Chapter 58: The One Who Roars The Loudest…
Inside the cave, the echoes of commotion outside reverberated off the damp stone walls, a distant rumble that set the Akatsuki on edge.
"Well then, time to move, un," Deidara said, stretching his arms with a lazy grin, his fingers already itching to mold explosive clay.
"We've got a mission to capture the Jinchuriki," Sasori said, a rare gleam of excitement flickering in his cold, puppet-like eyes, his strings twitching in anticipation.
"How do we handle the group outside?" Kisame asked, his shark-like grin directed at the Leader's phantom, his grip tightening on Samehada's hilt.
"They might not even get in here," another colored phantom sneered, its voice dripping with disdain, as if the Konoha shinobi were mere insects.
Itachi's calm voice cut through. "Don't underestimate them."
Kisame chuckled, his teeth glinting. "They've got some raw power, I'll give 'em that." His mind flashed to Might Guy, the "precious beast" who'd left a dent in his pride.
"Sasori, Deidara," the Leader's voice boomed, commanding attention.
"Huh?" Deidara tilted his head, clay already forming in his palm.
"Deal with the group outside," the Leader ordered, his tone final.
"As expected," Deidara muttered, unsurprised. He and Sasori were the only physical members present—phantoms couldn't exactly throw punches.
"But the Jinchuriki must be taken alive," the Leader added, his Rinnegan glinting with warning.
"Got it," Sasori said, his voice flat but his fingers flexing, eager for the fight.
"Everyone else, dismiss," the Leader commanded. The colored phantoms flickered out one by one, their forms dissolving into the cavern's shadows.
As Itachi's phantom began to fade, Deidara called out, "Itachi, what's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki like?"
Itachi paused, his Sharingan meeting the Leader's glance. The Leader nodded slightly. "Tell him."
"He's the one who roars the loudest first," Itachi said, his voice soft but carrying an edge of certainty.
"Huh? What kind of description is that?" Sasori's brow furrowed, his analytical mind struggling with the vague answer. "No specifics?"
Deidara opened his mouth to press further, but Itachi's phantom vanished, leaving only a faint ripple in the air.
"Seriously," Deidara grumbled, rolling his eyes as he shaped a small clay bird, tossing it up and catching it.
…
Outside, the Konoha team prepared to dismantle the Five Seal Barrier, their movements swift and coordinated.
"We'll handle tearing off those talismans!" Might Guy declared, slipping on his headset with a flourish. He shot Kakashi a smug wink, his grin brimming with competitive pride. "My team's the fastest when it comes to speed!"
Kakashi, too drained to bicker, waved a hand. "Fine, it's yours."
"Alright!" Guy barked, assigning roles with fiery enthusiasm. "Lee, head to the northwest rock wall!"
"Yes, Guy-sensei!" Lee saluted, his eyes blazing with youthful vigor.
"Neji, you're on the northeast rock."
"Understood," Neji replied, his Byakugan already scanning the terrain.
"Tenten, south-southeast direction."
"Got it," Tenten said, her tone clipped but focused.
"I'll take southwest," Guy concluded, cracking his knuckles. "What's the frequency?"
"174," Kakashi replied, adjusting his headset.
"Got it." Kakashi tuned in, the static crackling softly.
The next second, Lee's voice exploded through the earpieces, amplified by chakra. "CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME?!"
Kakashi flinched, his eyes widening as he staggered back, nearly collapsing. Renji and Naruto caught him, Naruto shouting, "Kakashi-sensei, hang in there!"
Guy clutched his ears, wincing. "Lee! Too loud! Turn it down!" Lee fumbled with his headset, sheepishly lowering the volume.
"Radio setup complete!" Guy nodded, regaining his composure. He extended his hand, ignoring Tenten and Neji's reluctant glances. "Might Guy Squad…"
Lee slapped his hand onto Guy's with enthusiasm. Tenten groaned, "Do we have to?"
Guy's eyes burned with passion, unrelenting. Tenten sighed, closing her eyes as if facing execution, and placed her hand on Lee's. Neji, under Guy's intense stare, took a deep breath, his soul briefly leaving his body, and stacked his hand on top.
"Full Power of Youth!" Guy roared.
"Go!" Lee echoed, fist pumping.
"Go!" Tenten muttered, resigned.
"Go!" Neji forced out, his dignity crumbling.
"Never give up!" Guy bellowed.
"Go!" they chorused, less enthusiastically.
"Disperse!" Guy commanded, and the team scattered.
Renji watched, his toes curling in secondhand embarrassment. A magical fairy castle would be less humiliating, he thought, suppressing a grimace.
"That cheer was awesome!" Naruto's eyes sparkled, turning to his team. "Let's do one too!"
Sakura's face twisted in horror. "Never in a million years!"
"Forget it," Chiyo snapped, her patience long gone.
Kakashi nodded, his expression deadpan. "Exactly."
Naruto's hopeful gaze landed on Renji, who sighed and reluctantly placed his hand over Naruto's. Sakura, Chiyo, and Kakashi stared at Renji with a mix of pity and admiration. Who else would indulge Naruto like a kid?
…
Inside the cave, the Leader addressed Deidara and Sasori, his voice cold. "It's up to you now."
"Mm," Sasori nodded, his puppet joints clicking faintly.
"Got it," Deidara said, his grin widening at the thought of facing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, his hands already shaping explosive clay.
Whoosh!
A figure materialized in the cavern, the air shimmering. Hasumi Maki glanced at the Outer Path Demon Statue's bare fingers, his heterochromatic eyes glinting with mock surprise. "Eh? Everyone's gone already?"
The Leader's phantom turned to him. "Maki, perfect timing. Assist Sasori and Deidara in dealing with the intruders."
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1,000!]
[Chakra (60,305,000 / 100,000,000)]
Deidara's entire body screamed resistance, his expression souring. Not him!
"No problem!" Maki flashed a sunny smile at Deidara, unfazed by the hostility. "I have a feeling my dear brother's out there."
The Leader nodded, satisfied, and his phantom vanished along with the Demon Statue, leaving the cavern eerily silent.
Sasori and Deidara leapt to the ground, pointedly keeping their distance from Maki, their movements synchronized but excluding him.
"They're taking forever," Deidara complained, glancing at Sasori's stoic form. "Hurry up already!"
"What's wrong, Sasori?" Deidara teased, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Don't you hate waiting?"
"I despise it," Sasori said, his voice cold, his eyes narrowing.
Maki, undeterred, squeezed between them, slinging his arms over their shoulders like they were old friends. "No rush, guys. They'll be here soon." His grin was infuriatingly cheerful.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +500!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +500!]
[Chakra (60,305,500 / 100,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +500!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +500!]
[Chakra (60,306,000 / 100,000,000)]
Maki turned to Sasori, his tone deceptively considerate. "Is that old lady out there your relative, Sasori? Want me to take her out for you?"
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +5,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +5,000!]
[Chakra (60,311,000 / 100,000,000)]
"Stay out of it," Sasori snapped, his puppet strings twitching with irritation.
See? Sasori misses his grandma, Maki thought, his smile widening. "Oh, I'll definitely meddle," he said, his eyes glinting with mischief.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +5,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +5,000!]
[Chakra (60,316,000 / 100,000,000)]
Deidara's patience frayed. Maki was insufferable—how could someone this annoying exist? If he weren't so strong, he'd have been pummeled ages ago. Even Sasori's stoic facade cracked under Maki's relentless provocation.
…
"This is Neji, I'm in position."
"This is Lee, I'm here too!"
"Kakashi, I've found mine," Guy's voice crackled through.
"Tenten. All set," Tenten reported, her voice steady.
Guy's voice boomed through the headsets. "Kakashi, you good?"
"Ready," Kakashi replied, his hand poised over the talisman on the boulder.
"Listen up!" Guy commanded. "On three, tear off the talismans together!"
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three!"
Kakashi ripped the talisman free. Simultaneously, Sakura's fist slammed into the boulder, her chakra-enhanced strength shattering it into fragments. Rocks crashed into the water below, the team dodging nimbly to the cave's edges.
"Smooth work," Guy said, exhaling as the reports confirmed success.
Kakashi signaled, and Renji, Naruto, Sakura, and Chiyo leapt into the cave, their steps echoing in the dark.
The sight inside stopped them cold. Kakashi's eyes darkened, a sinking feeling gripping him. Were they too late?
Chiyo's gaze locked on Sasori, her grandson, standing among the enemy. Her heart clenched, whispering his name silently.
Naruto's eyes widened, locking onto Gaara's lifeless form beneath Deidara and Maki. His body trembled, disbelief morphing into rage. His blue pupils shifted, blood-red vertical slits taking their place, fangs bared as the Nine-Tails' chakra surged. Fury and hatred consumed him, drowning his reason.
"You bastards!" Naruto's roar echoed, raw with killing intent. "I'll tear you to shreds!" His voice pierced the cavern, a primal scream that seemed to shake the heavens.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +5,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +5,000,000!]
[Chakra (65,316,000 / 100,000,000)]
Sasori's gaze fixed on Naruto, his voice low. "The one who roars the loudest…" He recalled Itachi's words, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "That's him."
"Fits perfectly," Deidara said, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he sized up the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. The promise of a fight sent a thrill through him, his clay already forming into deadly shapes.
----
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