In contrast to Itachi's current difficult situation, Yōsuke's newly founded Crow Organization was faring no better.
Because Yōsuke, Hakuji, and Gyūtarō placed little importance on money, the organization's operational funds were practically zero. When they tried to recruit talented rogue ninja, those wanderers took one look at the Crow Organization's empty coffers and unanimously declined the invitation.
Five years after Yōsuke, Hakuji, and Gyūtarō had gone their separate ways, the three of them reunited once again at a temporary base. Back when they left, they had been full of confidence—now, that confidence had turned into dejection.
Yōsuke let out a bitter smile.
"Looks like we're all about the same. Not a single member recruited."
"Those ninja are way too snobbish," Hakuji said angrily. "The moment they heard we had no funding, they all refused."
Gyūtarō scratched his cheek and said helplessly,
"There's nothing we can do about that. After all, they're not like us—they still need to eat."
Yōsuke sighed.
"Forget recruiting for now. Have you managed to collect any ninjutsu?"
Hakuji and Gyūtarō took out all the ninjutsu scrolls they had gathered. At first glance, there were quite a few.
Yōsuke smiled with relief. At least one task had been completed.
But when he opened the scrolls, his expression slowly stiffened. They were all low-level techniques, with only a handful of B-rank jutsu. There wasn't a single A-rank scroll, let alone any S-rank techniques—and many of them were duplicates.
Yōsuke's back unconsciously hunched forward.
Gyūtarō explained awkwardly,
"We wanted to collect higher-level ninjutsu too, but advanced techniques are extremely rare in small ninja villages, and they're heavily guarded. Finding even these was already the limit of what I could do."
Hakuji added gloomily,
"I originally planned to infiltrate Iwagakure, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, to collect ninjutsu. But the moment I entered the village, I was discovered by an old man named Ōnoki. He looked frail, but once the fight started, he was completely unreasonable. That technique he used—something called Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling—destroyed my entire arm."
Yōsuke looked at Hakuji as if he were a hero.
"I told you not to go to the Five Great Ninja Villages to collect ninjutsu. Every one of them has several Kage-level experts. Going alone is extremely dangerous."
Hakuji thought for a moment and said uncertainly,
"Did you say that, Yosuke-sama? I don't think you did."
Yōsuke hesitated as well.
"I did… didn't I? Gyūtarō, you should remember, right?"
Gyūtarō shook his head.
"I'm certain you never said that, Yōsuke-sama."
Yōsuke immediately apologized.
"Sorry. That's my fault. From now on, don't go to the Five Great Ninja Villages alone to collect ninjutsu. Going in solo is far too dangerous."
After saying that, Yōsuke felt utterly exhausted. Five years had passed, and it felt like they hadn't accomplished anything at all.
Suddenly, Komaji spoke up.
"However, Yōsuke-sama, I did discover a promising candidate in the Land of Earth. His name is Deidara."
"Oh?" Yōsuke said. "Did you make contact with him?"
Hakuji shook his head.
"I didn't get the chance. But he looked like a troublesome brat. When I fought Ōnoki, he used some very strange explosive clay and threw it indiscriminately at both of us. Ōnoki got so angry that he tried to discipline the kid, but he threw his back out. Thanks to that, I was able to escape."
After a brief moment of contemplation, Yōsuke made a decision.
"I've decided. The three of us will act together. Our target is that brat! We must recruit him into our organization!"
A blazing fire ignited in Yōsuke's eyes.
Hakuji whispered to Gyūtarō,
"I don't think I've ever seen Yōsuke-sama this motivated."
Gyūtarō nodded in agreement.
"True. But now I'm a bit worried about that brat. I wonder how long he'll last against such a fired-up Yōsuke-sama."
Yōsuke led Hakuji and Gyūtarō to the Land of Earth.
Iwagakure was surrounded by towering rocky mountains, forming a natural fortress—easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Based on Komaji's description of Deidara, Yōsuke used his Ghost Crow to search for him.
Before long, the Ghost Crow discovered something and landed on Yōsuke's shoulder. After receiving its memories, Yōsuke said to Hakuji and Gyūtarō,
"Found him. Let's go."
Deidara didn't live inside Iwagakure, but outside the village.
When the three arrived at their destination, they saw a boy with deep blond hair. His left eye was hidden behind long bangs that fell past his face, while the rest of his hair draped naturally down his back, tied into a short braid at the tip. He was molding clay in his hands.
Yōsuke walked forward and praised him.
"That's some impressive work."
"Of course!" Deidara said fervently. "This is art born from my very soul!"
Then, suddenly realizing something, Deidara frowned.
"Who are you people?!"
When he saw Hakuji's face, his expression turned excited.
"Wait! You're the guy who invaded Iwagakure last time!"
Deidara picked up a freshly molded clay bird and threw it at Hakuji.
Yōsuke reacted instantly, catching the clay bird midair and saying calmly,
"We're not here to fight you."
But Deidara completely ignored the explanation.
"Art is an explosion! Hah!"
The clay bird in Yōsuke's hand rapidly expanded before detonating violently.
In an instant, dust and debris filled the air, and the figures of the three vanished within the cloud.
Deidara laughed wildly.
"To die beneath my art is your honor!"
When the dust settled, Hakuji and Gyūtarō stood there completely unharmed. Yōsuke, who had taken the explosion head-on, only had a slightly charred hand.
"So my crude practice piece didn't work on you," Deidara said. "Then how about this?!"
He spread his palms, revealing mouths embedded in them. Grabbing a handful of clay, he chewed it vigorously. Moments later, two lifelike clay spiders emerged from his hands.
"Look at this! The refined lines, the pursuit of two-dimensional transformation—this is true art! But my art doesn't stop there. My creations are fluid. When they have shape, they are merely objects. Through explosion, their existence is sublimated. Only then do they truly become works of art. I can only experience art in that moment of sublimation. Mm! Art is an explosion!"
After Deidara's lengthy monologue, Gyūtarō gave only one comment:
"Man, you're noisy…"
Yōsuke didn't take offense. After all, Hakuji really had invaded Iwagakure—it was understandable for Deidara to retaliate. He continued speaking calmly.
"I already told you—we're not here to fight. We have no ill intent. So can you listen to what I have to say now?"
"Be annihilated by art!" Deidara shouted as he hurled the two clay spiders toward them.
"Hah!"
At Deidara's cry, the clay creatures instantly exploded—the blast far more powerful than that of the earlier clay bird.
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