The Strongest Artist in Naruto

After arriving in Kirigakure, the four used Transformation Jutsu to disguise themselves as ordinary civilians and gathered at an inn.

"How should we proceed with this operation, Deidara?" Kisame asked, his tone casual but his gaze indicating a readiness to follow orders.

Deidara paused to think. Now that he was here in Kirigakure, the oppressive atmosphere was palpable. The Blood Mist policy didn't only target those with kekkei genkai, it also dragged countless ordinary shinobi into its wake. Fear was omnipresent—no one wanted to wake up one day to find themselves the next target of a purge.

"There must be resistance groups in secret, given how reckless Yagura has been, right?" Deidara asked, seeking confirmation.

Kisame nodded. "Of course. Even with the higher-ups' relentless crackdowns, resistance groups are like weeds—you can't root them out completely."

"In that case, I think our best plan is to leverage those resistance groups. We'll gather all the dissidents who oppose the Blood Mist policy and take them with us in one fell swoop," Deidara proposed boldly. If successful, his plan would be equivalent to splitting Kirigakure in two.

"Not a bad idea," Kisame agreed. His expression remained neutral, showing that the plan wouldn't conflict with any hidden motives he might have.

"What do you think, Sasori, Itachi?" Deidara turned to the other two.

"Feasible," Sasori replied flatly.

"Do as you wish," Itachi said, his tone indifferent.

"Alright then. Sasori and I will gather intelligence at the tavern. Kisame, you and Itachi handle perimeter surveillance," Deidara assigned.

"Let me go to the tavern with you instead. Sasori and Itachi can handle the surveillance. I know Kirigakure better than anyone here," Kisame interjected, offering a logical alternative.

Deidara glanced at Kisame. He understood the subtext—Kisame wanted to keep an eye on him. If Deidara refused, it might lead to an immediate fallout, which would derail his plan. Conflict between them could wait until after they had recruited the resistance forces.

The tavern was a new experience for Deidara. He had to admit, establishments like this were remarkably resilient—even in a place like Kirigakure, they still thrived.

"Welcome, gentlemen! What can I get you?" Two young and pretty women greeted them as soon as they walked in, making Deidara visibly uncomfortable. Kisame, on the other hand, remained composed, almost amused.

Kisame smirked mischievously at Deidara's awkwardness.

"Ladies, take good care of my friend here. He's loaded, you know!"

Kisame! 

Deidara cursed silently, utterly out of his depth with the hostesses' relentless enthusiasm. He realized then that intelligence gathering in a tavern required a certain finesse—something he clearly lacked. Not only did he fail to gather information, but he also racked up a hefty tab.

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

"What's going on?" Deidara asked, still a bit dazed.

"Follow me. That guy up ahead is definitely a rebel. If we tail him, we might find their hideout," Kisame explained, gesturing towards an ordinary-looking middle-aged man with a defiant expression.

"Oh? Got it!" Deidara shook off his daze and refocused. Though the sake wasn't particularly strong, the sheer volume he had been forced to drink had left him somewhat out of sorts.

The two quietly trailed the man, who was clearly acting suspiciously—doubling back, checking his surroundings, and finally stopping in front of what appeared to be a simple residence.

Knock, knock, knock. The man rapped softly on the door. At first, there was no response, but just as Deidara was about to lose patience, the door creaked open.

An elderly man peeked out, his cloudy eyes narrowing before relaxing upon recognizing the visitor.

"It's you. Come in, quickly."

After ushering the middle-aged man inside, the elder cautiously scanned the surroundings before gently closing the door.

Unbeknownst to them, Deidara and Kisame had already slipped inside, their skills making it impossible for anyone to detect their presence.

Inside, the elder helped the man uncover a hidden trapdoor, which led to an underground passage. Once the man descended, Deidara and Kisame followed suit, ensuring they weren't noticed.

The passage was narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time, and pitch dark. Deidara was slightly hindered by the lack of light, but Kisame moved with ease, likely due to his familiarity with Kirigakure's Hidden Mist techniques.

As they progressed, Deidara discreetly placed small clay centipedes along the walls, biding his time until they were far enough ahead to deploy them without Kisame noticing.

Despite the risks, neither seemed particularly concerned about traps. At their level, only the deadliest of ambushes could pose a threat.

"... Yagura… kill… sob…" A faint sound of crying reached them. The passage seemed to be nearing its end, leading to what was likely the rebels' hideout.

In a concealed underground chamber, eight shinobi sat in a tense circle. Among them, a blue-haired ninja stood out—the unmistakable mark of the Hōzuki Clan, as distinctive as the red hair of the Uzumaki Clan.

Suddenly, the blue-haired ninja's ears twitched. He turned sharply towards the tunnel's entrance, his expression grim.

"Stop crying! We have company!" he hissed, snapping everyone to attention.

The others froze briefly before scrambling to their feet, weapons at the ready. A few, however, showed visible fear—an understandable reaction given the trauma the Blood Mist policy had inflicted on them.

"Well now, is this how you welcome guests?" Kisame quipped, stepping into the chamber with a grin.

"Who are you?" the Hōzuki ninja demanded, his tone sharp. These two clearly weren't Kirigakure's ANBU, but they weren't allies either.

"Relax. We're not your enemies." Deidara tried to sound reassuring, though he knew mere words wouldn't gain their trust.

"Kisame, looks like it's your turn," Deidara said, giving Kisame a pointed look.

Without hesitation, Kisame dispelled his transformation, revealing his true form.

"Kisame Hoshigaki!" The rebels gasped collectively.

Kisame's reputation preceded him—once an elite member of Kirigakure's ANBU, he had killed his superior, Fuguki Suikazan, and defected. His name was well-known, particularly in Kirigakure.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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