Authors Note: Sorry this update took a bit, I started working on a different story halfway into writing. Depending on how long this chapter gets, I might split this into two chapters.
Disclaimer: I obviously do not own Naruto, the world, or the characters. All of these belong to the creator Masashi Kishimoto.
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Chapters 1
The Boy Who Loved Art
It was around ten years ago, when a young Kurotsuchi lay idly by on the cracked rocky ground beneath her. She had stacked small rocks on top of each other. Small clicks ringing out as her tower grew with each new addition. Warm and cool air battled as they galloped down the mountains and into Iwagakure. A gentle breeze grazing the girl's short black locks. Kurotsuchi let out a sigh, and with a bored kick toppled her tower in an instant.
Huffing, the black haired girl paced the empty yard. She was supposed to be training her nature releases. Raising the earth below and then smashing it back down. It was expected of her to be just as if not more powerful than her grandfather after all. But, Kurotsuchi didn't particularly care about her future in the moment. Honing her skills wasn't very fulfilling for a child, especially as she did so alone.
Usually her grandfather would supervise Kurotsuchi's progress. However, Onoki was absent that day, meeting with other elders who ran the village. Whose names Kurotsuchi had halfheartedly attempted to remember. To little success of course.
"Kurotsuchi!" The Third Tsuchikage's voice bellowed, shaking the ground. The girl hurriedly stood at attention, giving a polite bow to her grandfather.
"Grandfather." She respectfully greeted. Upon pearing her eyes open, a broad smile spread across her face. "Akatsuchi!" Kurotsuchi happily yelled out, loosening her posture.
"Hi Kuro!" The slightly stout boy cheerfully returned, waving his hand from beside the Tsuchikage. Onoki, the stubborn man he was, wasn't fond of many people. Unfortunately, this was true even in his own hidden village. The kids often wondered if it was one of the many reasons nothing seemed to get done in Iwa when they weren't fighting something or someone. Anyways, Akatsuchi was from one of the only family clans Onoki did seem to like. Thus, the boy was one of the only kids Kurotsuchi had really known during her early childhood. One of the only kids who Onoki allowed to spend time with her.
"Were you still practising while I was gone?" Onoki gruffly asked, passing remnants of rocky pillars from past training sessions.
"I was, grandfather." Kurotsuchi lied, schooling her features. Onoki narrowed his old eyes at her, trying to find a slip up in her words. But, Kurotsuchi remained stone faced against his interrogation.
"Good." The Tsuchikage eventually grumbled. He motioned for Akatsuchi to join Kurotsuchi's side. Which the boy followed without complaint, as was his nature. "I'm still busy today. Got to deal with those good for nothing clan heads. Big Kage business and all that. You two spar or train together or something while I'm gone, understood?" Onoki ordered, receiving a pair of short nods in return.
With that her grandfather left the yard and soon disappeared behind the stone walls surrounding them. Once she was sure he was gone Kurotsuchi fell down onto her back, staring at the clear blue sky above.
"Okay, let's start training-" Akatsuchi was saying before she cut him off.
"Come on Akatsuchi…" The girl complained, pulling herself to her feet.
"It's what Lord Tsuchikage said to do." He stated. That was one of the reasons her grandfather allowed Kuro and Akatsuchi to hang out. The latter did what he was told to a tee. So, Kurotsuchi's only friend was also her guard. She huffed, opening her mouth to argue. Even though Akatsuchi always won when it came to disobeying Onoki.
However, before they could begin the usual back and forth. A deafening boom ricocheted throughout the village. The earth trembled and shook against the sudden force. Kurotsuchi just barely stayed on her feet while her friend fell over.
"What was that?" Akatsuchi exclaimed, frantically waving his arms while regaining his bearings.
"How am I supposed to know?!" She yelled back, as another round of tremors overtook them. "Let's go check it out!" The girl loudly suggested, her feet moving on their own volition. She was stopped when Akatsuchi grabbed her shoulder, pulling Kuro back.
"Lord Tsuchikage said to stay here though!" Her friend protested. But his wavering eyes betrayed him.
"…I-I know!" Kurotsuchi whined as another shake rang out. The two kids warily looked around at the surrounding stone. The smallest of cracks had emerged, yet it may as well've been an earthquake for them. "But, I really don't think we should stay!" She gulped, trying to hide her fear.
For once, Akatsuchi didn't protest as they raced out of the yard and into the streets.
—
Avoiding fellow panicked kids, citizens, shinobi, and kunoichi, Kurotsuchi noticed how the shaking had ceased. The two kids reached the village centre, filled to the brim with anxious gossipers. As they waded through the crowds, Akatsuchi turned his head toward the alleyways. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of yellow before a shockwave passed over them. A curious Kurotsuchi followed her friend's gaze toward the alley.
"Kuro…" Akatsuchi began, seeing the glint in her eyes.
"Over there! Follow me!" She hurriedly whispered, pulling him forward into the winding alleys of Iwagakure.
"It could be dangerous-" Her friend tried to argue, though she interrupted.
"We're going to be nin anyways!" Kurotsuchi quipped as the shadows enveloped the duo. Following the sound of explosions and shouts, the two eventually reached the source of the ruckus. The girl eagerly peeked out from behind a corner, watching the chaos unfold. A blue eyed blonde boy was wrestling with one of the veteran jounin, yelling obscenities.
"Let me go, hm!" The blonde shouted as the jounin lifted him up by the arm. From the boy's hand, another bomb went off that sent the kids flying back.
"Stop that, you no good-OUGH!" The jounin howled as the blonde kicked him where it hurts. The sudden pain caused the jounin to loosen his grip, releasing the laughing boy. With a smirk, the blonde leaped backwards to avoid a wayward swing.
"How are you a jounin if you can't even hold down a little brat like me, hm? More like a joke, a very bad joke, hm!" The boy gleefully taunted, easily maneuvering around the irate shinobi. Growling, the jounin recklessly charged forward. And as the blonde flung himself to the left, his eyes went wide with shock as the ground shook beneath them.
"Earth Style: Hidden Mole!" A feminine voice rang out, shooting out from the cracks and causing a dust storm to run rampant. Suddenly, the boy was unexpectedly pinned to the wall. His head hitting the rock wall with a loud bang.
"Hey…" He groaned, trying to wriggle free. The woman holding him in place having emerged from the crusted ground.
"Who's the joke now, HUH?" The jounin mocked, poking the boy on the forehead. Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi muffled their coughs from the woman's dust clouds. But, Kuro saw that through the storm was an older girl on the curved stone rooks. Gracefully balancing on the edge, the new girl glanced at the duo before cutting her hand through the dust.
"Hehe, well uh, you caught me, hm! Now, I don't suppose, you-can let me go, hm?" The blonde cheekily requested, ignoring the venomous scowls thrown his way. The jounin slammed his fists together in a gesture that was probably supposed to look intimidating.
However, before either could speak, the new girl had stealthy crept down from the roof and landed in front of the boy.
"Explosions Style: Exploding Palms…" The new girl attacked, spreading her arms out so that they faced the surprised nin's faces. Twin explosions were borne from her hands and launched the two adults back into the surrounding buildings, though relatively uninjured. The shock of the jutsu causing the girl's silky black hair to wildly whip the blonde.
"Ow! Control your hair, Mari, hm!" The blonde complained, rubbing his eye.
"Why are you always causing trouble, Deidara? It's always so boring having to fix your messes…" The girl, Mari blandly retorted. "Come on, we need to go before they get up." She insisted, grabbing his arm in a halfhearted drag.
"Got it, usual spot, hm?" The blonde asked, receiving a judging look from his rescuer. "So, usual spot, hm!" He added with a playful roll of his eyes, running ahead. The route the two kids took coincided with the alley Kuro and Akatsuchi stowed away in. Deidara nonchalantly knocking Kuro down in the process of escaping.
"Hey!" She irritably yelled, catching herself.
"Sorry, hm!" The boy shouted back, though his tone indicated otherwise.
"Why I-that!" Kurotsuchi seethed, impulsively deciding to give chase and avenge her honour.
"Kuro!" Akatsuchi tried to stop her, but failed to slow the girl down. Reluctantly, he also began to pursue after his friend and the other two misfits. The enraged screams of the nin behind him causing the boy to pick up the pace.
—
"Get back here dammit!" Kurotsuchi demanded as she ran after the two troublemakers. The blonde looked over his shoulder, surveying Kuro with a curious face.
"Aren't you the Tsuchikage's grandkid, hm? Roro, hm?" Deidara questioned in an mischievous tone.
"KUROTSUCHI! Now stop running and fight me!" She indignantly shrieked, increasing her speed.
"I'm good, hm! Can you stop tailing us, hm?" He asked with mock courtesy, starting to struggle in outrunning the fervent girl.
"Never!" Kuro hissed with such a ferocity that it made the boy pale considerably.
"We need to lose her!" Deidara whispered to Mari as they approached the village gates.
"We don't have time, idiot!" She whispered back, getting an annoyed groan from the boy.
"…Hey, Kuku!-" The blonde nicely started.
"KURO!" She heatedly corrected.
"Right, Kuro! Want to come with?" The boy sarcastically offered.
"Eh?" Kurotsuchi deadpanned. Before Deidara could elaborate, Akatsuchi frantically came dashing down the streets toward the trio. "Akatsuchi, help me get-" The girl immediately tried to enlist her friend to her cause.
"Kuro, we really should get back! Lord Tsuchikage's going to return any time soon! And now, we're being chased by nin!" Akatsuchi instead pushed, pointing at the amounting hoard of ninja that followed behind the group. Her friend had an exasperated expression on his face.
"But-" She tried to protest.
"Lord Tsuchikage's not going to let us do anything when he finds out we left Iwagakure!" Her friend loyally reasoned, causing Kuro to duck her head. She could already hear her grandfather rage on and on about how grounded Kuro would be.
"I-I guess you're right…" The girl sadly admitted, slowing to a halt. Every now and again she would have a short rebellious spark filled with antics such as chasing down misfits. And it was usually thanks to her grandfather and Akatsuchi who dimmed those sparks, such as that moment. "Fine… let's go…" Kuro murmured, kicking the earth beneath her feet until Deidara spoke up.
"Deidara…? Time?" Mari was saying as the boy calmly walked up to the duo. He glanced at the ever approaching nin force and shrugged the threat off before redirecting his focus on the two.
"Who cares what that old geezer thinks, hm?" The boy asked with a sly grin.
"Take that back!" Akatsuchi yelled as Kuro gaped.
"You guys are just pushovers, hm." The blonde accused with a sigh. To which Kuro and Akatsuchi blinked at him, surprised. "If you're so worried about getting in trouble. Then just don't get caught, hm." He bluntly added.
"We can't do that!" Akatsuchi argued, bunching his hands into round fists.
"Why not, hm?" The blonde passively shot back, hands on his hips as if the statement was ridiculous.
"It's my grandfather, Lord Tsuchikage." Kuro said next.
"So? The geezer's teaching you guys to be the next Tsuchikage, hm? And at this rate, you'll be a pushover of a kage if you keep doing everything he says." Deidara simply stated, mouth in a firm line as he spun on his heel and walked away with Mari. Kuro and Akatsuchi looked at his shrinking back, then each other. Slowly, Akatsuchi grabbed her hand and attempted to pull her away.
"Come on, Kuro. We should go." Her friend was saying, but the girl was rooted in deep thought. Her spark had been put out, indeed. However, it had cooled into hard stone. A stone which lodged itself in Kurotsuchi's gut, and though the forces of her mind tried to dislodge it. The stone would not budge. This was a stone her grandfather knew too well after all. A will of stone every Tsuchikage had known.
"…Wait up!" Kurotsuchi eagerly called out to the two kids, effortlessly dragging Akatsuchi with her as the nin nipped at their tails. Deidara's blue eyes met hers as the two new additions joined their escape. She remembered the brilliant smile he gave her so well.
—
Deidara and Mari led them out of Iwagakure. Shrugging off Akatsuchi's worries along the way. They had never left the village without Onoki's supervision before. So, it was a surprise when the blonde navigated pass hills and mountains to a small cave entrance. Without hesitation, he and Mari slid down into the opening. Kuro and Akatsuchi following if not a little unsure.
The sight that greeted them was breathtaking.
"Woah…" Kurotsuchi gasped, looking around in wonder at the spacious cave that surrounded them. Smooth stone walls decorated with vibrant colours and crystals. Clay sculptures guarding the area. So lifelike, it almost felt like falling into another world entirely.
"Welcome to the cave." Mari jadedly greeted, crouching next to a set of colourful paints.
"Our secret hideout, hm!" Deidara added with a spin, consequently tripping over a pile of raw clay. Causing Mari to laugh at his expense.
"How'd you guys come across this place?" Akatsuchi questioned, also stunned by the cave's beauty.
"It's been in the family for decades, hm. Was supposed to be a place where we could blow stuff up in peace. But, no one ended up actually using it for that and kept bombing the village. So, the place was relatively abandoned until we turned it into a hideout, hm." Deidara detailed, inspecting some of the smaller statues.
'Family? You're related?" Kuro asked, surprised. Quickly looking from Deidara's blonde hair and blue eyes to Mari's black hair and swampy brown ones.
"We're twins, hm." Deidara cooly gestured, though he tensed as if anticipating something.
"But, I'm older." Mari clarified with a smirk, to which her brother rolled his eyes. As if silently saying, 'there it is.'
"Only by four minutes." He muttered while rubbing clay between his fingers. "I take after our Dad, she takes after Mom." The blonde continued, winking at the clay figurine he moulded into a bird.
"Cool." Akatsuchi replied, nodding.
"Wait, so you made all of this?" Kurotsuchi asked, amazed at their artistic abilities.
"Yup, every little part was us. Though, someone hasn't been around as much lately." Deidara sassed, glancing at a scoffing Mari.
"There's nothing left to do." She yawned, stretching her arms.
"That's because you're a weirdo who doesn't like blowing up your old stuff to make room for more." The blonde shot back, putting the final finesses on the bird.
"Art is a living memory that should be kept around for as long as possible." Mari preached while admiring her own work.
"I don't get your sense of 'art', sis." Deidara drawled, throwing the bird up in the air. A maniacal glint shown in his eye as he raised his hands. "Art, is an explosion, hm!" The blonde yelled, and with a small explosion the clay was blown to bits. Kurotsuchi had to duck to avoid the flying debris. "Seriously, how do you not find that exciting, hm?" He quipped as an afterthought.
"Exploding clan, eh?" Akatsuchi noted with interest.
"You bet, hm!" Deidara proudly exclaimed.
"Are you entering the academy too?" Kuro asked, sitting on a flat stone. Getting a bubbly but silent nod in turn, the boy had already turned to a new project. "…Me and Akatsuchi are really excited to start beating the other villages up, you?" She probed.
"Explosion Corps." The twins simultaneously answered. Akatsuchi carried on upon seeing Kuro's inquisitive look.
"Most people with the explosion kekkei genkai go into-" He helpfully started.
"Everyone in our clan goes into the Explosion Corps, it's like the law… yay…" Mari finished with false enthusiasm .
"I for one, am looking forward to finally getting to explode something and not get yelled at, hm." Deidara commentated before breaking out into chuckles. For some reason she couldn't place, his answer disappointed Kurotsuchi.
"What about genin teams?" Kurotsuchi asked with hope in her heart.
"Don't really care, hm. Me and Mari are just going to get put with a bunch of idiots-" Deidara began with a nonchalant shrug, not pausing his work.
"-Yourself included." Mari teased which started a comical squabble between the siblings. Kurotsuchi watched the exchange while biting her lip. She turned to Akatsuchi, who awkwardly shifted around on his feet. Kuro wondered if she could ask Onoki for a favour, the first of many ideas beginning to solidify in her head.
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Authors Note: Let me know if this was a little wordy. I tried to make Mari's and Satori's view on art kind of similar. But, one is more, twisted. Small hint about future plot point.