Chapter 71: Anko’s Third Night

After the corrupted Kakashi and Kisame left, Deidara and Sasori resumed their journey. As payment for dealing with Kakashi, they were tasked with heading to the northeastern front of the Land of Fire to counter the Land of Lightning's assault.

Previously, both the Raikage and Killer B had sought to steal the Rinnegan, but they hadn't personally joined the battlefield, allowing Konoha to hold its ground. Now, with their direct involvement, Konoha was struggling to find comparable high-level combatants. Reports claimed that the village had suffered heavy losses in just a few days.

The pair moved quickly but did not deliberately delay or slacken. After all, with Kumogakure joining forces with Obito, they were now Akatsuki's enemies. Konoha, for the moment, was still an ally and remained useful.

"By the way, don't you think Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan looked familiar just now?" Deidara asked casually as they traveled.

"Oh? Now that you mention it, it did," Sasori replied, pausing briefly.

"It resembled the mysterious man who claimed to be Uchiha Madara."

"Exactly. Kakashi's was the left eye, and the mysterious man's was the right. There seems to be some connection between them," Deidara remarked, sharing his observations with the rest of Akatsuki through Nagato's link, almost like a group chat.

"Obito? Impossible! Obito is dead!" Kakashi exclaimed, startled. He hadn't yet recovered emotionally from recent betrayals, but this news was too shocking to ignore.

"Looks like our new teammate knows something," Kisame's voice chimed in.

"My Sharingan came from my former teammate, Uchiha Obito. But he died during the battle at Kannabi Bridge. That's a fact," Kakashi asserted firmly. "There's no way he survived with those injuries."

"That does sound familiar," Itachi added. "It caused quite a stir within the Uchiha clan at the time. How could such a precious kekkei genkai be entrusted to an outsider? Eventually, though, Uchiha Fugaku and Minato Namikaze worked together to smooth things over."

"Did you confirm his death? Or find his body afterward?" Deidara asked pointedly.

"Well…" Kakashi hesitated. These were questions he couldn't answer definitively. But with the injuries Obito had sustained, combined with Iwagakure's pursuit, survival seemed impossible.

After hearing Kakashi's account, the group exchanged knowing looks.

"That settles it. That mysterious man is definitely Uchiha Obito," Deidara declared. "When he removed his mask, his right side clearly showed signs of Zetsu's repair work. It seems Zetsu saved him back then."

"That's absurd!" Kakashi muttered. He hesitated, grappling with the idea. He knew Obito's abilities—or lack thereof. How could someone with such average potential grow into a threat on par with Akatsuki's heavyweights?

"It seems there was a hidden hand behind Obito's survival," Itachi summarized. "Whoever saved him likely had grand plans."

"Indeed. Kakashi, your Mangekyō technique seems linked to Obito's intangibility. Next time, let's give him a little surprise," Deidara said mischievously.

"No," Kakashi objected. "I joined Akatsuki to exact revenge on Konoha and Danzo, not for anything else."

"You'll come around. After all, Obito is aiming to destroy the entire world. Are you just going to sit back and watch him obliterate the shinobi world?"

Kakashi sighed deeply, unwilling to respond further.

After another day of travel, Deidara and Sasori were nearing the front lines.

"Wait. Someone's coming," Sasori's puppet Hiruko abruptly halted.

"This far from the front lines? Has the battle really spread this much?" Deidara mused as they concealed themselves, waiting for the approaching group.

"Hey! A familiar face!" Deidara exclaimed, stepping into view and greeting Anko Mitarashi. Behind her, a small group of injured Konoha shinobi staggered along, clearly worse for wear.

"You!" Anko exclaimed, startled, then relaxed slightly. While Deidara was a former enemy, his presence now was oddly reassuring.

"Reinforcements?" A mocking voice interrupted from behind. A burly man flanked by several Kumogakure shinobi stepped forward.

"You Konoha rats think two reinforcements will save you from death?" He smirked confidently. But when he recognized Deidara, his confidence evaporated.

"Akatsuki…!" he stammered.

"It's Akatsuki! Retreat!" The Raikage's orders about Akatsuki's threat had been clear: avoid unnecessary losses and withdraw if encountered.

"This forest is my domain," Sasori said coldly.

The trees around the Kumogakure squad suddenly came alive, their branches transforming into deadly snares. Within moments, the pursuing shinobi were caught and swiftly eliminated.

"Wood Release!"

"Wood Release?" Both the Kumo and Konoha shinobi gasped in shock.

"But how?!" Anko demanded, her expression severe. "Wood Release is the kekkei genkai of the First Hokage. How did it end up in your hands?"

"That's not for you to know," Deidara replied dismissively.

"No! You must explain! This is a secret of Konoha!" Anko insisted, her determination unwavering.

"Well then, we'll just have to kill you to keep that secret," Deidara said with a sinister grin.

Anko froze. She realized her mistake—these were rogue shinobi, merciless and unrestrained. Yet, she couldn't let this crucial information die with her.

"Please, spare us!" Anko pleaded, bowing deeply.

"No way. If you return to Konoha, you'll report everything. That's too troublesome for us," Deidara replied with feigned regret.

"Please! I'll do anything!" Anko knelt, her voice trembling but resolute.

Deidara's expression turned wicked as a clay snake coiled around Anko's neck, its cold surface brushing against her cheek.

"Spend another night with me, and we'll call it even," he said, his tone laced with mockery. "But unlike last time, I don't have seventy thousand ryo to pay you this time."

Anko's face flushed red, but she kept her head low. She could feel her teammates' awkward, questioning gazes.

It's not what you think!

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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