Naruto: Deidara’s Struggle

"Deidara, you're too slow!"

By the time Deidara returned to the city, the sun had already risen over the eastern mountains. The golden light pierced through the darkness, bringing warmth and brightness.

The lifeless bodies of Sarutobi Tendo and Zoe lay side by side on the ground, showing no signs of life.

"Is this your gift to me?" Sasori glanced at the four captives, causing Tsukigetsu Rin to tremble in fear.

"However, among them, only the Hyuga and the insect-handler are of interest to me. The other two? I have no use for them. Dispose of them," Sasori remarked indifferently.

"Wait! Brother Sasori, you can't be so dismissive of these puppets," Deidara objected.

"Why not use Memory-Concealing Manipulating Sand on each of them and send them back to Konoha? They might prove useful at a critical moment."

"Idiot, Memory-Concealing Manipulating Sand can only seal memories, not alter them."

Memory-Concealing Manipulating Sand was one of Sasori's exclusive secret techniques—a highly practical and powerful ability capable of selectively sealing portions of a person's memory.

When used on spies, even the spies themselves wouldn't know their true identity, making them nearly impossible to expose. Furthermore, Sasori could use the technique to eliminate the spy at any time, ensuring loyalty through the threat of death.

However, as Sasori pointed out, sealing memories doesn't equate to changing them. Even if the technique were used on these captives, they would still remain enemies, unlikely to become allies simply because their lives were spared.

Deidara waved dismissively. "I'll convince them myself."

"Oh? So noble and unyielding—truly an enemy worthy of respect."

Suddenly, Aburame Shikun's parasitic insects lost control, swarming out of his body and crawling aimlessly across the ground.

It turned out that Shikun had used his insects to commit suicide.

"The woman—you're a medical ninja, aren't you? Come here and treat me; if this continues, I might bleed to death," Deidara said, releasing Tsukigetsu Rin from the Clay Centipede binding her. Having endured such severe injuries throughout the night's battle, he was nearing his limit.

After witnessing the deaths of two comrades in quick succession, Rin's expression was tinged with sorrow. Yet, she dared not refuse Deidara's order—after all, she was at his mercy.

"I advise you not to try anything clever. Otherwise, your other two companions won't live to see another day," Sasori threatened, his voice and the menacing visage of Hiruko making him the epitome of villainy.

"I understand," Rin replied, approaching Deidara. Her hands glowed green as she gently pressed them against his wounds, beginning the healing process.

This was Deidara's first experience with medical ninjutsu since his transmigration. How to describe it?

It felt incredibly soothing, warm, and comforting. He could clearly sense his injuries gradually healing, the pain and discomfort fading away. Even his dizziness from blood loss began to subside, leaving his mind clearer.

"Let's talk while you heal me," Deidara said, leaning against his Clay Bird as he started to feel better.

"Don't bother. We will never betray Konoha," Hyuga Kanade declared flatly, his tone calm but resolute.

"Hey! Don't use such harsh words!"

"I prefer to call it cooperation rather than betrayal," Deidara countered.

"As you can see, Brother Sasori and I may be S-rank rogue ninja, but compared to the power of a great ninja village, we're far from a threat. We have no intention of being enemies with Konoha."

"This time, it was you who came looking for trouble. If we were weaker, you would've already killed us. Now, the situation has simply reversed."

"So, you can't blame us for this, can you?" Deidara began by showing weakness.

"Indeed, victory and defeat on the battlefield are determined by skill. You sparing our lives now is already very merciful," Shimura Seito quickly interjected, eager to seize the chance to survive. He feared Kanade or Rin might say something to anger their captors.

"Seito! How can you say that?"

"Do you think you're worthy of the sacrifices made by Captain Tendo and Shikun?" Kanade couldn't believe he had such a spineless teammate and immediately rebuked Seito.

Damn it! I'm enduring humiliation for survival! What do you know?!

Seito cursed inwardly but maintained a cold demeanor, as if he were indifferent to Kanade's words.

"I'm just stating the truth," he said.

Deidara watched the drama unfold with amusement. It seemed Shimura Seito was destined to be a traitor to Konoha.

"Your name is Shimura Seito, isn't it?" Deidara pointed at him.

"Yes, sir," Seito replied, his tone servile, showing no shame in addressing Deidara with such deference.

"You may leave. When you return to Konoha, I hope you actively promote peace between your village and our organization."

"Of course, if you choose not to be our friend, my companion will have no choice but to use his secret technique to ensure your brain's immediate death. He has a rather bad temper."

"Rest assured, sir. Upon my return, I will do my utmost to foster peace between our village and your organization," Seito said, standing up. He glanced at Kanade and Rin—Kanade lying on the ground, and Rin treating Deidara—but hesitated for only a moment before choosing silence and leaving alone.

"Truly a ninja embodying the Will of Fire!" Deidara remarked, half mocking, half joking.

"That's not the Will of Fire!" Rin retorted, unusually firm.

"Then what is the Will of Fire?"

"Taking money and killing people—is that the Will of Fire?" Deidara asked, looking up at Rin. Despite her older age, her presence was thoroughly overshadowed by Deidara's commanding aura.

It wasn't a matter of strength but rather a difference in conviction, worldview, and intellectual depth—a dominance akin to historical figures and thinkers who, despite lacking physical power, commanded universal respect.

"Hmph!" Kanade snorted from the ground.

"You openly occupy a city. Your actions are no different from rebellion."

"Although we took money, we did so for justice—to eliminate rogue ninja like you," Kanade argued, his tone rising with emotion. His Byakugan glared at Deidara, radiating an unyielding spirit.

"Justice?" Deidara burst into laughter.

"Did you know that Zoe was also a rogue ninja? He killed the original lord of this city, took over, and exploited the people."

"We came here at the request of the original lord's daughter to help her drive Zoe out."

"What?" Kanade and Rin's faces showed stunned disbelief. If that were true, what meaning did their mission and sacrifices hold?

"You didn't know? Or you didn't care? After all, ninja villages require vast amounts of funding to operate. As long as they get the money, your Hokage and senior advisors will turn a blind eye to such matters."

"You're lying!"

"Don't you dare slander the Hokage!" Kanade and Rin's emotions became visibly agitated. When someone's beliefs crumble, they instinctively react to protect their inner world.

"You've both done missions to eliminate bandits, haven't you?" Deidara abruptly changed the topic.

Seeing them nod in unison, Deidara's lips curled into a mysterious smile.

"Then do you know that many so-called bandits are simply people driven to desperation by the excessive exploitation of local nobles?"

"You don't, do you?"

This time, Deidara didn't wait for their response. He pointed to the surrounding ruins—a residential area destroyed in last night's battle.

"Your Captain Tendo's ninjutsu was truly impressive. Look at how many houses his Fire Release burned. How many buildings his Earth Release destroyed. How much damage his Wind Release caused."

"My abilities could've resolved this with a single large bomb. But why didn't I? Because I cared about the civilians in the city."

"But what about him?"

Deidara stood up and grabbed Rin's chin, forcing her to look at a young girl in the distance. The child, dressed in filthy clothes, her face covered in soot, was crying uncontrollably.

"Do you see her? If I'm not mistaken, her family likely died in last night's battle."

"Now look at the others. Look at their hateful eyes."

"Is this justice? Is this the Will of Fire? Is this what Konoha's ninja stand for?"

"Admit it. You're nothing more than cold-blooded killers who take money to do the job!"

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