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"Your techniques are indeed impressive, but they're still too immature. Simply creating explosions lacks any real finesse. Not only could I dodge your attacks easily, but even a jonin could evade them without much effort. No matter how powerful the explosion, it's useless if it doesn't hit its mark," Miao said calmly, his expression hidden behind the mask.
Deidara wasn't foolish—in fact, he was quite intelligent, with an extraordinary talent for ninjutsu. This was evident from the advanced explosive clay techniques he would later develop—C1, C2, C3, and even C4—all proof that he was a true genius of ninjutsu. His calculated ambush of Gaara also demonstrated his sharp mind when he was calm and focused.
The reason Deidara harbored such intense hatred for Uchiha Itachi wasn't just because he had been defeated in a single move. More importantly, Deidara felt humiliated by Itachi's apparent mockery. Being completely ignorant of the Sharingan, Deidara fell victim to Itachi's genjutsu, making his art seem like nothing more than a clownish act in comparison. For someone as prideful as Deidara, this was an unbearable insult.
Had he been defeated outright in a direct confrontation, Deidara might not have held such deep resentment. Later on, when Naruto unleashed the Nine-Tails' power and forced Deidara into a desperate situation—even when Kakashi severed his left arm using Kamui—Deidara was furious but retained his composure. He didn't lose control or resort to self-destruction.
"Damn it!!! Are you looking down on my art?!!!" Deidara shouted, his face flushed red. Despite his bravado, there was a noticeable lack of confidence in his voice. Still, he was smart enough to recognize that his current techniques were still in their infancy. Though he constantly brainstormed ways to improve and enhance his jutsu, his stubborn pride prevented him from admitting it openly.
"I'm not belittling your art; I'm simply stating the truth. Even before considering whether your techniques can hit their target, their power alone isn't particularly strong. A skilled Earth Style technique could easily block the force of your exploding clay spiders. As a shinobi from Iwagakure, you should already know this. Self-deception is no trait of a true artist," Miao remarked indifferently.
"Tch!!!" Deidara turned his head away in irritation. He knew full well that while his exploding clay worked effectively against mid-level ninja, it struggled against higher-ranked opponents. Every jonin had their own tricks, and despite being considered a prodigy in Iwagakure, Deidara found it difficult to defeat the village's elite. Strong Earth Style techniques could effortlessly neutralize his explosions. Otherwise, given his temperament, he might have blown up the entire village long ago.
This was partly due to the immaturity of his current techniques. After all, the secret art of infusing chakra into materials was one of Iwagakure's forbidden techniques, which he had only recently stolen and mastered over the past two to three years. He was far from unlocking the full potential of this forbidden art—it wasn't something so easily mastered.
At this moment, Deidara had calmed down somewhat. Staring intently at Miao, he asked slowly, "Who exactly are you? A shinobi of your caliber doesn't seem like an unknown figure in the ninja world."
"Me? You can call me 'Mu.' I'm a bounty hunter," Miao replied nonchalantly.
"Mu? That name sounds familiar..." Deidara muttered to himself, then suddenly seemed to recall something. With a hint of surprise, he exclaimed, "Mu! Are you the mysterious bounty hunter known for completing every mission with a hundred percent success rate?"
Over the past two years, Deidara himself had worked as a bounty hunter of sorts, hired by others who paid him to carry out explosive attacks, sabotage, and other acts of terrorism. His reputation was notoriously bad, further alienating him from Iwagakure. At this point, Deidara was essentially semi-detached from the village.
From the beginning, his personality and various other factors made him unpopular in Iwagakure. His poor relationships within the village worsened when he began secretly practicing the village's forbidden techniques and conducting explosive experiments within its borders, causing collateral damage to many innocent villagers. As a result, he had almost no place left in Iwagakure.
If not for his status as a prodigy and his position as a disciple of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, the village elders would have likely disposed of him long ago. Over the past two years, his numerous acts of terrorism across different regions further tarnished his reputation within Iwagakure, making him utterly despised. By now, Deidara was no longer allowed to reside in the village, existing in a state of semi-separation.
During these two years of carrying out explosive bounty missions, Deidara had certainly heard of 'Mu.' Now, realizing who stood before him, he exclaimed in surprise, "So you're Mu! No wonder—you're clearly different from ordinary shinobi." He looked at Miao with newfound respect, never expecting the mysterious figure before him to be the legendary Mu.
"How about teaming up with me? Two people are stronger than one, and you've got plenty of enemies yourself," Miao suggested casually. He recognized Deidara's undeniable talent. Despite being only twelve or thirteen years old, Deidara already possessed formidable strength. Though his techniques currently lacked significant power, Miao could see their vast potential at a glance. The true terror of this art didn't lie in its grandeur or spectacle but in its instantaneous explosive force. That sudden burst of energy would be nearly impossible to defend against unless one possessed special abilities. Combined with sufficient stealth, it could become even more terrifying.
"Team up with you?" Deidara questioned, glancing at Mu skeptically before scoffing. "Despite your reputation, I don't trust some masked guy pretending to be mysterious."
It was clear that while Deidara's thinking was relatively simple, his sense of caution was high—a necessity for someone conducting terrorist attacks across the lands. Later, when he partnered with Tobi (aka Akatsuki's Madara), it was because Tobi was also a member of the Akatsuki organization, which wasn't limited to just the two of them. Additionally, the leader of the Akatsuki approved Tobi's inclusion, giving Deidara reason to trust him.
But here, alone with Mu, Deidara wouldn't easily trust this enigmatic, masked figure.