Deidara, Here I Come!

Uchiha Yu folded his arms and looked at Jiraiya standing before him.

If he had the year right, the Akatsuki would soon be making its next move.

But Deidara probably hadn't joined the Akatsuki yet, so Yu could consider beating them to the punch.

Jiraiya stroked his chin and thought carefully about the so-called Akatsuki that Uchiha Yu had mentioned, but still couldn't think of any clues.

It was the first time he'd heard that name, too.

"The Akatsuki? What do they do? Who leads them? What's their goal?"

Jiraiya could tell that Uchiha Yu seemed to know a lot about the Akatsuki, so he couldn't help asking.

Uchiha Yu shook his head and didn't tell Jiraiya everything about the Akatsuki.

After all, with his status, there was no way he could get his hands on that kind of intelligence.

If he revealed information he had no business knowing, Jiraiya might get suspicious.

"If I knew all that, I wouldn't need to tell you. Anyway, the Akatsuki is mysterious and troublesome. I've heard they're connected to a lot of rogue ninja."

Yu's real reason for telling Jiraiya about them was to get him to deal with the Akatsuki while they were still growing.

Even if Jiraiya couldn't nip them in the bud, he could at least slow them down significantly.

That would be good for Konoha, too.

Jiraiya folded his arms, sighed, and gave Uchiha Yu a meaningful look.

"I'm still a Konoha ninja. But if your Uchiha Clan tries anything to betray Konoha, I won't stand for it."

With that, Jiraiya's body flickered, and he vanished from the spot.

After watching the walking disaster leave, Uchiha Yu gave a wry smile.

Who would've thought so many people had their eyes on him?

Two of the Sannin, at that.

"Now that the Sarutobi Clan and Shimura Clan's defection problems are settled, the next step is to recruit some teammates."

A smile tugged at Uchiha Yu's lips.

Deidara was probably still in Sunagakure, being a mischievous little brat.

Though his pranks were a bit of a problem.

Explosions everywhere.

Naruto at least only dared to graffiti Kage Rock, but if Deidara were in his place, he'd definitely blow it up.

He couldn't help it. To Deidara, the moment Kage Rock exploded was far more artistic than leaving it standing forever.

"I've got some free time these next couple of days. Maybe I'll take a trip to Iwagakure. It'd be a pain if the Akatsuki beat me to Deidara." Uchiha Yu gave a wry smile and shook his head.

Deidara was no pushover. Rather than let him join the Akatsuki, Yu might as well recruit him into his own ranks.

Sunagakure.

Hyuga Tokuma stared at Uchiha Yu in confusion.

"You're saying you've been in a bad mood these past couple of days and want to wander around the outskirts of Sunagakure alone, while we head back to the village?" Hyuga Tokuma looked unconvinced.

To him, Uchiha Yu was the very definition of a sly little kid. Everything he said was as trustworthy as a fart.

"Of course! When have I ever lied to you? Sigh, as the second young master of the Uchiha Clan, I'm under so much pressure. I bear troubles no one my age should have to carry. It's truly agonizing." Uchiha Yu folded his arms, tears glimmering in his eyes as he put on a pitiful expression.

"Really?" Hyuga Tokuma still didn't believe him.

"Really. When have I ever lied to anyone, from the day I was born?" Uchiha Yu insisted.

Uchiha Sasuke was silent for a moment, then asked, "Big brother, did you pay the photographer?"

"..." Only then did Uchiha Yu remember that when he'd taken Sasuke to get his picture taken, he'd put it on credit...

It had been more than half a month now.

"Ahem. I'll definitely pay him. I'll take care of it when I get back to the village," Uchiha Yu said awkwardly.

Hyuga Tokuma looked at Uchiha Yu and shook his head. "I can't stop you if you want to go, but be careful. Don't get yourself into trouble, or I won't be able to explain myself."

If something happened to Uchiha Yu, the Uchiha Clan would come after him first.

He was only a lowly Special Jōnin. Even with the Hyuga Clan backing him, he couldn't withstand the Uchiha Clan's wrath.

Uchiha Yu grinned. "In that case, Uncle Tokuma, please look after Sasuke and Naruto for me."

With that, Uchiha Yu got up and left, heading out of Sunagakure in the direction of Iwagakure.

Mountains surrounded Iwagakure, making it easy to defend and hard to attack. The terrain also made travel difficult.

That was why, despite not being especially powerful, Iwagakure had never been conquered in a war. It had managed to hold on to its own little patch of land.

Besides, the Dust Release of the current Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of Both Scales, was undeniably one of the strongest techniques around.

As Uchiha Yu put it, it dealt true damage! Ignored armor! Ignored magic resistance!

Yu had always wanted Dust Release, but it was a Kekkei Tōta that required combining three chakra nature transformations. It also cost an outrageous amount in the system shop.

A Kekkei Genkai only cost a hundred Pay-to-Win Points, but Dust Release cost five hundred.

That was half a million...

For Uchiha Yu, it was an astronomical price!

For now, Yu had no choice but to set the idea aside and keep heading toward Iwagakure.

He hadn't forgotten his goal: finding Deidara!

Three days later.

Outside Iwagakure.

A small, ochre tent stood in the middle of a barren desert.

Deidara sat inside, shaping Explosive Clay with his hands.

"Heh heh. This explosion is going to be true art!"

Deidara was only ten years old, yet he'd already been forced to live outside the village because he kept causing explosions.

But since he was Ōnoki of Both Scales' grandson, he hadn't been driven away for good.

Clearly, Deidara had no intention of living an ordinary life. He still returned to the village every so often to cause all kinds of explosions.

With practiced ease, Deidara fed the Explosive Clay into the mouth on his palm. A little while later, he spat out a tiny Clay Bird.

Though the Clay Bird looked no bigger than his palm, its explosive power was greater than that of seven or eight Explosive Tags bundled together.

And on top of that, it could fly...

"Haha! It's done! I'm going to show those old fossils in Iwagakure that my art is..." Deidara was brimming with excitement, but before he could finish, an unexpected visitor interrupted him from outside the tent.

"Explosions?" Uchiha Yu said with a smile as he yanked open the tent flap.

"Hello, Deidara. It's nice to meet you. I hope we get along." Uchiha Yu greeted him politely.

Deidara stared blankly, looking Uchiha Yu up and down. He didn't recognize him.

"Who are you? I don't think I've seen you in Iwagakure!" Deidara asked, baffled.

Since Uchiha Yu hadn't graduated, he wasn't wearing a Forehead Protector, so Deidara mistook him for someone from his own village.

"I'm your biggest fan! I really admire your art. How about you join my team? What do you say, my idol?" Uchiha Yu asked with a mischievous grin.

Deidara scratched his head.

What the hell? Who was this idiot?