Harry Potter and the Wrath of Jashin

Notes on Japanese: Most titles, jutsu, and occasionally catchphrases such as Inner Sakura's "shannaro!" ("cha!" in the English dub) will be in Japanese, including a few insults such as "baka" (idiot), "dobe" (dead-last), and "teme" (bastard) and suffixes such as "senpai" (mentor) and "kohai" (protégé). Please bear with me and keep in mind that any other Japanese used, including all types mentioned above, will be translated at the end of the chapter. Thankies! :D

Episode Seven – Language of Explosives
"As I was going up the stair
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish, I wish he'd stay away."
-Hughes Mearns

He had no idea what was happening. He had no idea of anything, really, from where he was to what was going on to what he looked like to even his name. All he knew was pain, all-numbing, all-encompassing, surrounding and infiltrating and strangling him. Somewhere just outside the pain he could sense some…one?thing? that seemed frantic, that was trying to reach him through the pain, and he stretched out to that some-onething and grabbed and pulled.

Blissful oblivion met him.

-Wrath of Jashin-

There were two people that he could see. One, a blond wearing too much orange under a burning coat, face blurred out of focus. The other, a pale orange-haired young man who gave off an aura of decay with many piercings and ringed grey eyes.

"Are you the one who brought back those bastards?" snapped the blond in a voice as fuzzy as his face. The grey eyes stared unblinkingly, the rings hypnotizing.

"I don't know what you mean," the other deadpanned in a voice that was much clearer, deeper, calm yet sharp at the same time. A deep sense of pain seemed to lace each word despite the lack of (visible?) physical wounds on the man.

"The Akatsuki, the ones who died! I know for a fact Hidan and Kakuzu were somehow brought back!"

The elder man gave a sharp blink. "Someone has revived them?"

"You didn't know?" the blond asked, suddenly slumping slightly. There was a pause before the strange eyes of the man became hard again.

"That doesn't matter right now. Weren't you going to stop my vision of 'peace'?"

Fog drifted, hiding the scene, then from the fog a voice, soft tenor, young, but so fearful and pleading:

"Wh-whoever you are…plea-ease…h-h-help me…stop him…"

And then

Harry sat up with a jolt and a gasp, wincing as his eyes opened and sweat dripped into them. He simply sat there, blinking at a formless mass before him, but eventually his dazed state was snapped to attention.

"Hey, You're awake, yeah," drawled a voice that Harry identified after a moment as that of Deidara. Quickly the green-eyed man turned and blinked rapidly at the blurry form before him, notable only for its long, strongly yellow hair falling to cover half of what Harry assumed to be its face. "Oh right, You use glasses. Here, un."

Calloused fingers pushed metal and glass into Harry's hand and quickly he put the familiar frames in place, clearing the image to one of a faintly amused/concerned-looking Deidara with the majority of his hair pulled into a low ponytail and part over one eye. He looked the same as Harry had noted earlier, with notably boyish features and slanted blue eyes surrounded with black tattoos; he was as thin as Harry but shorter by a good two inches and looking much healthier overall. Of course he also now had clothes on, which was a major difference from the last time Harry had seen him, which hid the strange scar/tattoo on his chest from view.

"Deidara," Harry greeted softly, wincing at how raw his throat sounded. "Ugh."

"You were screaming pretty loudly," Deidara noted conversationally, single baby-blue orb trained on Harry's face despite his nearly flippant tone. Harry stared back blankly for a moment before glancing around to find the glass of water he just knew Hidan would have left (sure enough, it was right next to his bed). "What, You don't remember?"

"Not…really." Harry paused here and glanced over. "Are you alright?"

A startled laugh escaped Deidara and the blond pulled a wry grin, shaking his head as Harry watched queerly. "Me? Really, un? Wow, no wonder Hidan likes You so much—You're good for a guy's ego, caring more about some guy You just met than Yourself."

"I've been through worse," Harry said with a sardonic grin of his own, "and I have been told I have a bit of a saving-people-thing." He paused here. "But you never answered my question."

"I'm fine, yeah," Deidara assured with a casual flip of his hand. Then he paused a moment and eyed Harry strangely, exact emotions unreadable. "…although I did wake up with an interesting new ability."

"Ability?" Harry jerked his head to stare into Deidara's eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Don't worry, Hidan and Kakuzu already explained the whole exchanging-traits thing." But that wasn't quite what Harry was worried about (at the moment at least); he was more worried about whatever potentially-destructive power Deidara had gained. What if he had somehow unlocked Deidara's magic? Oh God, he could just picture what would happen, the horrid explosions that would rock the world…not to mention how he would have to TEACH again… "You haven't noticed yet?"

"Noticed what?" asked Harry blankly. Deidara smirked at him, leaning back in the chair he was perched on.

"We've been using it, un," he said simply. It took a few minutes for Harry to understand and glance over the conversation in his mind. Sure enough, he now recognized the sibilant sounds of Parseltongue throughout their words.

"Oh. Parseltongue."

"Is that what it's called?" Deidara seemed rather interested. "The snakes outside just called it the 'Language of Serpents' and said I wasn't a 'natural Speaker' yet seemed pretty good at it, yeah."

"Parseltongue is the name given by humans, but snakes do call it the 'Language of Serpents,' yes," agreed Harry quietly. "It's a very rare ability transferred through families mainly, with few exceptions. Where I come from it is also considered a Dark trait."

"Huh," was all Deidara said, not seeming at all put off by the label. There was a thoughtful silence before he jokingly said, "Well You don't have any strangely-placed mouths on Your body so I don't know what You received from me. Hopefully something as cool as an animal-language people can't just learn, un."

A chuckle fell from Harry's lips, then he abruptly sensed Hidan rushing to see him. Before he could warn Deidara, however, Hidan suddenly burst into the room and almost literally tackled him back on his bed. An, "oof," escaped the smaller man and he found himself pinned to the mattress with worried purple-pink eyes boring into his own.

"You're awake!" shouted Hidan like it wasn't already obvious. Harry was torn between laughing and crying, settling for a sound that was a cross between the two; Hidan didn't seem to notice and continued to babble. "Jashin-sama, You scared the shit out of me! You've been out for nearly three fuckin' days! I know You said the whole body-rebuilding-shit would be dangerous, but seriously, what the fuck? ? !"

"Hidan," Harry began emotionally, making the albino instantly fall silent. He paused for dramatic effect before sharply shoving Hidan hard enough to send him tumbling to the floor with a loud cry of surprise. "You don't literally jump on someone who's been unconscious for three days."

Deidara burst out in uncontrollable laughter as Hidan began to curse rapidly, more at himself than at Harry, while Harry sat up again with a self-satisfied expression in place. He loved Hidan with all his heart (he would freely admit that to anyone who bothered to ask) but honestly, the man was an impulsive idiot sometimes. Alright, most of the time.

"Shut up!" Hidan snarled/whined upon hearing Harry's train of thought, earning a chuckle from Harry. Kakuzu soon appeared in the doorway of the bedroom and simply stared at the red-faced Hidan, the still-laughing Deidara, and the satisfied-looking Harry.

"Clearly you're doing better than I expected," he dryly told Harry, who merely gave an amused shrug. "I assume you're hungry; you're just in time for some lunch, if you feel up to it."

On cue, Harry's stomach growled and he quickly agreed, standing on wobbly legs (Hidan hovering at his side despite his scowl in case Harry tripped/stumbled/whatever). Soon he was seated at the table in the small kitchen eating a bowl of plain ramen with as much dignity as he could muster at his breakneck pace.

"So," began Harry after he had finished, leaning back in his chair with a wince as his now-full-to-bursting stomach protested, "what's happened since I fell unconscious? Other than Deidara gaining an affinity for charming snakes, I mean."

Deidara smirked at the mention of his new ability, but Kakuzu looked grave and Hidan scowled deeply to hide what Harry could sense was irritated worry.

"You remember that strange quake we felt on our way to see Itachi's Spirit," Kakuzu said more than asked. Harry nodded, anyway, dread filling his mind…this would not be good. "As it turns out, Leader—Pein—attacked and destroyed Konoha, killing virtually everyone in the village."

Harry sucked in a breath, Deidara sobering at the announcement with a grim expression in place.

"He eventually battled with the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki and ended up losing."

"So he and the Village of the Leaves are dead," summarized Harry blandly, aware he was bottling his emotions and not finding it in him to dredge them to the surface.

"The Village was, yes," Kakuzu agreed. Harry blinked, feeling stupid, and Kakuzu easily continued. "It turns out that the Rinnengan, Pein's doujutsu, allows him to bring scores of dead back to life at the cost of his own. As such, his final act was to revive those killed within Konoha before he succumbed to his injuries."

Harry felt his brain sputter to a stop. "Wh…what?" Seeming to realize this was rhetorical, Kakuzu remained silent, allowing the thunderstruck Harry to process what had been said. "That's…incredible."

"You can do the same thing, un," Deidara dryly pointed out. Harry shook his head, feeling like he was having a severe out-of-body experience.

"Not on that scale," he said quietly. "Theoretically, I suppose, I could expand the power of the Resurrection Stone to mimic the effects, but I wouldn't be able to restore their bodies to a state that would support the reentry of their souls at the same time. It would be the equivalent of just bringing the village back to life only to let it die again in moments as they again succumb to their injuries. The fact that 'Pein' could not only summon and return the spirits to the villager's bodies, but also restore those bodies so it allows them to live as if nothing happened… ...well, I'm not surprised it took his life."

The group spent a few moments soaking in this astounding announcement.

Finally, Harry broke the uneasy silence. "Is there anything else?"

"There is a rumor that Konan took Pein's Deva Path and what seems to be his original body to Amegakure to be entombed, but otherwise no," Kakuzu said with a shake of his head.

"Where do you get this information, un?" Deidara suddenly asked, grudgingly fascinated. "Sounds like the type of things you'd need spies in high-ranking places to learn…"

Kakuzu gave Deidara a blank look. "You do not live as long as I have without making connections. Although my information network is nothing compared to what Sasori's once was, it is more than enough to find the news we need to proceed."

Deidara wilted at the mention of what Harry vaguely remembered to be his once-partner of the Akatsuki before visibly brightening and turning to Harry.

"Can we get him next, yeah?" the blond asked with clear excitement at the thought. He looked so much like Fleur Delacour-Weasley after finding out she was pregnant that Harry couldn't help but smile faintly.

"We can make a detour and stop there on our way to Ame," Harry assured the blond, snickering when he fist-pumped and began blabbering to Hidan about how he could finally prove to Sasori that art was fleeting and his skills were clearly better. Hidan put on an annoyed expression but Harry could feel his amusement through their link and shot him a knowing smirk.

"It will take five days to get to the old Akatsuki-cave at the pace we have been taking, then approximately four more to get to Ame," Kakuzu announced with an annoyed look at the thought. Harry stifled a smirk at the almost petulant tone of the miser's voice.

"I'm sure we'll all survive."

Kakuzu glowered at Harry, but said nothing else.

"For now, I think we should take a day or two for me to fully recover, then we can start toward this 'cave' of yours," the Jashin went on. "In the meantime Kakuzu can see what other information he can gather and the three of you can work toward making sure your abilities are in top shape. Who knows what we'll run into on the way there."

"Only problem with that," Deidara glumly said, "is that I don't have any clay or money."

A faint smirk crossed Harry's lips and he twisted his hand in the air, silently and wandlessly Summoning his endless rucksack and then furthermore Summoning a Galleon from its depths. Deidara gaped openly at the gold and Harry held it out to him with a simple and amused, "Go crazy."

Deidara openly whooped and took it without further prodding, excitedly prattling to Hidan about how much clay he could buy, and clothes of course because the shit they had here was awful, un, and some packs for his clay, too, because the old ones were destroyed, and maybe even some kunai and shuriken—and do you want me to grab some extra, because this is fuckin' AWESOME and I'll probably still have some left over, yeah? !

Harry simply settled back with the cup of tea Kakuzu had absently handed to him and a faint smile at the blond's excitement. There was no doubt that with this new addition to their little group, things would definitely be much more lively and cheerful than before.

-Wrath of Jashin-

It was at the end of the day, after Deidara had returned from his trip and Hidan had his head cut off by Kakuzu in a spar (again), that Harry finally found out what he had gained from Deidara. Everything had been silent in the house, Kakuzu sitting smugly in the corner reading a book Harry had provided on some of the darker rituals he had come across in the Black Library, Hidan silently praying in the corner to Harry even though "He" was in the room with the Jashinist (Harry ignored the prattling and honestly rather absentminded thoughts from his dear follower), and Harry himself simply going through his mind and sorting information. The resident blond had been outside for a while practicing his techniques.

Then, of course, came the event:

"Jashin-sama, hey, You wanna see some of my art, un?" Deidara asked enthusiastically, nearly bouncing into the room. Harry blinked his eyes open and took a moment to process the request of his newest ward.

"Why not?" Harry said with a shrug, standing up and slipping into the cloak he had shed after an earlier walk. Deidara's eyes lit up and he grinned widely at Harry, grabbing the slightly taller one's hand and almost literally dragging him out the door. Harry could sense the other two's amusement and neither made a move to follow.

Once outside, Deidara let go of Harry's hand (much to the elder's relief; he swore there was a tongue…) and pulled a clump of clay out of the new packs on his hips, charmed by request to be bottomless. Soon a beautifully detailed figurine was emerging from his hand-mouth…a familiar figurine.

Harry felt his throat close up at the sight of an owl that looked remarkably like Hedwig, his first friend, spread its wings, each feather magnificently detailed, and then it took off, riding the air currents. The "feathers" ruffled in the wind, the owl swooping over Harry's head, and he exhaled loudly.

Deidara's amusement and pride was palpable without the emotional link he had yet to connect to, but Harry was too busy feeling the memories of his truest friend and only Familiar bubble up to really care. It was almost like Hedwig was flying again…

"Katsu!"

…and then she was gone in a fiery explosion.

Again.

Deidara was saying something but Harry couldn't hear him over the static in his ears. Despair began, but anger quickly overtook Harry; anger at himself for not being able to save Hedwig; anger at the one who shot her down; anger at Deidara for killing her again—

BOOM!

A shrill scream broke the air and Harry whirled to stare, wide-eyed, at the equally wide-eyed Deidara, the blond's gaze at the small, smoking crater that was where his foot once stood.

The two connected gazes, Deidara seeming at first almost frightened but gradually turning excited, but before Harry could ask what the bloody hell just happened he had Hidan in his face with worried pink-purple eyes and Kakuzu at his other side with a kunai.

"Jashin-sama, did this fucker hurt You?" snarled Hidan, not looking at Deidara despite his harsh almost-threatening tone. Harry could only stare for a long moment until he noticed Kakuzu now had Deidara at knifepoint, holding him in a half-nelson with a kunai at the younger's throat.

"Kakuzu, stop!" Harry snapped angrily. "He did nothing!"

Deidara's shoulders remained tense until Kakuzu slowly pulled the knife away, realization lighting up in his eyes; Harry nodded to the unspoken question.

"What the fuck?" Hidan asked, taking a step back and looking narrow-eyed at his 'God'. "Then why were You so fuckin' pissed, right before and after a Jashin-damn explosion! ?"

"'Cause that's how the 'Bakudan' Kekkei Genkai is originally activated, yeah," said Deidara, rubbing his neck and still staring at Harry with confused amazement. "Extreme emotions."

There was a long silence as Hidan processed this, then turned to Harry with false hostility. "Fuckin' great, now You and the damn girl" ("HEY! ! !") "both'll be blowin' shit up."

"Isn't this 'Kekkei Genkai' used by chakra?" Harry asked numbly, back to staring at the crater he had apparently created. At Deidara's agreement, Harry finally raised his gaze to lock with Hidan's. "I can't use chakra."

"What!" were the responses of Deidara and Kakuzu, Deidara shocked and Kakuzu narrow-eyed. Harry simply nodded, eyes still locked on Hidan's.

"I use my spiritual energy and physical energy to do my spells, but I have been trying for ten years now to mix them so I can do your techniques…and the closest I can get are twisting them around each other. My spells can do approximations and improvements upon your jutsu but I can't do the techniques themselves. Unless…"

Harry drifted off thoughtfully then realization hit courtesy of Hidan shoving the thought into his brain with enthusiastic joy.

"That's what I got from Hidan," he whispered in shock, his long-time follower now smirking triumphantly, "the ability to mould chakra. That's why I could use it, even accidently."

Deidara suddenly whooped in joy and lunged forward to half-tackle Harry in a hug, already blabbering on about all the wonderful art they could create and how amazing it would be. Kakuzu had by this time relaxed and was watching with faint annoyance/amusement at the scene.

No one and nothing except the back of Harry's mind noticed the seething jealousy slowly forming within Hidan…

-END-

MKL's Post-Production Notes (4-25-12): Okay, a few things to address in this note. First off, congradulations and a happy shout-out to the only one who correctly guessed what Harry would be getting from Deidara, namely the kekkei genkai we all know and love him for! In honor of this achievment, phoenixyfriend has been given the chance to decide a major plotpoint: whether Konan dies or lives before Harry and Co. get to Ame. I won't tell the rest of you either way, but the reasoning was sound and works out wonderfully!

Second, a lot of reviewers have been worried I'll stop writing this. Believe me when I say NO! ! I've got two more pre-written chapters as buffers and the outline for the rest of the story all set up and ready. I've estimated that the story will be between 20 and 25 chapters (minus interludes and omake/bonus chapters) so you all will have plenty to enjoy before it's done. The final note I'd like to say is that I've gotten lotsa requests for omakes. No worries, all, they WILL be done! Not right away, but soon, to be sure. The next Interlude will be chock full of fun! ! After the serious stuff, of course. ^.^