Onoki couldn't believe it, not one bit. He said gravely, "Enough joking around, Lord Tobi. Please, state your true purpose."
However, Tobi replied, "I really am here to recruit Deidara. And to keep him company for a bit. Oh, and if you really want to know another reason, I'm also here to find him a good teacher."
The first two lines sounded utterly ridiculous, but when paired with the third, the meaning changed completely. It suddenly sounded far more credible.
Onoki pondered for a moment, then pointed at Deidara, "Don't tell me… this child is yours, Lord Tobi?"
Tobi quickly waved his hands, "No, no, no, you misunderstand, Lord Tsuchikage! How could I possibly be Deidara-senpai's father? I'm just an intern, while he'll become a full member!"
But that only made it sound even more like Deidara really was his son.
'So young, and already promised a full Akatsuki member's position? If he isn't your own kid, who would get treatment like that?'
Onoki knew very well how strict Akatsuki's recruitment standards were. To reach that level was about the same as reaching his level of strength.
He exhaled softly. If this was just a father searching for his long-lost son, trying to make up for lost time, that, at least, he could accept. It meant Tobi's visit to Iwagakure wasn't malicious.
After a moment of thought, he asked, "I wonder, sir, what kind of teacher are you planning to find for… this child? Perhaps I can be of help."
Tobi suddenly gestured excitedly, "Really? Then I'll trouble you with this, Third Tsuchikage. From now on, Deidara will be in your care!"
Onoki's face darkened instantly, 'Ah, so that's what you were after.'
He, Onoki, was very strict about taking disciples. Without outstanding talent, or the potential to inherit the mantle of Tsuchikage, no one could become his student, not even Akatsuki with its influence could bend that rule.
Calmly, he said, "Lord Tobi, I'm old now. I've long since stopped taking disciples. But if you wish this child to have a bright future, I could perhaps arrange for Akatsuchi to reluctantly accept him."
Seeing Onoki's calm and lofty expression, Tobi said softly, "Really? But Deidara's talent is truly extraordinary, you know. Don't you want to reconsider taking one last disciple?"
Onoki declared righteously, "Even if I were to fall from here and die on the ground below, I would never break my rule and take another disciple."
But just then, little Deidara, who hadn't understood a single thing the adults were talking about and had been playing with mud on his own, picked up a clay bird he'd just molded.
Excitedly, he said to Tobi, "It's not that hard to make it work. I can already make it move."
And as he spoke, the clay bird in his hands actually flapped its wings, just once, and then stopped.
But that one little motion was enough to catch Onoki's eye.
His expression changed immediately, filling with astonishment.
His eyes almost popped out of his head.
To master Dust Release, one needed an extremely high Earth affinity. And yet, what had he just witnessed?
That child, not even a ninja, no chakra training whatsoever, had made the clay move with sheer intuition alone.
'This… this is a treasure!'
Onoki instantly retracted his earlier words, "Well, actually, lately I've been taking some new supplements from that Orochimaru fellow in Konoha, they've made me feel years younger! No more back pain, no more leg aches, I can even climb five flights of stairs without getting winded. I suppose… I can take one more disciple."
'Ah, truly, how fragrant the taste of hypocrisy.'
Tobi, watching this, had half a mind to make Onoki literally fall and eat his words. But considering this was Deidara's future teacher, if the old man really did die, then who would train Deidara?
So, for Deidara's sake, he decided to let it slide.
Originally, he'd just wanted to play around with Deidara for fun. But after all the chaos, with so many people showing up, the mood was gone.
So he simply said, "Well then, Lord Tsuchikage, I won't take up more of your time. As I mentioned earlier, this child has already agreed to join Akatsuki. Please don't forget that."
Then he turned to Deidara and said, "See? Your teacher's right here. So, we'll meet again next time. Goodbye!"
He raised his hand and waved, and in the next moment, erased every trace of his presence from reality.
Staring at the spot where Tobi had vanished, Onoki's face grew serious, "Did any of you see how he disappeared just now?"
All the Iwa-nin shook their heads.
Onoki sighed, "Akatsuki runs deep… just like Minato Namikaze's mind. Both are unfathomable."
Then he looked at Deidara, his expression instantly turning kindly. He floated down in front of the boy, looking at the clay bird in his hand, his manner suspiciously like a kidnapper luring a child.
"You want to make that bird fly? I can teach you. But… only if you become my disciple."
A trace of doubt flickered in Deidara's eyes.
"The last weird uncle said the same thing to me. Grandpa weirdo, can you guarantee it's true?"
Onoki thought of how he'd just failed to stop Deidara from joining Akatsuki and felt a pang of regret. But there was still time, plenty of time to change the boy's mind.
His face brightened, "Of course it's true!"
———
After this little interlude, time in the ninja world once again flowed rapidly forward. Finally, the day arrived, the wedding of Yahiko and Konan of Akatsuki.
Beforehand, Akatsuki had already sent invitations to the Kage of every village, and since all of them had accepted, none would go back on their word.
That day, all five Kage gathered once again. And because every Kage attended, the wedding's prestige shot through the roof, attracting many other big names as well.
For example, from Konoha, not only did the Hokage couple arrive, but the Legendary Sannin also reunited, seated together at one table.
From Kumogakure came the Third Raikage, along with the future Fourth Raikage, the Eight-Tails jinchuriki Killer Bee, and the Two-Tails jinchuriki Yugito Nii.
From Sunagakure came Chiyo and Ebizo, both already living in retirement, along with Queen Sara of Roran, an Akatsuki member herself.
From Kirigakure came the new Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, though humorously, about half of them were wearing Akatsuki cloaks.
Among them were Kisame Hoshigaki, Juzo Biwa, and Mangetsu Hozuki.
The wielder of the Lightning Blade was now a woman, Ameyuri Ringo.
As for the Explosion Blade, Blunt Blade, and Long Blade wielders, they were merely filler replacements from Kirigakure, there just to make up the numbers.
From Iwagakure came Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi, the Five-Tails jinchuriki Han, and even the usually contrary Four-Tails jinchuriki Roshi.
In short, the entire ceremony was grand and magnificent. If Akatsuki's goal were still to capture the Tailed Beasts, they could have caught almost all of them right then and there.
Kakuzu nearly started calculating the bounty totals, but was stopped in time by Konan.
And under such circumstances, the wedding officially began.
However, the first to take the stage was not Yahiko and Konan, it was Tobi.
Looking out over the guests, Tobi said, "Before the wedding begins, I have an announcement to make."
"Our former Akatsuki leader, Uchiha Madara, has passed away. The new leader, one of Akatsuki's founders, and the groom of today's ceremony, will be Yahiko!"
[T/N: There's a 🎉 discount 🎉 ongoing in my P@treon till Dec 6. Consider joining if you want to read more chapters, read new fanfics, and appreciate the effort I put in. Have a great read~]
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.