[Temari: Whew… Luckily Nagi arrived in time. Otherwise Gaara's Tailed Beast would've been extracted again.]
[KanShiranui Kūrō: Seriously… I'm just glad I'm okay this time.]
[Tsunade: It's fortunate Nagi knows the Flying Thunder God Technique. That's the only reason he made it in time.]
[Obito Uchiha: ...]
[Minato Namikaze: ...]
[Ōnoki: Sigh… But how will they handle Deidara? If he survives, the version of me over there would likely pay to ransom him back.]
[Deidara: Hmph. Old man, mind your own business. Yeah.]
[Sasori: A quick death would be best.]
[Orochimaru: Heh heh… I doubt Nagi intends to kill you.]
[Deidara: Huh?]
Gaara looked toward Nagi.
"How should we deal with the two of them?"
Nagi pretended to ponder for a moment before replying,
"Could you hand them over to us? We can extract intelligence about the Akatsuki from them."
Gaara nodded, then looked at Maki and the others.
"I agree. What about you?"
"We follow the Kazekage's decision."
Leaving aside the alliance between KonohagaShiranui Kūre and SunagaShiranui Kūre, no one present wished to offend someone of Nagi's strength.
Nagi added,
"I will not kill them. Granny Chiyo, I'll have to trouble you to handle the elders of SunagaShiranui Kūre."
(Though realistically, they wouldn't object.)
Hearing that her grandson would live, Chiyo visibly relaxed.
"I understand. Leave those stubborn old men to me. They will agree."
"Very well. Then we'll take our leave."
Nagi and Sasuke each hoisted one captive.
"Oh—and Gaara. Next time, don't wait until my Flying Thunder God marker triggers automatically."
"…Understood. There won't be a next time."
Gaara nodded obediently.
Nagi removed the Akatsuki rings from Deidara and Sasori, then activated the Flying Thunder God Technique.
They vanished.
Orochimaru's Base – A Hidden Chamber
Moments later, Nagi and Sasuke arrived with their captives.
"Where is this?" Deidara muttered groggily as he woke.
Sasori, however, looked grave.
"…The Flying Thunder God Technique?"
"That's right," Nagi confirmed.
"To think that beyond the Second Hokage and the Yellow Flash, someone else in Konoha mastered it… You hide your strength well."
Sasori understood better than most the terror of that technique.
"Where have you brought us? What do you want?"
Nagi replied calmly,
"No need to rush. An old friend will be here shortly. As for why you're here—you'll know soon enough."
About fifteen minutes later, the chamber door opened.
Two figures entered.
"Well now… I was wondering why you chose this room, Nagi-Shiranui Kūn. So you've brought old friends to see me."
It was Orochimaru.
And beside him stood Kabuto YaShiranui Kūshi—recently returned from training at Ryūchi Cave.
Kimimaro, due to his Bloodline Disease (Kekkei Genkai Illness), was still at Ryūchi Cave undergoing both training and treatment.
Nagi could immediately sense something different about Kabuto.
Unlike in the original timeline, he had not fused Orochimaru's or the Sound Four's DNA into himself. He appeared normal—but the natural energy within him was immense.
"My my, Kabuto-san seems to have gained quite a harvest."
Nagi smiled.
"I wouldn't dare take credit. It's thanks to you—and Lord Orochimaru—that I can be of greater assistance now."
Kabuto deeply respected Nagi for saving his former matron, and like Orochimaru, Nagi valued his talents.
When Sasori saw Kabuto, a flicker of satisfaction passed through his eyes—quickly suppressed.
He turned to Orochimaru.
"Hmph. So the 'old friend' is you, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru chuckled.
"Sasori. Long time no see. So this is your true form… unchanged for decades."
"Hmph. You're hardly one to speak of appearances."
Deidara looked bewildered.
"Orochimaru? Why bring us here? Don't tell me this is revenge for when Sasori-danna and I hunted you down?"
Orochimaru smirked.
"Nagi-Shiranui Kūn wouldn't waste time on something so trivial."
"Then what's this about?" Deidara demanded.
Nagi stepped forward.
"It's simple. I admire the talents of both of you. I intend to recruit you."
[Temari: What?! Nagi wants to recruit them?!]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Nagi! They're Akatsuki members—they're criminals!]
[Deidara: Hah! As if Konoha has the right to judge us! Yeah!]
[Sasori: Shall I list Konoha's darkness for you? For example—the one I despise most. The White Fang of Konoha…]
[Shiranui Kūmo Hatake: ...]
[Kakashi Hatake: ...]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: ...]
[Danzō Shimura: Hmph. It was all for Konoha.]
[Tsunade: ...]
Deidara burst out laughing.
"Recruit us? Who do you think you are? We're Akatsuki members! If the Leader finds out, he won't let you off easily!"
Nagi looked at him almost pityingly.
"It seems Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki didn't tell you anything."
At the mention of Itachi, Sasuke's expression darkened. He nearly stepped forward to question them, but restrained himself for now.
"Tell us what?" Deidara frowned. "And why bring them up?"
Sasori had been silent, thinking.
Suddenly, realization dawned.
"The fox mask… Don't tell me—you're that person from before?"
Nagi nodded.
"That's correct."
"Wait—Sasori-danna, what are you talking about? You know him?" Deidara asked.
Sasori explained,
"Some time ago, the Leader assigned us to the Land of Wind to recruit a shinobi wearing a fox mask. However, since we were dispatched to the Land of Iron, the task fell to Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki instead."
Deidara's eyes widened.
"Don't tell me—you're that fox-masked guy? Yeah… you do wear one. But after Itachi and Kisame last reported in, the Leader never contacted them again."
Sasori's gaze sharpened.
"In my view, Itachi and Kisame are still recovering. The one who injured them… was you."
Even through a mere projection, Sasori had detected signs of physical strain in both men during their last report.
Someone had wounded them.
And now—
The fox-masked shinobi stood right in front of him.
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