The name 'Hattori Team' was met with strong opposition from the other two members.
Since they had confirmed they would form a team, the team name couldn't be taken lightly.
'What kind of nonsense was it to just use your own name? Trying to secure a place in history through this? Not happening.'
The team name symbolized the face a team showed to the outside world, its code of conduct, and even its spiritual core. Deidara was brimming with enthusiasm and, after some thought, came up with a brilliant idea.
"Youth Art Troupe!" Deidara raised his hand, his eyes sparkling, very much like an eager student raising their hand in a primary school class, "How about it? Isn't it awesome and very fitting?"
"..."
The response he received was a deathly silence.
"What, is there a problem?" The firewood burned weakly. Deidara, sensing the atmosphere, shrunk his neck and slowly, weakly lowered his raised hand.
'Weren't we all artists pursuing a certain ideal? Forming an artistic group to travel across the entire continent, dispelling the shadows of war… wasn't that an extremely romantic and great thing?'
Deidara was puzzled and proudly elaborated on his insight, "Hey, why are you all looking at me with such strange expressions... You, Hattori! What do you mean by staring at me like that? If you have something to say, say it."
"We are a serious combat team, not some drama troupe, alright." Logan rolled his eyes and said, "Also, blowing things to smithereens with continuous explosions… the romance part is totally your own imagination. After dispelling the shadows of war, congratulations, everyone ushers in the shadow of terrorism."
"Art is…"
"Patrick Star."
"Damn it! Do you look down on my explosive art or something..." Deidara was furious and wanted to settle things then and there with the legendary figure who was clad in golden flames and tread on lightning.
"Enough." Sasori said coldly, adopting the big brother demeanor to control the situation, "I'm not young anymore. Let's consider other team names."
"Gasp."
Breaths hitched instantly. Deidara looked at the senior member's youthful, boyish face, his expression strange.
"How about 'Embers'?" Sasori, having vetoed the vibrant young team name, quickly tossed out one that suited his old age.
Embers, the product after burning out, yet still possessing a captivating power, to destroy enemies or nourish the soil beneath. For the three of them, who had broken away from the Akatsuki to seek another path and prepare to participate in the Fourth Ninja World War, it actually fit the theme quite well.
"Though, it really does sound full of the gloom of twilight..." Logan muttered quietly.
It sounded like a gray, self-deprecating style full of tragic pathos, not sunny at all. Deidara coughed a few times, this time he sided with Logan and voted against it.
"Ah, if you ask me, we should just go with the first one I suggested." Logan brought up the old topic again, "If not, calling it the 'Hoshino Team' is fine too."
Sasori frowned.
"Dammit, whose name is that from!?" Deidara yelled frantically.
Logan, having traveled back, sought out the former Akatsuki's Art Duo to discuss matters concerning the future. Overall, it went relatively smoothly.
It took half a day to reach a united front against the unscrupulous employer Akatsuki, agreeing on joint action and constraints.
However, a major disagreement arose when discussing what kind of team name and image to present to the outside world.
He never expected that choosing a name would take far longer than establishing the team itself. A full three days passed before the new team's designation was finally decided.
During three peaceful, snowy days, while making various preparations needed for their imminent departure, their main point of contention was the team name.
All sorts of messy names like 'Team Storm', 'National Team', 'Dawn', 'Peace through Nuclear Deterrence' were thrown into the ring.
To get their preferred team name, the three argued on just grounds, reasoning with each other, which then often led to one-on-one fights... The general process went like this.
Before the fight:
"Were you even listening to my reasoning?"
"I heard you. I think what you said makes sense, but I'm not listening."
"... Hattori, don't get too arrogant. Do you not understand my strength?"
"Deidara, it seems he defeated the Uchiha brothers alone. But you seem to have lost to both Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke individually..."
"Damn it, one-on-one!"
Even Sasori couldn't avoid getting involved. They took turns sparring in the open space in front of the wooden cabin, and after getting beaten black and blue, they would quiet down.
Actually, fighting had hidden benefits. All three were powerful individuals. Once a team was formed, an essential question arose: who would be in charge?
Moderate sparring could increase understanding and clarify many things.
With tacit consent through cooperation, everything proceeded formally. The team name was decided:
'Daybreak'
Having fallen from the Akatsuki, they would aim to destroy the Akatsuki, perhaps extravagantly hoping to bring a possible sliver of light. (T/N: Akatsuki means Dawn.)
Logan emerged victorious in multiple rounds of sparring and became the team's leader.
"So, our team, Daybreak, what's the first thing we're going to do?" Deidara asked on a brilliantly sunny day. Most of the snow had melted, revealing the bare ground and a few spots of stubborn green. He hopped up and down on a smooth rock in the open space.
He still held a grudge about not getting a poetic name like Youth Art Troupe, but thinking about finally causing trouble outside again soon, he couldn't contain his excitement.
"Normally, the first public appearance shouldn't be too small-scale, right?"
Deidara curled his lips into a cold smile, his hand rubbing the pouch at his waist. Sasori, unusually, nodded in agreement beside him.
They both looked at the new team's leader, Logan.
Under normal circumstances, they could go to the Land of Iron now, where important figures were gathering.
With luck, they might even find lurking Akatsuki's members and throw a few punches.
"Sorry, I'm probably going to disappoint you." The strange reply came.
Logan looked into the distance and said, "I have to go to the Land of Fire first."
Sasori and Deidara looked at him puzzled. "What for?"
"Some personal matters."
The two members' expressions showed displeasure.
"Fine. Let's go together."
...
At a secret location deep underground.
The candle flame by the bedside burned quietly. The dim light from the flame failed to dispel the darkness, instead making the medicinal-laden air even more murkier.
Obito expressionlessly unwound the layers of bandages, sweat from enduring pain unconsciously soaking his back.
"Are you sure you still want to proceed according to plan?" A blurry shadow sat on a chair in the corner, leaning against the wall as if blending into the darkness.
As the candle flame flickered gently, Black Zetsu glanced at the scars revealed after Obito removed the bandages and let out a low, light laugh, "The situation has changed, you know."
Even with Hashirama's cells, the golden flames had left behind scars that were hard to erase. The speed of the painful healing was also far slower than ordinary injuries.
'That day, that summoning beast...'
The overwhelming sight of soaring flames, the absolutely powerful Chakra that vanquished all evil in the world… even after so many days, Black Zetsu still felt a palpitation recalling it.
"Don't worry." Obito said through gritted teeth, "I've already figured out Itachi's physical condition. His oil is spent, his lamp exhausted. Waiting for death would be the greatest mercy for him. He can't do anything."
"Actually, I'm more inclined to wait slowly... I have plenty of time and patience," Black Zetsu said quietly and deeply.
"No need. Didn't those White Zetsu send news? That guy Sasuke is heading to the Five Kage Summit. He holds great resentment and grievances against the Ninja World and Konoha."
"Is that so."
Black Zetsu gave Obito a deep look, then disappeared, "Then, may it be as you wish."