Shhh!
Purple poisonous mist spewed relentlessly from Hiruko's mouth, forcing Kakashi and Yugao to retreat.
Boom!
The sound of exploding tags echoed again as Sasori controlled Hiruko to withdraw under the cover of thick dust. Up in the sky, Deidara saw this and had no choice but to follow Sasori's retreat.
"Captain, they've escaped," reported a voice.
"Should we pursue them?"
From the forest emerged an ANBU codenamed Raizen. He and Tenzo had been searching for the puppet master's true body earlier but came up empty-handed.
"No, we'll return to Konoha," Kakashi replied, his tone resolute.
Just moments ago, Kakashi had been reminded of his late sensei's wife by Karin's striking red hair—the woman famously called the "Fiery Red Chili Pepper." His memories of her stirred a wave of nostalgia and warmth in his heart.
Orphaned at a young age, Kakashi's father had taken his own life when he was still a child. The bonds he later formed with his mentor and teammates seemed like a second chance at family, but one by one, they all slipped away.
In terms of tragedy, Kakashi's life was among the harshest in the entire shinobi world. When compared to Nagato or Obito, Kakashi arguably endured even more suffering. Obito, in particular, barely stood a chance in the "tragedy competition." In a war-torn world like theirs, losing loved ones was an all-too-common pain—hardly a justification for wreaking havoc on others.
Seeing Karin had stirred long-forgotten memories and an unusual warmth in Kakashi, compelling him to act decisively. However, after the intense battle, his rationality returned.
"Shame they fled too quickly, we couldn't capture the girl."
"Well, considering they were up against Captain Kakashi, retreating was their best option," Raizen said, showing his deep trust in Kakashi's abilities.
"No. That puppeteer was formidable. Their retreat likely had other reasons," Kakashi corrected. Though their exchange had been brief, Kakashi's experience allowed him to sense the subtle yet overwhelming menace behind the puppet master's attacks. In a one-on-one fight, he doubted he could emerge victorious.
The blonde shinobi shouldn't be underestimated, either. His large-scale ninjutsu was troublesome, even from a distance. Kakashi's Sharingan had caught glimpses of its devastating potential—a challenge even for someone of his caliber.
But where had these two come from? Their uniforms suggested membership in some organization. The sudden appearance of such a mysterious group in the shinobi world was troubling. He resolved to report to the Third Hokage immediately upon their return.
Meanwhile, having confirmed that Kakashi's team wasn't pursuing them, Deidara and Sasori slowed their pace.
"Sasori, you actually fled just like that? Doesn't seem like you at all," Deidara teased.
"Deidara, is this how you treat the person who saved your life?" Hiruko turned, glaring menacingly, making Karin tremble.
"Well, we're teammates, after all. If Sasori ever gets into trouble, I'll save you too!" Deidara quipped casually.
Teammates, huh? Sasori fell silent, choosing not to press the matter.
"The leader instructed us to keep a low profile recently—don't forget that. That man, Hatake Kakashi, is an important figure in Konoha. Killing him would expose our organization. Do you think the leader would forgive such recklessness?" Sasori explained.
"Hmm? Did he really say that?" Deidara frowned, trying to recall the details. He was certain no such directive had been issued—or had his memory been tampered with?
"Idiot! During the Seven-Tails sealing mission, what were you even doing?"
"Tch. The leader has the worst timing for important announcements. Who listens to that stuff during missions anyway? Isn't it normal to zone out?" Deidara muttered, rolling his eyes.
The Akatsuki's hideouts were many and scattered. Deidara had initially assumed they'd need to trek back to the Land of Waterfalls, but instead, they arrived at another base in the Land of Grass—a mountain cave, naturally.
When Nagato received the signal from Deidara's ring, he felt an unexpected irritation. Most Akatsuki members rarely checked in unless contacted first. In fact, some seemed to hope he'd forget their existence altogether.
But Deidara? This brat seemed to call him every other day. Did the kid not realize he was addressing a god, not some on-call nanny?
"What is it?" Pein's projection materialized in the cave, his piercing Rinnegan making an immediate impression.
"Look! I picked up this girl while we were out. Pure Uzumaki lineage, and she has a rare healing ability that activates when bitten. Such a talent should obviously be brought into the organization," Deidara explained, pushing Karin forward and poking her cheek as he spoke.
Nagato: "..."
You really think I'm a babysitter, huh? Picking up strays and dumping them on me! Nagato was tempted to blast Deidara with a Shinra Tensei right then and there.
However, considering Deidara was only twelve, his childish antics were somewhat forgivable. Besides, the kid had just contributed significantly by capturing the Seven-Tails, so Nagato couldn't bring himself to reprimand him harshly.
"You…"
"We'll take her," came another voice. Beside Pein, Konan's projection appeared—calm, composed, and adorned with her signature paper flower.
Nagato hesitated but chose silence.
"I'll need a few days to reach you. Hold onto the girl until then," Konan added.
"Babysitting again? Ugh, so troublesome," Deidara grumbled. Memories of a clingy little girl from Iwagakure—Kurotsuchi—surfaced. She'd been a constant bother, eating up his time to study "art."
But Kurotsuchi had grown up nicely, hadn't she? Heh.
"Fine, but hurry. I hate waiting," Sasori interjected. His principle was clear: no compromises, even with the leader.
In Amegakure, where the rain never ceased, Nagato stood atop the tallest spire, gazing at the village below with his usual stoic demeanor.
"Why did you agree to take her in?" he asked Konan.
"She's of your bloodline. Seeing her reminds me of the boy you once were," Konan replied softly.
Nagato remained silent, the rain continuing to fall around him.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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