Naruto: What Kind of Starter Pack is 13 Years Late?

"I was just joking."

Takemi shrugged. He wasn't stupid, he knew Deidara's value. He was just playing along with Jiraiya's words.

Besides, that little blond kid was quite interesting.

"Takemi, you go down first. Deidara came with you, so take care of him." Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his temples, speaking in distress.

"Also, I know you were joking, but don't make such jokes. Don't learn from Jiraiya. Be cautious in your words and actions."

"Oh."

Takemi nodded with a strange expression, then spoke, "I understand, then I'll take my leave."

"Go."

Sarutobi Hiruzen forced a smile, and after Takemi closed the door, he waited for some time before slamming his hand on the table.

"Jiraiya, Kakashi, your education is severely lacking!"

"..."

"Didn't I just tell you last time to focus on education and cultivate his sense of responsibility? What exactly have you done?"

"..."

Jiraiya dug at his ear, while Kakashi's face was filled with embarrassment. He really couldn't speak about this matter.

He couldn't possibly tell Sarutobi Hiruzen that Jiraiya had a huge influence on Takemi, could he?

"I will try my best."

"Alright, I will do my best to help Kakashi teach that kid."

Kakashi could only bow, but Jiraiya shook his head indifferently.

"By the way, old man, there's another piece of intelligence I want to tell you, and it's best not to spread this for now."

"Oh?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Jiraiya's serious expression and immediately understood that the matter was somewhat serious.

"Tell me, what intelligence is it?"

"I don't want to say this intelligence in front of Takemi, because it's too cruel, although he will definitely know it eventually."

Jiraiya gave a bitter smile, then sighed before speaking in a deep voice, "Do you remember the two people mentioned in the intelligence given by the Fourth Mizukage?"

"I remember, a man with orange hair and a woman with blue hair."

"Hmm, if I'm not mistaken... they might be my disciples from back then..."

— — —

"Ah, you're out!"

Outside the Hokage building, Deidara, who had been sitting on a stone bench by the street, drawing randomly on the ground with a twig, immediately brightened when he saw Takemi come down. He threw away his twig and immediately ran over.

"How about it, isn't my clay awesome? It saved so much time flying back with you guys! And, quickly tell me about your art!"

"..."

Takemi looked at Deidara in front of him, and his mouth twitched slightly for a moment.

He wondered if he had somehow stumbled into a nest of blonds?

A blond lived next door to him, and he met another blond when he went out.

"And besides Konoha's White Fang and the Yellow Flash, there's another art empathizer?"

Takemi was also puzzled. He was clearly a persistent type, so how did he become a 'flash'?

"The art of Flying Thunder God lies in solving all problems in an instant." Although speechless, Takemi still spoke.

"Like an explosion, an instant is eternity, or rather, my instant is your eternity."

"Mm-hmm! Although there are differences, it's indeed consistent with my artistic philosophy." Deidara nodded seriously, overjoyed.

"What I love most is explosions, explosions are art! Because in an instant, that's the moment to display my art!"

"Right, right, right." Takemi nodded, casually brushing him off.

Deidara's obsession with art was truly insane. He gave up being a Kage and chose to become a rogue ninja.

Set to be a winner in life, but in the end, he blew himself to dust. But it must be said that he truly pursued his so-called 'art' from beginning to end.

"Hey, want to have a match?" Suddenly, Deidara went crazy again.

"We should verify each other's art, what do you say?"

"No thanks, I don't have the time for that right now." Takemi immediately shook his head.

He wouldn't play like that with Deidara in Konoha. If they were in Iwagakure, he might have agreed.

Takemi said, "Let's go, I'll treat you to something to eat first. Lord Hokage is going to contact your teacher, and then you can go home."

"Hey, no, why would I go back?" Deidara immediately became upset when he heard that.

"That old man is so annoying, and he doesn't even acknowledge my art, seriously, hey, hey, say something."

Takemi pretended not to hear him. He realized Deidara was quite a chatterbox.

Moreover, when Ōnoki was mentioned, he couldn't help but recall the moment when that pillar of Dust Release descended from the sky.

"That feeling, it's truly not just any kind of terror..." Takemi muttered to himself.

He had truly felt the destructive power of Dust Release.

Sasori's Magnet Release defense, crafted from the Third Kazekage, had no resistance whatsoever against Dust Release, it was pierced almost instantly.

Such power reminded him of a moment in the original story, where Ōnoki used Dust Release to sweep away Madara's 'Deep Forest Emergence'.

And he also relied on Dust Release to cleanly sweep away numerous Susanoos.

Such power was truly extraordinary...

"However, it's a bit of a shame that I couldn't more accurately capture the complete proportions of this jutsu."

It was just a pillar of light falling down, and Takemi dodged faster than anyone else. At that moment, he couldn't perceive more.

"But, not being that clear doesn't mean I can't make some small attempts!"

As he pondered, he turned to look at Deidara, who was still chattering beside him.

"Earth Release, Fire Release, and Wind Release, perfectly fused. I've perceived the approximate proportions, so..."

Takemi thought of Deidara's clay. To be honest, he didn't know if it was a secret technique or a Kekkei Genkai.

But this clay was also a combination of Earth Release and Fire Release, so perhaps he could find some inspiration.

And Deidara said he shared the same artistic view as him, so...

"Alright, stop talking."

Takemi spoke directly, even though he hadn't heard anything clearly.

"Have you ever considered a question?"

"Huh? What question?"

"Does the Dust Release used by that annoying old man you keep talking about not align with your artistic vision?"

"Ah? How is that possible, he..."

"In an instant, white light descends, and in an instant, all things are desolate. The immense power and resulting explosion instantly eliminate all enemies. Isn't that your and my artistic vision?"

"Uh... this..."

Deidara was somewhat dumbfounded. He had wanted to retort, but thinking of the jutsu that Onoki used that day, it made him silent.

It seems, thinking this way is really not wrong?

But that stubborn old man...

"Don't mind what he thinks, look at what jutsu he uses, that's the key."

Takemi saw Deidara fall silent and continued with a smile, "And I remember you lost to Itachi. If you used this jutsu, couldn't you blow him away from a distance and make him feel your art?"

"It seems so."

"So, learn it well, and then we can spar. Otherwise, right now, my blade would be at your neck in an instant, it's meaningless. You can't possibly self-destruct to prove your art, can you?"

"It seems, so..."

Deidara nodded, as for whether he was thinking of proving his art or learning Dust Release, that remained unknown.