deidara's expression tightened as he quickly scanned the surroundings and instinctively controlled his clay bird to fly upwards.
However, before the bird could spread its wings…
A hand pierced through it from below, tearing it in half with a ripping sound.
"So fast!"
Deidara's pupils contracted as he floated in the air, staring intently at Gensou, who had just appeared beside him and effortlessly shredded his mount.
He was about to throw the clay bombs he had prepared.
Crackle~~
Lightning surged from Gensou's body.
Unable to dodge in time, Deidara's body became paralyzed, and the clay bombs in his hands fizzled out.
With a swift motion, Gensou slapped Deidara across the forehead.
Dazed by the blow, Deidara's body tilted, and with a whoosh, he plummeted toward the ground.
Boom!
He crashed into the street below, creating a large crater.
Shortly after, Gensou descended from the sky, walking up to the crater without a scratch on him.
Due to the moderate height of the fall, Deidara hadn't lost any limbs, but his entire body was in a daze from the impact.
However, when he saw Gensou standing beside him once again, Deidara, feeling a burning pain on his forehead and enraged at such humiliation, suddenly regained his energy and shouted angrily:
"An artist can be killed, but never humiliated like this!"
"You bastard, insulting an artist. Now I'll show you my ultimate art!!"
As he spoke, Deidara's body began emitting a dazzling white light.
This was the prelude to self-destruction.
Sure enough, his body swelled up, and with a face full of fanaticism, Deidara shouted:
"Art is an explo—"
Before he could finish his iconic phrase, Gensou stomped on his head, causing it to burst.
Not far away, Morin, who had just arrived, felt his heart skip a beat at the sight.
However, he quickly noticed that the Deidara whose head had been smashed had turned into clay, and he let out a sigh of relief.
Having destroyed Deidara's self-destruct clone and silenced it with Raiton chakra, Gensou turned his attention underground and stomped again.
Crack!
A massive crack swiftly spread downward.
Deidara, who had been using Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu (Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique) to burrow underground, was dumbfounded as he looked up at the sunlight pouring in from above and at the figure who even the sun couldn't overshadow.
He had never imagined anyone could toy with him so easily.
In their brief exchange, Gensou hadn't used Genjutsu. He had simply, and effortlessly, played with Deidara as if it were child's play.
Despite clearly seeing every move, Deidara found himself unable to dodge any of the attacks.
It was like an adult beating a child.
The gap in strength was too great!
Deidara had no idea who the man above him was.
But unlike the time he faced Uchiha Itachi, there was at least some admiration he could feel for this opponent.
However, there was one thing:
"To be defeated so easily, and without a single bit of awe from my enemy toward my art—this is a complete failure! My art is far more than what I've just shown."
"In that case, I'll make myself into the art. With a never-before-seen explosion, I'll leave an unprecedented mark here. Then, my art will receive the admiration it deserves! Hmm!"
Determined not to let his art be underestimated, this time, Deidara truly decided to self-destruct.
He tore off his shirt, preparing to release the mouth sealed on his left chest.
Of course, Gensou wasn't going to give Deidara the chance to blow himself up. In a flash, he appeared beside Deidara.
Deidara tried to evade, but no matter how he moved, he couldn't escape Gensou's incoming slap.
Once again!
Seeing that he couldn't avoid it, Deidara quickly said:
"Wait! At least give me a chance to display my art!"
It was no use.
Seeing the slap about to land, Deidara could only protest in frustration:
"Don't hit my head!"
Smack!
Same spot as before.
Gensou slapped Deidara on the forehead again.
This time, he used a bit more force.
Deidara's eyelids drooped. Just before he passed out, he gritted his teeth and muttered stubbornly:
"Art... is eternal!!"
Thud.
Deidara collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious.
(End of Chapter)
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