Return of the Uchiha Prodigy

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Deidara's sky-blue eyes gleamed with excitement, reflecting the fiery explosions he had orchestrated moments ago. His expression remained captivated by the destruction.

"Just punish me already," he said, his voice laced with defiance. "I'm used to it. The old man won't come up with anything new—just the same old-fashioned punishments."

The petite black-haired girl standing beside him gave a light shrug, a teasing smile playing on her lips. Though she looked younger than Deidara, her demeanor and the Iwagakure vest she wore marked her as a shinobi of the Stone Village.

"As you like," she replied casually. Her voice carried a hint of amusement as she watched him, clearly unimpressed by his rebellious streak.

"I heard," she continued, adjusting the ill-fitting vest, "that country of stone sent a formal request to Konoha's Hokage. Word is, they agreed to take on the mission."

Deidara scoffed, turning his head to face her. His expression shifted to one of indifference. "So what about Konoha ninja?" he said dismissively. "Even if it's their Hokage, the moment he faces me, he'll have no choice but to witness my art in all its glory!"

The girl rolled her eyes. "Tch, you and your 'art.' Anyway, Senior Huitu is waiting for us. Let's go."

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and began walking toward the border of the Land of Earth. Deidara lingered for a moment, taking one last look at the devastation he had created, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips. Then he followed after her, hands stuffed into his pockets.

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Meanwhile, at the Konoha border...

The Land of Forests and the Land of Fire were separated by a patchwork of small nations, most too insignificant to warrant marking on maps—save for the renowned Land of Hot Water.

Shikaku Nara and his team of four—Itachi Uchiha, Izumi Uchiha, Aoki Yu, and their client Kuroishi Rei—moved swiftly after leaving Konoha. It took them only a day and a half to reach the border of the Land of Fire, traveling with the efficiency of seasoned shinobi.

Despite their rapid progress, Shikaku remained cautious. "The mission officially starts when we step out of the Fire Nation's borders," he reminded his team. They had entered the territory of Land of Hot Water, known for its famed hot springs and its neutrality during the Ninja Wars. Yet, there was no time for relaxation.

By the next day, their relentless pace began to take a toll on Kuroishi Rei, an ordinary man unaccustomed to such grueling travel. Near the border of Fire Country, they stopped at a small town to rest. Rei, clearly exhausted, fell asleep the moment they set up camp outside the town.

Around the crackling bonfire, Shikaku spread out a sheepskin map, its edges worn from use. "From here on, we could be attacked at any moment," he said, his voice steady yet grave.

He pointed to their route. "Based on the distance from Iwagakure, it should take their shinobi at least two more days to catch up. But..." His gaze flicked to Itachi. "With the intel Minato received, we know Deidara could already be en route. His clay birds give him a significant advantage in speed."

Aoki Yu, the team's sensor, nodded. "Understood. I'll keep my sensory field active at all times."

Izumi leaned closer, her Sharingan glowing faintly in the firelight. "Itachi and I can help monitor the area as well. You can rest, Yu-san."

"Thank you, but I'll manage," Aoki replied with a polite smile.

Shikaku's expression darkened. "Avoid direct confrontation if possible. Protecting the client limits our combat options." His eyes shifted to Rei, who slept soundly by a tree. "We can't afford mistakes."

After dividing the watch shifts, the team rested in turns. Izumi, assigned the last watch, woke Itachi to trade shifts before dawn.

"You should rest," Izumi said softly, her concern evident.

"I'm fine," Itachi replied. "I rested earlier. That's enough for now."

They sat quietly for a moment, the crackling fire filling the silence. Itachi turned to her, his tone low but firm. "Be careful in the battle ahead. The enemies this time are different."

Izumi tilted her head, curious. "You think so?"

Itachi nodded. "Deidara, the Iwa-nin prodigy, is dangerous. He's young, but his Kibaku Nendo (Explosive Clay) is lethal—especially for assassination. If we face him directly, we might stand a chance. But in an ambush, his techniques will be harder to counter."

Izumi smiled slightly, her confidence unwavering. "Don't worry, Itachi. I'm strong too, remember?"

Itachi looked at her for a moment, his expression softening. Izumi's determination always reassured him, even if he rarely voiced it. She added with a light laugh, "Besides, the Hokage entrusted this mission to us. That means we're capable of handling it. And I know you'll be the key to our success."

Itachi said nothing, but Izumi could tell he appreciated her faith in him.

---

Morning came uneventfully, and the team prepared for the next leg of their journey. They crossed the border into another small country, marching for hours until they reached a narrow valley.

The cliffs on either side loomed high above them, the pathway between them barely a few meters wide. Shikaku, always cautious, led the way, guiding the group up one of the cliffs. Using chakra to adhere to the rocky surface, they scaled it quickly.

Aoki Yu's chakra perception had been active throughout, and as soon as they reached the top, her eyes widened. "There's an enemy presence outside the valley!" she called out.

"Everyone, stay alert!" Shikaku ordered. The group immediately shifted into a defensive formation, with Hei Shilei protected at the rear.

From the far end of the valley, a small shadow shot into the sky. It moved swiftly, heading toward them. Itachi's sharp eyes caught sight of it first.

"A clay bird," he said, narrowing his eyes. "Everyone, move!"

He grabbed Hei Shilei, pulling him back just as the bird flew closer.

Outside the valley, Deidara stood atop a large clay bird, a manic grin on his face. His fingers molded into a seal, and his voice carried through the wind with unrestrained excitement.

"Art is an explosion—Katsu!"

The small clay bird detonated midair, unleashing a fiery blast. The shockwave ripped through the valley, flames and debris scattering in every direction.

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