"You're saying... you've got guts, huh?"
Kiyosuke narrowed his eyes.
Deidara didn't even think before replying.
"Kidding? I've got tons of guts, alright! Hey—wait, your hand's on fire!"
"Idiot! He's about to attack! Magnet Release: Iron Sand Wall!!"
The Third Kazekage's puppet instantly opened its mouth, spewing out a massive amount of black iron sand, forming a solid wall.
"Flame Fist!"
A roaring pillar of fire burst out and surged forward. The blazing orange sea of flames shaped into a massive flaming fist and slammed into the wall of iron sand with a thunderous boom.
The already-scorching desert instantly turned into a blazing furnace. The red glow covered everything, looking terrifyingly hellish.
"This guy's power is insane..."
Sasori remained calm. The iron sand forming the wall had already turned red-hot. Under the intense heat, some had melted into useless lumps. Its magnetism had been completely destroyed. To use it again, the puppet would have to come into contact with the sand all over again.
"Whoa, seriously? He's that strong? Is this guy even human?" Deidara took an involuntary step back, sweat pouring down his forehead. He unbuttoned his cloak—it was already sweltering, but now with Kiyosuke's fire, it was suffocating.
"Sasori-sama, how do we fight this?"
Deidara knew there was no chance he could handle this guy alone. Now was the time to team up with Sasori.
"Retreat," Sasori said simply.
"What? Retreat? We're not fighting anymore?"
Deidara had been Sasori's partner long enough to know that the guy was usually extremely stubborn. Was he... replaced or something?
"We can't win. His abilities directly counter ours. And besides, he has the same body as the Third Kazekage. Unless we use Water Release—or unless he runs out of chakra—there's no way."
"What if we wear down his chakra?" Deidara suggested.
"Based on Asakawa Kiyosuke's past battle records, that's impossible. Even the Eight-Tails and the Fourth Raikage working together couldn't defeat him. Instead, he captured the Eight-Tails alive. The man's strength... probably only the boss can match it."
Sasori didn't like admitting it, but facts were facts.
"Well then, have you two figured out how to deal with me yet?" Kiyosuke chuckled. "Oh, Sasori, your grandma's still waiting for you to come home."
"Hmph! Who cares about that old hag?!"
The problem child Sasori snorted coldly, clearly annoyed.
"Oh my, you're angry? Well, the scenery here is rather nice—looks just like hell. How about staying awhile?"
"Like hell we're staying! Watch my art!!"
One by one, clay birds flew out from Deidara's sleeve, swarming toward Kiyosuke.
"Katsu!!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Explosions erupted one after another. Smoke and dust rose into the air. A wave of heat blew through and scattered the smoke, revealing Kiyosuke's battered form.
His body was full of holes, but fire was rapidly mending the damage.
Deidara's expression twisted.
"Are you kidding me?! That body is totally cheating! How is my art supposed to mean anything now?!"
"It never did," Sasori huffed. "True art is eternal."
"I don't believe it!"
"Art is... explosion, right?" Kiyosuke looked at Deidara and smiled.
"Of course! That single instant—the moment of the explosion—that's when it's at its most beautiful!" Deidara's eyes shone with fanaticism. He looked like a true madman.
Kiyosuke tilted his head and said, "If that's how you feel, then go ahead and experience your own art."
"What?"
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
A cluster of clones appeared around them, their bodies bursting into flames.
Sasori's expression changed.
"Idiot, run! Those clones are going to explode!"
"You've gotta be kidding! He's copying my style now?!" Deidara grumbled and quickly formed a clay eagle, flapping its wings and soaring into the sky. Sasori leapt onto its back.
As they rose higher, Deidara laughed loudly.
"Suck it! I can fly!"
"Idiot! Get out of here! He's coming!!"
Flames erupted from the feet and palms of the clones, launching them skyward like rocket boosters. Their bodies, completely elemental now, had significantly reduced weight, giving Kiyosuke the ability to fly—though it came at a steep chakra cost. Normally, he wouldn't bother using it.
BOOM!
One clone exploded just a short distance from the clay eagle. The flames scattered, and the shockwave sent the bird staggering midair.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Wall!"
Iron sand formed a protective shield around the eagle as explosion after explosion followed.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The muffled blasts echoed through the iron wall. It was pitch-black inside. Listening to the explosions, Deidara muttered, "This is way too over-the-top for art..."
"Don't underestimate that guy's power," Sasori said calmly. "Even Uchiha Itachi couldn't beat him."
Deidara wasn't convinced.
"I've still got one final technique left. If I use it, I can take him out with me."
"I told you you're an idiot and you never listen. Think about it—your last attack couldn't even kill him. Unless you get him into water, your explosions are useless."
"This guy is such a cheat!"
Deidara pouted like a child.
"Nothing we can do. That's just how his powers are. Let's retreat. Next time we meet, I will win. But first, I need to collect some new puppet materials."
...
Outside, the explosions had stopped. Sasori withdrew the iron sand barrier, and Deidara quickly piloted the clay eagle away from the scene.
Kiyosuke watched the small white dot flying farther and farther into the sky. He didn't give chase. You don't pursue cornered enemies—besides, who knew if reinforcements were on the way? He knew full well that the Akatsuki could hold video meetings. If they called in the whole squad, that'd be real trouble.
He looked around at the wrecked desert. No need to clean it up—one good gust of wind and the sand would bury everything. No one would ever know.
...
Back at the underground base, Orochimaru was in the middle of analyzing the Third Kazekage's puppet. Losing control of it earlier had really annoyed him. Now he was trying to find the flaw.
When he saw Kiyosuke return, he asked, "Did you kill them?"
"No. They flew away."
"You let them go, didn't you?" Orochimaru knew his disciple sometimes showed mercy. If Kiyosuke really wanted to kill them, the fact that they could fly wouldn't have stopped him.
"No point."
Kiyosuke shook his head.
"Sensei, you'd better find a new hideout. This one's compromised—it won't be safe for long."
"I know," Orochimaru replied. He'd already made up his mind to leave. It wasn't like he was short on hideouts.
But more importantly, he was running low on funds.
Time to figure out how to make some money again—research wasn't cheap, after all.