Natsuki deliberately spoke with a Land of Fire accent – it was safer to say he was from Fire Country.

After all, people from Fire Country traveling to Earth Country shouldn't raise suspicion.

However, Akatsuchi still eyed him warily:

"But you're wearing Earth Country civilian clothes, and this place isn't exactly a tourist spot. Yet you say you've stayed here for days. That doesn't add up!"

Eh? You noticed that?

Quite sharp indeed!

Natsuki chuckled lightly:

"Honored shinobi-sama, I came to Earth Country to experience its customs, so I dressed like a local to blend in. Isn't that normal? Besides, traveling is about following your heart. Even if it isn't a tourist spot, if I want to stop, I'll stop; if I want to leave, I'll leave. As long as I'm happy, isn't that enough?"

Uh…

Akatsuchi fell silent.

He felt something off about this man, but his answer… wasn't unreasonable.

Moreover, he showed no nervousness under questioning, clearly no ordinary person.

Still, they couldn't attack a civilian just because of suspicion. Iwagakure needed to maintain its image. If they attacked tourists at will, who would visit Earth Country in the future?

"Akatsuchi, you're too suspicious," Kurotsuchi said. "He's just an ordinary man. Let's focus on finding Deidara-nii."

Akatsuchi: You call me by name directly, but call Deidara 'nii' huh.

He didn't argue further, following Kurotsuchi as they questioned others and soon moved on. Natsuki remained where he was, as if admiring the scenery.

In reality, he was indeed sightseeing while doing his mission.

After all, he already knew Akatsuki's main base was in the Land of Rain. Whether he found Deidara and Sasori or not didn't matter.

Still, he needed to maintain appearances, lingering at the intel point for a while before returning, to avoid suspicion. Unfortunately, his peaceful time was about to end.

A faint explosion suddenly echoed from afar.

Faint only because of the distance – for normal people it was quieter than firecrackers.

But Natsuki was extremely sensitive. The moment he heard it, he knew something was wrong. Instantly, he used Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique), rushing towards the source unnoticed.

Thanks to his speed, he arrived while the explosion smoke still lingered.

Within the smoke, he saw a blond, single-ponytailed madman throwing out dozens of small white spiders. Who else could it be but Deidara, the explosion-obsessed artist?

Not far behind Deidara stood a hunched figure, silent and unmoving.

It was Sasori of the Red Sand – or rather, his puppet shell.

"What are those two doing? Fighting an enemy?"

Natsuki quietly used Telescope Technique to see more clearly. Facing Deidara stood an elderly man with red hair and beard. Even though this man didn't appear much in the original story, Natsuki recognized him instantly.

The Four-Tails jinchūriki of Iwagakure – Roshi.

Apparently, Roshi had left the village after disagreements with Ōnoki, so seeing him wandering outside was normal.

Still, Natsuki hadn't expected him to run into Deidara and Sasori.

Hm? Or maybe this wasn't coincidence. Perhaps Deidara and Sasori were targeting the Four-Tails jinchūriki? With Ōnoki and Kurotsuchi looking for Deidara, he wouldn't return to Earth Country just for bounty missions – he could do that anywhere else.

Most likely, they came specifically for the jinchūriki!

"Normally, this would be a mission for Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame. Ignoring Deidara's personal grudge with Iwagakure, the Four-Tails' Lava Release would be better countered by Kisame's Water Release. In the original, it was Kisame who captured Roshi. So what's going on here?"

Natsuki couldn't understand it fully. But nothing followed the original story anymore.

After he leaked so much intel about Akatsuki members and after Kakuzu was killed, Akatsuki had probably changed their plans.

Look, Deidara and Sasori were even forced to take bounty missions now.

So it wasn't that strange for them to come to Earth Country.

Convincing himself, Natsuki continued watching.

Deidara sent his white spiders crawling through the smoke towards Roshi while simultaneously creating clay birds to distract him.

But Roshi wasn't just any shinobi. Deidara's petty tricks were laughable before him.

Roshi formed hand seals and charged forward, spewing massive molten rock spheres:

"Yōton (Lava Release): Scorching River Flow Rock Technique!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Huge lava balls flew forward, igniting everything in their path. Deidara's clay spiders and birds exploded instantly, but the lava continued onwards, enveloping both Deidara and Sasori.

Deidara had no choice but to rapidly mold a giant clay bird to carry himself and Sasori into the air, barely evading the molten attacks.

However, Roshi simply looked up and spat out smaller but faster lava balls, forcing Deidara to frantically maneuver the bird to dodge.

"Damn, this old man's dangerous!"

Yet Deidara was grinning, both palms in his ninja pouch. The mouths on his hands chewed clay furiously:

"This old man's no pushover. Big explosives might get neutralized by his lava. Better use small ones. C1 Clay Spiders – as long as one reaches him, he's dead!"

His palms opened, revealing dozens of white spiders.

While dodging Roshi's attacks, Deidara maneuvered above him and dropped a rain of spiders.

Seeing them about to land on Roshi, Deidara shouted with joy:

"Art is an explosion! Katsu!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Small spiders – massive explosions.

Roshi seemed to vanish within the blasts, making Deidara's grin widen.

But just as he prepared to confirm the kill, firelight burst from below. Roshi stood within the flames, molten chakra coating his entire body, even forming a tail.

He was tapping into his tailed beast's power!

"Deidara! You brat! Did Ōnoki teach you nothing!? Fine, today I'll kill you!"

"Lava Release Chakra Mode!"

In the next instant, Roshi transformed into a lava-coated giant, launching himself into the air. A deafening explosion erupted across the sky.

(End of Chapter)

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