Warnings: bullying, some swearing

A/N: I uploaded this sooner than I thought I would...yay for non-busy schedules. Also, I can't believe I misspelled Konoha...argh. *facepalm*


Chapter 2:

Deidara had been in Konoha for all of two days and he despised the place already. Sure, he had hated the city the moment they'd arrived, but now he had proof.

"Every child deserves an education." "Law 63: Every child under the age of 18 must have a proper education and pass high school." "Learning is the path to success."

In other words? We-are-evil-dictators-who-like-to-see-children-suffer-as-we-have-so-prepare-for-8-hours-of-pure-agony-you-ungrateful-midgets. Really, if it wasn't for the fact if he disobeyed the law, the orphanage would take the blame; Deidara would have been long gone. Stupid education policies.

"Class, I'd like you to welcome our new students. Would you like to introduce yourselves?"

Stupid age limit. He was 16; he could take care of himself!

"Hello! I'm Akatsuchi; it's very nice to meet you all!"

Stupid law-abiding, art-hating orphanage directors. Guilt-tripping him into going was a new low even for the old man.

"I'm Kurotsuchi. Pleased to meet you."

And now every face was turned towards him in eager anticipation (what were they, five?). Damn it, he was supposed to introduce himself, wasn't he?

…Deidara really, really, really hated Konoha. Everything about the stupid city got on his nerves.

"Deidara. I hope I never have to talk to any of you imbeciles again, un."

As his homeroom teacher gaped at him in shock, his soon-to-be classmates whispered among themselves. Their teacher pulled herself together quickly, but by the long-suffering look on her face she was already regretting having Deidara in her class.

That. That was very pleasing.

"Well…ah…does anyone have any questions they'd like to ask them?"

One boy raised his hand, looking at Deidara curiously. "Hey…you, Blondie."

"Now Hibachi," Their teacher said reproachfully. "His name is Deidara."

He attempt would have been more impressive if she hadn't acted as though the kid was two (which Deidara could agree with) and if she hadn't completely mispronounced his name.

"Yeah yeah, whatever." The boy said. "Anyways—are you a girl or a boy?"

Kurotsuchi sighed. Akatsuchi paled.

Deidara—well. Deidara exploded.

OoOoO

"…three broken fingers, broken nose, cracked ribs, a demolished bookshelf, an utter misuse of books—how on earth…?"

Deidara's (former) teacher ran a hand through her hair, looking frazzled. "He…that…boy used the book to inflict most of those injuries, sir."

The principal, Osamu Norimoto, stared at Deidara in shock. Deidara smiled, completely unrepentant.

Norimoto shivered, then forcefully pulled his gaze away. "I…There's not much I can do…" he admitted. At the teacher's angry glare, he hastily put forth an idea. "Maybe we should file a complaint against the orphanage? They are responsible for him after all…"

Deidara's smile slid off his face. "You can't do that, un!" He shouted jumping to his feet, panic flaring. Damn it! He was the one who had inflicted those injuries, which meant if they needed to punish someone, it should be him. The orphanage had enough troubles already. "I—it was just—you can't, un!"

The principal scowled. "I think you'll find I very well can, young man."

"Anything else!" Deidara insisted. "Community service, un, I'll find a way to pay the hospital bill…but you can't file that complaint, un!"

The man was watching him now. "Anything?"

Deidara nodded fervently, crossing his fingers behind his back. A childish gesture, yes, but one he had never quite grown out of. "Never make a promise you're not sure you can keep," Ōnoki had once told him.

'Anything…within reason,' Deidara thought.

"Hmm." the principal honestly seemed to be considering it, at least for the moment. "All right. Let's do this."

He fixed Deidara with a weary and falsely stern look. "You will help clean up the campus after school every day for the next two months. Any money you could have earned—a janitor's pay, if you will—shall be given over to that poor boy's family for the hospital bill. If you agree, I won't file that complaint against the orphanage."

Deidara scowled, but nodded. The principal clapped his hands together. "Now that that's all settled…maybe one more day until you attend all you classes, yes? Give you time to…settle."

Deidara blinked, cheering up. "I can leave, un?"

"Goodness no," Norimoto said. "You're supposed to stay on school grounds at all times, except for emergencies. No, I think we'll use your remaining day to show you around."

Deidara made a face. "Joy, un."

Norimoto frowned at his disrespectful attitude, before shaking it off with a muttered, "Teenagers." Turning to face Deidara's teacher, the man commanded, "Go get…well. Our other troublemaker."

The teacher went white. "Surely you don't mean…?"

The principal winced. "I do, yes."

She wavered, face turning a pale green. "Oh…okay. Sir. I'll just…go get him now." She left the room quietly, shaking like a leaf.

The principal was watching him expectantly, Deidara realized. Just to spite the man, Deidara decided not to ask who this mysterious troublemaker was. He'd know soon enough anyway.

A flash of disappointment flashed across Norimoto's face. Deidara resisted the urge to smirk at him.

He really hated authority figures, but they were so entertaining when they were denied obedience.

Five minutes later, the door slid open softly, and a redheaded boy stepped into the room. He had a blank look on his face, like everything and everyone bored him to death.

The principal looked surprised, and Deidara noticed, nervous. "Ah…you're earlier than I expected."

"I don't like to keep people waiting," the redhead deadpanned. Norimoto shifted awkwardly. "Yes…right…you know what to do, I expect?" At the boy's nod, he continued, "Well, then, off you go, be safe, don't leave school grounds…and…"

The redhead was frowning at the man with a displeased look. Evidently, he had heard all this before.

"Uh…you can go now." Norimoto swallowed, sweating furiously.

The boy nodded again and swept out of the room, not even looking back to see if Deidara was following him. Slightly irritated, Deidara walked out after him. He was probably better company than the quivering morons inside.

The moment the sliding door clicked shut behind them, the redhead turned and gave him a searching glance. Deidara took the time to look at the other boy as well.

The redhead was wearing a plain white shirt and dark brown pants, a light mahogany sweater hanging loosely off his shoulders. The boy looked around fifteen or fourteen, and carried himself in an aloof and cool demeanor. Judging by the bored blank look in his eyes, Deidara clearly had been marked off in the boy's head as 'insignificant.' Despite that, Deidara immediately labeled the boy as dangerous. There was just something…odd, about him.

Without warning, the redheaded boy turned on his heel and headed down the hallway, clearly expecting Deidara to follow. Miffed but not all that surprised, Deidara grudgingly walked after him. He'd dealt with plenty of people like this in other cities.

He didn't have enough restraint to just dog the boy's heels like a lost puppy for no reason though.

"Hey. Who are you, and where are we going, un?"

The boy stopped in his tracks and frowned at him. After a few moments, he realized that Deidara wasn't going to budge until he had answers, and reluctantly gave them.

"My name is Sasori. I was assigned to show you around the school. Annoy me and you will die, slowly and painfully."

"…I'd say I'm pleased to meet you, but that would be a lie, un."

"…" Sasori didn't seem to know what to say to that, and by the appraising looking in the redhead's brown eyes, Deidara had just been re-evaluated. Hopefully to a category that would lessen his chances of an early death.

There was another few moments of silence, then Sasori gave a small sigh and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, "Way too much resemblance." However, before Deidara could ask, the other boy started off again.

With a small sigh and one last mournful glance at the clock hanging on the wall, Deidara resigned himself to four more hours of this. Maybe he shouldn't have used the book. Breaking the boy's nose had to have been punishment enough.

…Nah.

OoOoO

Deidara had never been so grateful for lunchtime in his life.

True to his prediction, Sasori had turned out to be the worst tour guide ever. The only place the other boy could actually describe in any detail at all was the roof, and that was because the redhead probably spent all his time there.

The trip hadn't been completely useless. Deidara had gleaned a bit of information about Sasori. The redhead was an artist as well. Deidara had been ecstatic for all of ten seconds before coming to the realization that while Sasori was a fellow artist, their views were completely opposite.

While Deidara like art that lasted for a short amount of time and burned its beauty into your mind, Sasori had bluntly stated that he preferred art that was long-lasting. Eternal, even.

Eternal art. What was wrong with the world? That wasn't art! Art was an explosion, damn it!

The ensuing argument had only been broken up by the piercing bell, signaling lunch had begun.

Sasori had walked him reluctantly to the crowded cafeteria hall, but only after Deidara had asked. He felt a bit guilty about it now. Deidara was pretty sure Sasori was the resident outcast. Other kids were alternately shying away and promising murder the moment he passed them. Sasori didn't seem to care, but he was walking a lot faster. He would probably bolt after they found the cafeteria.

They found the cafeteria in record time, and Sasori wasted no time in bodily shoving Deidara through the doors. "Enjoy your lunch. I'll meet you up on the roof after it ends."

The redhead had barely finished his sentence when another boy stood and threw a soccer ball at his head. Sasori dodged easily, not even surprised. Deidara froze in shock as Sasori dashed down the cafeteria, heading for a small door leading outside.

The redhead dodged three attempts to hit him, a cucumber slice, and a spoon before slipping out the side door and scrambling up the stairs as all the other kids threw objects and spat veiled insults at him. Deidara just stared.

He had never seen a reaction like that, no matter what city he had been in. Sure, there were knife fights in a few, but Sasori had been in the room for all of twenty seconds and the kids had gone ballistic.

What the hell had Sasori done to make them hate him so much?

"Oi."

Another boy walked up glaring at where Sasori had made his escape. "You with him?"

"Not by choice, un." Deidara muttered. Which was technically true. "He was assigned to show me around, un."

"Huh." The boy seemed to except that. "I'd stay away. He's a freak."

Deidara shrugged, his dislike growing. As irritating Sasori's views on art were, 'freak' was a…sensitive…subject.

"Whatever, un." Deidara said, then turned around and headed for the roof.

He wasn't all that hungry anyways.

OoOoO

Aki has logged on.

Haru has logged on.

Aki: Don't say it.

Haru: Don't tell me what to do. I told you not to go today!

Aki: I'm fine.

Haru: I'll be the judge of that. You should have stayed home. Or at the base.

Aki: You worry too much.

Haru: With good reason. I'm the only medic we have and you all know it.

Aki: You're not the only medic.

Haru: The others don't count. I'm the only licensed medic. And I say you should have stayed home.

Aki: Too late now.

Haru: Then leave.

Aki: Can't.

Haru: You…listen to me! I'm telling y

Tsuki has logged on.

Tsuki: Leave.

Haru: Well that was fast.

Aki: I don't like repeating myself. Can't. Why should I?

Tsuki: They're attacking the school.

Aki: What?

Haru: How do you know?

Tsuki: It was a last-minute plan. They think there are members at the school and

Aki: They're right.

Tsuki: That's not important! They're heading over there now!

Haru: Damn it! Aki, you have to

Aki: I know. E&E. Tsuki, try to keep them away from the south side exit, I'll try to eva

Aki has been disconnected.

Haru: Damn it, damn it, damn it! He's still injured!

Tsuki: Oh, you've got to be kidding…I'm going. Hopefully, Aki hasn't been found out…Haru; they'll need you on standby. Alert Michi and Akarui about the attack.

Haru: Got it.

Tsuki has logged off.

Haru: Be safe, the both of you…

Haru has logged off.

Chat room is empty.


A/N: Sasori has made an appearance! And more codenames...any guesses?

Review please! It gives me motivation.

Random Question: Who is your favorite Naruto character?

Codename: Translation

Akarui: bright

Michi: path

Haru: spring

Aki: autumn

Tsuki: moon

Preview: "I thought Konoha was supposed to be peaceful, un!"

"Yes, because nothing screams 'peaceful' like an attack on a highschool. Idiot."