Seeing Fugaku's unyielding attitude, Akatsuchi found himself momentarily at a loss.
He had originally thought that, as a representative of the Land of Earth coming to negotiate—and even willing to offer sufficient sincerity—Konoha would at least give him some room to maneuver.
But he hadn't expected Fugaku to directly declare war on Iwagakure.
Such a hardline stance caught him completely off guard.
No matter what, the Land of Earth was still one of the strongest nations in the shinobi world. Did Fugaku really not care at all?
War was no joke. Once it broke out… who knew how many would die or how much wealth would be consumed?
Thinking of this, Akatsuchi refused to give up and said, "Lord Hokage, there isn't any real conflict between the Land of Earth and Konoha, is there? Why start a war over something like this?"
"We're willing to offer enough compensation. At the very least, you should be willing to discuss terms."
Hearing this, Fugaku let out a cold laugh and said calmly, "Then listen carefully. Deidara's attack on Konoha made me realize something…"
"Other than us, no nation should possess any weapons of mass destruction."
"As long as the Tsuchikage publicly apologizes and hands over the Four-Tails jinchuriki, this matter can be settled."
Upon hearing these demands, anger surfaced on Akatsuchi's honest face.
Such conditions were nothing short of humiliation for the Land of Earth.
Setting aside the Four-Tails jinchuriki—a core national asset—just the demand for the Tsuchikage to apologize publicly was already impossible.
The Tsuchikage represented the entire Land of Earth.
If he were to apologize in public, their dignity would be utterly crushed.
Seeing Akatsuchi remain silent for a long time, Fugaku lifted his teacup and took a sip. "Show him out."
Two Anbu instantly appeared behind Akatsuchi, leaving him no choice but to grit his teeth and leave.
The Uchiha clan's arrogance was simply too overbearing. He couldn't help but regret not having supported Hiruzen and the others in resisting Uchiha Yuzuru back then.
If Hiruzen were still in control of Konoha today, would this even be an issue?
But it was too late for regrets now. He had to return as quickly as possible and report everything to the Tsuchikage.
"Kurotsuchi, oh Kurotsuchi... you're on your own now."
Akatsuchi shook his head irritably.
He had neither the chance nor the time to look for his junior sister now.
————
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Orochimaru's laboratory.
A White Zetsu knelt on the ground as Yuzuru clapped his hands together. "Edo Tensei!"
The White Zetsu gradually transformed into Deidara. Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, he shouted in confusion, "Where is this? Didn't I already die?"
Yuzuru said calmly, "Deidara, this is the Edo Tensei. I summoned you back from the Pure Land."
Hearing his voice, Deidara widened his eyes in shock. After a long moment, he said in disbelief, "You're not dead?!"
Yuzuru smiled slightly. "If I were that easy to kill, I wouldn't have lived this long."
Deidara snorted in dissatisfaction. "Easy? That was my ultimate art!"
"Enough," Yuzuru said. "Interested in working for me?"
Deidara curled his lips and scoffed. "No interest. I only want to pursue my own art."
"I had already completed my self-destruction and achieved the sublimation of life, and now you've ruined it all!"
Yuzuru shook his head. "Deidara, your perspective is too narrow. Let me show you what true explosive art really is."
As he finished speaking, his scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan reflected instantly in Deidara's pupils.
In the next moment, Deidara was pulled into a genjutsu world.
Within that illusion, Yuzuru manifested the weapons of a distant world.
Various firearms, artillery, aircraft, cruise missiles, nuclear bombs, hydrogen bombs… even fictional weapons from science fiction films.
Each one embodied a brutal aesthetic, completely overturning Deidara's understanding.
"Art… this is the ultimate art I've been pursuing!"
Deidara trembled with excitement.
The countless weapons developed from gunpowder—each one perfectly aligned with his ideals.
He finally understood why Yuzuru had called his art childish.
Because compared to that cold, mechanical aesthetic, the animal-shaped explosive clay he molded truly seemed like nothing more than a child playing with mud.
"Yuzuru, you understand art. Can you tell me how those things in the illusion were made?"
Looking at Deidara's clear and eager eyes, Yuzuru said slowly, "That's something you'll have to figure out yourself. After all… art is a feeling."
Deidara nodded in agreement, smiling brightly. "Then I'll work for you from now on."
A faint smile appeared at Yuzuru's lips. "Good. Orochimaru… make the arrangements."
His research team was becoming stronger and stronger.
Orochimaru and Kabuto focused on biological research, while Deidara and Sasori specialized in mechanical weaponry.
With the two combined, it wouldn't be long before the shinobi world underwent earth-shaking changes.
After thinking for a moment, Yuzuru turned to leave.
Deidara suddenly spoke up. "Oh right… Kurotsuchi came to Konoha with me. She might be hiding somewhere in the village right now."
"Now that I'm working for you, don't hurt her. She just wanted to gather information about Kitsuchi."
Yuzuru raised an eyebrow, a faint smile forming on his lips.
So Kurotsuchi was in Konoha?
Interesting.
————
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After leaving Orochimaru's laboratory, Yuzuru headed straight to the Hokage's office.
Seeing him, Fugaku quickly stood up. "Yuzuru, Akatsuchi from Iwagakure came to negotiate just now. I sent him packing."
"Should we take this opportunity to launch an attack on Iwagakure?"
Yuzuru shrugged indifferently. "You've already said it, so let's go with your plan."
"I came to have you do something."
"What is it?"
"Send someone to bring Kitsuchi back."
Fugaku smiled. "I already had someone make contact at the earliest opportunity."
"Kitsuchi is Ōnoki's son and a high-level combatant of Iwagakure. Holding him is indeed a valuable bargaining chip."
"As long as we use his life as leverage, we can definitely make Ōnoki hesitate."
"But I still don't understand why you allowed Kitsuchi to roam the shinobi world back then."
Seeing the confusion on Fugaku's face, Yuzuru replied calmly, "Of course, it was for this very moment."
"Attacking the Land of Earth… with Kitsuchi's involvement, it will truly become a grand performance."