Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
A flurry of punches landed, their shockwaves stirring up a storm of sand and dust across the ground.
"Katsu!"
Caught off guard by the sudden assault, Deidara was sent flying. But he wasn't the type to go down without a fight. As soon as he regained his senses, he swiftly formed a hand seal with one hand and shouted.
Boom!
The explosive clay he had scattered earlier detonated in a deafening explosion, filling the air with even more sand and debris.
Seizing the opportunity, Deidara stomped down hard and leaped away, trying to create some distance to assess the situation.
However, just as he exited the dusty cloud, a black shadow burst forth. A sandbag-sized fist smashed directly into his face once more.
"Argh!"
Deidara screamed in pain, clutched his nose and cursed, "Sasori! What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the only response he got was an agonizing scream.
Turning his head, Deidara saw Hiruko, Sasori's puppet, was no longer moving.
Looking closer, when he noticed the figure standing before Hiruko, especially the scarlet and cold eyes, Deidara trembled uncontrollably.
'No wonder Sasori wasn't helping. He was trapped in Uchiha Itachi's Genjutsu.'
Before Deidara could process this revelation, the sandbag-sized fist came at him again.
"Take this!"
Kisame swung his Samehada like a club, striking the back of Deidara's head with a resounding thud.
Being hit on the back of the head, Deidara's eyes turned white and he fell straight to the ground.
"What the hell are you doing!"
The black shadow was none other than Naruto.
In order to torture Deidara for a little longer, Naruto didn't even activate the Eight Gates, attacking Deidara to the point where he would feel pain but unable to resist.
But Kisame ruined it with one overenthusiastic swing, knocking Deidara out cold. How was Naruto supposed to continue his 'lesson' now?
Scratching his head awkwardly, Kisame mumbled, "I got carried away. I didn't think this guy would be so fragile."
Naruto sighed in exasperation, "Do you think everyone has thick skin like you? Or are you too used to fighting Hidan?"
In the entire Akatsuki, Deidara's physical fitness ranked among the lowest. He's similar to Itachi, a high attack, low defense character.
"It's a pity that my Samehada can't restore others..."
As Kisame's words trailed off, he suddenly froze, and then his lips curled into a sinister grin, "Naruto-kun, this guy might not be tough, but if you use your blessing, he should be fine for round two."
"Well, that's impressive!"
Naruto has a new respect for Kisame.
'Kisame clearly wasn't dumb, but his intelligence was often directed at devious schemes rather than practical matters.'
Not that Naruto minded, in fact, he found it quite amusing.
Rapid Healing!
Naruto extended a finger toward Deidara, and a rich green aura enveloped him.
"Huh? What's going on?"
Deidara woke up quickly, astonished to find no pain or injuries on his body. For a moment, he thought the earlier beating might have been a Genjutsu. After all, how could he have no wounds?
However, Naruto and Kisame's fists quickly dispelled that notion.
"Argh! Aaaaah!"
Deidara's screams echoed endlessly through the desert.
It was agreed that Naruto would punch once every second, so Naruto landed exactly 2,168 punches… no more, no less!
"Wh-why?"
When it was finally over, Deidara lay sprawled on the ground, utterly drained, barely able to speak.
Until now, he still didn't understand why he was beaten. This repeated torture has exhausted him both physically and mentally.
Kisame snorted coldly, "You still dare to ask? Because you and Sasori were so damn slow, making us wait ten whole days. What are you, turtles? You accepted the mission so quickly, but your efficiency is so terrible. You're really a trash!"
Deidara frowned and said, "Since we have accepted the mission, how we handle it is our business. Why does it matter to you? If you're willing to wait, that's on you. Why take it out on us? Are you insane?"
"Yes, Kisame can't do anything about it, but I can." Naruto interjected coldly.
"And who do you think you are?" Deidara shot Naruto a disdainful look and scoffed.
"You little..."
Naruto's expression immediately darkened.
Before he could respond, Kisame grabbed Deidara by the collar and landed a heavy punch, "Watch your mouth when you talk to Naruto-kun! You were already rude at the last meeting, and now you dare to insult him to his face? Do you have a death wish?"
"Naruto-kun? That second-in-command brat?"
Deidara glanced at Naruto and sneered disdainfully: "A brat like him can become the Akatsuki's second-in-command? Looks like the organization is done for."
Turning back to Kisame, Deidara laughed mockingly, "You're really regressing, wagging your tail for a child. How pathetic."
"Deidara, I think you are really tired of living!"
Kisame clenched his fist, ready to pummel him again.
However, before he could act, Naruto stopped him with a hand.
Naruto was so angry that he laughed and said, "Kisame, let him go. Getting your hands dirty with trash like him isn't worth it."
"True enough."
Kisame disdainfully threw Deidara to the ground.
Naruto stepped forward, planted his foot firmly on Deidara's face, and said condescendingly, "Are you not convinced? You have no ability yet you dare to complain and blame others. To be honest, weaklings like you who can't see the bigger picture are the real reason the Akatsuki is going downhill."
"If you've got guts, let me go! We'll settle this one-on-one!"
Deidara growled, glaring back at Naruto.
In Deidara's eyes, Naruto was only acting tough because Kisame was backing him up. There was no way Naruto was stronger. If anything, the fact that Naruto hadn't knocked him out earlier only proved he was lacking.
Deidara was convinced Naruto's position in the Akatsuki came from relying on the green healing aura just now, not actual strength.
"You want a one-on-one? Fine, I'll give you the chance."
Naruto replied with a cold smile, "But if you lose, you'll bow down to Kisame and apologize, wagging your tail like the dog you are."
"Lose? Me? Impossible!" Deidara scoffed, "Then, if you lose, then you'll bow to me and wag your tail!"
"No problem."
Naruto snapped his fingers, and a surge of green light enveloped Deidara once again, healing all his injuries at lightning speed.
Seeing this, Kisame stepped aside and turned to Itachi, "Itachi, why doesn't Naruto-kun just beat him down outright? Why go through all the trouble of a duel and a bet? Deidara's already insubordinate, and frankly, he's not worth keeping around."
Itachi responded calmly, "Deidara is the type who won't submit to brute force. The stakes of a wager will make him accept defeat on his own terms. It's a more effective way to crush his ego. However, I agree with your latter point. Someone as delusional and overconfident as Deidara isn't worth keeping around."
In Itachi's opinion, a serious punch from Naruto could reduce Deidara to a mist of blood. Someone as mediocre as Deidara, yet so overly confident, simply wasn't worth the effort to recruit.
On the other hand, recruiting Sasori would be justifiable. Sasori was a master in the field of Puppet Technique, standing at the top of his craft and capable of providing valuable technologies.
Itachi's thoughts aligned perfectly with Naruto's… there was truly no need to bother with trash like Deidara.