[This Chapter Is Sponsored by Shin! Everyone, please thank him in the comment!]
Deidara watched Akihara Kagura fly towards the sky with his eyes wide open, his pupils involuntarily dilating before he fiercely turned his head to look at the Five-Tails Jinchuriki!
"He's mocking me again, isn't he?"
"Yes."
The Five-Tails Jinchuriki nodded earnestly.
Because no matter how you look at it, no matter who looks at it, Akihara Kagura's praise would be perceived as an audible mockery of Deidara.
Of course.
What was most astonishing was Akihara Kagura's talent for learning.
Especially the Third Tsuchikage Onoki, who had spent the longest time researching and studying Earth Release techniques, upon seeing Akihara Kagura flying off the ground, his face almost undisguised with astonishment!
"This is..."
"Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique."
With his body floating in the air, Akihara Kagura looked at the surprised Onoki and praised again, "The Tsuchikage's technique feels quite good to use."
"..."
The Third Tsuchikage was a bit at a loss for words, feeling slightly irritated inside, but could only grudgingly praise, "This technique is not something someone of your age could master."
"I just learned this technique."
Akihara Kagura did not shy away from his abilities, casually saying, "Lately, my neck has been a bit sore, and it's difficult to look up when talking, so I had to find a way to fly up here and chat with the Tsuchikage."
"The new generation of Konoha... is truly excellent..."
The Third Tsuchikage Onoki's fingers twitched slightly, thinking of a way to keep this Konoha genius here, otherwise, the future of Rock Village might be in great trouble!
"Speaking of which..."
Seeming to understand Onoki's thoughts, Akihara Kagura hinted, "The Tsuchikage's flying technique is not bad, but it's still not as good as our Konoha Village's Flying Thunder God Technique. I move faster using the Flying Thunder God Technique..."
"..."
The Third Tsuchikage Onoki froze.
Having personally issued the order in Rock Village that [Missions could be abandoned when facing the Yellow Flash], how could he not understand how difficult it is to deal with a user of the Flying Thunder God Technique!
This kid...
Is more troublesome than I imagined!
If this kid is a user of the Flying Thunder God Technique, then capturing or killing this kid wouldn't be so easy!
Akihara Kagura seemed not the least bit afraid of the Third Tsuchikage's power, even showing a bit of disdain, "Tsuchikage, did you come... empty-handed?"
"What do you mean by empty-handed…"
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, furrowed his brows, looking somewhat peculiarly at this little fellow: "Do I also have to bring gifts for you, this Konoha Village kid?"
"It's not impossible."
Akihara Kagura casually uttered a sentence that choked the Third Tsuchikage before continuing: "The main point is the deal we're discussing... Lord Tsuchikage, the people you want are all below, where are the people I want?"
"Hatake Kakashi?"
The expression on the Third Tsuchikage Onoki's face was somewhat vacant, feeling a bit embarrassed, as they did not yet have Hatake Kakashi as a hostage.
"Have you not captured the person yet?"
Akihara Kagura, as if seeing through Onoki's thoughts, frowned and continued: "If you haven't caught the person yet, then don't waste time here. Go catch the person first, then come here to exchange hostages!"
"kid..."
The Third Tsuchikage Onoki hesitated, looking at Akihara Kagura opposite him, feeling something was amiss: "You are... a ninja from Konoha Village, aren't you?"
If Hatake Kakashi wasn't captured by the Rock Village, shouldn't the Konoha ninja be relieved? Why are they urging the Rock Village to capture someone...
"Of course, I'm a Konoha ninja."
Akihara Kagura frowned, seemingly puzzled by why he would ask such a strange question: "Otherwise, why would I want to save Captain Kakashi?"
"..."
The Third Tsuchikage Onoki felt this Konoha Village kid's method of saving people was a bit peculiar, as the normal way to save someone should be sneaking into the Rock Village!
"Stop nagging, go catch the person!"
Akihara Kagura looked at Onoki, who was unmoved, and urged him several times.
"..."
The Third Tsuchikage Onoki was still a bit confused. He had lived for almost seventy years, seen all sorts of scenes, even Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama.
But...
This elderly gentleman had his horizons broadened today.
"Aren't you leaving yet..."
Akihara Kagura looked at the still hovering diminutive old man, frowning and said: "Lord Tsuchikage is still here, are you planning to save people by force?"
The Third Tsuchikage Onoki, while supporting his waist, continued slowly: "Catching a user of the Flying Thunder God Technique is not easy, making an old man close to retirement take drastic actions, my old back can't withstand much..."
"That's good."
Akihara Kagura slowly nodded and continued, "Just as well, I do not like any more trouble either. To capture the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, a significant amount of chakra has already been expended, and I do not wish to engage in another battle with Lord Tsuchikage."
...
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was somewhat unclear about the truthfulness of these words.
This kid aiming to capture Deidara, Han, and a group of Rock Village's Anbu theoretically should not have been so easy, yet to openly discuss his weaknesses in front of an enemy...
This kid...
Could he be deceiving me?
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was gradually troubled by this question.
However, regardless of whether this kid was deceiving him or not, it was imperative to first ensure the safety of the Rock Village ninjas below, to capture Hatake Kakashi, and exchange hostages with this kid.
At that time...
They would move to capture them!
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, stared intently at Akihara Kagura, feeling that this kid's mind seemed a bit off, displaying not the slightest sense of crisis.
Indeed.
This kid, looking not so old, is still a child...
However, Akihara Kagura quickly showed his mature side, speaking with a cold face, "Lord Tsuchikage, your time is running out."
"By the way, just to mention."
"If Captain Kakashi comes over and has been tortured or even interrogated, I might chop off the heads of this group of Rock Village ninjas, rather than just pulling out hair or something, since those are just stories told to children..."
...
The eyes of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, immediately turned icy!
As if Akihara Kagura could not see Ōnoki's gaze, he leisurely continued, "The girl who helped us relay the message to Lord Tsuchikage is too young, she shouldn't know about the adult world of ninjas, hence her message might have seemed a bit too gentle. It's better for adults like Lord Tsuchikage to be clear about important matters..."
"I will bring the person here immediately."
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, nodded and said in a deep voice, "I hope that when we exchange hostages, my subordinates are also safe and sound!"
"I can only guarantee they are still alive..."
Akihara Kagura spread his hands, speaking irresponsibly.
Within Rock Village.
Upon returning, the first thing the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, did was to summon his son and issued two orders in a deep voice.
"First, immediately capture Hatake Kakashi who has infiltrated our village!"
"Second, immediately send someone to set up a blockade, heavily seal the perimeter area of that forest. That kid might be able to use the Flying Thunder God Technique, but we cannot let this group escape from under our watch!"
Due to the stern orders issued by the Tsuchikage, a group of Rock Village ninjas rushed out frenziedly. Some went to set up blockade lines to prevent Akihara Kagura from fleeing; others searched the entire village, fearing that Hatake Kakashi might steal any important intelligence.
Hatake Kakashi could only awkwardly and cautiously hide, still pondering why this group of Rock Village ninjas had discovered his whereabouts. Could it have been that guy, Yakushi Kabuto, who betrayed him?
Soon.
Due to his unfamiliarity with the environment, Hatake Kakashi was quickly surrounded.
Even though Hatake Kakashi resisted fiercely, he ultimately couldn't stand against the overwhelming numbers of the enemy. The leader, Kitsuchi, used Earth Release ninjutsu to block all his escape routes.
"Don't kill him!"
"The Tsuchikage's order is to capture him alive!"
"Be careful..."
"Don't hurt him..."
"Don't let him lose a single hair!"
This capture operation stirred up the entire Rock Village village, noisy like a farce, even including the shouting of a little girl.
"..."
What a mess.
But Hatake Kakashi could no longer escape.
After being captured by the Rock Village ninjas, Kakashi wasn't treated harshly, nor was he taken to an interrogation room, but was brought directly before the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
"Really not going to interrogate him?"
Kitsuchi, standing next to his father, was somewhat dissatisfied: "We finally caught a Jonin from Konoha, we should at least pry some intelligence from him..."
"That kid has a lot of hostages in his hands!"
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, slowly and firmly shook his head: "If he is treated unfairly, that kid will kill them..."
Such matters...
There was no need to rush.
As long as the hostages are exchanged, they would have plenty of time for their capture plan, and the worst outcome would be rescuing the captured Rock Village ninjas.
If they could capture people by sealing off the area, then, of course, it would be the best for them, and if not, there was nothing they could do.
"I didn't expect this."
Upon seeing Hatake Kakashi, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, spoke with polite sarcasm and self-mockery: "A fine young man from Konoha came to visit our Rock Village village, and we hosts knew nothing about it..."
"Was it someone who betrayed me?"
Hatake Kakashi was still pondering this question, and continued to inquire: "Or was my presence discovered by someone?"
"How should I put it?"
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, rubbed his forehead, somewhat at a loss for words: "The village's defenses are still not sufficient. We did not detect your presence..."
"But..."
Ōnoki recalled the kid who, with an expressionless face, demanded they capture Hatake Kakashi and deliver him, sighing, "A kid from Konoha captured several ninjas from Rock Village, demanding we hand you over, who had infiltrated Rock Village, to him. That's how we knew Hatake Kakashi of Konoha had infiltrated..."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi found himself at a loss for words.
Ōnoki sighed again, feeling that every family has its troubles: "Although I don't quite understand that kid's thinking, this also provided us with the opportunity to find you. I don't know if this counts as betraying your information..."
"That guy..."
Kakashi adjusted his forehead protector, feeling that the person trying to rescue him was too rash, at least try to find out if I had been captured first!
Now, good...
They can no longer hide their identities in the Land of Earth.
This is most likely the doing of Akihara Kagura, and there's also a chance it's not. Shouldn't that guy be focusing on the ones he cares about most, like Kabuto or Yakushi Nono?
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, took the lead, speaking in a deep voice: "I hope that kid keeps his promise, allowing us to smoothly exchange hostages."
Outside Rock Village.
At the edge of the dense forest.
Akihara Kagura sat under a tree, using the "Ninja in the Shadows" to monitor every move in Rock Village, waiting for Rock Village to deliver Hatake Kakashi.
"Lord Kagura."
Karin stood by his side, observing the surroundings with Mind's Eye of the Kagura, and said, "Many people appeared a few kilometers away but then quickly left..."
"They didn't leave."
Akihara Kagura gently shook his head, continuing, "Perhaps they are afraid of provoking us, or perhaps they want to set up a larger encirclement to take the opportunity to capture us..."
Nearly all the ninjas of Rock Village were mobilized.
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, had already pondered this issue. If they could capture Akihara Kagura by leveraging their numerical advantage, that would be best. If not, they would still try.
After all...
This opportunity was rare for the Iwa ninjas.
"What should we do?"
Karin's face was full of worry.
"Don't worry."
Akihara Kagura turned his head to glance at the forest, where Deidara's voice still echoed. He whispered, "The most crucial thing is, we need to silence Deidara first."
"Ah?"
Karin wondered if there was something wrong with Lord Kagura.
At this point, what use would silencing Deidara have? Could silencing Deidara really prevent any incidents?
"Wood Release: Wood Clone."
Akihara Kagura raised his fingers, forming a hand sign, and a wood clone slowly emerged from his body, as if splitting from him.
"Wood Release: Wood Transformation."
Akihara Kagura raised his fingers again, and his body slowly transformed into Deidara's appearance: "Better block it more, Deidara has quite a few mouths on him, lest he causes any trouble."
"..."
Karin quickly nodded.
Although unsure what trouble Deidara could still cause, seeing Lord Kagura transform into Deidara's appearance felt like he was about to cause some serious trouble!
After pondering for a while, Karin thought he had caught up with Akihara Kagura's logic: "Does Lord Kagura plan to hide Deidara, then use him as leverage to clear the way after rescuing Captain Kakashi?"
"Of course not..."
Akihara Kagura, seemingly still unaccustomed to Deidara's appearance, slowly twisted his shoulders and pinched his throat: "Let's have the Tsuchikage send us off... The old man is getting on in years, so letting him exercise a bit will be good for his health."