"Huh?!"
"What's going on?!"
Onoki quickly got up, his expression grave as he went to the window, looking towards the direction of the explosion.
But after only a moment's gaze, his expression froze!
This...
That direction... could it be...?
Deidara?!
Onoki's pupils constricted, his expression turning sour.
He never imagined,
After being quiet for so long, Deidara was causing trouble again!!
What happened...?!
Looking into the distance,
Onoki's gaze darkened.
In fact,
Although Deidara had moved out of Iwagakure and was living alone in the outlying temple,
From the direction of the Tsuchikage's office, one could coincidentally observe the movements over there from a subtle angle.
And this angle was, of course, not accidental.
It was deliberately arranged by Onoki.
Because,
As Tsuchikage,
Onoki knew better than anyone in Iwagakure
just how strong Deidara's talent was, and how high his future achievements could be.
So,
Even though this kid often pulled terrorist attacks and played with explosives every day,
Onoki still harbored a glimmer of hope for him.
Hoping that one day he would mend his ways and use his Kekkei Genkai, Explosion Release, in the right places.
Thus,
when Onoki retired in the future, Deidara could take over as the Fourth Tsuchikage.
But...
Contrary to expectations,
This kid Deidara only ever had his own explosion art in his heart, completely uninterested in the position of Tsuchikage.
And he constantly sought ways to carry out explosive attacks, trying to prove himself to the people of Iwagakure.
Unfortunately, he went about it the wrong way.
No choice.
Finally, to comply with public opinion, Onoki had to let Deidara move out of Iwagakure and live alone in the outer temple.
However,
He didn't expect,
After being silent for so long,
That familiar sound of explosion was ringing out again!
Just then,
Behind the door,
A middle-aged Shinobi walked in, his expression helpless, and said:
"Tsuchikage-sama,"
"It seems... it's that guy Deidara pulling another terrorist attack again..."
"However,"
"He's now living alone on the outskirts of the village. Even if the noise is loud, it won't harm the village's buildings or civilians."
"Probably nothing to worry about."
The middle-aged Shinobi said calmly.
He had witnessed countless terrorist attacks back in the day, so he was somewhat used to it.
Therefore,
When he saw Onoki's grave expression,
He instinctively wanted to ease the Tsuchikage's concerns.
But,
After his words fell,
Onoki, by the window, frowned even deeper.
He softly repeated a phrase:
"Terrorist attack...?"
Hearing this, the middle-aged Shinobi slowly walked over, squinted towards the distance, and nodded:
"Hmm... probably so."
"That guy Deidara really hasn't grasped Your Excellency's expectations, has he? Seems unchanged, just like before."
"...?"
Huh?
Unchanged?
At these words, as if reminded of something, Onoki's expression shifted.
Then he fixed his gaze and said solemnly:
"No..."
"Something's off!"
"This time, it's different from before!"
"...Eh?"
The middle-aged shinobi was startled.
"Different?"
Is there...?
I don't see it...
The middle-aged Shinobi looked puzzledly at the distant smoke and flames,
Aside from being a bit more powerful,
It really didn't seem much different...
However,
Just as he was puzzled,
Onoki suddenly spoke gravely again:
"In the past, every time Deidara carried out an explosive attack, he would deliberately choose a conspicuous spot in the village..."
"Because he wanted to showcase his art in public."
"But this time..."
"Logically, there shouldn't be anyone at the temple...?"
"Why did he cause an explosion?"
"...?!"
At these words,
The middle-aged Shinobi was startled, and finally realized!
Then, with a strange expression, he said:
"You mean..."
"Someone probably went there to see him...?"
Onoki nodded, his voice firm:
"Probably so."
"Let's go. We'll go over and have a look."
"Whether friend or foe, anyone who can make Deidara use an explosion of this power to deal with them is certainly not ordinary."
"Since my nap is over, it's time to stretch my muscles!"
Onoki said with composed momentum.
Hearing this, the middle-aged Shinobi behind him felt a chill and quickly replied:
"Yes!!"
He naturally knew that Onoki had always been very concerned about Deidara, so he didn't hesitate.
Thus,
A few minutes later,
Onoki, leading a small squad of Iwagakure Shinobi, headed in that direction.
...
Meanwhile, over by the temple,
Zetsu was still hiding in the distance, staring at the temple ruins and smoke, his gaze shifting as he tried to find something.
And then,
Deidara, atop his bird in the sky, noticed this.
He grinned, looked over, and said loudly:
"Hey!"
"Half-black-half-white guy, no need to look!!"
"That yellow-eyed partner of yours... should have been sent off by my art by now!"
"Daring to use his body against my explosive clay..."
"Heh heh,"
"I've never seen someone so arrogant."
Deidara stood atop his white bird, arms crossed, looking down at Zetsu below, a smug smile on his face.
However,
Just then,
Suddenly, from within the smoke and rubble below,
A familiar, calm, chuckling voice unexpectedly emerged.
"Well, today you have."
"--?!!"
Hearing this voice,
Deidara in the sky was instantly shaken!
Huh?!
This!?
What's going on?
He immediately turned his head in horror, quickly looking towards the rubble below!
But just then, another calm voice came from within.
"Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro."
Clang!
The moment the words fell,
Six brilliant white light panels appeared around Deidara in the sky, and then, they all shot towards him at once!!
Their speed was so fast that Deidara couldn't even react!!
His pupils contracted sharply, and before he could make any move, he was firmly locked in place by those six light rods!
Completely unable to move!
"?!"
Realizing this, Deidara's expression changed drastically.
Wh-what's going on?!
What are these lights?!
A secret technique?!
Or a Kekkei Genkai...?!
D-damn it!!
Deidara gritted his teeth, trying with all his might to break free, but it was useless!
And just then,
From the smoke below,
Kyo lightly leaped and came to the sky, facing Deidara as an equal.
But upon seeing this, Deidara was dumbfounded again.
"???"
Whoa?!
What's going on...?!
This guy is... unharmed again?!
After increasing the explosion's power, he still... couldn't hurt him?!?!
No way...
This guy can actually fly like the old man Tsuchikage!?!
Deidara was stunned.
The man before him,
Within seconds, had displayed several completely different kinds of powerful abilities!
Strange!
Too strange...!
Deidara stared at Kyo, his expression dark.
And then,
Kyo looked at him expressionlessly and said calmly:
"You lost."
"Come with us. Join Akatsuki."
"..."
Hearing this, Deidara instantly gritted his teeth, protesting indignantly:
"No! I'm not convinced!"
"This weird collection of powers... there's no way I acknowledge you!!"
"Join Akatsuki?"
"...Impossible!"
Deidara said resolutely, clenching his jaw.
It wasn't that he was resisting Akatsuki, he just... simply wasn't willing to lose like this!
Thus,
His tone was passionate.
Hearing this,
Zetsu below was stunned.
But,
Kyo in the sky remained calm,
Hearing Deidara's words, he merely raised an eyebrow and said calmly:
"Problem children really are always a headache."
"In that case,"
"Then,"
"Let me convince you a bit."
As he spoke,
Kyo turned slightly, looking towards a distant mountain of boulders, and said leisurely:
"If I'm not mistaken,"
"Behind that mountain should be Iwagakure, right?"
"...Eh?"
Hearing this series of words,
Deidara was momentarily stunned, then his expression darkened, saying:
"So what if it's Iwagakure?"
"But... what do you mean by 'convince me'?"
"..."
Kyo raised his eyes slightly, then raised his right hand, a glow appearing on his palm.
He lifted the corner of his mouth, turned back to Deidara, and smiled:
"To let you see, of course..."
"True art."
"--?!"