Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 422 The Leisurely Life of the Earth Shadow

Deidara was eager to move all the documents out of the office, saying, "You can handle them all, the more the better!"

Despite his young age, he is very clear-headed. He is just a figurehead, and he wouldn't even want to be the projector.

He only wants to become stronger and challenge the strong!

In the days that followed, Deidara lived the most leisurely life of his life as the Earth Shadow.

I woke up naturally in the morning, had breakfast, and then went for a walk around the Tsuchikage Building, mainly to let the ninjas see that he was still there and hadn't run away.

Then he stamped the documents sent by the secretariat. Shibuki taught him that stamping didn't require any brainpower; you just pressed the stamp into the designated spot, which was much simpler than making hand seals.

Once the stamp was completed, his work was finished.

What to do with the rest of the time?

He went to the training ground and spent the afternoon blasting it with clay bombs, creating three large craters.

But after the explosion, he felt bored because the sparring ninjas were too weak; they couldn't even dodge the spider bombs he casually threw.

He also tried wandering around outside the village to see if there was anything fun to do.

But he had seen the scenery of the Land of Earth since he was a child, and he was already tired of it.

He also tried to chat with Shibuki, but Shibuki was busy with documents all day long and didn't even have time to look up at him.

"Boring...boring...so boring..." Deidara lay on the rooftop of the Tsuchikage Building, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, staring blankly at the clouds drifting by.

He remembered why he had agreed to become the Earth Shadow in the first place.

On the one hand, he wanted to annoy the old man, and he has succeeded in doing so, with remarkable effect.

On the other hand, he heard many rumors about the organization's leader.

Kakuzu said that man was very strong, Naoto also said that man was very strong, and even Nanichi, who always carried a knife and acted cool, said, "The Master is not someone you should challenge."

Deidara was immediately indignant.

Why shouldn't I be the one to take on this challenge?

My art, Deidara's art, is the best in the world. Even if I can't win, I'll still create a spectacular display of fireworks.

The problem is, he's been in the organization for so long, yet he's never even seen the Lord's face.

He had only seen it on wanted posters at most, and only learned that Strategist Bai Mu and the Master were the same person after joining the organization. But he didn't really think Strategist Bai Mu was that powerful, because he had never seen him in person.

"Kakuzu—" Deidara leaned over the railing and called out to Kakuzu below, "When are you going to take me to see our master?"

Kakuzu was counting money in the courtyard, which was his daily hobby. Hearing Deidara's voice, he looked up and glanced at it, then lowered his head again to continue counting.

"Kakuzu—can you hear me—"

"I heard you." Kakuzu calmly finished counting the last banknote, carefully put his wallet in his pocket, and then looked up at Deidara. "You want to see the Lord?"

"Yes!" Deidara leaped down from upstairs, landing steadily, and darted to Kakuzu in a few steps. "You said our lord is very strong, so can I challenge him?"

Kakuzu looked into Deidara's gleaming eyes, remained silent for two seconds, and then said, "If you want to challenge someone, why choose the Master?"

He stretched out his right hand, blue arcs of electricity dancing between his five fingers.

"Why don't you fight me?"

Deidara's expression changed instantly. He took three steps back, crossed his arms in front of him, and stared warily at the lightning arc in Kakuzu's hand.

"You...you're not going to pull this on me!" Deidara's voice trembled. "We agreed you wouldn't use Lightning Release!"

"Who said it was agreed?" Kakuzu asked expressionlessly. "Did I tell you it was agreed?"

"you--"

Kakuzu walked forward, while Deidara retreated.

He wasn't afraid of Kakuzu, but rather Kakuzu's fighting style was disgusting.

He uses all sorts of tricks and ninjutsu, and at crucial moments, he'll even use Lightning Release to trick him and silence his bomb.

Fighting him is like falling into a swamp; the harder you struggle, the deeper you sink, and the more disgusting and uncomfortable you feel.

He was completely drained of chakra and then got a severe beating; he must have been crazy to seek out suffering. Kakuzu's fighting style had absolutely no artistry.

"I don't want to fight you." Deidara turned and ran.

Kakuzu put away the lightning arc in his hand, watched his retreating figure, shook his head, and said, "Little brat."

In the old man's eyes, Deidara was just a silly little kid.

To join the organization, you must first challenge the leader and overcome several obstacles.

On the other side, Deidara hadn't run far when he almost bumped into another person.

Shibuki was carrying a stack of documents as he walked down the corridor. I dodged his sudden attack by slightly shifting my body.

"Lord Tsuchikage? What's wrong? You look so pale."

Deidara glanced at Shibuki, his eyes darting around.

He can't beat Kakuzu, he can't beat Naoto, so how could he not beat Shibuki, who is in charge of internal affairs?

Shibuki also said that he only has the strength of an elite Jonin. Elite Jonin, isn't that something you can easily defeat?

"Shibuki." Deidara put his hands on his hips, chin held high. "You're the Takigakage, right? As the Tsuchikage, I'd like to teach you some ninjutsu. You wouldn't refuse, would you?"

Shibuki paused for a moment, then smiled politely: "Lord Tsuchikage, I still have documents to deliver—"

"Put it down, put it down!" Deidara snatched the documents from his hand and shoved them into the hands of the ninja beside him. "You can deal with this pile of junk documents anytime, but you won't get many opportunities to get guidance from the local Kage."

Shibuki looked at the documents that had been stolen, then at the boy who was a head shorter than him, and sighed helplessly, "Then... please, Tsuchikage-sama, show mercy."

On the training ground.

Deidara stood in the center of the field, hands on his hips, looking triumphant.

Shemu stood opposite him, still wearing that gray-blue long robe, his smile still gentle.

Deidara generously said, "You go first, so others won't say I'm bullying the weak."

"Alright then, I won't stand on ceremony." Shibuki nodded.

Then, Deidara found himself unable to move.

He looked down and saw that the ground beneath his feet had suddenly become as soft as water. His feet sank in, sinking deeper and deeper until they reached his knees.

"Earth escape? Such a simple trick—"

He clapped his hands, ready to use the recoil from the small bomb to push himself out of the mud. But as soon as he clapped his hands, the mud beneath his feet suddenly hardened like iron, firmly locking his legs in place.

"What—"

Before he could react, the tree in front of him had already split into five, not a clone technique but a shadow clone, and at the same time, hand seals were formed.

Earth Release: Yellow Mud Swamp, which sticks to the feet and slows down the user.

Water Release: Water Candy Field - A layer of viscous liquid spread across the ground, making it even more difficult for him to move.

Fire Release: Phoenix Flower, sealing off the space above him where he could hide.

Lightning Release: Earth Walk silenced his clay bomb.

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough - A gust of wind, carrying sand and stones, blew so hard he couldn't open his eyes and his breathing became disordered.