Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 166: Deidara is One of Us?

Deidara wasn't flying fast.

The Nokizaru group could tell that the enemy was intentionally baiting them.

Even so, confident in their skills, the Nokizaru group chose to continue the pursuit.

Of course, during this time, they informed Lockfront Village about the situation.

As the current stronghold of Lockfront Village, the Nokizaru group believed that even if Deidara managed to evade their pursuit, he wouldn't be able to escape the clutches of Lockfront Village.

In fact, Lockfront Village had already received the news.

"The daimyo's mansion was bombed, the perpetrator wore a black cloak with red clouds, had a golden ponytail, looked very young, seemed mentally unstable, claimed to be an artist, and loves explosive art?"

As Hagoromo Gengetsu read the information sent back by Hagoromo Moteni, he was in a hall discussing important matters with Hagoromo Mutsubu, Hagoromo Anki, and several other high-ranking officials.

It must be said, within a short period, Hagoromo Moteni had thoroughly analyzed Deidara.

Hagoromo Gengetsu immediately confirmed the identity and asked puzzledly.

"Deidara? What is this guy doing in the Land of Waves?"

"A member of the Akatsuki organization?"

Taking the information from Hagoromo Gengetsu, Hagoromo Mutsubu immediately noticed the term "black cloak with red clouds."

As the head of the intelligence organization and having been briefed by Hagoromo Gengetsu, he was not unfamiliar with the Akatsuki organization.

"Could there be a Tailed Beast nearby?" Hagoromo Anki, now representing the Uchiha clan in the village with a high status, pondered.

"No matter what the opponent's goal is, how should we deal with this Deidara guy now? Drive him away? Or simply eliminate him?" another high-ranking official of Lockfront Village said with a murderous intent.

From his appearance, it was clear he preferred the latter.

"Ahem."

At this moment, an elderly man, not much younger than Mutsubu, suddenly coughed a few times and quickly spoke:

"Wait, everyone."

"Elder Morinaga, what's the matter?" The high-ranking official who was about to suggest eliminating Deidara looked over in confusion.

The old man, whose real name was Hagoromo Morinaga, showed a trace of shame on his face and stammered, "That... um... little guy named 'Deidara,' I know him."

"You know him?"

Hearing this, the attention of Hagoromo Gengetsu and the others shifted to him.

Noticing even the clan leader was looking at him, Hagoromo Morinaga gritted his teeth and revealed the truth:

"Shameful to say, Deidara is actually one of the Hagoromo clan."

This statement caused a stir at the scene.

"That Deidara is one of us? Never heard of it."

"If that's true, why did he bomb the daimyo's mansion?"

"Do we have someone undercover in the Akatsuki organization?"

"…"

Hagoromo Gengetsu was also surprised by this.

As the clan leader, he hadn't known Deidara was one of their own.

"The story goes like this." Hagoromo Morinaga quickly explained, "I come from the Hagoromo branch in Iwagakure. Though I live in Lockfront Village now, I spent a long time in Iwagakure before. Deidara is also from the Hagoromo branch in Iwagakure, but his parents died early, and he had issues during his education, so he wasn't marked with the Hagoromo seal and wasn't included in the Hagoromo genealogy."

Hagoromo Morinaga explained the situation in concise terms.

Hagoromo Gengetsu was very curious about this: "Elder Morinaga, please explain in detail."

Although Hagoromo Morinaga found it hard to speak, with the clan leader's request, he could only continue:

"Deidara... how to say it? He was different from others since childhood. Somehow, he learned the word 'art' and would mention it all the time. No matter how we tried, we couldn't guide him properly."

"Later, he became a personal disciple of the Third Tsuchikage. I was very pleased and revealed the truth about the Hagoromo clan to him. However, Deidara's first reaction was..."

"Hagoromo clan? Sounds artistic. Where is it? I want to set off a huge firework!"

To this day, Hagoromo Morinaga could clearly recall the moment Deidara, after hearing his explanation, became excited and looked as if he wanted to blow the Hagoromo clan to the sky.

"I wanted to guide him and awaken his sense of honor for the Hagoromo clan. But this kid!! It was in one ear and out the other. He spent all day pondering art and explosions and wouldn't listen!"

"Later, he defected from Iwagakure without a word. I didn't expect him to join the Akatsuki organization and show up here."

At the end, Hagoromo Morinaga sighed deeply.

Regarding Deidara, he felt utterly helpless.

To prevent this guy from blowing up the Hagoromo clan, he didn't mark Deidara with the Hagoromo seal or disclose most information about the Hagoromo clan.

He had planned to wait until Deidara grew up and became more sensible.

Unexpectedly...

Hagoromo Morinaga sighed again.

Beside him, after hearing Hagoromo Morinaga's story, Hagoromo Mutsubu and others exchanged looks, unable to believe there was such an oddball among the Hagoromo descendants.

"So, Deidara also counts as a defector from the Hagoromo clan?" someone asked.

Hagoromo Morinaga shook his head with a bitter smile, "Defector? From what I know of Deidara, when he defected, he never even thought about the Hagoromo clan. If you asked him about the Hagoromo clan now, he would likely have forgotten and would respond, 'Hagoromo clan? Sounds artistic.'"

The person who had asked: "..."

As for Hagoromo Gengetsu, what more could he say? The Hagoromo clan truly had a variety of talents.

"I wonder where this strong artistic gene originated from?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu reminisced about the Hagoromo clan members from the Warring States period but couldn't recall anyone who had a passion for art.

"Clan leader, how should we handle Deidara now?" Hagoromo Mutsubu pushed the question to Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Killing him... he is a clansman after all. Being able to join the Akatsuki organization means he is very strong. Regardless of whether he remembers, he hasn't exposed the Hagoromo clan all these years. Moreover, the motive for killing him would only be the destruction of the daimyo's mansion, and the Hagoromo clan hasn't suffered any losses.

Not killing him... who knows when this artist might suddenly disclose information about the Hagoromo branch in Iwagakure? Also, he defected without a word, showing no regard for the Hagoromo clan. Now he's flying around the Land of Waves, and he might discover the aerial fortress one day.

So, should they kill him or not? Opinions were divided, and they could only wait for the final judgment.

"Let's catch him first."

Hagoromo Gengetsu waved his hand.

Whether to kill or release him would be decided later. After all, they had plenty of time.

And coincidentally.

Just as they were talking about Deidara, he was delivering himself to them.

At this moment, sensing a disturbance in Lockfront Village's barrier, Hagoromo Gengetsu's eyes gleamed. He stood up, smiling, and said:

"It's time to verify whether Elder Morinaga's words are true."