"By the way," Makoto added casually as they flew. "The Flying Thunder God is just one target. While we're at it, I'll also help you get the training scroll for the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags."
"Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags?" Konan blinked, the wind rustling her paper wings.
"Exactly. Tobirama Senju created it, but frankly, he wasted it. Just like Shadow Clones and Flying Thunder God, the inventor rarely uses the jutsu to its full potential."
"But for you?" Makoto grinned. "It's perfect. Infinite explosions for an infinite paper angel."
"I'm wondering," Konan asked, her expression thoughtful. "Will the Hidden Leaf really compromise so easily?"
"Don't worry," Makoto said confidently. "When Orochimaru launches his 'Konoha Crush' plan, we'll offer help in their time of need. They won't have a choice but to agree."
"Orochimaru?" Konan frowned. "Right, you mentioned bringing him back. Does he really plan to destroy the Leaf?"
She paused. "Wait. Are you planning to stop him from destroying it?"
Konan was surprised.
So surprised that she didn't even comment on how this wasn't "help in their time of need" but rather "taking advantage of their misfortune."
"If Orochimaru destroys Konoha," Makoto deadpanned, "what is Pain supposed to destroy later? We can't have him stealing our thunder."
"..."
"Just kidding," Makoto's face turned serious. "Orochimaru doesn't have the capability to destroy the Leaf. At most, he can kill the Third Hokage."
"So you plan to save the Third Hokage?"
"Bingo."
Makoto looked down at the clouds passing below them.
"Let me list the combat power Konoha lost during Sarutobi Hiruzen's reign," Makoto began counting on his fingers.
"1. Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang. Driven to suicide by village gossip."
"2.The entire Uchiha clan goes without saying, and we won't even count Itachi. Fugaku with his Mangekyo, Shisui the Shunshin - forget their Mangekyo abilities, just having them deploy Susanoo on the battlefield combined with the Sharingan's ability to control Tailed Beasts would make them unstoppable. And there'd be no worry about their power becoming uncontrollable since the Mangekyo gradually causes blindness with use. Yet they were eliminated without accomplishing anything."
"3. Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash. Dead."
"4. Kushina Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Dead."
"5. Orochimaru. Defected."
"6. Tsunade. Left the village."
"7. Hizashi Hyuga. Sacrificed to appease the Cloud."
"Even you, Konan," Makoto looked at her. "If not for Danzo and Hanzo conspiring, Akatsuki might have been Konoha's ally because of Jiraiya."
"All of these losses," Makoto said coldly, "are direct results of Hiruzen's passive, incompetent leadership."
"If he had retained even half of that power, Konoha could crush the other four nations combined. But he let it all rot."
"So, do you understand? If Orochimaru kills Hiruzen, the people who should be most upset aren't the Leaf ninja. It's the Raikage, Tsuchikage, and Mizukage. They love Hiruzen because he weakens their biggest rival."
"Keeping Sarutobi Hiruzen alive is convenient for us. As long as he's in charge, Konoha will keep bleeding talent, and we can be there to pick up the pieces."
Konan stared at him, stunned.
For the first time, she realized that keeping an "enemy" alive could be more damaging than killing them.
Hiruzen was just like Hanzo.
Both had once possessed grand ambitions and broad vision.
But as they aged, both gradually became content with mediocrity.
"This is what you call..." Konan smiled slightly. "How did you put it? A foolish companion? A pig teammate?"
"...Yeah."
Makoto wanted to complain.
'You have the nerve to talk about pig teammates? If I hadn't absorbed that Chibaku tensei earlier, I'd be a moon right now.'
...
Iwagakure Border, Land of Earth.
The Land of Earth was a stark contrast to the rest of the world. It was a landscape of jagged rock formations and cool, shady canyons.
Makoto and Konan arrived near the cliff where Deidara was trapped.
They didn't need a sensor to find him. An entire battalion of Iwa ninja was camped below the cliff face.
High up on the rock wall, a cave entrance was sealed with a layer of white clay spiders.
The Tsuchikage, Onoki, was floating cross-legged in the air outside the cave, eyes closed.
He had Earth Clones guarding every exit.
"Those taught by the same master can't break each other's defenses."
Deidara was in a tough spot.
Onoki knew every trick in the book. He had blocked the underground escape routes and was personally guarding the airspace.
It was a stalemate.
Suddenly, a figure flew up from the ground camp.
It was Kurotsuchi, using the Light-Weight Rock Technique to float up to the cave.
"Kurotsuchi! Don't go near!" Onoki shouted, snapping his eyes open. "That brat has rigged the whole cliff to blow!"
"It's fine, old man. I'm not going in," Kurotsuchi waved him off dismissively. "I've watched you fail to talk him out for days. Let me try."
She floated to the cave mouth, hovering just out of blast range.
"Deidara-nii! Are you in there?"
"No."
"..."
Kurotsuchi's mouth twitched at the cave entrance as her fists clench involuntarily.
'Deep breath. Stick to the plan.'
"Many of the people down there are your old comrades from the Explosion Corps," Kurotsuchi yelled.
"Don't you want to come out and see them?"
"Tch! Those stupid ass aren't my comrades!" Deidara's voice echoed from the dark. "They don't understand Art at all! Treating Art as a job? It's an insult! Un!"
Clearly, the "Friendship Card" was ineffective.
Because in the Stone Hidden Village, there was simply no one who could understand Deidara's art.
"Just because they use explosive jutsu doesn't mean Deidara considers them peers," a calm voice said from behind her.
Kurotsuchi spun around in mid-air.
A young man was floating there. He wasn't using the Light-Weight Rock Technique.
He was just... defying gravity.
'Wait. He mentioned Deidara...'
"Are you from Deidara's organization?" Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes. "Then don't think about leaving. You're staying right here!"
She didn't hesitate.
She puffed her cheeks.
Lava Release: Quicklime Congealing Technique!
A massive glob of gray, corrosive lime shot from her mouth, engulfing Makoto.
Makoto didn't dodge.
He let the cement coat him, hardening instantly into a gray statue.
During the split second before he was encased, he did only one thing.
He pulled out a camera.
Click.
As the lime hardened around him, trapping him in place, his muffled voice came from inside the shell.
"Stay for what? To play with your legs?"