"Rōshi, you should be a little more humorous. That way, you and the tailed beast can both find joy in each other's company."
A blond-haired youth followed beside Rōshi.
That was right!
He was Deidara, who could no longer endure the old man's tyranny.
Given their unusual identities, Ōnoki had nearly been enraged to death. Yet because of his stubborn nature, he refused to send ninja to look for them.
"I'm starting to regret bringing you along. You haven't been quiet for a single moment since we left."
The corner of Rōshi's eye twitched as he looked at Deidara. As one of the village's famed geniuses, Deidara had every hope of inheriting the position of Tsuchikage. Ōnoki had dared to let him leave because he wanted Rōshi to temper him for a while, to help Deidara find the stone in his heart and strengthen his convictions for the future.
Rōshi and Ōnoki did not get along, and they had clashed many times. Yet he still loved the village. Knowing that it faced a shortage of successors, he had reluctantly agreed. But after traveling with Deidara all this way, Rōshi's heart was filled with regret.
Deidara was far too restless. It was the first time the youth had left the village on a long journey, and everything he saw filled him with curiosity.
But his curiosity did not mean observing things. It meant planting explosives on them while shouting that explosions were art, leaving countless craters in the ground along the way.
If Rōshi had not spent the entire journey paying compensation and offering apologies, their identities would have changed from traveling ninja to wanted criminals by now.
"What's so good about being quiet? I finally got out, so I'm going to pursue my art without restraint."
After being dealt that