Even Leaving Home Comes at a Price
Orochimaru followed Kamizuki Gen's gaze, his golden snake pupils narrowing as he spotted Deidara approaching at high speed.
He chuckled softly.
"A kid is still a kid… followed the whole way and didn't notice a thing."
Gen neither confirmed nor denied it.
After all, he was recruiting Deidara ahead of schedule. A lack of experience in various areas was only natural.
Once Deidara joined Akatsuki and went through a few missions, his skills and awareness would improve quickly enough.
"Hey—Gen-nii!"
Still a hundred meters away, Deidara was already waving enthusiastically at the three figures atop the snake's head.
"Gen-nii?" Orochimaru laughed. "He sure gets familiar fast."
Itachi spoke up for once.
"And he talks too much."
If he wanted to stay close to Kamizuki Gen, he couldn't remain silent forever—it would only make him stand out more.
Gen smiled faintly.
He knew exactly why Deidara's attitude had changed so drastically.
Beating him into submission would only make him bow temporarily—
But crushing him in the very field he prided himself on?
That made him revere you like a god.
With a few agile leaps, Deidara climbed onto the massive serpent's head.
He appeared beside Gen in an instant, grinning wide like he had just found a long-lost brother.
"Big bro, I'm here!"
For a brief moment, Itachi was reminded of Sasuke.
Seeing that Gen made no move to leave, Deidara grew anxious.
"Big bro, let's go! If we don't leave now, that old man might come drag me back. I can't stand staying in that village another second!"
Gen simply shook his head.
"He's already here."
"…Huh?"
Deidara froze—then suddenly sensed a familiar presence. He spun around and shouted:
"You old fossil!!"
From the night sky, Ōnoki descended, having followed Deidara the entire way. He landed atop the serpent's head and gave Gen a brief nod.
Then he walked toward Deidara.
Deidara instinctively turned his face away, avoiding his gaze.
Ōnoki sighed.
"Deidara… have you truly made up your mind?"
"Of course!"
Deidara snapped his head back, glaring straight into those aged eyes.
"If you want to drag me back, go ahead! I know I can't beat you—but you'll never erase my pursuit of art!"
His voice burned with defiance.
"I was never meant to fit into the village. Everything there—it's all shackles! Chains! I want freedom! I want to live without restraints!"
Ōnoki didn't argue.
He simply reached into his pouch and took out a kunai.
Then he walked forward.
"What are you doing?!" Deidara stumbled back, panic flashing across his face. He slipped and fell onto the cold scales beneath him.
"Don't do anything stupid! My big bro is right here!"
Ōnoki said nothing.
He stepped closer—
Then lifted Deidara's bangs, exposing the Iwagakure forehead protector beneath the moonlight.
Deidara's fear peaked.
But instead of striking—
Ōnoki merely dragged the kunai lightly across the metal plate.
Crack—
The Iwagakure symbol split cleanly in two.
Ōnoki casually tossed the kunai aside.
"That's it," he said calmly. "Rogue ninja Deidara."
"From this point forward, whatever you do has nothing to do with Iwagakure."
"If one day you're hunted, we won't avenge you."
"If you return—our gates will not open for you."
With that—
He turned away.
And left without looking back.
Under the moonlight, his small figure seemed even more frail… and alone.
Gen watched that retreating silhouette—
And recalled what Ōnoki had said to him earlier that day—
In private.
"I know you've already established some kind of connection with Deidara."
"You came… to recruit him, didn't you?"
"I also know your intentions differ from Kumogakure's."
"That child… has great talent in his bloodline, but he's immature. Stubborn. Prone to obsession."
"If you take him in…"
"I have a request."
"Please… look after him when you can."
"I will owe you a personal favor."
In that moment—
There was no trace of the proud Tsuchikage who would never bow, not even before Madara.
Only an old man—
Lowering himself for the sake of a wayward grandson.
"Damn old man… making me look bad in front of my big bro!"
Deidara flushed red with embarrassment, jumping to his feet.
He tore off his slashed forehead protector, hurled it onto the snake's scales, and stomped on it.
"I'm a rogue ninja now! Who cares about that stupid village?! Who cares!!"
Gen said nothing.
He simply turned to Orochimaru.
"Snake-sensei, let's move."
Orochimaru chuckled and guided the giant serpent forward.
Rumble—
Like a train at full speed, the massive snake tore across the plains.
"Big bro, our organization is called Akatsuki, right?"
Deidara stuck to Gen like glue, brimming with excitement.
Gen glanced at Itachi, who stood off to the side pretending to be aloof.
"Itachi-san, since you're free, why not explain our 'company culture' to the new recruit?"
"…."
Itachi fell silent for a moment, then beckoned.
"Kid. Come here. Don't bother Gen."
"Alright, big bro! I won't disturb you!"
Deidara immediately dashed over to Itachi.
A faint smile tugged at Gen's lips as he pulled out a scroll from his pouch—the one sealing Samehada and the Lightning Blades.
Time to review the profits.
Orochimaru suddenly asked,
"Gen-kun, after dealing with the Kumogakure ninja, why did you suddenly take Ōnoki away?"
Gen replied casually,
"I sensed other ninja trying to infiltrate Iwagakure. Two from Kirigakure."
As he spoke, he released the seal—
Two massive ninja swords appeared before them.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed.
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen?"
"Mm."
"No wonder Iwagakure paid so generously."
Gen chuckled.
"That extra money? That was Ōnoki paying to clean up Deidara's mess."
"If we hadn't shown up in time, Iwagakure would've had to pay a much higher price to keep that kid from being captured and dissected by Kumogakure."
Orochimaru glanced at Deidara, who was listening intently as Itachi explained Akatsuki's structure and ideology.
Then he looked back at Gen.
"Iwagakure lost people… and still had to pay."
A pause.
Then a smirk.
"You truly are a genius at business."
…
Night deepened.
The three sat cross-legged atop the serpent's thick scales, resting.
Deidara lay nearby.
After a while—
He quietly got up.
Silently.
He picked up the slashed Iwagakure forehead protector he had thrown away earlier.
Then lay back down.
Curled slightly on his side—
Holding it tightly—
His back turned to the others.
Behind dark sunglasses—
Kamizuki Gen watched the entire scene.
Then slowly closed his eyes—
And returned to rest.
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