The sky was clear, without a single cloud.
A white bird was flying quickly toward Konoha through the air outside the village.
"I wonder if Sasori-san is around."
Deidara had already seen Konoha's outline from far away.
Suddenly, Deidara noticed someone watching him.
He looked around, but there was naturally no one in the air.
And below was a forest filled with dense tall trees.
'Byakugan from the Hyuga clan? They're pretty alert.'
Just as Deidara thought this, another wave of chakra scanning spread over from the distance.
Clearly, Konoha was also using a chakra sensing barrier to confirm the visitor's identity.
By the time Deidara reached Konoha's outer district, Konan was already waiting in the air with her snow-white wings spread.
"Deidara, why are you here?"
Deidara had long known about Konan's relationship with Konoha. When Konoha was attacked before, Iwagakure's scouts had also seen Konan.
So it was not strange for her to appear here now.
"I came to see Sasori-san. Oh, the old man also told me to check on Konoha's situation."
Deidara still put Sasori first. As for Onoki's matter, that naturally came after.
A look of "just as expected" appeared on Konan's face. Then she flapped her wings and flew toward Konoha while speaking.
"Follow me. Konoha is under martial law right now. It's not that easy to enter."
Deidara answered and followed behind Konan.
With Konan leading the way, nothing happened along the road.
———
Soon, they arrived at an enclosed area.
"Sasori just returned from a mission. He's in his laboratory."
"You've been there before, so I won't take you over."
Konan pointed down, and that counted as bringing Deidara there.
As Konoha's chief mechanical engineer, Sasori naturally had his own dedicated laboratory here.
The connected factory buildings below were divided into several sections: research and development, production, and maintenance.
It had already become a very important division in Konoha.
More than a thousand people here were under Sasori's management, though he had already delegated the work.
Deidara skillfully arrived at the research department. He placed his hand on the door handle and sent chakra into it, directly opening the door.
After all, he and Sasori had gone through life-and-death situations together. Rengoku had also given instructions regarding Deidara, so nobody was wary of him.
After entering, Deidara discovered Sasori and an Uchiha clan member standing before a huge machine while discussing something.
Hearing the sound, the two turned their eyes toward him.
"Deidara?"
"Sasori-san… Rengoku?"
Rengoku was somewhat surprised. Nobody had informed him that Deidara had arrived.
Deidara quickly walked over and realized it really was Rengoku.
Sasori asked curiously, "Why are you here?"
Seeing Rengoku there, Deidara became excited, "The prototype of my Dust Explosion Technique is finished. I wanted to show Sasori-san."
"And now that you're back too, Rengoku, come witness my art!"
"The prototype is finished?"
Sasori looked delighted. He knew Deidara had been researching this technique for years.
Now he had finally succeeded.
Even Rengoku was somewhat surprised. On Deidara's side, he had basically only placed an idle piece on the board, yet Deidara had actually combined Dust Release with his clay bombs.
"Then let me see it too."
Rengoku also wanted to know how far Deidara had grown now.
Deidara looked at the massive machine in front of him with confusion.
"Sasori-san, what's this machine for?"
Sasori answered, "It's seawater desalination equipment."
This showed how clever Deidara was. His eyes merely turned once before he had already guessed the answer.
"You're really planning to attack Sunagakure?"
Rengoku looked at Deidara with interest, "What, did Onoki send you here to gather information?"
Deidara answered naturally, "The old man is worried it'll trigger the Fifth Great Ninja War again, so he told me to collect some intel."
Rengoku's eyes shifted slightly before he said, "The bet from last time still counts."
"The bet?"
Deidara froze for a moment. Rengoku had only gone to another dimension for a short while, but five years had already passed on Deidara's side.
Deidara thought for a bit before remembering that Rengoku was talking about helping him become the Fourth Tsuchikage.
"Are you planning to use this incident?"
The corner of Rengoku's mouth lifted into a smile, "I wonder if Iwagakure has any interest in expanding its territory."
———
[Konoha Forest]
Heavy impacts of fists hitting flesh mixed with fierce wind sounds.
Two figures were constantly colliding and separating at high speed.
Lee watched Rengoku and Guy's battle with a dazed look, admiration showing in his eyes.
Ever since Rengoku came here once last time, aside from when Konoha was attacked and he was absent, he had come here every day to spar with Guy and improve his taijutsu and Eight Gates.
Now Guy had to stay in the Sixth Gate as his normal state just to keep up with Rengoku in sparring.
Meanwhile, Rengoku still only opened the Fourth Gate. It was not because he could only open four gates, but because he wanted to solidify the foundation one gate at a time.
It was basically equivalent to steadily removing the body's limits under normal conditions.
At that moment, Rengoku spun and delivered a side kick that collided with Guy's Leaf Great Whirlwind.
The two were blown back.
Guy could clearly feel now that even when he opened the Sixth Gate, Rengoku was still holding back while fighting him.
Just as he was thinking about whether he should open the Seventh Gate, Rengoku made a hand sign, signaling to stop.
"Rengoku, your rate of improvement is way too fast."
Guy could not help sighing a little.
Just a few days ago, Rengoku had still been unfamiliar with the Strong Fist style, but in such a short time, he had already completely mastered it.
And earlier, Rengoku had already opened the Seventh Gate in one go.
However, the boost Rengoku received from the Seventh Gate was much smaller than Guy's.
Because Rengoku's physical condition was already extremely strong.
But after that one time, Rengoku only maintained the Fourth Gate while sparring with Guy.
Rengoku laughed.
"My physical condition is just a little better. Your Strong Fist techniques are still better than mine," As he spoke, he patted Guy on the shoulder.
"Your Eight Gates Formation will become Konoha's trump card for protecting the village in the future."
Guy gave a thumbs-up, his teeth flashing brightly.
"Don't worry! Youth is about burning yourself!"
"Recently, Konoha declared war on Sunagakure. I have some other things to handle, so I won't be coming here for now."
Guy seemed to have already guessed it. After all, Rengoku had basically learned everything he could here already.
But Guy felt no envy or jealousy toward Rengoku's strength that far surpassed his own. Instead, he was happy for him.
"When I become stronger, let's spar again!"
Guy made an agreement with Rengoku.
Rengoku raised a thumb, "Keep it up. When you work hard, you'll always look the coolest!"
As he spoke, his figure flashed and disappeared directly in front of Guy.