Gaara stood ensconced within his Absolute Defense Sphere, a formidable construct of sand that enveloped him entirely, leaving only a narrow slit for observation. This defense, a testament to his mastery over sand manipulation, was nearly impenetrable, reflecting his status as the Fifth Kazekage.
Raising his hand, Gaara directed his focus towards Deidara, the Akatsuki member hovering above on his clay bird. With a commanding voice, he invoked, "Sand Coffin." In an instant, tendrils of sand surged towards Deidara, ensnaring his arm. A sharp "click" resonated as the sand compressed, causing an explosion that obliterated the captured limb.
However, Deidara was not easily outmaneuvered. Anticipating such a counter, he had prepared a clay replica of his arm, which he used to deceive Gaara's attack. The sand that Gaara employed was indeed the same used for his Absolute Defense, a specialized sand infused with his chakra, granting it both offensive and defensive capabilities.
Unbeknownst to Gaara, Deidara had infiltrated this sand with microscopic clay constructs, akin to mosquitoes, designed to bypass defenses. Though the loss of an arm was significant, Deidara deemed it a worthy sacrifice to achieve his objective: capturing the One-Tailed Jinchūriki.
Below, the shinobi of Sunagakure observed the battle with awe and admiration.
"That's incredible, Kazekage-sama!"
"Lord Kazekage has incapacitated the enemy!"
Witnessing their leader disable an Akatsuki member instilled hope among the villagers. Maki, one of the Jonin, rallied the troops, "Everyone, assist Kazekage-sama!"
"Bows and arrows at the ready!"
Determined not to let Gaara face the threat alone, the shinobi launched a volley of projectiles towards Deidara. However, Deidara, with a disdainful snort, dismissed their efforts.
"Pathetic tricks," he muttered.
His clay bird, agile and responsive, evaded the incoming attacks effortlessly. With his remaining hand, Deidara reached into his pouch, retrieving a lump of clay, which he fed into the mouth on his palm. The clay, infused with his chakra, began to mold into a new creation.
In response, Gaara manipulated his sand to form a colossal effigy of Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast, directing it towards Deidara with relentless force. The intensity of their clash escalated, the sky darkening as night approached.
Frustration crept into Deidara's demeanor as he realized the difficulty in subduing Gaara.
"Didn't expect the One-Tail Jinchūriki to be this troublesome," he conceded.
Resolving to end the battle, Deidara prepared his most devastating technique. He consumed another batch of clay, molding it into a massive figure.
"Prepare to be amazed, Jinchūriki," Deidara declared, releasing the clay construct towards the village.
"C4 Karura!"
The enormous clay figure descended rapidly, instilling panic among the Sunagakure shinobi, who found themselves defenseless against such an assault. As the construct neared the ground, Deidara triggered its detonation.
"Detonate!"
A blinding light erupted, followed by a series of deafening explosions. The ground trembled under the force, the shockwaves reverberating throughout the village.
Yet, Gaara's protective instincts prevailed. He summoned a vast barrier of sand, shielding the village from the brunt of the explosion. The villagers, initially resigned to their fate, found solace in their Kazekage's unwavering defense.
"This is Lord Kazekage's doing," they murmured in relief.
Deidara's true aim was not the village but to exploit a weakness in Gaara's defense. With his objective achieved, he initiated the next phase of his plan.
Through a breach in Gaara's sand sphere, three minuscule clay birds infiltrated. Gaara, noticing the intrusion, attempted to seal the opening with sand.
"Detonate!" Deidara commanded.
The birds exploded in succession, causing significant damage. Kankuro, witnessing the assault, called out desperately, "Gaara!"
Recognizing the formidable nature of their adversary, Kankuro acknowledged the challenge Gaara faced in protecting both himself and the village.
Deidara, sensing Gaara's vulnerability, smirked, "You're finished, One-Tailed Jinchūriki." Fatigue evident in his voice, he contemplated the prolonged battle.
Anticipating Gaara's defensive maneuvers, Deidara had embedded numerous microscopic clay spiders within the sand. As Gaara attempted to reinforce his defenses, the spiders activated.
"Detonate!" Deidara signaled.
The resulting explosions shattered Gaara's Absolute Defense Sphere, the sand collapsing to the ground. Gaara's form became visible, his face marred by cracks. Only his sand armor prevented fatal injuries.
Despite his injuries, Gaara managed to manipulate the sand above the village, dispersing it to prevent further harm. Deidara, observing Gaara's resilience, remarked, "This One-Tail Jinchūriki is more tenacious than anticipated."
Seizing the moment, Deidara directed his clay bird towards Gaara. Exhausted, Gaara collapsed, unconscious. Deidara secured him with the bird's tail and departed the village.
The villagers, witnessing their Kazekage's abduction, were stricken with despair. Kankuro leaped from the Kazekage's office rooftop, determined to pursue.
Maki called after him, "Kankuro, don't act rashly!"
Realizing the gravity of the situation, she concluded, "We must convene and formulate a strategy."
Outside the village, Deidara rendezvoused with his partner, Sasori. Noticing Deidara's missing arm, Sasori commented, "You're late."
Deidara shrugged, "Had I not anticipated the situation, the battle would have been prolonged."
"Let's proceed," Sasori replied, wasting no time.