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The forest was eerily silent after the deafening explosion. Smoke billowed into the air, carrying with it the acrid scent of burnt flesh and shattered earth. The once-thick mist that cloaked the battlefield had been blown away by the force of the blast, revealing a scene of utter devastation. Scattered pieces of clothing, weapons, and fragments of trees lay strewn across the ground, evidence of the explosive power unleashed moments before.
Ao stood amidst the chaos, his one visible eye wide with shock as he stared at the aftermath. The group of Mist ninja that had surrounded him mere moments ago were now nothing more than scattered remains—a grim testament to the destructive capabilities of their unexpected adversary.
"Wh-what just happened?" one of the rebel ninjas behind Ao stammered, his voice trembling with a mixture of awe and fear.
Ao didn't respond immediately. His gaze shifted toward the figure standing on a nearby tree branch—their savior, or perhaps another unpredictable threat. The young man appeared no older than thirteen or fourteen, with long golden hair tied back into a ponytail and a single strand hanging over his left eye. Around his forehead was a slashed Iwa headband, marking him as a rogue ninja from the Earth Country. Despite his youthful appearance, there was an unmistakable aura of danger emanating from him.
"That brat... who is he?" Ao muttered under his breath, his tone caught between disbelief and cautious respect.
"He's Deidara," came a calm voice from behind them. Everyone turned to see Miao step forward, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp and focused. "He's not someone you should underestimate."
Deidara smirked, clearly enjoying the attention. "Hmm, looks like someone knows about me already. Good, saves me the trouble of introducing myself." He tilted his head slightly, his visible blue eye glinting mischievously. "So, what's going on here? You lot seem to be having quite the party."
Ao narrowed his eyes, studying the newcomer carefully. While grateful for the intervention, he couldn't afford to let his guard down—not when they were so close to completing their mission. "We're gathering intelligence on the Hidden Mist Village for an upcoming assault against the Fourth Mizukage. These Mist shinobi ambushed us while we were scouting the area."
"Hmm, interesting," Deidara replied, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "And why exactly are you rebels fighting against your own village leader?"
"It's simple," Ao snapped, his voice laced with bitterness. "That man isn't the real Fourth Mizukage anymore. Someone has taken control of him using genjutsu. If we don't stop him, the Water Country will collapse under his tyranny."
Deidara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Genjutsu, huh? That does sound troublesome. But still..." His smirk widened as he glanced at the smoldering remains of the Mist ninja. "If you need help blowing things up, I'm your guy. Art is an explosion, after all!"
Miao stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate attention. "We appreciate your assistance, Deidara, but this fight goes beyond mere destruction. We need to expose the truth about the Fourth Mizukage and free the Water Country from whoever is manipulating him. Can we count on you?"
Deidara folded his arms across his chest, pretending to think it over. "Well, since you asked so nicely—and because explosions always make everything better—I suppose I can stick around for a bit longer. Besides, I've been looking for some excitement lately."
Ao frowned, clearly uneasy about trusting a stranger, especially one as eccentric as Deidara. However, given the circumstances, they had little choice but to accept whatever aid they could get. "Fine. But remember, our priority is delivering this intel to Commander Mei. Nothing else matters until then."
"Understood," Miao said firmly. "Let's move quickly. The enemy will send reinforcements soon, and we can't afford to waste any more time."
With that, the small group began making their way deeper into the forest, leaving behind the wreckage of the battle. Deidara lingered for a moment, glancing back at the destruction he had wrought. A satisfied grin spread across his face as he whispered to himself, "Art truly is beautiful, hmm."
As they moved through the dense foliage, Ao couldn't shake the feeling that their journey was far from over. The arrival of Miao and Deidara had undoubtedly changed the course of their mission—but whether it would lead to success or disaster remained to be seen.
The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the damp forest floor. Somewhere in the distance, the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore served as a reminder of the vast ocean that bordered the Water Country. For now, the rebels pressed onward, driven by a shared determination to reclaim their homeland from the darkness that threatened to consume it.
But unknown to them, greater challenges—and greater enemies—awaited ahead.