A single choice draws a genius toward a fate he never saw coming.
The next morning—
The sun rose high.
Warm light spilled across the land as the mist gradually faded.
The giant serpent came to a halt atop a yellow earth ridge.
Three figures stood upon its head, their Akatsuki cloaks faintly reflected against its cold scales.
Below—
Iwagakure spread out in full view.
A vast village.
Endless at a glance.
Most of its structures were built into mountain rock, the terrain rugged and elevated—
Easy to defend.
Hard to invade.
A cold wind swept across the ridge, dust spiraling along the ground.
Orochimaru scanned the village and sighed softly.
"We've arrived, Gen-kun. From here, we'll need to proceed on foot—either bypass or break through the barrier to enter."
Itachi turned slightly, glancing behind.
At that moment—
Kamizuki Gen stepped forward between them, walking to the very front of the serpent's head.
He lifted his sunglasses slightly, looking toward the rocky terrain ahead.
"No need."
He smiled.
"We'll just wait here."
"He'll come to us."
"…?"
Orochimaru frowned, confused.
Itachi's eyes flickered—
He understood.
Suddenly—
Gen turned to him.
Itachi's breath hitched.
A subtle chill crept into his chest.
"Itachi-san," Gen said with a smile, "the black market mission is yours."
"I'll handle recruitment with Snake-san."
…
Relief.
That was all Itachi felt.
"Understood."
Gen tossed him the mission scroll.
"We won't wait for you. Complete it, then return to Amegakure on your own."
"Got it."
For Itachi—
This was ideal.
If not for the need to monitor Gen for Konoha—
He would've kept his distance entirely.
He glanced at the scroll, memorized its contents—
Then dissolved into a flock of crows, flying toward Iwagakure.
"He left quickly," Orochimaru remarked.
"Does he know how to bypass the barrier?"
Gen chuckled.
"Trust Itachi-san's intelligence."
Originally—
Itachi was the one who recruited Deidara.
And in doing so—
Left quite the impression.
One that made Deidara despise the Sharingan.
Sending him away—
Was intentional.
Gen had his own plans.
Deidara—
Like Kisame—
Once convinced—
Would be fiercely loyal.
Even in death—
He warned Tobi to stay back.
A valuable piece—
For Gen's future faction within Akatsuki.
…
Iwagakure.
Village outskirts.
Inside a stone house built into the mountains—
Five meters underground—
A sensory-type Iwa ninja remained merged with the earth, monitoring Deidara above.
"…Sigh."
He had just taken over the shift.
Daytime duty.
Which meant—
More trouble.
Deidara was always more active during the day.
Harder to watch.
"…Hm?"
"That's odd…"
"He's usually up early making clay…"
"Why is he still asleep?"
"Did yesterday's scolding actually get to him?"
Thirty minutes passed.
No movement.
The shinobi grew uneasy.
He surfaced outside—
And knocked loudly.
"Deidara! Wake up! The Tsuchikage sent your favorite breakfast and—"
Silence.
Boom!
He kicked the door open.
Rushed inside—
Only to freeze.
On the bed—
Wasn't Deidara.
It was a life-sized clay clone.
Even worse—
It had chakra pathways.
No wonder he'd been fooled.
"Not good—!"
His expression changed instantly.
Inside the clone—
Chakra was destabilizing.
Reacting violently with the clay.
"DEIDARA!!!"
He roared—
And leapt toward the window.
BOOOOM—!!!
The house exploded.
The roof blasted apart.
The shinobi was thrown over ten meters, crashing into the ground—
Barely alive.
Moments later—
Two more Iwa ninja arrived.
"Deidara escaped!"
"He's still nearby!"
"Call for backup!"
Chaos erupted.
"Hahahahaha!"
From behind a distant rock—
Deidara stepped out, grinning.
"Spying on me? Finally caught you slipping!"
He leaned back casually, sitting against a stone pillar.
Patting the satchel slung over his shoulder—
Bulging with explosive clay.
"You think I've been making just that little?"
"Every time, I stash some away."
"This—"
He smirked.
"Is your lesson."
"Didn't kill you… but you'll remember it."
"Next—"
He stood up, eyes gleaming.
"The Tsuchikage building."
"Let's make some art."
Just as he moved—
A voice echoed in his mind.
Deep.
Magnetic.
"Do you want to understand the meaning of life?"
"Do you want to truly live?"
Deidara froze.
His pupils shrank.
"…Who's there?!"
He spun, scanning his surroundings.
Nothing.
No presence.
No chakra.
His hand slipped into his bag—
Ready to fight.
He had encountered genjutsu before—
But this—
Was different.
"No."
This wasn't an illusion.
"YES… or NO?"
The voice came again.
"…Who are you?!"
Still—
No answer.
Deidara looked up at the sky—
Then around the barren terrain.
Empty.
Completely empty.
"The meaning of life… I already found it."
"But what does it mean to truly live…?"
The question gnawed at him.
Annoying.
Uncomfortable.
"…Fine!"
He gritted his teeth.
"YES!"
"Good."
"I'm waiting for you—south of Iwagakure."
"I can give you a stage… to pursue your art."
"…Tch."
Deidara clicked his tongue.
"South? I'm already at the southern edge…"
Without hesitation—
He moved.
Racing forward.
That word echoed in his mind—
Art.
Someone—
Understood his art?
"…Heh."
A grin spread across his face.
"Finally—someone with taste!"
Two kilometers later—
He leapt onto a high ridge.
And there—
On a distant cliff—
Three shadowed figures stood waiting.
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