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A deafening explosion rocked the entire temple. In an instant, all the buildings and statues within were obliterated by the overwhelming attack. A powerful shockwave swept through the surrounding area.
Amidst the thick smoke and roaring flames, Uchiha Itachi, Kisame, and Sasori stared intently ahead. "That should finally do it. But that Deidara was a loss; now we'll have to find another replacement," Kisame remarked with a twisted grin.
"Hmph, good riddance to that fool. His so-called 'art' made me sick—those fleeting explosions calling themselves art? Ridiculous," Sasori sneered coldly.
Itachi's scarlet Sharingan began to shift. The three black tomoe merged with the central dot, forming a triangular shuriken-like pattern with curved edges—a shape strikingly similar to Miao's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
With his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan fixed on the dissipating smoke, Itachi sensed something amiss. His voice grew heavy as he spoke, "No… it's not over yet."
"What?!" Kisame and Sasori exclaimed in unison, their faces tense. Could Miao and Deidara have survived such a devastating attack?
Soon, the smoke began to clear, revealing the scene within. The three Akatsuki members froze in shock. Itachi's gaze hardened as he stared ahead.
There stood Miao, completely unscathed, his crimson eyes now housing a black shuriken-like pattern—an unmistakable sign of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. Surrounding him was a massive ribcage engulfed in black flames, exuding an ominous, oppressive aura that spread steadily outward.
"What is that?!" Kisame gaped at the burning skeletal structure, his body trembling involuntarily under the chilling, malevolent chakra emanating from it.
"So it truly is the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan… Can he really use Susanoo already?!" Itachi muttered grimly, his eyes locked on the protective barrier encasing Miao.
"Itachi, is that the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan? Its form resembles yours. Is this ribcage one of its techniques?" Sasori asked curiously. As someone obsessed with studying new phenomena, he couldn't help but be intrigued.
"Yes, this is Susanoo, the ultimate technique of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. Don't underestimate it—this is only its initial form! If it reaches maturity, even a single misstep could mean instant death for all three of us!" Itachi warned, his tone grave as he tensed his body, ready for anything.
"It's that powerful?!" Kisame didn't doubt Itachi's words for a second. Swiftly drawing Samehada, he held it defensively across his chest. Having partnered with Itachi, he knew full well the devastating power of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. And this being its strongest technique, he dared not let his guard down, lest he meet an abrupt end as Itachi had suggested.
Sasori too remained cautious. His tail rose high behind him, and all the mechanisms on his body were primed. Whether or not he understood the full capabilities of this technique, the bone-chilling, sinister chakra emanating from it left no room for complacency.
"This… is it a technique of the Sharingan? Such terrifying chakra… Just looking at its form gives off an artistic vibe. Is this Miao's art? Truly impressive," Deidara murmured, awestruck by the sight of Susanoo before him.
At that moment, Miao began rapidly forming hand seals. Placing his index fingers and thumbs together in front of his chest, his actions caught Itachi's attention immediately. "Kisame! Sasori! Brace yourselves!"
"Fire Release—Great Fire Annihilation!!!!!!" In the next instant, a small flame erupted from Miao's mouth, quickly transforming into a colossal inferno that surged forward like a tidal wave of fire.
The trio paled as they beheld the overwhelming blaze. Neither Kisame nor Sasori had ever seen such a fearsome Fire Release technique before. Itachi recognized the jutsu—it was an A-rank Fire Release technique that consumed vast amounts of chakra, belonging to the advanced repertoire of the Uchiha clan. While Itachi himself possessed remarkable talent in Fire Release, his primary combat style relied on ocular powers. Moreover, given how chakra-intensive this technique was, he had never bothered learning it.
"Water Release—Water Wall!!!!" Kisame formed hand seals and roared. A torrent of water erupted from the ground, forming a massive, dense wall of water in front of them. Simultaneously, Itachi performed the same technique, shouting, "Water Release—Water Wall!!!" Another towering water barrier rose, merging with Kisame's to create an even larger, thicker wall.
The raging sea of fire collided violently with the colossal water wall. "BOOM!!!!" The clash between water and fire triggered a massive explosion. Flames shot skyward, reducing the temple to ruins. Burning debris scattered everywhere, and thick mist shrouded the surroundings.
"Deidara, are you ready?" Miao's voice suddenly snapped Deidara out of his daze. "Oh, oh, of course I'm ready! Don't underestimate my art!!" Deidara shouted indignantly, regaining his composure.
"Hmph!" Miao smirked slightly before both he and Deidara leapt onto the white clay bird. As the mist gradually cleared, Itachi, Kisame, and Sasori spotted Miao and Deidara standing atop the airborne bird.
"I'll remember this debt. Until we meet again," Miao said with a faint smile. Deidara glared at the trio, his gaze especially venomous toward Itachi. "You'd better watch out. One day, I'll make you understand true art!! Hmm."
With that, the white clay bird soared swiftly into the distance, shrinking to a speck before vanishing entirely.