I cannot write Sasori. I just can't. I can write Tobi though… why didn't I make this post-death TT

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"I'm g-going to go w-w-w-wander around," Hinata said, as Sakura walked away, Itachi following at a safe distance.

"Sure leave us here with the guy that despises us," Ino muttered, as she noticed that the blond artist was also missing.

"Its not that he doesn't like us," Tenten said, completely ignoring the fact that the person they were talking about was standing right beside them. "He just doesn't trust us in any way shape or form. And yeah… he does kind of hate us…."

"Keep talking about me like that and you'll see just how much hate I possess." Suddenly there was a girl standing over his shoulder, poking him with a dull kunai. "What kind of weapons does this thing have?"

"Ones that hurt people. Stop poking me."

"You can't feel it, this isn't skin…" he grunted in response, and she frowned. "What is this made of?"

"Wood."

Tenten nodded to herself and stepped away from the puppet master. Ino was leaning against a wall, looking very bored at the situation. "What kind of weapons do you have?" Tenten asked again.

"A large amount. Now leave me alone."

The bun-haired girl studied him for a moment, "You're always hunched over, wouldn't that hurt your back?"

"No."

"No I guess you wouldn't… who'd ever heard of Sasori of the Red Sand, famous missing nin from Suna, specializing in puppets, and according to Sakura-chan, cookie recipes having a flaw such as back problems."

Sasori stared at her for a moment, not entirely sure if he should be impressed or horrified that the girl knew that information when he had no memory of ever telling her about that. She seemed to enjoy watching his confusion. Ino on the other hand, wasn't as pleased as having a 'house' mate hating her and her friends.

"Sabaku no Kankuro. He and Tenten-chan dated for about a month… I'm sure you were mentioned."

Tenten half glared at her friend, "Yeah, he told me that you were how he got his puppets or something… I don't remember all the specifics."

Sasori nodded, "Weapons?"

Tenten's face lit up, "I'm a weapons expert. Never miss a target."

He sighed, if he was going to have to live with these people, might as well make an effort to get along with them, "Would you like to check out the weaponry in my puppets?" He had a slight suspicion that if she was anyone else she would've jumped on him. Turning to a hallway to their left, he began walking, signaling for the kunoichi to follow.

After a bit of walking a tall blue man came running up to them, "Something's wrong with Hyuuga-san."

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Hinata was aware of voices surrounding her. She couldn't remember who they belonged to, but she was realizing that she also couldn't open her eyelids.

"She's awake, yeah!" she heard someone exclaim.

"Don't yell, Deidara-san," someone else said.

She opened her lavender eyes to find a small group of people crowded around her, leaning forward to get a better look. She let out a scream… well it was supposed to be a scream. No sound came out.

"You've probably lost your voice," Sakura said to her. "I healed your throat the best I could, but it'll be sore for a day or two. You should be able to talk soon, I just don't know when."

She nodded, mouthed a thank you, and accepted a glass of water Ino was handing her.

"I could've seen some really awesome weapons if it wasn't for you," Tenten joked, clearly relieved that her friend was all right.

"So what exactly happened?" Ino asked. "Deidara-san couldn't tell us much."

Hinata glanced at Deidara, before turning to Ino, careful to avoid Sakura's eye. 'Hanabi,' she mouthed. Sakura's jaw clenched.

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Next chapter will be longer, promise.