Year Fifty-Seven of Konoha.
Land of Rice Fields.
The conference room in Night Hidden Village.
Last year, Obito had made a whole lot of plans for himself.
A year later, he hadn't accomplished jack shit, because he was too damn lazy.
At that moment, he was holding his child.
Looking impatient, he interrupted Deidara's endless babbling.
"Little Deidara, could you keep it down? You're scaring the baby!"
After glancing at the baby happily giggling in Obito's arms,
Deidara continued arguing just as loudly.
"But, Leader, I've already become Tsuchikage and brought Iwagakure into the Community of Shared Future."
"I've completed every task you gave me. Why won't you let me return to the organization, hmm?!"
Obito played with the baby and rolled his eyes.
"What I said back then was to merge Iwagakure into Night Hidden Village."
"You're still a long way from completing that task, okay?"
Deidara wanted to say more.
"But..."
Obito cut him off.
"All right, all right, I know you're bored all alone in Iwagakure."
"How about this? Sasori hasn't had much to do lately. I'll send him to Iwagakure to keep you company. That works, right?"
Deidara looked expectantly at Sasori beside him.
"That would certainly work..."
After a moment of silence, Sasori gave him a slight nod.
"Fine. I'm researching a new type of puppet right now. It makes no difference where I do it."
Deidara immediately cheered.
"Great! I'll finally have some company, hmm!"
A fleeting hint of amusement flashed through Sasori's eyes.
Then his expression returned to its usual calm as he looked at Obito.
"Leader, please bring me more of those flames called 'Amaterasu' next time."
"As you said, those inextinguishable black flames really are an excellent power source."
Obito gave Sasori an okay sign and smiled.
"No problem. I'll deliver