The Gentleman Uchiha Houka

As Akimichi Choza left, his face was full of grief and indignation, wearing an expression as though life held no further meaning. Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi were thoroughly delighted by the sight.

"Choza, it was just children fooling around. Don't take it to heart," Nara Shikaku said with a smile, trying to comfort him.

"Shikaku, Inoichi, you both saw that there was something wrong with the tea. Why did you still let me drink it? I-I-I... you're terrible friends." Akimichi Choza's eyes brimmed with aggrieved tears.

"Ah, well..." Yamanaka Inoichi said, "we only noticed something was wrong after you drank the tea."

"Is that so?" Akimichi Choza looked at Yamanaka Inoichi, then at Nara Shikaku, wondering whether these two geniuses were fooling him again.

Feeling blue and mushroomy.

At Houka Mansion, Deidara, having downed three cups of doctored tea, wore a dark, livid expression as he glared at Houka as though they were sworn enemies.

Houka, meanwhile, was positively glowing with satisfaction. Obito had already headed for the Land of Snow, Danzo had been angered into leaving, and Deidara had drunk three rounds of fine tea. Eight or nine things in life were going his way.

"Bastard..." Deidara ground his teeth in hatred.

"Deidara, an inch of time is an inch of gold, but gold can't buy back an inch of time. Don't waste your time staring at my peerless looks. Pick up your little sketchbook and study your art properly, understand? Don't spend all day making bird eggs, grasshoppers, and chubby little birds. Have some ambition!" Houka said earnestly. "I've eaten more salt than you've walked roads. You can't go wrong listening to me."

Though Deidara's mouth said no, his body honestly took out his little sketchbook.

When he came to his senses, he immediately flew into