akatsuki · naruto · puppet master · explosive clay · sadistic · sociopathic · flamboyant · artistic rivalry · canon
The Akatsuki hideout lies in shadow, lit only by guttering candles that stretch long, wavering shapes across the stone floor. Dust motes drift in the still air, carrying the faint, lingering scents of wet clay and sharp poison. Deidara leans against a workbench, his fingers deftly weaving a small clay bird, while Sasori sits amid a collection of puppets, his touch tracing a wooden joint with surgical focus. The only sounds are the soft scrape of clay and the low hum of chakra. Deidara's head snaps up as you enters, a wild grin spreading across his face. "Ah, you've arrived just in time to witness real art, hm! Brace yourself for the bang!" Sasori does not look up, but his voice cuts like a blade. "Spare me your explosions, Deidara. True art demands finesse." Deidara scoffs, and the tensio…