Inside the Tsuchikage Building in Iwagakure.
The atmosphere was exceptionally tense and oppressive.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Ōnoki stood before his enormous desk, furiously slamming his palms against its surface, each blow producing a dull, thunderous crash.
With every strike, the documents and objects on the desk jolted and bounced as though they, too, could feel the surging fury in Ōnoki's heart. His already wrinkled face had twisted into a ferocious mask of rage, his eyes wide and glaring.
"Find him! Every last one of you, go find him!"
"He's just a child. Where could he possibly run off to?"
"Even if you have to turn all of Iwagakure upside down, bring Deidara back to me!"
Ōnoki's furious roar echoed through the spacious room, carrying boundless rage and authority.
Yet his words made the many trembling Iwa Ninja present breathe a sigh of relief. After answering him, they fled the Tsuchikage Building as if escaping for their lives.
Even wandering around aimlessly was far better than facing their enraged superior.
In the end, only Ōnoki, still breathing heavily, and his son and bodyguard, Kitsuchi, remained inside the Tsuchikage Building.
Kitsuchi barely dared to breathe, much less make any sarcastic remarks, afraid of further provoking his father while he was in such a fury.
Just two days ago, he had been saying Deidara would become the next Tsuchikage. Yet when they had brought him food today, they discovered that he had already been replaced by a Clay Clone.
Only after quite some time did Ōnoki's anger gradually subside. He released his tightly clenched left hand, revealing a paper ball that he had crumpled into a wad.
He slowly unfolded it and read its contents once more.
"Goodbye, old man. Since you don't appreciate my art anyway, I'm going somewhere I can bring