"Deidara, now that you understand you're a member of the Hagoromo clan, surrounded by your blood relatives, how do you feel about that?" asked Motoni, who was also present.
Without thinking, Deidara immediately blurted out, "Feel? Of course, I think the name 'Hagoromo' has a very artistic vibe! Hmm!"
"Idiot!" Morin rushed up to Deidara, smacking him hard on the forehead. He sighed heavily with frustration. "Now is not the time to talk about art! You should be happy that you're finally reunited with the Hagoromo clan!"
"Agh! Old man Morin! You hit me on the head again! Ever since I left the village, I swore no one would hit me on the—wait..."
Deidara stopped mid-sentence, remembering how Gensou had already knocked him on the head twice. His so-called vow had long since been broken.
"Forget it. You're too old to be so irritable, so I won't hold it against you. Hmm," Deidara huffed, turning his head away, ignoring Morin.
Morin's hands trembled as he resisted the urge to smack Deidara again.
Gensou raised a hand, signaling for Morin to step back.
Morin, still worried, gave Deidara a concerned glance as he stepped aside, unsure if the young man would understand the gravity of the situation.
"Deidara," Gensou's voice called out.
This time, Deidara immediately quieted down.
It wasn't just because of the previous beatings that Deidara became compliant. It was more the presence of Gensou, who sat calmly, one hand lightly tapping the armrest of his chair, emitting no visible aura. Yet, the pressure Deidara felt was suffocating.
Deidara had met powerful figures before—Onoki, Itachi, and the Akatsuki leader Pain—who could all defeat him, but none had ever made him feel this way.
Even if all of them combined, they wouldn't give him the same sense of overwhelming pressure.
Deidara, who was usually restless, fell silent, and the others stood quietly by, listening intently.
Without beating around the bush, Gensou asked directly:
"Are you interested in rejoining the Hagoromo clan?"
Deidara wasn't dumb. He knew the situation he was in.
It was just returning to his homeland, right?
While it was disappointing that he couldn't blow up the airborne fortress into a spectacular firework display, Deidara thought about all the artistic creations that awaited him in the future. Besides, these people hadn't insulted his art, so he nodded and said:
"Of course, the Hagoromo clan has a very artistic... ahem, I'm willing to return. Hmm."
Deidara, who had instinctively wanted to mention art again, quickly changed his tune when Gensou gave him a sharp glance, and returned to the topic at hand.
"Good," Gensou nodded. "From now on, you will serve as the Hagoromo clan's spy, returning to the Akatsuki and relaying all relevant information about the organization."
"What?" Deidara was taken aback.
He had fully prepared himself to shed his Akatsuki uniform and spend the next while comfortably staying with the Hagoromo clan.
Unexpectedly, he was being sent back to the Akatsuki as an undercover agent.
Not that Deidara had ever felt much loyalty to the Akatsuki. He had joined mostly because Itachi had defeated him and disregarded his art. Deidara had joined, intending to get revenge one day.
However...
After joining the Akatsuki, Deidara had seen the unique abilities of the other members and started to appreciate their powers as forms of art.
Additionally, the battles to capture tailed beasts were full of excitement, fitting the thrill-seeking nature of an artist. Deidara had begun to think of the Akatsuki as an "artist collective."
Everyone was an artist, and if possible, Deidara wanted their actions to continue.
With a bitter expression, Deidara asked, "Can I not go?"
Gensou replied bluntly, "Of course not."
Deidara sighed.
Though everyone in the Akatsuki was an artist, for the sake of his own future in art, he would have to sacrifice the others.
Besides, being an undercover agent was a form of art in itself.
"Just imagine," Deidara thought, "the moment when my true identity is revealed, and the shock, disbelief, anger, and killing intent from the other Akatsuki members who think they know me. All those intense emotions condensed into a single moment—that would be a perfect expression of my art!"
Deidara stroked his chin, and after some thought, his eyes lit up.
And having the Hagoromo surname? That was yet another artistic touch.
Quickly convincing himself, Deidara confidently pounded his chest and said, "So you want me to be a spy for the Akatsuki? No problem, I'm familiar with them! I'll definitely get the job done! Hmm!"
Standing nearby, Morin finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Deidara's life had been spared.
Gensou also nodded in satisfaction.
Unlike the original story, where all sorts of unexpected events could happen, it was important to keep a close eye on the Akatsuki, whose mission to capture tailed beasts could cause serious trouble. Naturally, Gensou wanted to monitor their every move.
Deidara, being a member of the Hagoromo clan, was the perfect candidate for the job.
Of course, if Deidara had proven too reckless, Gensou would have been prepared to take him out. Thankfully, Deidara wasn't entirely ruled by his explosive tendencies, and he agreed to the task.
Still, as a precaution, Gensou had a backup plan.
"Since you're rejoining the Hagoromo clan, you'll need to receive the Hagoromo Mark."
As Gensou spoke, he vanished from his seat and reappeared next to Deidara, his five fingers igniting with a deep red flame.
"What... what are you going to do?" Deidara sensed something ominous.
Morin quickly chimed in, "Deidara, this is a great honor! The clan leader himself is placing the Hagoromo Mark on you!"
Indeed, it was a significant honor.
Many in the room felt a deep sense of awe as they watched the clan leader, who hadn't placed the Hagoromo Mark on anyone since the Warring States period, prepare to mark Deidara.
It was a symbol of pride, far more prestigious than receiving the mark from elders or other seniors.
Deidara didn't yet understand the significance of what was happening.
Soon, he felt a burning pain on his chest.
Fortunately, the pain came and went quickly.
When it was over, Deidara looked down to find a red symbol of a hammer and scythe etched onto his chest.
And honestly, it looked pretty artistic.
"This is the Hagoromo Mark," Morin, in an unusually good mood, explained the many functions of the mark to Deidara, such as sensing other clan members, self-igniting, and locating...
"Locating?"
Deidara's body stiffened as the word echoed in his mind.
"Damn it!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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