The cherry-colored light gradually faded.
Yet the dust and sand in the sky still raged everywhere.
The originally rugged mountain peak,
Had now transformed into a bottomless abyss crater.
Looking at the scene ahead,
Kyo slowly withdrew his hand, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Hado #91.
He had obtained it as a reward after a side mission a year ago.
However, he never had a chance to use it.
Today, it was just the right opportunity to show off in front of Deidara.
As expected.
The power of a completely incanted Hado was truly astonishing.
This way,
It should be enough to intimidate Deidara, right?
Thinking this,
Kyo prepared to turn back and see Deidara's reaction.
But suddenly, a notification sounded in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, host! Side mission triggered!]
[Demonstrate the art of explosion once in front of Deidara (0/1), incomplete, reward unknown.]
[Ding! Congratulations, host! Side mission completed!]
[Demonstrate the art of explosion once in front of Deidara (1/1), completed! Reward: Spiritual Pressure +2000, Shop Points +300!!]
"...?"
As the notification faded, Kyo's gaze shifted.
He couldn't help but feel amused inside.
Whoa?
This works too?
Just showing off for Deidara can complete a side mission?
Nice.
Just as Kyo was pondering,
Suddenly,
Deidara's voice came from behind.
"Hey... hey, th-that..."
"P-please... this... this kind of explosion... what power... is it...?"
At this moment,
Deidara's voice was intermittent.
His tone was incredibly strange.
He seemed to be trying hard to make his speech more polite...
Completely inconsistent with his usual rude personality.
Hearing this,
Kyo immediately turned back.
And there,
The trapped Deidara was grinning, but his eyes were practically shining, his face still filled with fanatical excitement.
The previous arrogance and insolence had completely vanished!
What remained,
Was only longing and pursuit.
Seeing this,
Kyo found it amusing.
Sure enough,
Problem children, though headache-inducing,
Are also very easy to handle at certain times.
One big explosion,
And he was completely subdued.
Thinking this,
Kyo slightly raised an eyebrow, looked at Deidara, and chuckled:
"How about it, want to learn?"
"...Eh?"
Learn?
Hearing this word, Deidara paused slightly,
And couldn't help but freeze.
Ever since back then,
When he successfully mastered his Kekkei Genkai, Explosion Release,
He had almost never heard this word again.
Because,
No one could teach him anymore.
Even the strongest of Iwagakure, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki,
Was equally unable to teach him the art of explosion.
But now,
The man before him, wearing the red cloud black robe with golden pupils, seemed... capable of teaching him the art of explosion!
And from his relaxed demeanor just now, it was clear that this big explosion was just ordinary for him!
He might,
Possess even more of this kind of powerful art!!
Thinking this,
An excited gleam appeared in Deidara's eyes. He quickly looked over and shouted excitedly:
"P-please!"
"Please teach me... this great art!!!"
Although his body was still bound, he stared intently at Kyo ahead, speaking loudly, his heart surging with passion!
Seeing this,
Kyo raised his eyes with a light smile and said:
"Alright."
"However, I still prefer your previous arrogant and unruly look. You should revert to that."
"...Eh?"
Hearing this, Deidara was momentarily stunned.
Huh?
What does that mean?
Is this some kind of meme or something...?
Just as he was puzzled,
Kyo suddenly raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Snap.
As the crisp sound fell,
The Rikujokoro around Deidara instantly disappeared.
The next moment,
Kyo looked over and smiled:
"Join Akatsuki,"
"I'll teach you sometime later. How about it?"
"...Okay!!"
Almost instantly,
Deidara nodded quickly in response.
Without even hesitating.
Seeing this,
Zetsu on the ground below was instantly bewildered.
Huh???
What?
He's convinced just like that?
This...
Tsk, as expected...
This blond-haired brat was mentally ill from the start...
Thinking this,
Zetsu finally emerged from the ground.
Then,
He looked up and grinned:
"Kyo-san,"
"So, should we return to Amegakure directly now...?"
"...?"
Hearing this,
Deidara in the sky was momentarily stunned.
"Huh? Amegakure?"
Kyo glanced at him and explained:
"Akatsuki's headquarters,"
"Is currently located in Amegakure in the Land of Rain."
"Since you plan to join, you naturally need to meet the leader and the other official members first."
"...Eh?"
Hearing this, Deidara's eyes widened, looking at Kyo in disbelief, and said:
"This... Kyo-senpai,"
"With your power, within Akatsuki, you're not even the leader...?"
At this moment,
He had already directly changed his address to Kyo-senpai.
Kyo just slightly raised an eyebrow and said:
"Akatsuki is not one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages; it's not a place where status is determined by strength."
"But the leader's strength is also considerable."
"..."
Hearing this,
Deidara nodded thoughtfully.
Then he asked again:
"So, are we leaving now?"
As his words fell,
Kyo did not answer,
But suddenly turned his head to look in a distant direction, and said calmly:
"An acquaintance of yours has already arrived."
"Huh?"
Acquaintance?
Deidara was momentarily stunned.
However,
Before he could react, an old voice suddenly came from the sky.
"Deidara...!"
"So, the ones pestering you just now... are them?!"
"--?!"
As this voice fell,
Deidara's expression shifted slightly, and then he suddenly gritted his teeth.
He could naturally recognize it!
It was his former master, the leader of Iwagakure, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki!
Someone who didn't acknowledge his art!
Thinking this,
Deidara looked towards the approaching Onoki, and then gritted his teeth and said:
"Tch... old man! What are you doing here?!"
As his words fell,
Onoki's expression darkened slightly, and he said:
"Hmph, it seems you plan to leave with them... is that it?"
"Shut up! What I do has nothing to do with you, right?!"
Deidara responded unhappily, then raised his eyes, grinned, and slowly said:
"However,"
"I'm sure you, old man, also witnessed Kyo-senpai's ultimate art just now, right?"
"Hehe... how about it, enough to acknowledge it?!"
"..."
As his words fell,
Onoki's gaze shifted slightly, and then he looked towards Kyo beside Deidara.
Ultimate art...?
Meaning, that big explosion just now was created by this guy named "Kyo"...?
Wait...
This attire, could it be...?!
Onoki's gaze darkened slightly, and he said firmly:
"Hmph,"
"Judging by this outfit, you're also from that mercenary organization called 'Akatsuki'?"
"However,"
"In our previous collaborations,"
"It seems I have never seen someone like you appear?"
Onoki said, squinting slightly.
And at these words,
Before Kyo could react, Deidara beside him was momentarily taken aback.
Wait!
Wh-what's going on?
This old man Onoki... has collaborated with Kyo-senpai's Akatsuki before?!
Just as he was utterly confused, Kyo naturally noticed it too, but his expression remained unchanged, he just calmly said to him:
"You probably don't know,"
"In the past few years, this old man has indeed often collaborated with Akatsuki."
"However, mostly hiring Akatsuki as military force to participate in some wars and such."
Hearing this,
Deidara suddenly understood.
And Onoki across from him slightly raised his chin, thoughtfully saying:
"Since you know these hidden details, you can't be disguised."
"Then,"
"Are you a newly joined member?"
Onoki asked, frowning.
And hearing this,
Kyo looked up at Onoki ahead, and just said expressionlessly:
"Why ask so clearly?"
"You doing a Shinobi World census here or what?"
"..."
At these words, Onoki was momentarily stunned.
This...
Are young people these days so hot-tempered?
However,
What he didn't know was,
Although he had been collaborating with Akatsuki for several years,
Within Akatsuki, Kyo was only responsible for missions eliminating Akatsuki's enemies and supporting other members.
He had never participated in this kind of war mercenary mission.
The two were naturally meeting for the first time.
"..."
After a moment of silence,
Onoki slightly raised his eyes again, lowered his voice, and said:
"Then, Akatsuki, answer me."
"This time, your deliberate infiltration into Iwagakure, the purpose... is just to take Deidara away?"