Chapter 215: Standing Atop the Earth
If one were to ask what Gaara cares about most now, it is naturally Sunagakure.
In the original story, if it hadn't been to protect the villagers, he might not have lost to Deidara.
Of course, even if he had won the fight, it wouldn't have changed the outcome of his capture.
After all, there was still the even more powerful Sasori.
However, the current situation is different.
Gaara doesn't know of Tobi's existence, but he knows of The Hermit.
Based on the performance of those two in Kumogakure, they are truly top-tier powerhouses.
Although he remained expressionless, hesitation arose in his heart at this moment.
However, unlike the Raikage and others who are quite concerned with saving face, since the Tianming Organization wants to fight the Akatsuki Organization, he is happy to let it happen.
"A fight is fine, but it cannot be in Sunagakure."
Gaara stated his condition.
"The Akatsuki Organization is coming for you—to be precise, the Ichibi."
Naruto shook his head slightly and said, "They won't leave Sunagakure unless they lose all hope."
Gaara's gaze narrowed.
For Shukaku?
The Akatsuki Organization had been taking on missions across the Ninja World for the past two years, regardless of the country.
But now he's being told that their ultimate goal is actually the Tailed Beasts?
Are they bold enough to go that far?
To dare make enemies of the Five Great Villages.
"They are after the Tailed Beasts, but what are you after?"
Gaara uncharacteristically asked an extra question.
According to his former style, he wouldn't have considered so much.
"They want to obtain the supreme power of the Ninja World; we want to obtain the most widespread power of the Ninja World."
Naruto said casually.
Gaara frowned.
He understood the first half referred to the Tailed Beasts, but what was the second half?
The most widespread power?
"In a moment, protect Sunagakure yourself."
Naruto remembered that Gaara had several strong defenses, and with the terrain advantage, it shouldn't be much of a problem.
The aftershocks of the explosion gradually dissipated.
Although Deidara wasn't injured, he was still somewhat disheveled.
He brushed off his tattered clothes, his eyes fixed on the uninvited guest.
"Tianming's Hermit?"
Deidara subconsciously turned to look at Tobi.
His miniature telescope immediately spotted Sasuke in front of him.
He had an ominous premonition.
How did the Tianming Organization know they were coming to Sunagakure?
Was there a traitor in the Akatsuki Organization?
He shook his head slightly.
The Hermit possesses Space-Time Ninjutsu.
If they had an informant in Sunagakure, they could arrive in time.
"Deidara."
Naruto called out his name directly.
Deidara raised an eyebrow; although he hadn't hidden his identity, being recognized instantly was indeed a bit surprising.
"What business does your Tianming Organizationhave here? If it's not urgent, could you step back for a bit?"
The mouth in his palm chewed on clay as a smile appeared on his face. "Wait until I finish off the guy behind you first."
If possible, he didn't want to fight a Ninja who could use Space-Time Ninjutsu.
Working hard for half a day with no benefits at all.
He curled his lip.
Why didn't this guy go find Tobi?
"It's very urgent."
Naruto's gaze turned cold, killing intent leaking from his eyes as he said, "The debt of my parents' death must be repaid."
Minato and Kushina died during the Nine-Tailed incident.
The culprit was Obito.
Deidara is Obito's teammate, so he also bears responsibility.
Besides this, Deidara comes from Iwagakure.
Iwagakure was also a participant in the Great NinjaWar, sharing one-fifth of the blame.
If there had been no Great Ninja War, there would have been no Fourth Hokage.
Minato wouldn't have had to die.
Naruto calculated it all; this logic was sound, perfectly reasonable.
"???"
Deidara was stunned.
Parents' death?
What on earth?
Big brother, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say whatever you want.
"I don't even know you, how could I have killed your parents?"
"Do you remember how many people you've killed?"
Naruto countered.
"..."
Deidara was left speechless.
Furthermore, he didn't think a powerhouse like The Hermit would fabricate a story to deceive him for no reason.
There was no point.
Deidara looked down at the ring on his hand.
"In that case, I'll send you to see your parents."
He grinned.
The Akatsuki Organization's rings were not just decorations.
They also included a communication function.
Otherwise, how would they contact each other for the Magic Lantern Body Technique used for meetings?
Tobi had already told him to stall for time, and the Akatsuki Organization would send more people.
The Gedo Statue absorbs the Tailed Beasts in a specific order.
In other words, Shukaku is the first.
No matter what, they had to get him.
Otherwise, their work couldn't proceed.
Gaara silently retreated.
He understood the principle of the sandpiper and the clam fighting while the fisherman profits.
"Kankuro, immediately order all Ninjas to activate Sunagakure's defenses."
Gaara kept his eyes fixed on the two in the sky, then added, "Inform Konoha of this and say that the Akatsuki Organization's true goal is to capture the Tailed Beasts."
He was one of the few who knew Naruto's identity.
He was grateful to this boy who had changed him.
Plus, with the alliance between Sunagakure and Konoha Village, this matter indeed should be reported.
"Tailed Beasts?"
The people around him were all shocked to hear this.
The significance of Tailed Beasts to the Five Great Villages was self-evident.
"I'll go set up the defenses."
Baki said in a heavy voice.
Kankuro immediately took out pen and paper to start writing the intel.
A few seconds later, someone else came to report: "Lord Kazekage, two people have suddenly started fighting at the village entrance. Their clothing is the same as the two in the sky; they should belong to the same organization."
Gaara was slightly startled.
He didn't expect there to be two more people.
Just what kind of strength allowed Deidara to dare intrude into Sunagakure alone?
Thinking of this, he became even more cautious toward the Akatsuki Organization.
"Temari, take Jiro and the others to the village entrance. I'll be watching you; do not act unless they attack Sunagakure."
Gaara pressed his left eye, and sand immediately rose into the air to form an eyeball.
"Yes!"
Temari hurriedly led the team toward the village entrance.
Gaara's Third Eye followed them.
And in the sky.
Deidara threw out a clump of clay, which instantly transformed into a puppet.
The puppet blurred and charged toward Naruto.
"Young people are so impatient."
Naruto controlled the wind to quickly fly higher into the sky.
"Running is useless!"
Deidara stayed in place without chasing, pressing his fingers together and shouting, "C4 Karura!"
The puppet following Naruto suddenly expanded and burst.
It was like a dust explosion.
White shockwaves rose in continuous circles.
Wrapping the entire sky at an unimaginable speed.
A smile appeared on Deidara's face as he whispered, "Art is an explosion."
Karura was the Ninjutsu he used to deal with Uchiha Itachi.
Its range was extremely vast.
But the true killing move wasn't the explosion, but the clay spiders hidden within the air currents.
They were as tiny as bacteria, invisible to the naked eye.
Enemies within the currents would inhale them into their bodies, and then everything would be destroyed from the inside out.
As long as one was unprepared, escape was absolutely impossible.
After thinking about The Hermit having Space-Time Ninjutsu, Deidara suddenly realized that Karura was the perfect Ninjutsu to deal with him.
Running fast is useless.
Unless you don't breathe.
But even if you don't breathe through your mouth and nose, what about your pores?
A roaring sound suddenly appeared.
The white currents were blown away.
Deidara's eyes snapped wide open.
A white metallic airship hovered quietly, the sunlight reflecting off its cold luster.
The next moment.
The center of the deck slowly opened, and a series of pitch-black eagles flew out.
Massive steel bodies with propellers whipping up gusts of wild wind.
Densely packed, they soared through the sky.
The sound of machinery clicked again.
The airship trembled, and along with the revealed black holes, cannon barrels all rose, aiming directly at Deidara.
"Tianming, standing atop the earth."
Naruto stood at the bow of the ship, arms spread wide, and spoke.
Ah, the chapter title was wrong. The author doesn't have permission to change it, so it will have to stay like this for now. I'll have the editor change it on Monday.