❝ He is a canvas worthy of my artistry. ❞

Naruto growl. His eyes had turned red and his pupils were narrowed like a fox, staring intently at the long blond-haired man who casually sat on Gaara's body. He did not know whether his friend had died or not. His darkened skin made Naruto not want to think that he was dead.

No, no way. There is no way Garaa is dead.

Naruto growled again, his fangs sharpened as he wanted to tear the person in front of him. But that feeling just disappeared after he felt someone had slapped his head lightly.

The teen glanced down, looking at Shizuka with a questioning look. "Calm down. We don't want the Kyuubi to take over your body."

Like magic, he could feel his body calmed down again. His appearance was back to normal and Naruto can think clearly again.

"I've heard that Jinchuriki Kyuubi is strong," the man with long hair, Deidara, took out a white bird from his robe. The bird then enlarged and enlarged to a height of 2 meters. "He is a canvas worthy of my artistry."

Deidara boarded his bird while carrying Gaara in its mouth. Then they flew towards the exit.

"Naruto and I will go after him," Shizuka spoke.

"Very well," Kakashi nodded in agreement. Seeing the two immediately ran after the Akatsuki member.

"Why did you let them?" asked Chiyo, surprised by the team leader who casually let them go. "They are still young."

"It's okay. Shizuka with him."

○○○

"Control your emotions," Shizuka ordered. The two of them were standing on the cliff wall, glaring at Deidara who had been babbling about his art. Every now and then she glanced at Naruto who seemed to be trying his best to calm down and not let the Kyuubi take over. "From what the Sunagakure ninjas said," she trailed off. "He has a special clay jutsu. And the clay can explode at will."

Naruto nodded in understanding. "So we have to be quick to dodge" he took out a kunai, then he gave the chakra at the sharp edge. "or cut it."

"And try not to split," she added. "I'm sure he used this opportunity to take the Kyuubi too, nanodayo."

BOOM! a loud explosion sounded from within the cave. This was followed by the sound of iron scratching the ground. "Looks like they've started, hmmm," said Deidara. "accept this art of mine!"

Their eyes were focused, and when several clay birds were thrown at them, Shizuka immediately jumped away. While Naruto used his kunai chakra to cut down several of the explosive birds that were approaching him.

Deidara brought his giant bird to fly higher and away. Both of his hands raised and two medium sized explosive birds rushed towards them rapidly. "Ha!"

The sound of a large explosion rang out again. Creating black smoke covering the area. And after the smoke cleared, a semicircular earth shield appeared in the area. Protecting Shizuka and Naruto from the explosion.

Deidara tsked in annoyance, his fists clenched into fists before throwing a large amount of clay-shaped small spider.

"Vacuum Sphere!" Naruto jumped forward. Expelled numerous penetrating wind bullets that directly cut through the spiders with ease.

"How about this?" Deidara boasted both mouths in his hands took out the clay dough that fell on the ground. "I'll play with you a little more, hmm!" The clay dough formed a strange two meters tall creature that walked towards them.

Shizuka jumped first, pulling out her kunai to cut down the creature. However, unlike his other clays, this time's creature can attack her back.

The girl panted. Naruto and herself were in the middle of the clay creatures whose numbers are increasing.

"I think it's a matter of time," the two struck together. Slashing and jumping out of the way when the explosion occurs.

"He really intends to separate us," muttered Shizuka, realizing that the distance between her and Naruto was quite far. Before she had time to run towards the teen, one of Deidara's clay creatures landed on her clothes, then the others joined. Covering and making her unable to move things even a moment.

"Boil release," steam emanates from her body and directly melted the clay and its surroundings. Her eyes then scanned her surroundings, finding Naruto who fortunately using kawarimi to escape from the explosion.

"Give Gaara to me!" growled Naruto, his eyes that had turned red again stared at Deidara who had turned his bird into a large clay dragon. And Gaara's body was now in the grip of its feet.

"Come here and get him, Pretty Boy!" The dragon spewed out a small dragon from its mouth which flew at high speed towards them.

"Wood release!" Shizuka slapped the ground to make a wooden shield that protected them. And because the explosion was quite large, the wood was destroyed quickly too.

"Wood release?! How can she have it? He gasped. Staring widely at her. "So that girl has two kekkei genkai, huh .."

Shizuka raised her hand up and the surrounding trees reacted. They grew taller and then she moved the tree to wrap around Deidara's clay dragon. With several tree branches extending then pierced the sleeve of the man's robe into his creation. Bringing him along with the dragon who was pushed to the ground.

"ARGH!!"

"Naruto!" she called, giving a code for the teenager who quickly jumped up to grab Gaara from the dragon's leg.

Boom! The sound of a large explosion rang out, emitting black smoke enveloping the area.

"I won't be beaten easily like that, hmm!" shouted Deidara, getting out of the black smoke while riding a clay bird. His robe was no longer worn, exposing his gray ninja outfit.

That girl, she can control the wood like that Jinchuuriki Ichibi with his sand. So annoying!

Deidara gritted his teeth in annoyance. He took out the clay dough from his pouch and ate it. Shizuka who saw that was silent, she was still on guard with the man's next action.

He vomited the clay dough onto the ground. And a giant replica of Deidara emerged from the resulting smoke. Shizuka immediately spun around and jumped away. "Did you just run away?!"

The girl still jumped away. She doesn't know what jutsu the man is using and she prefers to remain vigilant. But strangely, the explosive man flew away. And that made Shizuka a little suspicious.

"I win!" Deidara's replica inflated its body, which then detonated itself.

"Shi-chan!" before Shizuka had time to look at him, Naruto was already clasping her mouth. Carrying her in a hurry then take the girl away quickly.

"Mmhmm—" Shizuka mumbled in annoyance, confused by Naruto's sudden action. But after a while, they finally landed in an area and the girl took the time to immediately release Naruto's hand from her mouth. Taking a lot of air to control her breathing. "What are you doing—"

Shizuka's breath caught the instant she noticed the teen in front of her. Naruto has been shrouded in orange chakra-like cloaks all over his body. The girl remembered the third round of chunnin exams, it looks similar. But the difference is, there are two tails that are formed behind Naruto.

She shook her head quickly to return her focus. There was no time to be curious about his appearance. She slapped her palm to the ground. And several pieces of wood came out of the ground and caught the teenager's body. Successfully made the orange chakra disappear.

After the wood disappeared, Naruto collapsed. His head managed to lean on Shizuka's shoulder. Slouched slightly on her.

That chakra must have tired him out. Even though it managed to make his wound healed.

"Oi! Stop being lovey-dovey! This is a war, hmmm!"

Then she turned her gaze to Deidara who was still flying above his bird, not minding about his words. She was still confused by his jutsu earlier. Did he fail? Or it's an invisible attack?

"What happened?"

"When the giant replica exploded, it released an explosive that was too small to be seen with the human eye," explained Naruto, slowly getting off of her. "It was scattered in the atmosphere. So if you breathe in air, the explosives can enter your body. I can't see the explosives, but I can tell the chakra."

From Naruto's explanation, it was no wonder Deidara flew away from them. And luckily he has helped her.

And what she wondered now was how Naruto could see it. He doesn't have any doujutsu. But how come? Could it be ... It was the effect produced by extracting the Kyuubi chakra?

Ah, never mind.

"What about the Kazekage?" asked Shizuka.

"It's been secured, dattebayou!" Naruto answered, flashing his cunning foxy grin at her.

"You better take care of him, nanodayo," she pushes up her glasses. "I will finish this fight."

Shizuka made a snake hand seal. "Secret Technique: Nativity of a World of Trees!" she forces trees to grow on the ground and even from his clay bird. Earning a yelp from her opponents as she bound him with the trees.

"I'm not gonna lose!" Deidara slammed the clay on the tree's surface, creating an explosion to make him free from its bind. The clay bird was pushed down quickly and made a huge explosive sound when it hit the ground.

Taking out her kunai, Shizuka ran towards the black smoke. Her other hand controlled the tree to tie the man down. The girl jumped in, swinging the kunai to cut down Deidara's explosive attack.

"Your end is here, Deidara," said Shizuka. She controlled the tree to tie Deidara's hands so he couldn't take out the clay. Then stabbed him in the chest.

"Shi-chan!"

"Don't call me that," Shizuka turned to Naruto who was carrying the Kazekage. Then put him slowly on the ground.

Not long after, Kakashi, Sakura, Chiyo, and Team Guy arrived. "Good job. We managed to kill two Akatsuki members."