A/N: I have to say I'm pleased with how quickly my mind is flowing now that I don't have school to worry about...until Monday- bleh XP
Ah- this chapter is the start of the Run Arc. The last one was just closing up the other one. So I apologize if that last chapter seemed like a dreaded start to this one :D This chapter was definitely fun to write- the ideas were flowing out everywhere! I just organized them ^v^
I hope characters that I add don't bother you- if they do, let me know. The Akatsuki is still very much involved :) Especially Zetsu! He's practically the star of the show! (okay...take it easy there...)
Not much to say after that except for with every arc, the first chapter is short and there is a disclaimer- so here it is.
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone in the Naruto series except for any OC's I put in for the sake of the story
How's that?
Warning: Language and a few OC's.
My New Year's Resolution was to do good in school and track- and working on my focus!
"What do you mean Deidara left…?" Madara coldly asked, arms crossed.
He looked at an ever impassive leader with his eyes dark. His blue-haired partner stood on his other side. They were in the older Uchiha's chambers for once, the one he kept hidden from everyone else. Pein disliked it immensely and Konan knew why, feeling exactly the same. It was dark and filled with a looming presence that demanded power and control. Neither liked being controlled.
"Well?" Madara impatiently asked.
"Exactly that." The orange-haired man carefully worded his next few phrases. "It was abrupt, yes. But I feel it's necessary for his absence in order to get Akatsuki back on track. Deidara felt slightly oppressed with us smothering him, and he left to find his own strength."
Madara tilted his head. "Where is he?"
"We are searching for him as we speak."
"And how is Sasori taking this?" The Uchiha asked out of sheer curiosity.
Pein frowned. "The way he always takes things." Personally.
Madara regarded him. "I want Deidara to be kept under watch when he's found."
Pein politely inclined his head. "Of course."
"Pein," Konan suddenly said. "Everyone's in the living room now."
"Right." Pein nodded his thanks to her and then faced Madara. "Will you be coming with us? I have that mission you wanted in Konohagakure ready."
He slipped his mask back on, replacing the sinister expression with a swirling mask of brightness. "Hai!" he chirped.
Deidara could feel somebody watching him.
He would have been disturbed had he not been feeling so out of energy.
His nose twitched at the scent of fresh flowers. I feel so tired…what happened? He forced himself to open an eye, realizing his hair was up in a terribly done bun almost immediately. A hand naturally shot up, pulled the ribbon holding his locks in place out, and then dropped it to his side once more. He felt much better knowing his blind eye was covered again. With his good eye, he absorbed his surroundings.
Right now he was lying on a mat on the wooden floor, a blanket on top and a pillow beneath his head. From where he was, he could see down the white-painted halls to where the front door was. The smell of flowers he could tell was coming from the pots decorated in various spots of the room. Very detailed pots, Deidara noticed with a hint of a smile. They're made with good clay too.
And then he remembered he had no idea where he was and the smile was washed off like magic.
"Hey…you okay there buddy?"
Deidara sat up as carefully as possible, expecting himself to be sore and looking at himself in surprise when he found he wasn't. He suspiciously looked at the teen across from him.
She wore a single red glove on her left hand, and an archer's brace on her right. Her tang top was a light orange followed by crimson ropes wrapped on her waist like a crooked obi. Beneath her short beige skirt were fishnets coming down to her shins. Dark grey knee-high boots covered the rest. She sat with her knees folded beneath her, eagerly leaning forward to look at him with her palms on the floor. Her short brown hair fell to her shoulders in a messy array, her bangs windswept across her forehead. Now she was blinking those dark brown eyes at him in excitement, waiting for him to speak. She couldn't have been older than thirteen.
Deidara felt his lips move wordlessly for several seconds before any words actually came out. "What's going on?" he said with a dry throat. "I'm clean…"
"Oh yeah," the girl grinned. "Kaa-san gave you a bath. It took me a while to see you were a boy, but it's all good now. You were pretty dirty."
"What? How long was I out for?" Deidara looked down at his hands, seeing them still snug in his fingerless gloves. Although he was partially offended, he was more curious about the matter in front of him. His wardrobe was the same as the day he left the Akatsuki base, whenever that was. Black sandals, a black top wrapped with a dark blue sash, and grey shinobi pants that came right above his ankles. It made him wonder if he really took a bath at all or if the woman who brought him in just sprayed him with a hose and washed his hair. If she saw beneath my gloves and my shirt… He felt a part of his tense.
"I'd say you were out for about three days," he heard the brunette answer.
"Three days?"
The brunette seemed oblivious to his rising panic, smiling widely. "Of course mother went out to speak with the head of the village about you-"
Deidara jumped at that, pushing to his feet before rushing through the tiny house and to the front door. She's going to tell about my mouths! He yanked it open with a giant pull and then stumbled outside.
He was greeted by the blinding sun, followed by cheery and warm voices.
The village bustled with near crowded dirt streets, surrounded by circular and square buildings, children laughing as they chased each other, vendors trying to con their buyers along with genuine salesmen, and tons of genin racing around and carrying out their missions within the village.
He stared, eyes wide.
"Why'd you run off like that?" the familiar voice from behind him said.
Deidara looked over his shoulder, looking at the brunette. "W-Where am I? Just who are you?"
She laughed at his baffled expression. "Where else would you be? My name is Mamoru Saiyo and welcome to the heart of Amegakure!" She threw a fist into the air. "Shin Village!"
The many people in the streets also threw their hands into the air, a massive cheer erupting from all corners of the village.
"SHIN VILLAGE!"
"That's our name- don't ever wear it out!" The girl shouted to the crowd.
"YEAH!"
Deidara blinked. What...have I gotten into?
Pein, Tobi, and Konan entered the living room to see everyone else already there. Tobi bounced over to the couch and plopped in between Hidan and Kakuzu, much to their chagrin. Konan merely went to stand by a silent Itachi sitting in the armchair with Kisame on one of the arms. And as usual, Pein took the position in the center.
"Good to see you all came on time for once," Pein approvingly said, casting a small glance in the direction of a brooding redhead leaning against the wall by the door. He hadn't even noticed him when he walked by.
"Why the fuck are we here?" Hidan asked. "Shouldn't we be- oh I don't know- out searching for little blonde riding hood?"
Pein gave him a tired look as several members stiffened. "No Hidan. Deidara will come back on his own accord- we don't need to hassle him."
Hidan blinked. "What's that supposed to fucking mean? We're letting him go just like that?"
"No." Pein felt his patience thin. "Hidan, Deidara left on a very important mission to discover himself. We have no right to take that away. After all, I'm sure many of you have done the same whether it was back in your home villages or out here."
"Do we know where he is?" Kisame spoke up with a curious gaze. "Aren't we going to keep tabs on him or something, just in case he gets in trouble?"
The orange-haired man found a smile on his face. "I forgot about my more controlled members who don't piss me off with stupid questions. Thank you Kisame."
The tension in the room lessened.
"Oi, oi! Don't talk shit about me!"
"Shut up idiot," Kakuzu monotoned.
"Tobi's ears hurt from all this noise!"
The partners turned on him. "Shut up Tobi."
"You guys are mean!" Tobi huffed.
"Anyway," Pein waved a hand at them. "There's nothing to worry about. When we find him, a close eye will be kept on his actions. Until then, you guys will continue with daily tasks. Nothing will have changed except for more free time on your hands since you don't have Deidara here."
"You don't have to say it like that," a slightly peeved voice spoke from the door.
All eyes went to Sasori.
Pein released a heavy sigh. "However I said it I didn't mean it like that, alright?"
"Oh yeah." Hidan tossed a livid redhead a glare. "What the fuck were you doing? Last I heard, you were the one who let him go."
Sasori lowered his head. "He snuck past me…"
"Yeah right fucker. We all know you let him go. Don't you care at all-"
"I said he snuck past," Sasori snapped, pushing off the wall and storming off to his room.
Konan disapprovingly looked at Hidan. "You always have to push people, don't you?"
Hidan frowned. "He doesn't have to be so fucking dramatic about it. I got my head and legs blown off for Jashin's sake!"
"I'm sure he had a good reason, whatever it may have been," Itachi said. "We can ask later. For now though…" he looked to their leader. "Leader-san, what should we do?"
Pein eyed them all. "Kakuzu and Tobi, you have a mission to Konohagakure. Details are in the scroll on your beds. Same goes for Itachi and Hidan. I have an errand for you two in Shin Village." He waited for their nods of approval and Tobi's salute. "Good. Kisame, you and Konan are free to do as you like. You've completed more missions this month than anyone else."
Kisame toothily grinned at Hidan, making a face at him.
Hidan's eye twitched.
Konan raised a hand, ignoring the two behind her. "Pein. Where has Zetsu been? I haven't seen him for the past three days."
Pein looked at her with a knowing smirk. "He's out taking care of some business…"
"Stupid Leader-san making us come all the way out here to find Deidara," Zetsu grumbled, sinking lower into trash and painfully sharp glass bottles. "Why the hell are you complaining? We found him already." Zetsu watched as their poor blonde was given a tour of the busy village, attached to a way-too-happy brunette pulling him by the hand and surrounded by people constantly trying to pull his cheek. "Oh dear…of all the places he would end up here, wouldn't he?" "At least it's not dead in the middle of the woods." "I don't know…" he muttered. "These guys just might kill him. They're all smiling!" "Yes. Most people do. Now can we please get out of this woman's garbage can?" "Should we report to Leader-san?" "…No. We'll wait a little bit more."
"Tou-san look!" A grinning green-haired girl pointed his finger towards their direction. "Obaa-chan threw out another plant today! Check out how big it is!"
The father with equally green hair, ruffled his kid's locks. "Cool isn't it? Now let's get going. We've got to get you to the Academy. You wouldn't want to miss your first day, would you?"
"No! We've got to go quickly! Come on tou-san!" she shouted before booking it down the road.
Her father followed at a more leisurely pace. "Oh no! You're too fast," he teasingly called after her.
Zetsu slowly slipped out the garbage, watching them go. "Remind me. Where are we again?" "Shin Village. The second closest village to our base besides the one Deidara destroyed. It's exactly in the center of Amegakure with the country's largest amount of shinobi and kids." "Great." Zetsu thought back to the girl and father as he walked down the back alleyways. "So what's the deal? Why is everyone here so crazy?" "I hear they've got a crazy woman running the place." "Ah. Doesn't Leader-san make deliveries here every so often?" "Once every month. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Zetsu smiled, punching his fist into the air. "Absolutely!"
A group of shinobi running past punched their hands too, shouting, "Shin Village!"
Zetsu lowered his hand as they vanished from sight. "What the…?" "Don't do that again idiot. Like I said, this place is weird. That's like their motto or something." "Punching the air like maniacs?" "Yes. Just like you." "Hey!" "Come along moron. We've got a child to track."
"Ne, Deidara-chan?" Saiyo cast the blonde walking beside her a questioning look. "How did you get here? Most people come in to be a shinobi or prosper in this village, but they're all older. Except for the kids- but they've got parents. Where's your family?"
Deidara found his face darkening at how casually the question was put. "I…ran away," he murmured. It was true enough. As long as she didn't pry any further…He found his mood sinking with the thought of Akatsuki, memories of the events overtaking his mind. The adoring stares from the villagers was not helping much either.
Saiyo let out a small gasp, wrapping an arm around the child and crushing him into a one-armed hug. "Oh that's why you looked like such a mess! I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"It's fine," Deidara said as he tried to escape the choking grasp. As much as he had wanted to snap that it was none of her business, there was something preventing him from doing so. Like an imaginary snare had caught hold of him for the time being. "Really…it's fine!"
Saiyo laughed, letting go and ruffling his hair. "Okay then! Being alone in a place like this can be kind of scary-"
"I'm not a kid!" he protested above her.
"-so I'll keep watch over you until kaa-san comes back with any good news." Her dark eyes twinkled mischievously, showing that she had purposely ignored his cry. "Luckily kaa-san is well liked around here. She runs a pottery shop that's pretty popular. It's up to her to create a life good for you until you decide to leave."
"Your mom? What does she have to do with my fate?" Deidara reluctantly asked.
Saiyo pursed her lips, tapping a finger to her chin. "Well kaa-san went to see if we could house you for a while. It's allowed as long as we've got permission from the village elder. And if that works, then…" she gazed down at him. "Then you could probably take up a job here. Even though you look pretty young…"
The child looked at her with serious eyes. "I don't want to work in a shop or pull weeds. I'm training to be a shinobi- so I can't slack off." My art will die off and then I'll never improve!
Saiyo was taken aback momentarily. "You're training to be a shinobi? Then that changes everything. Kami, I feel so stupid! How could I not have sensed your chakra?"
"Saiyo-chan…" Deidara felt something dawn on him. "Are you a shinobi?"
She shook her head. "That's right. But I'm just a genin- nothing special yet. Now that I look at it," her large brown eyes peered into his own. "You have two chakras don't you? They're very unstable but seem to be controlled."
"Mm…I work on chakra control a lot." Deidara brought a finger to his eyes the brunette drew back. "The other chakra is in here but it's harder to deal with. I'm here to get stronger on my own."
"I'm sure we can find you a teacher somewhere." Saiyo thoughtfully looked around. "If not, there are plenty of teachers at the Academy…"
Deidara hesitantly cleared his throat. "Um…" She didn't hear me?
"Huh?" The brunette stared at him in concern. "What is it- is something wrong?"
Deidara quickly shook his head. "No, it's just that…" he averted his gaze. "Maybe there's somewhere I could practice by myself?" If anyone found out about his hands, he wasn't sure how they'd react. Sure these people looked friendly enough, but he wasn't about to put his full trust in them just yet. After a long silence had gone between him and Saiyo, he looked up, half expecting her to be angry for turning down her offer. But she was smiling, a bright light in her eyes.
"Oh Deidara-chan," Saiyo laughed. "I think you're going to get along really well here! If you really want to train by yourself then I don't mind. In fact…" she clapped her hands together, twirling around and giving him a lilting smile. "Why don't we go someplace right now? I know just who you would get along with!"
Deidara took a step back from the cheery girl, nervously smiling. "O-Okay." She's…really happy.
Saiyo cheered, punching an arm into the air before grabbing his hand and dragging him down the street along with the other cheering villagers.
Zetsu felt a nerve pop. "Dear Kami, don't they ever stop?" "Just keep walking. No one seems to think we're different. Don't you think that's weird?" "What do you mean?" He glanced around, glaring at several others who waved back. "We're a walking, talking, plant. These guys aren't fazed at all."
A masked shinobi with a carrot for a body walked by.
"…Nevermind."
Zetsu shook his head, catching a glimpse of two familiar heads. Their voices could be heard from one end of the road all the way up to them.
"I'm telling you we've gotta fuckin' find the kid and bring 'em back or else Woody will never come out his room!"
"For the last time Hidan, we're not to pry. It might make things worse."
"What the fuck would you know?"
Zetsu quickly ducked behind a group of trashcans. "What are they doing here?" "It's probably that time of the month for Leader-san…" "W-What?" To make deliveries idiot!" "Ow! You didn't have to hit me…" Zetsu touched the bump on his side of the head. "So they don't know we're here?"
"Zetsu? What are you doing here?"
Itachi and Hidan stared down at him in mild surprise.
Black Zetsu crossly looked at his counterpart. "Now they do. Quick- run!"
Before either of the standing Akatsuki members could move, Zetsu sunk into the ground.
Hidan glanced at the Uchiha. "What was that about?"
"No idea…" Itachi sighed, lifting the package in his hands higher. "Let's deliver this and go."
He wore black ninja pants and a simple mesh covered by a grey muscle shirt over top. On his back were strapped two thin blades, and around his waist, a wire holding a row of shuriken. His sandals were black as well, the bandana on his head a dark red. He was short for the age of sixteen and often mistaken for a thirteen year old instead.
Okay…concentrate…
A ring of chakra pulsated from his body.
Ready!
The orange-haired teen lowered into a throwing stance again, steadying his breathing and allowing his heart rate to slow down. He grabbed a shuriken, preparing to send it into the center of the target before him with unparalleled speed and-
"Kenshin-kun!"
"Na-?" He crashed face-first to the ground, hand and leg twitching.
"Eh?" Saiyo walked over to him, placing her hands on her hips and leaning over the boy. "What are you doing there? I thought you of all people would be training!"
"Urusai!" Kenshin jumped to his feet, holding a fist out in front of him with his green eyes flaming. "I was doing perfectly fine until you interrupted me!"
"What? Don't try and blame this on me! I saw you laying there!"
"I was standing a minute ago!"
"You were not!"
"How would you know-?" Kenshin cut himself off as a small blonde peeked out from behind a tree, watching him with a bright blue eye. "Hey…you realize there's a child staring at us, right?"
Deidara quickly ducked back down. Ah…scary.
Saiyo smiled and then turned to the tree. "I know. Deidara-chan! Come out here and say hi!"
Deidara slowly walked out into the center of the clearing, fidgeting nervously. He looked up at the teen with a tiny smile. "Uh..hi there."
Kenshin suddenly grinned, leaning over to get a better look. "Wow. Where'd you find this cute girl?"
Saiyo held a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle as the blonde kicked him in the shin.
"I'm a BOY!"
Itachi's ears perked at the familiar sounding cry and he halted in the middle of the street.
Hidan, who was walking behind him, crashed into his back. "Oi watch it asshole! I'm still sore from the crazy village elder bitch hugging me!" Never delivering a damn package here again!
"Quiet," Itachi silenced him, looking around the village carefully. "Hidan follow me. But don't make a sound."
"Why?"
"Just do it."
Hidan grumbled under his breath, but followed the younger male all the same as they went from the street road to jumping through trees. He almost fell to the ground when Itachi abruptly stopped again, a good amount of feet from the center of a clearing. Itachi crouched down in a patch of bushes, and after realizing Hidan wasn't going to come on his own, yanked him down as well.
"What's the big idea," Hidan loudly started to say.
"Stay quiet and look." Itachi murmured. "Do you see who it is?"
"What the fuck? When did he get here?"
"Hidan shut up," Itachi hissed, clamping a hand over the silver-haired man's mouth. He scanned the boy and girl Deidara was with, eyes narrowed. "They're shinobi. The girl's a genin at best…but the boy is probably a new jounin…" He knows we're here.
Hidan pulled the hand off of him, opting to whisper loudly instead of shouting. "So what? Can't we just jack Deidara and get the hell outta here?"
Itachi felt a nerve twitch. "No. Our job is to tell Leader-san. Not act on our own." He silently stood. "Let's go."
Hidan thought about protesting, only to cut himself off at the dangerous look in the raven's eye. He huffed, crossing his arms. "Fine. But if something happens to the little shit, I'm blaming you."
"So let me get this straight." Kenshin sat cross-legged on top a boulder, nursing a bruising knee. "You want me to take this…boy," he snuck a glance at a glaring child kneeling at his side, "to my dojo and let him practice there?"
Saiyo nodded from where she sat next to him. "That's the idea!"
"Hm…" He thoughtfully looked up. "No."
"What? Why not?"
Kenshin brought his gaze back to the livid brunette. "Calm down. It's just that we've been out of business for such a long time. No one except for Sora-kun and I go there and the place is completely a wreck. Maybe if we had a few extra hands from the villagers to clean it up, there would be space and people would start coming again." He somberly shook his head. "It's a shame they still think my father haunts the place. People are so stupid these days…" Kenshin suddenly stood, jumping off the boulder. "Sorry Saiyo, Deidara. I've got some things to do. Please excuse me."
Saiyo held out a hand, also jumping from the boulder. "Hey- wait!"
He had already gone.
The brunette stared at the empty spot before cursing, stomping her foot to the ground. "Darn it! Why does he always do that?"
Deidara looked off into the trees, still seated on the tall rock. "Where is he going?"
"Someplace to sulk," Saiyo angrily said. "Ever since his parents died, the only thing he ever does is train. I've been trying to get him to open up bit by bit but then he goes off out of nowhere to mourn to himself!"
"…"
"Honestly! He has no right to leave like that and make me worried. One of these days he'll be in dire need of help and then I'll need to come and save him-" she rambled on.
Deidara was quiet, contemplating staring down at his hands. "Saiyo-chan," he interrupted.
She looked back at him, the frustration and worry clear in her eyes. "Are you going to tell me to calm down too? Well I won't! He can't keep walking off like that whenever he gets upset-"
"Saiyo-chan," Deidara cut her off with a smile this time. "Where's this dojo?"
Kenshin knelt down before the patch of bushes, staring at them in deep thought. "Hmm. We've had visitors…"
Roughly drawn into the dirt with what seemed to be a twig was:
'Watch over that little shit over I'll fuckin' maim you.'
Kenshin rocked back on his haunches with a smile. "I knew there was something about that kid."
"Kenshin? What are you doing way over here?"
The teen looked up as his dark-haired friend approached, standing to his feet and rubbing the message out. "Oh nothing. Come on. Let's train."
A/N: How was that? I'm beginning to become a hardcore Zetsu fan! Okay, maybe not. But he's great and will probably have a main role in this arc.
Hooray for him!
OC's. Were they bad? Did you like them?
Not enough Akatsuki for you?
^v^ Too many questions. Until next time then.
Next Time:
What does Deidara have in mind?
His fate has been decided in the village. Good- or bad?
The Akatsuki know where he is. What are their plans?
P.S. Shin means 'new' in Japanese :D
Thank you reviewers who told me otherwise ^v^ My apologies