Deidara's Ultimate Art

After dinner.

Jingxin called a squad meeting: "The mission is basically complete. Once Ishida finishes his trade tomorrow, we will escort him back to Iwagakure, and the mission will be over."

Deidara grinned and retorted: "How incredibly boring. We traveled all this way just to sell some trinkets? I really want to blow his entire stock to pieces!"

Jingxin felt a wave of relief upon hearing this.

This was actually a relatively friendly state for Deidara.

If it were the version from the original story, he would be thinking about blowing up people instead.

Ignoring the comment, Jingxin continued: "Ninja training requires perseverance; we cannot slack off today."

"Next, I will teach you a most fundamental skill."

He paused for a moment, looked at the group, and asked: "Is there anyone here who still doesn't know how to walk on trees or tread water?"

Deidara chuckled: "That's child's play!"

He had previously received a scroll from Jingxin on how to train chakra control, and he had already mastered both tree-climbing and water-treading.

The education Kurotsuchi had received also covered these basics.

The group turned their gaze toward Karin, who looked blankly at them: "What are those?"

Jingxin took the opportunity to shirk his duties: "Kurotsuchi, you take charge of Karin's training."

"I'd be happy to." Kurotsuchi agreed without a second thought.

Perhaps the mind of an adolescent girl isn't entirely focused on how to improve her strength.

Kurotsuchi knew full well that if she refused, Jingxin would have to guide Karin personally.

Wouldn't that just be handing them an opportunity for alone time on a silver platter?

Kurotsuchi was well aware that the way Karin looked at Jingxin was far from innocent.

"In exchange, I'll leave my earth-style chakra training to you, Instructor." Kurotsuchi raised an eyebrow at Jingxin.

"..." Jingxin replied: "That is my duty regardless. Before that, I will handle Deidara's training first."

Deidara picked at his ear, his tone flippant: "You should worry about yourself first. Just don't let me defeat you one of these days, yeah."

"I really don't know what the old man was thinking, making you a team-leading Jonin, yeah."

Jingxin signaled to Kurotsuchi: "You two can begin your training. Don't go too far."

"Deidara." Jingxin looked at the blond boy: "Come with me."

The group split up and headed out.

Jingxin led Deidara to an open space behind the inn, the boy still looking rather unconvinced.

"You aren't actually going to hold my hand and teach me, are you? Yeah..." Deidara said: "I'm not really used to that."

Jingxin nodded: "I know you don't like being told what to do, unless the person is as powerful as the Tsuchikage."

Deidara felt a jolt in his chest, a sudden, ominous premonition washing over him.

"Then, let's spar again." Jingxin's pupils transformed into bright red Sharingan. The three tomoe rotated slowly before converging toward the center, fusing into a solid black circle that looked incredibly eerie.

Deidara felt a surge of excitement: "Fine! Yeah... what is that?"

He frowned after asking, glancing at the nearby inn: "We should go further away. I don't want to be left without a place to sleep tonight."

Jingxin crossed his arms: "No need. Go ahead and attack me."

"Don't look down on me! Yeah!" Deidara flared up instantly, reaching into his waist pouch to grab some clay.

But at that same moment.

An immense pressure descended from all directions, engulfing Deidara like a tidal wave.

Heavy... dangerous...

Deidara's eyes widened, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His heart felt as if it were about to leap out of his throat, and his body was frozen stiff.

Opposite him, Jingxin wore an extremely serious expression. His Mangekyo Sharingan were locked firmly onto Deidara, and the air around him was actually distorting under the pressure of a violent, blue chakra current.

This guy is serious!

If he actually strikes, I might die!

"You!" Deidara swallowed hard: "What is that? Visible chakra?"

This guy is actually this strong?!

All this time, he had just been playing house with me!

Jingxin deactivated his Sharingan, his expression softening.

Deidara's body relaxed, though he was drenched in a cold sweat despite not having fought at all.

"Deidara, what do you think of Iwagakure?" Jingxin asked a question unrelated to training.

Deidara curled his lip: "What do I think? I just live there."

That was all.

"Then is there anything you are dissatisfied with?"

"If I had to say, it's that the old man is too controlling. On the contrary, he indulges you too much! Hn! That's probably because you're stronger, but now that you've proven that to me, so what? Hn!"

"It's because of personality."

"Hn? Hn."

Jingxin explained, "Your talent is excellent, and the power of your techniques is immense, which makes them relatively more dangerous. This could affect others, which is why he restricts you."

"So what?" Deidara laughed, "I certainly won't give up pursuing art because of such trivial matters! Hn! One day, I will need more freedom!"

Is this the reason for his defection?

Jingxin understood in his heart, then stated, "I will petition the Tsuchikage to designate an area near the village for you, allowing you to research explosions without any reservations."

"Really?" Deidara's eyes lit up, then he became vigilant again, "Then what is the price? Hn..."

Jingxin was somewhat puzzled, "Why ask that? The reason I am doing this is simply because I am also interested in some of your abilities."

"Oh?" Deidara said excitedly, "You also think it's beautiful, very artistic, right? Hn! So you are a kindred spirit."

Jingxin said with some regret, "It's just that the scale is a bit small."

Small scale?

Talking about this, Deidara was no longer sleepy. He rushed in front of Jingxin and asked, "Then how do I increase the scale? My chakra isn't considered much, why don't you give it a try?"

"Actually..." Jingxin recalled, "That is a power from another system that I have learned about."

Deidara was confused, "It has nothing to do with chakra?"

"Correct." Jingxin's tone seemed full of anticipation, "I once found an ancient book in the Konoha library. It mentioned that a type of bomb once appeared, where the fireball generated in a single instant had a diameter of eight kilometers. It annihilated everything within tens of kilometers, could cause effective damage within hundreds of kilometers, and the shockwaves would even circle the entire planet three times."

"However, that thing doesn't belong to the ninja system. It seems to be called... physics?"

Deidara felt his whole body burning with excitement, "I know about that! I dabbled in physics before to realize my art, and I was just preparing to make an eye device that allows me to see further."

"But I didn't expect that such an ultimate art could actually be created."

He even stopped using his habitual verbal tic, "What else do you know? Tell me in as much detail as possible, and when the time comes, I will invite you to witness the ultimate art!"

Jingxin chatted with him about some basics, such as black powder.

After it ended, Jingxin took a look at Deidara, who was a bit too excited.

Hn...

Solve the issue of him not being "free" enough in the village, then find him a research direction that requires relying on the village's resources.

Then, find an opportunity to kill a rogue ninja using the most brutal means possible right in front of him.

That should be just about enough.