"The answer to this question, I'm still Sasuke Uchiha!"
Deidara's voice rang out, solemn and unwavering, reverberating throughout the exam space. Everyone—both within the space and across the ninja world via the live broadcast—froze in stunned silence.
Can you even do that?!
No one expected this from Deidara.
Repeating the previous answer? Who even thinks of that?
It was so absurdly simple, yet somehow genius.
Was this laziness… or brilliance?
"Deidara, well done."
Ōnoki finally nodded, his eyes gleaming with understanding after a moment's initial shock.
"We've already secured a place through the make-up exam. There's no benefit in drawing more attention or stirring hostility from other Shinobi villages."
"The tall tree attracts the wind"—you finally grasped this principle. That's rare.
"It seems you've truly grown during your time in the Akatsuki."
Ōnoki's words were full of admiration and pride—genuine, unmistakable admiration.
This stunned Kurotsuchi beside him. Her grandfather was never one to dish out praise easily. She had always known him to be critical, harsh even. Neither she nor her own father ever received such warmth from the old Tsuchikage.
And yet…
Kurotsuchi turned to Deidara.
Had he really grown this much?
This level of awareness… it was terrifying.
But she couldn't help but worry—was this decision going to backfire on him? Was Akatsuki going to punish him afterward for defying the unspoken rules?
That… seemed unlikely.
After all, it didn't seem like Deidara could actually answer this question correctly.
As the host, Nagato was visibly stunned by Deidara's unpredictable move.
From another perspective, this question was impossible. Even Nagato himself doubted anyone from Akatsuki could have answered it properly. Even if Itachi Uchiha—the man closest to Sasuke—was handed the question directly, he probably wouldn't have answered it correctly.
And yet… Deidara did.
It was a divine-level move.
Nagato made a mental note: Iwa-nin or not, Deidara must never be allowed to slip from Akatsuki's grasp.
His ability to comprehend and adapt was a rarity.
From this point forward, Nagato would focus on training Deidara, building him up.
As he continued pondering, Nagato's gaze shifted to the girl beside Deidara—Kurotsuchi.
She… might be the key.
A subtle but potent influence on Deidara's behavior. Perhaps… she could be used to keep Deidara motivated—a subtle strategy, like Jiraiya teasing Naruto to bring out his potential.
"Very well… that's the third correct answer."
---
"This brat Deidara is no joke."
The gruff voice came from the Fourth Raikage, Ai, arms crossed as he stood boldly at the front of the Purple Team's platform.
He had noticed something rather intriguing.
None of Akatsuki's members hailed from his village of Kumogakure. In fact, most of them originated from Konoha or Kirigakure.
Especially Konoha—Akatsuki might as well be Konoha's shadow branch at this point.
"Huh? Killer Bee, what are you staring at me for?"
Raikage glanced over and raised an eyebrow.
"Ah—nothing, Big Bro!" Bee raised his hands quickly, sweat dripping down his temples.
He had just been joking the other day—"You and your two hands," he said.
And now…
One of those hands was gone.
Had he jinxed his brother? Was this his fault?
Big Bro's suffering never ends…
No wife, and now, no hand either.
---
"Boss, just announce the result already."
Back in the Brown Team's area, Deidara was still glaring directly at Uchiha Itachi, a wicked grin on his lips.
"When the next question comes up, I'll make sure you take the fall for it—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Nagato's voice boomed overhead:
"The Brown Team got it right again!"
Nagato's voice cracked with disbelief, his astonishment carried through the exam space for all to hear.
Then—he began to applaud.
There was a beat of silence.
Then chaos.
The entire answering space erupted with shocked exclamations and gasps of awe.
Mouths hung open.
Speechless.
There were no words left. Just respect.
Utter, shocked, helpless respect.
Deidara from the Brown Team was on fire.
He wasn't just good. He was terrifying.
So good they didn't want to compete anymore.
What was the point?
If it weren't for the fact that there were still five questions left, most of them would've declared surrender right there.
This was a dimensionality-reduction attack. A full-level boss fighting first-year genin.
One of the competitors muttered:
"Has Deidara memorized all the answers or something?!"
Applause echoed throughout the chamber again, this time from other teams imitating Nagato.
"What's he doing…?"
"Wait—is this some kind of secret signal?"
No one knew who started clapping first, but once it began, the movement spread like wildfire.
Uzumaki Naruto's palms were already bright red from slapping them together so hard, but he didn't stop.
He didn't care.
He wanted this recognition.
He wanted the ninja world to know his name—to know his power—just like this guy.
In that moment, Deidara had become Naruto's idol.
"I've gotten three right too! No—wait, four!"
---
"Grandpa?"
Kurotsuchi hesitantly called out.
Ōnoki was oddly still. She prodded him lightly with her fingers.
Puff.
Ōnoki collapsed like a bag of rocks, nearly giving Kurotsuchi a heart attack.
She moved to help him—but he leapt to his feet at lightning speed, brushing his beard like nothing had happened.
"Grandpa?!"
She called again, blinking.
Ōnoki's old face was red. Embarrassingly red.
"Ahem… Deidara is still young. It's only natural for the younger generation to… outshine us once in a while."
He coughed awkwardly.
He'd thought Deidara was just screwing around.
But it was the right answer again.
---
Bingo?
Bingo!!
Deidara's eyes bulged wide, his sockets straining as his body began to tremble.
But this wasn't excitement.
It was rage.
Rage at the universe itself.
Why the hell did he get it right?!
He wasn't trying to! He just wanted to spite Iwa—to throw the whole game!
And yet…
Correct. Again.
Goddammit!
His three mouth-hands were biting their own lips in frustration, trying not to scream or eat Kurotsuchi out of sheer emotional overload.
Too damn irritating!
---
"Now, the Brown Team will answer the fourth question:"
'Why does Uzumaki Nagato have the ability to resurrect, but not Yahiko?'
?!??!
Nagato's expression froze.
He had been caught up in the moment, letting the energy of the exam space carry him, reading the next question without thinking.
But as the words registered…
His face changed. Completely.
He stared at the question analysis, heart pounding.
---
"…This?"
The moment the question was read aloud, the entire exam space turned toward Nagato with wide eyes.
Yes, they had seen the resurrection event in the previous video breakdown.
But that was theory.
Now it was confirmed.
Nagato can bring back the dead.
Still…
Everyone watched Nagato's face carefully.
He looked… confused.
As though he didn't actually know the answer to the question.
You're asking us?
This… is an unsolvable riddle!
Their thoughts halted.
Everyone turned slowly toward the Brown Team platform.
Staring.
All their hope, confusion, and suspicion trained on one man.
This question…
There's no way.
There's no way Deidara could pull it off again.
Right?