章 171: Chapter 171
"Deidara, now that you understand you're a member of the Hagoromo clan, surrounded by your blood relatives, how do you feel about that?" asked Motoni, who was also present.
Without thinking, Deidara immediately blurted out, "Feel? Of course, I think the name 'Hagoromo' has a very artistic vibe! Hmm!"
"Idiot!" Morin rushed up to Deidara, smacking him hard on the forehead. He sighed heavily with frustration. "Now is not the time to talk about art! You should be happy that you're finally reunited with the Hagoromo clan!"
"Agh! Old man Morin! You hit me on the head again! Ever since I left the village, I swore no one would hit me on the—wait..."
Deidara stopped mid-sentence, remembering how Gensou had already knocked him on the head twice. His so-called vow had long since been broken.
"Forget it. You're too old to be so irritable, so I won't hold it against you. Hmm," Deidara huffed, turning his head away, ignoring Morin.
Morin's hands trembled as he resisted the urge to smack Deidara again.
Gensou raised a hand, signaling for Morin to step back.
Morin, still worried, gave Deidara a concerned glance as he stepped aside, unsure if the young man would understand the gravity of the situation.
"Deidara," Gensou's voice called out.
This time, Deidara immediately quieted down.
It wasn't just because of the previous beatings that Deidara became compliant. It was more the presence of Gensou, who sat calmly, one hand lightly tapping the armrest of his chair, emitting no visible aura. Yet, the pressure Deidara felt was suffocating.
Deidara had met powerful figures before—Onoki, Itachi, and the Akatsuki leader Pain—who could all defeat him, but none had ever made him feel this way.
Even if all of them combined, they wouldn't give him the same sense of overwhelming pressure.
Deidara, who was usually restless, fell silent, and the others stood quietly by, listening intently.
Without beating around the bush, Gensou asked directly:
"Are you interested in rejoining the Hagoromo clan?"
Deidara wasn't dumb. He knew the situation he was in.
It was just returning to his homeland, right?
While it was disappointing that he couldn't blow up the airborne fortress into a spectacular firework display, Deidara thought about all the artistic creations that awaited him in the future. Besides, these people hadn't insulted his art, so he nodded and said:
"Of course, the Hagoromo clan has a very artistic... ahem, I'm willing to return. Hmm."
Deidara, who had instinctively wanted to mention art again, quickly changed his tune when Gensou gave him a sharp glance, and returned to the topic at hand.
"Good," Gensou nodded. "From now on, you will serve as the Hagoromo clan's spy, returning to the Akatsuki and relaying all relevant information about the organization."
"What?" Deidara was taken aback.
He had fully prepared himself to shed his Akatsuki uniform and spend the next while comfortably staying with the Hagoromo clan.
Unexpectedly, he was being sent back to the Akatsuki as an undercover agent.
Not that Deidara had ever felt much loyalty to the Akatsuki. He had joined mostly because Itachi had defeated him and disregarded his art. Deidara had joined, intending to get revenge one day.
However...
After joining the Akatsuki, Deidara had seen the unique abilities of the other members and started to appreciate their powers as forms of art.
Additionally, the battles to capture tailed beasts were full of excitement, fitting the thrill-seeking nature of an artist. Deidara had begun to think of the Akatsuki as an "artist collective."
Everyone was an artist, and if possible, Deidara wanted their actions to continue.
With a bitter expression, Deidara asked, "Can I not go?"
Gensou replied bluntly, "Of course not."
Deidara sighed.
Though everyone in the Akatsuki was an artist, for the sake of his own future in art, he would have to sacrifice the others.
Besides, being an undercover agent was a form of art in itself.
"Just imagine," Deidara thought, "the moment when my true identity is revealed, and the shock, disbelief, anger, and killing intent from the other Akatsuki members who think they know me. All those intense emotions condensed into a single moment—that would be a perfect expression of my art!"
Deidara stroked his chin, and after some thought, his eyes lit up.
And having the Hagoromo surname? That was yet another artistic touch.
Quickly convincing himself, Deidara confidently pounded his chest and said, "So you want me to be a spy for the Akatsuki? No problem, I'm familiar with them! I'll definitely get the job done! Hmm!"
Standing nearby, Morin finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Deidara's life had been spared.
Gensou also nodded in satisfaction.
Unlike the original story, where all sorts of unexpected events could happen, it was important to keep a close eye on the Akatsuki, whose mission to capture tailed beasts could cause serious trouble. Naturally, Gensou wanted to monitor their every move.
Deidara, being a member of the Hagoromo clan, was the perfect candidate for the job.
Of course, if Deidara had proven too reckless, Gensou would have been prepared to take him out. Thankfully, Deidara wasn't entirely ruled by his explosive tendencies, and he agreed to the task.
Still, as a precaution, Gensou had a backup plan.
"Since you're rejoining the Hagoromo clan, you'll need to receive the Hagoromo Mark."
As Gensou spoke, he vanished from his seat and reappeared next to Deidara, his five fingers igniting with a deep red flame.
"What... what are you going to do?" Deidara sensed something ominous.
Morin quickly chimed in, "Deidara, this is a great honor! The clan leader himself is placing the Hagoromo Mark on you!"
Indeed, it was a significant honor.
Many in the room felt a deep sense of awe as they watched the clan leader, who hadn't placed the Hagoromo Mark on anyone since the Warring States period, prepare to mark Deidara.
It was a symbol of pride, far more prestigious than receiving the mark from elders or other seniors.
Deidara didn't yet understand the significance of what was happening.
Soon, he felt a burning pain on his chest.
Fortunately, the pain came and went quickly.
When it was over, Deidara looked down to find a red symbol of a hammer and scythe etched onto his chest.
And honestly, it looked pretty artistic.
"This is the Hagoromo Mark," Morin, in an unusually good mood, explained the many functions of the mark to Deidara, such as sensing other clan members, self-igniting, and locating...
"Locating?"
Deidara's body stiffened as the word echoed in his mind.
"Damn it!!!"
(End of Chapter)
====
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]
章 172: Chapter 172
If anyone thought that Deidara, upon discovering his origins in the Hagoromo clan, would sincerely dedicate himself to serving the clan, they were mistaken.
This was the same man who had abandoned his position as the Third Tsuchikage's personal disciple and potential successor to the title of Fourth Tsuchikage, all on a whim. His thought process was anything but normal.
Forced by the circumstances, Deidara initially planned to stay with the Hagoromo clan for a while, to see if there were any noteworthy artists or inspiring works of art that could keep him interested.
If there were, he would stay, just like he had done with the Akatsuki.
If there weren't, he would find an opportunity to leave, abandoning both the Hagoromo clan and the Akatsuki, and continue his wandering artistic journey.
However, he hadn't anticipated being sent back to the Akatsuki as a spy, and on top of that, having the Hagoromo Mark planted on him.
With that mark capable of tracking his location, no matter where he went, the Hagoromo clan could find him.
Deidara's mind was filled with curses at his misfortune.
But Gensou wasn't done yet.
To ensure that Deidara remained motivated and obedient, the Hagoromo Mark was just a safeguard—the real motivation was yet to come.
"Would you like to witness a once-in-a-lifetime display of art?" Gensou asked.
Deidara was surprised that Gensou even mentioned the word "art."
His eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he nodded excitedly.
"Of course!"
With that, Gensou reached out, grabbing Deidara by the shoulder.
A fierce wind surged around them, and in the blink of an eye, the two vanished from the sight of the others present.
Everything happened so quickly!
Deidara couldn't even open his eyes.
He had no idea how much time had passed when he finally managed to open his eyes again. They were now standing on solid ground.
Not only that, but the seals on his body had been lifted, and his chakra was flowing freely again.
Confused, Deidara looked toward Gensou, not understanding what he was planning.
Gensou smiled faintly, cracking his knuckles as he said,
"Now, it's time for you to witness truly great art."
Boom!
Deafening explosions echoed across the barren wilderness, as if the entire world were being torn apart by a cataclysmic event.
Even from a distance, one could see flames shooting up into the sky.
There were gales, torrential rain, lightning, meteors, ice, magma…
For a long while, the chaos continued.
Finally, everything settled, the skies cleared, and calm returned.
Thud.
Lying at the bottom of a massive crater, utterly exhausted and covered in soot, Deidara opened his mouth, with puffs of black smoke still emerging from his throat.
In stark contrast, Gensou, who was standing nearby, clean and unscathed, approached with the same calm smile, asking,
"Well? What do you think?"
Deidara's head was too heavy to move, but his eyes rolled toward Gensou as he lay there in a daze, staring at him for a while.
At last, from the depths of his heart, Deidara spoke with genuine admiration:
"I've seen... true art! Hmm!!"
"Good."
Gensou nodded in satisfaction.
It wasn't in vain, giving Deidara a full-force demonstration of what true art could achieve.
After all, wasn't "art an explosion"?
Gensou had shown Deidara just how far that kind of art could go.
As he had expected, Deidara, having experienced it firsthand, had no complaints. In fact, when he looked at Gensou now, his eyes were filled with admiration.
"This... this is the kind of great artist I've been searching for my whole life!" Deidara's heart burned with newfound passion.
In truth, someone with Deidara's personality could be easily managed, as long as you found the right approach.
For someone like Deidara, the best approach was to give him a shocking, unforgettable experience in his most beloved field—art.
Thankfully, Deidara's obsession was with explosions, not painting or singing.
In the realm of devastating, powerful destruction, Gensou, with his mastery of countless jutsu and multiple Kekkei Genkai, was an undeniable expert.
With his full power on display, he had completely won Deidara over.
Forget Uchiha Itachi. Forget Pain.
None of them mattered as much to Deidara as Hagoromo Gensou now.
"Once you've recovered from your injuries, return to the Akatsuki," Gensou ordered.
"Yes, Boss," Deidara immediately replied.
Gensou glanced at him. "Call me Clan Leader."
"Yes, Clan Leader!"
Thanks to medical ninjutsu, it didn't take long for Deidara to fully recover.
Flap, flap.
His clay bird flapped its wings as it soared through the sky.
Standing on the bird's back, once again wearing his Akatsuki uniform, Deidara looked back longingly at the now-hidden airborne fortress.
If it were up to him, he would have stayed by Gensou's side forever, discussing art with such a great artist instead of returning to the Akatsuki as a spy.
Previously, Deidara had thought that the Akatsuki members were quite skilled, worthy of being called artists in their own right.
But now...
"How can I create great art if I surround myself with such vermin?! Hmm!"
Deidara sighed deeply.
But he couldn't disobey the great artist, his mentor... or rather, his Clan Leader.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll just have to work hard as a spy and bring down the Akatsuki as soon as possible so I can return!" Deidara cheered himself on.
He even started wondering if he should take matters into his own hands, maybe kill a few of the Akatsuki members or try to turn some of them against the organization.
"Even though Sasori's artistic ideals are completely opposed to mine, at least he's a genuine artist. Maybe I can convince him to switch sides."
Deidara stroked his chin, pondering as his clay bird flew steadily toward his destination.
An hour later...
On a remote cliffside in the Land of Fire.
The clay bird landed, and as Deidara jumped off, he heard a familiar voice beside him:
"Deidara, you've been gone so long, I thought you were dead."
Turning his head, Deidara saw Sasori, clad in his Akatsuki uniform, walking toward him.
With a grin, Deidara greeted him cheerfully, "Relax, Sasori. The Art Duo still hasn't made a name for itself in the ninja world, so how could I be dead? Hmm."
"I've told you many times, a name is just a burden," Sasori replied expressionlessly, sizing Deidara up before asking, "What happened?"
Deidara shrugged. "I was working on some art when a group called the Rockhead Clan interrupted me. That's why I was delayed. Hmm."
Sasori knew exactly what Deidara meant by "working on art," but the mention of the Rockhead Clan piqued his curiosity.
"Ninja hunters?"
"Oh? You know them, Sasori?"
"I know of them."
Sasori had his own network of information and was aware of many things happening in the ninja world.
Deidara's mind began to turn, and he suggested,
"Hey, Sasori, how about we team up and take down the Rockhead Clan together? Those bastards ambushed me, then ran off before I could chase them down. Hmm."
Deidara's real plan was to lure Sasori to the Land of Waves, where the Clan Leader could capture him. Then, he could persuade Sasori to join their side.
But Sasori wasn't taking the bait.
"Not interested."
If the Rockhead Clan had any Kekkei Genkai, Sasori might have been inclined to make them into human puppets.
But they didn't.
"The Leader's mission is more important," Sasori reminded him.
"We're still looking for the Three-Tails?" Deidara groaned. "The ocean is huge, and that turtle likes to hide at the bottom. We've been searching for days and still haven't found it. How are we supposed to find it?"
The search for the wild Three-Tails had been a recurring task for the Akatsuki. But the vast ocean had made it nearly impossible to find any trace of the beast.
This time was no different.
As one of the main searchers, Deidara had spent countless boring days searching the skies, still coming up with nothing.
He wanted to quit.
But Sasori's message was that they were expected to work overtime on this task. It was the Leader's order.
Ranking so low in the Akatsuki's hierarchy, Deidara couldn't argue. He grudgingly agreed, though his dissatisfaction was evident.
Still, in his heart, he added another reason to bring down the Akatsuki:
Using its members like workhorses—it had to go!
(End of Chapter)
====
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]
週次パワーステータス
200+ 推薦
ランキング 
211 推薦
チケット あなたも好きかも
段落コメント