"Xiao Di, well done!"
Ōnoki didn't hesitate to express his praise—his approval came freely, even proudly. Deidara truly earned it.
The sheer talent and perception displayed by this teenage shinobi of shadow-level strength spoke volumes. Combined with his current resolve and clarity—
Yes.
For the sake of answering correctly and aiding Iwagakure, he didn't hesitate to offend someone like Orochimaru—someone from the same organization as himself. Clearly, Deidara still held his village deep within his heart.
With a next generation like this, why shouldn't Iwagakure surpass Konohagakure?
Glancing once at Deidara, then over to Konoha's own Naruto Uzumaki, Ōnoki's gaze finally landed on Kurotsuchi—her eyes locked on Deidara in awed admiration. A knowing smile tugged at the old Tsuchikage's lips.
He remembered, after all. He too had once stood where Deidara stood now—young, defiant, full of conviction.
If Kurotsuchi could bring Deidara back to Iwagakure, then even if he wasn't quite as radiant as Naruto Uzumaki, he was still a worthy successor.
Besides… even that Byakugan-wielding girl near Naruto seemed reluctant to let the two be torn apart.
Ah, sentimentality. The kind that creeps up with age.
Ōnoki chuckled at himself and shook his head.
As for Deidara's current disregard for Kurotsuchi? Ōnoki understood. Right now, Deidara was still young—unaware of just how wonderful women could be. But one day…
---
"It's Orochimaru! Orochimaru killed Lord Kazekage!"
The moment the correct answer was revealed, the yellow team from Sunagakure erupted. Dozens of eyes zeroed in on the red team's Orochimaru with fury.
"Damn it!"
"Orochimaru betrayed us?!"
In that instant, the shinobi who were once close to Rasa suddenly understood the truth. Their outrage surged.
"Silence!"
A trembling voice cut through the noise—Baki's.
At first, even he believed Sarutobi Hiruzen had been the one. After all, Lord Rasa's power, background, and experience simply didn't match up to the Third Hokage. It would have made sense if he were overpowered.
But when the Kirigakure shinobi from the white team eliminated Hiruzen as an option, Baki realized: the culprit could only be Orochimaru.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't even in this dimension anymore. The implication was clear—Orochimaru and Rasa had collaborated, perhaps to strike at Hiruzen… and then Orochimaru had eliminated Rasa.
What made Baki's voice tremble, however, wasn't the revelation.
It was the old pair of eyes beside him—eyes now burning with ancient rage.
Like a volcano suppressed for decades, the fury was ready to explode.
---
Meanwhile, in the command space, Nagato smoothly swapped cards and continued with the second round.
"Brown team, your second question: Who killed the leader of Konoha's Root Division—Shimura Danzō?"
!!!
The moment the words were spoken, it wasn't Danzō himself who reacted most violently—but the countless Root operatives surrounding him.
Danzō-sama is… dead?!
This… this must mean… we're all going to die too?!
Each of them had been bound by Danzō's cursed seals or drug-induced conditioning. If he died without releasing them, they would be buried alongside him.
Terror raced through them, but their faces—masked and trained—betrayed nothing.
---
I… really am dead, then.
A cold gleam flashed in Danzō's lone visible eye.
He had suspected as much from the moment he discovered he was not the Fifth Hokage. The writing had been on the wall.
But what still made no sense was why, even after Akatsuki's leader attacked Konoha, he hadn't retained his power.
Why did Tsunade rise instead?
When had he died? Who had killed him?
The questions lingered like poison.
His sharp gaze shifted to Nagato. He knew the answer lay in the hands of that Rinnegan-wielder.
---
"Deidara! Keep going!"
Kurotsuchi's voice rang out.
Her expression was stubborn—fierce.
In her heart, she believed Deidara's previous correct answer had been sheer luck. Coincidence.
Or worse… maybe he knew it all along and just wanted to mess with her.
After all, he was a member of the Akatsuki.
Still, she wasn't ready to accept it!
She knew Deidara's ninja talent was greater than hers—her grandfather constantly reminded her—but intellect? No way!
She couldn't accept that Deidara was smarter than her!
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
She stared him down, defiant.
"This one—you can't get right! If you do, I'll admit you're better than me!"
Behind her, Ōnoki watched the scene like an elder amused by his grandchildren's rivalry. Don't be fooled by their childish antics—this kind of banter was how bonds formed.
And bonds… bonds might be the key to pulling Deidara back.
Ōnoki knew. Deidara had never truly wronged Iwagakure. If he was willing to return, they could resolve the issue of his betrayal—he'd even allow him to rejoin under a special pardon.
He was an S-rank criminal, but if Kakashi could forgive Sasuke…
Iwagakure could forgive Deidara.
---
"You want me to answer again? Are you sure?"
Deidara looked at Kurotsuchi like she had gone mad.
She was basically begging him to reaffirm his ties with Iwagakure.
He couldn't help but feel a little excited.
Truthfully, he had been careless with the last question. He hadn't expected Orochimaru to be the correct answer.
It stung a little—he had been that close.
Choosing between two options had never felt more treacherous.
Deidara shook his head, tossing the shadow of the past question out of his thoughts.
He wouldn't fumble this time.
Thanks to Kurotsuchi, he had a second shot—and he wouldn't waste it.
Iwagakure, consider this your makeup exam.
His eyes scanned the usual suspects. Orochimaru? Uchiha Itachi?
No.
He wanted the blame to fall squarely on Konoha—but Itachi…
Itachi was too ruthless, too powerful. If he could slaughter his entire clan, killing Danzō wouldn't even break a sweat.
Deidara hesitated.
He wanted to mess with Itachi, to rattle him…
But what if he was right?
No. He couldn't risk it.
What he needed was someone unexpected.
Someone safe.
Then it hit him.
Uchiha Sasuke.
Yes. The little brother!
Perfect fall guy.
Let's pin it on him.
Grinning, Deidara turned toward Kurotsuchi.
This time, it'll definitely be wrong.
He was so confident.
He was so sure.
---
Ōnoki studied Deidara's expression carefully.
Silence.
His eyes darted.
Yes… that was the look of someone running a full mental simulation.
But how would Xiao Di answer?
What path would he take?
Ōnoki tried to work through the problem himself—only to find it completely beyond him.
The question was just too difficult.
A fill-in-the-blank?!
With multiple choice, at least you had odds. But here? You either knew… or you didn't.
There was no room for guesswork.
Then—he saw it.
The smirk on Deidara's lips.
Ōnoki blinked.
Could it be… Xiao Di already has an answer?!
---
"I didn't expect such talent within the Akatsuki."
Nara Shikaku spoke quietly, turning to his son, Shikamaru.
Even he had no clue how to approach this question—and yet, in mere seconds, the boy from Iwagakure had already formulated an answer.
This level of intelligence gathering...
This kind of real-time analysis...
It made sense.
It explained why the Akatsuki were so decisive. So merciless.
So effective.
It wasn't just brute force.
It was people like him.
Deidara—the hidden strategist of the Akatsuki.