CHAPTER 23
What did you just say?"
Deidara froze.
Seven pairs of Rinnegan eyes fell on him at once. An indescribable, suffocating pressure surged through the space, sweeping over him like a tidal wave.
His breath caught in his throat. He could hear it — that trace of anger in the leader's voice…
"I—I said… you could… maybe put yourself down?"
Seven pairs of icy eyes narrowed simultaneously.
Deidara finally realized...
Did I just tell the leader to sit down? Is he really that arrogant?!
"Next sentence," came the collective voice — cold, synchronized, terrifying.
Deidara nearly peed himself on the spot.
Sure, he was a member of Akatsuki. The leader wouldn't really hurt him — probably. But those were Rinnegan staring him down! His whole body went numb.
It felt like the air itself was being stripped away from around him. Breathing became difficult, his skin prickled, and his bones screamed.
Terrifying.
Absolutely terrifying.
Deidara prided himself on having Kage-level strength — not quite his old man's level, but certainly enough to hold his own against the best.
But here?
Just a glance from the leader made his knees buckle. The pressure alone carried the threat: resistance equals death.
Even Ohnoki never made me feel this way.
Could it be...
The leader's power far exceeded that of Ohnoki?
Even...
Far beyond the likes of Madara Uchiha × 7?!
Deidara wasn't a fool. He'd long since figured it out: the true leader of Akatsuki wasn't the one standing — it was the one sitting. That guy in the wheelchair — Nagato — he was the puppet master behind it all.
He controlled six powerful bodies — each as strong as a Kage, or stronger.
That kind of strength…
Deidara clenched his fists, trying to stop his arms from trembling. The pressure hadn't let up. Pain's Rinnegan gaze was still pinned on him like a nail.
If I don't say something now, I might actually die…
He took a deep breath, summoned his courage, puffed out his chest, and shouted:
"Leader! I meant: The pinnacle of shinobi! Pride of the world! If there is Pain, there is heaven!"
Boom.
Shockwaves of disbelief rippled through the air.
Even Konan, usually stoic and calm, silently covered her mouth with one hand — hiding the faint pink spreading across her cheeks.
Clack!
The scroll behind Sasori dropped to the floor. He was stunned — so stunned he forgot to even control his puppet.
"The pinnacle of shinobi, pride of the world, if there is Pain, there is heaven…"
"Pride of the world! If there is Pain, there is heaven!"
"Amen!"
Deidara's voice echoed like a holy chant. Even Nagato's eyes, usually dull with pain and detachment, gleamed with a sudden intensity. Goosebumps raced down his spine.
Beautiful. Perfect. Three times perfect.
Even a man like Nagato — whose body was broken and bound to a machine — couldn't stop the rush of heat in his chest.
To be admired like this… to be understood like this…
He blinked quickly. Was that… moisture in his eyes?
Pain's hand beneath the robe clenched tightly around his numb legs.
Excitement. Pure, unfiltered excitement.
He never expected it. From Deidara, of all people. A subordinate he viewed as nothing more than a tool…
And yet…
In front of everyone…
His mind flashed to classic ambitions: a beautiful woman in one arm, the world in the other. Seizing the moon from the heavens, grabbing dragons from the sea — but instead, he was stuck here in this machine, a shadow of his former self.
But this moment?
This moment felt alive again.
He glanced at the group surrounding him in black robes and clouds. For the first time, he felt like he owed them something.
No salaries. No benefits. And they still followed him.
Unacceptable. That's going to change.
Meanwhile, Deidara held his chin high — watching Nagato's reddening face — and sighed inwardly.
Tch. Weak mental fortitude. I've got at least a hundred more lines like that.
As Pain's gaze swept back across him, Deidara quickly straightened up and put on a serious face.
Pain nodded silently, his eyes softening.
He spoke calmly:
"Deidara… your strength is lacking. If you face an invincible enemy, you may summon Tendo Pain."
Huh?!
Pain raised a hand — a scroll fell, landing precisely in Deidara's hands.
Deidara's eyes widened in shock.
No way! Is this… a summon pass? A one-time-use Tendo Pain cheat code?!
His hands trembled as he clutched it like a treasure.
"Leader is mighty! Leader is supreme! Leader is INVINCIBLE!!"
---
Shameless. Utterly shameless.
"Tch."
Hidan and Kakuzu glared at Deidara, mouths twitching.
One second, he was about to get obliterated. Next second? He got a damn get-out-of-death-free scroll!
Even Orochimaru didn't last one move against Tendo Pain. And now Deidara had summoning rights?
WTF?!
They exchanged glances.
"Is being strong even worth it anymore?"
Meanwhile, Sasori stood paralyzed.
They'd all agreed that art was the way. True beauty. True legacy.
And Deidara?
He went full bootlick mode — and won.
"The pinnacle of shinobi, pride of the world, if there is Pain, there is heaven…"
Sasori couldn't help it. He whispered to himself:
"The pinnacle of shinobi, pride of the world, if there is Scorpion of the Red Sand, there is heaven…"
Suddenly, his puppet core shook violently. He panicked, cutting off his chakra before it self-destructed.
Even he — a man who abandoned emotions — had nearly felt something.
He turned a deadpan gaze toward Deidara.
So that's your art, huh? Not clay. Not explosions.
Your art… is that silver tongue.
Deidara… your words truly are… explosive.