Naruto: Did i Just Get Reincarnated as Gojo?-Chapter 273: Minato Ready to Subdue Ōnoki Before Dust Release Activates

Upon him rested the future of Iwagakure, the fate of the Village for the next ten, twenty years—He was Ōnoki's chosen successor—the future Fifth or Sixth Tsuchikage.

How could he allow Deidara to be harmed here?

Even with the Daimyo present, even if it disrupted the four Villages' secret plans, even if it prematurely ignited the Fourth Shinobi World War—Deidara's safety was paramount!

Such was Deidara's importance in Ōnoki's eyes.

While the spectators cheered, oblivious to the undercurrents, witnessing what they perceived as a peak Genin battle, the high-ranking officials of the great Villages tensed.

Minato, sensing Ōnoki's intent, immediately gripped his Flying Thunder God kunai.

Anticipation!

If Ōnoki moved against Izumi, Minato would, before Ōnoki could unleash his Dust Release, instantly teleport using the Flying Thunder God seal placed beneath the Kage viewing boxes and subdue Ōnoki!

The Raikage, A, also rose from his seat, secretly stimulating his muscles with Lightning Release, ensuring he was ready for combat.

Though the Kage viewing boxes were spaced apart, for the Raikage, at full power, the distance was negligible.

Wasn't the title "Yellow Flash" earned by surpassing his, the Raikage's, speed?

Because—the Yellow Flash had kept up with his Blue Flash!

If Minato moved against Ōnoki, A would intervene, first "accidentally" injuring Ōnoki, crippling the old man, then taking down Minato.

Conflict between the top three Shinobi powers hung precariously in the balance, the fate of the Shinobi World resting upon Izumi Uchiha!

————

Izumi, unaware of the weight she carried, seeing Deidara incapacitated, withdrew her kunai and extended her hand towards him.

Recalling Advisor Gojo's instructions, Izumi blushed, then, puffing out her chest, declared forcefully, "Be my son! Deidara!"

"????" Deidara stared back, utterly confused.

Their conversation, naturally, wasn't broadcast.

Though only four, Deidara already possessed his own worldview—He'd thought his perspective was artistic enough, but compared to this Konoha Shinobi—it seemed—immature.

Deidara instinctively asked, "Wha—what are you saying?"

"I said, be my son!" Izumi repeated, her tone unwavering.

"Who are you?"

"I—I am the successor to the Will of Fire. Deidara—don't you wish to learn a Higher form of art?!"

"You mean—art?!" Deidara's gaze towards Izumi shifted instantly, his eyes filled with an indescribable clarity and—foolishness.

Like finding a kindred spirit—

"Do you understand art?"

"No, I don't. But someone in Konoha understands art. At least, they understand—'your' art, know how it should be used."

Deidara's eyes widened further.

'Art? Konoha has someone who understands his art?' Though, at four years old, Deidara couldn't even articulate what his art was—

—he'd always yearned for someone who understood him.

Now, this Konoha Shinobi, who wanted him to be her son, claimed someone in Konoha understood?

"Hmph—Don't treat me like a fool!" Deidara regained his senses, his voice wary. "Why should I believe you? Do you think I'm stupid?"

"You say someone in Konoha understands my art? Then tell me, you man—what is my art? Tell me! Tell me!"

Izumi, however, was prepared. "Your art~ is not the pursuit of eternity, but the pursuit of the moment! Your ability is art! And my eyes, they too are a form of art. Any unique ability, like your clay bombs, is art!"

"Thrilling combat is art! Betrayal of virtue is art! Defecting from Iwagakure to Konoha, turning against your teacher—that, too, is art!" Izumi recited the lines Gojo Kaigetsu had given her, though inwardly perplexed.

'Be my son,' 'Explosion is momentary,' 'Betrayal of virtue'—these terrible words—could anyone truly consider them art?

Isn't it—nonsensical?

According to Konoha University textbooks, art encompassed "beauty," encompassing painting, sculpture, architecture, poetry, music, dance, and even Advisor Gojo's oft-mentioned "seventh art," "eighth art"—How could bombs possibly be considered art?

But unexpectedly...

Deidara, hearing this unorthodox philosophy, trembled with excitement. A drunken flush spread across his cheeks, his gaze towards Izumi transforming into something akin to—reverence, like a devotee beholding a holy mother.

Deidara's voice trembled. "Is this genjutsu? Y-you truly understand my art."

"Yes! Yes! That's right—This is art!!"

"Kami-sama!!!"

"I am a man of culture!!" Deidara wept, collapsing before Izumi Uchiha, seemingly ready to accept her as his mother.

Thus, five-year-old Izumi Uchiha acquired a four-year-old adopted son.

————

In the viewing box, Gojo Kaigetsu's lips curved into a faint smile.

The timing is perfect.

The Shinobi World was unusual. Perhaps due to the influence of chakra, children matured unnervingly quickly. At three, they could sing, dance, rap, and throw shuriken.

At four, they became obsessed with art.

At five, they pursued their Shinobi way.

'What was I doing at five?' he mused. Well, perhaps things weren't so different now.

"Truly, not a single normal person among them," Gojo Kaigetsu muttered, raising his hand to signal Minato to relax.

Seeing the signal, Minato Namikaze released his grip on the Flying Thunder God kunai, his gaze shifting uncertainly between the arena below and Gojo Kaigetsu.

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