Naruto: The Information Broker from the Uchiha Clan.

Chapter 218 Deidara's Resentment

"Kakuzu..."

Uzumaki Sora's voice rang out, instantly stopping Kakuzu, who was about to make a move.

One by one, the monstrous tentacles were retracted, and the masked monster emerged from behind it and fell to the ground.

Kakuzu looked at Uzumaki Sora and asked, "If a newcomer attacks a senior first, can't I teach him a lesson?"

Uzumaki Sora slowly walked forward and picked up a mask. With a slight force in his palm, the mask shattered instantly.

"The distant past has made you distrust all your companions, and you killed several of your long-time partners when you considered them a burden. But Deidara will never be your partner, and I don't want to take on any more missions to find people... Do you understand?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kakuzu stared intently at Deidara in front of him.

Having destroyed one of his own hearts, he'll get his revenge sooner or later!

"Only explosions are true art! You Frankenstein's monster, why didn't you just get blown up?"

As he spoke, Deidara made a face at Kakuzu.

Kakuzu clenched his fists but ignored him.

Uzumaki Sora chuckled and said, "Just like Juzo, if you can't find his weakness quickly when it really comes down to it, it's really hard to say who will win or lose."

Kakuzu paused for a moment, then replied in a deep voice, "Your intelligence indicates I can't defeat this brat? It's just exploding clay. You're underestimating my combat experience, aren't you?"

Kakuzu then looked at Deidara: "The Iwagakure's explosive unit, a disciple of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki. Their explosive clay does indeed resemble the Iwagakure's Explosion Release Kekkei..."

"But the hand seals he used when he detonated the clay were Earth Release seals. In that case, there might be another possibility for his exploding clay!"

At this point, Deidara was already somewhat bewildered.

His eyes widened as he stared at Kakuzu: "Not only did you not die from the explosion, but you also talk so much... Senior Sora, how do you know so much about me?"

Ignoring Deidara's complaints, Kakuzu continued, "If it weren't for Sora just now, I wouldn't be able to confirm it. But now I'm certain that his explosive clay isn't a Explosion Release bloodline, but a special secret technique."

"Explosion Release is a fusion of Earth Release chakra nature transformation and Lightning Release nature transformation, making it difficult for bloodline limits to counter. However, if it's just a single Earth Release secret technique, then Lightning Release will be its natural counter!"

After Kakuzu finished speaking, Deidara simply hung his head.

Uzumaki Sora, standing to the side, glanced at Deidara and chuckled, saying, "Looks like you can't keep being so mischievous. If you keep provoking Kakuzu, he might sell your information all over the black market. Then, if you get killed one day, you'll have no recourse..."

Deidara paused for a moment, then looked up and smiled, "You are all seniors. I'm just a newcomer who recently joined the organization. I just wanted to show you all my art. What do you think? Is it good?"

Kakuzu snorted coldly: "I'm not that bored to betray the organization's information. Whether it's the leader or you, I have no confidence in winning."

Juzo Biwa, standing nearby, patted Deidara on the shoulder: "Don't worry, as long as the organization has time to protect you, and you don't have a foul mouth, you'll be fine."

Deidara glanced at Juzo, nodded, and replied, "I could guess, after all, you've set such a good example right here, senpai."

These words left Pipa speechless.

They call him "senior," but why does it sound like such a compliment?

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, who once struck fear into the hearts of their enemies on the battlefield, seem to have never regained their former glory since being reduced to a trio by a Konoha genin.

At this moment, Sora glanced at the sky, waved, and the group continued on their way to the Land of Hot Springs.

(The previous chapter's mention of the Land of Grass was incorrect; Hidan should be in the Land of Hot Water at this point.)

……

Three days later, at the border of the Land of Hot Water, under the cover of night.

Pipa Juzo stirred the campfire, and the grilled fish stuck around it were now emitting a fragrant aroma.

"So why are we in such a hurry to get going? This is the first time in over six months that I haven't stayed at a hot spring inn in the town."

These words prompted Kakuzu to glance at Juzo: "Have you been on a mission or on vacation for the past six months?"

Juzo glanced at him and said disdainfully, "So Sora was right, following you guys really means you'll go hungry nine times out of three. Even helping to find people this time didn't bring the same treatment as before..."

Uzumaki Sora chuckled and said, "The next target's whereabouts are very unclear. The information from White Zetsu indicates that he's currently still in the Land of Hot Springs. If we don't hurry, chasing after him every day will be too troublesome."

Deidara, who had just taken a bite of grilled fish, suddenly realized what was happening. After looking at the three of them, he asked, "Um... could I partner with Sora-senpai? It sounds so artistic!"

Juzo rolled his eyes at him: "Is that because of art? It's because the grilled fish you're holding doesn't taste good, isn't it?"

Deidara scratched his head, then asked, "Is our organization poor? But with everyone's—no, with Senior Sora's strength—you should be able to earn a lot of money from just one or two missions, right?"

Sora gestured to Kakuzu: "Here, this is our organization's treasurer. He knows best how much money the organization has, but don't even think about asking him for money; he's notoriously stingy."

Seeing Kakuzu's unfriendly gaze, Deidara lost interest in continuing to ask about money.

After a long pause, he turned to Uzumaki Sora and asked, "Senior Sora, what is the organization's purpose? Is our ultimate goal... something artistic?"

This question made me think for a while.

Art?

Whether it was Obito or Black Zetsu's ultimate goal, they both needed to collect the Tailed Beasts at the beginning.

Following his own script, the explosions, this so-called art, are probably just an extra for Deidara's Patrick Star.

After a moment's thought, Kong replied in a deep voice, "To swallow the explosive clay with the mouth on your chest, CO, right? An explosion with that kind of power can indeed be considered art, and ultimately, our goal is for that art to continue to bloom."

Blooming continuously?

Deidara recalled the scene that had occurred in the illusion: the unparalleled half-heaven wooden figure, followed by thousands of giant hands crashing down.

Under such an attack, the explosion caused by each strike would probably be comparable to its own CO.

Is this... the continuous blooming?

At this moment, Sora Uzumaki also picked up a grilled fish and ate a couple of bites.

Then, Sora glanced at Kakuzu and Deidara, thought for a moment, and said, "The Akatsuki organization is incredibly complex. Even Pain, as its leader, isn't at the very bottom of this quagmire..."

Kakuzu raised his head slightly upon hearing this: "What are you trying to say?"

"hehe……"

After chuckling, Sora continued, "When the ninja village system was first established, the First Hokage of Konoha stopped the fighting between the villages by distributing tailed beasts. Perhaps that's not quite right; I've always felt that it was because of the First Hokage's power that the villages were willing to give him face. Those who didn't were afraid of being attacked..."

"Back then, Takigakure sent you to assassinate the First Hokage. It was a futile effort, yet you were made to bear the blame for the mission's failure... That's what's troubling you."

Ultimately... it all comes down to dissatisfaction with the allocation of resources.

Sora then looked at Kakuzu: "I have a plan to bring true peace to this world. Of course, not the kind Pain mentioned before. And on this point, even Leader Pain has sided with me..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kakuzu paused for a moment.

"Since the leader has already approved of your plan, is there any need to tell me?"

Sora shook his head slightly: "So, your view of Akatsuki has always been limited to the first level. Even the leader is just a leader of the first level..."

First floor?

With decades of accumulated experience and expertise, Kakuzu's expression instantly turned ugly.

If having the Rinnegan and a leader with unparalleled power is only the first level, then who else is behind them?

For a moment, the images of Xiao Nan and A Fei flashed through his mind.

The reason Xiao Nan could think of these two people was because she had been standing by the leader's side for many years.

And Ah Fei...

This was the only person whose origins were not revealed when Uzumaki Sora first joined Akatsuki.

"Who is it?!"

Kong smiled and shook his head slightly: "Don't rush... You should have a general idea of ​​who it is by now. You just need to know..."

"Buzz..."

With a soft hum, a black flame from beneath the Mangekyou Sharingan instantly ignited a giant tree.

Then, a White Zetsu corpse appeared, and black flames burned it to ashes.

Yun smiled and continued, "What you need to know... is that you should choose a side now. Choose me, or that other guy who has been hiding his face and never daring to show himself."

Kakuzu fell silent.

The sudden burst of black flames startled Deidara.

I've only been a member of the organization for three days, and I've already heard such explosive news.

Am I a jinx?

Why did this organization seem to be splitting up so soon after I joined?

Should I choose sides?

Which side to choose? Is that even a question?

If you don't want to die, you should definitely follow Senior Sora!

If someone can create a terrain like the Sea of ​​Ending, with that kind of power, only a fool would associate with others, right?

"S-senpai..."

Kong looked over.

Deidara cautiously replied, "I'm on your side, Senpai! You're the first strong person to acknowledge my art! I also admire your... art..."

His eye twitched, and he said, "Speak faster next time, or I'm afraid I might accidentally slap you to death."

Uh!

Xiao Di chuckled awkwardly and then sat down next to Shizang, who was carrying wood.

Then he said in a low voice, "Now I know why everyone else has such bad tempers, yet you're still alive."

Juzo turned his head and glanced at him: "If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."

"Why……"

Xiao Di sighed softly: "So you really have to choose your sides carefully. Someone like you, you're probably only alive now because you followed Senior Kong so early on, right?"

"Click."

The branch with the fish stuck in it was broken, and even with his face covered in bandages, he couldn't hide his emotions.

"Don't be angry, don't be angry. We're on the same team now. Fighting will only make us a laughingstock."

As she spoke, Demiurge fixed her gaze on the still silent Kakuzu: "In a bit, wait for this Frankenstein's monster to refuse, then Sora-senpai will crush him, and finally I'll show him my most perfect art!"

Juzo's eye twitched: "Why didn't you say you'd crush him first, let him know how amazing your art is?"

Xiao Di shrugged: "How can we crush them now that their secrets have been exposed? I saw what happened three days ago; this Frankenstein's monster isn't weak. It even has lightning-style chakra..."

At this moment, perhaps he was angered by Deidara's voice.

Kakuzu raised his head and glared at him, then looked at Uzumaki Sora and said, "Peace and all that have nothing to do with me. I just want to make money. It doesn't matter who I listen to as long as it doesn't affect my money-making."

Uzumaki Sora shook his head slightly: "No. After the final plan, you can no longer do things like killing for bounties without my permission."

"Although we will always be enemies of this world, planned actions are different from your own private actions."

Kong smiled and asked, "Do you know why I'm saying this now, instead of waiting until the next new member joins?"

Kakuzu shook his head slightly.

Sora replied, "Because that guy named Hidan, as a cultist, will never give up his killing spree. I don't want someone like that. So after he completes the initial phase of his mission, I will kill him."

"By the way, that guy is practically immortal. I just wonder if Amaterasu's fire, which won't go out until it burns an object to ashes, can reduce him to ash."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kakuzu felt something called death descend upon the back of his mind.

This feeling...

It hasn't appeared for a long time.

Kakuzu knew very well that if he refused, his fate would be the same as that guy named Hidan.

Once the initial stage is completed, it will be the end of him.

"I...promise..."

The final answer made Kong smile.

Therefore, when considering both sides, it's much easier to deal with the villains.

Power can allow Akatsuki to gather strong individuals, but in a direct confrontation, the pressure of power is not very effective.

After all, the characteristic of being unyielding even in the face of death seems to be a trait mostly possessed by positive characters.

"Smack."

A hand gently rested on Kakuzu's shoulder, and immediately a Flying Thunder God technique appeared on his body.

"Don't think about how to eliminate it. You can't get rid of this spell until you reach a certain level."

Upon hearing this, Kakuzu's expression turned very gloomy, but he remained silent, simply staring at the campfire in front of him.

Can't win...

There's no way to escape now...

But if we obey... it doesn't seem to be the worst option.

At this moment, Sora Uzumaki looked at Demiurge, who was muttering to herself, and said, "I forgot to tell you, the person you'll be paired with after we go back this time is the so-called second layer."

???

……

It's too late to fix it!!!

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry!

Still... sheep sheep sheep...

I'll just keep going with this one update a couple of days, okay?

Don't run away, everyone...

Have pity on me!

woo woo woo...

(End of this chapter)