The principle behind Morkel's tracking missile was actually quite simple.
He had merely placed a few talismans inside it and infused them with Chakra. As for the tracking mechanism, he controlled it remotely using Chakra threads—just like a puppeteer manipulating a puppet.
It didn't matter what was happening behind the scenes.
The important thing was that it looked cool!
As the explosion cleared, Deidara emerged, looking utterly disheveled, his face twisted with frustration and disbelief.
"Boy, you definitely have the potential to become an artist," Deidara admitted, wiping dust from his face. "But your strength is still lacking."
With that, he pulled out a small clay figure from his pouch.
"Now, let me show you some real art..."
He hurled the clay doll straight at Morkel.
C3—Number 18!
This was the same devastating bomb Deidara had used to destroy Sunagakure, leaving Gaara severely wounded while defending his village.
Morkel eyed the seemingly insignificant little clay figure.
He raised his hand.
A smooth ice shield materialized!
But this time, instead of using it as personal protection, Morkel formed it into six interlocking walls, creating an Ice Cage!
Deidara scoffed. "How naive! Do you really think this will suppress the explosive power of Number 18?"
His eyes burned with passion.
"Art is an explosion!"
BOOM!
The cube formed by the ice shield trembled violently.
But that was all.
The expected catastrophic blast never came.
Deidara's eyes widened in shock. "He... actually blocked it?!"
The destructive force of Number 18 was powerful enough to obliterate an entire village!
And yet, it had been contained by a mere ice formation?
Impossible!
Meanwhile, inside his cockpit, Morkel remained calm, having already anticipated this result.
Without hesitation, he fired up his fighter jet and accelerated toward Deidara.
The engine roared to life.
"BZZZZZZZ!"
Deidara, unwilling to admit defeat, reached for another handful of explosive clay and stuffed it into his mouth.
After a few chews, he spat out a coarse clump of clay.
The lump of clay rapidly changed shape, transforming into a humanoid figure—an exact replica of Deidara himself!
"I prepared this technique specifically for Uchiha Itachi," Deidara declared. "But I'll test it on you first!"
With that, he released the doll and soared away on his clay bird.
This was C4—Garuda.
The explosion radius was massive, even posing a risk to Deidara himself, so he needed to create distance before detonation.
Morkel charged forward, showing no signs of slowing down.
He clapped his hands together, and ice once again formed around him!
Deidara's confidence wavered. "You won't use the same trick twice!"
If this brat managed to block his art again, how could he continue calling himself an artist?
Deidara gritted his teeth and formed a seal.
"KATSU!!"
BOOOOM!!!
A scorching heat wave erupted, sending Deidara tumbling backward.
A grin spread across his face. "Now you'll witness the true power of art!"
Garuda wasn't an ordinary explosion. Inside the clay human model were microscopic, nearly invisible clay spiders. When the doll detonated, these tiny bombs dispersed into the air.
Anyone who inhaled them was doomed.
Once inside the body, the clay spiders would detonate from within, devouring their target piece by piece until nothing remained.
On the battlefield, Morkel was caught off guard.
This blond lunatic was insane!
He was willing to sacrifice 800 of his own forces just to take out 1,000 of the enemy's!
Realizing the danger, Morkel leaped from his fighter jet and instantly activated Susanoo!
Its spectral armor materialized around him, shielding him from the explosion.
Almost nothing could break through Susanoo.
However… something felt off.
The air after the blast was oddly suffocating.
Morkel narrowed his eyes. Tiny Chakra particles floated in the atmosphere!
Those minuscule specks—harmless at first glance—were actually mini clay bombs!
Anyone who breathed them in was a walking explosion waiting to happen!
This was a brilliantly devious tactic…
Morkel quickly wrapped himself in an Ice Release barrier, completely sealing himself from the outside air.
But what about Naruto and the others?
If they inhaled even one of these things, they'd be doomed!
Morkel swiftly formed hand seals.
"Water Style: Torrential Downpour!"
Dark clouds gathered above.
Within moments—
"BOOM!"
A monstrous deluge crashed down, as if an entire waterfall had been dumped from the heavens!
Naruto and the others were drenched, struggling to stay on their feet.
Kakashi, half-submerged, sputtered in frustration.
"What kind of idiot uses Water Style to flood his own teammates?"
Despite the unintended inconvenience, the plan was effective.
The tiny clay bombs were washed out of the air, rendering them harmless.
Kakashi and the others scrambled to higher ground, gasping for breath.
They turned to Morkel, who was now searching frantically for something.
"What the hell was that for?" Kakashi demanded.
Morkel scratched the back of his head. "Uh… I just thought the rain would help purify the air."
Then—it hit him.
Gaara!
Deidara's explosion had been centered around Gaara's location!
Wouldn't that mean—?!
"Please tell me there's at least a body left!"
Desperately, Morkel scanned the area.
After much searching, he finally found Gaara… floating in the water.
He was still intact, but barely.
His clothes had been burned to tatters. His body was covered in severe burns, and his hair was completely singed off.
Morkel let out a breath of relief.
At least he wasn't reduced to ashes.
But now came the real problem—how was he supposed to bring Gaara back?
If he returned Gaara in this state, people would definitely question the competency of Konoha's shinobi!
Meanwhile, Kakashi and Chiyo had regrouped.
Their battle against Sasori had been interrupted by the flood, allowing the puppet master to escape.
Chiyo sighed. "I didn't expect Sasori to be so ruthless."
Turning, they saw Morkel tending to Gaara's lifeless body.
He had to bring Gaara back.
But resurrection required sacrificing a life.
That was the fundamental rule of all reincarnation jutsu.
A life for a life.
Kakashi shook his head regretfully. "The Kazekage was so young..."
Chiyo, however, was deep in thought.
She had one final technique.
A forbidden jutsu developed in Sunagakure—the ability to transfer one's own life force to another.
It was a one-for-one trade.
Chiyo clenched her fists.
This was the perfect deal.
She had lived long enough.
Gaara was the future of Sunagakure.
This sacrifice would be worth it.
Before she could step forward, Morkel suddenly clapped his hands.
"I have a solution!" he declared.
At the same time, Chiyo spoke.
"I have a way!"
They blinked at each other.
Morkel scratched his head. "Wait… do we have different plans?"
Chiyo smiled warmly, mistaking his words.
"This boy is willing to give his life for the Kazekage?!"
But Morkel had something different in mind.
He summoned a Wood Style clone.
Then, he produced a small turtle.
His plan?
Use the clone as the sacrificial medium and transfer the turtle's life energy into Gaara.
By using Wood Release's natural life force, he could trick the Shinigami!
As Morkel performed the ritual, an eerie presence loomed behind him.
The Shinigami had arrived.
Would his plan work?
Everyone held their breath.
---
To Be Continued…