Tobi the Kite

"Deidara, I know you are deeply dedicated and extreme in your pursuit of art, and that can be a good thing. However, sometimes being too extreme can be detrimental. I hope that at some point, you can be like you were this time, setting aside your pride. Some things are more valuable than your art."

"Although I don't know the reason behind you setting aside your art and pride to come to me this time, I hope that one day, when you encounter certain situations, you can also learn to let go and not be too extreme. Everything has its limits, and the pursuit of perfection may not always lead to beauty. Ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and even art—all of them are the same. How much you can take in depends on yourself."

After saying this, Onoki floated up and disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving only a word that only Deidara could hear: "Take care, my disciple."

"Hmph, old man, you underestimate me. Since the moment I decided to avenge Sasori and the others, I have had a new perspective on my art. I've long understood the concept of the pendulum effect. It was Sasori's death that taught me this lesson. The pursuit of art can be as extreme as seeking death itself. He used his death to show me that, and the pendulum effect is eternal art. Art is like an explosion, a fleeting beauty. Haha, isn't that a form of extreme pursuit as well? My artistic realm has ascended even higher. But still, I appreciate your guidance."

If Ryoha were to hear Deidara's words now, he would be truly surprised. This was the same Deidara who was obsessed with art and even chose to self-destruct during his battle against Sasuke. But now, Deidara seemed to have experienced something different from the original story, and his life and destiny had taken a different turn.

"Sasuke, I'm coming for you," Deidara contacted Zetsu through the Akatsuki's ring. After all, Kakuzu, Hidan, and Tobi were originally acquainted with black and white Zetsu during the battle against Haku and Byakko. Especially Kakuzu, who not only didn't abandon Zetsu but also saved him. Thus, Zetsu was more willing to help Deidara than he was in the original story.

Deidara was aware of Sasuke's location and the major events happening in the ninja world through the ring. Although he had been training in the Land of Earth under Onoki's guidance for a while, he was well-informed about external matters.

"I'm curious to see how much you've learned after training under Orochimaru and killing him. I hope you don't disappoint me. After all, Orochimaru's jutsu is a bloodline limit beyond the Sharingan. It would be a shame if you are too weak," Deidara said confidently while riding his clay bird with Tobi accompanying him.

"Deidara-senpai, where have you been? It seems like you've disappeared for a while. Did you find your art unsatisfactory and decided to go into seclusion?" Tobi teased while standing on the clay bird, but what Deidara didn't notice was the gleam in Tobi's eyes hidden behind his mask.

If the Deidara before they separated on their way back to the Land of Earth was like a fierce jackal, then the Deidara who returned from the Land of Earth was like a ferocious tiger. The difference between a jackal and a tiger was significant, and everyone could imagine that. This showed how much Deidara's strength had improved after his return from the Land of Earth.

"It seems that this time, Deidara intends to test Sasuke. Let's see how far his Sharingan can go. If I were to intervene secretly, Sasuke would undoubtedly face certain death."

Whether it was the original version of Tobi or the present Tobi, when he learned that Deidara was going to kill Sasuke, he was already prepared to use Deidara as a stepping stone to test Sasuke's strength and the power of his Sharingan. However, the present Deidara gave Tobi a sense of fierceness and power that was completely different from before.

Whether it was intuition or feeling, Tobi was certain that the current Deidara was much stronger than the previous one. It was as if Deidara not only made up for his past deficiencies but also gained even greater power. Tobi had confidence in his judgment, and if he didn't intervene to save Sasuke, Sasuke would undoubtedly be doomed.

"It's a good thing that Deidara has become stronger. I originally planned to put down this piece, but I didn't expect Deidara to surprise me. It's also good to use Deidara to hone Sasuke. Let him understand that the ninja world is vast, and killing Orochimaru doesn't make him invincible. There are many others who can defeat and kill him. Such training is also beneficial for him and his Sharingan."

In an instant, Tobi had changed his mind about using Deidara as a test for Sasuke's strength. Deidara's strength far exceeded his initial expectations, but it didn't matter. He could use Deidara to challenge Sasuke's arrogance and show him that "killing" Orochimaru didn't make him superior.

"Tobi, it seems like you're itching for a fight after not seeing me for a while. Well, that's fine. I have an idea specifically to deal with you." Deidara's face darkened, and he pressed Tobi against the back of the clay bird with one hand. Then, he used clay to create a huge kite and tied Tobi's limbs to the four corners of the kite. With the help of the airflow during the flight, he sent Tobi soaring into the sky, just like flying a kite.

"Ah... no, Deidara-senpai, please put me down!" Tobi's voice was trembling. He couldn't believe that Deidara came up with such a way to mess with him, putting him and the kite together in the sky. If they continued in this direction, he would end up right where Sasuke was, and Tobi found it really frustrating that he couldn't use his space-time jutsu in front of Deidara, or else he would be exposed.