A clear young voice, brimming with undisguised pride, came from behind him:
"Well, Deidara? This is my latest creation, the 'Red Secret Technique: Mark III' armor. Perfect, isn't it?"
Deidara turned at the sound.
A red-haired boy stood there in an ordinary researcher's white coat, though it did little to hide his handsome face.
He looked barely into his teens, with a bold, spirited air about him.
Sasori of the Red Sands gazed intently at his creation, then looked to Deidara, clearly awaiting his opinion.
A flicker of genuine appreciation crossed Deidara's bright blue eyes.
For once, he did not immediately argue or bring up his own art. Instead, he smiled in approval and nodded.
"It really is good, Sasori! Yeah!" He turned back to the magnificent dark-red armor.
"You've abandoned direct control, like a traditional puppeteer, and gone for a highly intelligent suit of combat armor?"
"And you've kept that exquisitely precise beauty while giving it greater autonomy and adaptability in battle."
"Hmph. Trust you to pursue 'eternity' in a way no one else would. Even your idea of evolution is different. Yeah!"
At the sincere praise, Sasori's lips curled with satisfaction. He folded his arms and raised his chin slightly. "Of course. Art should always evolve."
"Looks like becoming Tsuchikage hasn't ruined your eye for it, Deidara."
"Hey, one compliment and it goes straight to your head? Yeah!" Deidara shot back out of habit, though there was no real anger in his voice.
His gaze shifted between Sasori's youthful face and the Mark III armor before he gave a soft laugh. "Still, I'll admit you've found a new way to make 'eternity' interesting. You've got some artistic sense after all. Yeah."
Then Deidara studied the unusually vivid expressions on his face and frowned slightly. The monocular lens over