The desolate landscape of the Land of Earth stretched endlessly below them, a harsh tapestry of weathered stone and wind-carved canyons that had been shaped by countless years of elemental erosion. From their aerial vantage point, Deidara and Sasori could observe every detail of the terrain with perfect clarity—the scattered boulders that provided minimal cover, the narrow ravines that could serve as escape routes, and most importantly, the small group of figures that represented their current objective.
"Well done," Sasori acknowledged.
His voice carried the subtle undertones of someone who had long since ceased to find genuine excitement in the pursuit of prey. For the former Sunagakure puppet master, this was simply another assignment to be completed with his characteristic efficiency and precision.
Sasori's gaze shifted downward, analyzing the scene below with the calculating attention of a master strategist. On the rocky clearing that served as their target area, several ninja wearing the distinctive helmets of Iwagakure moved in the coordinated patterns that marked them as an experienced team. Their formation and positioning suggested they were either on patrol or engaged in some form of reconnaissance mission.
Among the group, one figure immediately drew Sasori's attention. The man was notably more robust than his companions, his powerful frame accentuated by distinctive red armor that gleamed dully in the harsh sunlight. More significantly, he wore a red hat that marked him as someone of considerable rank within Iwagakure's military hierarchy.
Even as Sasori observed him, the armored figure seemed to sense their presence. His head tilted upward, pupils contracting as they focused on the white bird circling overhead. The man's reaction was immediate and telling—rather than the confusion or surprise that might be expected from an ordinary ninja, his expression showed the kind of alert wariness that came from extensive combat experience.
"It's not easy," Sasori murmured with appreciation for a worthy opponent.
His lips curved into what might have been called a smile, though the expression carried none of the warmth typically associated with such gestures. Instead, it reflected the cold satisfaction of an artist who had found a canvas worthy of his particular talents.
He glanced toward his partner, noting Deidara's eager anticipation for the coming conflict. "Go down," he instructed with calm authority. "Your ninjutsu is too powerful for a capture mission. I will take action this time."
The directive was both tactical and practical. Deidara's explosive clay techniques, while devastatingly effective in combat, tended toward the kind of overwhelming destruction that left little behind to capture. For a mission requiring the acquisition of a living target, more precise methods would be necessary.
"You actually underestimate my art," Deidara protested, his visible eye flashing with artistic indignation.
The blonde shinobi's pride was clearly wounded by the suggestion that his techniques lacked the subtlety required for the current operation. In his mind, the controlled application of explosive force was every bit as sophisticated as any other form of ninjutsu—perhaps more so, given the creative possibilities inherent in destruction.
Despite his protest, however, Deidara followed Sasori's instructions without further argument. His hands guided the massive clay bird into a controlled descent, the construct's wings adjusting automatically to maintain stability as they approached their target.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
By the time their aerial platform had descended to within several dozen meters of the ground, the Iwagakure ninja below had completed their assessment of the threat and begun their counterattack. The response was immediate and coordinated, speaking to both their training and their recognition of the danger posed by airborne opponents.
Sharp stone spikes erupted from the rocky ground, their trajectory calculated to intercept the descending bird. The projectiles moved with lethal velocity, each one capable of punching through conventional armor or inflicting fatal wounds on unprotected targets.
But Sasori had been anticipating exactly this response. The puppet of the Third Kazekage, which had been positioned beside him in apparent inactivity, suddenly sprang to life. Its mouth opened with mechanical precision, releasing a stream of black iron particles that immediately began to take on more structured forms.
"Iron Sand Shower!"
The technique was one of the Third Kazekage's most feared abilities, a kekkei genkai that had earned him recognition as the strongest Kazekage in Sunagakure's history. Under Sasori's masterful control, the iron sand formed into countless needle-like projectiles that filled the air like a metallic storm.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The collision between the two attacks created a spectacular display of destruction and deflection. Stone spikes shattered against iron needles, while the heavier sand particles punched through rock projectiles with minimal deviation from their intended paths.
However, the fundamental difference in scale and intensity quickly became apparent. Sasori's Iron Sand Shower was far more comprehensive than the Rock Spikes technique, creating a deadly rain that covered a much wider area than the Iwagakure ninja had anticipated.
Recognizing the overwhelming nature of the assault, the Rock ninja immediately abandoned their concentrated formation in favor of rapid dispersal. Their movements were professional and efficient, each team member seeking individual cover while maintaining awareness of their companions' positions.
"You can't escape," Sasori observed with the kind of detached certainty that had characterized his approach to combat for decades.
His youthful features displayed no emotion beyond mild professional interest, as if he were conducting a particularly complex puppet show rather than engaging in deadly combat. The ten fingers that controlled the Third Kazekage puppet moved with subtle precision, each minute adjustment translating into devastating changes in the iron sand's behavior.
"Iron Sand World Method!"
The follow-up technique demonstrated why the Third Kazekage had been considered Sunagakure's most powerful leader. The iron sand that had been falling like rain suddenly condensed into much denser concentrations, forming barrier-like structures that effectively cut off every possible escape route.
What had begun as an area-denial attack evolved into something approaching total battlefield control. The metallic barriers didn't simply block movement—they actively pursued the fleeing ninja, extending and reshaping themselves to maintain containment no matter which direction their targets attempted to flee.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The cascading iron sand struck the rocky ground with tremendous force, each impact creating craters and sending up clouds of pulverized stone. The barriers continued to extend and multiply, creating a maze of deadly obstacles that would have challenged even the most agile opponents.
Thick smoke and dust rose from the multiple impact sites, obscuring the battlefield and making it impossible to immediately assess the results of the attack. At this point, Deidara adjusted their clay bird's position to hover at a more optimal altitude for observing the aftermath.
Swish!
Three figures emerged from the dissipating smoke, their forms moving with the desperate speed of survivors who understood how close they had come to annihilation. The coordination that had marked their earlier defensive efforts was gone, replaced by the individual survival instincts that took over when formations collapsed.
The team's casualties were immediately apparent. Originally consisting of four ninja, they had lost one member entirely—a figure that could be seen motionless among the scattered iron sand, his body pierced by multiple metallic spikes. The attack had been both swift and lethal, demonstrating the overwhelming power gap between the Akatsuki operatives and ordinary village ninja.
Of the three who had managed to escape the initial barrage, one was clearly in serious distress. His body was covered with numerous cuts and abrasions where iron sand particles had found their mark, and his movements suggested that his injuries were more than merely superficial.
The wounded ninja had barely made it clear of the smoke before he suddenly collapsed to his knees, his strength apparently failing without warning. His rapid deterioration was alarming even to his remaining teammates, who had expected him to recover once they reached relative safety.
"The enemy's attack is poisoned," one of the two remaining Iwagakure ninja observed with obvious horror.
The realization sent chills through the survivors as they understood the true sophistication of their opponents. This wasn't simply a matter of overwhelming offensive capability—their enemies had employed weapons specifically designed to ensure that even minor wounds would prove fatal over time.
The sturdy man in red armor, who had maintained his composure throughout the initial assault, now fixed his gaze directly on Deidara. His expression carried not just wariness, but a more personal form of anger that spoke to recognition rather than mere tactical assessment.
"You traitor," he declared, his voice carrying the deep, resonant tones of someone accustomed to command. "You actually have the nerve to return to the Land of Earth!"
The accusation was delivered with the kind of personal venom that went far beyond professional military antagonism. This was the anger of someone who had been betrayed by a trusted ally, who had seen comradeship transformed into enmity through choices that could never be forgiven.
Deidara's response was a smile that contained no warmth whatsoever, only the cold satisfaction of someone who felt no regret for the path he had chosen. "Long time no see, Han," he replied with casual familiarity that somehow made his betrayal seem even more callous.
The blonde missing-nin's tone suggested that he viewed their reunion as nothing more than an interesting coincidence, rather than the reunion of former allies who now stood on opposite sides of a fundamental conflict.
"Did you hear that?" Han murmured, his gaze taking in the black robes decorated with red cloud patterns that both Deidara and Sasori wore.
The uniform was distinctive enough to be recognized by any ninja with current intelligence briefings. The Akatsuki organization had begun to establish a reputation that extended far beyond their original sphere of operations, and their involvement in any conflict represented an escalation that most village leaders would find deeply concerning.
"You are the jinchūriki of the Five-Tails, correct?" Sasori interjected from his elevated position, his voice carrying the kind of clinical detachment that reduced their target to nothing more than an object of study.
His question was rhetorical—extensive intelligence gathering had already confirmed Han's identity and status. But the inquiry served to clarify the situation for all parties involved, removing any remaining ambiguity about the Akatsuki's objectives.
"Is the target the tailed beast in my body?" Han's voice dropped to a lower register as the full implications of their presence became clear.
His eyes dimmed with the recognition that this encounter would not end with simple defeat or capture. The Akatsuki's methods for extracting tailed beasts were rumored to be both sophisticated and invariably fatal to their hosts. This was not a battle for victory or surrender—it was a fight for survival itself.
Understanding the stakes involved, Han immediately turned to address his remaining subordinate. "I will hold them back," he instructed with the calm authority of a leader who had already accepted the likelihood of his own death. "You take the opportunity to escape."
The order was delivered with finality that brooked no argument, though his next words carried even greater urgency. "Make sure to inform the Third Tsuchikage of what happened here!"
The intelligence value of this encounter went far beyond the fate of a single jinchūriki. The Akatsuki's willingness to operate openly within the Land of Earth, combined with their obvious targeting of tailed beasts, represented a threat that required immediate attention from Iwagakure's highest leadership.
"But, Captain—" Han's subordinate began, his loyalty clearly warring with his survival instincts and his duty to relay critical intelligence.
"Don't waste time, or none of us will be able to escape!" Han cut off the protest with sharp finality.
His hands were already moving through the hand seals required for his signature technique, each gesture flowing into the next with the practiced efficiency of someone who had performed these movements thousands of times in training and combat.
Hissss!
He completed only a single seal before the transformation began. White steam erupted from every pore of his body, creating a sound like escaping pressure that filled the air with its distinctive whistle. The vapor was not merely hot—it was superheated to temperatures that could cause severe burns on contact and could be maintained indefinitely through the Five-Tails' chakra.
The mist spread rapidly, creating a concealing cloud that obscured not just Han's position but the locations of his surviving teammates as well. The technique served multiple purposes simultaneously—providing cover for escape, creating confusion among their opponents, and preparing Han for the kind of high-speed combat that had earned him his reputation.
"Want to escape separately?" Sasori observed with the analytical detachment that characterized his approach to tactical situations.
Both he and Deidara immediately understood Han's strategy. By using the steam as concealment, the jinchūriki hoped to create enough confusion to allow his subordinate to reach safety while he engaged their opponents in direct combat. It was a tactically sound approach that maximized their chances of preserving both the intelligence and at least one survivor.
Swish!
Just as the steam reached maximum density and the two Akatsuki operatives prepared to counter the expected diversionary tactics, a figure suddenly burst through the concealing mist with explosive force. The attack came from an unexpected angle, demonstrating the kind of three-dimensional thinking that marked Han as a truly dangerous opponent.
The steam that surrounded the charging figure wasn't just for concealment—it was being actively used for propulsion, creating jets of high-pressure vapor that dramatically enhanced both his speed and maneuverability. His target was clearly the large white bird that served as Deidara and Sasori's aerial platform, a tactical choice that would eliminate their mobility advantage if successful.
"So fast!" Even Sasori, with his extensive combat experience and supernatural reaction times, could barely track the movement.
All that remained visible was the trail of white vapor that marked Han's passage through the air, a testament to the incredible velocity he had achieved through his mastery of the Five-Tails' power.
BANG!
The impact against the clay bird's wing was tremendous, the collision generating enough force to send shockwaves through the entire construct. But the attack carried additional dangers beyond mere kinetic energy—the superheated steam made contact with Deidara's explosive clay, creating a chemical reaction that the sculptor had not anticipated.
The extreme temperature caused the clay to reach its detonation threshold almost immediately, initiating the explosive process before Deidara could exercise any control over the timing or intensity of the blast.
BOOM!
The resulting explosion was far more violent than anything Han had intended, a massive detonation that consumed a significant portion of the clay bird and sent both Akatsuki operatives diving for cover. The blast radius was extensive enough to pose a genuine threat even to combatants of their caliber.
"Steam—is that power granted to him by the Five-Tails?" Sasori mused as he landed safely outside the explosion's range.
His analytical mind was already cataloguing the capabilities he had observed, building a tactical profile that would inform his subsequent approach to the combat. Han's ability to freely manipulate steam for both offensive and defensive purposes made him a uniquely challenging opponent, one whose techniques were specifically adapted to counter conventional ninja tactics.
The title "Steam Ninja" was clearly well-deserved. Han's mastery of his tailed beast's power had reached levels that allowed him to operate as a one-man force capable of challenging entire enemy units. This level of capability explained why Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki felt comfortable allowing a jinchūriki to operate outside the village as a team captain—Han's abilities made him virtually immune to conventional assassination attempts.
With the Five-Tails' enhancement, Han's physical capabilities in terms of both speed and strength reached levels that few ninja in the current era could match. His reputation was built on demonstrated performance rather than mere theoretical potential.
"This guy is still the same as always," Deidara commented as he landed beside Sasori, his tone carrying a mixture of respect and exasperation.
The blonde missing-nin's familiarity with Han's combat style was evident in his lack of surprise at the unconventional attack. However, what puzzled both Akatsuki operatives was the apparent recklessness of Han's chosen tactic.
If the jinchūriki's goal was truly to create an opportunity for his subordinate to escape, then initiating an explosion of this magnitude seemed counterproductive. The blast radius was large enough to potentially eliminate the very person Han was trying to protect, making his tactical choice difficult to understand.
Hissss!
Just as both opponents were analyzing the apparent contradiction in Han's strategy, the distinctive sound of high-temperature steam friction emerged from within the explosion's aftermath. A sphere of white vapor, moving at tremendous speed, raced away from the battle site toward the horizon.
"Using the mist as a shield," Sasori observed with grudging admiration for the tactical sophistication involved.
His keen eyes had spotted what his companion had missed—Han had indeed created an escape opportunity, but not in the way either of them had initially expected. The explosion had served as both distraction and cover, allowing the surviving subordinate to retreat under concealment while their opponents were focused on the immediate threat.
The corner of Sasori's lips curved upward in what might have been appreciation for a well-executed plan, though he made no move to pursue the fleeing ninja. His priorities remained focused on the primary objective, and chasing down a single intelligence courier would only complicate the mission.
At that moment, the flames and smoke from the explosion began to shift and swirl as something moved within the chaotic aftermath. A figure wrapped in protective steam burst directly through the heart of the blast, his form moving with the kind of unstoppable momentum that characterized a charging beast.
The steam around Han created friction patterns that generated the distinctive "whooshing" sound that had become his signature. His approach was direct and brutal, abandoning any pretense of tactical subtlety in favor of overwhelming frontal assault.
"What a savage fighting style!" Sasori observed with detached amusement.
His smile was faint but genuine, reflecting appreciation for an opponent who favored directness over deception. The puppet master immediately began manipulating the Third Kazekage puppet, directing it to condense iron sand into defensive configurations.
The metallic particles formed themselves into geometric shapes that interlocked to create multiple layers of protection. Simultaneously, additional iron sand gathered above Sasori's position, taking on various forms—cones, cubes, and spikes—before launching themselves toward the approaching jinchūriki in a coordinated barrage.
BANG!
Despite the comprehensive nature of Sasori's defensive preparations, Han's steam-enhanced charge proved devastatingly effective. The superheated vapor that surrounded him acted as both shield and battering ram, allowing him to smash through successive layers of iron sand defenses with minimal deceleration.
However, Sasori remained completely calm throughout the assault, his movements controlled and precise as he directed the iron sand's continuing attacks toward his charging opponent. His expression showed no concern despite the apparent failure of his initial defensive measures.
Just as Han was about to break through the final defensive barrier and engage both Akatsuki operatives in close combat, the steam that had been providing his protection and enhanced capabilities suddenly began to weaken and dissipate.
The man who had been moving with unstoppable force just moments before suddenly became unsteady, his powerful charge faltering as his enhanced capabilities abandoned him. He crashed to the ground with bone-jarring impact, his body betraying him at the most critical possible moment.
Through the gaps in the remaining iron sand defenses, Han found himself staring at Sasori's youthful face, which wore an expression of faint satisfaction that spoke to successful completion of a carefully planned strategy.
"I was actually poisoned," Han realized with growing horror. "When?!"
The question carried all the desperation of a warrior who understood that his greatest strength had been turned against him, but who could not comprehend how such a sophisticated attack had been delivered without his knowledge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more early access chapter of this fanfic or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~