Uehara Naraku didn't know what was on Terumi Mei's mind.
Now, Uehara, Deidara, and Sasori have arrived at the rebirth location of the Three-tailed Isobu. Uchiha Sasuke was still fiercely battling the Three-tailed, and Orianna was overseeing the fight.
Deidara pouted displeasedly as he watched the crimson-eyed Uchiha Sasuke. Clearly, Sasuke was not taking any chances in this fight and had already activated his Sharingan.
This triggered Deidara's disgust.
After all, when Deidara joined the Akatsuki, it was Uchiha Itachi who used Genjutsu to control Deidara, almost causing Deidara to blow himself up with a Clay Bomb.
"Those Uchiha guys are really annoying..."
Deidara arrogantly lifted his head and shouted, "Hey, Uehara, can't I just blow up that brat and the Three-tailed Isobu together? I've prepared a very unique art for these Uchihas!"
After saying that, Deidara added, "Look at these Uchihas, none of them are good people! I suspect the Uchiha brothers in our organization have a plot, wanting to use Akatsuki to achieve their ambition..."
"No..."
Uehara Naraku's face darkened as he slowly shook his head. All the members of the Akatsuki, weren't they all trying to use Akatsuki to fulfill their ambitions?
Deidara guessed one point correctly...
The Uchihas aren't really good people...
They're too arrogant, and they always suspect others of their wrongdoings, a bit paranoid, thinking everyone's out to harm them.
Well, maybe they guessed right.
Uchiha Sasuke is Uehara Naraku's favorite pawn to use; with a little guidance, he could make this self-proclaimed smart person think a bit more, thus using him.
Sasori of the Red Sand glanced at Deidara's displeased face and softly comforted him, "When we get back to the base, you'll see the Uchiha brothers turn on each other, isn't that more fun than killing them?"
"But I still want to kill them for revenge!"
Deidara pouted, turning away to sulk like a little child. As Deidara's peer, Uehara Naraku felt a bit embarrassed.
Luckily, the battle between Uchiha Sasuke and the Three-tails caught Uehara Naraku's interest. He began explaining, "It seems Sasuke has figured out the intel on the Three-tails..."
Deidara glanced at Sasuke's fight, snorting disdainfully, "Hmph, I don't need intel to deal with the Three-tails!"
"..."
Sasori glanced speechlessly at Deidara. When it came to issues about Uchiha, it felt like Deidara became stubborn!
The battle over the lake intensified.
Uchiha Sasuke finally realized a problem; even if he had intel on the Three-tails, unless he used large-scale Jutsu, his insignificant Jutsu couldn't take down the Three-tails.
"Luckily, the weather in the Land of Water is always nice..."
Uchiha Sasuke looked up at the sky, a smile appearing on his face, "If I use that move, I shouldn't need to waste too much chakra, probably just one would be enough... Fire Release: Mighty Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
A dragon-headed fireball shot toward the clouds!
Deidara glanced at it, unable to hold back a curse, "Idiot, using Fire Release Ninjutsu on the Three-tails is one thing, but shooting it into the sky, isn't he just wasting his chakra?"
Sasori shook his head, speaking softly, "Don't be hasty, just keep watching... Even if his intelligence is low, he wouldn't use Fire Release for no reason."
"Heh heh, probably wants to use that move!"
Uehara Naraku observed for a while and chuckled lightly, "Has he developed that move after all? It seems Sasuke's luck is indeed good; the weather in the Land of Water is most suited for that Jutsu."
There's no doubt that Uchiha Sasuke wanted to use Lightning Release: Kirin.
This S-Class Ninjutsu was once the strongest among ordinary Lightning Release Jutsu, with the only trouble being that it needed favorable weather, requiring natural lightning to unleash.
The coastal and humid nature of the Land of Water contributed to its rainy environment, where ominous clouds almost always gathered in the sky.
This environment was very advantageous for releasing Lightning Release: Kirin.
As Uchiha Sasuke's Fire Release Ninjutsu ascended, dark clouds gradually gathered over the battlefield. Sasuke intently focused on the lightning within the clouds, slowly clasping his hands together.
"Lightning Release: Kirin!"
The lightning within the dark clouds rapidly converged, and in the blink of an eye, formed into a massive thunder beast. It roared as it charged toward the Three-tailed Isobu on the lake!
The Three-tailed Isobu glanced at the approaching thunder beast from the sky and immediately tried to gather its Tailed Beast Ball. However, a flash of red light appeared in Uchiha Sasuke's Sharingan and, in the next second, the Three-tailed felt its body retrained by numerous gigantic iron nails!
Apparently, Uchiha Sasuke had anticipated this. Whenever the Three-tails attempted to use the Tailed Beast Ball, he would use his Genjutsu to force the Three-tails into a momentary slumber, interrupting its move.
Deidara's expression shifted, gritting his teeth, "Uchiha Sasuke, this brat, really can't be underestimated!"
The power of this Lightning Release: Kirin was something even he felt a bit threatened by!
"After all, he's from the Uchiha Clan..."
Sasori shook his head, sighed lightly, and then turned to Uehara Naraku, "Enduring such a powerful Lightning Release Jutsu, the Three-tailed won't be killed by him, right?"
"Probably not."
Uehara Naraku shook his head but felt a bit uneasy. He suddenly raised his finger and pointed at the thunder beast in the sky, speaking softly, "Alright, let's consider this as his passing the test! The Three-tails cannot be harmed! Wind Release: Tornado!"
A small-scale whirlwind shot from Uehara Naraku's finger toward the location of the thunder beast. As the whirlwind approached, it grew larger and larger, eventually enveloping the terrifying thunder beast!
As the hurricane swirled, the Thunder Beast was instantly disintegrated into countless tiny lightning bolts, which vanished into the air as the hurricane blew away the dark clouds in the sky.
Wind Attribute Ninjutsu naturally has the upper hand over Lighting Attribute Ninjutsu, not to mention Uehara Naraku's wind power, which is the most extreme Wind Release Chakra.
The S-Class Lighting Release unleashed by Uchiha Sasuke with all his might was directly destroyed by the Wind Release Jutsu that Uehara Naraku released with a single finger…
"You really don't hold back at all!"
Sasori of the Red Sand looked at Uehara Naraku and couldn't help but shake his head. "A young kid painstakingly researched and trained to develop a Lighting Release Ninjutsu, and you dismantled it with one move... It's going to destroy his confidence!"
Deidara didn't care much. Seeing the bewildered Uchiha Sasuke standing on the lake, he couldn't help but give a thumbs up to Uehara Naraku. "Uehara, nicely done!"
The demonstration by Uehara Naraku was significantly stronger than the Lighting Release Ninjutsu that Uchiha Sasuke carefully prepared!
After the Lighting Release: Kirin in the sky disappeared, the Three-tailed Isobu seemed to find its chance and charged violently toward Uchiha Sasuke!
Although it wasn't clear why someone neutralized the technique threatening it, this was the chance to kill this kid standing in its way!
Uchiha Sasuke's Chakra was heavily depleted, and he could only evade the Three Tails' pursuit by stepping on the lake water. His face was filled with displeasure and confusion, and a trace of suppressed fear lingered in his eyes.
Is Uehara Naraku trying to use the Three Tails to kill him?
Just how powerful is this guy? Even when he used all his strength to cast his Lighting Release Ninjutsu, Uehara neutralized it with ease…
"Well done."
Uehara Naraku's figure suddenly appeared beside Uchiha Sasuke, smiling gently as he praised, "If I hadn't worried about you killing the Three Tails, I wouldn't have intervened to shatter your technique. I have to say, you've grown much stronger than before, Sasuke..."
Uchiha Sasuke's body stiffened slightly, and his face turned cold immediately. "Hmph, the defense of the Three Tails is quite extraordinary; it might have withstood that attack. In that case, you can't say I failed to capture the Three Tails, can you?"
After hearing Sasuke's words, Uehara Naraku chuckled softly. "Alright, I'll consider you passed the exam. When we return, I'll report to Lord Pain that you qualify to become a full-fledged member of Akatsuki and have the right to challenge Uchiha Itachi."
Sasuke was essentially gambling with the life of the Three Tails!
However, as the most docile of the Tailed Beasts, the Three-tailed Isobu neither bullied ninjas nor sought trouble, preferring to stay quietly and sleep in comfort.
Unfortunately, the Three Tails has the highest death toll among the Tailed Beasts.
A decade ago, it was inexplicably sealed within Nohara Rin and was subsequently killed alongside her. A few years ago, it was sealed into Karatachi Yagura and was then slain by Uehara Naraku.
It's really absurd—an obviously harmless Tailed Beast has been killed by ninjas so many times, and now it's being used as an exam tool by Uchiha Sasuke.
I guess this is what it means to bully the honest Tailed Beasts!
Now, riled up by Uchiha Sasuke, the Three-tailed Isobu charged in fury, only to slam on the brakes when it saw Uehara Naraku.
Uehara Naraku glanced at the approaching Three-tailed Isobu and squinted, greeting it, "Long time no see, Isobu."
"..."
The memory of its last encounter with Uehara Naraku seemed to resurface in the Three-tailed Isobu's mind, recalling how badly it had been beaten.
This person is not its match.
"It's you!"
The Three Tails' voice was tinged with fear, and its entire body instantly coiled, ready to dive into the water to flee.
Uehara Naraku chuckled lightly, and his figure appeared beneath the head of the Three Tails, kicking the colossal Tailed Beast out of the water with a powerful stomp!
Then, with another kick to the Three-tailed Isobu's abdomen, it sent the Tailed Beast flying onto the shore!
Three-tailed Isobu landed on its back like an overturned turtle, unable to flip back onto its feet...
"..."
Watching this scene, Uchiha Sasuke's eyes narrowed sharply.
Is Uehara Naraku really this strong?
Having personally fought against the Three-tailed Isobu, Uchiha Sasuke knew exactly how formidable it was and how impenetrable its defense was.
Yet, Uehara Naraku managed to send this gigantic beast flying with only two kicks, leaving it defenseless!
It's kind of terrifying...
No, it should be said that Uehara has always been extremely terrifying!
"Alright, the Three Tails is captured. No need to worry anymore."
Uehara Naraku patted Sasuke's shoulder, showing a supportive gesture, "Once we seal the Three Tails, I'll give you some pointers on how to defeat Uchiha Itachi. I believe you'll definitely win."
"..."
Witnessing Uehara Naraku's violent method of capturing the Three Tails, Uchiha Sasuke suddenly worried he might not survive to duel with Uchiha Itachi.
Uehara Naraku seemed to see through Sasuke's thoughts and chuckled, "Don't worry, I've said it before. I'll simulate Uchiha Itachi's fighting style as much as possible... Apart from his Dojutsu, I can mimic almost everything."
Uchiha Sasuke looked at the smile on Uehara Naraku's face and suddenly lowered his head, saying, "Thank you, Uehara."
"No problem at all!"
Uehara Naraku patted his shoulder and squinted, showing a kind and friendly smile, "Keep it up, Sasuke. Surpass Uchiha Itachi. I'm really looking forward to your growth!"