Naruto: The Otherworldly Cultivator

Disclaimer:

Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I create.

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

-Author notes-

Chapter 211: A Duo of Artists

"What are Konoha ninjas doing here?" one of the Akatsuki members asked the other one.

He was a large, imposing man with a hunched back, his appearance was enhanced by a metallic tail extending from behind, giving him the look of a scorpion. His face was half-covered by a mask, and he had no visible hair.

"Hmm… who knows? This is just a minor inconvenience after all. The real prize is just ahead," said the other Akatsuki member, a tall, lean young man with long blond hair tied into a ponytail. His eyes were locked onto the imposing figure of the Three-Tailed Beast rising in the background.

"I wouldn't call it a minor inconvenience… That one over there is the Copy Ninja, Kakashi, an S rank-level threat that we can't underestimate." the larger man remarked. He didn't recognize the other ninja but knew he wasn't likely to be a pushover either if they came together.

"Hmph! Whatever, we can deal with those, wait… There's something going on over there." The blond one glanced toward the other side of the lake, where Naruto was battling Orochimaru.

They arrived just in time to see the Sannin summon Manda, the colossal snake.

"That's probably Orochimaru," the larger man deduced. He could guess as much since he was the one who had sold the information about the Three-Tails being here to the Sannin. He hadn't expected to be assigned the task of capturing this particular Bijuu, though.

"Looks like our little secret got leaked," Deidara teased his partner. Despite the jab, he had no intention of exposing him to their superiors. He was more intrigued by the identity of the individual fighting the Sannin.

"Forget it. We'll take care of these two and capture the Bijuu. If Orochimaru gets in our way… we'll deal with him." The larger man, Sasori, doubted that would happen. Orochimaru knew exactly what consequences awaited him if he tried to interfere.

While the Akatsuki duo conversed, Kakashi and Yamato weighed their options. Things had just grown far more complicated.

"Those are members of Akatsuki," Yamato said grimly.

"Indeed… And I'd bet they're here for that turtle behind us," Kakashi added, glancing toward the Three Tails. He wouldn't be surprised if Orochimaru had obtained information about the Bijuu's location from them.

It was well-known that Akatsuki had spent years pursuing the nine Bijuu, though their ultimate goal remained shrouded in mystery.

"I know the one on the left is Sasori of the Sand," Yamato said, recalling the Bingo Book's entries. "He's a master of puppets and poisons. But I don't know much about the blond one."

"I don't have much either," Kakashi admitted. "From what we learned from Jiraiya, his name is Deidara. He's originally from the Rock Village."

Yamato glanced back briefly at the Bijuu. "The Three-Tails doesn't seem motivated to move yet," he noted.

It was a small mercy. If the beast had attacked immediately, they wouldn't have stood a chance. For now, the Three-Tails Beast appeared dazed, like someone waking from a long slumber and trying to regain their bearings.

"We have to concentrate on the threat in front of us first," Kakashi said, his tone tinged with concern. The idea of retreating was no longer an option, not with two S-rank ninjas standing in their path.

And besides that, letting Akatsuki capture the Three-Tails without a fight wasn't something Kakashi could allow.

He also worried about Naruto. They had left him to face one of the most dangerous individuals on the continent.

But there was no going back now.

'Hang on, Naruto… just a few more minutes.' Kakashi silently promised. The confidence his student had shown earlier gave him some assurance that he could hold his own.

"Yamato, I'll leave Sasori to you," Kakashi decided after a moment of thought.

Yamato nodded. He already had some knowledge of Sasori's fighting style, and his Wood Release would give him a better chance of handling the puppet master without succumbing to poison.

Kakashi, on the other hand, would face Deidara, someone he knew little about.

'I may have to use it…' Kakashi thought grimly, clutching his left eye. The Mangekyō Sharingan was a last resort, but it could be the key to victory if timed correctly.

"Now, I will—"

Kakashi was cut off as Deidara hurled something in their direction.

He caught only a glimpse of the gray substance before both he and Yamato leaped to safety.

It was fortunate they did...the substance exploded violently just an instant later.

Judging by the sheer force of the blast, Kakashi estimated it was three or four times stronger than an average explosive tag. A second's hesitation could have cost them a limb.

Acting swiftly, Kakashi hurled several shuriken at Deidara, keeping the blond's attention on him.

Meanwhile, Yamato landed at a safe distance and gently laid down the boy's lifeless body. "I'm sorry…" he murmured, a brief but heartfelt apology.

There was no time to dwell on it. He rushed to intercept Sasori, ensuring the two enemies couldn't team up against Kakashi. Keeping them separated was their only chance.

Yamato slammed his hands to the ground, creating a wooden wall that blocked Sasori's path toward the shore.

"Oh? You want to play with me?" Sasori's metallic tail shifted menacingly.

"You don't seem like someone who would appreciate my art, but I'll humor you for a while."

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