AN: I'm so happy people are still reading this, thank you for the support and for being so patient! This chapter started off hard to write. I had to do something slightly dramatic to get my head back into being on Akatsuki's side. I think I'm mostly back on Akatsuki's side now.
Suigetsu was growing bored. The five Kage's were going over various battle formations and weapon imports. He'd spent over three hours hidden in the plant and it was becoming restricting. He tried not to think about the tank that he spent six years in. Suigetsu needed to get out now. The intense feeling of claustrophobia was gripping him tightly. Suigetsu began to search for a way out, quickly finding the small cracks that he used to get in. He hesitated. More people were entering the room.
"Mizukage Sama." An almost timid voice said respectfully.
"What is it, Choujuurou, Ao?" Mei asked, eying her guards wearily.
"It seems that the lower guards have being killed." Ao said.
"What?" The room exploded with shouts as the Kage's expressed their rage and concern.
"Search for the intruders!" Mei ordered.
Suigetsu could feel his body trying to pull together in the excitement. He slid after Choujuurou and the other guard, Ao. The two guards begun thoroughly checking each room and Suigetsu moved to the next room. He re-formed his body with relief and pulled his sword off his back in anticipation. Suigetsu positioned himself above the door, a feral grin in place. The door started to open and he flinched forwards slightly. Choujuurou entered first but Suigetsu managed to wait until Ao entered next. His next moves were like lighting. A swung the Executioner's Blade with deadly accuracy. Suigetsu landed on the ground on his hunches before standing up and closing the door. Suigetsu kicked Ao's head to the side and ran his tongue over his lips.
"I've being waiting for you." Suigetsu said, his eyes shining brightly.
"Do I know you?" Choujuurou asked in slight shock. His eyes flickered over to the corpse of his comrade. Choujuurou fixed his glasses, almost as if he thought he were seeing thing.
"That sword, it doesn't belong to you." Suigetsu placed the tip of his sword on the ground in front of him and lent forward slightly. "So if you don't mind. I will be taking it." He sprung forward, dragging his sword through the floor, ripping up pieces of stone as he went. Choujuurou pulled Hiramekarei off his back and the two swords clashed with a shower of sparks. Suigetsu had thrown himself at Choujuurou with such speed that he planted his feet against the Executioner's Blade, for a split second none of his limbs were touching the ground. Suigetsu jumped back and righted his posture again. He slid one foot behind him and held his sword at his side loosely.
"You're pretty fast." Suigetsu then laughed. "For a fucking nerd."
"You have Zabuza Sensei's sword." Choujuurou eyed the sword cautiously, not quiet believing it.
"It's mine now. The student surpasses the master." Suigetsu rushed at Choujuurou head on before jumping at the last minute and brought his sword down. Choujuurou was gone before the sword could slice the Kiri nin in half. Suigetsu cursed as the blade lodged itself into the stone ground. "You're a pathetic excuse for a Seven Swordsmen."
"Mei Sama believes in me." Choujuurou muttered.
"The only credit you have is your initiation into the Swordsmen." Suigetsu tutted slightly as he sent water to his arm, enlarging it so he could pull his sword back out of the stone.
"That practice was barbaric."
"No. It was art." Suigetsu dodged Hiramekarei, the sword resembled a fish and like Samehada, it was wrapped in bandages. Suigetsu halted mid attack. "Say, is your sword anything like Kisame Sempai's? Because if I'm wasting my time fighting you, only to be rejected by your sword. Well I won't be impressed."
"Hiramekarei chooses the most worthy handler." Choujuurou then gripped the two handles of his sword and swung it over his head. A blue chakra began to emit from it and formed a hammer shape.
"Fuck." Suigetsu dodged out of the way. The chakra hammer slammed into the ground and stone went flying. Suigetsu then grinned to himself and flashed behind Choujuurou. "You shouldn't leave openings." Suigetsu whispered into Choujuurou's ear. A kunai at the throat of the Kiri nin. Suigetsu drew the kunai across the tender skin. He wasn't overly surprised to find that instead of blood, water spurted out. "Cheater."
"What is your purpose here?" Choujuurou asked quietly, adjusting his glasses as he jumped down from the roof.
"I told you, I want your sword." Suigetsu ran forward again. Just before he reached Choujuurou, he dropped the Executioner's Blade. If Choujuurou was surprised, he didn't show it. Instead the Kiri nin swung Hiramekarei and sliced Suigetsu from hip to hip. Suigetsu collapsed onto the floor and Choujuurou eyed the body wearily. Suigetsu grabbed his sword off the ground and swung it, sending a large amount of water into his arm to enhance the swing. Choujuurou leapt back in shock but not before receiving a cut across his stomach. Suigetsu reattached his body and stood up. "Look, I'd love to drag this fight out but my teammate wouldn't be too impressed." Suigetsu attached the longer handle onto his sword. "Oh, by the way. I'm Mangetsu's little brother."
"Suigetsu?" Choujuurou squinted his eyes before they widened in surprise. "Well you've certainly grown up."
Suigetsu snorted and begun to attack the older male with vicious force. Choujuurou was forced further backwards as Suigetsu was leaving him no room to attack, only to defend. Choujuurou pushed chakra into Hiramekarei and sent Suigetsu flying backwards into the wall. Suigetsu sent chakra to his feet and landed on the wall before sending another burst of chakra to his feet and propelled himself back across the room. The two males struck out with their swords and Suigetsu just laughed as Hiramekarei struck his body harmlessly. Both males broke apart, their chests heaving heavily. What happened next was something neither expected. Choujuurou swung Hiramekarei but the sword all but jumped out of his hands and came to rest in front of Suigetsu.
"Ehh what's this?" Suigetsu placed his Executioner's Blade on his back and bent down, picking up the now lifeless sword. Suigetsu started laughing loudly. "Well look at that. Guess I've been chosen." Suigetsu held onto the two handles and moved it through the air with experimenting moves. "Mind if I test it out on you?" Suigetsu sent chakra into the sword and he could feel it vibrating through his hands and through his body. He felt alive, connected to the sword. Suigetsu smashed the flat side of the sword into Choujuurou. The Kiri nin was blown through the wall with a loud crack. Blood sprayed back at Suigetsu who licked it off his lips with a smile.
The two teenagers fled the Land of Iron, escaping the enraged Kage's. Even Suigetsu didn't complain about the pace they were traveling at. Though, he was starting to grow immensely tired. His newly acquired sword, Hiramekarei was strapped to his back and his Executioner's blade was resting on his shoulder, his arm holding it in place. Sasuke had already berated him about not bringing a scroll to seal away one of the swords.
"Do we keep it to ourselves?" Suigetsu asked Sasuke questioningly.
"For now, Pein may try to take our lives to keep the secret quiet. We will only inform him about Gaara being a traitor."
"And if Gaara actually kidnaps their daughter because we didn't say anything?" Suigetsu looked over at Sasuke.
"It's not our problem." Sasuke said callously, making Suigetsu smirk.
Deidara looked thoughtful though there was worry in his eye. Sasori once again found himself watching the blonde male. Deidara's long locks hung loosely over his face without his hitai-ate in place. Sasori had noted that Deidara only wore it on missions that took them out of Ame now. Deidara sighed and stretched his hands into the air and leaning back. Sasori held back a wince at the sound of bones cracking. Sasori tore his eyes away from Deidara and focused back on Hiruko. The puppet was nearly fully functional again. It would probably have being completed by now, if didn't keep getting distracted. Sasori couldn't ever remember being a hormonal teenager. Probably because he started altering his body before he had the chance. He snorted softly, he wondered if all his hormones were just starting to kick in. Talk about a belated kick in the ass.
"Something funny Danna un?" Deidara all but drawled out, his eye flicking over to Sasori lazily.
"Nothing. You should be preparing." Sasori scolded lightly. "The Fourth Shinobi War has been declared. It's only a matter of time before we have to fight."
"The whole point of Akatsuki was to end wars. Pein really fucked this one up un." Deidara pulled out a bag of clay and begun to work his chakra into it. "I guess this will be the war to end wars though. We are going to completely annihilate each other. Neither side will be left standing after this un."
"We'll come out on top." Sasori said confidentially. "They may have a larger force than us, but we are more powerful."
"Don't underestimate their pride and honour. Not one of them will be slack, they will all put their full strength and more into this un." Deidara looked at his clay dispassionately and let it drop back onto the table.
"You're acting strangely Deidara." Sasori frowned at his partners behavior. "I would have thought the prospect of a war would have you wired."
"Yeah, it will be good. All you can kill un." Deidara chuckled darkly. "It's just, I'm not ready to die yet un."
"Oh?" Sasori asked, the surprise evident in his voice.
"It's taken us four years to get to this point. I don't want to give it up yet un." Deidara said softly, not meeting Sasori's eyes. "That and I think I'm starting to get a conscience. Bad timing hmm?"
"Brat, I'm not going to let you die." Sasori kept his eyes focused on Deidara. "Brat, look at me, I mean it. You will see the end of this war."
"So many are going to die un." Deidara whispered meekly.
"It's the price of war." Sasori said coolly.
"There won't be a truce, we won't stop fighting until one side is completely gone un."
"Deidara, stop talking fucking shit. This is the world we live in. Pein won't let this war drag on. He has a plan, he's calm, like he was waiting for this to happen." Sasori reasoned.
"I guess un." Deidara stood and made his way to Sasori. Promptly dropping onto the red head's lap. Deidara wrapped his arms around Sasori, smiling in content as he felt Sasori's arms embrace him tightly. The two males stayed like that until they were interrupted.
"We've suffered our first causality. Pein wants to see everyone." Kakuzu said before walking out again. His voice betrayed no emotion but his emerald eyes looked disturbed, almost sad.
"Da...danna un?" Deidara asked, almost afraid. "Who was sent on the last mission? Deidara looked into Sasori's muddy eyes.
"Kisame and Itachi." Sasori replied, his voice dead. "Let's go."
"No...I don't want to go." Deidara allowed Sasori to stand but slunk further away from the door. Sasori looked like he may have punched the blonde but instead he held out his hand, making Deidara flinch.
"Come on Deidara. We have to stand together for this." Sasori said softly. Sasori felt sick but he tried not to think about it as the blonde latched onto his hand tightly.
No one said anything. Not even Hidan opened his mouth. The members of Akatsuki were shocked into silence. Deidara glanced around the dark room, his eyes finding Sasuke. The young Uchiha showed indifference. That made Deidara's heart sink even further. Deidara's hand tightened in Sasori's light grip. Sasori was already well aware of Deidara's sinking suspicions. He himself had already come to the same conclusion. It seemed that no one was going to voice it though. To say it would make it real. All eyes looked up as Pein and Konan entered the room.
"A squadron captured Kisame three days ago." Pein started then hesitated. "Kisame killed himself before the integrators could remove any information."
"Where the fuck was Itachi un?" Deidara spat out in anger.
"They got separated by an ambush." Pein answered. "He has being injured but not fatally."
"Kisame Sempai is dead eh?" Suigetsu looked thoughtful.
"Get the fuck out you little prick." Hidan snapped out.
"Hoshigaki Kisame has being with us for seventeen years. One of the longest serving in Akatsuki. His demise will be a great blow to us but we can not allow it to weaken us. Pull together and stand strong. Prepare yourselves." Pein's ringed eyes glanced at all his members. He ignored the look of loathing from his near dismissive attitude towards Kisame's death. "Hidan, Kakuzu. You will take over their mission. Bring me Sabaku no Gaara's head."
Deidara hardly remembered what happened next, his head felt hazy. All he could remember was breaking away from Sasori's grip and fleeing down the hallway. Deidara hardly put any thought into where he was going. His feet carried him down hallways and eventually lead him to a door. Deidara briefly hesitated before opening it. With a dull interest he noted that the room hadn't changed since he had last being in there. The picture frames were still missing from where he either smashed them or they were removed. The window was boarded up, not allowing any natural light into the room. The only light source was from a dim lamp in the far corner of the room. Deidara finally looked at the main feature of the room. A single bed with a male watching him almost wearily. Deidara bit back a gasp. Itachi looked terrible, his skin was an ashen grey colour and the dark marks under his eyes were painfully obvious. Even his normally always activated sharingan eyes were missing.
"Itachi...I-" Deidara was cut off before he could continue.
"If you've come to tell me this is my fault, don't bother. I'm already well aware of it." Itachi's voice was raspy.
"No un." Deidara trailed off, looking awkward. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. If something happened to Saso...When I though Sasori was dead, it broke me and I wasn't even as close to him as I am now. I don't like you Itachi, and I wish it was you that died but I still wouldn't wish the pain of losing a partner on anyone. I'm sorry un." Deidara turned and began to walk away, pausing slightly as Itachi spoke up again.
"Thank you, Deidara."
Deidara grunted something and left the room quickly. The next week dragged on slowly. Nobody seemed to be in the mood to prepare for the coming war. Deidara was torn between to conflicting thoughts. To revenge his fallen comrade's death, slaughter as many people he could get his hands on, or the fact that this was their first real loss apart from Tobi. They had taken countless lives already with little consequence. Deidara couldn't stop the constant churning in his stomach. Deidara, making a split second decision stood up and left his room. He made his way to another room and knocked loudly.
"Fuck off 'Kuzu." Hidan's voice answered. "I already told you I'd pay for the towels."
"It's Deidara, asswipe un." Deidara replied.
"Well don't just fucking stand out there all day, come in Blondie." Hidan looked up and gave an over exaggerated sigh. "What did puppet boy do this time?"
"Nothing," on seeing Hidan's disbelieving face Deidara held his hands up. "He hasn't done anything. It's just, Kisame and the coming war un."
"You knew this was coming, we all fucking did. We aren't invincible and honestly I'm surprised more of us haven't been killed." Hidan said bluntly. "If you think about the lives you're taking then it's going to destroy you. Don't fight because you're told to. Fight because you've got something worth protecting. Fight for you're right to stay alive. The people we're fighting, they aren't of less value than you nor are they worth more. You might be taking lives, but you're saving them too."
"You're so full of shit Hidan. You don't believe a single thing you just said do you un?" Deidara shook his head in amusement.
"Nope, I'm going to take down as many heathen pricks as I can." Hidan grinned, "but I mean it Deidara. Don't show mercy because you won't receive any."
"What are we fighting for un?"
"You don't have to fight for the same ideals as the high and mighty fake Kami. Fight for what you think is worth fighting for." Hidan then changed his tone to a lighter one. "Kisame actually told Pein if he died that he wanted everything to go to Itachi except for Samehada."
"He left it to Suigetsu un?"
"Yeah, he seemed pretty taken back and almost upset but the fucking brat is looking pretty ecstatic now."
"So, Hidan. I bet you can't make it to fifty kills before you lose a limb un." Deidara said flippantly. Forcing a fake smile onto his face.
"Oh you're on Blondie."
Deidara left Hidan's room feeling slightly better. He wasn't overly impressed with himself by making a bet with Hidan. However, if he didn't make light of the situation, Deidara felt he would never get through this war. He had also decided on what he was going to fight for it. It was simple really, he would fuel his emotions with the need to fight and protect the Akatsuki. Even Itachi. Deidara wouldn't let that bastard die until he had proven that he could beat Itachi. Mostly though, he would fight for Sasori and his future. The blonde returned to his own room and smiled lightly upon entering. Sasori was stretched out on his bed, a book in his hand. The scorpion looked up at Deidara.
"Is that my cloak, brat?" Sasori asked, slightly annoyed.
"Like I'd want to wear one of your cloaks un." Deidara said dismissively, a faint blush on his face said otherwise.
"It better not have clay on it." Sasori warned, his eyes following Deidara. The male stripped the cloak off and dropped it onto his bed before moving back to Sasori's bed.
"Move over un."
"No, sleep in your own bed." Sasori brought the book up to his face and continued reading.
"I won't ask again un."
"Good. Don't ask again."
"Either you purposely set out to annoy me, or you really don't get sarcasm un."
"Considering how much you annoy me, it's nice to get a little bit of pay back." Sasori replied with a smirk.
"You're absolutely hilarious Danna un." Deidara laid down next to Sasori, the red head not moving. Deidara continued to push and squirm until he felt that he wouldn't fall off the bed. Deidara then rolled to his side and pushed himself into Sasori's side. Deidara smiled fondly at the loud sigh Sasori let out. "You love it un."
"Goodnight Deidara." Sasori said, his tone holding an air of finality.
"Night Danna un." Deidara got the hint and fell silent, allowing Sasori to return to his reading. Just as Deidara's eye fluttered shut, he felt a slender arm snake around his waist.
Deidara and Sasori found themselves standing in Pein's office. It was very close to been overcrowded. There were five teams of four cell squads of Ame shinobi. Each of the shinobi were trying there hardest to stand the furthest away from Pein's desk. Deidara and Sasori were standing in front of the desk with equally amused smirks on their faces. Pein finally entered the room, he had reverted to his shadow form. Hiding in the dark with glinting red eyes.
"Really, is that necessary un?" Deidara held back a chuckle as a shinobi let out a gasp at his disrespect.
"A group of shinobi have taken the village Seidai Yagai hostage. It's one of our main supplies for fresh food. I want you to eliminate them then guard the next shipment of food to Ame." Pein chose to ignore Deidara's comment, "Sasori, you will be the Captain of the squad. Deidara, Second in Command."
"Yes!" Deidara threw a fist in the air. A few shinobi behind him snickered in amusement and Sasori smacked him over the head.
"...Instead of a second partnership, you will be leading the shinobi behind you. There's five jounin, head of their squads and fifteen chunnin." Pein once again ignored Deidara.
"Why? We would have more stealth with only four of us un."
"Because, Deidara, I don't want to risk losing anymore of my members if I can help it. I'd rather not send you two for this mission but as Seidai Yagai is crucial to our survival, I am going to risk it."
"Hidan and Kakuzu are on a mission un."
"Yes, but they're cockroaches. They will outlive us all." Pein replied bluntly, making Deidara snort with amusement.
"When do we leave?" Sasori asked.
"Immediately. Dismissed." Pein disappeared. The shinobi behind them relaxed slightly.
"Prepare you squads, you will meet us at the gates in an hour." Sasori said, turning to face the twenty shinobi. "Well, get going." The shinobi quickly jumped into action, leaving the room as fast as they dared with out actually running.
"This could be fun un." Deidara stated, seeing possible entertainment out of the shinobi's nervousness.
"Deidara, you will not terrorize the shinobi." Sasori said with a slightly smile as he secretly agreed.
An hour later and the two Akatsuki males were standing at the gates of Ame. Deidara was surveying all the five squads. One squad seemed to stand out as the youngest. A young male, no older than fourteen appeared to be the youngest. His team mates, a kunoichi and another male looked about sixteen and their team captain in his early twenties. They seemed to fear the Akatsuki males the least, they stood closest to Deidara and Sasori and they were relaxed, their stances casual. The four other squads were varying in age from early twenties to perhaps mid thirties. They all stood further away, muttering among themselves and throwing worried looks around.
"What are your names un?" Deidara asked, making eye contact with the young squad.
"Yuu Hatsuharu." The squad captain said. His hair was a deep black with almost white blue eyes. Deidara wondered if it was kekkai genkai.
"Aoi Sora," said the youngest male. "And yes, my parents did that on purpose." Sora's hair was a light brown, it was cut roughly but almost fashionably so. He had a slender build and seemed to be rather short.
"Kade Rena." The kunoichi said, she flicked her dark purple hair over her shoulder, eying Sasori appreciatively. Deidara bristled in annoyance.
"Keichi Yuuri." The last male said in bored drawl.
"I'm Deidara, and this bastard is Sasori un." Deidara said needlessly. It was very doubtful that their names weren't already known.
"Watch it, brat." Sasori muttered. Rena let out a giggle and Deidara shifted closer to Sasori. The red head held back a smirk. The brat was getting jealous. "Let's go. Squad captains, keep your teams close and quiet. We want to proceed with as much caution as possible. Deidara scout ahead."
"What? No un!" Deidara declared with annoyance, his eye shifting over to Rena who had moved closer to Sasori.
"I mean it Deidara. Go, now." Sasori could have chosen someone else, but this was just too much of an entertaining possibility to pass up.
"Fine," Deidara bit out shortly and stalked off. He had no idea why Sasori wasn't even moving around in Hiruko. That stupid kunoichi wouldn't have looked twice at Sasori if he was in the puppet. Deidara muttered under his breath irritably.
The group of twenty-two shinobi set up camp just after night fall. They had five separate fires and the squads stuck to themselves. Deidara and Sasori ended up at the youngest squad's fire and to Deidara's disgust, Rena had secured a seat on the other side of Sasori. The sound of the other squads talking quietly had become background noise along with the crickets and occasional owl. Deidara yawned widely and pulled the stick he was holding out of the fire. A charred and melted white substance clung to the end of it. Deidara stuck the marshmallow in his mouth and nearly choked as it burnt his mouth. He swallowed it quickly to avoid spitting it out and his eye watered. Sasori held back a laugh. Trying to appear ever the emotionless bastard in front of the Ame shinobi.
"I sometimes wonder how you made it this far." Sasori said dryly.
"Shut up Danna un." Deidara risked poking Sasori in the side with his stick. Sasori promptly broke it. "Ass un." Deidara noted that Rena had frowned and blushed slightly at Deidara calling Sasori 'Danna.' The blonde grinned.
"You have no right to call me an ass. You're the one who poked me." Sasori muttered irritably.
"Want me to poke you with something else un?" Deidara asked coyly. Rena inhaled her water and started choking.
"Honestly, Rena." Yuuri rolled his eyes.
"Deidara, shut up." Sasori was secretly amused. Deidara was clearly playing for his attention.
"You're such an asshole Sasori un." Deidara huffed in slight anger.
"Is it true that you destroyed Konaha?" Sora asked, his eyes large.
"Yeah. I've blown something up in every great village un." Deidara said proudly.
"That's a lie." Sasori stated.
"What? Oh, yeah. I haven't being to Kumo yet. But I've blown up the Mizukage's tower, the Kazekage's tower, the Tsuchikage's tower plus quarter of the village and well, of all Konaha un." Deidara puffed his chest out and Sasori rolled his eyes.
"Wow, that's so impressive!" Sora's eyes were even larger, sparkling with awe.
"Thanks, kid un."
"You should all get some sleep." Hatsuharu said softly. Most of the other squads had gotten out their sleep bags and were settling down to sleep.
"Aw but 'Haru, what if we miss something?" Sora said with a slight pout.
"I'm sure Sasori Sama and Deidara Sama will be going to bed soon as well." Hatsuharu reassured.
"Yes, it's way past the brat's bed time." Sasori said, smirking.
"I'm ignoring that un." Deidara sniffed. The six shinobi set their sleeping bags up around the fire. To Deidara's great annoyance, Rena hurried to make sure she was sleeping next to Sasori. The blonde took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Sasori had his sleeping bag unzipped, throwing over his body like a blanket. Deidara eyed the purple haired kunoichi, she was squirming around and shifting her sleeping bag even closer to Sasori. Deidara felt his eye twitch.
"Goodnight everyone." Sora mumbled sleepily.
"Night." Yuuri drawled out.
"Tch it's not really even that late." Rena muttered, "I don't feel like sleeping at all."
"We will be leaving early in the morning so go to sleep, Rena." Hatsuharu replied quietly.
"But it's so cold." She tried again. Deidara nearly throttled her.
"Then move closer to the fire instead of sleeping behind Sasori Sama." Yuuri snapped out in annoyance.
"Oh don't you start Yuuri." Rena grumbled.
"Just shut up un." Deidara ground out. The squad members fell silent and Sasori snickered. Deidara moved foward slightly then hesitated, taking a deep breath he got out of his sleeping bag and walked over to Sasori. Deidara dropped down next to the red head and slid under the sleeping bag.
"I'm surprised it took you that long." Sasori said softly, his breath touched Deidara's face gently.
"Goodnight, Sasori Danna un." Deidara rested his head under Sasori's chin and sighed in content.
"Sleep well, brat." Sasori said so quietly that Deidara only just heard it.
Most shinobi were awake and eating breakfast just as the sun began to rise. A few late risers were only just getting up. Rena was included in the late risers. In fact she had failed to even start getting up. Sora yawned widely and kicked the sleeping bag she was in, much to Deidara' s amusement. The kid was beginning to grow on him. Rena extracted herself from the sleeping bag, her mouth open and dribbling swear words incoherently. Sora smirked and dodged a badly aimed punch from the sleepy kunoichi.
"Sora, don't aggravate your teammates." Hatsuharu warned, his ice blue eyes however were sparking with amusement.
"Yes Sensei."
"How old are you kid?" Deidara asked, he'd being curious for sometime.
"Thirteen but I've being a chunnin since I was eleven." Sora looked overly impressed with himself. Deidara realised Sora wasn't short, just young.
"Yes, he loves to brag about it." Rena muttered.
"So he should, it's something to be proud of un." Deidara said, staring at the purple haired kunoichi with obvious distaste.
"Listen up." Sasori said, he hardly raised his voice but all the shinobi instantly fell silent. "Seidai Yagai is only half a day away. Deidara and myself will go on a head and asses the situation. We risk exposure if we all go. I want a squad on guard at all times. It's unlikely, but the enemy may have scouts coming this far. Keep alert. If we haven't returned by day break, return to Ame."
"Preferably if we haven't returned by day break, come and rescue us un?" Deidara asked.
"Get going, brat."
The two Akatsuki males left the camp at a run, They were all but flying through the trees. Their feet hardly touching the branches before they were in the air again. Deidara's hand was under his hair, adjusting his scope to see long distance. It was almost confusing to see at two different lengths but he had long gotten used to it. Deidara could see a bird sitting on a tree a kilometer away as he dodged the tree right in front of him. They hadn't even been running for twenty minutes when Deidara suddenly halted. Sasori stopped two branches ahead of Deidara and turned around giving his partner a questioning look.
"I have an idea un." Deidara ripped the skin off his thumb and pushed his hand down onto the ground. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu." A burst of smoke and four average sized hawks appeared in a flurry of wings and feathers. "I need you four to scout the area. Warn me of any shinobi in the area un."
"Yeah, fine." The largest hawk grunted before taking off. He was the only one with the ability to talk out of the four but Chounan preferred to use few words. The four hawks were all brothers and simply called themselves Dansei no Kyodai.
"You have more summons under your control?" Sasori asked, mildly surprised. He'd only seen Seishuku.
"Un. I've got four summons now. If I concentrate on what I need them for, I get a different one, or in this case a group. The Dansei no Kyodai are perfect for scouting. Seishuku for combined attacks, Tsubasa for separate attacks and Shouta for flying."
"You've had time to combine attacks with Seishuku?" Sasori could hardly remember Deidara even training to use more summons.
"I've being preparing for the war un." Deidara said with a slight smug tone.
"Tch, let's get a move on. I don't want to make the shinobi wait." Sasori turned back around and continued into the forest. Deidara just shook his head in amusement before following after Sasori.
They travelled at a fast pace for another two hours then slowed and dropped o the ground. Choosing to walk the rest of the way. It was safer to walk, they were less likely to miss a trap or enemy shinobi. A small hawk fluttered down and landed on Deidara's shoulder forty minutes into their walk. It nestled against Deidara's face and preened his hair. Deidara smiled and stroked the mostly white hawk on the head. It was Shiro, the youngest of the Dansei no Kyodai. The little hawk was also the friendliest. Shiro gave Deidara's ear two light nips with his curved beak.
"There's two shinobi around somewhere un." Deidara spoke up, earning Sasori's attention.
"Can you be a little bit more specific than that?" Sasori asked with annoyance, making Deidara roll his blue eye.
The little hawk cocked it's head to one side, almost like he was thinking. Shiro then flung his left white and brown wing out. "That enough for you Danna un?" Deidara smirked and Shiro let out a series of chirps.
"How far away?" Sasori rose his hands into the air to ward away Shiro who leapt off Deidara's shoulder in favor of attacking Sasori.
"You were asking for that Sasori un." Deidara chuckled in amusement. "Shiro, I want you to keep an eye on the shinobi. Fly back if they're coming our way un." The little hawk ceased his attacks on Sasori and took to the sky again.
"If that happens again I'll stick a kunai through it's heart." Sasori grumbled without real threat.
The two males made it the rest of the way without incident. The shinobi from earlier had backtracked and disappeared. Deidara stopped once his scope could pick up the village. His blonde brows narrowed in worry. Pein hadn't informed them how many shinobi there would be. All the buildings of Sedai Yagai were clustered in the middle of a huge clearing in the forest. There were perhaps fifty residency buildings, five large warehouses, a mill and various shops. Surrounding the buildings were fields and fields of produce. Sedai Yagai was located in Ame but only just. It sat just before the border of River and Wind. It was the perfect environment for crops. There was always weekly rains but enough sun and warmth to encourage the plants to grow.
The thing that was out of place were the ten tents that lined each side of Seidai Yagai. All in all there were forty tents. They were evenly spaced and as Deidara watched, he deduced that there were two shinobi to each tent. That meant there were at least eighty shinobi. The next thing he noticed was that there were four different insignia on the shinobi's hitai-ate. Deidara then frowned even deeper. It appeared that there were ANBU flitting around the village as well. He couldn't get a good estimate on the number of ANBU.
"What can you see Deidara?" Sasori asked after Deidara had studied the village for ten minutes.
"The shinobi are guarding each side of Sedai Yagai. Each Great Village has their own side with twenty shinobi each creating a total of eighty shinobi. There's also ANBU but I can't tell how many un." Deidara said, losing focus of the village and looking at Sasori.
"Pein was either horribly misinformed of the numbers or he's a prick."
"I won't be able to set off any large bombs. The tents are all spread out enough that I'd have to create a separate bomb for each or I'd risk ruining the crops un." Deidara looked concerned. "We don't have anywhere near enough shinobi for this."
"You're right. They're expecting us and are well prepared. We got lucky with the strike against Konaha because they were ill prepared but this, it will be a challenge." Sasori almost looked thrilled at the prospect.
"A challenge worthy of Akatsuki un."
Sendai Yagai: Prosperous fields.
Seishuku: Silent
Dansei no Kyodai: Male siblings.
Chounan: Eldest son.
Shiro: Fourth born son
Souta: Soar
Tsubasa: Wing
Aoi: Blue
Sora: Sky
