Is Explosion Art?

"Hmm? You've heard of my name too?"

Deidara's eyes lit up. Smugly, he said, "My explosive art really has become famous throughout the Ninja World. That damned old Third Tsuchikage even kicked me out of the village. Hmph."

As Houka listened to his muttering, he instantly gleaned a great deal of information.

First, Deidara had already mastered Explosive Clay and had begun making all kinds of bombs.

Second, his relationship with Iwagakure seemed somewhat complicated.

Third, he had not yet joined Akatsuki.

There was something to work with here.

A faint smile appeared on Houka's lips. "Deidara, I've long heard of your explosive art."

"Hahaha, don't think a few flattering words will make me let you off, yeah!"

Though he said that, his grinning mouth simply would not close.

Explosion was art!

To uphold that belief, Deidara had alienated everyone and been kicked out of the village by Ōnoki. Yet he had not given up. Instead, he continuously accepted all manner of terrorist attack jobs on the Black Market, proving his explosive art through mission after mission.

And now, words from Uchiha Houka, renowned throughout the Ninja World, seemed to affirm all his previous efforts. Naturally, Deidara was delighted.

Still, delighted as he was, he had to take care of business.

"Deidara, since you've left Iwagakure, why not work for me?" Houka recruited him directly.

"What a joke!" Deidara sneered as he took out some Explosive Clay from a pouch and stuffed it into the mouth in his left palm.

That mouth was full of sharp teeth. After chewing the Explosive Clay for a while, it spat out a flock of tiny birds.

"Explosive Clay—Tiny Birds!"

"Pfft..." Houka failed to hold back his laughter. He hurriedly waved a hand. "Sorry, sorry, that name is just too... Hahaha..."

"Damn it!!"

Deidara