Seeing that it would still be so ti before Gaara regained consciousness, Inoiki decided to make good use of the wait — it was ti to interrogate Deidara, who was still slung over Lee's shoulder.
"Lee," Inoiki called, "bring Deidara over here."
Lee blinked. "Huh? Oh... you an this guy?" he said, glancing at the unconscious bomber.
Inoiki nodded once. Lee shrugged and laid Deidara down in front of him.
Turning to Tenten, Inoiki said, "Tenten, take out a scroll or a diary — anything you can write on. I want you to record every question I ask and every answer that's given — whether it's from or from him." He jerked his chin toward Deidara to make his aning clear.
Tenten gave a quick nod and pulled out a scroll along with a brush, motioning for Lee to hold the ink jar steady for her.
"I'm ready," she said. "You can start anyti."
Inoiki gave a small nod of approval, then crouched down in front of Deidara. He grasped the unconscious man's face, forcing him to look up. Slowly, Inoiki's sky-blue eyes began to glow with an eerie light.
"You will answer my questions," Inoiki said calmly, his voice carrying a quiet, unshakable authority.
Deidara's eyes fluttered open, dazed at first — then narrowed into a glare.
"Tch... dream on," he spat. "If you think you can drag anything out of , you're dead wrong. I'll never betray my comrades. Kill if you want — use whatever thods you like. I won't talk."
Inoiki's glowing eyes stayed locked on Deidara.
"Don't worry," he said coolly. "I have my own thods. You will talk."
He continued, "First question — what is your na?"
Deidara responded with only a defiant huff, turning his face slightly away.
Unfazed, Inoiki answered for him.
"Deidara," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "And judging by your forehead protector... you're a missing-nin from Iwagakure."
Tenten diligently wrote everything down — both the questions Inoiki asked and the answers he supplied himself when Deidara refused to respond. Around them, the others listened closely, their attention fixed on the unfolding interrogation.
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed across the clearing. One by one, Sunagakure shinobi began arriving, forming a loose circle around them, led by none other than Elder Ebizo.
Kankuro and Temari were among them, their faces tense with worry.
The Sunagakure forces quickly organized themselves into a defensive periter, standing in a wide ring around the group.
Ebizo stepped forward first.
"What's Gaara's condition?" he asked, his voice steady but urgent.
Temari and Kankuro pressed in behind him, speaking almost at the sa ti.
"Yes, what happened to Gaara? Is he all right?"
Kakashi stepped forward calmly to et them.
"You don't need to worry," he said. "Gaara is alive. Lady Chiyo perford a jutsu to resurrect him. It cost her everything."
He paused, giving them a mont to absorb the weight of those words.
"You'll hear all the details soon enough. For now, stay calm — and quiet. We're still in the middle of sothing important."
Inoiki paid no attention to the arrival of the Sunagakure shinobi. His focus remained locked on Deidara as he continued the interrogation.
"Second question," he said. "How many mbers are there in Akatsuki?"
Deidara stayed silent, his only response a hard glare aid straight at Inoiki.
"You do know how many there are, right?" Inoiki asked, tilting his head slightly. Still, Deidara said nothing.
Without missing a beat, Inoiki spoke again, answering his own question.
"There are ten main mbers," he said, his voice calm. "And a few lower-ranking recruits. Though... a few years ago, Orochimaru betrayed the organization. That leaves nine."
At that, Deidara's eyes widened in shock.
He hadn't expected Inoiki to know that much.
"How do you know that?" Deidara demanded, breaking his silence.
Inoiki didn't respond. He simply waited, giving Tenten ti to record everything down on her scroll.
Then, without warning, Inoiki pressed forward, his glowing blue eyes seeming to pierce straight into Deidara's mind.
"Next question," he said. "Tell about the mbers of your organization — their nas, their abilities."
Deidara gritted his teeth, clamping down on the urge to speak, but Inoiki wasn't relying on words alone.
He didn't need Deidara to answer aloud.
As he asked each question, Inoiki subtly reached into the chaotic swirl of Deidara's surface thoughts. It was a simple human instinct — when asked about soone or sothing familiar, the mind imdiately conjured images, nas, and mories, even without intending to.
And through his psychokinesis, Inoiki read those fleeting thoughts — pulling free the information he needed.
Deidara stayed stubbornly silent.
Inoiki, however, wasn't deterred. His voice was calm, almost patient, as he pressed on.
"You know all the mbers, don't you? Tell about them — the second, third, ninth, any of them. Start talking."
He repeated the demand again and again, deliberately forcing Deidara's mind to think about each of his comrades.
It didn't matter if Deidara answered aloud — Inoiki only needed the thoughts that surfaced.
"You're wasting your ti," Deidara spat. "I told you already — I won't say a damn thing."
Inoiki chuckled softly, as if amused by the defiance.
"Then I'll tell it myself," he said.
"The leader of Akatsuki is called Pain. He possesses the Rinnegan — the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. He calls himself a god, and he has the power to back it up. Everyone else in the organization fears him. No one dares to challenge him. It's said he defeated Orochimaru in just a few moves."
At the ntion of the Rinnegan, a ripple of shock ran through the crowd.
Those who understood its aning — Kakashi, Neji, even Ebizo — stiffened, horror flashing across their faces.
The Rinnegan wasn't just powerful. It was mythical. A power tied to the very origin of ninjutsu itself.
But Inoiki wasn't finished. His voice stayed steady as he continued.
"Next is Konan — the leader's partner. She's known as the Angel. Her abilities allow her to control paper and turn it into deadly weapons. She's not soone to underestimate."
Inoiki's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Third, Itachi Uchiha. Fourth, Kisa Hoshigaki."
He didn't elaborate further on Itachi and Kisa — there was no need.
Konoha knew those nas all too well. Inoiki himself had crossed blades with them. Kakashi had clashed with Itachi. Guy had faced off against Kisa. Their powers were not a mystery anymore.
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