AN: Please keep in mind that I started this thing back in 2007, so there will be age-related discrepancies and stylistic development as the story progresses. Deidara and all canon characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
Iwagakure's Unexpected
By TransientBANG
Prologue: Invitation to Devastation
Silently, I pressed my thin body against the semi-translucent sliding doors. My ears strained to pick up the faint mutterings of my aunt and grandfather. I was glad that it was dark on my side of the papery, sail-like barrier; otherwise my noticeable silhouette would have shone blackly through it. And this wasn't a conversation I'd have liked to be caught eavesdropping on.
"I don't care how he's been behaving lately, Takumi-ue! I refuse to let him stay with me while you're gone! You know how I feel on this matter…"
"Oh, come on Tsukiko-san! I've got to do this; it's mandatory for our village's success in the weapons trade. I would greatly-"
The male speaker was cut off by a sharp exclamation from the other.
"Takumi!" There were no formalities now. "He… I don't… He has all these new ideas; it's just not the way we do things in Rock. I'll never forget the boy's mysterious, pardon me, I mean DARK past. He makes me nervous, ugh!"
My grandfather waited patiently for my aunt's outburst to subside, then he continued from where he had been cut off.
"I would greatly appreciate you taking care of him for two weeks, okay? It's not that long, and anyway, he has been so good…"
Aunt Tsukiko scoffed harshly,
"Well, I haven't yet let go of what he did to my canyon shrub last year… it never recovered. And isn't it about time you retired? You're getting on as it is, but shinobi work is so demanding…"
Now it was Grandpa Takumi who snorted indignantly.
"And you know this how? You're never too old to serve your village, look at that Chiyo-sama of Sand! I dare say she's older than me!"
There was an awkward silence in which only the sound of my pulse was audible. Then I heard the creak of aged knees raising a tired body from the table.
"This is it, Tsukiko-san. I have nowhere else to leave Deidara, you must take him."
And that was all, I, Deidara, caught before I stealthily got to my feet and sprinted lightly into the dark hallway, onto the porch, and then out on the shale strewn ground.