Deidara spat out a mouthful of sake and hurriedly gestured for Hiashi Hyūga to stop. Good grief, Hinata was one thing, but Hanabi was still just a child!
If you keep this up, you might just get this whole novel banned.
Seeing Deidara's rejection, Hiashi's expression didn't visibly change, though deep down, he couldn't hide his disappointment.
He had meticulously gathered information on the Akatsuki and knew that Deidara was at least among the top three in terms of strength within the organization. Moreover, Deidara held significant influence over their leader, Nagato. His age was also a perfect match, making him an ideal candidate for an alliance through marriage.
Comparatively, the only other suitable member of Akatsuki might be Itachi Uchiha, but there was no way he would consider marrying off his daughter to someone like Kakuzu, an old man. Even someone like Kakashi felt a bit too old.
And while Hidan was closer in age, he was clearly not normal. The likes of Sasori and others weren't even worth considering—they were far from ordinary.
Although Hiashi wanted to use his daughters to forge an alliance and restore the Hyūga Clan's prominence, they were still his beloved children. He couldn't just push them into a pit of fire.
Maybe... he should try approaching Itachi Uchiha instead?
But then again, Itachi was the kind of person who wiped out his entire clan without hesitation. Even if it was for various reasons, the fact remained. Understanding those reasons didn't mean he wasn't terrifying.
Moreover, there had never been a precedent for a marriage alliance between the Hyūga Clan and the Uchiha Clan. The mere thought of it felt strange.
"Ahem!" Deidara cleared his throat and said, "Clan Leader Hiashi, I understand your intentions."
"But in the Village Hidden in the Rain, there's no need for such things. We in the Akatsuki are committed to creating a peaceful and harmonious village. As long as your Hyūga Clan follows the rules and contributes to the village, your days will naturally improve."
"Yes, Lord Seiryū!" Hiashi replied respectfully, his expression becoming more serious.
As the saying goes, "A leopard cannot change its spots." Having been steeped in the dark political environment of Konoha for so long, it was impossible for Hiashi to change his mindset overnight.
To Hiashi, Deidara's sincere advice likely came across as a warning not to stir up trouble.
Forget it.
Realizing that he couldn't get through to Hiashi, Deidara felt a bit disheartened. He stood up, ready to head home. He had eaten and drunk his fill; it was time to return and continue his research on art.
"Lord Seiryū!" Hiashi quickly stood up, looking somewhat anxious. Just as Deidara had suspected, Hiashi had completely misunderstood his intentions.
Deidara felt a headache coming on. "Clan Leader Hiashi, don't misunderstand."
"I do appreciate your hospitality tonight. If you ever need help with something, feel free to come find me."
Hearing Deidara's promise and noticing the sincerity in his expression, Hiashi finally let out a sigh of relief, his demeanor relaxing.
"That's truly most appreciated."
After Hiashi's enthusiastic farewell, Deidara returned home. By this time, it was already quite late.
Deidara flicked on the high-tech light, and in an instant, a figure appeared on the sofa—it was Kurotsuchi.
She sat there quietly, her back to Deidara, exuding a cold aura.
"Deidara-nii, coming home late at night reeking of alcohol—don't tell me you went drinking at a tavern with Kisame and the others?" Kurotsuchi didn't turn around. Her voice was calm, but it carried a chilling undertone.
Oh no! This doesn't feel right!
Wait a second, why am I even afraid? I didn't do anything wrong tonight! I even turned down two future beauties.
Come to think of it, my behavior tonight should earn me some praise!
With that realization, Deidara regained his confidence.
"Of course not. Hiashi Hyūga invited me over as a guest, and I had a few drinks there," Deidara replied.
"Really?" Kurotsuchi turned her head, her eyes filled with suspicion.
Deidara clicked his tongue. "Obviously. You girls are always overthinking things."
"If you don't believe me, go ask around yourself."
Being scolded like that, Kurotsuchi's attitude softened. She mumbled an excuse to cover for herself, "I was just worried about you drinking too much. That stuff's bad for your health."
"Nagging again!" Deidara, sensing the shift in her tone, felt like he was starting to grasp some hidden wisdom.
Sure enough, after being reprimanded, Kurotsuchi became completely docile.
She walked over, grabbed Deidara's arm, and subtly sniffed his clothes.
No scent of perfume—it seemed Deidara-nii hadn't lied.
"Deidara-nii, it's Grandpa's birthday in a couple of days. Let's go back to Iwagakure for a visit, okay?"
Deidara nodded. If they didn't go back for such an occasion, they'd never hear the end of it.
The next morning, the two of them got up early, strolled around the village a bit, and bought some gifts.
It wasn't about the material value—after all, what could the Tsuchikage possibly lack? It was the thought that counted.
The two of them hopped onto a Clay Bird and quickly set off for Iwagakure.
After about half a day, Iwagakure came into view. The guards, recognizing Deidara's bird, didn't react and allowed them to enter directly.
"Grandpa!" Kurotsuchi threw herself into Onoki's arms, shouting joyfully.
Of course, that description wasn't entirely accurate—it was more like Onoki being enveloped by Kurotsuchi, considering his diminutive stature.
"Ah!" Onoki responded with a grin, his face brimming with affection. He was so happy he nearly laughed his face off.
After a simple birthday banquet, Onoki, like all elderly people, outwardly dismissed the fuss, saying, "What's the point of all this?" But inwardly, he was overjoyed, wishing they'd made it even more festive.
However, Deidara's visit wasn't just to celebrate Onoki's birthday. He also came to remind the old man about their previous agreement.
Onoki, known as the most cunning and shameless Kage, had made all sorts of promises back then. Now, he was pretending not to remember.
Tch, playing dumb, huh? He was clearly stalling, knowing that with Kurotsuchi and Deidara around, the Akatsuki wouldn't resort to force against Iwagakure.
"Old man, when are you planning to merge Iwagakure into the Village Hidden in the Rain?" Deidara asked bluntly.
Realizing he couldn't avoid the topic, Onoki begrudgingly replied, "Alright, alright. Iwagakure can join your village, but we'll need compensation. You'll have to arrange proper accommodations and jobs for our people. Also, a certain number of Iwagakure shinobi must hold positions in your village's leadership."
As he spoke, he muttered a complaint, putting on a pitiful act. "Honestly, at my age, being pressured by my own disciple—it's heartbreaking."
Deidara wasn't buying it. "Take your time if you want, but the unification of the ninja world is inevitable."
"The later Iwagakure joins, the lower its starting point and status will be. Think it over."
Onoki understood this logic. Realizing he couldn't gain any advantage, he let out a resigned sigh.
"Fine. I'll send someone to accompany you back to the Village Hidden in the Rain for preliminary discussions."
Deidara nodded. That's more like it!
Just as he was about to say something else, Konan's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Deidara, return to the Village Hidden in the Rain immediately. We're under attack and can't hold out much longer!"
What?!
Deidara shot to his feet.
Who could possibly be attacking, strong enough to overwhelm the Akatsuki in its current state?
"Kurotsuchi, something's happened in the Village Hidden in the Rain. Stay here in Iwagakure for now."
"Old man, pick your representatives quickly. There aren't many villages left that haven't joined the Village Hidden in the Rain."
"Huh? What did I just say?" Onoki feigned ignorance.
Deidara: "..."
Seeing the situation in the Village Hidden in the Rain, Onoki was once again trying to backtrack.
(As you can see, the upcoming storyline will introduce new enemies. However, they will all be based on elements already present in the Naruto universe, such as Mōryō and the Jashin cult. The author won't be making things up out of thin air.)
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...🤔 Want to know what happens next to the characters? 🤫 Eager to explore the untold secrets of this world? ✍ Ready to read more of my wildest stories?✨patreon.com/GoldenLong