"It's Deidara's C4!" Hidan shouted, but his expression quickly turned tense. "Wait a minute! If this goes on, we'll be turned to dust too!"
"Not even Jashin can save me from this!" Hidan struggled desperately, but there was no way he could break free from Hashirama Senju's Wood Release. His resistance was futile.
"Don't worry. Use Lightning Release!" Deidara's voice echoed in their minds. He had deliberately used lower-grade clay to release a special version of C4: Garuda to avoid harming his allies.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!" Nagato and Kakuzu each unleashed a Lightning Release technique, neutralizing the microscopic explosives in the surrounding air and rendering them harmless.
Although the Wood Release restraints binding them weren't destroyed, the severed portions lost their foundation. After a brief struggle, they managed to free themselves.
"It's Deidara. He is the anomaly of fate that the Great Toad Sage spoke of," Jiraiya informed the others.
"So it's him? Someone so young possessing such terrifying power… No wonder even the Three Great Sages are wary of him," Hashirama remarked with interest as he studied Deidara.
Then, he turned to the others. "Since that's the case, leave this anomaly to me."
Jiraiya stepped forward, signaling his objection. "First Hokage-sama, I apologize for interfering, but the Great Toad Sage specifically instructed that I must personally handle this. We cannot give him any chance to escape."
Hashirama sighed in disappointment. "If that's the case, then it can't be helped. But with the two of us working together, there's no way he can get away."
"I can sense the immense power within you. Your strength is no less than mine now," Hashirama added. "If we both make our move, even Madara wouldn't be able to escape."
"Then, leave the others to us," Tobirama Senju said, stepping forward. "I've already gauged their combat capabilities. Taking them down will be easy."
Tobirama's confidence was evident, but Hashirama gave him a skeptical look.
"Tobirama, don't be careless."
"Don't forget how you died. You couldn't even handle Kinkaku and Ginkaku," Hashirama teased.
Tobirama's fingers clenched tightly. "That was a sneak attack!" he retorted. "If not for the Sage of Six Paths' tools, there's no way I would have been killed by those trash!"
"Yeah, yeah," Hashirama replied dismissively, nodding absentmindedly. His nonchalant attitude only aggravated Tobirama further. "Are you even listening?!"
Just then, Minato Namikaze, who had remained mostly silent, stepped forward.
"First Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sensei, be careful when fighting him. His ability allows him to create various explosive constructs from his clay."
"Don't give him time to prepare, and don't let him gain distance," Minato warned.
"You know him?" Jiraiya asked curiously.
Minato nodded. "I was briefly reanimated by him and Orochimaru not long ago. Their target seemed to be the Nine-Tails."
"But I didn't let him succeed," he added.
Jiraiya nodded before charging straight toward Deidara. "Don't worry, Minato. I've fought him before, I know what to expect."
Hashirama followed closely behind.
"Deidara, the enemies are formidable. Take my Rinnegan," Nagato offered, reaching toward his own eyes to remove them.
Deidara quickly stopped him. "Leader, have some faith in me!"
"Deidara, this isn't about trust. The enemy is simply too strong," Nagato shook his head. "You shouldn't have listened to Konan. If we can't win, we should retreat."
"Then why aren't you running?" Deidara countered.
"I won't abandon my beliefs and flee," Nagato responded firmly.
Konan nodded. "Neither will I."
Sasori scoffed. "I refuse to be a coward."
Kakuzu snorted. "If I run, all the money I earned will be wasted."
Hidan shrugged. "I don't care about beliefs or whatever. I just don't feel like running."
Kisame grinned. "Don't look at me. A ninja from the Bloody Mist doesn't fear death."
Itachi spoke calmly. "I will not betray the village again."
Deidara smirked. "Then I won't run either. Because I believe I can win."
As for Might Guy and Kakashi, they found themselves caught between both sides, unable to decide whether to intervene or not.
With Jiraiya and Hashirama closing in, there was no time for further conversation.
Deidara didn't hesitate any longer. He commanded his clay bird to fly further away—this battle was going to be more intense than ever, and he wasn't about to accidentally blow up his allies or Amegakure.
At the same time, he took a large bite of clay and began chewing. Fortunately, he had already unlocked C4-level techniques; otherwise, today would be a sure loss.
Still, the thought of unveiling his newly perfected art against such formidable enemies was exhilarating!
On the other side, as Deidara led Hashirama and Jiraiya away, the remaining forces faced off against each other.
Nagato, Konan, Sasori, Kakuzu, Hidan, Kisame, and Itachi stood against Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze, Tsunade, and Kabuto Yakushi.
To be honest, Akatsuki was at a disadvantage. The opposing side had three super-Kage-level combatants in Tobirama, Minato, and Tsunade.
Among the Akatsuki, only Nagato and Itachi could match them.
What made things worse was that the enemy had two users of the Flying Thunder God Technique, and they were reanimated bodies, making them practically unkillable.
Logically, victory seemed impossible.
But there was one weak point: Kabuto.
"The one who performed the Jutsu is likely that bespectacled brat," Sasori stated through the Akatsuki rings.
Deidara immediately confirmed, "Yes! That kid was Orochimaru's subordinate. I saw him in Konoha before. He's definitely the one behind this."
Itachi shook his head. "Even if we know the caster, it won't help. The jutsu can only be undone by the user or if the reanimated willingly dispel it. Killing him won't stop the technique."
"Then we're doomed?" Hidan gasped.
"No!" Itachi said firmly. "My Totsuka Blade can seal souls."
"Everyone, assist me."
"And prepare yourselves—this battle will be fought to the death."
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Fanfic is finished on Patreon (241 chapters in total.)
Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)