Orochimaru's Pursuit

In the Tsuchikage's Office, Ōnoki gazed at the section of the Canopy Screen whose terrain had been completely transformed by Deidara's Explosive Clay, remaining silent for a long while.

His usually stern, rigid face was now filled with unconcealable shock.

Had that brat really grown to this level in the future?

That scale of clay transformation was practically a natural disaster. Even when facing Dust Release, he had forcibly countered it through such a nearly savage method of overwhelming it with sheer quantity.

A complicated emotion flashed through his murky old eyes—shock and gratification.

No wonder his future self had passed the Tsuchikage Position to Deidara instead of Kurotsuchi.

This strength was indeed enough to protect the village.

However, when he saw Deidara's smug expression on the Canopy Screen, as if saying, "Hurry up and praise me,"

the slight gratification that had just risen was immediately scattered by familiar fury. He could not help muttering:

"Hmph! His strength is sufficient, but that brat is still just as infuriating in the way he speaks and acts!"

Kurotsuchi beside him presented an entirely different sight.

She clasped both hands tightly before her chest, her eyes glittering with undisguised admiration and infatuation. Her face was flushed with proud excitement.

"Future Deidara is so amazing! That Clone even copied Grandpa's Dust Release and caused such a huge spectacle, yet Deidara solved it so effortlessly! He's so cool!"

She felt her heartbeat quicken in an instant.

At a base of the Akatsuki Organization, Deidara was so excited that he nearly danced with joy. He slapped the hard shell of Hiruko beside him and shouted:

"Did you see that, Sasori? That was my art! Hmm!"

"What a perfect explosion! What an extreme quantity! It could even bury Dust Release! Now that's what deserves to be called