Disclaimer: Again, I do not own Naruto. Just Haruka~

Word Count: 2,497

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XXX

Chapter Two: Deidara and Tobi

"Ouch!" I grunted. Rolling out of bed and face planting into the floor wasn't what I considered an ideal way to start my day. (HAH. I should be a poet. See what I did there? LOL nah your eyes would bleed.)

I sat up groggily and stared at the sunlight streaming through my window and onto the piles of clothes covering my floor. I was supposed do something today, but I couldn't quite remember what it was…

"OH SNAP!" I shouted at my empty apartment, "the mission– holy kami she's gonna kill me!"

This was just my luck. I glanced nervously at the clock, hoping, no, praying, that it would tell me that it's at least seven thirty. Great. Seven fifty nine. 'One minute, there's still one minute!' Clinging to that thought, I sprinted to my closet and yanked out the closest outfit, which happened to be a black tank top and black capris. I quickly pulled the clothes on and tied my headband around my neck, brushed my teeth and hair, threw on my messenger bag, and grabbed the map from off of the nightstand.

I leaped out of my window and began hopping the rooftops all while muttering profanities under my breath. Hopefully Lady Tsunade wouldn't injure me enough to jeopardize my mission.

After four minutes of leaping the familiar rooftops, I finally reached the village gate. I assumed that by now it would be 8:10. I groaned inwardly, peaking down at the entrance from the rooftop I was residing on. So far there was no sign of Lady Tsunade…

"WHERE IS SHE?" Lady Tsunade suddenly roared from somewhere outside of the gate. Oh brother. She's going to murder me.

As I sat atop the roof, I began contemplating over whether I should go face the angry Hokage or make a run for it while my legs were still attached to my body. After a few seconds, I decided to take my chances with the raging Tsunade. After all, there are witnesses.

"HARUKA! I KNOW YOU'RE THERE. GET OUT HERE NOW!"

…Maybe I should run.

Deciding against the most reasonable option that wouldn't involve me getting destroyed, I leaped off of the roof I had been resigned atop of and landed a few inches from a seething Tsunade. My face probably went through some kind a metamorphosis, because I could feel the emotion on it changing from a nervous smile, to a terrified frown, a disappointed-in-myself pout, and finally deciding to remain at a nervous smile.

"S-Sorry I'm late…" I stuttered, staring at the ground, "I got caught up by a rampaging herd of…um…angry…yes, very angry…ostrich?"

OSTRICH? I felt like kicking myself. Or stabbing. Whatever works in knocking me unconscious so I don't have to deal with Tsunade and her rage.

Tsunade's eye twitched and she gave me a do-you-really-think-I'm-that-stupid look. I slapped on my most innocent smile, which earned me a sigh from her.

"Alright, since this is such an important mission, I'll let it slide this time," she growled while suddenly leaning in and whispering in my ear, "But I know you overslept, and next time, the situation won't turn out so pretty…"

My eyes tripled in size. No, quadrupled in size. How the hell did she know? I spared a glance at her. She was smiling sweetly now, all the creepy pasta gone, but I could see a hint of apprehension clouding her eyes. Are the Akatsuki really that dangerous? I've never seen the Hokage look at me with such worry. Old feelings of anxiety began to slither up my spine. Great. Another emotion I could live without.

"I-It won't happen again," I managed to stutter after a few minutes. "…And Lady Tsunade? You don't have to worry. I'll be fine. And I'll be back in perhaps a few weeks or maybe a month at max…with a ton of dirt on the Akatsuki!"

"I'll be looking forward to it," Tsunade smiled, her face suddenly growing serious, "Be careful."

…Well, that was an understatement.

"You know it!" I shouted, turning to leave. "Don't worry; I'll be back before you know it!"

"Aren't you gonna at least tell me goodbye before you leave?" A familiar voice said, suddenly making a star appearance. I quickly whipped around to see my sensei standing a few feet away in the cover of the trees, wearing his ANBU mask.

"Sensei!" I shouted, throwing my arms around him in a tight hug, which he returned after a few seconds. Yep, this was just like him, showing up unexpectedly right after he said he wouldn't be able to make it.

"What are you doing here? I thought you couldn't make it." I asked, staring up at him with eyes full of curiosity.

"Did you really think I wouldn't be here to see my favorite student off for an S-ranked mission? You must not think very highly of me." Tenzou laughed, ruffling my hair. I tore away from his hug and crossed my arms. Sometimes that ANBU mask really frustrates me. I can't tell if he's smiling at me or what.

"Stop ruffling my hair…I'm eighteen!" I growled, glaring up at him.

He laughed at this. "Still not old enough for me to stop doing that."

Before I could let out a sharp remark, Tsunade began to speak. "Alright, it's time for you to leave Haruka." I glanced at my sensei, who of course, was staring out into the forest. Since I couldn't see his face for that damn mask, I couldn't tell if he was anxious or not. I guess I don't have to see his face to know that he is. I sighed inwardly.

"Finally!" I danced around the Hokage and my sensei, my excitement suddenly overpowering my worry. "I'm gonna own this mission! You just wait!"

"We'll definitely be waiting." Tenzou muttered. Yep, the usual anxiety.

"Right, well, see you guys later!" I waved to them as I dashed off into the forest, eager to begin my mission.

XXX

After a few minutes of sprinting blindly through the forest (probably because I just, for a moment, forgot what the hell I was doing), I skidded to a stop and plopped myself down under a weeping willow tree, yanking the map up in front of my face.

I stared at it. It displayed all of the major countries: Konoha, Suna, Iwa, Kiri, Kusa, Taki, Ame, and Oto. There were other smaller villages on the map. It also had the Akatsuki's abandoned hideout marked with a star.

I swear I could feel my eyes glaze over as I went from understanding what I was doing, all the way to just plain confusion.

Right… here I go. Right…about…now…

Alright. I'm not the best at reading maps. I growled in frustration, turning the map around as if the back of the stupid thing would hold any answers. There wasn't an answer, but what I found instead made me gasp in astonishment.

On the back side of the map, right in the middle of the page, was a phrase written in tiny, crimson letters: "Never forget who you are."

Now how the hell is that supposed to get me to the current Akatsuki hideout? And why is it even there? What does it mean? I cursed under my breath and flipped the map back to the front, attempting to refocus on my mission.

Alright, so if I'm by Konoha, then I guess I'll have to travel northwest to reach the abandoned hideout, I thought, tracing my finger from where I am now to where I'm supposed to travel. Time to go catch me some Akatsuki!

I quickly jumped up from my spot beneath the weeping willow and started to dash in some direction that I assumed was northwest. I scanned the map again. It takes about three days to reach Suna, so if I go at a steady pace, I should reach the village within that set time period.

I began to think of the criminals I was supposed to fool. What were their names again? Deidara, Tobi, Hidan, Kakuzu, Itachi, Kisame, Zetsu, Konan, and…damn…what was his name again? This is such a pain in the...yes! That's his name! Pein! Apparently he's the leader, and I couldn't even freakin remember his name. I felt like banging my head against a tree.

After a few minutes of running, I began to hear voices projecting from a clearing to my left. I skidded to halt and leaped up onto the nearest tree branch, peeking through the green, yellow, and brown leaves at the clearing below.

I almost gasped at what I saw below my branch. Maybe it was the convenience of it all and that I could just follow them, or it was dread. I wasn't quite sure which one it was though.

Below my little hiding place and standing right in the center of the clearing were two men in black cloaks with red clouds on them. One of them had long, blonde hair that was tied into a ponytail and bangs that completely covered the left side of his face. He also had sky blue eyes. The other wore an orange mask that had only one eyehole in the right side and dark brown, spiky hair.

Regarding how I "studied" the Bingo Book two days before I left to go on this mission, I recognized the two as Deidara and Tobi, Tobi being the one with the mask and Deidara the blonde.

"Shut the hell up, un!" Deidara shouted, slamming Tobi against a tree.

"Ow, Senpai that hurts!" The masked one exclaimed, flailing against Deidara's grip on his cloak's collar.

That's such a great example of teamwork, I thought, smirking. I mentally slapped myself for being amused by my enemies.

The blonde released his grip on Tobi and his gaze turned from irritated to thoughtful as he watched his…hand? Why was he staring at his hand?

Just as I was discerning what the hell was going on in front of me, I caught sight of something white from the corner of my eye. The white blob, thing, or whatever it is, stopped midair in front of me, flapping its wings. I recognized it as a small clay bird. My eyes tripled in size when I realized that I could sense chakra emanating from it.

Dammit, they know I'm here! I thought, though I wasn't that surprised. They're from an elite criminal organization, how could they not know I'm here?

Just as quickly as Deidara made the hand sign, I leaped onto another tree branch on a different tree and away from the bird. Where I had been standing a minute ago suddenly burst into flames when the clay bird exploded.

Oh I get it now. He infused his chakra into the detonating clay and made the bird explode.

"You may as well come out now, un." Deidara said, staring in my general direction.

Guess I have no other choice, I thought, leaping down from my tree branch and landing a few feet away from the two Akatsuki. I was desperately trying to keep my shaking legs under control.

"Senpai! It's a girl!" Tobi cried, and I assumed since he was turned towards me that he was staring. I raised a questioning eyebrow.

"So what, un?" Deidara hissed.

"It's rude to hit girls, Senpai!" Tobi exclaimed reluctantly, as if afraid that Deidara would send his fist crashing into his face…well…mask.

I could tell from Deidara's facial expression that he really wanted to do just that.

"Do it or I swear I'll kill you, un." Deidara growled through clenched teeth, glaring daggers at Tobi.

I was actually pretty grateful for this distraction. I definitely did not want a fight with these guys. And obviously Tobi didn't either, so in my personal preference andopinion, it was a two against one scenario. Like those pointless fights you get into with your little brother and your sister steps in and takes your side.

I contemplated my words carefully, all while trying to tame my terror of these guys.

It seemed like they had completely forgotten me as Deidara continued to practically wring Tobi's neck. I cleared my throat. Both of their heads snapped back to look at me as Deidara released his grip on Tobi's neck. Thatgot their attention.

"I wasn't trying to assassinate you or something," I said, amazed that my voice still worked even though I was practically cringing in fear. "I kind of just want to join your organization."

IDIOT, YOU'RE AN IDIOT! I shouted at myself inwardly. Yeah, like they would really accept me if I just politely asked. I don't know where I get my "logic" from.

Deidara started full on laughing, holding onto Tobi's shoulder for support. At least I provided them some form of entertainment.

"What's so funny?" I growled, all traces of fear being replaced by my fake anger. Yes, fake anger. If I focus on one emotion entirely, then I usually fail to recall that the other one even existed.

"I think we should take her to Pein-sama!" Tobi exclaimed and Deidara immediately ceased his fit of laughter. Once Tobi caught sight of Deidara's malignant expression, he began struggling to find an explanation. "I mean, she could be really talented for all we know and Pein-sama could have another member or at least helper!" Tobi blurted out the explanation at high speed.

The first thought that came to mind was, 'Why the hell is this guy helping me out?' He's supposed to be my enemy, yet he acts like I'm some sort of potential best friend.

"We don't even know who the hell she is, un!" Deidara shouted.

"Well then I'll ask her, Senpai, please don't be angry with me!" Tobi replied despairingly and then turned to face me. "Who are you?"

I guess there's no harm in telling them my name…

"Haruka." I answered plainly.

"We know who she is now, Senpai! Haruka-chan!" Tobi exclaimed, as if my name was the greatest thing to ever exist.

Deidara muttered a string of profanities under his breath before turning towards me. "Where do you come from, un?"

"I'm a missing-nin from the Village Hidden in the Leaves." I replied, daring to look him in the eye.

Deidara's face lit up thoughtfully for a moment before he muttered something that I couldn't hear to Tobi.

"Yay, Senpai!" Tobi shouted, dancing around Deidara, who bonked him on the head with his fist.

"Ow!" Tobi exclaimed, rubbing the back of his head.

One moment I stood there trying to decipher what they were talking about, then the next everything went black as I felt myself crashing to the ground.

XXX

There you have it, le second chapter~ Hope you liked it :D!

Please review~! It really makes my day and motivates me to write more~ PLUS I'LL LOVE YOU FOR IT. Isn't that the greatest reward you could ever receive? :"D? Lol you're probably sitting there like "No."