Chapter 183: Deidara: Everyone in Konoha is Talented, and They Speak So Nicely
"Mr. Iwata from Takigakure is currently in our Konoha," said Uchiha Douhuan.
"Is that so? How much support does your Konoha plan to provide them this time?" Onoki sneered.
"Heh heh, Lord Tsuchikage, you jest. Since the beginning of your special military operation, our Konoha has not provided any support to the Land of Waterfalls. What we have given are daily necessities for the people of the Land of Waterfalls, out of humanitarian concern," Uchiha Douhuan said without a change in expression.
"According to you, did those explosive tags marked with your Land of Fire's ninja tool factory logo in Takigakure's military camps just appear out of thin air?" Onoki said through gritted teeth.
"Regarding that, hasn't our Konoha already explained? This is all normal commercial activity," Uchiha Douhuan stated.
"Enough. Did the Hokage establish this video communication with us just to argue about these things?" Onoki said.
"Of course not," Uchiha Douhuan replied. "This war has displaced countless innocent civilians. It's time for it to end."
"Konoha is willing to act as a mediator between your esteemed village and Takigakure. What does Lord Tsuchikage think?"
"Is the Hokage joking?" Onoki scoffed. "This war has lasted for two years. How can it be stopped just by saying so?"
"In that case, how about Konoha becomes your esteemed village's opponent?" Uchiha Douhuan said, his expression unchanging. "At that time, you can fight for as long as you wish."
Upon hearing Uchiha Douhuan's words, Onoki's expression turned grave. If Uchiha Douhuan had taken this attitude two years ago, he wouldn't have indulged him; they would have just gone to war.
But now, after two years of war, although Iwagakure had maintained an advantage in the overall war situation, they hadn't gained any substantial benefits. Territory gained through war? Those barren lands in the northwest of the Land of Waterfalls, they might not even want them if offered for free. And the mineral-rich lands within the Land of Waterfalls were all in the southeast, completely out of their reach.
Furthermore, after two years of fighting, not only had the Land of Earth suffered heavy financial losses, but considerable anti-war sentiment had also emerged domestically. Even their Iwagakure ninjas had begun to grumble in private that perhaps this war should never have started.
Under such circumstances, if Konoha were to intervene, it would be questionable whether their Land of Earth could even withdraw from this war unscathed.
Onoki took a deep breath and said, "What does Lord Hokage mean by this? Have you forgotten that our two villages signed a non-aggression pact? Does Lord Hokage intend to tear up this treaty?"
"Of course not. Everyone in the ninja world knows that I, Uchiha Douhuan, am most trustworthy," Uchiha Douhuan said. "However, Lord Tsuchikage should still consider my proposal carefully. The mainstream voice in the ninja world today is peace. Some matters can also be resolved at the negotiating table."
Onoki remained silent for a moment before speaking, "When will the negotiations take place?"
"One week from now. I will await your arrival in Konoha," Uchiha Douhuan said. "However, could Lord Tsuchikage perhaps show us a little sincerity first?"
"I will issue an order shortly for the border troops to temporarily halt their offensive," Onoki said, staring intently at Uchiha Douhuan.
"Thank you for the concession you've made for peace," Uchiha Douhuan said. "Our Konoha will also step in to ensure Takigakure's forces exercise restraint."
"Let's hope so," Onoki said and then disconnected the communication.
...
Two weeks later, Onoki arrived in Konoha as scheduled and, under the witness of Uchiha Douhuan, had his first meeting with Iwata Sawaki since the war began.
Under Konoha's mediation, both sides fully exchanged opinions and deepened their mutual understanding. The talks were beneficial, though both sides maintained reservations about the current outcome.
Currently, the main point of contention was Iwagakure's greatest loss in this war: the Five-Tails, Mu King, and its Jinchuriki, who were captured by the Akatsuki.
Onoki staunchly demanded that the Land of Waterfalls take responsibility for this, but Iwata Sawaki did not agree and, during the negotiations, angrily denounced Onoki as a butcher, stating that the loss of the Tailed Beast was entirely Iwagakure's own fault.
Due to his rather agitated remarks, Konoha, as the host of the talks, politely asked him to leave the negotiation site.
Onoki also clearly stated that if the issue of the Five-Tails could not be resolved, then this war would absolutely not end easily.
Onoki's intention was clear: the Land of Waterfalls must hand over its own Tailed Beast as compensation. However, Uchiha Douhuan would certainly not agree to this condition, as the Seven-Tails could now be considered Konoha's own asset and naturally couldn't be handed over so easily.
To advance the negotiation process, Uchiha Douhuan could only promise to help Iwagakure retrieve the Five-Tails from the Akatsuki in the future. After more wrangling, Onoki reluctantly agreed to the terms.
With Onoki and Iwata Sawaki, who was forced by circumstances to sign, putting their signatures on the ceasefire agreement, this war, which had lasted for nearly three years, finally came to an end.
Just as Uchiha Douhuan had said at the beginning of the war, in this conflict, glory belonged to the Land of Waterfalls.
As for who owned the land and minerals? That was not important. What was important was that the Land of Waterfalls had shown its strength to the ninja world in this war, exclusively claiming this unparalleled glory.
...
After signing the agreement, Onoki had no intention of staying in Konoha for long and planned to return to the Land of Earth that very night. However, before leaving, Onoki hadn't forgotten that he still had a disciple studying abroad in Konoha.
"Lord Hokage, have Deidara come over. I'll take him with me directly," Onoki said in Uchiha Douhuan's office, sipping the tea Uchiha Douhuan had brewed.
"Naturally," Uchiha Douhuan said with a chuckle. "Now that the war is over, it's time for Deidara, this child, to go home. I'll call him over right away."
Uchiha Douhuan summoned an Anbu member and asked him to inform Deidara.
"This child must have caused Lord Hokage quite a bit of trouble these past two years," Onoki only spoke after the Anbu member left to deliver the message.
"Not at all. Deidara is a very sensible child," Uchiha Douhuan said.
"Lord Hokage is too kind. I know how troublesome my own disciple can be," Onoki waved his hand and said. Although he had initially thrown Deidara to Konoha to annoy Uchiha Douhuan, after not seeing him for over two years, Onoki actually missed his disciple a little.
However, the Anbu who went to deliver the message quickly returned to the Hokage Building and brought back Deidara's words:
"Let that old man go back alone. I'm too lazy to return to Iwagakure. Konoha feels much better than Iwagakure. Everyone in Konoha is talented, and they speak so nicely."
Upon hearing the message relayed by the Anbu, veins bulged on Onoki's forehead. After glancing at Uchiha Douhuan, he looked at the Anbu member who delivered the message and gritted his teeth, "Did that little brat really say that?"
"Lord Tsuchikage, don't be angry. Children, you know, a bit of rebellion is normal," Uchiha Douhuan said cheerfully. "How about we go and persuade him together in person?"
"It's been too long since I disciplined him, he's gotten too rebellious!" Onoki slammed the table and stood up. "Where is that little brat now?"
Uchiha Douhuan had no choice but to take Onoki to the construction site currently managed by the Yamato Construction Group.
However, before the two even arrived, an earth-shattering explosion suddenly roared, and a massive mushroom cloud billowed into the sky.
Hearing this familiar sound, Onoki's mouth twitched. He then looked at Uchiha Douhuan, seemingly trying to find a hint of annoyance on Uchiha Douhuan's face.
But Uchiha Douhuan continued walking forward without any change in expression.
"Heh heh, I'm truly sorry. My disciple has caused trouble for your Konoha," Onoki said, but his face wore the expression most often seen on parents who let their unruly children run wild.
However, upon arriving at the explosion site, the scene was completely beyond Onoki's expectations.
"Engineer Di is awesome! The range and power of this explosion are even greater than last time," a man wearing a safety helmet said to Deidara after handing him some water.
After the smoke from the explosion gradually dissipated, several more men came to the edge of the deep crater created by the explosion, measured some data, then returned to Deidara's side and exclaimed in amazement:
"Engineer Di's skills are becoming more and more exquisite. The data is exactly as per the blueprints! I thought we'd have to manually touch it up after this demolition."
"Naturally!" Deidara, surrounded by a group of admirers, laughed heartily. "Lately, I've been thoroughly researching the precise control of yields! After all, Uncle Hokage put it well: precision is the difference between butchery and surgery."
"You guys get back to work," Deidara said cheerfully to the workers around him. "I have another site to get to. Mr. Yamato is already waiting for me there."
After speaking, Deidara took out a piece of clay, kneaded it a few times, shaped it into a large bird, and then jumped onto its back.
"Take care, Engineer Di," the workers around Deidara said respectfully.
Just then, Onoki's voice sounded in Deidara's ear.
"Deidara!"
Hearing this voice, Deidara was stunned for a moment, then looked back. Seeing Onoki standing beside Uchiha Douhuan, glaring at him, he frowned slightly and said:
"Old man?" Deidara said with some impatience. "Didn't I tell you? Can't you just go back by yourself?"
"What were you doing just now?" Onoki asked, looking at the rebellious disciple before him and taking a deep breath.
"Didn't you see? I was practicing my art!" Deidara said impatiently. However, upon seeing Uchiha Douhuan, Deidara changed his expression, flew over to Uchiha Douhuan's side on his clay bird, his face beaming as if presenting a treasure. "Uncle Hokage, did you see it? My perfect control over explosive power!"
"Amazing!" Uchiha Douhuan clapped his hands and then said, "In this art of explosion, I, Uchiha Douhuan, declare you the strongest."
"Hahaha! I knew it!" Deidara laughed heartily upon hearing Uchiha Douhuan's words.
"What on earth has this kid been doing here with you these past two years?" Onoki looked at the two before him, who seemed to get along extremely well, and a strange feeling arose within him.
Damn it, I'm the teacher who taught this kid ninjutsu seal by seal, right? This kid has never even spoken to me this politely.
"As you can see, Deidara is now the chief demolition expert for Konoha's largest construction group, Yamato Construction," Uchiha Douhuan smiled. "Konoha's current development speed owes a great deal to this child, Deidara. He is deeply loved by the citizens in the village."
And wasn't it true? Besides being the chief demolition expert under Yamato, Deidara also worked part-time as Konoha's pyrotechnician. During this year's New Year celebration, the colorful fireworks show Deidara created received widespread praise in Konoha. Today was a workday; on weekends, many villagers with free time would travel far to Deidara's work sites to admire his performances.
Upon hearing this, the expression on Onoki's face was as if he had eaten feces. So, this disciple of his, who was detested by everyone in Iwagakure, had become an idol in Konoha?
Moreover, Onoki recalled the various unprecedented and bizarre structures he had seen in Konoha these past few days. So Deidara had a hand in this too? Was he aiding the enemy? Did this kid even know?
"Deidara, you get down here and come back with me!" Onoki yelled.
"I won't!" Deidara tilted his head up and was about to fly away.
"You get back here! Is there no place in Iwagakure for you to display your art?" Onoki questioned. "Come back with me now, and I'll specifically designate an area for you to blast to your heart's content, how about it?"
"Those old fogeys in Iwagakure wouldn't know how to appreciate my art," Deidara pouted, unmoved by Onoki's offer.
"Only Konoha and the Hokage can truly understand and appreciate my art!" Deidara declared.
"Haven't you realized he's just flattering you?" Onoki was so angry he became muddled, completely disregarding Uchiha Douhuan's presence.
"I won't let you say that about Uncle Hokage!" Deidara directly confronted Onoki.
...
In the end, Onoki did take Deidara away. However, according to the workers present that day, the screams from the scene seemed even louder than the explosions created by their beloved Engineer Di.
The dispute between the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Earth came to a temporary close. However, in Kirigakure, which had already split into northern and southern nations, the conflict never ceased.
North Kirigakure, led by Terumi Mei, suffered greatly due to the enormous debt owed to Kumogakure, so both civilians and ninjas lived very frugally. It was no match for South Kirigakure, which was developing rapidly with Konoha's aid. Therefore, some people from North Kirigakure, unable to bear the difficult life, chose the "flat peach" and came to the south.
And in South Kirigakure, led by Takagi Shōban, there were also some who truly couldn't stand Konoha's garrison acting unscrupulously within their Mist Village and chose the "flat peach."
Both sides had people coming and going; it was very lively.
(End of chapter)