Deidara: The Explosive Artist of Naruto Shippuden

Deidara is one of the most memorable and explosive characters in the anime Naruto Shippuden. He is a rogue ninja from the Hidden Stone Village who joined the Akatsuki, a criminal organization that seeks to capture the nine tailed beasts and use them for world domination.

Deidara is a master of art and explosives, using his unique ability to create clay sculptures that can detonate with devastating power. In this article, we will explore Deidara’s background, personality, abilities, and role in the Naruto Shippuden story.

All about Deidara

• Birthdate: May 5
• Sex: Male
• Age: Part II: 19
• Status: Deceased
• Height: Part II: 166 cm
• Weight: Part II: 50.8 kg
• Blood type: AB
• Kekkei Genkai: Explosion Release
• Classification: S-rank/Missing-nin/Mercenary Ninja
• Occupation: Terrorist Bomber
• Affiliation: Iwagakure/Akatsuki
• Team: Explosion Corps/Surprise Attack and Diversion Platoon
• Partner: Sasori/Tobi

Deidara’s Background

During his time as an Iwagakure shinobi, Deidara came to know Onoki, and became familiarised with his fighting style. He possessed the Explosion Release kekkei genkai which he used as a member of the Explosion Corps.

Though praised highly for his clay sculptures, Deidara’s desire to reach even greater heights in his art resulted with him stealing one of his village’s kinjutsu that allows one to knead their chakra into substances.

Using explosive clay to take out his pursuers, Deidara found the art he had desired: the Art of a Single Moment (一瞬の芸術, Isshun no Geijutsu).

Remembering the first moment whenever he detonated his explosive clay, he recalls the process that allowed him to reach this art. Since then, Deidara became a missing-nin and offered his services as a bomber to insurgents in various countries.

Deidara’s exploits eventually caught the attention of Akatsuki, and Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Sasori were sent to recruit him. Deidara refused at first until he accepts a challenge from Itachi on the condition that Akatsuki let him be if he won.

However, Deidara was easily defeated by Itachi’s Sharingan and begrudgingly joined the organisation where he was partnered with Sasori. In the anime, Sasori and Deidara were immediately tasked with eliminating Orochimaru for betraying the organisation.

Upon arriving in the Land of Wind and witnessing the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation by Orochimaru, the Sannin retreated after his technique proved incomplete.

After Deidara attempted to kill him by blowing up his base, Deidara and Sasori searched the ruins but were unable to confirm his death as they didn’t find his corpse. At some point afterwards, Deidara returned to Iwagakure and left it in destruction after detonating a bomb within the village, as he flew away.

With his ego crushed from his defeat at the hands of Itachi’s dōjutsu, Deidara carried a murderous loathing for Itachi and his Sharingan for the rest of his life.

Acknowledging that Itachi was a more powerful opponent, Deidara took steps during his time with Akatsuki to ensure he could get revenge on Itachi, such as training his left eye to counter genjutsu, and devising the means to create C4.

Deidara’s Personality

Deidara is a proud and arrogant person, who considers himself an artist of the highest caliber. He is very passionate about his art, and often expresses his admiration for his own creations. He also likes to show off his skills, and enjoys seeing the reactions of his opponents and victims. He believes that art is an explosion, and that nothing can match the beauty and power of his detonations. He is very dismissive of other forms of art, especially those that are static or long-lasting. He also has a rivalry with Sasori, who considers his puppets to be the ultimate art form.

Deidara is also very intelligent and cunning, able to devise complex strategies and tactics in battle. He can adapt to different situations, and use his clay bombs in various ways. He is also very observant and analytical, able to deduce the abilities and weaknesses of his enemies. However, he can also be impulsive and reckless, especially when he gets excited or angry. He tends to underestimate his opponents, and sometimes lets his emotions get the better of him. He also has a habit of ending his sentences with “hm” or “un”, which annoys some people.

Deidara’s Appearance

Deidara had slanted blue eyes and long golden blond hair which he wore drawn into a half ponytail with the rest hanging down freely. The bang hanging over his left eye is what concealed his eye scope signifying that he was a long-range fighter, but as shown in his fight with Sasuke, it was not permanently attached to his face.

After casting the Iwagakure Kinjutsu on himself, he developed a mouth on both of his palms, and on the left side of his chest he had a large, stitched-up mouth. He used this kinjutsu to supplement his Explosive Release to his clay.

Before joining Akatsuki, Deidara wore a blue and grey kimono jacket with a fishnet under-shirt inside and khaki pants with sandals and a belt-like pouch with a chain.

His blond hair was also tied into a lower ponytail and an Iwa forehead protector. After joining Akatsuki, he wore their signature cloak, navy blue pants with matching shinobi sandals, and an Akatsuki ring on his right index finger, which bore the kanji for “blue or green” (青, ao) and was teal in colour.

He also wore black nail polish on his fingers and toes. Under his cloak, he wore a V-neck, sleeveless, midriff shirt with mesh armour underneath it along with pants, stirrups, and sandals.

He also wore a utility belt with two bags on either side, which he used to carry his clay. He also scratched a line across his forehead protector to signify his severed ties with Iwagakure, a common practice of Akatsuki members.

Because of a certain turn of events, Deidara suffered damage to his arms. Deidara had his left arm crushed by Gaara’s sand, and the elbow of his right arm was blown into another dimension by Kakashi’s Kamui.

Deidara had his arms restored by having Kakuzu sew what was left of his arms with what appears to be a transplanted arm. His transplant was dark brown and had several wrinkles on it.

After Kabuto reincarnated him, Deidara displayed the black sclerae and darker irides seen in other reincarnated shinobi, due to the talisman placed into his head. Deidara no longer wore his forehead protector resulting in his hair being looser, although it was still kept tied into a ponytail.

In place of his previous clothing, Deidara, like the other reincarnated Akatsuki members, wore a red cloak with white lining. During the anime-exclusive Power arc, he originally wore a black robe with red lining before wearing the red cloak for the remaining of his servitude under Kabuto before and during the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Deidara’s Abilities

Deidara was a very powerful S-rank missing-nin whose abilities earned him recognition within Akatsuki. Even the organisation’s leader, Pain, praised Deidara’s abilities, openly admitting that he was something unique, and that his loss was a major blow to the group.

Deidara was able to single-handedly defeat Gaara (Shukaku’s jinchūriki and the Fifth Kazekage), and Isobu, despite fighting the both of them in their home territories.

He also fought on equal grounds with Sasuke Uchiha, an Uchiha clan prodigy, despite his techniques being at an elemental disadvantage against those of Sasuke.

Intelligence

One of Deidara’s strong points was his intelligence, often using tricks, misdirection, and calculated gambles to get his explosives in range of an opponent.

He demonstrated these skills in his fight with Gaara, putting clay into Gaara’s sand as it destroyed his arm. During his battle against Sasuke, he managed to trick him on a few occasions, such as trapping him between his C2 dragon in the sky and the landmines buried underneath the ground by Tobi, and again when he lured him into his C4 attack at point-blank.

In the anime, Deidara managed to deduce a workaround to his weakness to Lightning Release by using a sword as a makeshift ground rod to siphon off the lightning-based attacks his explosive clay was weak against.

Ninjutsu

Deidara had shown some skill with the Shadow Clone Technique, incorporating it into some of his techniques, such as the Suicide Bombing Clone.

Nature Transformation and Explosive Clay

Deidara possessed the Explosion Release kekkei genkai. This allowed him by simultaneously using earth and lightning chakra natures to give his chakra explosive qualities.

Deidara also possessed a special mouth on each palm and on the left side of his chest as a result of stealing and using a powerful kinjutsu from his village on himself.

By commonly using these two special abilities in unison, he could create explosive clay: clay infused with his explosive chakra that detonated with the command Katsu (喝) and the seal of confrontation.

This clay could be moulded into a wide variety of shapes and forms, growing to large sizes when infused with chakra (with Deidara performing the necessary hand seals), and could be controlled at will. This allowed him to create living explosives to attack opponents at long-range.

Deidara could even create clones from the clay and can detonate them, which will make for a deadly surprise attack, and if need be, create clay minions to control with a cord from a distance.

Deidara’s clay creations range from microscopic to gigantic in size, allowing him to adapt to any situation from creating dragons to shoot smaller clay bombs, to working in conjunction with Obito to lay explosive clay landmines under ground to limit the opponent’s movements.

As an ultimate last resort, Deidara could turn himself into a bomb by devouring explosive clay that has a large blast radius in which he calls his “Ultimate Art”.

Deidara could also use the clay for other purposes, as he was frequently seen creating birds to be used for transportation, which also functioned as a way to easily infiltrate villages on missions.

It seemed he also knew standard earth-based techniques, as shown from his Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique, which he used to avoid damage from one of his mass-scale bombs. Since all of his explosives were earth-based, they were vulnerable to lightning, and most could thereby be defused with lightning-based attacks.

Deidara’s clay bombs have different levels of power, depending on the amount of clay used and the shape of the bomb. He uses a code system to classify them:

• C1: The lowest level of bombs, which are small enough to fit in his palm. They are usually shaped like animals or insects, and can be used for reconnaissance or diversion.
• C2: A higher level of bombs, which are larger and more powerful than C1. They are usually shaped like larger animals or mythical creatures, such as birds or dragons. They can fly or move on their own, and have various abilities such as shooting projectiles or releasing smaller bombs.
• C3: The highest level of conventional bombs, which are massive in size and destructive power. They are usually shaped like humanoid figures or statues, and can cause huge explosions that can wipe out an entire area.
• C4: A special type of bomb that is invisible to the naked eye. It is shaped like a giant version of Deidara himself, and releases microscopic bombs that enter the bloodstream of anyone who inhales them. The bombs then destroy the cells of the victim from within.
• C0: The ultimate type of bomb that Deidara can create using all of his clay and chakra. It is essentially a suicide bomb that causes a massive explosion that can destroy everything within a large radius.

In addition to his clay bombs, Deidara also has other abilities that enhance his combat performance. He has a pair of telescopic eyes that allow him to see long distances and spot chakra signatures. He also has a third eye on his chest that he can use to see behind him or in blind spots. He can also use the Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique to burrow underground and avoid attacks. He is also proficient in using shadow clones and the Five-Seal Barrier Pass Technique, which are common techniques among the Akatsuki members.

Eye Enhancement

Deidara wore a scope on his left eye for long-range observation, and he had trained the eye itself to counter genjutsu, allowing him to see through and negate them. When he did this, his pupil would contract.

This training was done in order to counter Itachi’s powerful genjutsu skills, of which he had a considerable loathing for, and wished to defeat him when he got the chance.

Deidara also seems to be able to see long distances without his scope as after being reincarnated, he found enemy shinobi lurking near Tobi’s hideout; he still needed to close his right eye in order to use his left eye for long distance vision.

Physical Prowess

Deidara’s stealth skills were rather proficient, able to sneak up on two of Konoha’s Anbu members as they were scouting. He possessed high reaction speed, able to avoid a high-speed blitz by Sasuke. He also had enough strength to dislodge the Fūma Shuriken that pierced and pinned his arms using his legs.

Role in Naruto Shippuden

Deidara plays a significant role in the Naruto Shippuden story, as he is involved in several major events and battles. He first appears in the Kazekage Rescue Mission, where he and Sasori capture Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage and the host of the One-Tail.

He fights against Naruto Uzumaki and Kakashi Hatake, who try to rescue Gaara. He manages to escape with Gaara’s body, but is pursued by Team Guy. He then fights against Deidara, who uses his C4 bomb to try to kill him.

However, Deidara survives by using his Sharingan to see the microscopic bombs and deactivate them with his lightning chakra. He then catches up with Deidara and cuts off his arms. Deidara tries to escape by using a C3 bomb, but is stopped by Kakashi, who uses his Kamui to warp the bomb away.

Deidara is then captured by Naruto and Sakura Haruno, who try to interrogate him about the Akatsuki’s location. However, Deidara escapes by using a clay clone and a C0 bomb, which seemingly kills him.

Deidara later reappears in the Akatsuki Suppression Mission, where he is revealed to have survived his C0 explosion by using one of Sasori’s spare puppet bodies. He is then paired with Tobi, a new member of the Akatsuki who replaces Sasori.

He and Tobi are sent to capture the Three-Tails, a giant turtle-like beast that roams in a lake. They manage to subdue the beast and seal it inside a giant clay fish. However, they are confronted by Team Kakashi and Team Kurenai, who try to stop them.

Deidara fights against Kakashi again, while Tobi fights against Naruto. Deidara uses his C2 dragon to attack Kakashi from the air, while Tobi uses his Kamui to dodge Naruto’s attacks from the ground. However, they are eventually overpowered by their opponents, and are forced to retreat.

Deidara’s final appearance is in the Itachi Pursuit Mission, where he and Tobi track down Itachi Uchiha, who is hiding in an abandoned Uchiha hideout. Deidara plans to kill Itachi as revenge for his previous defeat, while Tobi follows him out of curiosity.

They encounter Sasuke Uchiha, Itachi’s younger brother who is also seeking to kill him. Deidara engages Sasuke in a fierce battle, while Tobi watches from a safe distance. Deidara uses his various clay bombs to attack Sasuke, but Sasuke counters them with his Sharingan and his lightning-based techniques.

Deidara becomes frustrated by Sasuke’s calmness and arrogance, and decides to use his C4 bomb as a last resort. However, Sasuke once again survives by using his Sharingan and his lightning chakra.

Deidara then realizes that Sasuke has the Mangekyo Sharingan, which allows him to see through his bombs and manipulate them with his genjutsu. Deidara becomes enraged by this revelation, and decides to use his C0 bomb as a final act of defiance. He detonates himself in a massive explosion that engulfs the entire area.

However, even this fails to kill Sasuke, who is saved by Tobi using his Kamui. Tobi then reveals himself as Madara Uchiha, the true leader of the Akatsuki and the mastermind behind everything. He praises Deidara for his sacrifice, and claims that he was a true artist.

Deidara is a fascinating character who adds a lot of excitement and drama to the Naruto Shippuden story. He is a talented artist who expresses himself through his explosive clay sculptures. He is also a formidable opponent who challenges some of the strongest characters in the series with his versatile and destructive abilities. He is driven by his passion for art and his hatred for Itachi Uchiha, which ultimately leads him to his death. He is a character who lives and dies by his own philosophy: art is an explosion.