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 6
Crack
"You're joking, hm?!" Deidara exclaimed with a cackle, eagerly listening as Kuro relayed one of their many misadventures. In turn, she smirked, planting her hands on her hips. "You actually made him fall over the entire cake? In front of everyone? You, hm?!" He incredulously repeated, slapping his knee in disbelief. Kuro proudly rested her chin on her palm, bopping her head in the process.
"I didn't do it publicly." She singsonged, drawing her eyes back. "I hid behind an old statue the idiot commissioned for himself and tripped him; got what he served for underestimating me." Kuro flippantly explained as Deidara nodded, impressed.
"Sounds like it, hm. i would've loved to wreck his party, hm!" The blonde chuckled, eyes lighting up at the fantasy.
"Of course you would." She happily sighed in turn, leaning back into the cool stone. "Only you could get away with it." The kunoichi added, a nostalgic warmth flowing through her chest.
"And cause the fossil a headache, hm." He expanded while smashing his hands together. Kuro grinned, throwing a circular pebble at the wall before catching it. She'd repeated that pattern for what felt like the hundredth time: talking with Deidara, laughing, cracking jokes and throwing the pebble only to start it all again. Though, it was a peaceful loop like a morning routine; it felt natural.
The two suddenly tensed as they felt a presence nearby. Kuro discreetly glanced at Deidara before leaning forward ever so slightly. However, she visibly relaxed upon catching sight of the large shadow. The kunoichi winked at her friend and then loudly coughed.
"It's just so sad! Grandfather is going senile!" Kuro fake cried, wiping invisible tears from her face. The blonde blinked before understanding fluttered into his eyes, a mischievous grin taking hold.
"I warned everyone it was going to happen, hm! He'll have to be replaced soon, hm!" Deidara snorted in mock pity. The two broke out into raucous laughter when Akatsuchi stepped forward from around the bend.
"Ha, very funny guys." The elder male sighed, raising his chin in a scolding manner. Though, twitches of humour seeped through his features.
"Still protecting the fossil, classic Akatsuchi, hm." Deidara chuckled with his comrades.
"Heh, we're still a team." The shield proudly defended.
"Hasn't changed at all." Kuro and Deidara responded in turn, sharing another laugh. Unfortunately, the moment faded away as Akatsuchi spoke up.
"So, it's been hours already. What are you two doing in here?" He asked with a small smile.
"We've been talking about… everything." Kuro wistfully responded, pushing herself onto her feet. "It's only been a few hours?" She realized, crossing her arms over each other.
"Time flies, hm." Deidara reflected, similarly moving towards the tunnel bend. "We should head back, hm?" He motioned, meeting Akatsuchi's analytical gaze.
"Lord Tsuchikage sent me." The shield explained. To which the two nin waved off while walking back towards the others. Kuro noticed how the dim blue light seemed more alluring than before, more comforting than fearful. Her sentiment extended towards the shadows, which seemed like gentle strokes on an evening setting instead of secretive. The tunnels seemed more open and wide than cramped like before. She felt at ease with her team by her side.
"Do you hear something?" Kuro hurriedly whispered after a moment, raising her hand to make them pause. Silently, the males nodded and the three raced forward, cutting through the air currents like a feather to streams.
They arrived to find Ao and Chojuro restraining a decrepit old woman near another tunnel opening. The older man cursing as she wildly flawed in his grasp. Kuro ran up to see Onoki yelling at the reflections who absentmindedly watched the scene unfold. Though, Kisame's reflection seemed bothered by the exchange. The reflection of Hidan was noncommittally droning about something, what that was she couldn't hear.
"Where is it? Go back! I have to-Darling! GO BACK! Where is it, darling? GO-" The woman mumbled and rambled and babbled as she tried to break away. Her body seemed to be a mess of frayed hair and flesh. However, her movements soon grew stiff and cold. Soon after, the woman went unusually still, continuing to babble nonsense.
"What's wrong with her?" Chojuro worriedly asked as Ao tied her down.
"Oh, the hag's back, hm." Deidara nonchalantly commented, causing Kuro to swivel towards him.
"You know her?" She questioned, making him shrug.
"She was here when I first woke up, hm. I tried to get to leave, but she always came back. I think she's some old woman's reflection from years ago, hm." Deidara calmly assessed while walking towards the Kiri shinobi. "Hag disappears sometimes. She always comes back though, hm. But, since keeping this place a secret is a lot more important now, hm. It's a good idea to keep her stuck, hm." The blonde nodded before facing the group.
"Creepy…" Chojuro muttered at the elder's faint mumblings.
"You couldn't have mentioned this earlier?" Ao criticized, taking a small step away from the still elder.
"I had a lot to think about, hm!" Her friend grumbled with downcast eyes. Kuro tried her best not to look suspicious as he spoke. "We good to set off now, hm?" Deidara quizzed the assembled, who all wordlessly affirmed. "Good, let's go." He ordered, a stoney mask covering his face as he led the group through the tunnels. Kuro took a fleeting glance at the old woman before sighing, following along.
She tried to bury the growing pit inside her stomach that something terrible would happen.
—
The resounding silence was odd after having spent hours talking with her friend. Though, there was a nervous jump to her step as they walked. Meanwhile, Kuro studied her blonde comrade. Deidara seemed at ease in the tunnels, he seemed to know them like Iwagakure's streets. His eyes appeared catch every crack and dent in the stone and every gust of wind.
"So, you guys made your own tunnel in, hm?" He quizzed as they climbed a steeper path. Sharp rocks bit into her hands as they ascended.
"I did." Onoki responded, and Deidara smirked.
"Had to exercise your old arms, hm." The blonde chuckled before quickly continuing. "I'm taking you guys to one of the outermost sections, hm. Do it again." He ordered with a serious expression. His tone was low, like the echoey chambers they walked through. In response, the Tsuchikage merely nodded in understanding. The Kiri portion of their group observed the exchange like jumpy rats.
"You're a lot more sane than I thought you'd be." Raion noted with a befuddled face. His left hand rested over his blade pouch.
"I'm not the one you've been hearing about, hm." Deidara retorted as they traversed a straight tunnel. After about half a hour of awkward silence, they paused in front of a flat wall. "Here we are, hm. Old man?" He waved over, who gruffly followed. Kuro blinked, the instinct to claim she or Akatsuchi could've done it dead in her throat. Something was holding her back from speaking.
Onoki pushed his hands together and swiftly made a tunnel through the wall, bits of stone peeling off in the process. A single ray of sunlight burned away the blue glimmer of the cave, causing Kuro to squint her eyes as the outside world became known.
"Good." Deidara signed, flicking his arm towards the exit. "All of you, out, hm." He strongly stated, directing an impatient glare at the group. His eyes flew from them, the exit, and behind the group. They looked at each other, sharing a common sentiment before Ao coughed.
"Scouts, head back and return to Kirigakure to inform Lord Mizukage about the situation. We might need backup to bring Akatsuki in." The blue haired shinobi curtly ordered. The remaining scouts straightened, before making their way through the tunnel.
"This is a tight fit-" One of the scouts on the stouter side grumbled as they tried to shimmy through. Raion had already crossed and was waiting for his comrades. Umi waited behind the grumbling scout.
"What are you doing, hm? I said everyone-" Deidara tried to interject but Ao cut him off.
"That's not your decision to make." The older fighter shot down, turning to stare behind himself. "Akatsuki is our problem, and we will take them down." Ao explained. Deidara stiffened, narrowing his eyes into slits. Sparks danced from his fingertips and the group tensed. Umi already had her weapon out as he spoke in an ice cold voice.
"They're my problem too. But, me taking them down has less risk involved!" Deidara hissed, taking a step closer.
"Take them down by yourself? How cocky are you that you can take them on-" Ao argued before being cut off.
"-And survive, hm. I know I probably can't live through it, hm. But disappearing doesn't matter as long as I can take them with me." The blonde dryly explained, a dark look in his eyes. Kuro gaped, shaking her head as she spoke without thinking.
"Doesn't matter? It matters! You matter!" She angrily pressed, clenching her fists tight. Her beat beat loudly against her chest as Deidara turned his gaze towards her. "If you don't come back we can't-" Kuro tried to say before he interrupted with a scowl.
"I can't leave…" Deidara whispered, the shadows of his hair hiding his face.
"-Can't even make a proper tunnel-" The scout wheezed as Kuro reeled her head back.
"Don't be ridiculous! Of course-" She seethed before he screamed.
"I CAN'T LEAVE!, KURO! I LITERALLY CAN'T LEAVE THIS STUPID MOUNTAIN!" Deidara yelled, his voice reverberating through the tunnels. Kuro's face turned pale white as Onoki and Akatsuchi stared. The Kiri nin remained silent as they fought, unwilling to entangle themselves in their drama.
"What… are you talking about?" Kuro half laughed in shock. Initially, Deidara wouldn't answer. Instead, he paced back and forth through the shadows. It was at that moment Kuro noticed he didn't have a shadow. A part of her heart sunk at the observation.
"…You think I haven't tried to leave already? The first thing I did when I woke up was try and get out of here and fine… something… someone…hm." Deidara whispered, eyes sparking with vengeance. "Turns out, reflections can't leave the cave without…" He paused, rolling up his red sleeve to reveal crackling blue lines trailing his arm. Puffs of blue light similar to the cave's walls fell from him. Kuro began to feel faint. "Can't leave without this happening…." He revealed with a tearful smile, the salt illuminated by the light.
"No…" Those from Iwa muttered. At once, all of Kuro's fantasies were shattered. Her dreams of having Deidara back at Iwagakure and everything returning to normal, gone just like that. Deidara wasn't done.
"I'm not real… The only real thing I can do is stop them, Kuro…" The boy reminded, and took a step past her to move to the group's flank. "That's why I should stay here. And you all should go-" He tried to convince them but was stopped when a storm of wing slammed into him. "What the-" Deidara started to curse before a flash of yellow strikes the exit.
"Art is an explosion!" Someone cackled.
—
Kuro coughed as the force of the explosion knocked her back. She quickly regained her wits and tried to see through the smoke. The light of the sun shined through and she saw Umi cartwheel backwards with a sorrowful look on her face. Immediately afterwards, the stout scout screamed and the silhouette of their body went limp. Behind them, Raion seemed to stagger backwards before disappearing.
The tunnel collapsed as Akatsuki's Deidara charged towards his reflection.
"Hey again, hm!" He brightly greeted, contrasting his reflection's murderous aura.
"You should be dead." The Iwa uniform wearing male growled as they traded blows back and forth.
"I can say the same about you, hm!" Deidara quipped with a lopsided grin. "Explosion: C1" He charged and flung a white spider at the reflection. In turn, he dodged and raised his own hands high.
"Explosion Release: Landmine Fist!" He rallied as they turned their spite into combat. The fire of their fight blinding the others in the cave. Kuro clenched her teeth as she leapt to assist her grandfather and Akatsuchi, who faced the scythe wielder once more. Naturally, Ao and Chojuro were engaging Kisame near them. Kuro was constantly on the move, avoiding attacks on all sides.
"Earth Release: Opening Earth Rising Excavation!" Kuro summoned, using it to grapple onto a rook in the ceiling. Her plan was to submerge the silver haired man with quicklime. But, her eyes fell on the Deidaras' fight. They were directly beneath her and it was a picture of blue and red blood. She looked away and fired her quicklime at Hidan. Unfortunately, the criminal dodge and took a swing at Akatsuchi's stomach.
"Damn!" Kuro mentally cursed and readied herself to jump back into the fray. But, in the corner of her eye she saw Akatsuki's Deidara take a slash to his arm. He hissed, though Kuro was more focused on what occurred to his reflection. The blonde in Iwagakure's apparel similarly hissed and clutched his arm as the blue lines grew along it.
Kuro suddenly realized that a reflection couldn't exist without a base to reflect from.
So, what would happen to Deidara's reflection if he died?
The thought made her froze in her place, her grip shook before steadily loosening.
Someone yelled and she turned. Looking down, the kunoichi saw Deidara's reflection holding his original down. He tried to grapple a weapon without releasing the criminal. But, it proved to an arduous task. He looked up, towards her. Their eyes met.
"Do it!" He mouthed.
"Finish him off…" She finished for him. Her hands moved into a sign but stopped mid-air. Her mind was frenzied. If she killed Deidara, would she lose both versions of him? She… she couldn't take that risk. A tear slid down her cheek as if someone had stabbed into her brain.
Kuro couldn't do it.
The opportunity was lost as Akatsuki's Deidara threw his reflection off and blasted him against the stone. He turned his head and grinned. Before Kuro knew it she was ducking her head as he launched himself towards her. However, the kunoichi wasn't quick enough. Deidara grabbed her leg and dragged her down to the ground. They landed with a loud crack, and Kuro groaned as she numbly rolled out of the way of a punch.
A pulsing blue light, brighter than the average cave crack flooded her vision. She felt someone grab her neck and force her face against the light. Still weary from the fall, Kuro couldn't resist as a reflection came into view. She saw her out of it face, a bruise on her cheek and red splotches here and there. Suddenly, the pressure on her neck vanished as a new kind of pain overcame her mind.
—
*Flashback *
She was in Onoki's office, which has remained miraculous untouched after Deidara's assault on Iwagakure. Her fist were reared back as he delivered the news.
"We have to tell everyone! The Koton Clan is finished, there's no reason to hide it now, grandfather!" She screamed, banging on the desk. In turn, the Tsuchikage pushed the furniture back, a stern look on his face.
"He's betrayed us! None of us have even seen him after he fled Iwagakure's borders! There's no point in clearing the already-dirtied name of that boy!" He seethed, though glimpses of grief could be seen in his eyes. Though, Kuro couldn't see it in that moment. She hadn't told anyone of her final exchange with Deidara, of what she'd done to him.
"I hate you!" Kuro seethed, for a split second she wanted to make her Tsuchikage hUrT. But, her had remembered itself before anything could happen. She'd originally left the office a steaming mess.
However, something else happened in her recollection.
Kuro felt the anger in her body multiply like a virus. It was like her blood itself was laced with volcanic fury. Her empathy and logic seemed to be numbed over in a barren tundra. Her desire to make Onoki HuRt morphed into an unbearable bloodlust. She didn't just want him to sUfFeR for lying about Deidara. Kuro wanted him to DiE. She wanted to KiLl HiM hErSeLf. He needed to pay!
The room seemed to darken as the anger grew and grew. Roots embedded themselves into her memories and heart. Something cold fell over her until all that was left was that burning rage. However, that anger turned to herself as well. It was her fault for erasing his memories and making him insane. Kuro had done that to him. She needed to pay!
"Deidara…" Kuro rasped as a giggly overtook her. "I'll save you…" She went, full of joy from dreaming about their deaths. Kuro would stop her comrade from hurting anyone else, which undoubtedly hurt who he once was! He had to pay!
They all had to pay… pay… PAY…
*Flashback End*
Kuro gasped, staggering back from the pulsing light. She tripped on a nook in the floor and fell on her back. Her head spun as she tried to wrestle her warring thoughts. It was if someone had torn her spirit apart long enough to pry something away before sewing the pieces together again. Every attempt to think was met with a searing headache in her skull.
"Grandfather!" She thought she yelled, but her lips felt so dry?
"Kurotsuchi!" Her grandfather returned, so she must've been out of it. However, when she peered up the elder wasn't racing towards her. Instead, he raced to a scarily similar figure farther away. "What are-" Onoki started before the figure rose, lightning fast and tried to stab him in the heart. Fortunately, Deidara's reflection reappeared and dragged him back.
"Kuro!" The blonde shouted, eying the figure before spotting her position.
"Why…?" Onoki mumbled, confusion and hurt clear on his face. However, he was shocked to see Deidara engage the figure in a fight. Now that Kuro's vision felt more clear, she made out that the figure was a near exact replica of her. The only difference that existed was the figure's manic smile.
"It's not Kuro, hm! It's a reflection!" Deidara speedily explained as her reflection cackled.
"Please die, grandfather! We need to pay for ruining Deidara's life!" She begged, a kunai in her hand aimed at Onoki's stunned features.
"Dammit! I wouldn't want this, hm!" The blonde tried to say.
"Of course you wouldn't! But it's what we deserve! Me, this horrible old man, what you've become, and-and-and… the coward!" Kuro's reflection raved with a murderous gleam in her eyes. She pointed at Kuro herself when she finished. And her comrades stiffened. Deidara was quicker, blasting the laughing figure away before scowling at the fighting around them.
"… We can't win this. We got to go, hm!" The blonde yelled, rushing to Kuro before dragging them all off. He copied his original's move and destroyed the tunnel once everyone was through.
—
Her head swam with confusion as they stumbled back into the safe space. The other reflections appeared surprised at their return, but subtly moved away. In the corner of her version she saw Deidara vanish to check their tracks. But, the pounding in her mind was too strong to resist. Kuro wobbled to a flat stone and pushed herself against it, listening to her own staggered breaths.
"… Grandfather…" She whispered almost incoherently, trying to process what had occurred. The kunoichi could still see those horrible images and feelings while her reflection came to exist. Kuro gasped as the memory of her reflection attacking Onoki flashed through her mind. The insane smile felt rotten as she attacked again and again and again.
Guilt rolled over Kuro in waves. She couldn't even look at her family member without crumbling. Eventually, the young woman fell into a restless slumber as her mind betrayed her.
—
"We have to leave soon before the scouts bring backup." Kisame advised as they stalked through the tunnels, having partially learned how to navigate the spiralling cave. Deidara grinned as he hopped over a stone, invigorated by the screams of his last victim. He could still see the glorious sparks as they were torn from flesh and bone. If only he could get the rest of them, Kuro, Onoki, and Akatsuchi. If he could only blow one of them up; it would be incredible!
"We need to find the charm. We're not wasting all this time and potential profit by running off." Kakuza gruffly retorted, narrowing his green eyes at the shark-man. Hidan loudly hummed behind the three, muttering something or another about his religion.
"I want to stay too, hm! I can't lose a chance to make art with my old team!" Deidara similarly protested with a lopsided grin.
"You can fight them later after we get out of here." Kisame pressed, balancing his long curved sword over his shoulders. "But, leader won't be very happy if we all died because of a stupid cave trip." He argued, causing voices of dissent to rise up. However, before the group could continue the spat Hidan spun around. His scythe reflected the veins' light as he took an eager step forward.
"I got another one for you, Jashin!" The immortal passionately cheered to the ceiling. Though, a girlish giggle caused all four of them to tense. Deidara's eyes widened as he recognized the voice.
"Kuro, hm?" He asked, pushing past Hidan to the older man's ire. His grin grew wider and wider as he made out his former teammate's figure. "Kuro! I can't wait to-" His excited greeting was cut off.
"Deidara! It's so good to see you!" Kuro gleefully shouted, launching herself at him. The blonde was so caught off guard he nearly failed to dodge. His actions made the kunoichi cackle harder with a pulsing red light in her eyes. She swung again but staggered, laughing as she twirled while rooted to the rock. Deidara could only watch, slack jawed with the rest of Akatsuki as she twitched.
"Oi, why is she acting like you?" Hidan yelled, pointing his scythe at the girl. However, Deidara soon grinned from ear to ear. Slowly, he stepped forward, having to dodge numerous little swings and kicks from Kuro.
"It's not the real Kurotsuchi, just her reflection from earlier, hm." The criminal happily noted, blowing her shadowless body against the wall.
"Eh?" Kuro drawled, inattentively dragging the 'h' out. "I'm Kuro! Your best friend in all the world!" She insisted, rising from the ashes as if the attack had never occurred. The girl charged with manic passion.
"What's she doing here besides having a death wish?" Kisame grumbled, a bored expression on his face as the two Iwa nin fought. Though, his question was soon answered by Kuro's reflection.
"Please let me kill you, Deidara! I need to kill you and grandfather and me so we can all pay for our horrible, horrible crimes!" She raved, slamming into his chest.
"Right! You want the old man dead too, hm!" Deidara laughed as he grabbed her arm and forced her to the floor. Though, Kuro merely turned her head to him with wide, crazed eyes. Her mouth was charcoal black and puffs of smoke fled her as she spoke.
"Yes! This is all his fault! It's because of him everyone hunted you down! But, it's also my fault! It's my fault you ended up like-like this! So, everyone needs to be punished, and saved! And death's the perfect, perfect plan! Right?! Right?! Kuro fervently screamed like Hidan to Jashin.
"What…?" Hidan deadpanned, directing his blade towards her. However, Deidara waved him off.
"She's a lot more fun like this, hm!" The blonde eagerly analyzed, dissecting the reflection that has caused chaos. He suddenly had a glint in his eyes as Kuro struggled under him. "Say, Kuro, hm. Why don't we team up to kill our team?" Deidara suavely offered, loosening his grip slightly as she stilled. As if his madness transferred to her, Kuro's eyes attained the same glint as his own.
"Oh! You mean that, Deidara? You want to team up just like old times? You'll help me help us all?!" She interrogated with a lopsided smile, roughly pushing him back.
"Sounds fun, hm!" Deidara nodded, grinning at his Akatsuki comrades.
"It's fun to do the righteous thing! So fun! Very fun!" Kuro singsonged, before drawing her head back. "Oh… but before we kill me I'll kill you, kay? I need to see it happen…" She quietly threatened in a venomous voice. Though, the blonde merely seemed amused by her words.
"Try your best, hm!" He lightly quipped, flexing his hands. In turn, her lips parted even wider if that was possible.
"I will! You can trust me to do the right thing now!" Kuro reassured with open arms.
"Okay, Kuro… Actually, you're not really Kuro, hm. You're more like a… darker Kurotsuchi… dark… Kuro… Kuro Kuro. I'm going to call you Kurokuro, hm!" Deidara decided, patting the reflection's head.
"Whatever you say, Deidara! As long as we're dead by the end, I'm okay with anything!" She giggled.
Deidara brightly smiled as he helped Kurokuro up to her feet, Afterwards, he wrapped an arm around her giddy shoulders and forced them forward. In his mind, the artist was cheerfully planning his next collection. He could just see it. Both versions of Kurotsuchi dead on the cold stone, Akstsuchi's remains scattered around an unrecognizable Onoki in an array of fiery colours. Deidara childishly hummed as he shouted at his teammates.
"Kakuza! Do you have any extra cloaks, hm?"
—
Author's Note: This chapter is called 'Crack' since a lot of things break this chapter: Kuro 'shatters' and has a reflection created, her dreams of having a good Deidara back are gone.