Memoirs of a Jinchuuriki…

Chapter 2:

"Have you heard from Neko recently?," Yuuichi asked. We were waiting outside one of the Akatsuki's hideouts, praying that their stupid little meeting would end soon.

"No.," I replied. "…That's because she's dead."

I heard Yuuichi gasp, and an awkward silence followed. She was obviously holding back sobs, and so was I. Deidara had told me that she fell in battle with her Akatsuki superior, Sasori No Akasuna. At the very least, she died a kunoichi's death.

"It's going to be a bit different since they're gone…," I rambled on.

"…How can you be so calm about this?," Yuuichi asked, a slight sense of betrayal in her tone. "Our friend is dead-"

"Do you think I don't know that?," I turned to her. "When I saw her last, she said that she didn't want to keep fighting this. Don't' you see? Working under the Akatsuki broke her!-"

"Neko may have been shy, but I know that she wasn't weak!," Yuuichi retorted. "If they broke her spirits, then why did we, of all people survive? Do you think that I like working with the Akatsuki any more than you?"

"…You have a point…," I replied. "She may have been our friend, but as kunoichi, we'll just have to mourn silently."

"Fine, go off pretending to be mature, like you always do!," Yuuichi yelled back.

Our argument was an eye-opener to me. All three of us had obviously grown distant, and at this point, there's no way to revert things back to the way they were before. Saddening, I know… but what do you expect, working with a criminal organization for a good three years?


Some idiot named Tobi was assigned as Sasori's replacement. Personally, I thought that Leader-sama's standards have dropped drastically. Honestly, how could this moron even be a criminal? His constant whining and spontaneous nature was a thorn in my side, and guess who's always bailing him out of trouble all the time? Of course, yours truly.

"Sempai!," he screamed, being chased by the rampant Sanbi. Deidara and I were flying overhead, shaking our heads at his display of cowardice.

"Should we help him?," I asked Deidara.

"Nah, it's actually quite amusing, hm…," he replied with a mischievous smile.

Sighing, I stood by as Tobi ran in circles in the Sanbi's lake. You know, Deidara was right, seeing this idiot get his just deserts was so sweet to see.

"Alright, that's enough.," Deidara spoke up, throwing an explosive at the incoming Sanbi.

Tobi was blown away by the explosion as the Sanbi was knocked out cold. Well, at least it would be easier to bring back for extraction.

Watching by as the Jinchuuriki and Bijuu were extracted or sealed was a rather haunting sight to see at times. Nowadays even I'm forgetting that I'm a Jinchuuriki as well, and if it wasn't for Leader-sama's orders, Deidara would want to kill me on the spot. Luckily, I'm not in such a situation now, right?


Weeks, months passed, and I was just starving for some bloodshed by my hands while waiting for Deidara after yet another bijuu extraction. Yuuichi, Itachi, and Kisame had the honor this time to bring back the Yonbi's Jinchuuriki. Lucky her. Obviously my bijuu, the Juusanbi (thirteen-tailed phoenix) was getting restless as of lately. I wondered if Yuuichi was getting the same urges as I am, but the Juunibi (twelve-tailed wolf) is a more calm demon, but quite scary when blood-thirsty. Thoughts of Neko's demon the Juuichibi (eleven-tailed tiger) passed my mind with a slight sting of melancholy. The fact that Neko was gone still upset me. I wonder how the Juuichibi was doing now that its host is dead? Perhaps the Akatsuki extracted it? If they did, where's Neko's body now? If not… I wonder if the Juuichibi has already found a new victim.

What'll happen to my bijuu when I die?...

Better not think about it.

Deidara came storming out of the hideout with Tobi.

"How did it go?," I asked.

"Two more members died, can you believe that?," he replied.

More death? I felt my heart sink. "Which two?"

"The "Zombie Twins," as Kisame-dana calls them.," Deidara explained. "Hidan and Kakuzu."

My eyes widened in shock. Really, Hidan? I thought that it took a lot more to kill you. "Oh…," I replied in hesitation. "…Now that's just too bad."

He took out two of his clay birds, one for him and Tobi, and the other for me. We took off in flight in silence.

"You know, it's alright to show a tiny bit of emotion.," Deidara said to me. "You're obviously shocked that Hidan died, and I wouldn't blame you, but that slowpoke did get what was coming to him-"

"Who killed him?," I asked, my voice nearly breaking.

"Ugh… those Konoha idiots that tried killing us.," he sighed. "Really, I know they're chuunin and all, but it's still a shock, you know?-"

"Indeed.," I interrupted. "But where exactly are we going now?"

"That damned Uchiha kid is said to be around here.," Deidara explained. "He may not be a Jinchuuriki, but-"

"Are you crazy?," I yelled. "Forget about him! If this is something about Itachi-!"

"So what? We need a good fight-," he smirked.

"What do you mean by 'we?,'" I interrupted once more. As we landed in the forests below, I continued, "If you're going to fight SasGAY, leave me out of it!"

Deidara glared back at me with a look that just screamed, 'You're kidding, right?'

I stood my ground, "You heard me, leave me out of it."

"Tobi, you go on ahead and distract him first, I'll follow.," Deidara kept his eyes on me as he commanded Tobi.

"A-Alright, sempai! But don't kill her yet, save it for that Uchiha kid-!," Tobi said.

"I said go!," Deidara barked back, then turned back as Tobi ran off. "And YOU, don't you know your place? I believe that it's me that should be giving the orders around here."

"And I can't have a say in this?"

"When have you ever had a say in anything?," Deidara retorted, those words stung so badly that I raised my fist to punch him, but his stronger grip got me first. I was held against a nearby tree as our glares faced off. Just who the hell does he think he is? I may be an underling, but he still had to hear me out! Kill SasGAY? Why? For what! I could just tell that his little rivalry with Itachi, or the Uchihas in general was driving him insane.

"Please…," I begged, looking at him with earnest eyes. "…Think this through first: you're not impressing anybody in killing him, even if you could!"

"Fine… be like that.," Deidara reluctantly let go of my hand. "I plan to prove my art's full potential-"

"What potential? Blowing everything in a three mile radius to bits and pieces? What's wrong with you!," I screamed.

A small silence followed before he spoke again, "And here I thought that you could actually understand my art!"

"I do! But, you're doing this all for the wrong reason!"

"How? All an artist's really wants is praise for his work, right?," Deidara asked.

"And what? Kill yourself in the end?," I continued. "You don't need Itachi's appreciation, and neither do I! You don't need to kill yourself over this!"

"Says you.," Deidara retorted, before heading off in the direction that Tobi took off.

"Fuck!," I cursed to myself.

Isn't there anybody that I can actually save?...

I realized that idly standing by among the trees would do no good, I had to at the very least, prevent Deidara from unleashing his 'masterpiece.' What is masterpiece?

"Art is a bang, hm!," that was the very first thing he said to me, I remembered. It was that day, when the Akatsuki came for my friends and I.

Well, according to his 'philosophy,' turning himself into a gigantic explosion would make himself a work of art. At first, I thought that it was just some phase he was going through, being the lunatic he is. But, as of lately, I can tell that this is something he's going to take quite seriously, even if it means to take his own life.


The battle had already kicked into full swing when I found him and SasGAY flying overhead. Just where the hell was Tobi and why wasn't he helping his precious Deidara-sempai? Before I could find Tobi, I noticed that Deidara's giant C3 doppelganger was heading my way. Aw, crap. Running as fast as I could, I barely escaped the explosion, but I didn't escape the tiny, microscopic explosives that were released.

"Crap!," I tried to hold in my breath, but I realized that it was no use. His tiny explosives had definitely already infiltrated my system. No matter how little of those little terrors got in, if the explode… "No, no, no, no…"

As much as I hated to tell myself this, but I was going to die if he sets off those explosives. Looking above, Deidara was heading back down after SasGAY knocked him off his clay bird. O.K., good, I might actually have a chance at surviving now…

I followed him as he fell into a clearing in the forest, "Deidara, you idiot!"

Even at a distance, I could tell that he was in a terrible shape, at the end of his rope. Wiping away some blood on his face, he smirked, "Well here comes Ms. 'Leave my out of this!'"

"Never mind that now, we have to get out of here before SasGAY finds us!," I held out my hand, and we took cover in the branches of a convenient nearby tree.

The Uchiha was also pretty torn by the battle, but he still had the upper hand in this battle with his lightning-style jutsu. Deidara's earth-based 'art' would be no match against it.

"Watch this.," Deidara whispered. "Katsu!"

"No, don't!-," I protested, but it was too late. The little explosives erupted in a storm inside my body, and a dreaded red liquid escaped my lips. Luckily, SasGAY had it worse, I could see him practically wearing away at the hand of Deidara's 'art.' Too bad it was a genjutsu.

"Kai…," I weakly said, performing the necessary hand seals to dispel the illusion.

"What the-?," Deidara exclaimed. "But I saw him inhale my bombs!"

"Quiet…or he'll find us…," I panted, tugging at his sleeve. "You should leave and let me handle the rest of this-"

"What do you mean-?," Deidara asked, but stopped in his tracks once he saw the horrible state that I was in. "Don't tell me…"

"Yeah, my life for your art, it's a fair exchange, right?," I retorted bitterly. "It works out in the end, right? An annoying little Jinchuuriki off your hands, you get to see your 'art's' potential-"

"I didn't mean for this! …But it's your fault that you intervened!," Deidara interrupted. "But why? Why are you doing this?"

I began to feel a bit light-headed from the blood loss, "…I can't let another life just slip through my fingers, Deidara."

I couldn't recall anything that happened after that. But I was found by a squad of Konoha ninja: Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, and some others, that came to survey the wreckage that Deidara and SasGAY's fight had left behind. Did I fail? Did he really blow himself up for the sake of his art? And what about SasGAY? I really hope that that jerk got his just reward.

"Do you think she's still alive?," I heard Naruto say.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

"Out of the way, Naruto, I'll have to examine her.," the pink-haired medic replied.

Ah, little did they know that I'm actually their enemy. Perhaps I can escape once I'm healed…if I actually can…

Kakashi immediately identified me as a missing ninja and I was rushed back to Konohagakure for medical attention. Boy, did I feel special. Tsunade and Shizune were almost immediately notified of my arrival to the hospital, I was surprised that they actually remembered me. Too bad Yuuichi and Neko couldn't be here, especially Neko. Ah, what I would give for her just to be able to speak with Lady Hokage once more, but not on business terms, but as friends.


"What's her condition?," I heard Tsunade bark at the paramedics racing my stretcher down the hospital's hallways. It was a nostalgic sight, remembering these halls brought back happy memories from my days training to become a medic.

"She was stable a while ago, but I think she's taken a turn for the worst.," the paramedic at my side grimly replied.

"Just where's the source of the bleeding? If we can find the source, we can save her.," Shizune insisted.

"Problem is, the bleeding's spread since she was found.," another paramedic explained.

"Just get her sedated and we'll be right there in a few minutes.," Shizune commanded.

"What? Both of you!," the medics exclaimed in shock. "But she is a traitor, it's been reported that she's working under the Akatsuki!"

Tsunade paused in hesitation before replying, "Nonetheless, it's inhumane to leave this poor kunoichi bleeding to death, now get moving!"

I could feel a small smile creep onto my face, now I knew that I could always count on Tsunade. I'll have to thank her, that is, if I can pull through.

To be continued…