"Itachi-san, how is it?"
The Akatsuki group stood near the lake where the Three-Tails' chakra had appeared. Kisame turned toward Itachi and asked.
The three tomoe in Itachi's Sharingan spun slowly. His eyesight had deteriorated so much that he now relied almost entirely on his powerful mind and vast combat experience to perceive the world around him.
This made him seem even more distant and weary.
"The Three-Tails' chakra has begun to solidify. At this rate, it should take form either late tonight or by tomorrow morning." Itachi replied calmly.
Upon hearing that, Deidara's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Then why don't I just blow all these people up right now? One bomb from me, and they'll all be sent straight to the Pure Land!"
It wasn't just Deidara. The others also showed signs of restlessness.
Seeing this, Itachi spoke up.
"Have you all forgotten what Tobi said?"
"The reason we're cooperating with Kiri shinobi is so that, under the banner of the Five Great Nations, Konoha shinobi won't dare to destroy the Three-Tails. As long as we keep the beast intact through this war, that alone is our victory."
"Don't forget—a shinobi always puts the mission first."
Just a few quiet words, and the hot-headed group fell silent.
Only Deidara muttered irritably, "Tobi this, Tobi that... that damn Tobi. Just three Konoha shinobi, and you're all scared? We're a squad of S-rank missing-nin! Don't tell me he's actually a Konoha spy!"
"Ahaha~! I think I just heard someone complimenting how handsome I am!"
Tobi popped up from the ground, swaying dramatically like a clown.
"No one called you handsome! I said you're an ugly freak! Go die!"
Deidara lunged forward, hooked his arm around Tobi's neck, and started choking him.
"Ayaaah! My neck's gonna break! It's breaking, ahhh!"
Tobi flailed about, but his tone lacked any real panic—it sounded more like he was playing around.
Well, he was playing around.
Deidara had the temperament of a child. He wasn't seriously trying to kill Tobi—just blowing off steam. His "art of explosion" was never about destruction itself, but about pursuing that brief, transcendent moment of beauty.
After a while, the scuffle ended. Deidara stood back up, and Tobi stopped pretending.
"I know you all think I'm overreacting," Tobi said cheerfully, "but I just don't want you guys to die for nothing. Do you really think Konoha came here just to deal with the Three-Tails?"
"They're after us. I don't know who leaked it, but our goal of peace is no longer a secret. And the enemy... is strong. Exceptionally strong."
Just as the mood grew serious, Deidara suddenly kicked Tobi and sent him flying.
"Cut the act, Tobi! Keep this up and I'll blow you to bits!"
Tobi got up, rubbing his head, and gave Deidara a pitiful look. "Senpai, I'm serious! If you really want to die, go ahead and pick a fight with them. But if you run into the guy wearing green—use your ultimate move right away! If you let him use his, you're done for!"
"Bah! You're the one who's done for, Tobi! Go to hell!"
"Ahhh, I'm dying, I'm dying! Senpai, mercy!"
"Die, die, die!"
"Nooo! Wait! Wait a second!"
"Die already!"
"Senpai... ohhh~..."
Hearing that strangely pleased moan, Deidara instantly jumped back—three meters... no, five... no, fifteen meters away!
"Whoa... so Deidara likes that kind of thing? How interesting." Sasori's dry remark was perfectly timed.
"Like hell I do!" Deidara shouted, pulling out two handfuls of clay, glaring daggers at Tobi as if deciding where best to blow him up.
"It's not Maito Gai or Kakashi you're afraid of, is it, Tobi?" Itachi's Sharingan spun coldly as he fixed his gaze on him. "Even if Gai's taijutsu is incredible, he can't block Deidara's bombs. And Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan must have a high price—he can't use it lightly. The two of them alone can't stop us."
At that, everyone looked toward Tobi.
Earlier, they'd been intimidated by Maito Gai's father, Maito Dai, who had wiped out four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. But after hearing Itachi's analysis, they realized they might have overestimated things.
Maito Gai might be impressive, but Deidara's C3 could destroy an area ten kilometers wide—let's see him tank that.
Kakashi was dangerous too, sure. But the one who truly puzzled everyone was Kamizuki Hikari.
His only known record: defeating and killing Kakuzu.
Among Akatsuki, everyone had a rough idea of each member's strength.
Kakuzu had lived a long time, was very powerful, and ranked high in strength among them. For him to be killed so easily by Kamizuki Hikari suggested that Hikari must possess some extraordinary secret technique.
But none of them knew what this technique was.
Now, Tobi's insistence that they couldn't win was suspicious.
"Hehe, Itachi-san is indeed Itachi-san, you never disappoint!" Tobi said with a cheerful grin. "Regarding his strength, it's not convenient for me to say much."
"Just one piece of advice: write your wills before you go. I'll try to fulfill them afterward."
"Some people can only learn the hard way," he continued, shrugging. "Look at Kakuzu—he's your perfect example. But you won't believe me, no matter what I say. Your legs, your choice. If you want to die, I won't stop you."
After saying this, Tobi suddenly wriggled his waist and looked shyly at Deidara.
"Deidara-senpai, you hurt me earlier... You have to take responsibility for me!"
The rest of Akatsuki: "...?"
What kind of tonal whiplash was that?
Wasn't he just deadly serious a moment ago?
Even Itachi, couldn't help but think—
'What the hell is wrong with you? Say one more word and I'll burn you with Amaterasu.'
Fortunately, everyone here was an elite and good at keeping their emotions in check.
"Since the leader assigned you to this, I'll trust you this once," Sasori said coldly. "The Three-Tails will appear soon. Go talk with the Mizukage. If she teams up with Konoha shinobi against us, things could get messy."
"Ahaha~! I'll make sure to remember that, Sasori-senpai!" Tobi replied in an exaggeratedly disgusting tone.
Deidara glared fiercely at him, then took off his Akatsuki cloak and tossed it over.
"Go wash my clothes for me! After you grabbed them, I can't wear them anymore!"
"Wow~, Deidara-senpai's cloak! I'm gonna sleep in it tonight!" Tobi exclaimed.
Deidara kicked him again, snatched his cloak back, and spat, "Disgusting!"
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