Konoha: The Honored One

The faces of the special investigation team shifted in an instant. Kunai were drawn with swift precision, and everyone spun on their heels, their gazes shooting upward to the source of the ominous sound. What they saw caused their hearts to skip a beat.

Above them, flapping its massive, snow-white wings, hovered a giant dragon. Its pale form was nothing short of breathtaking, but it wasn't just the majestic creature that commanded their attention. Standing proudly atop the dragon's back was a man with long blond hair, his features obscured by strands of golden locks that covered one eye. He wore a long, black coat, embroidered with intricate red patterns, giving him a menacing aura that matched his reputation.

"Deidara..." Kurenai murmured under her breath, her expression turning grim. "An S-Class renegade from Rock Village. An explosion artist of the highest caliber." Her fingers tightened around the kunai, preparing for any potential movement.

The man on the clay bird smiled almost lazily, his chakra radiating with such intensity that even the seasoned shinobi felt it pressing down on them like a physical weight. Might Guy, standing at the front of the group, felt the heavy pulse of energy and immediately understood: this was a Kage-level threat. They were in over their heads.

"Fast... too fast!" Neji hissed, his Byakugan eyes narrowing as he tried to track the movement. His vision had caught a glimpse of Deidara in the cave just moments before—how had he reached the sky so quickly? He couldn't fathom the speed. The distance between them had been massive.

Deidara's grin widened at the sight of the team below. "Hey! Which one of you is the Jinchūriki?" His voice rang out, high-pitched and almost playful. "I'd really like to capture you alive, but I guess if I have to, I'll just blow you all up instead!"

The special investigation team tightened their stances. Kurenai's mind raced. The Akatsuki were known to be after Jinchūrikis, and Deidara's nonchalance only added to the tension. But she couldn't let the enemy see how rattled they were. "You're from the Akatsuki organization, aren't you?" she called out, her voice firm, her red eyes locking onto Deidara.

"Akatsuki?" Deidara tilted his head as though hearing the name for the first time. "I don't know what that is... But someone asked me to make some art. So that's what I'm here for!" He grinned even wider. "I'm just a humble artist, you know? Someone wanted an explosion, so that's what I'll give them."

He raised one hand lazily, and from his palm, a mouth appeared. It opened wide, saliva dripping from its edges as it bit down on the clay he offered. The sight of it made the shinobi shudder, but none more so than Kurenai, who instinctively reached for her shuriken.

"His chakra... it's immense," she whispered under her breath. "It's on the same level as Kisame and Itachi. No... maybe even greater. We can't let our guard down."

As Deidara formed a seal with one hand, his voice became almost excited. "Let me show you my latest creation!" With a flourish, he raised his hand, and a small doll of clay shot out from his palm, spinning rapidly as it rocketed toward the special investigation team. It was no ordinary doll. As it absorbed chakra, it began to swell, growing into a monstrous humanoid form, the size of a small mountain.

"Disperse!" Kurenai shouted, her voice tight with urgency.

The team scattered, leaping out of the way just in time as the clay puppet continued to expand, its once smooth surface now turning rough and jagged as it grew. The ground trembled beneath them, the massive form continuing to swell.

The moment the clay reached its peak size, Deidara's face lit up with excitement. "Art is an explosion!" he yelled. His hands moved quickly, performing a series of rapid seals. "Here it comes! Boom!"

The clay puppet detonated with the force of a bomb. The explosion rocked the forest, a blinding flash of light followed by an enormous shockwave. The ground below was obliterated, leaving a massive crater in its wake. Black smoke billowed into the air, mixing with the flames that licked the sky. It was a catastrophic display of Deidara's art—destruction.

"Beautiful... perfect," Deidara murmured, staring down at the charred landscape with an almost satisfied sigh. "This is what art truly looks like."

"Deidara, that was too much!" A voice came from behind him. Sasori, a figure that looked more like an eerie human-scorpion hybrid, slithered out from the shadows. He was calm, his demeanor icy. "We need to be more discreet. Remember, our identities must remain secret."

Deidara turned to face his companion with a sly grin. "Oh, relax, Sasori .The mystery of our art lies in the grand gestures. A little explosion here and there doesn't hurt. Besides, I think the world deserves to see this beauty!"

"Beauty?" The scorpion's voice was thick with disdain. "Art should last forever, not be fleeting like some explosion. My puppets are eternal. That is true art."

Deidara waved his hand dismissively. "Puppets? Ha! How boring. The moment an explosion ignites, that's when the real art is born. And then it's gone. That's what makes it perfect!"

They bickered for a moment before Sasori sighed in frustration. "Let's move. Gojo Satoru is on his way. We can't afford to be caught off guard."

"Gojo Satoru? Oh, I've heard of him," Deidara said with a cocky laugh. "I'm sure he's strong, but his kekkai genkai is no match for my art. Don't worry about him. We'll finish this quickly." His eyes glittered with the promise of more destruction.

But before they could move, a figure appeared behind them—a flash of green and power. "Eighth Gate—Sixth Gate—Open!" Might Guy's voice rang through the air as he charged forward with incredible speed. His body radiated a blue-green aura, a sheer force of will and power.

"Impossible!" Deidara hissed. He barely had time to react before Might Guy was on them, his fist connecting with the Red Sand Scorpion's body. The impact sent the scorpion flying, cracks appearing along its form as it plummeted to the ground.

"How fast!" Deidara gasped. "He's stronger than I thought."

Might Guy pursued the scorpion, his fists blazing with heat as he sent out a barrage of rapid punches, each creating flames in the air. The speed was nearly impossible to follow, but Deidara didn't seem worried.

With a flick of his wrist, Deidara summoned more clay—this time, a centipede-like creature that slithered toward Guy. "Clay that explodes!" he yelled, his hand forming more seals.

Might Guy, already in motion, grinned. "I'm not going down that easily!"

The battle was reaching a fever pitch. The special investigation team, barely able to catch their breath, watched in disbelief at the raw power on display. Each side was a force to be reckoned with, but even with Might Guy's explosive speed, the members of the Akatsuki were not to be underestimated.

"Stay focused!" Kakashi barked, his Sharingan active as he watched for any signs of weakness. "We need to hold out until reinforcements arrive."

The situation was grim, but they all understood the stakes. The Akatsuki were a dangerous enemy, and they would need every ounce of strength to survive this battle.

In the distance, the ominous figure of Gojo Satoru loomed closer. Would he arrive in time to change the tide of battle? The team had no choice but to hold their ground.