As the words fell, a large mass of golden sand surged toward Deidara.
The sand's shape changed swiftly, transforming into two giant hands that firmly grasped Deidara's bird.
"Got you, brat!"
"Heh heh, old man, don't underestimate me! Hmm!"
Deidara quickly jumped off the bird, descending rapidly. As he fell, he shouted, "Haah!"
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion echoed through the tranquil sky.
Deidara's bird exploded, and the giant golden hands disintegrated into scattered sand.
"Oh?"
Rasa, slightly surprised, said, "So you are the kid from Iwagakure who manipulates clay bombs..."
Deidara smirked, "Oh wow, my reputation precedes me? I didn't expect even the Kazekage to have heard of me."
Rasa coldly replied, "Hmph, don't overestimate yourself. My intel network is extensive, and your so-called fame is just a bit of gossip I came across."
When they first met, Rasa had noticed the scratched Iwagakure symbol on Deidara's forehead protector. Now, seeing the suspicious white bird self-destruct confirmed his suspicion—it was indeed the unique clay bomb user from Iwagakure.
"Did that old fossil Onoki send you to steal our tailed beast? That scheming old man, always up to no good!"
Deidara, now riding an even larger white clay dragon, ascended into the air once more.
"Old man, your intel is outdated. I'm a rogue ninja now, not affiliated with that geezer Onoki. But if that's what you want to believe, I don't mind! Hmm!"
"This isn't about what I believe. All I need to do is capture you and interrogate you," Rasa said coldly, his eyes never leaving the white dragon beneath Deidara. A hint of wariness flickered in his gaze.
He wasn't afraid of the bombs, but the battlefield was above his village. If the dragon exploded, the damage would be far greater than that of the bird, potentially endangering the village.
He had to change the battlefield to fight without restrictions.
"Magnet Release: Sand Cushion!"
A massive cloud of golden sand appeared beneath the dragon.
"Come with me, brat. Since you've come all this way, let me show you the nearby desert!" Rasa taunted.
Though Deidara usually acted carefree and spoke without thinking, his combat instincts were sharp.
He understood Rasa wanted to move the battle.
"Old man, do you think I'm stupid? I have the advantage here! I'm not moving! Hmm!"
Deidara controlled the clay dragon to ascend higher on the sand cushion. However, before he could flap its wings, the dragon's legs and wings were tightly bound by the golden sand.
"Damn it! How can your sand be this fast?" Deidara exclaimed.
Rasa snorted, "Hmph, you're still just a brat. The larger your creations, the slower they move. It's not my speed that's increased, but yours that's decreased."
"Tch!" Deidara pouted defiantly, "Lesson learned, old man! But don't celebrate too soon. Catching me won't be that easy!"
"Let me show you my art! Hmm!"
Deidara began to form a hand sign, preparing to shout "Ha!" and detonate the dragon. But before he could lift his hand, he realized his hands were completely encased in heavy sand, and his mouth was filled with it as well.
Rasa smirked, "How does the sand taste? I noticed you need to form a hand sign and shout 'Ha!' to detonate your clay.
"Kid, I've seen through your technique. Now, come quietly with me!"
...