Til death and beyond

Reunion

-A few weeks earlier-

"Seems like you're finally awake."

The wind breezed through his hair and the clouds greeted his view. They were on his clay owl, high in the sky. He was back. Right in his element. It felt so good.

"This seal is different from Lord Orochimaru's so I won't bind you completely, Deidara."

He glanced behind him and saw Kabuto who looked very different from when he saw him many years ago, still working as a spy for Sasori. Kind of odd to be resurrected by him but he liked being back to continue practicing his art. Death wouldn't stop him pursuing art further. He remembered how he became one with his art and executed his ultimate art in a flash of perfection and now he was alive to remember it, the feeling, the rush, the absolute glory in that one single instance of a moment. A shame Anjira wasn't there to witness his greatest masterpiece.

"I don't know much about art and I know little about you."

"Well my art is not easy to understand, hm. But I'm grateful to you. I once perfected my ultimate art and now I can go even further!"

He started thinking of other ways that could help him expand his search for an ever greater ultimate art. A super ultimate art! Yes, that's what he needed. While he thought of this, he couldn't help but ponder if he was the only one.

"Say, Kabuto, who else did you revive, hm?"

"For now there's just you. But soon we will go to war and I have several others in my collection that will join us. Even your former partner Sasori is among them."

"Hm.."

He was looking forward to seeing Sasori again to rub it in his face how his 'eternal beauty' was a fluke because he died, clearly something that contradicted Sasori's concept of art. Deidara was the winner of their artistic argument.

"What about Anjira?"

"Anjira?" Kabuto fixed his glasses. "She will also be reanimated for the war. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, hm..."

He was still upset about her not staying out of range during his battle with Sasuke. Why hadn't she left the place? He would scold her once he sees her but he couldn't help but feel excited to see her again, talk to her again, hear her voice and touch her. She probably won't be too pleased about being revived by Kabuto but maybe they could start over again and seek greater forms of art together. They could still travel the world after everything.

"You'll see her very soon. But for now we still have something important to do and it appears that we were followed." A sly grin formed on his lips.

True enough, he could see three silhouettes flying towards them. He used his left eye to take a closer look at them.

Deidara let out a dark chuckle when he recognized them. Oh, that takes him way back. His former master and teammates. How lucky Deidara was, he managed to take out Sasuke before dying and now when he just got resurrected, he would be able to finish that ancient oaf and make him pay for all the times he mocked his art.

It was a shame that Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi were still so attached to the Tsuchikage. He didn't particularly hate them even though they never understood his art. He wasn't too keen on fighting them but should they get in the way, he wouldn't hold back. If he could kill Ohnoki right now, he could still take Anjira to the Hidden Stone, get their son and destroy the village.

How old was Hiroaki now anyways? He couldn't tell how much time passed since he died.

"Well, then, Deidara. Let's give them a surprise."