Chapter 38 – A Gift from a Good Friend

Since the meteorite was burning, it couldn't compare in size to Uchiha Madara's Heavenly Obstacle Destroys Stars jutsu. When it landed, it was only slightly larger than a Tailed Beast Ball. Its mushroom cloud was less expansive than the twin Heavenly Obstacle blasts—but the shockwave's high thermal intensity was unmatched, rivaling even a Tailed Beast Ball's explosive force.

When the dust settled, the mountain where Sasori of the Red Sand and Deidara had taken shelter was obliterated. They had hidden in a mountain larger than the surrounding hills, so while part of it remained, the peak had been utterly annihilated. A massive meteorite crater marred the landscape, with nothing left except debris, scorching heat, and molten meteor fragments.

"Art... it's pure art!" Deidara emerged from within the layers of iron protection and clay armor, crafting a clay bird midair to gaze upon the devastation. His expression was ecstatic, as if he wished to detonate himself to match such a moment of sublime destruction.

"Get down here, idiot." Sasori, unharmed below, called sharply.

"Impressive—you actually survived," came a new voice.

Izanami appeared overhead, eyes fixed on Deidara. The young explosive artist paused midexcited swoop.

"You think that momentary beauty is true art?" Deidara blurted.

"Explosions are indeed beautiful—powerful beauty. The more explosive, the more magnificent. That's why Tailed Beasts and Jinchūriki frighten everyone—their Tailed Beast Balls are impossibly destructive." Izanami replied soberly.

"Exactly!" Deidara cheered. "Explosions are art! Sasori, you see? My art has been validated."

"Idiot," Sasori muttered, then—without denying it—added, "Eternal beauty is true art."

"No, momentary beauty is!"

"Eternal!"

"—"

For a few moments, they bickered fiercely on rock and in sky. Izanami merely observed, arms folded and puzzled.

"Enough! I'm done talking to you," Deidara finally shouted in frustration. Turning away, he greeted Izanami enthusiastically: "Hey, you clearly appreciate art—want to join our group?"

Izanami flashed a teasing grin. "Which group is that?"

"We're..." Deidara began, but Sasori snapped in his ear, "Shut up! Do you want to die?"

Deidara froze, but still spoke, "If you join, I'll tell you."

"Joining is fine. But let's just be friends." Izanami looked down at Sasori and added, "You guys already gave a gift. In return—your Puppet Technique. And the method for making Human Puppets."

Sasori fell silent. He felt pride at the recognition, even as a chill ran through him.

"That's what brought you here?" Sasori asked, voice deepening.

"It is," Izanami answered calmly, prepared for betrayal.

Deidara protested: "Why would you want Puppet Technique? That's worthless art—why not learn Explosion Release from me?"

Before he finished, Sasori interjected: "Fine. I'll give it."

"?" Izanami raised an eyebrow beneath his mask.

This was too easy. I thought he'd fight.

Then he remembered: Sasori had become a Human Puppet himself.

He nearly laughed. Sasori's main body being a puppet explained the immediate compliance.

Izanami's mind calculated the benefits. In this world, without Ōtsutsuki lineage, surpassing Shadow-level required sacrifices. Purple-rank entries were the pinnacle of talent, equivalent to Shadow-level mastery. Few wielded even one, rarer still to have multiple.

Sasori possessed three purple entries: Puppet Master, Shadow-Level Talent, and Chakra Control. Deidara had two: Explosion Release and Shadow-Level Talent. Izanami, at best, was a blue-genius—far behind.

Killing Sasori would net valuable entries, but Izanami recognized his worth far more alive. Harvesting entries meant he could siphon four-digit points. Shadow-level foes fell short of Super-Shadow, and intelligence won battles. Besides, as a transmigrator, he held far more intel on them than they did on him.

So if they didn't kill him—and they hadn't—he didn't mind giving them a parting gift.

Sasori produced three scrolls, wrapped in iron wire, and flung them upward. But instead of Deidara catching them, Izanami's unseen Attraction power halted the scrolls mid-flight, levitating them.

"All Creation of Attraction?!" Deidara and Sasori cried together.

Deidara exclaimed: "Leader?"

Sasori thought: "This idiot…"

Izanami inspected the scrolls and flicked one open with a finger. He scanned it with his Reincarnation Eye—no poisons. He absorbed the scroll's knowledge, then released the others.

He waved. "Thanks for the gift—farewell, friends." And took to the sky.

Sasori exhaled, relieved. He had prepared to battle to the death, but Izanami's Meteorite power and calm flight proved superior. And seeing the Attraction ability destroy Deidara's attack—a deadly poison needle was deflected—Sasori realized he was beaten. Fortunately, Izanami showed no desire to kill.

Still, the feeling of having been robbed at knifepoint—then let go—was maddeningly frustrating.

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