Their plan had already begun? No wonder Deidara hadn't gone to Higashihime Island—he'd gone on a mission.
Shigeo thought of Naruto and Jiraiya. They had only just begun their training journey. Wasn't the Akatsuki's hunt for the Tailed Beasts supposed to happen two years later? Why had it started early?
According to the original sequence, the first Jinchūriki the Akatsuki should capture would be Gaara.
They'd already targeted Gaara twice before, but both times Shigeo had intervened and stopped them.
So this time—would he still be in time?
The image of Gaara's eyes flashed in Shigeo's mind. He removed the black shadow cloak draped over his shoulders, and beside him a Mokuton Bunshin (Wood Clone) emerged.
"My lord, are you planning to handle this personally? Deidara and Sasori aren't ordinary enemies. Should I have Jakimogu go instead?" asked Akahana after reading Itachi's report.
Shigeo shook his head and glanced at Cheng Mei'er beside him. "They're no match for the Akatsuki. Besides, I want to handle this myself."
With that, he turned, took Cheng Mei'er by the arm, and left the Blue Gate headquarters. The wood clone remained behind, returning to Monin Village—his presence there was still needed to keep things stable.
In the Land of Wind, yellow sand filled the sky, the wind howled endlessly.
Shigeo and Cheng Mei'er sat inside a rocky cave. He kept his eyes closed, sensing everything around him as he waited for news.
Yaei had already departed for Sunagakure to contact the Blue Gate operatives stationed there. Shigeo needed to know what was happening within the Sand Village.
If Deidara hadn't yet succeeded, there was still time to act.
But if the deed was done—he would have to improvise.
As a Kage-level figure of Monin Village, Shigeo couldn't casually appear inside Sunagakure. Doing so could provoke unnecessary political tension between nations.
Cheng Mei'er sat quietly on a stone nearby, wrapped tightly in her cloak. She stole a few glances at him, wanting to speak but too nervous to do so.
"Are you wondering why I've kept you with me all this time?" Shigeo suddenly asked.
She nodded, her palms cold with sweat. In his presence, she couldn't help but feel fear.
"Do you like Deidara?" he asked next.
"Who?" Cheng Mei'er blinked, confused.
Shigeo opened his eyes. "The blond man who attacked Higashihime Island."
At that, she lowered her head, fingers clutching tightly together, her cheeks tinged with nervous pink.
She knew very well who stood before her—the master of Higashihime Island, the Shadow of Monin Village, a living legend of the ninja world—someone whose name alone inspired dread.
"His name… is Deidara?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Shigeo said evenly. "Now, I'll give you two choices—his and yours.
First, if you can persuade him to serve me, I'll spare his life.
If not… I'll kill him."
His deep blue eyes were utterly devoid of warmth.
Cheng Mei'er's heart stopped for a beat. Then she nodded firmly. "Understood, my lord. I'll make sure he serves you."
So she does have feelings for that boy.
"Good," Shigeo said calmly. "Do exactly as I say. I brought you because I'm giving him a chance. Otherwise, I wouldn't need you at all to make him wish for death."
He closed his eyes again.
Moments later, a shadow passed over the cave. Yaei appeared overhead in his hawk form, circling and calling twice.
Shigeo stepped outside, raising his arm. The hawk swooped down, and Shigeo removed a bamboo tube from its leg.
He read the coded message, then exhaled softly. "As I thought—I'm too late."
Gaara had exhausted his chakra to protect Sunagakure. He'd been captured by Deidara and was now missing.
Kankuro had pursued them but was poisoned by Sasori.
The entire Sand Village had fallen into chaos, and its elders were struggling to find a way to save him.
Gaara… Kankuro…
In the original timeline, Kankuro had been saved by Sakura's medical ninjutsu. That entire arc—Naruto rescuing Gaara, Sakura and Chiyo battling Sasori—was a legendary episode that shook the ninja world.
But now, Shigeo had taken Naruto's place as Gaara's rescuer.
So who would save Kankuro?
He had a good impression of that boy. Without help from Konoha—or from himself—Kankuro would surely die.
Even if the Sand tried to send messengers to the Leaf now, it would take too long.
They wouldn't make it in time.
"First, save him," Shigeo decided aloud.
He formed a hand seal—Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique).
A massive Byakko (White Tiger) appeared.
"Sorry to trouble you, Byakko. I need you to find someone."
He tore a black cloth strip from Cheng Mei'er's waist sash and handed it to the tiger.
"Find the owner of this scent. Send word when you locate him."
Byakko sniffed the strip, growled softly, then bounded off toward the eastern desert.
Cheng Mei'er's heart pounded. Is the lord a god? How did he know that the black band at her waist belonged to Deidara? Did he have some supernatural power?
She didn't realize that her entire outfit was light-colored, making the dark sash stand out immediately.
It wasn't hard for Shigeo to guess where it came from.
In truth, that band had been left by Deidara during her first abduction.
Originally, Deidara's mission had been to obliterate Higashihime Island and its three surrounding isles—erase them completely from the eastern sea, just to send Shigeo a message.
But in the middle of the assault, he'd encountered a lone woman leading civilians in a desperate defense.
She was powerless, yet refused to yield.
Wearing a white dress that accentuated her delicate skin, large eyes, and pink lips—she'd looked to him like a living doll.
On impulse, he'd decided to capture her—just to scare her, to see her cry.
So, before his attack even began, he'd ended it, taking Cheng Mei'er away instead.
On a deserted island, he threatened her again and again. She trembled and wept but never begged for mercy.
It amused him. He'd even touched her tears once.
And in the end, unable to stand her suffering, he sent her back unharmed.
After that, Deidara returned to Higashihime Island from time to time.
Every time he appeared, he bombed a few targets first, then sought her out—frightening her, teasing her, making her cry or hungry—and then sending her home again.
After three such encounters, Cheng Mei'er's feelings began to change.
She didn't quite understand them, but one thing had become clear in her heart—
She didn't want him to die.
(End of Chapter)
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