Chapter 228 – Deidara vs. Uchiha Sasuke
After killing Orochimaru, Uchiha Sasuke formed a new squad known as Team Taka—a unit made up of formidable and eccentric individuals. There was Karin, descendant of the Uzumaki bloodline and gifted with remarkable sensory abilities; Suigetsu, wielder of the Hōzuki clan's Hydrification Technique; and Jūgo, the most unique of them all—the original source of the Cursed Seal.
Just as Sasuke was preparing to execute his next move, he encountered a certain clay artist from Akatsuki.
"Uchiha Sasuke?" Deidara smirked, his tone dripping with disdain. "I heard you killed Orochimaru."
Sasuke didn't answer. His cold, emotionless eyes met Deidara's. For a brief moment, the resemblance in his expression to Uchiha Itachi's calm, unreadable face ignited a violent rage inside the Akatsuki bomber.
Seeing Deidara's cloak—the same pattern worn by Itachi—Sasuke didn't hesitate for even a second. His hand shot to his blade, and with lightning speed, he struck at Tobi, cutting straight through him without a word.
Deidara leapt back onto a nearby tree branch, molding chakra-infused clay between his palms before launching a barrage of small explosive animals toward Sasuke.
In response, Sasuke formed hand seals in the blink of an eye.
"Chidori Senbon."
Thin, piercing needles of lightning exploded from his fingertips, intercepting every clay bomb midair. The explosions were neutralized in bursts of blue light and smoke.
The fight between the two erupted in full force.
However, far above them—atop a distant cliff overlooking the battlefield—two figures quietly observed.
"It seems you've placed quite a bit of faith in that boy, Sasuke," said Hatake Yusuke, his lips curling into a faint, knowing smile.
"I believe in him," replied the man standing beside him, his tone calm and steady. "Sasuke will defeat Deidara."
The speaker was none other than Uchiha Itachi. His Akatsuki cloak fluttered slightly in the wind, and though his face remained stoic, there was a trace of quiet gentleness within the crimson glow of his Sharingan.
"You're not planning to tell him the truth, are you?" Yusuke asked, his tone both curious and faintly reproachful.
After returning from the Land of Lightning, Yusuke had gone to find Itachi—and dragged him along to watch this "show." Of course, Itachi could never refuse a request from the teacher and senior he respected most.
"It's better this way," Itachi said softly. "I know Sasuke. If he learns the truth, he'll only end up hating Konoha. He'll never be able to understand the reasons behind what happened there."
The truth was, Itachi's biggest fear wasn't being hated—it was that Sasuke might one day die, not by the hands of Akatsuki, but by someone like Yusuke or Tsunade.
Itachi himself wasn't sure how powerful Tsunade had become. With her mastery of Wood Release and Armament Haki, she might already rival her grandfather, the First Hokage Senju Hashirama.
Even without Sage Mode, her power was terrifying. Against her, even Sasuke with an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan might not stand a chance—let alone against Yusuke.
"I don't like that attitude of yours, Itachi," Yusuke said with a faint sigh. "Letting him hate you accomplishes nothing. Right now, he's drunk on power—he just killed Orochimaru, and he thinks he understands the shinobi world. But he's still just a child."
Yusuke spoke casually, but his words carried weight. Orochimaru, a man at Kage-level, had been killed only because he lacked resistance against Genjutsu.
"I know," Itachi replied. "That's why I plan to face him properly when the time comes. I want him to see for himself just how vast the shinobi world really is."
"You're such a complicated person." Yusuke smiled faintly. "Tell me—how much further can your eyes still see? Do you need a hand? You kids never really grasp what true power means."
"Eh—no, that's fine," Itachi said quickly, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. "I don't want to trouble you, Yusuke-nii. Sasuke is still too young."
He was genuinely worried—if Yusuke interfered, Sasuke might not survive the fight at all.
"You worry too much," Yusuke said, shaking his head. "By the way, you've been using your Mangekyō Sharingan again lately, haven't you? Why has your eyesight degraded so quickly?"
Itachi looked down slightly. "When I captured the Three-Tails, the Jinchūriki had strong resistance to Genjutsu. I had to use Tsukuyomi to subdue it."
"Oh, that explains it," Yusuke said, his tone suddenly thoughtful.
After all, he was the one who had captured the Three-Tails and handed it over to Mei Terumi. Dealing with a wild tailed beast was one thing—but handling a Jinchūriki was far more complex.
"Come here. Let me restore your vision," Yusuke offered.
"No, really, it's fine. I can manage," Itachi said, embarrassed.
"You brat," Yusuke chuckled. "If you let those eyes go blind, how are you supposed to evolve them into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"…Alright," Itachi relented at last.
Yusuke removed his eyepatch. The moment their gazes met, Itachi could feel an overwhelming pressure—an otherworldly power flowing from Yusuke's eyes into his. It was like standing before a bottomless abyss.
Moments later, the strain on Itachi's vision faded. He blinked, the world suddenly sharp and vivid again.
"Thank you, Yusuke-nii," he said sincerely.
"No need to thank me," Yusuke replied lightly. "Just make sure that when you fight, it's worth watching. If your battle turns out dull, I'll be very disappointed."
Itachi gave a quiet nod. He knew how Yusuke was—someone who loved watching extraordinary clashes between powerful shinobi.
"Don't you dare hold back, Itachi," Yusuke added, his eyes flicking toward Sasuke's distant form.
"Why?" Itachi asked softly.
He had already decided to die in that battle—to let Sasuke awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan. He was tired of carrying the burden of his sins. But if Yusuke told him otherwise, he couldn't refuse.
"Because," Yusuke said with a wry grin, "my wife and I made a bet. She says Sasuke will win. I say you'll win. And if I lose, I can't eat sweets for an entire month."
Itachi blinked, unsure how to respond. Yusuke reached into his coat and pulled out a small paper bag.
"Here," he said, tossing one piece to Itachi. "This one's from Kumogakure—Kikufuku. Try the edamame flavor. It's heavenly."
He popped one into his own mouth, visibly savoring it.
Itachi smiled faintly. He too had a fondness for sweets, and in front of Yusuke, he didn't bother hiding it. Refusing would have only made things more awkward anyway.
"I'll do my best, Yusuke-nii," he said.
"Good," Yusuke replied, clenching his fist. "If you lose, don't blame me."
Meanwhile, on the battlefield below, the fight between Sasuke and Deidara reached its climax.
Sasuke was battered, bloodied, and panting heavily—but still standing. Deidara, though in better shape, looked wild, his mind consumed by anger and pride.
"I'll show you… my true art!" Deidara shouted, stuffing clay into his mouth-hand. His body trembled with manic excitement as he molded his ultimate creation—a gigantic clay clone of himself.
Mounting his clay bird, Deidara soared into the sky, cackling like a madman.
"Die! Art… is an EXPLOSION!"
Sasuke's eyes widened as a blinding flash consumed the air. The force of the detonation shattered the landscape, swallowing everything in light and flame.
For an instant, it seemed Sasuke had been obliterated—his body disintegrated into dust.
But as the smoke cleared, a figure emerged behind Deidara's airborne form.
With a swift, silent motion, Sasuke's sword pierced through Deidara's chest.
Yet the Akatsuki member didn't panic. Instead, he smiled faintly.
"Got you," he whispered.
His body dissolved into clay.
Before Sasuke could react, the real Deidara lunged from above, seizing his ankle in a crushing grip.
Deidara's mind burned with one thought—revenge against the Uchiha clan. After his humiliating defeat to Itachi, he had trained his mind relentlessly, hardening it against Genjutsu.
He knew Sasuke wasn't on Itachi's level yet. His illusions lacked the depth and complexity to trap someone like him.
Against Itachi, a single glance could seal your fate.
Against Sasuke, however… Deidara was confident.
In his mind, the younger Uchiha still had a long way to go.
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