Authors Note: Will be cross-posted on AO3. Another Naruto story, this time focusing on Kurotsuchi and Deidara. As the name suggests, this will focus on memory quite a lot. Which also includes some backstory. I like to think this could've happened somewhere in the canon plot somehow, sometime after Sasori died.
This was also partly inspired by another story I read where Deidara gets his memory erased by Kurotsuchi after finding out his little sister died in some way. I couldn't find it again unfortunately. And one of the first scenes is based on that one Pinterest picture of a young Deidara, Akatsuchi, and Kurotsuchi stealing Onoki's kage hat.
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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Memoriae
Prologue
Ragged…cold breaths. A thief desperately fled across the muddy ground beneath her barren feat. Wild hair danced in the storm, mixed with scarlet blood. Her skin was decorated with dirty scrapes and bruises. Hoarse gasps escaped her throat. She stumbled, cutting her foot against a sharp rock. Yet she pushed on, crawling toward her destination. The wind howled, whipping against her back. Tears mingled with cold rain, as she extended one shaky limb after the other. The thief coughed, but kept one hand pressed against her precious treasure.
"…Almost….t-there…." The thief sputtered, dead eyes obscured by shadows. "…So…c-close…" She whispered to the grass. Her eyes drooped with exhaustion. She almost succumbed to her mind's desires. However, a thunderous roar from behind the thief brought her back to her senses.
"This way! Find them and kill them!" A dark stranger growled, a light peaking over the hills from the night. The thief muffled her cries, painfully rising to continue her escape.
After torturous hours of evasion, the thief fell down into darkness. She hit the hard stone flood with a thud. Breathlessly staring up at the cloudy black sky. Eventually, she pulled herself to her feet and wandered into the ominous jaws of the dark tunnels. Though, it was no impediment to her. For the thief was skilled in navigating the dark descent of the cave.
A crazed smile spread across her face. As she hungrily gazed at her treasure. A giggle jumped out of her mouth as mountains of lustrous thoughts invaded her mind. So caught up in her zeal, the thief didn't notice a crack in the floor. The thief tripped, the treasure crashing to the floor.
The sound of shattering glass echoed through the night.
—
*Flashback* Six years ago…
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki loudly yawned as he scribbled on his paperwork. Eyes squinting as he pushed through the lines. His brown kage hat was tilted, obscuring his wrinkled face. For a second, the old warrior nodded off. But, Onoki shot awake, quickly shaking his head to reorientate himself. Rubbing his eye, the Tsuchikage abruptly stood. Removing his hat in the process.
"Damn office…" Onoki grumbled, shuffling out the door. He just needed some fresh air is all, then he could get back to work no problem. Because he was still an able, competent kage! And not too old for the position!
After enjoying the rocky mountain breeze, Onoki returned to his office. A peaceful expression adorned the old man's face. He felt invigorated from his short break. The Tsuchikage felt so good, he felt as if he could plow right through his remaining paperwork. However, before Onoki could restart the mundane work. He noticed his Kage hat was missing. At first the short elder was perplexed, which swiftly turned into irritation upon hearing the youthful laughs below his office.
"WHY-LITTLE RASCALS! GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!" The furious Tsuchikage raged, demolishing the door on his way outside.
In the streets of Iwagakure, village of the hidden stone, three kids gleefully ran. The thunderous shouts of Onoki nipping at their heels. The oldest of these kids was a large boy, who promptly introduced his plump face to the ground.
"Come on, Akatsuchi!" The second, a black haired girl yelled back. She was Kurotsuchi, who happened to be Onoki's granddaughter.
"Don't worry about it, Kuro! There's no way that slow, old man could catch up to us, hm!" The last boy, with long blonde hair said with a proud teasing grin. He wore Onoki's stolen Kage hat on his head as the three kids raced ahead.
"SLOW? WAIT UNTIL I GET MY HANDS ON YOU BRAT! I'LL SHOW YOU-" Onoki shrieked at the blonde's remark.
"I'd like to see you try, old man, hm!" The blonde quipped in response. His words served to incense the Tsuchikage further. Steam practically poured out from his ears.
"He's catching up, Deidara!" Kurotsuchi reported, sheepishly glancing behind them as they turned the corner of another stone building. The three kids ducked under carts and dodged bystanders in their escape. Though, Onoki continued to gain ground by the minute. The blonde didn't reply and kept his vision focused ahead. Deidara smirked as he saw a stand selling rag dolls at a stand. With a leap the boy somersaulted onto the counter. He proceeded to jump off with a laugh. Leaving the dolls scattered on the ground.
The middle aged woman screeched as he reunited with his friends.
"You didn't have to do that, Deidara." Akatsuchi chided with a sigh as they continued to run.
"Eh, I just showed that hag what real art looked like, hm." The blonde shrugged off. "It actually could've been better." He added, hands twitching. "Because art, is an explosion-"
*Flashback end*
—
Kurotsuchi gasped as her eyes flew open. She instinctively rolled onto the floor, scanning her room for danger. However, there was no one around but her. The kunoichi sharply exhaled before standing. Then sat on her bed while spinning a kunai. It was still night outside, the moon watching over Iwagakure's stone structures in silence.
"Not again…" Kurotsuchi mentally cursed. How many times had she dreamt of those days long past? Too many to count. She glanced at a small framed photo that sat on her desk. It showed a teenage Kuro, Akatsuchi, and Deidara as jounin. The blonde shinobi had once again made fun of Onoki, whose shorter figure angrily hollered to the trio's amusement.
It had been years since then. A distant lifetime for Kurotsuchi. She felt a wave of nostalgia and longing pulse through her, but quickly shook it off.
"Kurotsuchi?" A loud knock from the hallway interrupted her thoughts. The kunoichi wasn't surprised to find Akatsuchi in her home. The two had known each other long enough to afford such privileges.
"What is it?" She asked with a hint of irritation.
"We're being sent out. Lord Tsuchikage specifically asked for us." Akatsuchi lazily explained, leaning against the stone walls. Kurotsuchi rolled her eyes at the news.
"This better be important. Where's the old fossil sending us?" The kunoichi muttered while she grabbed her equipment.
"Land of Water-" Her old teammate began, surprising Kurotsuchi.
"Are you serious? And this can't wait until tomorrow-" She began to spout, turning to face Akatsuchi.
"It's Deidara." He simply declared, causing them both to fall silent. Kurotsuchi was still as a statue, before slowly returning to her preparations.
"Is my old man… you know?' The young woman quietly asked, eyes obscured by her hair.
"Lord Tsuchikage will be joining us this time." Akatsuchi answered, tone carefree though his somber eyes betrayed him.
"…Got it, thanks, Akatsuchi." Kurotsuchi forced out, not looking at him. The loyal shield nodded, wordlessly exiting the area. Kuro shortly followed, shooting a final sad gaze at the photo as she left to meet the others.
—
Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi, and Onoki travelled the long journey to Kirigakure. The kunoichi scoffing at her shivering friend during the boat ride across. The trio first met with Mei Terumi. The auburn haired Kage introduced the Kiri nin who would accompany them during the mission. These new additions included Ao of the byakugan, who curtly greeted the Iwa crew. Beside him was Chojuro, a mild mannered member of the seven swordsmen. Finally there were five scouts who walked in front.
"Kiri previously sent two jounin teams to investigate rumours of Akatsuki operating in an old mountain cave system, neither returned." Ao grimly reported as they left the village gates.
"Mph, how is that not surprising…" Onoki loudly mumbled. Their Kiri compatriots visibly tensed at the Kage's words. Kurotsuchi didn't bother trying to hide her annoyance. Next to her Akatsuchi gave no indication of noticing anything amiss.
"If the Mizukage herself hadn't ordered this mission. I would personally demonstrate how incorrect you are…" Ao darkly muttered, raising his chin as if looking down on the Kage. Kurotsuchi and Onoki bristled.
"In case you haven't realized! I'm the Third-" The old Kage began, before Kurotsuchi cut him off.
"Don't start a fight before we've even there, gramps." The kunoichi warned with a sigh. Akatsuchi had stepped in front to shield the two should conflict arise. Onoki grumbled, but withdrew nonetheless. Ao appeared to have a similar but tamer discussion with Chojuro. Kurotsuchi took a step back, lamenting the situation. Iwagakure's isolationist attitude had it's benefits. But, when Iwa actually needed to work with the other villages. Their attitude's flaws became glaringly obvious. Iwa's reputation as a trustworthy partner being nearly non existent for one.
"Continue." The Tsuchikage motioned, biting down an insult. Ao similarly, inhaled to recompose himself.
"Very well then… with our teams current unknown status. We have reason to believe there to be a substantial threat. Particularly, our scouts have been able to confirm one of your fugitives, Deidara's presence in the caves." The eyepatch wearing shinobi informed.
"Which is why you sent word to us." Akatsuchi surmised with a small nod.
"Y-yeah, since he's from your village and everything. W-we kind of thought you'd be more experienced in handling him, and all…" Chojuro shyly stuttered.
"Chojuro, speak clearly!" Ao sternly chided, a disapproving glint in his eye.
"I-I know, sorry…" The young swordsman bashfully replied.
"As he said, you should be able to handle him, at least." Ao repeated, a small amount of contempt leaking into his voice.
"Grr, of course we can." Onoki roughly answered. "So what will you Kiri nin be doing while we do the fighting?" The Tsuchikage drawled, eyes narrowing. The old man implying that the Iwa group would be doing all the work.
"We will be facing the rest of Akatsuki that should happen to present themselves in the area." Ao stated, meeting Onoki's gaze head on, unflinching. By taking on the more challenging foe, he had implied the Iwa group was too weak to handle it themselves. The air froze as hostilities seemed to mount once more between the men. Before another scene could occur however, Chojuro hurriedly stepped in.
"Ah, we don't think we'll be facing any more than one opponent though. From what we gathered from the other villages, Akatsuki travels in pairs. It's unlikely two pairs are together in this case." The young swordsman said with a shaky chuckle.
"He's right, we'd have brought more people if we thought we'd be facing that many enemies." A female scout, Umi noted.
"…A shame, there's a certain swordsman I would've liked to execute." Ao muttered, looking away with a scowl.
"Kisame Hoshigaki, yes? Famed shinobi turned missing nin." Kurotsuchi recalled. "I can understand your hatred. We feel the same about Deidara." She bitterly stated, eyes dark.
"Mph, if it resembles anything close to mine. I imagine you'll have no problem permanently eliminating the pest then." Ao remarked, a small smirk on his face. If there was anything to agree on with him, it would be the shared hatred of missing nin. But, at his words Kuro inwardly tensed.
"…Do you doubt us?" The Iwa kunoichi tersely questioned, face obscured.
"I doubt Iwagakure's commitment to anything but themselves." Ao murmured. He exchanged a final spiteful glance with the Iwa nin before marching ahead with the scouts. Kurotsuchi sighed, pinching her nose in frustration. She knew there would be no avoiding Deidara's fate, no sparing him. They had all agreed long ago they would be killing Deidara. Yet the thought haunted her.
Kurotsuchi attempted to draw her thoughts away from the blonde.
Something positive. Perhaps this shared mission could grow into some sort of political toy that could ease relations between Iwa and Kiri. Their villages' ties were especially tense at the moment. The trio had even discussed the hidden mist's message being some sort of ploy before departing. But, they had gone anyway. Because it had concerned Deidara… her thoughts couldn't escape him.
A nervous cough interrupted her thoughts. Looking up, she saw Chojuro approach. An unsaid barrier had formed between those from Iwa and Kiri, the young swordsman serving as a shaky bridge.
"What do you want?" She asked in an annoyed tone, regarding him with disinterest. "You don't look like one of the feared seven swordsmen we've heard so much about." Kurotsuchi halfheartedly mocked. Chojuro gulped as Ao looked back. The older man silently yelling for Chojuro to defend his and Kiri's honour. The younger shinobi stiffened before speaking.
"I-uh-I-well, sorry about Ao. Please don't take it personally." Chojuro stammered. Kurotsuchi elected not to respond, as did her comrades. Seeing this, the shinobi scrambled to find a new topic of discussion. "Y-you'll be okay with fighting, D-Deidara, right?" Chojuro eventually mumbled, despite Onoki's glare.
"We know how that traitor fights well enough." Kurotsuchi coldly remarked, answering for her team. Before the Kiri nin could respond, Ao barked for him to come forward which he hurriedly did. She watched her comrades. Behind Onoki's annoyance and Akatsuchi's placidness there were sullen souls. Kurotsuchi felt the same. She didn't want their history to end like this, with Deidara's death. Inside her mind a storm brewed. Despite everything their former comrade had done, she didn't want him to die…
Her Deidara…
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Authors Note: Hmm, in my head this could've happened before episode 242 of Shippuden. But, don't worry about continuity that much. Anyways, next couple chapters are going to be flashbacks. But, don't expect updates that regularly. Looking back, I can't fathom how I managed to push out 2-4k word chapters daily.
That's all for now. Please tell me your thoughts so far!