(Just got it! Any readers from Xi'an? We'll be in the same city for the next four years.)
A day later.
Josuke, Tobi, and Deidara rode a giant bird toward the lake where the Three-Tails lay at the bottom.
Tobi's clownish nature brought quite a bit of amusement to the otherwise dreary trio along the way.
But only Josuke knew who the man beneath that spiral mask truly was.
"Senior Josuke, are you really strong? Can you teach me some powerful ninjutsu?"
On the giant bird, Obito—no, Tobi now—asked Josuke about his abilities.
Josuke merely smiled without answering.
He revealed the three tomoe in his eyes.
"See that? This is the mighty power of the Uchiha Clan! Power bestowed by the gods!"
Deidara, beside him, scoffed. He hated those evil Uchiha most of all.
Especially that Itachi.
At the mention of him, Deidara gritted his teeth in anger.
Back then, he had only been a young man pursuing art. But Itachi's Mangekyō—did anyone know what kind of damage those eyes had inflicted on his young heart?
What was wrong with merely wanting to pursue fleeting art?
"Wow! You're an amazing senior too!!"
Tobi started clowning around again.
Deidara could only sigh helplessly. As the senior member leading the team, he could not bring himself to reprimand Tobi.
Just then, Josuke walked over to Deidara and asked,
"I heard you're a renowned artist. Could you tell me about your artistic ideals?"
Oh?
Deidara was rather surprised. He had not expected an evil Uchiha to be interested in his art.
Since this Uchiha had sincerely come to ask him, Deidara would graciously enlighten him.
"Art! Is Patrick Star—ptui, explosions!"
"I'm different from that Sasori. He pursues eternity, while I pursue fleeting art. For that, I am willing to offer up my life."