Konoha: The Honored One

(A/N: Took a break to celebrate Christmas, but I'm back now! I'll make sure to keep you all informed in the future for similar breaks. In the meantime, enjoy these two chapters!)

Kakashi's eye twitched as he locked onto Deidara's movements, his Sharingan whirling. "I've seen through your moves," Kakashi muttered under his breath, his voice calm but deadly. With a fluid motion, he lunged forward, lightning crackling in his palm as his Raikiri shot towards Deidara's chest.

But Deidara wasn't caught off guard. His quick reflexes kicked in, and with a graceful backflip, he evaded Kakashi's lethal strike by mere inches. Still, Kakashi's attack had connected just enough to sever Deidara's arm. A spray of blood stained the air as the limb tumbled to the ground, twitching in its final moments.

"Hooha… Hooha…" Kakashi panted heavily, his chest rising and falling with exertion. The chakra from his Raikiri fizzled out, the last remnants of his lightning energy fading into the air. He had given it his all, but now his chakra reserves were dangerously low. He had no more tricks up his sleeve.

"Earth Style, Sharingan, cut," Kakashi whispered under his breath. He wasn't entirely defeated yet—he still had a few cards to play. But exhaustion was beginning to take its toll. The weight of the continuous use of his chakra was too much. Sweat poured down his forehead, and his legs wobbled beneath him, threatening to give way. "Kurenai now is the time!" Kakashi called out with a strained voice, his dead fish eyes never leaving Deidara's form.

Behind him, Kurenai had already made her move. "Leave it to me!" she shouted, surging forward with a burst of speed. She aimed for Deidara, determined to finish what Kakashi had started.

But Deidara's face twisted into a grin, unperturbed by the broken arm and the pain coursing through him. "Negate my art? I won't allow such eyes!" he sneered, completely ignoring the searing pain from his severed limb. He performed a single, swift hand seal.

Boom!

The ground began to tremble as hundreds of tiny dirt spiders crawled rapidly across the battlefield, heading straight for Kurenai and the others. Kakashi's eyes widened in alarm. "Watch out!" he warned, but it was too late.

The spiders exploded in unison with a deafening roar. Patches of black smoke erupted into the air as the force of the explosions sent Kurenai and the others flying backward. They slammed into the ground with sickening thuds, their bodies battered and bloodied from the blast.

"Agh...!" Kurenai gasped, blood staining her lips as she struggled to rise. The black smoke billowed around her, choking the air as she coughed up a mouthful of blood. Despite being a seasoned Jōnin, the explosion was too much for her to handle. Every spider had been a miniature detonating tag, and with so many of them stacked together, the blast had a devastating impact.

Kakashi's breath came in ragged gasps as he tried to push himself upright, only to collapse once more, unable to maintain his balance. His chakra reserves were completely drained, and his body was screaming in protest.

"The strength is too poor," Kakashi muttered bitterly, his vision fading as the world around him spun. He'd given everything, but it still wasn't enough. With a grimace, he closed his eyes. There was nothing left to do.

Deidara, seeing his advantage, sneered triumphantly. He wiped the blood from his arm and looked down at the fallen ninja with a mocking grin. "I won," he declared, his voice dripping with condescension. "You guys are really useless, eh?" His eyes glinted with the satisfaction of victory. Finally, after all these years, he had outmaneuvered the famous Sharingan. This was the moment he'd been waiting for.

However, just as Deidara began to bask in his triumph, he heard a voice that made his blood run cold.

"Kakashi! Kurenai!" Might Guy's voice rang out, filled with both worry and anger. He had dodged the puppet's attack and turned to look at his fallen comrades, a deep scowl forming on his face when he saw Kurenai and Kakashi's condition. His temper flared, and for the first time in a long while, his usual calm demeanor was replaced with sheer fury.

Might Guy clenched his fists, veins bulging from his arms as the anger bubbled up inside him. Kakashi had been his best friend for years, and now, to see him on the brink of death... Guy could no longer stay calm. "Deidara," Guy growled, his voice low but full of menace, "you're going to pay for this."

Before anyone could react, Guy made a decision. His gaze hardened, and with a burst of energy, he flung himself into action. "I won't let you kill my friends," he said grimly, his body beginning to radiate a powerful aura.

The ground beneath him cracked as he opened the Seventh Gate.

"Eight Inner Gates—Seventh Gate, The Gate of Wonder, Open!" The air around Guy began to warp as his body erupted with a blue, steam-like energy, emanating from every pore. His skin turned a deep crimson, and the sheer pressure of his chakra sent shockwaves through the air. The ground beneath his feet crumbled, creating a small crater where he stood.

"Guy...!" Kurenai whispered in awe, still struggling to regain her footing. Neji, who had been watching from the sidelines, was equally stunned. "So... this is the true strength of Guy-sensei," Neji thought, his eyes wide with disbelief.

But it wasn't just the sight of Guy's new power that had everyone on edge—it was the palpable tension in the air. Guy's chakra was now so immense that it dwarfed Deidara's own, and his speed seemed almost incomprehensible.

"Move, Neji!" Guy shouted, snapping out of his focused trance. "Get them to safety!"

Neji didn't hesitate. He darted forward, grabbing Kurenai and Kakashi before anyone could protest. "I've got them, Guy-sensei!" he said, his voice tight with determination.

Deidara, however, was not about to let this new threat go unanswered. His eyes widened in recognition. "What... is this?!" he spat, barely able to comprehend the change in Guy's presence. "You dare interrupt my art...?" he muttered under his breath, not willing to back down despite the overwhelming odds.

But before Deidara could react, Guy was already upon him. The air seemed to vibrate with the speed of his movements, and before Deidara could even blink, Guy was standing directly in front of him.

A powerful fist rocketed towards Deidara's midsection, and the explosion of force sent him flying backward, his body colliding with the earth as blood erupted from his mouth.

"This... this is art!" Deidara gasped, still in disbelief as he wiped away the blood from his lips. He had heard of the Eight Gates before, but he had never encountered such raw power. His mind was racing—he had no choice but to retreat.

The fight was far from over, but one thing was certain: the balance of power had just shifted.