Twilight deepened. In the distance, Konoha's lights blended into a single warm yellow glow.
"Roshi-kun," Mei suddenly spoke.
"Hm?"
"If you ask now, I might leak a secret, you know."
"Then I'd have to bear a crime. Whether it's betraying the village or betraying someone who trusts me, neither is an easy burden to carry, Mei-san."
"If you miss this chance, Roshi-kun, it might cost you a lot to find out later." Mei straightened, stepping away from the railing. "But I can't give you a chance to regret it. I should head back."
"See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, Roshi-kun." She walked toward the stairs, pausing to glance back once before fading into the shadows. "Oh, and this request doesn't cancel the tea you owe me."
"I thought it could at least count for one."
"No way." Even in the dimness, her green eyes still carried a smile. "But in exchange… I'll treat you to the next tea."
Her voice trailed off as her figure disappeared into the stairwell's shadows.
Deidara had been unusually well-behaved these past two days. Even during the meetings he despised, he stood quietly at Fūga's side until everything was over.
This didn't put Ōnoki at ease. If anything, it made him a little uneasy.
This brat isn't going to try something big in Konoha's venue district just because he lost… right?
Losing to a Sharingan genjutsu was nothing. Ōnoki knew all too well how terrifying the Uchiha could be at their peak. For Deidara, taking a loss in a controlled, safe environment was actually a good lesson.
That said, Konoha had no shortage of certain things—especially eyes. With Sharingan and Byakugan watching every direction, Deidara wouldn't even get the chance to quietly toss a single clay bird once he stepped outside the residence gate. He shouldn't be able to cause any real trouble.
And even in the worst-case scenario, if trouble did happen, it would be Konoha's problem.
Last time in the alley, Deidara had been caught in genjutsu before he even stepped out the door. That alone proved Konoha could keep people under watch. If they failed to do so next time… it would simply mean they had other plans.
With that thought, Ōnoki's anxiety faded in a strange way, replaced by a kind of shameless calm.
So, without a word, he floated out of the his quarters, hands clasped behind his back.
Almost as soon as Ōnoki left, Deidara slipped away.
As before, he didn't use the main entrance. He avoided the main line of sight and quietly dropped into the narrow alley.
He didn't have to wait long before the Anbu with the white cat mask appeared at the corner.
This time, Deidara didn't look him in the eye. He even closed his own eyes and tipped his chin up, his voice echoing softly between the walls.
"What's your name?"
No answer.
"You're an Uchiha, right?"
"Last time didn't count." Deidara opened his eyes, fixing them on the space just below the other's chin. "I hadn't gotten serious yet. Hm!"
He reached into the ninja tool pouch at his waist with his right hand and pulled out a lump of pale yellow clay. His fingers kneaded and stretched it, molding it with practiced ease. In his palm, the clay swelled, sprouting wings and a sharp beak, until it had taken the form of a small bird.
Deidara lifted it, the tiny clay beak aimed squarely at the Anbu's chest.
"Iwagakure's competitions don't have so many damn rules," he said. "When I go back, I'll blow all the Konoha contestants away. When that happens, your village will have no choice but to send you out, right?"
The bird beat its wings and rose, hovering in the narrow space between them.
"At that time," Deidara grinned, teeth flashing white in the dim alley, "you will witness what true art is. Hm!"
Poof!
The bird exploded. No fire, no force—just a soft burst of pale smoke, easily shredded by the passing breeze.
The Anbu didn't move. Not even the edge of his cloak stirred.
Only those crimson eyes behind the mask's eyeholes regarded Deidara in silence.
"That," Deidara said, withdrawing his hand as he turned to walk deeper into the alley, "was a greeting."
With his back to the Anbu, he lifted his right hand and gave a casual wave.
"Remember, Uchiha. I'll be waiting for you in the arena."
"And my name is Deidara. I am an artist."
—
Ōnoki arrived at the top-floor conference room in the Venue District.
He had been in Konoha for three days now. In that short time, the man who had long held the title of Tsuchikage had already picked up on a few details about the current state of the village.
At first, he had assumed Roshi was merely an influential figure in Konoha—perhaps the chosen successor for the next Hokage.
Looking at it now, that judgment seemed mistaken.
It appeared… Roshi was not simply the "next" one.
Tsunade, the current Hokage, had been almost unseen during this period. All substantial negotiations and arrangements were being driven forward by Roshi instead. That was what had finally prompted Ōnoki to come here in person.
"Lord Tsuchikage."
The one who had scheduled this meeting in advance was already waiting.
"Spare me the pleasantries." Ōnoki ignored the chair at first, floating across the table so he could look down at Roshi. "I only want to confirm one thing before the treaty is finalized."
"You're not planning to personally take up a position in the Joint Organization, are you?"
Roshi looked up at him. "No, I have no such intention at all."
"As I said in the previous meeting, the resolution passed this time is only to establish an organization to handle the tournament."
If he were to join it himself, it would be the same as telling the other villages that this organization existed for far more than just tournament affairs.
"Hmph." Ōnoki snorted and finally settled into the chair. "In that case, I can afford to have a few more expectations for the Five-Village Alliance..."
"After all, if you intended to join, then for Iwagakure to have any voice in the organization, either I would have to join, or Kitsuchi would."
"Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure would all need to send people of equivalent standing as well."
"At that point, this organization would become something only one step below the Five Kage Summit."
He fixed Roshi with a sharp, probing stare.
"And then?"
Roshi held his gaze, voice steady. "And then all the negotiations we've done up to now would be meaningless. The stakes would be too high, the interests too tangled, and the Joint Organization would just turn into another arena for squabbling—eventually nothing more than decoration."
"The only reason the Five Great Ninja Villages can agree right now is because it's just about the tournament. The boundaries are clear, and the gains and losses can be measured."
"Still, the fact that you've come to ask about this yourself, Lord Tsuchikage, means you place quite a lot of hope in the alliance."
Ōnoki replied slowly, "Given the current situation, having some expectations won't hurt Iwagakure. After all, I can sit here on Konoha's turf like this… it would be a pity to leave empty‑handed."
Profits that could be taken should be taken first.
This was the greatest lesson Ōnoki had learned over decades. Judging from the current negotiation results and Konoha's draft…
At least in the first year after the treaty was signed, Iwagakure would come out ahead.
But arranging this private meeting, the Third Tsuchikage clearly wanted more than just that.
"What did you give the Raikage," Ōnoki asked, "to make him willing to cooperate so actively at the conference?"
"How about it? Why don't you talk with me as well? Perhaps Iwagakure can offer… even more than Kumogakure."
"Though the Land of Earth is covered in rocky mountains, the leverage we hold is far broader than that of the Land of Lightning."
"With Iwagakure joining in, Sunagakure—Konoha's most unstable ally for so many years—would finally settle down."
"The western and northern borders of the Land of Fire are made up of over a dozen small countries. If Iwagakure and Konoha reach close cooperation, those dozen nations… will also become regions Konoha no longer needs to worry about."
"By comparison, the only place the Land of Lightning can influence, aside from itself, is the Land of Frost."
Roshi fell silent for two seconds. "Right now, the five villages stand in a state of equal cooperation, Lord Tsuchikage."
"You're not willing to negotiate now? That's fine. If this alliance holds together, there will always be chances in the future."
Ōnoki turned and drifted toward the door, stopping just before crossing the threshold.
"When that time comes, we'll talk again, Roshi."
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