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NBB Chapter 173: Art Is Explosion—The Deidara Challenge
🕑 Added 2025-08-24 03:30:17 +0000 UTC“I really didn’t expect Danzō to actually want to meet with Hanzō of the Salamander.”
Inside the base of the Land of Rain, Black Zetsu held the letter in his hand as he found Nagato. Beside them, Uchiha Obito also looked utterly baffled.
He couldn’t quite figure it out—was Danzō seeking death?
“Danzō… wants to meet Hanzō?”
It wasn’t just Obito. Nagato’s expression was equally strange.
“So, does this mean we can take the opportunity to eliminate him?”
“Unless something unexpected happens, that’s exactly it.”
Black Zetsu nodded. Even he hadn’t anticipated Danzō harboring such an idea. He could only sigh at how lucky they were.
They had still been mulling over how to track Danzō down, and now Danzō had delivered himself right into their hands. Such good fortune was almost unimaginable.
“Only, Danzō insisted on meeting near Konoha. He seems very worried about something happening to him. Aside from that, he also mentioned one more thing.”
“Near Konoha? That’s no big deal.”
Nagato didn’t see any issue with that demand. A sewer rat like Danzō would of course be excessively cautious.
But for them, it wasn’t really a problem. After all, they were heading for Konoha anyway!
“Then meet with him. If possible, we can also avoid fighting inside Konoha and stirring up too much trouble.”
Nagato spoke decisively, then asked curiously, “You said he mentioned one more thing. What was it?”
“He doesn’t dare meet us alone. He wants someone else present.”
Black Zetsu shook his head, a faint chuckle in his voice.
“He didn’t specify who, but it’s probably just one of his self-protection measures.”
“Agree to it. Let him bring someone.”
Nagato glanced at Uchiha Obito. Seeing that the man had no inclination to speak, he simply made the decision himself.
“I’m rather curious… who exactly could keep him safe?”
Uchiha Obito raised an eyebrow. He seemed to want to bring up Kitagawa Gen.
But Black Zetsu stopped him. This wasn’t the time to stir up unnecessary complications.
Besides, if they dealt with Danzō in advance, everything afterward would become much easier.
...
Land of Fields, within Otogakure.
From the mouth of a pit viper, Kimimaro pulled out a scroll. After glancing at the markings on it, he turned and addressed Orochimaru.
“Orochimaru-sama, Shimura Danzō has sent another message.”
“Danzō?”
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. Ever since Danzō had betrayed him, he hadn’t bothered to pay much attention to the messages that were delivered.
Even if he looked at them, he never responded. After all, he had no interest in wasting words on a walking corpse.
Danzō had also stopped sending letters for a while. Yet, just as Orochimaru was about to set out, another of Danzō’s letters arrived.
“Orochimaru-sama, should we take a look?”
With his head lowered, Kimimaro spoke softly.
“After all, we’re about to set out for Konoha as well. And this Danzō…”
“Bring it here.”
Orochimaru thought for a moment. He didn’t reject Kimimaro’s suggestion.
Danzō sending a message at this time was indeed a bit… sensitive. Especially since Danzō himself happened to be his target this time.
He also wanted to see just what tricks Danzō was planning to pull!
“Hm? Danzō… wants to meet me?”
Unrolling the scroll and giving it a glance, Orochimaru raised an eyebrow.
“How interesting.”
Orochimaru couldn’t quite make sense of it. What exactly was Danzō hiding in that gourd of his?
This man had no awareness of having betrayed him, always putting on that innocent act.
If it had been anyone else, they might have been fooled.
But Orochimaru knew Danzō far too well. He was certain this man must have another motive.
“Perhaps… I should go and meet him.”
After a moment of pondering, Orochimaru stroked his chin, thinking to himself.
“After all, he’s my target anyway. If I can avoid some unnecessary accidents, so much the better. Even if he brings a few people along—”
Danzō hadn’t hidden the matter of bringing companions. He had openly stated he would never come alone to meet Orochimaru.
Of course, he hadn’t written down how many he would bring. Still, Orochimaru was willing to give it a try.
“I understand. Get in touch with Kabuto for me. Tell him to be ready to cooperate with my actions.”
“Yes, Orochimaru-sama.”
Kimimaro nodded. Very quickly, he fell silent again. Only after a long moment did he speak softly.
“Orochimaru-sama… this time, can’t you let me come with you?”
“No.”
Looking at Kimimaro, Orochimaru couldn’t help but sigh. He understood the boy’s feelings, but Kimimaro’s body was in no condition.
The injuries he could treat. But that ever-erupting kekkei genkai sickness, like some twisted form of Yang Release, left even him helpless.
That Kimimaro had survived until now was already proof of his tenacious will to live.
“Stay here and rest well. Who knows, perhaps in the future—”
But gazing at Kimimaro, even someone as cold as Orochimaru could not bring himself to speak harshly in the end.
“You’ll still have the chance to prove your worth, Kimimaro.”
...
“Hey, Gen, does that little blond brat have some kind of… unhealthy hobby, hmm?”
The next day, on the streets of Konoha.
Following close behind Kitagawa Gen, Deidara asked in a low voice, giving Gen—who had just woken up—a pounding headache.
“How should I know? Aren’t you a blond brat yourself? And instead of talking about him, how about talking about you? Why did you run off here alone?”
“Tch. The old man was too slow. Why wait for the official start? I figured I’d just set out first.”
“Is that what I asked? What about your fellow contestants? Why is it just you who came?”
“Relax, relax. They were too slow, that’s all. No big deal. Besides, I came through the official channels, didn’t I?”
Seeing Deidara’s utterly nonchalant expression, Gen was at a loss for words.
This guy was really abusing the fact that he was the Tsuchikage’s disciple, doing whatever he pleased!
“When are the rest of your Iwagakure people arriving?”
Rubbing his temples, Gen asked in frustration. Deidara thought about it, uncertain.
“Today or tomorrow, probably. They won’t be long. Oh, and on my way over, I actually spotted Sunagakure’s team from the air. They should be arriving today.”
After all, Deidara had snuck off on his clay bird. Running into Sunagakure’s shinobi from high above was hardly surprising.
“Arriving today? So they really are coming.”
Hearing this news, Kitagawa Gen perked up noticeably. The Chūnin Exams might not have much to do with him anymore, but they were still something that excited him.
Leaving aside the matter of Gaara—even if he hadn’t shown up for this grand event, the missions handed to Gen wouldn’t have been any less significant!
'This is getting more and more interesting.'
Patting his own cheeks, Gen nodded, then turned and started walking toward the Hokage Building.
“Hey, hey, hey, where are you going?”
Deidara grew anxious at Gen’s sudden movement, but Gen only rolled his eyes.
“I’m going to apply for the position of Chūnin Exam proctor. Why are you tagging along with me?”
He hadn’t forgotten the ‘promise’ he’d made before. Even if they didn’t give him the role, he still planned to ‘drop by’!
“Damn it, yesterday you had your little gathering, and I didn’t bother you. But today, at least take care of what you promised me before, huh?”
Deidara sounded a little annoyed now, snorting as he spoke.
“You questioned my art back then. You said Dust Release was the true art. So after I went back, I’ve been working hard on it.”
“So…”
Hearing this, Gen froze in his tracks, glancing at Deidara with a doubtful look.
“You mean you’ve mastered it?”
“Tch, don’t underestimate my genius, hmm!”
Deidara proudly raised his head, hands on his hips, and let out a smug laugh.
“I might not use it as well as the old man, but I’ve basically learned to try some simple applications. So, how about it? Time to compare our arts!”
Looking at Deidara’s posture and listening to his words, Gen felt the guy wasn’t lying.
If that was true, then the only thing to say was that Deidara’s talent was downright outrageous!
Not mixing with the Akatsuki, and instead obediently learning Dust Release under Ōnoki—this guy’s potential was practically immeasurable.
[New Side Quest Acquired]
[Art Is Explosion—Boom!]
[Accept Deidara’s Art Challenge]
As Gen was still mulling it over, the system refreshed once again, making him pause for a moment before grinning in delight.
“Alright then, let’s find a suitable training ground and test it out.”
“Huh?”
Deidara’s expression turned strange all of a sudden.
“Just now you were acting all uninterested, hmm.”
“Now I’m interested. Can’t have you going all out only for me to collapse right away—that’d be too boring.”
“Hmph, don’t think you’re some new White Fang of Konoha, the White Flash, or Purple Lightning—”
“Enough. I can’t wear that many titles at once. So are we going or not?”
Even Gen himself found it odd—why did he have so many random titles floating around?
And if one really counted them up, he probably had even more titles?
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
Deidara didn’t bother thinking too much. He grinned and quickly followed along, though after a moment he couldn’t help asking curiously, “By the way, that little blond brat Naruto—he’s really fine, right?”
“No problem. Why do you keep asking about him?”
“I just think he’s kind of interesting. I was worried… ah, never mind. If you say he’s fine, then fine. So, where is he?”
“Him, huh…”
At the mention of Naruto, Kitagawa Gen showed a mischievous smile.
“Right now, he’s probably feeling a little lost.”
Those words left Deidara looking utterly confused.
“Hah?”
“I just hope… my jutsu can last long enough.”
“…”
