The Strongest Artist in Naruto

The second round of the fierce clash was over.

Realizing that Deidara was no pushover and couldn't be taken down in one blow, Tendou swiftly adjusted his tactics.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

If the Transformation Jutsu is the basic skill every Genin must learn, then the Flame Bullet

Techniques are mandatory knowledge for any Jōnin.

Whether it's the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, Water Dragon Bullet, or Earth Dragon Bullet, these B-rank jutsu are among the most efficient—powerful, low on chakra consumption, and highly practical.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!"

Shimura Kiyoto unleashed another Wind Style jutsu, slicing through Hiruko's arm-mounted shield and clearing the way for Sarutobi's Dragon Flame Bullet.

"C2 – Combat Hatchling!"

"C2 – Vanguard Pteranodon!"

"C2 – Raptor Scout!"

Deidara, of course, wasn't about to sit idle. A flurry of clay creatures burst to life under his expert crafting, flooding the entire street.

[Hyūga Kazuto: Shock Value +1000]

[Sarutobi Tendou: Shock Value +1000]

[Shimura Kiyoto: Shock Value +1000]

"Damn it, this is insane!" Kazuto muttered, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple.

He was a Taijutsu specialist, adept at one-on-one combat—but completely unsuited for holding off Deidara.

"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Palm Wave!"

Kazuto used his only long-range attack, swatting down clay creatures with each strike. But it was no use. He was already surrounded by waves of Deidara's creations, forming a suffocating siege several layers thick. Without his Byakugan, he might have thought he was the last man standing.

Deidara, meanwhile, wasn't concerned about aiding Sasori. Those two weren't a match for Sasori anyway. His priority was rooting out the three hidden enemies nearby.

[Hyūga Kazuto: Shock Value +500]

"The system's shock value notifications are pretty handy," Deidara thought, smirking. "Three hiding? What a joke."

In the shadows, Aburame Shikuni observed Deidara's movements.

"It seems we've been discovered," he said calmly.

Although his dark glasses concealed his eyes, his perception was unaffected. The Aburame clan relied on their insects to sense the world. Over time, human eyesight became merely supplementary.

Watching Deidara release burrowing clay centipedes, Shikuni knew their location had been compromised. No one would waste chakra on such measures unless they were certain of hidden threats.

"What should we do?" asked Rin, her voice trembling slightly. Unlike the others, she wasn't a combatant. A soft-spoken medic-nin, Rin had chosen medical training over inheriting her clan's kenjutsu.

"Don't worry," Shikuni reassured her, pushing his glasses up with one finger. "It's time for my insects to strike."

Suddenly, Deidara froze mid-motion, pain exploding from within him. It felt as though countless tiny creatures were gnawing at his insides.

Insects?!

The realization hit him like a bolt. Among the names in the shock value notifications, one stood out—Aburame.

"Damn it! He must've set a trap with his Parasitic Destruction Insects before launching his ambush!"

Chakra drained rapidly from Deidara's body, and his limbs began to feel paralyzed. The insects carried venom! The Konoha shinobi had been using Sasori as a distraction, and now the real target was him.

Sarutobi Tendou and Shimura Kiyoto were merely keeping Sasori occupied, preventing him from coming to Deidara's aid—especially since puppet masters excelled at counteracting poisons.

"What now?" Deidara's mind raced. He could call for help, Sasori could easily eliminate their foes if he got serious. But that would be humiliating.

Just then, his eyes fell on a newly unlocked skill in his system interface.

[Morphology: Insect Mastery]

Without hesitation, Deidara allocated his skill point.

A sudden surge of intuitive knowledge flowed through him. He could now create complex, miniature clay insects.

Chomp! Chomp!

Tiny clay insects swarmed into existence, slipping into Deidara's own body.

"I am the ultimate artist! Ruthless—even to myself!"

With a sharp exhale, Deidara forced his clay insects to detonate within him.

"Boom!"

Blood spurted from his lips, and he collapsed to one knee, wracked with pain. His organs and tissues bore the brunt of the explosion.

The good news? The shockwaves from the internal blast either killed or expelled the parasitic insects. Instinctively, the surviving bugs fled his body, overwhelmed by their primal fear.

From afar, Shikuni frowned. Though his face was hidden beneath his cloak, Rin noticed the subtle shift in his demeanor.

"What's wrong, Shikuni?" she asked.

"The insects were purged. There's no point in remaining hidden now. Let's join the others," he said evenly.

The two emerged from their hiding place and regrouped with Sarutobi Tendou and the others. The battlefield reached a temporary, uneasy stalemate.

After three grueling rounds, the fourth would decide everything.

As team leader, Tendou weighed their chances. One enemy was heavily injured, but the puppet master remained unshaken, his strength still a mystery. Meanwhile, their own team was running low on chakra. Tendou himself had less than 30% remaining.

Though they had five members, Rin was non-combatant, and Shikuni's combat effectiveness was limited in open confrontation. The odds weren't in their favor.

Before Tendou could decide their next move, Sasori and Deidara both acted.

"C2 – Spider Queen!"

A massive, two-story clay spider emerged, its grotesque abdomen gleaming. Deidara stood, bloodied but grinning.

"Let me show you… my new art!"

The Spider Queen spewed countless smaller spiders, each the size of a ping-pong ball. The air was thick with them, like an unrelenting snowfall of destruction.

[Sarutobi Tendou: Shock Value +1000]

[Shimura Kiyoto: Shock Value +1000]

"We're doomed…" Rin whispered, trembling as the swarm descended.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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