Chapter 92 – Snake and Scorpion
Deidara hadn't seen the man form hand seals for any jutsu. So how did he dodge?
Suddenly, he recalled the man's eyes—and the chatter he'd once overheard among the ninja in the village.
The Sharingan.
So I was caught in a genjutsu? When?
Deidara's face darkened. He bit the tip of his tongue, the pain jolting him awake. His vision blurred for a moment, and the next second he found himself lying on the ground.
He scrambled up in shock, only to see the man standing beside him, a kunai pointed at his throat.
"You lose," Uchiha Itachi said calmly.
Deidara froze. I lost, just like that?
He hadn't even realized when he had fallen into the Sharingan's genjutsu. If this had been a true battle to the death, he would already be dead.
"Your art… I, Deidara, acknowledge it! … Hmm." He admitted defeat.
At the same time, he silently resolved to train his left eye until it could resist the genjutsu of the Sharingan.
"As per our agreement, come with us." Itachi put away his kunai.
Deidara didn't renege. Without even looking back at the stone hut he had lived in for three years, he followed Itachi. Curiously, he asked, "Where are we going?"
"Konoha," Itachi answered truthfully.
"Konoha? That far?" Deidara muttered, then his eyes lit up. "Wait, wait—I have a treasure that's almost finished! We can ride a flying bird to Konoha. What do you think?"
He pointed excitedly at the clay model of a giant bird lying nearby.
This way, he could both complete his research and avoid a long journey on foot.
Itachi considered for a moment, then nodded. If Deidara truly had such a creation, it would be convenient.
And so, Itachi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Yakushi Nōnō remained temporarily at Deidara's place.
According to Deidara, the bird could be completed within one or two days. At that time, they could ride it all the way back to the Hidden Leaf Village, saving precious time.
Itachi was intrigued. If this bird could indeed carry multiple passengers—and especially if it could be mass-produced—its strategic value for Konoha would be enormous.
Currently, the Leaf had no true flight jutsu. Well… except for the Complete Body Susanoo his father had once demonstrated, which seemed capable of flight. But before Uchiha Fugaku awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, no one in Konoha had been able to fly.
In fact, few shinobi in the entire world could. The Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, Ōnoki, was one—his secret Light-Weight Rock Technique allowed him to soar through the skies. Konoha had tried to steal this technique before, but failed.
A pity.
Now, if Deidara's giant bird could be developed, Konoha could create an aerial unit. With air superiority, the decision to fight or retreat would rest entirely with them.
On the battlefield, where cruelty reigned, such an advantage could be decisive. Combined with the Hyūga clan's Byakugan reconnaissance, it would create the strongest intelligence and scouting force imaginable.
After all, battles were fought first with foresight, then with raw strength.
Itachi's eyes gleamed faintly as he looked at Deidara.
Father truly has a brilliant vision. This brat is a great talent.
He turned his gaze toward Iwagakure in the distance. For the Hidden Stone to cast away such a talent…
Itachi shook his head. Their loss was Konoha's gain.
---
Meanwhile, on a deserted road somewhere in the shinobi world—
Two figures in black cloaks embroidered with red clouds, straw hats with hanging wind chimes, rings on their fingers, and painted nails walked unhurriedly.
Their scratched headbands marked them as rogue ninja.
Soon, they entered a bustling small town.
Their strange attire drew attention immediately. Curious civilians glanced at them, but upon noticing the scratched headbands, they quickly averted their eyes and withdrew. Everyone knew rogue ninja were dangerous, people not to be provoked.
One of the two was tall, with long black hair, golden snake-like pupils, pale skin, and bluish-green magatama earrings. It was Orochimaru, whom Jiraiya had been tirelessly searching for.
Orochimaru observed the town with interest, already considering it as a potential base—easy to resupply, easy to hide.
Beside him was his new partner, shorter than Orochimaru and hunched, with a hoarse voice. His name was Sasori of the Red Sand.
"This way," Sasori said curtly, leading him through winding alleys.
Eventually, they reached an empty house. Sasori opened a hidden cabinet, revealing a secret passage underground.
The narrow tunnel soon opened into a vast underground chamber, brightly lit and bustling with people.
Orochimaru glanced around, his lips curling. This was promising. He could build a proper laboratory here.
Sasori, however, snorted inwardly. From the start, he had opposed Orochimaru joining Akatsuki. He didn't trust him—perhaps because he had once been a ninja of Sunagakure, or perhaps because he sensed Orochimaru's ulterior motives.
But his objections hadn't prevailed. In fact, he had been forced to accept Orochimaru as his partner.
Sasori hated it. For a while, he had even gone on strike, refusing missions—until Konan promised to double his puppet research funding. Reluctantly, he agreed.
Still, his suspicion of Orochimaru remained as strong as ever.
---