Chapter 340: Usurpation
In the giant tree forest, the sounds of explosions rose and fell continuously.
Five minutes ago, Deidara was very disdainful of Masahiko calling himself a 'performance artist' and directly attacked Masahiko. He was then stopped by Kimimaro, and the two began fighting.
In his age group, Kimimaro indeed rarely met his match. Facing Deidara, he could finally fight to his heart's content.
Deidara, on the other hand, indicated that he didn't feel happy at all. His clay reserves were dwindling, and the chakra in his body was almost depleted after two consecutive battles. If he kept fighting, he was afraid he would be left here.
"These guys are all very troublesome..." Deidara forced Kimimaro back with an explosion and looked around with a solemn expression. He finally rested his eyes on Karin and chose his direction to break through.
"I still have some chakra left, now I need to figure out a way..." Deidara reached into his pocket with his right hand, his expression changing drastically. "Oh no! I'm out of clay."
Facing Kimimaro charging at him in a straight line, Deidara cursed inwardly, taking out a kunai to block the bone spike.
Kimimaro delivered several powerful slashes in a row, making Deidara's right hand tremble, almost unable to hold the kunai steadily. Just when Deidara was about to be unable to hold on, Kimimaro's taijutsu style suddenly changed, becoming 'gentle'.
Although Deidara didn't understand what was going on, he went with the flow to stall for time. The Hidden Stone Village ninjas chasing him should be arriving soon.
"Damn it, these weird guys caused me to be caught up to. I'm going to be lectured by the old man again. Un!"
Masahiko, who was watching the battle, gently shook his head with a helpless expression. Kimimaro probably felt it was hard to find a good opponent and started using his 'Stalling Divine Skill'.
Karin beside him tugged at Masahiko's sleeve, her eyes shifting quickly: "Great Elder, someone's coming."
Masahiko nodded: "I know, and with a rather interesting ninjutsu."
His right leg suddenly kicked backward. A sturdy man holding a kunai was kicked out of the empty space behind him. The man didn't even let out a scream before clutching his stomach and collapsing to the ground.
"Invisibility Jutsu, this is actually a pretty good secret jutsu. If only it didn't require relying on special terrain..."
"Big Brother Deidara, are you okay!" The voice of the young girl from earlier rang out. She brought two ninjas wearing Hidden Stone Village headbands to guard in front of Deidara, while Kimimaro warily retreated to Masahiko's side.
"Tch, Kurotsuchi, you came too early." Deidara gasped for breath, feeling relieved inwardly, but his mouth refused to admit defeat.
Kurotsuchi didn't mind this and spoke softly: "Big Brother Deidara, who are these people? Taiseki was actually... in an instant..."
Deidara rolled his eyes. How would he know? He inexplicably fought two battles.
Masahiko looked back at the unconscious ninja behind him, picked him up, and tossed him over, saying with a smile: "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding. Didn't we skip lunch today? I just thought of shooting a bird to eat. I didn't expect that bird to have an owner."
Karin rolled her eyes; this explanation lacked any sincerity whatsoever.
The two Hidden Stone ninjas caught the ninja named Taiseki and began treating his injuries. Kurotsuchi nodded, actually believing Masahiko's explanation: "So it was just a misunderstanding. That's good then."
"Hey, Kurotsuchi, you..." Deidara was stunned.
"Let's go, Big Brother Deidara. If you don't go back soon, the old man will get angry." Kurotsuchi shot him a meaningful look.
"Don't be in a hurry to leave." Masahiko stopped them. Facing the guarded expressions of the Hidden Stone ninjas, he smiled and took out a sealing scroll. "Meeting each other is destiny. Let's have lunch together."
Looking at Deidara's expression, Masahiko unsealed the scroll: "We won't eat your bird this time."
Deidara: "..."
What on earth is in this scroll? Pots, pans, bowls, and ladles of all kinds are fully equipped, all sorts of seasonings are available, and there's actually half a plucked wild boar... Shooting my bird was definitely a deliberate provocation, wasn't it?
...
About half an hour later, cooking smoke curled up into the air within the giant tree forest.
The half wild boar was roasted until oil splattered everywhere. Masahiko took out his 'Forty-Meter Machete', sliced piece after piece of pork, and distributed it to the five children in front of him.
The other two Hidden Stone ninjas stood quietly to the side, staring at Masahiko with deep vigilance. They had refused Masahiko's invitation to have lunch together, but unfortunately, they couldn't stop the 'obstinate' young girl, Kurotsuchi.
"Mmm... Uncle, your skills are not bad." Kurotsuchi took a bite of the pork and gave a thumbs up.
Masahiko smiled: "Don't call me uncle, call me senior. When you call me uncle, I always feel like I'm being taken advantage of."
Deidara picked up the pork in front of him, the corner of his eye twitching. He glanced at Masahiko and the others who were eating with relish, gave a tsundere 'Hmph!', and threw the pork back onto his plate.
Masahiko smiled: "Don't be so awkward for a boy. Look at how straightforward this young girl is?"
"Exactly, Big Brother Deidara, this pork is roasted very fragrantly," Kurotsuchi chimed in.
"Kurotsuchi, they are the enemy, what on earth are you thinking? Un!"
"Red-haired uncle, are you enemies?"
Masahiko smiled and shook his head: "No, we aren't. And also, don't call me uncle."
Kurotsuchi turned her head: "See, Big Brother Deidara, they aren't enemies."
Deidara: "..."
The 'chatterbox' Karin hadn't spoken at all, but the 'cold little prince' Kimimaro proactively spoke up: "God's cooking is not something ordinary people get to taste. Hurry up and finish your lunch so we can have another fight."
"God?" Deidara looked at Masahiko with a strange expression.
Masahiko smiled: "Yes, that's me. Don't I look like one?"
"Tch!"
Masahiko continued: "I'm quite curious, can those two mouths on your hands be used to eat food?"
Deidara remained expressionless.
"Having mouths on your hands is truly an enviable talent... Ahem!" Masahiko coughed continuously.
The children gave him a baffled look. Masahiko quickly changed the subject: "Young girl Kurotsuchi, we're planning to go to the Hidden Stone Village. We'll have to trouble you to lead the way."
"Sure, uncle." Kurotsuchi agreed readily. "Mahiru, Kakkou, you guys come eat some too. They aren't enemies."
The two Hidden Stone ninjas exchanged a glance and gently shook their heads at Kurotsuchi, indicating it was better to remain vigilant.
Kurotsuchi curled her lip: "Boring. Uncle knocked Taiseki unconscious with one kick and he still hasn't woken up. If he wanted to attack us, no matter how you guard against it, it would be useless. Right, uncle?"
Masahiko smiled: "It seems Ohnoki truly has a worthy successor."
"Huh? Uncle, you know our old man?"
Masahiko spread his hands: "Lord Third Tsuchikage, who doesn't know him? He must be almost 70 this year, it's time for him to retire."
Kurotsuchi pouted: "I've long felt he should retire, but he just won't listen."
Masahiko smiled: "So you need to grow up quickly and make him retire early. That will also allow him to live a longer life."
Kurotsuchi nodded: "In another two years, I'll snatch his Tsuchikage position away from him."
"Mm, I look forward to the day Ohnoki's throne is usurped by you..."
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