The Strongest Artist in Naruto

The group eased their guard slightly. Since the newcomer was none other than Hoshigaki Kisame, a rogue ninja, he wasn't entirely trustworthy. However, his presence indicated that Deidara and his companions weren't aligned with the villages' authorities.

"Kisame, what brings you back to Kirigakure?" asked a ninja from the Hozuki clan, his tone suggesting the two knew each other.

"Gengetsu, I'm not the one in charge this time. You should direct your questions to him." Kisame gestured toward Deidara, who stood beside him.

At this, Deidara dispelled his transformation jutsu, revealing his true form to the gathered crowd.

Hozuki Gengetsu's eyes narrowed. He noticed that Deidara and Kisame were wearing the same attire. Had Kisame joined some mysterious organization?

"I'm here under orders from our leader," Deidara began. "We've come to Kirigakure to bring you peace."

"Hmph!"

"Enough with the empty platitudes. Let's cut to the chase," Gengetsu sneered, clearly uninterested in lofty promises.

"Simply put, you're all fed up with the oppressive rule of the Bloody Mist, aren't you?" Deidara said, his tone straightforward. "Instead of living under the constant threat of losing your heads, why not defect and join our organization? What do you think?"

The crowd seemed intrigued, though hesitation lingered. If escaping were so easy, Kirigakure's ninjas would have done so long ago. The upper echelon of the Bloody Mist tightly controlled the village, essentially turning it into a large prison. Leaving was far from simple.

"How can I trust your strength?" Gengetsu asked, his tone guarded. Despite his doubts, the hope of escape was too tempting to ignore.

"We can demonstrate our abilities," Deidara replied. "But I believe such discussions shouldn't happen here. We need to meet someone who can truly make decisions."

"Understood." Gengetsu paused in thought before saying, "Tomorrow at noon, meet us at the bottom of the lake in Training Ground Seven. I'll ensure the appropriate individuals are present."

After the meeting, the group dispersed. Deidara quietly retrieved the clay centipedes he had placed as precautions. It was best if they didn't have to be used—no one wanted things to go awry at this stage.

The next day, the four-man team arrived at the lake in Training Ground Seven. The water's surface was clear and calm, prompting a reluctant sigh from Deidara.

"The Hozuki clan really knows how to pick their spots," he muttered. With their ability to shift between solid and liquid forms, traversing water was no issue for them. Unfortunately, their group lacked such abilities, making the task more cumbersome.

Deidara fashioned a large clay centipede, which burrowed through the earth to create a path to the lake's bottom.

The lakebed was hollow, with a reinforced thin layer of earth above and a massive underground chamber below. Inside, three individuals awaited them: a middle-aged man from the Hozuki clan, an elderly man, and a middle-aged woman.

Boom!

The sound of shifting earth drew their attention. A large opening appeared, courtesy of Deidara's clay centipede, and the four descended one after another.

The matching attire of the group didn't escape the Hozuki clan leader's notice. His sharp gaze quickly assessed the situation. Kisame's strength was undeniable, and if these companions were on par with him, their abilities couldn't be underestimated.

Wait… Sharingan?!

The Hozuki leader's heart skipped a beat. Among those present, the only remaining Uchiha in active circulation was him. Uchiha Itachi, the man behind the Uchiha Clan's massacre.

Even this infamous figure was part of their organization?

Though his thoughts raced, only a brief moment passed in reality. The three awaiting them grew visibly more cautious—a natural reaction to such overwhelming strength.

"I'm Deidara. How should I address you?" Deidara stepped forward, breaking the silence.

"I'm Hozuki Ritsuki, the clan leader," the middle-aged man introduced himself. "These are Elder Kawaguchi and Lady Ame, leaders of our faction."

"Let's skip the pleasantries. We can help you escape Kirigakure, but in return, you must join our organization," Deidara stated bluntly.

"I have one question first," Ritsuki said, his gaze lingering on the lean, somber figure nearby. "Is he Uchiha Itachi?"

"That's correct," Deidara confirmed.

"Then I have no further doubts. I trust your strength," Ritsuki said, his tone firm. It seemed merely confirming Itachi's identity was enough to reassure him.

"As expected of Mr. Itachi," Kisame quipped, his usual admiration evident.

Deidara, on the other hand, felt a twinge of annoyance—a remnant of his past self's resentment toward Itachi. Despite being peers, Deidara had always been overshadowed by the Uchiha prodigy.

Though Ritsuki had expressed his confidence in their strength, negotiations were far from over.

"While I trust your power, I know nothing about your organization," Ritsuki continued. "If you're as oppressive as Kirigakure, what's the point of escaping one nightmare only to enter another?"

"I propose you first help a few of us escape. Once we receive their confirmation, we can proceed with a full-scale collaboration."

Deidara immediately rejected the idea. "No way! That's too much trouble. Our organization sent us here to resolve this in one go, not to waste time on half-measures."

Realizing a compromise was necessary, Deidara added, "Here's my counteroffer: after leaving Kirigakure, only your strongest members must join us. Those with average skills can decide voluntarily."

"After all, our organization has no need for deadweight."

The three leaders exchanged glances, whispering amongst themselves. After a few minutes, Ritsuki looked back at Deidara and nodded.

"Agreed."

With the deal sealed, Deidara continued, "Also, I hope you can reach out to other resistance groups. If we're all leaving, it's better to unite."

Ritsuki considered the suggestion. Increasing their numbers would indeed raise their chances of success. He nodded again.

"Very well. The three of us will begin contacting them immediately."

"Three days from now, we'll meet back here with the other leaders. Then we'll finalize our cooperation."

----------------

Pls Drop some Power Stones

Read more than +100 chapters and support me on Patreon

Patreon(.)com/Jixo