Summary: Tenten, a talented young violinist, moves to Konoha and joins their Youth Orchestra. There she meets new friends and enemies... and Neji Hyuuga.

Chapter 7 - Akatsuki

Deidara? Tenten couldn't believe it. What was he doing here? All his friends were behind him, she recognised them all from the orchestra. They also all wore matching T-shirts – black with a red cloud. There were ten of them in total, nine boys and one girl. Tenten had seen them all before, dotted around the orchestra, but she'd never spoken to any of them apart from Deidara, and didn't know any of their names. At breaktimes they all kept to themselves out in the hallway. And right now each of them had the most menacing, scary and overwhelming expression of hatred.

Tenten didn't think that the Sound musicians were the type to be intimidated by anyone, but Deidara and his friends proved her wrong. One of them, a boy with orange hair and piercings covering his face, stepped forward. Tenten recognised him as the lead double bassist of the orchestra.

"Leave now," he said calmly, in a very deep voice. "Or we will have a problem."

He spoke to the boy with the silver hair. They were around the same height, but the orange-haired boy still seemed to tower over him. He had a powerful look about him, and the piercings only emphasised that.

"Sakon," whispered Tayuya to the silver-haired boy. "Let's get out of-"

"Not likely," spat Sakon, gathering his courage. "I don't see why we should go running from you, Pein."

Pein said nothing, but continued to fix Sakon with his stare. It looked as though they were going to stand there forever, looking at each other. Then, so fast that Tenten's eyes could barely follow it, Pein sunk his fist deep into Sakon's stomach. Sakon gasped and fell backwards, doubled over in pain. His knife clattered to the ground.

"Hey -" said Tayuya, running forward, only to be grabbed by the girl with the paper flower in her hair and thrown to the ground. All this happened in the space of about two seconds. The rest of Deidara's friends glared menacingly until the Sound musicians all left the alleyway. Sakon was the last to go, fixing Pein with a look so full of spite and hatred that Tenten shuddered.

As soon as Sakon left, Deidara's expression melted into his usual smile. He reached down to help Tenten to her feet as though nothing had happened.

"Deidara, wh... how...?" Tenten stuttered, completely bewildered.

"I couldn't get the bowing pattern in "Hall of the Mountain King" right," he replied, letting go of her hand and helping Hinata up. "And I was going to ask you for help but you weren't there. So I decided to come find you. I guessed that the chances were you ran into some trouble with the Sounds, so we all came to sort them out."

"Thanks," said Tenten warmly. She put her hand to her ribs. They still really hurt from where she'd been kicked. She looked around, expecting the others to be thanking Deidara and his friends as well, but they didn't. As soon as Hinata was on her feet she took a step away from him and wouldn't meet his eyes. No one would. Deidara's friends and Tenten's friends were all avoiding each other.

"Are you all right?" Neji asked her, drawing her subtly away from Deidara. He himself had a limp, and a bruise on his cheek. His pale eyes which were deliberately avoiding the blond boy behind her were full of concern.

"Fine, mostly. My ribs hurt," she replied, still looking between themselves and Deidara's friends. What was going on?

"We'd best be getting back," said Deidara. "We all just got up and left, Tsunade's gonna be mad at us."

"She won't be mad when we just tell her what happened," said Tenten. "Even she will see that it wasn't our fault."

"Tsunade will not be told anything," said Pein, not looking at her. It was the first time he'd spoken since his interaction with Sakon.

"Why no-"

"It wouldn't just get the Sounds into trouble, but us as well," said Deidara. "We've been warned about a million times to stop fighting. Once more and we may be chucked out of the orchestra. And besides, we aren't primary school kids. We don't tell tales."

"But -"

"No. Tsunade can't be told anything. The same with the other tutors. Someone asks about your injuries, you all fell off that giant wall or whatever."

Deidara and his friends took the lead, walking back to the hotel. Temari, Tenten, Hinata, Naruto, Lee and Neji followed. Hinata was supporting Temari, who had been beaten by both Tayuya and Sakon and was sporting a lot of bruises. Naruto was worse, because he had been the first to start fighting and the last to finish. Tenten wondered where all that endurance came from. Tenten herself was supporting Neji. He had one arm over her shoulder because he had trouble walking by himself. He looked down at her gratefully and she felt warmth spread across her cheeks.

When they arrived at the hotel, Tsunade, as expected, was not happy. Not happy at all. Tenten didn't think it was possible for anyone to be able make more noise than Naruto, but the conductor's lungs were impressive. She berated each of the sixteen of them, and ordered them all do the clearing up after the rehearsals finished. When she had calmed down, she did ask where Temari, Hinata, Tenten, Naruto, Lee and Neji's injuries had come from, and they explained that they had stupidly tried to climb the stone wall surrounding the village and had fallen onto one of the buildings. Tenten wondered why the others posed no objection to lying to defend Deidara and his friends when they wouldn't even meet their eyes, let alone speak to them. In the end, they were allowed to sit down and play, and Tenten was relieved.

At break time, Deidara and his group went out to the hallway as usual. Tenten put down her violin and raced over to join her friends, determined to have her question answered.

"What is up with you and Deidara and his friends?" she asked in a low voice. "I mean, you -"

"They're Akatsuki, Tenten," said Naruto, unusually serious.

"Akatsuki?"

"It's the name of their gang," said Neji.

"They're bad news," said Temari, joining them. "It's best to stay away from them."

"But they saved us!"

Temari shrugged. "We share a common enemy. They didn't do it because they care about us. They did it because they hate the Sounds. To have Konoha people beaten by Sound people hurts their pride."

"But I sit next to Deidara, he's really nice," Tenten protested. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Who are they all anyway?"

"Well you know Deidara," explained Temari. "And then there's Pein, he's like their leader. He plays the double bass. Konan is the girl; I think she and Pein are going out, but we're not sure. She's the lead flutist, and sits next to Sakura. Zetsu is the one with the creepy gold eyes. He's really weird, he has two personalities. He plays the french horn like me, and I have to tell you it can be seriously disturbing listening to him argue with himself. Tobi is the one who wears that ridiculous orange mask. He may look and act like an idiot but everyone who has underestimated him regrets it. You've probably seen him banging on the percussion at the back with Kisame. Kisame is the one with the greyish skin, Itachi is the one with the long black hair who plays the clarinet and is Sasuke's big brother, Hidan is the one with the silver hair and the purple eyes. He's a complete lunatic, I think he's part of some weird cult. Anyway, he's the cor anglais player. Kakuzu is the one with the black hair and green eyes; he's completely obsessed with money – he'll do anything for it. That's why he started playing the bassoon, I think. And then Sasori is the one with the red hair and the brown eyes. He's a distant relative of mine, he's also originally from Suna. He and Kankuro both play the saxophone."

"Why is it best to stay away from them, though? They have no reason to hurt us," said Tenten. She had been sitting next to Deidara all this time and thought of him as a friend. He was really nice, and he and his gang had saved them. She didn't want to think about what would've happened if they hadn't appeared.

"Most of them are crazy," said Naruto. "And they're really dangerous."

"You can't help sitting next to Deidara, Tenten-san," said Lee. "But still, be careful."

Tenten still couldn't believe it, but let the matter drop. "Anyway, how come you and the Sound people knew each other, Temari?"

"Just call them the Sounds, that's what the rest of us do. And I know them because we see them every year, and I've been part of this orchestra for a long time. That and Tayuya used to be my best friend."

"What?" exclaimed Naruto. This was news to the others as well. "You and her?"

"People change," said Temari. "Besides, that was years and years ago. She moved temporarily to Suna and we became friends. She moved away again, then the next time I saw her she was like she is now."

"That must be difficult," Hinata spoke up. "Having your best friend change like that."

Temari shrugged. "I got over it. I've got new friends now, who are much better."

The mention of Tayuya reminded Tenten of something else she'd been meaning to say. "Hey, listen," said Tenten hesitantly, lowering her voice. "I think Tayuya set the hotel at the resort on fire."

"What?" exclaimed Naruto very loudly.

"What makes you think that?" asked Neji in a much softer voice.

"Well it was after we escaped from the fire... when we were outside, I'm pretty sure I saw her and that girl with the black hair."

"Tayuya and Kin were at the resort?" asked Temari. "This is news to me!"

"Well we know that Kin was in the village at the time," said Neji. "After all, she and her two friends attacked Lee when he went out to get some food."

"Wait a minute... so Tayuya, Dosu, Zaku and Kin have been following us?" said Temari.

"At least them. After all, Sakon, Kidomaru and Jirobo managed to find us in Suna as well. I find it hard to believe they ran into us by accident. Maybe all of them have been following us all this time," said Neji.

"W-would they really set the hotel on fire?" asked Hinata.

"They would! They're pure evil!" said Naruto.

"I don't think they were aiming to hurt anybody," said Tenten thoughtfully. "I think they were after the instruments. I overheard the percussionists saying that it was lucky they'd moved all their equipment out of the room. All the instruments would have been there if we hadn't brought them back to our rooms earlier as well."

"That's true," said Neji. "After all, if their aim is to win against us in the festival if they ruin our instruments then we can't compete."

"The Sounds have never been lovely," said Temari. "But they've never gone this far before. It must be that new conductor of theirs, Orochimaru. Oh yeah, I heard the other day that Orochimaru used to be one of the Akatsuki."

"One of the Akatsuki? But isn't he too old?" asked Tenten. "I thought the Akatsuki were all teenagers."

"It was a few years back and at the time he pretended to be younger than he was. Apparently he doesn't look his age at all. Anyway, he left them and moved to the Sound Village, and then just a few months back he became conductor of their orchestra."

"So that's why the Akatsuki joined, Temari-san?" asked Lee.

"Yeah, they really don't like it when someone leaves Akatsuki," she said. "So I guess they joined this orchestra so that they could get their own back at the Sound village. Except this year they're against Orochimaru himself. No wonder they were so quick to come to our aid today. There was a small chance they would face him."

"Breaktime's over!" Tsunade had come back into the room. "Hall of the Mountain King! And this time use your heads and only speed up when you're supposed to!"

Tenten went back to her seat, brimming with thoughts. She had been given a lot to think about now. Deidara was the member of a gang... they wanted revenge against the conductor of the Sound orchestra... the "Sounds" were willing to do anything to win at the festival. How much more interesting would this trip get?

After playing through "Hall of the Mountain King" enough times for everyone to do the change in speed right, Tsunade released them all for the day. As most of the musicians left the room, the Akatsuki, Tenten, Lee, Naruto, Hinata, Neji and Temari stayed behind to clear up. Tenten ended up stacking the violin section's chairs alongside Deidara.

"Hey..."said Tenten, not sure exactly what to say. "Why did you come help us today?"

Deidara blinked. "I told you. The bowing pattern in -"

"Not you personally, your whole ga... I mean, your whole group," she said, not looking at him but focusing very hard on the chairs she was stacking as though it were a job which required maximum concentration.

He laughed. "That's what this is about? I thought you were a bit preoccupied earlier while we were playing. And you can call us a gang, it's what we are."

Tenten wondered how on earth he was able to say that with such a smile on his face. The word gang brought images of skin-headed thugs with scowls and cigarettes and knives into her mind. Nothing like Deidara. Yet he wasn't even denying it.

"Anyway, we went looking for you 'cause we guessed the Sounds might have been involved and we don't like them much," Deidara continued. "That and the fact that you're the only violinist who can get that wretched bowing pattern right."

"If you hate them so much then why did you just let them go?" asked Tenten curiously.

"You mean as opposed to giving them a beating? That would just be a waste of energy. The whole point is to give them a message. All ten of us simply turning up sends a message by itself, no need for any violence. After all you saw how terrified they were of us."

Tenten fell silent, digesting these words. So they hadn't handled it all fairly peacefully because they were especially peaceful by nature, but simply because they couldn't be bothered. She didn't really want to think what the Akatsuki did in the past to instill such fear in the Sound musicians that they could send them running in a few seconds.

"Why didn't the others argue about telling Tsunade?" she asked. "I expected them to..."

"They're probably afraid of us beating them up," Deidara replied happily, folding up a music stand.

Tenten stopped. "You would actually do that?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. No one's ever told on us before."

"Never?"

"Pein has that effect on most people," he said. "Even Kiba is scared of him, and they've been sitting next to each other for about three years."

Tenten shook her head. "You're really weird."

"Why thank you," said Deidara with a grin. "Now excuse me, since we're done here, I'm going to go blow something up. See ya!"

He left the room, the rest of the Akatsuki leaving at the same time. Tenten watched him go, wondering whether he was serious or not. It was still hard to believe that he was a member of a gang. Although, Tenten recalled when he had appeared in that alleyway to send the Sounds running. He had seemed like a completely different person then. Was the smiling exterior just a front to hide the cruel, menacing person inside? It was hard to believe. And despite everything, he was really nice to her. Would he be so nice if she were a member of the Sound Orchestra? She didn't really want to think about that.

She rejoined her friends, who were just about done their jobs as well. Naruto and Lee seemed to be arguing with Neji.

"Come on!" said Naruto. "We can't let them get away with it! We should go kick their -"

"No," said Neji firmly. "If we go looking for trouble we'll only be making things worse."

"I'm afraid I must agree with Naruto-kun here," said Lee. "They have done an unforgivable thing and must not get away with it."

"Like Hyuuga said," said Temari, joining in. "It will only make things worse."

"How can you say that?" exclaimed Naruto, getting even more worked up. "They set fire to that hotel. Look at Hinata's arm!"

"They entered an unfair fight against us," said Lee. "And they even hit girls!"

"You trying to be sexist?" asked Temari, towering over Lee. "I could handle you in a fight any day."

"Guys, stop fighting," said Tenten. Hinata gave her a grateful look. "Look, I'm mad about what happened today as well, but even if we did go looking for revenge we'd only end up getting beaten again."

"Not if the Akatsuki help us!" said Naruto. "Tenten, Deidara likes you, if you ask hi-"

"We are not asking the Akatsuki for help," said Neji.

"Besides, they wouldn't help us even if we asked," said Temari.

"Deidara -"

"- is not the leader," Neji finished for Naruto. "Pein makes the decisions."

"But who knows what they'll do next! We need to strike back!"

"The festival is soon," said Tenten. "They'll stop after the competition is over. After all, isn't winning their ultimate goal?"

The others nodded.

"I see what you mean, Tenten-san," said Lee slowly. "But just what will they do next?"

"You never know with the Sounds," said Temari ominously. "Be ready for anything."

Why did I have the Akatsuki save the day? Because they're awesome. And also I don't like doing the whole cheesy guy-swoops-in-to-save-the-girl thing. Sorry if that's the sort of thing you like, but I try to be as original as possible, and I'm afraid that I will not have chapters and chapters of Tenten getting in trouble and Neji saving her.

Just to make it clear, this fanfiction is not turning into a DeiTen (is that even a pairing?) fic. It's not forbidden love, it's forbidden friendship. Don't worry, the main pairing is and always will be NejiTen.

Speaking of other pairings, should I include others? I'm thinking of putting some NaruHina in it, I think that pairing is really sweet. If you agree or disagree with this there is a button down there you can use to let me know ^^

Also, if there are any other pairings you want, just review and tell me. I'm more or less flexible with pairings. More or less.

Disclaimer: The Konoha Youth Orchestra belongs to me, as does Tenten's mother, the only OC in this story. The rest doesn't.

Thank you for the reviews!