----
Based on the timeline, just as the Five Kage Summit had concluded and the Mizukage's group encountered the mercenaries, Deidara and Hoshigaki Kisame arrived at Kirigakure.
The Land of Water is essentially an island nation, consisting of one large central island surrounded by countless smaller islands.
Kirigakure itself is located on this main island, and due to the island being surrounded by the sea, mist covers the village all year round, adding to its mystique.
Before Yagura left for the Five Kage Summit, he had strictly arranged the village's defences. Surveillance covered not only the perimeter of the village but also the coastline of the main island, including aerial and underwater patrols.
Given Akatsuki's various infiltration methods, caution was essential.
Unfortunately, with Kisame as a defector and guide, most of those defences became useless.
Kisame knew Kirigakure inside and out, able to accurately predict the location of both overt and covert sentries.
Additionally, he could utilize his summoning sharks to scout underwater, making infiltration far easier.
This is precisely why major shinobi villages relentlessly hunt down rogue ninjas they pose an immense threat to a village's security.
Meanwhile, Deidara chose an aerial assault.
The left arm he lost during the attack on Sunagakure had somehow been reattached, and this time, he learned from past mistakes Last time, Gaara spotted him ahead of time because he was riding a giant clay bird, which was unnatural in the desert.
This time, he created a bird commonly found in the Land of Water, blending into the local environment.
Moreover, the ever-present mist worked in Deidara's favour, allowing him to approach Kirigakure unnoticed until he was already over the village.
After all, only one person in the entire village had Byakugan, Ao.
And Ao couldn't keep his Byakugan activated 24/7. Even Neji, a pure-blooded Hyūga, would struggle with prolonged use. For Ao, who had an implanted Byakugan, it was even worse.
Using the intel provided by Kisame, Deidara bombarded key locations, instantly throwing the village into chaos.
However, the Kirigakure shinobi responded swiftly.
They immediately deployed specialized anti-air weapons, which had been specifically developed to counter such threats. Under Ao's Byakugan-assisted command, they launched a fierce counterattack.
Moreover, at Ao's direction, they continuously changed positions, making it impossible for Deidara to pinpoint targets for precise bombing.
Frustrated, Deidara lost patience and resorted to his ultimate move— C3: 18th Variant!
A winged, water-drop-shaped clay construct fell from the sky, rapidly expanding to the size of a house.
"Not good!"
With his Byakugan, Ao immediately saw the immense chakra contained within the clay bomb. Compared to the previous explosives, this one could wipe out at least half of Kirigakure!
At this point, Kirigakure had no intelligence on Deidara's weaknesses.
Ao had only two options:
1. Stop the bomb from reaching the ground.
2. Reduce the explosion's impact.
Acting swiftly, Ao ordered the Water and Earth Release users to erect multiple defensive barriers, while instructing the few Wind and Lightning Release users to attack it mid-air.
He didn't care if attacking it early might trigger an explosion, An early detonation would still be less devastating than allowing the enemy to detonate it at the optimal location.
And who knows? Maybe cutting through it with Wind or Lightning Release could weaken the blast.
There was no time for hesitation only action.
---
As everyone watched anxiously, the C3 bomb, now torn apart by Wind and Lightning Release, shattered mid-air before reaching the barriers below.
And then… nothing.
"Huh?"
Deidara frowned. He attempted to trigger the explosion… but nothing happened.
"Che, there's a Lightning Release user among them?"
From above, Ao's Byakugan had clearly observed Deidara's attempt to detonate the bomb, His chakra flow matched the previous detonations, and he even showed visible frustration.
"So it really didn't explode…"
Was it because the bomb had been damaged beforehand, or was there another reason?
Recalling Deidara's hand seals, Ao noticed that they were all Earth Release seals.
"Could it be that Lightning Release counteracts Earth Release explosives?"
To be sure, Ao needed to confirm this hypothesis.
---
Meanwhile, Deidara, now aware of Ao's presence, decided on his next move.
"That guy looks like the commander, doesn't he? Hm."
Deidara circled above Kirigakure, dodging incoming projectiles while creating dozens of peculiar, round clay figures.
These figures bore a striking resemblance to Baymax from Big Hero 6 large, clumsy, and slow-moving.
He dropped C2-level Baymaxes all across the battlefield.
However, he intentionally designed them to descend slowly, giving Kirigakure's ninja ample time to react.
Ao immediately scanned them with his Byakugan and estimated their power—
They might not be as devastating as the previous bomb, but they were still highly destructive.
"Destroy them with Lightning Release before they explode!" Ao ordered.
"Understood!"
The Lightning Release users rushed toward the falling clay figures, aiming to neutralize them mid-air.
Ao's calculations suggested they would just barely make it in time, so he exhaled in relief.
But something felt… wrong.
"Wait… why is he making it so easy for us to destroy them?"
At that moment, Deidara smirked.
"Hook, line, and sinker. Hm. Now, try my new piece, created in honour of Sasori—
C4: Karura!"
A new clay construct dropped rapidly, transforming mid-air into a red-haired youth wearing Akatsuki's cloak—
The "Red Sand Beauty"—Sasori!
The ninja nearest to Ao immediately shifted their focus to him, gripping their weapons.
"That's the enemy's true form?"
"He actually abandoned his aerial advantage to fight us on the ground?!"
Ao immediately yelled—
"Fall back! That's not a real person—it's just another bomb! Evacuate and defend yourselves!"
"What?!"
Despite their shock, the ninja reacted swiftly, leaping backwards while summoning Water Release barriers around the 'Sasori clone.'
---
At that moment, 'Sasori' opened his mouth His head spun 360 degrees, releasing hundreds of tiny clay needles.
The Water Release barriers blocked the needles, but the ensuing explosions shattered the barriers completely.
Ao frowned.
"Not a direct explosion, but an explosive projectile attack instead? What's the purpose of this move?"
Deidara spoke aloud as if Sasori were still alive beside him—
"It's to honour you, Sasori! You were the only one in Akatsuki who truly understood art. Hm."
Then, 'Sasori' shone brilliantly, engulfing a 50-meter radius in light.
"Damn it!"
Ao and his men barely had time to raise their arms to shield themselves.
But as the light faded…
There was nothing left where 'Sasori' had been.
And then—
Every ninja within the affected area disintegrated into dust, scattering like paper shreds in the wind.
----
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