"..."
Uehara Naraku, Sasori, Sasuke, and Yakushi Kabuto exchanged glances, all simultaneously showing a trace of disdain towards Deidara.
Damn it, this guy's just so disappointing!
"Lava Release: Quicklime Congealing Jutsu!"
Suddenly, sharp shouts echoed, and a line of Rock Ninjas stood on a high building, spitting out blobs of cement at the feet of the Ancient Giant Dragon!
It was the Hidden Rock Lava Release Squad commanded by Kurotsuchi.
Kurotsuchi clasped her hands together, releasing ninjutsu while urging loudly, "Focus the jutsu's target area at its feet, stop it from advancing further!"
Blobs of cement quickly fell!
The sheer quantity caused a qualitative change, and the cement soon sealed one of the Ancient Giant Dragon's feet, attempting to trap its leg!
Unfortunately, the Ancient Giant Dragon just stirred its wings, and with a little effort, broke free, leisurely shaking off the cement as it continued forward.
"Hahahaha... Little Kurotsuchi has really grown up!"
Deidara noticed this scene. Standing atop the Ancient Giant Dragon's head, he saw Kurotsuchi's anxious and angry expression and cupped his hands to shout loudly at her, "Come on, Kurotsuchi! Don't give up!"
"..."
Upon hearing Deidara's shout, Kurotsuchi's mind short-circuited for a second, and her face became even more anxious and angry.
Kurotsuchi's mindset was on the verge of collapse.
If it wasn't for her subordinates being present, not wanting to lose face as their captain, Kurotsuchi felt a bit aggrieved.
The enemy cheering for her, what on earth is this!
Not only Kurotsuchi felt like this, but the whole Akatsuki group also had quite the reaction, with Sasori covering his forehead and cursing, "This guy, is he really an idiot?"
"Probably just trying to provoke the enemy!"
Uchiha Sasuke raised an eyebrow, softly explaining.
Sasori shook his head helplessly, "No, Deidara's probably just genuinely cheering for that little girl!"
Yes, Deidara's thoughts were that pure.
Thus, when the Rock Ninjas, filled with anger, thought Deidara was mocking their captain, little Kurotsuchi also weakly shook her head, "No need for that, Deidara-senpai's probably just encouraging me on a whim..."
"Kurotsuchi, fall back!"
A tall figure appeared beside Kurotsuchi, ordering her and the Lava Release Squad to leave, "You take the Lava Release Squad immediately and organize the villagers for evacuation, I'll handle things here!"
"Lord Huang Tu!"
The faces of the Rock Ninjas were filled with surprise and joy.
The person who arrived was none other than Kurotsuchi's father, Huang Tu.
Besides the Third Tsuchikage Onoki, Huang Tu's strength was undoubtedly the strongest within the Hidden Rock Village, always hailed as the strongest Earth Release ninja.
After a second of hesitation, Kurotsuchi nodded towards her father, leapt to the ground, and led her subordinates to organize the evacuation of villagers.
Huang Tu's aura rose rapidly, and he bent down, slamming his palms onto the ground, staring directly at Deidara atop the Ancient Giant Dragon, saying in a deep voice, "Don't act too arrogantly in your own homeland... Deidara! Earth Release: Mountain Earth Jutsu!"
"Tch, what a bother!"
Deidara glanced at the approaching Huang Tu and shook his head, shouting loudly, "Hey, are you ready? Uncle Huang Tu can easily suppress a rampaging Tailed Beast!"
In the next moment, two semicircular earthen mounds suddenly rose!
No, strictly speaking, these were two large semicircular earthen mountains!
The two earthen mountains clamped together, moving towards the position of the Ancient Giant Dragon, intending to trap it directly inside!
The massive creature roared loudly, flapping its wings with all its might, but even so, the wings couldn't prevent the two semicircular earthen mountains from closing!
"This is such a hassle."
Uehara Naraku furrowed his brows, slowly stood up, and clenched his fist, gathering chakra in his hand.
In the next moment, Uehara's figure appeared instantly beside one of the earthen mountains, and he swung his fist fiercely!
Rumble!
The earth shook instantly!
One of the earthen mountains was instantly blasted away by Uehara Naraku's punch, shattered by tremendous force, with countless massive earth blocks rolling down, toppling a large area of buildings in the Hidden Rock Village!
Uehara Naraku calmly adjusted his hood, looking at Huang Tu, who was sweating profusely, coldly saying, "Hey, don't harm my pet. If there's a problem, come at me instead..."
"So, it's the Akatsuki after all?"
Huang Tu slowly stood up, looking at the silhouettes clad in cloud-patterned black robes, and said in a deep voice, "What is your group's objective in attacking the Hidden Rock Village?"
"That question is meaningless."
Uehara Naraku looked at Huang Tu and smiled, "No matter what our objective is, since we're already here, do you think we'd leave empty-handed?"
Looking at the speechless Huang Tu, Uehara Naraku waved his hand, "Alright, if we say we want the Five-tailed Jinchuriki, would the Hidden Rock Village obediently hand them over?"
"So it's the Tailed Beasts you're after?"
Huang Tu slowly clenched his fist, his expression growing solemn, and he said in a low voice, "Of course, we won't hand them over. We could never give our village comrades to the enemy!"
"Hmm, hmm, understood, understood."
Uehara Naraku casually nodded, "Actually, we've heard the same thing from other ninja villages. It's your way of showing your resolve to protect your comrades, although your outcomes usually don't end well."
"The Hidden Rock Village is different from other villages!"
"Isn't it all the same?"
Uehara Naraku spread his hands, chuckling lightly, "Anyway, there's nothing to discuss. Fortunately, we weren't planning to negotiate with you either. We're just here to capture the Hidden Rock Village's Five-tailed Jinchuriki, and by the way..."
As he spoke, Uehara Naraku looked at Huang Tu, his voice gradually turning icy, "Destroy this village."
"Young people these days really are hot-blooded!"
An elderly voice reached everyone's ears.
The Third Tsuchikage Onoki flew over from the air, and upon seeing the destruction caused by the Ancient Giant Dragon, his eyes narrowed slightly, "Daring to do such a thing means I'll have to keep you all here..."
Uehara Naraku gazed at the approaching Tsuchikage, saying softly, "Then let's see what you've got, Lord Tsuchikage."
"Don't worry."
The Third Tsuchikage Onoki clasped his hands together, with a ball of white light appearing in the hollow of his palm, "I certainly won't let you scoundrels succeed!"
If it was a one-on-one fight, Onoki would hesitate to use this move.
After all, this was the Hidden Rock Village, and if the Dust Release jutsu missed, it could endanger the innocent.
However, the Ancient Giant Dragon on the ground was an incredibly easy target, practically the best bullseye for the Dust Release jutsu!
"Damn it, that's the Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"
Deidara's face showed a hint of shock, gritting his teeth, "That old man always strikes so ruthlessly! Hey, you guys be careful, don't come into contact with his jutsu, or you'll be disintegrated!"
"No need to worry."
After Uehara Naraku said that, he turned to look at Yakushi Kabuto and said softly, "Kabuto, why don't you help this Third Tsuchikage stretch his muscles?"