The Strongest Artist in Naruto

"Deidara, you're too slow!"

By the time Deidara returned to the city, the sun had already risen above the eastern mountains, its golden rays piercing through the darkness, bringing warmth and light.

The corpses of Sarutobi Tendou and Zoey lay side by side on the ground, lifeless and cold.

"Is this the gift you've brought me?" Sasori glanced at the four captives. Among them, Rin trembled with fear.

"Only the one from the Hyuga clan and the bug user are somewhat interesting," Sasori remarked.

"The other two... I have no use for them. Get rid of them."

"Wait, Sasori! You don't need to waste them," Deidara objected, shaking his head.

"Why not implant Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand in each of them and send them back to Konoha? Who knows, they might prove useful someday."

"Idiot," Sasori scoffed. "Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand can seal memories but not alter them."

This Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand was Sasori's unique technique, an ingenious and practical one. It could selectively seal parts of a person's memory. For spies, it was invaluable. Even the spies themselves wouldn't know their identities under normal circumstances, making exposure nearly impossible. At critical moments, the Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand could even kill the spy, ensuring loyalty through fear of death.

However, as Sasori explained, sealing memories wasn't the same as altering them. Even if they used the technique on these captives, they'd remain enemies. Sparing their lives wouldn't turn them into allies the next time they met.

Deidara waved dismissively. "I'll convince them."

"Oh? A foe who refuses to submit. How admirable," Sasori said mockingly.

Suddenly, the insects inside Aburame Shikuni's body lost control, pouring out in droves and scurrying aimlessly across the ground. It turned out that Shikuni had used his insects to commit suicide.

"You there, woman. You're a medic, aren't you?" Deidara released Rin from the clay centipede that bound her. "Come here and heal me. If this keeps up, I might actually bleed to death."

Having witnessed the deaths of her companions, Rin's expression was heavy with grief. But she didn't dare disobey. In this situation, she was the fish on the cutting board.

"Don't try anything funny, or your other two companions will join the dead," Sasori warned. His harsh tone, combined with Hiruko's menacing appearance, made him the epitome of a villain.

"I understand," Rin replied quietly. She approached Deidara, her hands enveloped in a soft green glow as she began to heal him.

This was Deidara's first encounter with medical ninjutsu since his arrival in this world. How could he describe it? It was... comfortable. Warm. He could clearly feel his wounds gradually healing, the sharp pain and discomfort fading away. The dizziness from blood loss was also slowly subsiding, leaving his mind clearer.

"Let's talk while you heal me," Deidara said, leaning against his clay bird, his tone casual but with a hint of authority.

"There's no point. We'll never betray Konoha!" Hyuga Kazuto spoke firmly, her tone calm yet unwavering.

"Ah, such harsh words!" Deidara chuckled.

"I prefer the term 'cooperation' over betrayal," he corrected.

"As you can see, Sasori and I may be S-rank rogue ninjas, but compared to a great shinobi village's power, we're insignificant. We have no intention of opposing Konoha."

"This whole situation was your doing, wasn't it? If we'd been weaker, we'd already be dead by now. Now that the tables have turned, surely you can't blame us for defending ourselves."

"You're right," Shimura Kiyoto interrupted quickly. "On the battlefield, victory depends on ability. That you've chosen to spare us is already an act of great mercy."

"Kiyoto! How can you say that?" Hyuga Kazuto snapped, glaring at him.

"Do you think our fallen comrades, Tendou and Shikuni, would approve of your cowardice?"

Idiot! This is called enduring humiliation for the greater good! Shimura Kiyoto cursed internally, maintaining a calm, detached expression.

"I'm simply stating the truth," he said coldly.

Deidara chuckled, amused by the scene. Shimura Kiyoto, it seemed, had the makings of a traitor.

"You're Shimura Kiyoto, right?" Deidara asked, pointing at him.

"Yes, sir," Kiyoto replied, not hesitating to change his address to "sir." Shame didn't seem to bother him in the slightest.

"You may leave," Deidara said, smirking. "Once you return to Konoha, I trust you'll work diligently to promote peace between your village and our organization."

"Of course, sir. I'll do everything in my power to ensure harmony between us," Kiyoto said, standing up. He glanced at Kazuto and Rin, hesitated for a moment, then chose to remain silent and walked away alone.

"What a shining example of the Will of Fire," Deidara mocked, half-laughing, half-sneering.

"That's not the Will of Fire!" Rin snapped, uncharacteristically defiant.

"Oh?" Deidara raised an eyebrow. "Then tell me—what is the Will of Fire? Killing for money?"

Rin was momentarily stunned, unable to respond.

Kazuto wasn't about to let the insult slide. "How dare you mock our beliefs? You know nothing about what we stand for!"

"Really?" Deidara shot back. "Do you know how many of your missions have been about exterminating 'bandits' who were just peasants driven to desperation by greedy nobles? Or how much destruction your so-called justice has caused?"

Kazuto and Rin remained silent, their faces pale.

"Admit it," Deidara said, his voice softer but no less cutting. "You're not saviors. You're mercenaries. Nothing more."

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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