Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 173: The Great Artist Hagoromo Gengetsu

It would be too optimistic to think that Deidara, merely because he was from the Hagoromo clan, would wholeheartedly return to serve them. Abandoning his position as the direct disciple of the Third Tsuchikage, with a potential future as the Fourth Tsuchikage, was definitely a decision that reflected his unusual thinking.

Forced by circumstances, Deidara originally planned to stay with the Hagoromo clan for a while, to see if there were any appealing forms of art or notable artists. If he found something worth staying for, he would remain, just as he had with the Akatsuki. If not, he would seize an opportunity to leave, abandoning both the Hagoromo clan and the Akatsuki, and continue his wandering artistic journey.

But unexpectedly, he now had to be an undercover agent within the Akatsuki, bearing a Hagoromo mark. The mark's tracking capability meant the Hagoromo clan could locate him wherever he went.

Deidara was inwardly cursing his fate.

Hagoromo Gengetsu wasn't done yet.

To ensure Deidara's loyalty, the Hagoromo mark was merely a safeguard; there were other measures in place.

"Would you like to witness a once-in-a-lifetime artistic experience?" asked Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Deidara's eyes lit up, surprised to hear the word "art" from Gengetsu.

"Of course!" he replied eagerly.

Gengetsu then grabbed Deidara's shoulder.

A strong wind roared around them, and before Deidara knew it, they had vanished from the scene, leaving the others behind.

Everything happened too fast!

Deidara felt his eyes struggling to stay open against the speed.

When he finally managed to open them, he found himself on land again, his chakra unsealed and ready for use.

Deidara looked at Gengetsu in confusion, unsure of his intentions.

Gengetsu smiled slightly, clenching his fist as a cracking sound echoed:

"Now, behold the pinnacle of true art."

A thunderous roar followed, reverberating through the wilderness.

The landscape seemed to undergo a massive upheaval, as if a cataclysm had struck. From a distance, the sky was ablaze with fire, accompanied by storms, rain, thunder, meteors, ice, and magma.

After a long while, everything quieted down.

Lying in a huge crater, looking like a charred mess, Deidara exhaled black smoke as he lay exhausted.

Gengetsu, still looking pristine, approached with a calm smile and asked:

"How was it?"

Deidara's eyes fixed on Gengetsu, taking a moment to process everything.

Finally, from the depths of his heart, he uttered with genuine admiration:

"I witnessed... true art! Hm!!"

"Good."

Gengetsu nodded in satisfaction.

The intense display of power had left an indelible mark on Deidara. 

Now, as Deidara looked at Gengetsu, his eyes were filled with awe and reverence.

"Such a great artist; this is the mentor I've been searching for all my life!" Deidara's heart burned with fervor.

In that moment, he found a new purpose.

For someone like Deidara, as long as he found the right direction, he could be effectively managed.

By showcasing superior artistic prowess, Gengetsu had left a profound impression on him.

Fortunately, Deidara's concept of art was centered around explosions and destruction.

In this field, Gengetsu, with his vast array of ninjutsu and bloodline limits, was undoubtedly an expert.

With full force, he had made Deidara both physically and mentally submit.

Compared to Itachi Uchiha or Pain, they now seemed insignificant to Deidara.

"After healing your injuries in the village, return to the Akatsuki," Gengetsu instructed.

"Yes, Leader," Deidara responded promptly.

Gengetsu glanced at him: "Call me Clan Leader."

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

Under the healing effects of medical ninjutsu, Deidara soon regained his mobility.

With a flap of its wings, a clay bird soared through the sky.

Standing on its back, Deidara, now dressed in his Akatsuki uniform, glanced longingly at the hidden aerial fortress.

If it were up to him, he would prefer to stay with the great artist Gengetsu, constantly discussing artistic achievements, rather than returning to the Akatsuki as a spy.

Previously, he had thought the Akatsuki members were decent artists with unique skills.

But now...

"Being among these lowly insects, how could I ever create true art? Hm!"

Deidara felt melancholic.

Yet, the words of the great artist, his mentor, and the Clan Leader could not be ignored.

"Since that's the case, I will work hard as an undercover agent, strive to bring down the Akatsuki, and return soon!" Deidara motivated himself.

He even considered using his initiative to eliminate a few Akatsuki members or persuade some to defect.

"Although Sasori's art philosophy is different from mine, he is still a pure artist. Perhaps I could bring him over?" Deidara mused, letting the clay bird take him towards his destination.

An hour later.

On a desolate cliff in the Land of Fire.

The clay bird landed, and as Deidara dismounted, he heard a familiar voice:

"Deidara, I thought you were dead after being gone for so long."

Turning, Deidara saw Sasori, clad in his Akatsuki cloak, approaching.

Deidara greeted him with a smile: "Relax, Sasori. Our artistic duo hasn't made a name for itself yet; how could I die? Hm."

"I've told you many times, fame is a burden," Sasori replied expressionlessly while scrutinizing Deidara, then asked,

"What happened?"

Deidara shrugged: "I was creating art when a group called the Nokizaru group interrupted me. That's why it took so long. Hm."

Sasori knew what Deidara meant by creating art, but he was surprised by the mention of the Nokizaru group:

"Ninja hunters?"

"Yeah? You know them?"

"I know a bit."

Sasori had his information network and was aware of many things in the ninja world.

Deidara had an idea: "Sasori, how about teaming up to take down the Nokizaru group again? Those bastards ambushed me and ran away. Hm."

Deidara intended to bring Sasori to the Land of Waves, where the Clan Leader would capture him, and he would then persuade Sasori to join them.

But Sasori didn't fall for it.

"Not interested."

Unless they had bloodline limits, Sasori saw no value in turning them into human puppets.

"The leader's mission is important," Sasori reminded.

"Still searching for the Three-Tails?" Deidara's face turned impatient. "The sea is vast, and that turtle likes to dive deep. We've been searching for days without a trace. How much longer?"

The hunt for the wild Three-Tails had been ongoing for the Akatsuki for some time.

But the vast sea offered no clues.

This time was no different.

Having searched tirelessly from the sky, Deidara had found nothing.

He wanted to quit.

But Sasori insisted they continue, as per the leader's orders.

As a junior member of the Akatsuki, Deidara had no choice but to agree reluctantly.

However, in his mind, he now had one more reason to overthrow the Akatsuki.

Treating its members like beasts of burden was unacceptable!