Hatake Sakumo knocked Deidara unconscious, then held onto him, looking up at Ōnoki. Ōnoki gave a look to Kitsuchi.
Kitsuchi nodded, walking up to Sakumo. Sakumo handed Deidara over to Kitsuchi. "His Explosion Release is very powerful, even one small spider can match a high grade explosive tag."
"Aside from his explosive clay fearing lightning, his killing power is unmatched." Sakumo said slowly. Kitsuchi also nodded, he thought so too.
But when Kitsuchi carried Deidara back, Ōnoki's expression was not good. He had seen Deidara's Explosion Release before, more than once, and had been quite satisfied.
The power was enormous, and the range was wide, making him practically a killing machine on the battlefield.
But today, the flaw of explosive clay Explosion Release was laid bare before Ōnoki. He instantly felt Explosion Release had no future. After this succession ceremony ended, he was determined to make Deidara switch to learning Dust Release.
Dust Release was the strongest ninjutsu in the world.
Ōnoki firmly believed this. Meanwhile, Ryun observed Ōnoki's expression. Thinking of the original plot where Deidara defected from Iwagakure, he knew Ōnoki had probably already decided to force Deidara to learn Dust Release.
Perhaps in a few years, news would come that Deidara had defected from Iwagakure and joined the Akatsuki.
However, Ryun did not plan to warn Ōnoki. If Iwagakure lost Deidara, then Konoha would have one less Kage level threat.
Given the nature of Deidara's explosive clay, if he was allowed to unleash his techniques on the battlefield, aside from himself, Madara Uchiha, and Hashirama Senju, it would be very difficult for anyone else to block it all.
The result would be heavy casualties for Konoha shinobi. This was not something Ryun wanted to see. Therefore, he was quite happy to watch this scenario unfold.
Ōnoki gave a slight bow to Ryun. "Thank you, Hokage sama, for having Hatake Sakumo show mercy. This time we lost, our skills are inferior."
"Please, Tsuchikage sama, we should be the ones thanking you for letting us witness such a splendid ninjutsu. It is truly unique in the history of the ninja world." Ryun said with a smile.
Ōnoki nodded, turning to walk towards the hotel. His face was dark, his teeth clenched. Deidara being suppressed also brought him no honor.
After hearing Ryun's evaluation, which he took as sarcasm, he resolved, absolutely resolved, to make Deidara switch to Dust Release.
What he didn't know was that Ryun's praise was genuine. Deidara's Explosion Release was indeed a unique, one of a kind thing in the ninja world. He truly appreciated Deidara.
Ryun watched Ōnoki hurry away and sighed. Then he stepped forward and patted Sakumo's shoulder. "As expected of you. The battle was still so aesthetically pleasing, so clean and decisive."
"You flatter me, Hokage sama. My meager skills are like fireflies compared to the bright moon next to yours, they are not on the same level." Sakumo said modestly.
What he said was also true. Perhaps among Kage level fighters, Sakumo was already among the top tier. But compared to Ryun and that group, the gap was far too large.
"Heh, Sakumo, you've become much smoother over the years." Ryun said with a smile.
"People always change. Being a bit smoother isn't a bad thing." Sakumo replied.
The two of them chatted like this as they went upstairs. Namikaze Minato stood there, watching everything on the field, unable to help but marvel at Sakumo's exquisite technique and masterful chakra control.
He was also thinking about how he would fight if he faced Deidara. He thought, most likely, he would dodge.
Uchiha Obito looked at Sakumo's retreating back, then at Kakashi. "Kakashi, your old man is so strong. How did you handle the pressure when you were a kid?"
Even now, possessing Kamui, Uchiha Obito didn't dare say he could beat Hatake Sakumo.
Kakashi glanced at him. "Wasn't that what you were for? Always helping me relieve stress, being a punching bag."
Sure enough, Konoha's number one sarcastic technician was Kakashi. His words immediately put Obito, who had been teasing him, in an awkward spot.
"Damn you, Kakashi. You want to fight?" Uchiha Obito gritted his teeth. Kakashi looked at him. "I'll fight you if you don't use your Mangekyō."
Obito fell silent. If it was just a contest of ninjutsu and taijutsu, he might really not be Kakashi's opponent.
After all, he wasn't the Obito from the original story who had fought his way up step by step.
But he couldn't lose face. Uchiha Obito snorted coldly. "That's my innate skill. Why shouldn't I use it?"
Hatake Kakashi said with a supremely irritating expression, "Oh." Then turned and walked away, which thoroughly angered Obito.
Nohara Rin smiled and grabbed Obito's arm. "Alright, you two have been fighting for over ten years. Why are you still the same, setting each other off at the slightest thing?"
"Rin, it's not my fault, it's that guy Kakashi..." Uchiha Obito tried to continue defending himself, but Rin stepped forward and kissed Obito, which made Obito freeze. Gradually, he closed his eyes.
A long time later, their lips parted.
"Obito, don't be angry anymore, okay." Rin licked her lips, holding Obito's face with both hands, her cheeks flushed red.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah. For Rin's sake, I won't bother with him." Obito, having just reacted, blushed deeply.
Rin put her hands behind her back and grinned. Her lively appearance deeply attracted Obito.
Obito took Rin's hand and walked towards the street. Rin smiled and followed closely beside Obito. For some reason, she felt very safe when she was with Obito.
The two walked towards the streets of Kumogakure. Kakashi, who was going upstairs, looked down at the couple below, feeling a bit envious. Since things were like this, he might as well go back to his room and read Lord Jiraiya's book again.
Obito and Rin walked on the streets of Kumogakure, frequently drawing looks from the villagers. After all, a handsome man and a beautiful woman would attract attention anywhere.
Especially in Kumogakure, where the villagers' skin was rough and generally darker, but they preferred people with fair skin.
However, in everyone's eyes, these two were not to be trifled with, because the black haired man was wearing the Uchiha clan jacket.
Everyone had this basic knowledge. The Uchiha clan, the number one clan in the ninja world, and moreover, they were the guards of Hokage Uchiha Ryun. How strong must they be.
Therefore, many looks were stolen glances. After walking for a while, Rin felt very uncomfortable under these gazes, so she spoke up. "Obito, let's go back."
Obito, hearing this, nodded. Looking at the sky, it was getting late. The temperature difference between day and night in Kumogakure was large. He took off his jacket and draped it over Rin's shoulders, then put his arm around her as they walked back to the hotel.
"Not cold anymore, right, Rin." Obito looked ahead, watching the road while holding Nohara Rin. Nohara Rin smiled and shook her head. "How could I be cold with you here?"
Obito grinned, holding Rin as they walked back. Suddenly, a mist rose.
Obito's steps halted. He frowned. What was going on? He carefully examined the mist and found it was not right.
"This is the Hiding in Mist Technique." Nohara Rin frowned. The appearance of the Hiding in Mist Technique in Kumogakure made the Mizukage's party from Kirigakure the prime suspects.
But with the succession ceremony imminent, would the Mizukage be so foolish as to offend Konoha?
In an instant, two shuriken flew over, heading straight for Uchiha Obito's head.
Uchiha Obito drew a kunai and knocked them away. Two clanging sounds rang out. Uchiha Obito activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, constantly vigilant of his surroundings.
The next moment, an earthen spear shot towards Nohara Rin. Nohara Rin's expression changed.
Obito's Mangekyō spun. "Kamui." A vortex appeared in front of them, sucking the spear and the mist into the Kamui dimension.
A trace of blood flowed from Obito's left eye. It was also because of Kamui's effect that the Hiding in Mist Technique was broken. Two figures appeared before them, wearing forehead protectors of Kirigakure and Iwagakure.
Nohara Rin saw the blood flowing from Obito's eye socket and instantly became furious.
She released the Yin Seal, activating the Byakugō Technique, and charged towards the shinobi wearing the Iwagakure forehead protector.
That shinobi's pupils contracted, thinking, 'So fast.' In the next second, Nohara Rin threw a punch, knocking the shinobi with the Iwagakure forehead protector to the ground.
Then she turned to look at the shinobi wearing the Kirigakure forehead protector. That shinobi, seeing his partner couldn't win, immediately tried to leave. Who knew a black lightning bolt would strike towards him.
The shinobi was stunned. He was just about to shout 'Captain' when the black lightning fell, blasting him into nothingness.
Then, in a turn, the figure smashed the head of the shinobi Rin had defeated.
When the dust settled, the figure spoke. "Are you two alright?"
The two looked at the figure and found it was Darui. At this moment, his hands were covered in blood, and he was smiling at them.
Uchiha Obito shielded Nohara Rin. "You killed them all?"
Nohara Rin didn't speak. She always felt there was something odd about this situation. Even if Darui was the captain of the Anbu, when facing criminals, shouldn't he have kept them alive to ask who was behind it?
Darui seemed to have anticipated their reaction and said, "Sorry, I was reckless. At the time, I saw these two attacking you, so I just killed them."
"As the captain of the Kumogakure Anbu, and also as the guide for the representatives of each village this time, I have the authority to protect everyone's safety."
Uchiha Obito: "..."
Nohara Rin: "..."
They didn't believe this. But since he said so, they couldn't find any reason to challenge him. On the surface, Darui was indeed concerned for their safety.
"Thank you. In that case, I'll take my girlfriend and leave." Uchiha Obito said.
"Please." Darui stepped aside, smiling slightly.
Nohara Rin followed beside Uchiha Obito, like a little girl, gentle and fragile.
If Darui hadn't just seen her punch and immediately knock down a jōnin, he might have really believed it.
Watching Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin leave, Darui thought to himself, 'Just this isn't enough yet.'
He narrowed his eyes, looking in the direction of the other three Kage, and his lips curved upwards. If only one village had an incident, it might be a frame up. But if all three villages had incidents, then they would suspect each other.
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