Reactions from All Sides

Iwagakure.

Ever since Ōnoki had successfully talked Deidara into returning to the village,

it was as though he had opened up his Meridian System. What Meridian System?

The correct way to communicate with Deidara.

"How could you possibly master such ultimate art so easily?"

"You're insulting an art like Dust Release!"

"Only by calming yourself can you learn such perfect art!"

"I knew you wouldn't be able to master such ultimate art!"

At first, Ōnoki had found such remarks deeply uncomfortable.

But Deidara, whom he had never been able to properly teach back then, happened to enjoy communicating with him this way.

Ōnoki's sense of embarrassment gradually faded as well.

After letting go of his prejudice toward the word "art," Ōnoki realized that Deidara merely wanted to pursue what he loved.

At that point, Ōnoki thought that if he had been able to calmly discuss Deidara's interests with him back then,

Deidara would not have taken so many detours over the past few years.

Fortunately, it was not too late yet.

Ōnoki had selectively tried out the deal he made with Shamu before.

He had not expected it to work so well, and he had truly come to understand Deidara.

The current Ōnoki was filled with gratitude toward Shamu.

After all, these things might have seemed insignificant.

But with Ōnoki's stubborn temperament, he likely would never have truly reconciled with Deidara even until his death.

Ōnoki had received the news as soon as Konoha's Fifth Hokage nominees were announced. When he saw Uchiha Shamu among them,

his first reaction was disbelief.

He had dealt with Uchiha Shamu before. During their conversation, he could tell that Shamu genuinely did not want to become Hokage.

Ōnoki instinctively assumed that Shamu must be plotting something.

Otherwise, Shamu would never do something so thankless