Thank goodness! I've finished chapter seven. The continuation of that part will be very soon! As usual you can message but no flames please...

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Pairings: Deidara X Ren (OC) ; Tobi X (OC)


Whoever You Are…

Chapter VII:

Crystal Cavern Part I

As usual, Ren got up earlier than anyone else. She doesn't know why but it seems that waking up early was a part of her habit. She quickly dressed up and ate her breakfast. While she was trying to think what the schedule is today, Ren recalled what Pein have said last night. It's something about serious matters, what can that be?

"So, an early riser, eh." A voice came in behind.

Startled, Ren threw a kunai at the speaker in a flash. The figure just side stepped at the oncoming weapon. When the light from the window gave a clear view at the man, it revealed it was Deidara. At first, Ren could not take any words out of her mouth. What was she thinking? Throwing a kunai at one of her comrades is surely, a preposterous act. She attempted to apologize but she realized that it's Deidara's fault. He scared her. She said nothing and continued eating her omelets that she herself had made.

"Are you still angry about what happened last night, un?" Deidara queried while pulling out the kunai that was stuck at the crack of the wall.

"No." the answer came in stonily.

Ren always feels uneasy when Deidara's around. She is supposed to be carefree and a bit aloof. Just like she is when Zetsu was still training her but, what now? Maybe she became a bit jumpy at the first few days she met a human, or should we say, a semi-human after a long slumber then she became comfortable at her surroundings. Now she is cold as ice. Like that Uchiha Itachi guy. What is happening to her? Should she also blame Deidara for she became a cold person when he came? But at first, she is the one who wanted Deidara to come back for Tobi's sake.

"Then why did you throw a kunai at me, un?" Deidara asked while putting the dangerous weapon at her side.

"I'm just being cautious." Ren defended, "Anything might happen anytime. We must be alert at always."

"You're so strict, un." Deidara muttered under his breath.

Actually, Ren heard it, even Deidara made his sentence almost inaudible. She wanted to throw a phrase like 'So what if I'm strict at your eyes? What I'm saying is actually true!" but something made her prevent from telling that. It was Pein's order.

"Come on now." Pein ordered, "Time for the meeting."

They have no choice but to obey even they wanted to continue their discussion. They met again at the largest and the blandest room in the hideout. Even a casual observer can say that nobody, except Pein, Konan, Ren, and Zetsu, is in the mood to attend the meeting: Kisame yawns very loudly, Itachi, even he tries to show interest, but frequently nods off to sleep. A faint noise of snoring can be heard behind Tobi's mask. Deidara plays around with his clay. We cannot blame them if they have no energy. It's only four in the morning.

"We have some serious problem going underway." Pein started, "Its Orochimaru: he was finding a very strong weapon that if we are not careful, it can end us instantly."

"Are you trying to say that we should speed up our attempts to capture Kyuubi?" Itachi asked

"That's not the main point." Pein answered, "We should find first the weapon he is seeking, to prevent him from getting it."

"What is your order leader-sama?" Zetsu queried.

"Itachi, Kisame, search for clues at the south." Pein ordered, "Zetsu, search at the west. Konan and I are going at the north. Ren…." Then he suddenly stopped.

Zetsu quickly perceived Pein's plans, "I prefer to work alone." He said aloud.

"If you are having problems where to put Ren," Deidara suggested, "she can tag along with us, un."

"Then it's settled." Pein concluded, "Now, move out."

One-by-one, they have left the hideout. When the only ones left are Pein, Konan, Deidara, Tobi, and Ren, Pein called them.

"I have another order for you three." Pein said

The three stared at him curiously. What is their order?

"You three are going to the Snow Country." Pein declared, "Investigate at the Crystal Cavern which was located there. If you find something suspicious, report immediately."

"Yes leader-sama," the three chorused, "we will." Then they left.

"Are you sure this is a good thing, Pein-san?" Konan asked, "You know, this could be a trap."

"That's the reason why Deidara and Tobi accompanied her." Pein answered, "If something goes wrong. At least, she has a backup."

"Why have sent others to the other parts of the world?" his partner quizzed.

"Of course, it might arouse any suspicion of hidden agendas if they are the only ones sent. Also, they might find Orochimaru's hideout" Pein said simply.


Means of travel is not really a big problem especially to Deidara, who has a clay bird and to Ren, who can teleport. They take turns going to the Crystal Cavern. First, they will mount on the clay bird then, when Deidara' running out of chakra, its Ren's turn to teleport. They just repeat the procedure until they have reached their destination.

It's almost mid-noon when they came into magnificent cavern. The whole cavern itself was outlined by gleaming lights that were reflected by the millions of crystals enveloping the cave.

The Deidara and Ren proceeded further cautiously into the depths of the cavern Tobi was just skipping happily around and round the giant stalagmites, stalactites and crystal pillars. They have scouted the area meticulously but nothing unusual was found.

"There's nothing here." Deidara complained, "I thought something special in here, un."

"This cave is soooooo beautiful!!!!!" Tobi exclaimed, "Maybe leader-sama wants to have a new hideout. If that is the case, Tobi says this is much more beautiful than our hideout today!"

Ren commented nothing. As she looks around the crystals around her, she feels that she has been there, but when? As she walks around and trying to examine the crystals, she knows something is wrong but she doesn't know what. She is brainstorming when Deidara tapped her on the shoulder.

"Let's go back, un." Deidara decided, "It's boring in here."

Ren stared at the reflection of herself at one of the huge crystals. After some time, she caught a glimpse of something human hiding on one of the pillars. Ren looked quickly at the direction where she had seen the human but she saw nothing.

"You sensed him too, un?" Deidara said while looking sharply at the same direction.

"How did you know?" Ren queried, "I thought you said that there's nothing in here."

"I just felt him." Deidara whispered, "This could be trouble, Ren. Prepare for battle, un."

"What about Tobi?" Ren asked again, "Did he felt it too?"

Deidara glanced at the happy boy, "It seems that he is unaware of what is happening, un."

"We'd better warn him" Ren suggested.

When Deidara gave him a go signal, Ren walked to Tobi as casual as she can to say what is happening. As she goes nearer to him, she saw something floating an inch from the ground's surface near Tobi. What can that be?

She paused from her walking to see clearly the thing floating—it is a thin string! Ren perceived that can be a booby trap. She scanned the area and she traced that the string was connected to a hidden paper explosive. As soon as Tobi will step on the string, it may explode.

"Tobi," Ren shouted, "stay where you are! There's a—."

But it's too late; Tobi accidentally pulled the string with his foot. In an instant, a loud explosive shook the whole cavern. The crystals on the roof started to fall because of the strong impact of the explosion. A cloud of dust engulfed the whole area. Ren, Tobi, and Deidara were not able to get out of the huge explosion and all of them were knocked out cold.

After the dust was cleared out, the man and his comrade went out of their hiding places. It was Orochimaru and Kabuto.

"It's a good thing that I perceived that he will not follow our instructions." Orochimaru said triumphantly.

"Now, you have hit three birds at one stone, Orochimaru-san." Kabuto observed.

"Remember, when you have cleared the way, our first priority is the girl." Orochimaru ordered, "Now get them."


A/N: There, that concludes our chapter seven. I think I'll keep you guessing for awhile on what will happen next, hehe... By the way, thanks for reading!