The Strongest Artist in Naruto

"Hey! What's with all the kowtowing?" Deidara shot an exasperated look at Maruta.

"Please, Deidara-sama! Accept me as your disciple!"

"I'll work hard and become strong!" Maruta cried out, forehead pressed firmly to the ground.

"Fine, fine! You can work at the Matsuzaka Branch of the organization," Deidara said, waving his hand dismissively. "But if you want to get stronger, that's on you. I'm not a teacher."

"Thank you!" Maruta's eyes sparkled with gratitude as tears streamed down his face.

Deidara sighed heavily.

Seriously, is this guy for real?

He and Sasori had been stationed in Matsuzaka City for nearly two weeks, waiting for Nagato to send reinforcements from other branches. Instead, a group of unwelcome visitors showed up first.

Under the cover of night, a team of shinobi infiltrated the city. At the forefront was Zoey, the man who had escaped their clutches earlier. He was stocky with a perpetually sinister expression—a face that practically screamed "villain."

Behind him stood several shinobi wearing headbands engraved with the Leaf Village's spiral emblem. Zoey had hired them at an exorbitant price, posting an S-rank mission to ensure his success. Half of his wealth was now gone, but he was certain it would be worth it.

Once I get rid of those two accursed ninjas and reclaim Matsuzaka City, I'll squeeze every last ryo back out of the townsfolk.

"Be careful. Those two are incredibly strong!" Zoey cautioned. Not out of kindness, of course—he just didn't want his money wasted.

"Don't worry about us. We're more than capable," one of the Leaf jonin replied haughtily, clearly unimpressed by the Land of Rivers.

"Ninja battles aren't to be taken lightly, Kiyoto," the leader of the group reprimanded. "Kazuto, use your Byakugan to scout ahead."

"Yes, Captain Tendou!" Kazuto activated his Byakugan. The veins around his temples bulged ominously as he scanned the area.

"How does it look?" someone asked, noticing Kazuto's furrowed brow.

"Strong. And...strange," Kazuto muttered.

"Elaborate," Sarutobi Tendou, their temporary leader, demanded.

"They have immense chakra reserves. But the strongest one...his chakra is concentrated entirely in his heart. The rest of his body has no chakra flow at all. It's as if he's nothing but a beating heart."

"How strong?" Kiyoto asked, his tone losing some of its earlier arrogance.

"Far beyond Captain Tendou. Stronger than Kakashi."

The revelation made the group tense. Kakashi was one of Konoha's strongest jonin, second only to the Hokage in skill. If their target surpassed even him, then they were dealing with an opponent of kage-level strength.

Zoey, noticing their unease, barked, "Don't tell me you're scared!"

"We'll handle it," Tendou replied curtly. Despite his disdain for Zoey, he maintained professionalism.

"Shikuni, use your insects to probe their defenses," Tendou ordered.

"And if we're exposed?" Kiyoto asked.

"Then Kiyoto, Kazuto, and I will launch a frontal assault. Rin, you stay back as support," Tendou explained.

Each member of the team hailed from a prominent Konoha clan, equipped with powerful techniques and battle-hardened experience. Though this was an S-rank mission, none of them were willing to let fear tarnish their reputation.

Inside the inn, Sasori was engrossed in puppet-making. As a being of wood and machinery, he neither ate, slept, nor felt pain. Free from such distractions, he dedicated his time to perfecting his craft.

A small bug slipped through the window. In the summer heat, insects were common, and Sasori paid it no mind. After all, it wasn't like they could bite him.

But Shikuni, controlling the insect from a distance, frowned.

What's going on? My insect can't penetrate his body. It's like he's not made of flesh.

"How's it going?" Tendou asked softly.

"One insect made contact. The strongest one, however, is impervious," Shikuni replied.

"Then we have no choice but to engage directly. Shikuni, protect Rin."

"Understood."

Deidara, meanwhile, was lounging carelessly when he felt a sudden, unfamiliar presence. By the time he reacted, Tendou was already close, his hands moving at impressive speed to form seals.

"Fire Style: Flame Bomb!"

A blazing inferno erupted from Tendou's mouth, engulfing the surrounding area in scorching heat.

Before the flames could subside, Kiyoto followed up with his own technique.

"Wind Style: Pressure Damage!"

The gust of wind fanned the flames into a raging firestorm, turning the street into an infernal hellscape.

"Fire Style, huh? No big deal. Can't kill me with that," Deidara muttered under his breath, despite the intense danger.

Reaching into his clay pouch, he pulled out a pre-made miniature C2 dragon. Activating it, he let the tiny construct fly before detonating it mid-air. The resulting explosion propelled him backward, safely out of harm's way—though he landed rather ungracefully on the cobblestone street.

"Argh, that hurt!" he groaned, rubbing his backside.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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