Reclaiming Deidara

The Land of Rice, the High Heaven Palace, the Confinement Room.

"Eat slowly, there's no need to rush. There's plenty of food on the table, no one's going to take it from you."

Inside the confinement room, Kōkō sat opposite Deidara, looking at the pile of empty bowls in front of him, and said with some helplessness.

"Well, what can I do? Your cooking skills are just too good, Brother Kou... I've hardly ever seen you cook back in Xiao's place. I never knew you were such a hidden talent!"

Deidara shoveled the last half bowl of rice into his mouth, then grabbed the water glass next to him and gulped down most of it. Finally, he wiped his mouth with satisfaction and let out a burp.

"Burp~~ Delicious, so flavorful!"

"It's a package, bro."

Kou smiled smugly, and seeing Deidara's cheerful appearance, a subtle feeling of emotion welled up in his heart:

"I didn't expect you to accept my betrayal of Akatsuki so quickly..."

I thought your reaction would be stronger.

"What's the big deal? Aren't all the Akatsuki members rogue missing-nin with their own agendas anyway?"

Deidara put his hands behind his head and replied with utter nonchalance:

"Since you've become missing-nin and entered a place like Akatsuki, you should have been prepared to face any unexpected events."

Even if I die at the hands of my comrades, there's nothing to say."

At this point, he sighed, a genuine regret appearing on his face:

"But if there's anything to regret, it's Master Scorpion."

Either way, I'm going to die. Wouldn't it be more dignified and meaningful to die under your flawless, impeccable art of explosives?

In the end, he was crushed to death with a single blow. As an artist, this kind of death is anything but artistic...

Hearing Deidara's thoughts, Koko swallowed back the words of comfort that were about to come out.

Good grief, I thought you were grieving over your comrades' deaths, but it turns out you're lamenting that their deaths weren't artistic enough? That's just too hellish!

Give me back that thought I just gave you, "This kid is actually quite sentimental!"

He mentally ranted about it, but then quickly came to terms with it.

After all, Deidara, that kid, was ready to unleash Patrick Star's abstract art without hesitation just to prove his art.

Ultimately, Deidara was still a ninja at heart.

"And most ninjas are mentally unstable!"

Kou first mentally cursed the ninja profession—a truly harmful and pathetic one—for the umpteenth time, then sat up straight and said earnestly to Deidara:

"Let's leave the small talk here for now."

"It's time to... talk to you about something serious."

Hearing Kona's suddenly serious tone, Deidara's relaxed expression vanished instantly.

"Finally, they'll let me out? Thank goodness!!"

He excitedly jumped up from his chair, raised his hand with several sealing patterns, and shouted expectantly at Kou:

"Quickly, Brother Kou! Remove the seal on my hand immediately, then we can have a proper chat about art. I've been waiting for this day for so long!!"

Seeing his excited expression, she helplessly raised her hand and pressed it down on him:

"Don't worry, I will remove the seal on you naturally."

As for discussing art and such, I'll naturally be happy to oblige when I have the time.

But before that, I'd like you to do something for me.

Deidara narrowed his eyes at first, then blinked in confusion:

"What's up?"

"Help me bring a group of people out of the Land of Rice."

He leaned slightly towards him and said, word by word:

"A Explosion Corps exclusively for the Land of Rice."

"Huh? I won't do it!!"

Deidara shouted loudly, extremely reluctantly:

"You want me to teach students? Are you kidding me! How could those ordinary people, whose minds are filled with nothing but tasks and money (Kakuzu: Don't be ridiculous), possibly understand the greatness of art?"

You want me to teach them? That's blasphemy against art!

He grew angrier as he spoke, and a hint of disappointment appeared in his eyes as he looked at Kou.

"I thought you, Brother Kou, were someone who understood the sanctity of art, but it turns out you're... Sigh, I really misjudged you!"

Seeing Deidara's indignant expression, Kojima showed no sign of anxiety, as if he had already anticipated this reaction. He smiled maliciously and then spoke earnestly:

"Don't say that. I asked you to teach them precisely so that we can better promote this great art."

"What does it mean to promote great art?"

"I'm asking you."

He casually placed his hands on his knees and said in a pretentious tone:

Why were so many people so resistant to your artistic ideas when you were in Iwagakure?

"Is that even a question? Of course, it's because they're all just ordinary people!"

Deidara answered quickly, letting out a sigh as if he had seen through the illusions of the world:

"Isn't it perfectly normal that ordinary people can't understand the ideas of artists?"

"Indeed, mortals cannot comprehend the artist's vision."

Kou nodded in agreement, then changed the subject and began to deceive:

"But think about it, isn't it an artist's responsibility to help those who couldn't understand before eventually understand and even wholeheartedly embrace art?"

"The artist's... duties?"

Deidara repeated unconsciously, a rare look of serious contemplation appearing in his eyes.

"Good!"

Seeing that he was starting to get the hang of it, Kou pressed his advantage, pulling out the pre-prepared plan from his pocket, slamming it on the table, and continuing to coax him:

"People don't understand your art, not because they lack the potential to appreciate it; they simply lack an opportunity to get to know you properly."

After all, you can't expect a baby who hasn't even refined Chakra to be born knowing how to make Rasengan, right?

A genius like you can certainly find that ray of light in the darkness all by yourself.

But they can't do that. They need to grow, they need guidance, they need someone to pry open a crack in the door of art for them!

As he spoke, Kou stood up, pointed at Deidara, and said righteously:

"And you, Deidara, are the chosen one!"

"Me, me?"

Deidara pointed to himself, responding somewhat bewildered.

Yes, it's you!

Looking sincerely into Deidara's eyes, he whispered:

"When you personally cultivate a group of people who can truly understand art, they will naturally understand the beauty of art, and then they will compete to learn, create, and spread the beauty of art throughout the entire Ninja World!"

By then, the Ninja World will no longer be just a solitary lamp, but a dazzling display of fireworks lit up by your own hands!

The spark of art will shine brighter because of you!

And you, the pioneering and greatest artist, will become the one and only sun that all of them will spend their entire lives chasing after!

Seeing the slight change in Deidara's eyes, he pressed his advantage:

"Think about it, they hone their skills day and night, just so that one day, with all their talent, they can leave even a fleeting moment of amazement in your memory."

What a beautiful and magnificent sight that would be!

"In my memory... does a fleeting moment of art remain?"

Deidara repeated in a low voice, the light in his eyes gradually brightening.