"Boss, my answer is... Sasuke Uchiha!"
Deidara's mouth split into a wide grin, the kind that looked more twisted than joyful—almost frightening.
Though he was speaking, his eyes were locked onto Uchiha Itachi.
He was looking—no, waiting—for a reaction.
And there it was!
Sure enough!
Sure enough!
He was surprised!
His mouth... open!
Hahaha! Uchiha Itachi, you never saw this coming, did you? Even you have days where you get outplayed...
> "Congratulations to the brown team for the correct answer!"
...?
...??
...???
Deidara's expression froze, his wild eyes slowly shifting toward Nagato in disbelief.
He thought he'd misheard.
No!
Be confident!
He must have misheard.
He just needed to... recalibrate!
Just as Deidara opened his mouth to clarify, the leader's voice came again:
> "The brown team has answered two questions correctly! The makeup exam is considered a success! You now qualify for one opportunity to analyze the video."
!
!!
Bingo!?
Was I right—AGAIN?!
No freaking way!
Did Iwa-nin really just pass the makeup exam?!
Still skeptical, Deidara turned to face his teammates... and was met with expressions of approval and admiration.
He froze.
Absolutely stunned.
A smile crept onto his face—one more disturbing than comforting.
He was lost in thought:
> These fill-in-the-blank questions… are they really that simple?
You just… say an answer and that's it?
Did the leader go easy on me?
---
"Good! Good! Good! Deidara, well done!"
"Yeah, Deidara, you're amazing. I didn't even understand the questions, and you're just nailing them!"
"You're incredible, Deidara!"
Behind him, Heitu (Kurotsuchi) listened to all the praise—her expression twisting in a storm of emotions.
She had no doubt: the Examination Space was completely fair.
If Deidara had gotten it right once, maybe she could have chalked it up to luck or trickery.
But twice?
There was no more room for denial.
He wasn't pretending.
He was genuinely that good.
She sighed.
No matter the context, Deidara always found a way to get ahead of her.
Strong.
Too strong.
Deidara's strength wasn't just in explosions—it was in unpredictability, in madness that made sense.
She was defeated.
Thoroughly convinced.
Heitu clenched her fists. If she didn't step up her game, she would never be able to catch up.
---
"Xiao Di! Well done!"
Ōnoki beamed with pride, his expression glowing as he reached out and smacked Deidara on the waist—clearly proud and emotional.
He was now 100% certain: Deidara's heart still belonged to Iwagakure.
This boy—this reckless, arrogant, explosive boy—was still one of them.
Good. Very good.
"Deidara, don't worry. Iwagakure has always been your home. You're welcome back anytime."
This wasn't a casual statement.
This was a Kage's promise.
The rest of the brown team heard the words—and their expressions shifted.
It took them a moment to adjust, but they understood clearly:
Ōnoki was extending a genuine invitation.
---
Huh?
Me?
My name?
In the red team, Uchiha Sasuke—half-shrouded in the crowd and intently observing Uchiha Itachi—suddenly blinked.
Why was his name being mentioned?
Who even is Shimura Danzo? What the hell is "Root"?
Don't distract him right now.
He was in the middle of studying Itachi's weaknesses!
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as they drilled into the back of his brother's head.
That exposed back—unguarded.
If he launched a shuriken right now...
Would Itachi die?
---
Sasuke!?
The correct answer was Sasuke?
Uchiha Itachi's eyes widened in shock.
Then—killing intent exploded like wildfire in his heart.
Shimura Danzo dared to move against Sasuke?!
Kill him.
Kill him!
A voice echoed violently within his soul.
But Itachi forced his eyes shut.
When he opened them again, they had returned to calm.
Sasuke had already defeated Danzo once.
He believed... he could do it again.
Let Danzo live a little longer—he would become a whetstone for Sasuke's growth.
But still...
Itachi couldn't help but worry.
Danzo was not a simple opponent.
Had Sasuke really managed to take him out without injury?
---
It's him!
Shimura Danzo stood motionless. His face blank, but the way his fingers crushed into the handle of his cane revealed the truth.
He was furious.
The Root members around him immediately stiffened.
They knew him too well.
This exact moment—when Danzo crushed his cane like this—was always followed by execution.
Someone in the crowd began trembling violently.
Fear.
A boundless, suffocating fear.
He knew.
He was going to die.
Horribly.
He was the Root member tasked with kidnapping Uzumaki Naruto.
He had brought three teams.
Waited until Anbu was away.
He had even successfully captured Naruto... and killed a witness.
But then... Akatsuki showed up and ruined everything.
Not only did he fail the mission—he also lost three entire squads.
And worst of all—he knew one of Danzo's secrets.
He was already a corpse.
---
At the center of the Examination Space, Nagato—acting as host—was stunned.
Only now was he realizing...
Everyone in Akatsuki was a monster-level talent!
Orochimaru: His strategies and control over timing were terrifying.
Deidara: Weak in power, perhaps, but his sheer IQ and his boldness... unexpectedly elite!
And the rest weren't far behind.
Nagato couldn't help but feel a deep frustration:
> With a team this powerful... how did I fail so miserably as a leader?
Shaking off his doubts, he composed himself and addressed Deidara's team:
> "Brown Team, please answer the third question:
Whose hand did the Fourth Raikage destroy an arm of?"
"What about our chance to analyze the video?"
Ōnoki immediately cut in.
Nagato glanced at the rules displayed in front of him and clarified:
> "Question priority is based on progression. Only when your team answers incorrectly will you be allowed to analyze a question your team previously got right."
After he spoke, he looked directly at Deidara.
Surely, he wouldn't get this one right too?
The correct answer was the same as the previous question: Sasuke Uchiha.
Even Nagato found it strange that two questions had the same answer.
But the recurrence of Sasuke Uchiha's name had caught his attention.
Shimura Danzo was his enemy as well.
So to that extent, Uchiha Sasuke killing Danzo... could be considered a personal favor.
Nagato's curiosity deepened.
Who exactly was this Uchiha Sasuke?
If he had potential, maybe...
Maybe he'd add him to the shortlist.
Naruto. Hinata. And maybe—Sasuke.
---
"Hehehehe..."
Deidara snapped out of his daze.
His laughter was no longer triumphant—it was borderline deranged.
He didn't believe it!
Why was he always right!?
He had tried everything to avoid being correct, and yet—every accidental guess was still on point!
"This question, I'll take it!"
Before anyone in Iwagakure could react, Deidara raised his hand decisively.
> "The answer is still—Sasuke Uchiha!"
His eyes bulged.
His fingers clenched together like a gambler placing their final bet.
This time... there was no way he was right.
He repeated the exact same answer as the last question.
That's gotta be wrong!
Turning his head, he glanced at Kurotsuchi and Ōnoki—both frozen once again.
Even the rest of the Iwa-nin looked completely stunned.
Inside, Deidara laughed coldly.
This time...
There's no way I'm right.
Right?
Right!?