Naruto: Deidara’s Struggle

After arriving in Kirigakure, the four disguised themselves as ordinary villagers using the Transformation Jutsu and gathered at an inn.

"So, how should we proceed with this mission, Deidara?" Kisame Hoshigaki asked, his tone full of deference, as if he were ready to follow Deidara's lead without question.

Deidara pondered for a moment. Now that he was actually in Kirigakure, he could truly feel the pervasive atmosphere of fear and unease. The Blood Mist Policy didn't just target ninja with Kekkei Genkai—it also brought suffering to many ordinary shinobi. People lived in constant terror, afraid that they might wake up one day to find themselves the next target of the purges.

"With Yagura Karatachi running things so recklessly, there must be quite a few rebel groups operating in secret, right?" Deidara asked for confirmation.

Kisame nodded. "Of course. Even though the village leadership spares no effort in suppressing them, these rebel groups are like weeds—you can't root them out completely."

"In that case, I think our best course of action is to leverage these rebel groups. We'll gather all the people dissatisfied with the Blood Mist Policy and take them with us in one fell swoop," Deidara proposed boldly. If he could pull this off, it would be tantamount to splitting Kirigakure in two.

"Not a bad idea," Kisame agreed, his expression showing no objection. It seemed this plan wouldn't interfere with whatever unknown agenda he had.

"What do you think, Sasori, Itachi?" Deidara turned to his other companions.

"It's feasible," Sasori replied.

"As you wish," Itachi said indifferently.

"Alright, here's the plan: Sasori and I will gather intel at a tavern, while Kisame and Itachi handle perimeter security," Deidara suggested.

"Let me go to the tavern with you instead," Kisame countered. "Sasori and Itachi can handle security. After all, I'm from Kirigakure, so I'm more familiar with the place."

Deidara glanced at Kisame. He knew Kisame's reasoning sounded good, but the real motive was likely to keep an eye on him. If Deidara refused, it might lead to an immediate fallout, which didn't align with his plans. He could clash with Kisame or even fight him, but only after completing his recruitment mission.

The tavern was a novel experience for Deidara. He had to admit, establishments like this seemed to be the most resilient businesses in the world. Even in a place like Kirigakure, they were easy to find and thriving.

"What can I get you two?" Two young, attractive women greeted them warmly as soon as they entered, making Deidara feel completely out of his element. Kisame, however, remained calm and composed—clearly no stranger to such places.

Noticing Deidara's awkwardness, Kisame smirked mischievously. "Spend some extra time with my friend here. He's got plenty of money!"

Kisame!

Deidara silently cursed Kisame, utterly unprepared to handle the tavern girls' enthusiastic attempts to get him to drink. It was then that Deidara realized a crucial oversight: gathering intel in a tavern required a certain level of expertise. Someone like him, who was completely out of his depth, would not only fail to gather any information but also end up spending a fortune.

After two or three hours, a slightly tipsy Deidara was dragged out of the tavern by Kisame, still somewhat dazed.

"What's going on?" Deidara asked, confused.

"Follow me. That man up ahead is definitely a rebel. If we tail him, we might find one of their organizations," Kisame explained, pointing to a middle-aged man ahead of them. The man looked ordinary enough, but his expression betrayed a sense of discontent.

"Oh? Alright!" Hearing that it was business, Deidara forced himself to focus. Although the sake wasn't particularly strong, the tavern girls' enthusiasm had led him to drink far too much.

The two quietly followed the middle-aged man, who was clearly up to something. He deliberately took a roundabout route, occasionally pausing to carefully survey his surroundings. Finally, he stopped in front of what appeared to be an ordinary residence.

Knock, knock, knock!

The man knocked lightly on the door, but there was no immediate response from within.

Just as Deidara was about to lose patience, the door finally creaked open. An elderly man with cloudy eyes peered out. Recognizing the middle-aged man as a familiar face, he let out a sigh of relief.

"It's you! Come in quickly."

After the middle-aged man entered, the old man cautiously scanned the area one last time before quietly shutting the door and retreating inside.

Of course, Deidara and Kisame had already slipped in unnoticed. With their level of skill, it was impossible for the old man to detect them.

Inside, the middle-aged man, with the old man's assistance, opened a hidden passageway and descended into an underground tunnel.

Naturally, Deidara and Kisame followed suit. After the old man left, they entered the tunnel as well.

The narrow passage was pitch black, barely wide enough for one person to pass through at a time. Deidara found it somewhat challenging to navigate, but Kisame seemed perfectly at ease in the darkness.

It was likely due to his familiarity with the Hidden Mist Technique, which required operating in low-visibility conditions where sound became the primary guide.

As they advanced cautiously, Deidara discreetly chewed some clay and created Clay Centipedes, leaving them on the tunnel walls. He didn't activate them yet, knowing Kisame's keen sense of hearing could easily detect them. Only after they had moved a safe distance ahead would the centipedes spring into action.

Their confidence in their abilities made them fearless, even in such a precarious situation. Unless the traps were of a lethal nature, they had little to worry about.

"... Yagura... kill... sob sob..."

Faint sounds of crying reached their ears, signaling that the tunnel was nearing its end. It seemed they had stumbled upon a meeting place for an underground rebel organization, and there were quite a few people present.

In the hidden underground chamber, eight shinobi sat in a circle. Among them, the most striking was a blue-haired ninja—a clear indicator of his Hōzuki Clan heritage, much like how members of the Uzumaki Clan were known for their red hair.

Suddenly, the blue-haired ninja's ears twitched. He turned toward the tunnel entrance, his expression growing tense.

"Stop crying! We have enemies approaching!"

His sharp warning startled the group, but they quickly rose, weapons in hand, ready to defend themselves.

However, a few of them looked visibly panicked, the trauma of the Blood Mist Policy's purges still casting a deep shadow over them.

"Oh my, is this how you welcome guests?" Kisame joked, amused by their defensive stances.

"Who are you?" the Hōzuki ninja demanded, his tone cautious. He had initially assumed they were members of Kirigakure's ANBU, but the two intruders didn't fit the profile.

"Relax, we're not your enemies," Deidara assured them. "We're here to help you."

Of course, words alone weren't enough to earn their trust.

"Looks like it's up to you, Kisame," Deidara said, signaling for him to reveal his identity.

Understanding the cue, Kisame dispelled his transformation, revealing his true appearance.

"Kisame Hoshigaki!"

The group gasped in unison. Kisame's reputation preceded him—once an elite of Kirigakure's ANBU, he had killed the previous wielder of Samehada, Fuguki Suikazan, in an act of betrayal before defecting. His infamy made him a well-known figure in Kirigakure.

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Naruto: Deidara's Struggle

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