Chapter 2: Leiko Uchiha
Leiko
"Leiko Uchiha! Get back here with my tomatoes!"
Mr Higri, the old grouchy guy that sells the vegetables in the streets of Kohnoha was chasing after the thief. The thief was only at the age of twelve but to him he was full grown and strong. He felt that he could do anything he wanted and have anything he desired. He always knew he was different anyway for he and his sister were the only children in the whole entire city with the fan symbol on their backs. A potato almost wacked Leiko in the head but he was lucky enough to dodge it.
"Leiko! I won't let you get away with this! Young man, you are so in trouble!"
The black haired boy didn't stop to listen however and skidded off to the narrow allies of the beautiful city. The old man was indeed old but his speed was not to laugh at.
"This is the twelfth time you stole me tomatoes and now you're going to be in great trouble!"
Leiko only smirked as he harshly stopped to a halt and watched as the old man skidding across him, crashing into a pile of trash and trash bins. Leiko looked down at his hand and saw the bright red tomato. The red delight looked so good that he couldn't help but lick his lips before he took a big bite out of it. Nothing was better than a red tomato, especially when you've been starving from the lack of money. He would never understand the others that loved sweet stuff. Before he could have taken another big bite out from the tomato the trash piles before him began to rumble and out popped a very angry Mr Higri,
"Uchiha! I'll kill you for this!"
Leiko struggled and was about to run but a strong grip from the old man's hand made him fall hard to the ground. Leiko clawed down at the cold ground. Not too far away he noticed his tomato rolling down the alley streets. He soon enough cursed to himself as the old man pulled him towards him. The young boy kicked and punched at the old man but just because the old man was retired from his ninja jobs did not mean he was weak and fragile. Mr Higri pinned Leiko down on the ground and pushed his weight on top of the smaller and younger being. Leiko couldn't help but shout and groan in pain.
"This was the twelfth time young man! I warned you several times but you never listen! What is going on with you? Stealing like this would get you nowhere, it'll only make you as selfish and low classed as a missing nin!"
"I was hungry…sorry Mr Higri…"
"Hmph, you're mother had earn enough money. Shouldn't she be feeding you?"
"She barely gets any money."
The old man sighs and shacked his head before he got off from Leiko. He crossed his arms and stared at the dark green orbs of the boy,
"I'll let you go off because I feel bad for you. But please don't steal again."
Mr Higu walked away and muttered to himself on his way back to his shop. Leiko stood still and heard laughter not too far off from the corner of a small little building. He rolled his eyes,
"Garin, come out."
Garin slipped out from his hide out where Leiko promised to meet. His eyes glowed of a faint colour of violet and his red hair shined whenever the sun light meet it. Everyone was jealous of him and Leiko himself was jealous of one of his close best friend. His father was the kazekage of the sand and his mother was a high classed Hyugga and they were very rich! Sorin was the only thing that made the rich family look a bit strange. Garin had a younger brother named Sorin who barely bothered to come outside and play.
"What? I was only enjoying the dramatic action. I almost laughed out loud when that old man crashed into that pile of trash. He'll smell like rotten fish for a whole week!"
Garin cracked out laughing and Leiko gently smiled with his best friend. It was strange and yet funny to him of the fact that he was hanging out with the richest kid in Kohnoha. He in the other hand barely had enough money to survive with his mother and younger sister.
"Hey, want to go to the ramen shop later on?"
Leiko asked the red head who stopped and thought for a minute until he smiled and answered,
"Sure, why not? I bet my mom won't mind. She's busy with Sorin anyway. I don't get why anyone bothers about him so much. He's just a weird kid that doesn't want attention."
"I think the same for Sara. Geez, this week she'll be turning six years old and I swear if I still see that stupid bunny toy again I will kill myself."
Sara Uchiha was addicted to an old pink fluffy bunny doll. She named him Mr Fluffs and even begged for mom to buy Mr Fluffs his own house! Sara of course never understand about their family situation and how poor they really were. It made Leiko sad and wanted to tell his little sister the truth when she brags to her friends that her house was a huge castle and she was a rich princess. In reality they lived in a small tight apartment and all they eat were small bowls of rice and when they were lucky they would have fish.
"Hey, is your sister's birthday coming up this week?"
Leiko halted and stopped as he stared into his friend's eyes with curiosity. Never did he knew his friend would ask a question about his annoying sister.
"Uh…yeah, what about it?"
"Aren't you going to buy a gift and have a party for her?"
"Uh…no…Garin, you know that my family can barely even afford food! We're surviving because my mom's working her butt off and Hokage Tsunade helps us!"
"But it's your sister's birthday, don't you think you should do anything special for her?"
"I'll try to get something."
"I'll get something for her too. My mom's been crazy on making cakes this month, I'll tell her to make a cake for your spoiled little sister."
The typical Garin who bosses around people…even his mother. I guess he was so confident because he was the Sand village kage's son. He was living here because his mother was begging his father but that made his father travel back and forth to the countries several times a year.
"Oi!"
The two boys quickly turned around with their fists high, ready for an attack. However they both sweat dropped when they noticed it was only the blonde fashion and flower obsessed mother. The two boys immediately put down their fists and bowed respectfully to the blonde woman,
"Good morning Mrs Tamhankar!"
Garin greeted cheerfully. Leiko flinched by his friend's reaction. Despite the fact that both his parents were not energetic and hyper Garin was a strange child from the family for his personality was very different. Ino smiled and nodded back,
"Hello Garin and Leiko. You guys seem to be up to no good, mind if I bug in and listen to your evil plans?"
"Uh…it's nothing really Mrs Tamhankar…we were just walki-"
"Oh no! Don't tell me! Let me guess what it is!"
Leiko rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms before the tall blonde. Before he could even scratch his ear that was annoying him the crazy lady shouted,
"You guys got in trouble by Mr Higri haven't you? I've noticed the old man a couple of minutes ago passing by…smelling of trash."
Garin chuckled as he scratched his head sheepishly,
"Actually, it was all Leiko's fault."
Leiko's eyes widen and glared at Garin. Ino raised an eyebrow,
"Oh? What did he do this time?"
Before Leiko could explain his so called best friend blurted everything out with a smirk on his face,
"He got hungry and stole one of his tomatoes."
Ino stared blankly at Leiko,
"You steal things Leiko?!"
Leiko couldn't help but groan, there was no way that anyone would understand him.
Sara
A young and small hand got a hold of a pink old bunny dressed up in a pink ballet dress. She placed the small little rabbit in front of the small table and spoke in a high pitched voice,
"I, Mr Fluffs want some tea!"
Before the pink bunny there was a yellow duck dressed up in a blue ballet dress. The duck bowed before the pink bunny doll and picked up the small tea pot that was on top of the table and poured invisible tea to the small delicate china cups. The pink toy bunny slurped down the invisible tea,
"Hm…that tasted great Ms Goldie!"
"Aw! Why thank you Mr Fluffs! Do you want some cake now? It's chocolate!"
"Wait…what?! It's chocolate?! Inna, you know Mr Fluffs hate chocolate cake!"
The two animal dolls fell to the ground as their owners glared at each other. Sara had her arms crossed and muttered,
"Chocolate is like poison to Mr Fluffs! He only eats strawberry cake!"
"Just because he's pink doesn't mean he only eats strawberries, forehead!"
"You be quiet pig face!"
The two best friends glared at each other and both looked away, despising one another.
"Sara…what are you doing out here with Inna?"
Sakura was leaning outside the front door where the two girls were playing. Inna smiled and greeted the mother,
"Good morning Mrs Uchiha! We were playing tea party, would you like to join us?"
"Uh…sorry but…"
Sakura's green orbs widen in terror and shock as she noticed her expensive china cups were being used at a doll's tea party! She quickly grabbed away the delicate china cups and tea pots into her apron,
"Sara! You should never use these cups! I told you several times, china glass breaks and I don't like to clean up broken glass. What if you get hurt?"
"But mom! Mr Fluff's having a tea party and there's no other cups for the tea party. Plus, it's a royal tea party and I wanted Mr Fluff to look his best in front of Ms Goldie."
"I'll get you a few small cups for Mr Fluffs for your birthday. But please don't use these cups again."
Sara smiled and squealed the moment her mother told her about the cups she would get for her birthday! It was only about a week away now! She quickly hugged Mr Fluffs and hugged him tightly, this was going to be the best birthday ever! Inna smiled as she got up slowly and picked up Ms Goldie off from the ground,
"I think I better be going. My mom would get worried about me, see you later Sara! See you later also Mrs Uchiha!"
The little blonde girl ran off, not looking back as her gold locks waved behind her head like a long flag. Sara was leaning against her mother's leg and watched the horizon. The sun was finally setting and she noticed the tips of her older brother's hair sticking out from the road. She squealed and with Mr Fluff in her right hand she ran down the road to greet her brother.
"Leiko! Leiko! Guess what I'm getting for my birthday!"
She squealed. Leiko was coming home with Garin who smirked as he noticed the little Uchiha girl running to greet her brother who was not in a good mood. Leiko rolled his eyes as he shoved his hands into his pockets,
"What do you want now Sara? Shouldn't you be in bed and playing?"
"Nope! Inna came over and man, it was so fun! We played together again and had a royal tea party. Of course, you're not royalty so you would never understand."
Garin chuckled and leaned over to whisper to his friend's ear,
"Does she still think you're her royal servant boy?"
Leiko sigh and nodded. He ran his fingers through his black hair, obviously showing that he was annoyed by his little sister's presence. Garin however soon stopped half way up the road and waved at the Uchiha,
"See you later at the academy Leiko! Hey Sara!"
The six year old faced the read headed teenager who was smirking. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion but her head tilted in curiosity,
"What?"
"Take care of your servant boy! Because he didn't really have a good day today!"
The red head was soon gone and Leiko's mother asked questioningly,
"What happened today?"
Leiko rolled his eyes,
"Nothing…"
"Leiko, show me your hands."
"Huh? I don't know what you're…!"
"Show me your hands young man."
The young Uchiha growled under his breath but forced out his hands and showed it to his mother. Sakura's eyes widen as she noticed her son's hands were purple and some of the skin were ripped from the hand. Sara made a face in the background and gagged,
"Ew! That's disgusting! It's like as if ogres chewed on your hands!"
Sakura looked into her sons eyes,
"You've been stealing again haven't you?"
Leiko didn't say anything answered with a simple 'hn'. Sakura shouted,
"Young man, I told you specifically never to steal again! Look what happened to your poor hands! Were you dragged across the floor or something?!"
"Mr Higu grabbed me by the foot and pulled me across the floor…I clawed at the ground."
"Do you think this is good?! What makes you think stealing is good?!"
"I didn't say that stealing was good! I was starving, ok?"
"You could have told me that and I would have made you something to eat! You steal too many stuff and your getting yourself into too much trouble! Sooner or later…what is Tsunade kicks you out from the country for stealing?! Do you think I enjoy seeing you in pain like this?!"
"It's not like as if anyone actually cares for us! Sooner or later nobody's going to care that we even existed mom. I'm just sick of eating the same thing…and living the way we are! I want to live in a big house…I know I sound like a big jerk right now but I'm sick of living in this old cooped up apartment!"
"That doesn't really answer my question on why you're stealing."
"I told you, I was hungry!"
Sakura rolled her eyes and stomped into the house,
"I don't think I'll ever understand you like this. You know that yesterday several adults and elders came up to me and tried to talk me to kick you out from the house? For once, why don't you try to have good reputation? It'll make our lives much more easier. It'll be nicer to know that you won't turn out to be like your father and be a bad example and betray the village!"
The small door slammed and Sara was left with her brother looking angry and surprised at the same time. It was silent and Sara noticed for once that the strong brother she once saw that didn't seem to fear anything had a bit of sorrow and sadness in his eyes. And Sara had to admit, mom was a bit harsh on that last sentence…about dad. She never knew how he looked like, neither did Leiko. The only thing he did know was that several months ago a man in a mask appeared before their mother. Leiko was turning about six back then and the man and mom seemed to have known each other…Leiko believed it was their father. But what type of father would wear a mask and appear only at that one night and disappear the next day? Apparently her father did. Her older brother also told her he remembered their mother begging and clinging onto his leg when the mysterious man was stepping out from the door. Was their mother that madly in love with that guy? Heck, the two children didn't even know how their dad looked like!
Deidara
One mental note, never to go spying on a couple of kids with a guy who's half shark. Kisame was annoying. Worse than Tobi for he almost bit off his arm! Deidara muttered and cursed to himself as he was hiding behind a few bushes and faced his targets. Sakura was lecturing the boy and slammed the door shut. He winced when the door slammed hard, he had to admit he felt a bit bad for the boy. One scary thing however was the fact that the girl's bunny always seem to be staring into his very soul…as if it was protecting the girl and knowing that he was spying on them. It gave him the shivers but he ignored it.
"Hey, Deidara."
The blonde peeked over to the blue skinned ninja who was hiding on top of a tree.
"What? You better be quiet or else we might get caught."
"You seriously afraid on getting caught? Who would notice us? The people of the leaves are total morons!"
"Whatever, be free to tell that to Itachi. I bet he'll love your comment about the leaf ninjas."
Kisame sweat dropped and tightened his grip around his sword when he noticed Leiko glancing at the tree he was hiding in. Deidara held back his breath too, he didn't expect the little boy to notice them soon after his mother left.
"Doesn't the fact that he looks a bit like Itachi scare you?"
He whispered to his companion who was sweating on top of the tree and not moving a muscle. He was silent as he watched the boy carefully from a distance. The boy seems to know they were here and he just hoped that he didn't see him at least. His eyes scared Deidara, even though they were green there were hints of the same colour of blue that haunted him. The boy before them was an Uchiha, a boy that held power that you didn't want to mess with.
"The fact does scare me. Also the fact that when we even hurt one of them we're dead meat from Itachi."
Deidara gulped as he imagined himself being chocked alive from the strong Akatsuki member. His eyes caught a pair of bright green eyes staring back at him. He held his breath now the little girl noticed them! He quickly looked away and ordered Kisame with a harsh voice,
"Let's hide someplace else. They notice us!"
Kisame nodded once and the two missing nins disappeared. Still looking at the direction Leiko and Sara were narrowing their eyes to get a better look at the tree and bushes but they soon walked back into their apartment as if nothing happened.
Deidara and Kisame appeared at a different spot. They were no longer near the Uchiha's house but at a narrow ally where Itachi was waiting for them. Sasori was leaning against the wall with sleepy eyes and an ugly scowl on his face. Sasori heard about their plan just yesterday and he didn't really like it,
"Exactly why should we even capture and raise those brats? Their mother is the bitch that almost killed me! Remember Itachi?!"
He growled at the Uchiha who only ignored him and eyed Deidara and Kisame. Itachi took a step forward and with a deep quiet voice asked,
"So what have you find?"
The blonde smirked while the shark boy frowned.
"Your brother's wife and kids apparently despises your little brother. His wife even telsl one of the kids to not turn out to be like him."
Deidara answered him with a smirk. Kisame muttered to the blonde,
"It's not like we should be happy about that you moron!"
Sasori checked his fingers for obviously he didn't care about the pink haired girl and her kids.
"I think we should kill the three of them. I mean, why do we need them to the Akatsuki anyway? We have enough members and we even have Konan's and Pein's kid to deal with!"
Itachi answered the puppet master who still had a scowl on his face,
"Pein told you a thousand times already. We need more members for we're dying out. Also their kid is getting pretty lonely. She'll go well with Sara and Leiko."
"But keep this in mind Uchiha, the moment that pink haired brat annoys me I'll kill her and her kids. Nobody's stopping me."
Sasori warned him in a threatening tone. Kisame narrowed his eyes and argued at Sasori,
"Hey! You can't just kill them off like that!"
"Hmph, since when did you ever showed mercy? You think people would easily let you join back to their city after how many people you already killed? Think again fish brain. We're all going to stay as the outsiders. We can't change. I'll leave you three to argue and bicker over those good for nothing kids. I'm already sick of this plan, it disgusts me already."
The red head muttered and dashed off into the shadows, leaving the three Akatsuki members behind. Itachi stood unaffected by the red head's threats and glanced back at Deidara and Kisame.
"Well? What else have you find?"
"Well,"
Deidara began and cleared his throat.
"Sara's birthday is coming up in a week. Most likely…you know who might be coming back. He always did every…six years."
"Wrong."
"Huh?"
"He doesn't come every six years, he comes at least one time a month. I noticed his tracks to the village and one time I even noticed him talking to his wife. He still checks on them and cares for them, or at least I think he does."
"Wait, how come Kisame and I didn't notice this?!"
Itachi smirked as his two team mates glared at him in anger. They thought his little brother came every six years! Since when did his brother come once a month?!
"I have my ways. What would you do if you were in his place? Would you visit your wife in the most obvious places? Think again my friend. He and Sakura has a special secret place to meet each other…even though they barely talked after Sakura had Sara."
"Urgh! I just want to catch them already! We've been stuck and were running around and hiding in this place for at least a month now!"
"Just stay patient with me. We just need to be here for a few more months before we catch them…soon enough their mother would have to go on a mission and would need someone to look after the kids."
Kisame's eyes widen and shouted in disbelief to his closest friend from the Akatsuki,
"Are you telling me that we're going to be baby sitters?! Hell no! I am sorry but that is just…not right! We're guys Itachi! Also the fact that we're the famous and feared Akatsuki ninjas! People should fear us…not…not look at us and call us the baby sitters! What are you thinking?"
"I am thinking of an easy plan. If we do volunteer to be babysitters then we'll be earning their trust and the hokage would think the kids are safe with us which means less ninjas protecting them. After they trust us we'll trick them to come with us and when we get deep into the woods where nobody could fine us. We'll force them to join and blindfold them so they won't know how to come back home."
Kisame gasped at this plan. He didn't seem to fancy the idea of dressing up as a girl a single bit. Deidara whispered to himself with narrow eyes,
"Easily said than done."
