"Didn't you say you would continue to compete?"
"Are you running from something?"
"Hurry up, let me see your art!"
Deidara glared at Satoru, who had yet to make a move, speaking with visible dissatisfaction.
Under normal circumstances, he would have unleashed his explosive art without hesitation. But not now—not with enemies lurking in the shadows.
Deidara frowned as he glanced at the Konoha shinobi analyzing their strength nearby.
Sure enough, they're going to get in the way first.
Satoru casually tossed the stickball he was holding in his hand.
"This isn't the competition we discussed earlier, senior. Are you planning to change teammates mid-game?" he teased in a light-hearted tone.
With a simple motion, Satoru evaded Deidara's detonating clay bomb.
His pale blue eyes scanned the surroundings carefully.
It seems like Deidara's still holding back. Otherwise, this whole area would've been blown to bits.
Meanwhile, the Konoha examiner, Asuma, remained confident as ever.
Asuma charged forward, and Satoru's lips curved into a faint smile.
This kind of strategy might work against a lone ninja, but not against him.
Although Deidara targeted him, Konoha's side clearly saw him as a prime target.
However, they underestimated his speed.
In this situation, his elusive movements made him even harder to track with their binding techniques. And with a teammate like Deidara on his side, their odds of success were slim.
Their best bet would have been to wait until he and Deidara exhausted each other before striking.
Satoru considered this, and it seemed Shikamaru had thought about it too. But Shikamaru quickly dismissed the idea.
No matter how chaotic the situation, Satoru and Deidara were teammates. They wouldn't turn on each other.
Instead, they'd unify against a common enemy.
Thus, it was better to strike first and take a calculated risk.
Unbeknownst to Shikamaru, both Satoru and Deidara were well-acquainted with this type of scenario.
"Detonating clay: bird!" Deidara skillfully molded a bird from his chakra-infused clay and sent it flying toward Asuma.
"Let's take care of these nuisances first."
For Deidara, this competition with Satoru was personal—there was no need for others to interfere.
Clearly, Deidara had made up his mind: the Konoha shinobi were hindrances to his art.
"It's time," Shikamaru murmured.
Nearby, Asuma's expression darkened as he prepared to execute their plan.
The four of them—Asuma, Shikamaru, Izumo, and Kotetsu—had devised a strategy to counter both Satoru and Deidara.
The plan involved Asuma's clone distracting Deidara, luring his attacks near Satoru.
Meanwhile, the four-man team would use the Vortex Wind and Fire Technique to corner Satoru and cut off his escape.
This compound technique combined water, wind, and fire elements, requiring precise coordination.
Izumo would start by spreading water across the ground using a Water Release jutsu.
Izumo and Kotetsu would then dive into the water to launch surprise attacks from opposite sides.
Asuma would strike from above with his chakra-enhanced blades.
Finally, Shikamaru would immobilize Satoru with shadow manipulation, allowing the others to deliver a decisive blow.
The plan was airtight, leaving no room for error.
Fortunately for them, Deidara's temper made him easy to provoke.
Their distraction worked perfectly, allowing them to initiate the first phase of their strategy.
With everything proceeding as planned, they were confident Satoru wouldn't escape their coordinated assault.
Asuma observed Satoru, shaking his head.
Their original intention was to capture Satoru alive and return him to Konoha for interrogation.
Despite his connection to the Third Hokage, the mysteries surrounding Satoru couldn't be ignored.
However, they had underestimated their opponents.
Now, they couldn't afford to hold back.
If they did, they'd risk casualties on their side.
Suddenly, deafening explosions filled the air, accompanied by a blinding flash of flames and smoke.
The four-man Konoha team launched their coordinated assault on Satoru.
"Damn it," Deidara muttered, his expression grim.
He quickly noticed the Konoha shinobi's actions amidst the chaos.
Is he really done for?
Satoru didn't possess any special bloodline abilities to escape such a predicament.
Deidara shook his head, regret flickering in his eyes.
If Satoru didn't survive, he'd avenge him as a tribute to his respectable artistic talent.
But Deidara's thoughts were interrupted by an unsettling realization.
"Where is he?" Asuma's voice broke the silence, his tone laced with shock.
Satoru had vanished.
Despite confirming that the Satoru they attacked wasn't a clone or illusion, he had disappeared without a trace.
"Could he have used the Flying Thunder God Technique?" Shikamaru asked, recalling a technique Satoru had previously demonstrated.
"No," Asuma replied firmly.
"There were no markings or chakra fluctuations in the area."
How had Satoru disappeared so completely?
The Konoha shinobi remained on high alert, scanning their surroundings for any sign of him.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from above.
"Looking for me?"
Everyone's eyes snapped upward.
Satoru stood on the rooftop, arms crossed, his black robe billowing in the wind.
His pale blue eyes gleamed with a mischievous glint, and a bright smile curved his lips.
Deidara, now standing nearby, was equally stunned.
He hadn't noticed when or how Satoru had moved to that position.
Could it be illusion? Deidara touched his left eye, dismissing the thought.
He had trained extensively to counter genjutsu after his defeat by Uchiha Itachi.
What's going on?
For the first time, Deidara fully acknowledged Satoru as a capable teammate.
This guy isn't someone who can be easily killed.
"This guy's strength is well-hidden," Deidara muttered.
Before now, he had underestimated Satoru, assuming his skills were merely average.
But now...
"You're right, Deidara," Satoru said, his tone serious yet teasing.
"We agreed to compete, didn't we?"
"Now that you've showcased your explosive art, it's only fair I demonstrate my art as well."
Satoru's voice carried an unsettling undertone, sending a chill down everyone's spine.
He raised two fingers, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Earthburst Celestial Star: Falling Technique."