The Strongest Artist in Naruto

The only option was to run. Gōda Taichi dove into the dense forest below, weaving through towering trees to conceal himself while sprinting deeper into the wilderness.

"Don't even think about escaping!" Deidara growled, pursuing him atop a clay bird. Both of his hands reached into his clay pouches, palms facing downward, continuously spitting out small white grasshopper-like figures. These tiny clay creations dropped onto the treetops below and, with a sharp pop, expanded to finger-sized bombs, scuttling after their prey.

In this tangled terrain, such small explosives were far more effective. Their diminutive size made it impossible for Taichi to counter all of them. Even a single explosion wouldn't cause critical damage, but it would be enough to slow him down. And once that happened, the swarm of clay bombs would overwhelm him.

"Damn it! Lightning Strike Armour!" Realizing Deidara's intent, Taichi poured his chakra into an advanced Lightning Release jutsu he was barely proficient in. A crackling aura of lightning surrounded him, offering protection as he pushed forward.

This technique, a lower-tier version of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode mastered by the Raikages, was still classified as A-rank. The difficulty of its execution strained Taichi, whose abilities were only at the jōnin level.

"Looks like it's over for you. Let's see how you handle this!" Deidara smirked. After several minutes of relentless pursuit, Taichi's chakra reserves were nearly depleted, his breath ragged, and his movements faltering.

"C2: Standard Type—Serpent!" Deidara's hands crafted a massive clay snake over ten meters long. It slithered at a speed that defied its size, cutting off Taichi's escape route. In an instant, the serpent coiled around a large tree, binding Taichi tightly against its trunk, leaving him immobilized.

"Marvel at my art! Hm!" Deidara exclaimed with satisfaction.

[+500 Shock Value Points for Gōda Taichi's reaction]

[System Interface]

Strongest Artist System

Host: Deidara

Shock Value: 350/2000

Skill Points: 1

Unlocked Skills: Explosive Mastery Lv. 1

"Naisu! Level up!" Deidara didn't hesitate to allocate his skill point to the Enhanced C2 Dragon. With this, he now had a formidable trump card capable of challenging even quasi-Kage-level opponents.

"Deidara, you're late. I told you not to keep me waiting," a familiar voice rang out. Sasori approached, maneuvering Hiruko with his usual impassive demeanor.

"Art should be savored, Sasori-Danna. The anticipation is part of the experience!" Deidara quipped.

"Tch. That nonsense isn't art," Sasori scoffed, unimpressed.

"Enough. Since we've completed the mission, let's find a place to rest. I have puppets to work on, and you clearly have 'art' to refine," Sasori added, uninterested in prolonging the banter.

With that, the two Akatsuki members made their way to a nearby town and secured lodging.

"Ah, nothing beats this!" Deidara exclaimed, reclining in the inn's common area with a skewer of dango. His right-hand mouth devoured one piece, his face mouth bit into another, while his left-hand mouth sipped tea. This unique triple-speed eating method drew curious stares from other diners.

Sasori, meanwhile, stood silently, glaring at Deidara. His expression—or what could pass for one—reflected mild irritation.

"...You eat it all yourself. I'm going back to my room to work on my puppets," Sasori muttered before retreating. He had long since shed mortal desires like eating, yet the judgmental looks of the other patrons were testing even his apathy.

As Deidara enjoyed his meal, a chubby boy nearby looked on in admiration.

"Whoa! That's so cool!" he exclaimed, marveling at Deidara's ability to eat three times faster than normal.

"Of course it is!" Deidara grinned, tossing the boy a wink.

Later that night, Deidara leaned against the doorway of Sasori's workshop, smirking mischievously.

"Hey, Sasori-danna, how do you even sleep looking like that?"

Sasori paused, his hands still amidst puppet parts. "This is a puppet body, idiot! What kind of question is that?"

"Oh, right, right. But doesn't it feel cramped in there? Like you're one of those creepy bugs all curled up?"

"Deidara, I swear I'll kill you!" Hiruko's tail shot out, its sharp tip glinting dangerously as it lunged toward Deidara.

"Whoa, calm down, Sasori-danna! This is an inn, you'll wreck the place, and we'll have to pay for it!" Deidara yelled, dodging frantically. "I was kidding! My bad!"

But their bickering was cut short by an overwhelming pressure of chakra flooding the area. Moments later, a ninja flew through the wall, followed by a massive dark red tail, obliterating the inn in a single blow.

"What the hell?! That chakra… it's insane!" Deidara exclaimed.

"It's a Tailed Beast," Sasori said coldly, unfazed by the destruction. "Judging by the location, it must be the Seven-Tails from Takigakure. It seems to have gone berserk."

Deidara's lips curled into an excited grin. "Oh? This could get interesting. And hey, at least we don't have to pay for the damages anymore!"

Turning to Sasori, he added, "What do you say, Sasori-danna? The Seven-Tails would make for an incredible piece of art, don't you think?"

"Boring," Sasori replied. "We're still in the gathering phase. Without orders from the Leader, engaging a Tailed Beast is pointless."

"What's wrong? Don't tell me you're scared of losing to the Seven-Tails?" Deidara teased.

Sasori's silence spoke volumes. While Deidara's explosive techniques were perfect for dealing with large, powerful foes, Sasori's puppet-based combat was ill-suited to fight a creature as massive and destructive as a Tailed Beast. He could use the Third Kazekage puppet with its Magnet Release, but even that would be a risky gamble.

In contrast, Deidara's specialized style was tailor-made for this kind of battle. The grin on his face widened as he stepped toward the carnage.

"No worries, danna. I'll show you what real art looks like!"

...

Pls some Power Stones and Reviews!