~Chapter Two~

~New Home~

Sasori stared up at the gates of Konoha, holding little Gaara's hand. He had managed to get this far with little to no trouble. Then again, a couple of thieves were no match to an S-ranked criminal such as himself. The two red heads approached the guards standing outside the gate. One was a brunette with a bandana; the other had raven hair and a bandage across the middle of his face.

"What is your business in Konoha?" the latter asked the puppet master, casually leaning against the wall surrounding the village.

Sasori noticed Gaara's grip on his hand tighten when the ninja spoke. He took a small step forward towards him. "My brother and I are looking for a place to live. We had to leave our last village under certain circumstances. We wish to live in Konohagakure – a safer, more civil village than our last!"

The two looked over Sasori cautiously. The raven-haired one nodded to his partner and the two opened the gate, allowing the two red-heads inside. Gaara looked around at the village with wide eyes as Sasori pulled him through. He had never being outside Suna before, never mind being in a beautiful village such as this one.

Unlike Suna, this village had grass and no sand. His ultimate defence wouldn't work here. He must remember to tell Sasori about that later. Gaara smiled as he inhaled the fresh air, a lot less stale than the air back in Suna. He could make out the delicious scent of ramen wafting from a nearby ramen stand that was mixed with the sweet aroma of dango from the stand next to it. The people around his seemed friendly and not a single one of them referred to him as a 'monster' or a 'freak' which the young jinchuriki was very appreciative of.

Gaara smiled again and looked up at Sasori adoringly. He could grow to like this place; especially if he had a big brother to care for him the whole time.

Sasori watched over the passing villagers with a watchful eye. Nobody seemed to recognise him which was good. It was just less than ten years since the twenty-five year old had defected from Suna. It seems that the commotion of his leaving had died down enough that none of the ninja kept an eye out for his sudden appearance. All he had to do was avoid the Hokage and the older, higher classed Jounin and he should be alright. Hopefully….

"Aniki?" Sasori looked down at Gaara when he addressed him as his older brother. It almost brought a smile to his face at just how well the mission was going. "Is he the Hokage?" Gaara asked, pointing at an old man heading in their direction. "He's wearing the same hat as the Kazekage!" Yashamaru, his uncle, told Gaara not to refer the fourth Kazekage as his father, as someone as heartless and uncaring to his offspring, doesn't deserve the title.

Sasori looked in the direction is adopted younger brother was pointing and sure enough, there was Hiruzen Sarutobi, the third Hokage. Following him was a small blonde. At first sight, one would think the child to be a girl but upon closer inspection, you could easily tell he was a little boy. The child seemed to be older than Gaara, maybe around genin age. However, he wasn't wearing a headband so Sasori guessed the brat was still an academy student. What he was doing with the Hokage, was another question altogether.

Sarutobi looked around him, smiling at the villagers as he passed them, just like he did every other day he walked through his village. Today, he was happier than usual. He found Naruto an older brother, someone to care for him. (If he wants to keep his life that is.) Maybe now the blonde will have a sense of belonging and the insults and name calling would hurt less. Maybe Deidara will grow protective of the little fellow and put a stop to it altogether.

Sarutobi's eyes fell on a pair of red heads heading towards him. They weren't from around here, he was sure. Yet, the taller one looked familiar somehow and the shorter one reminded of someone he just couldn't put his finger on…. The two seemed kind of lost to him, neither of them knowing where they were heading. He decided to use this to his advantage, hoping he'll realise who they are after a little conversation. "Excuse me?" he addressed the duo as he approached them. "Do you need any help?"

Sasori eyed him carefully, inspecting him closely. He didn't seem to recognise him…. Thank Jashin. He had hidden his chakra, long before he had entered the village so he hadn't to worry about him discovering his ninja status. "Well… my brother and I are new to the village and we don't have anywhere to go…" he told him, giving Gaara's hand a tight squeeze.

Sarutobi looked down at the smaller boy and he shied away, hiding behind his older brother. The third smiled down at him before looking at the older boy again. He seemed to be around… fifteen or sixteen maybe. His little brother would be around… seven – the same age as Naruto. Sarutobi smirked, a plan forming. "I know just the place! Follow me!" he told the two cheerfully and began heading towards the apartment block. His old team wouldn't be too happy with the way he was playing happy families. Well, Jiraiya might, considering Naruto was the kid in question but still, they wouldn't be best pleased….

Sasori followed the Hokage, keeping a firm grip on Gaara's hand. The small red head still hid behind him, scared eyes focused on the blonde walking with them. Gaara was used to his type. Boys like him teased him and called him names. They were always so mean to him because he was a 'monster'. He doubted this blonde would be any different.

Deidara looked up at the tallest red head. He was only a head taller than him and a few years older. He seemed more mature than he looks though…. He had a gut feeling that he should watch out for him. He turned his attention to the shorter red head that was a head and a bit shorter than him. The young boy was hiding behind his older brother, watching him fearfully. Deidara smirked. "Boo." His smirk grew when the boy hid behind his brother's legs more.

The taller boy rolled his eyes at the blonde. "Brat," he stated. Deidara glared at him. He didn't like him already. He probably had no sense of art or respect for it at all. Yes. Deidara could tell this guy was no good…. No good at all….

Sasori looked around the apartment the Hokage had given to him and Gaara. He wrinkled up his nose in disgust. It wasn't the best apartment around, yet, he doubted it was the worst. It reeked of old people and death. To be fair, the Akatsuki base reeked of death as well but that was mainly Hidan's room, Zetsu's room, the basement and the kitchen after Konan cooks.

The living room slash kitchen which he was standing in presently was, to put it bluntly, a dump. The paint was peeling off the walls and the furniture was scattered across the room, as if the decorator just randomly placed them wherever he felt like it. The kitchen had the distinct smell of sour milk and rotten eggs and Sasori could bet money that those very items were inside the tiny fridge. The shag carpet underneath is feet was in desperate need of a wash. Heck, it probably had lice. The puppet master had yet to venture into the bedroom or the bathroom but he really didn't feel the need to. In fact, he was dreading it.

Sasori opened all the windows, letting some fresh air into the apartment in the first time in years. He poked his head out the window and took a deep breath before diving back into the apartment. This was only a temporary living space, something he was very glad of. Why the Hokage thought this to be a suitable living space for him and Gaara he'll never know. Sasori was pretty sure it was something to do with the blonde that was him. He had taken the brat into the apartment next door. If the Hokage thought he was going to look after him, he had another thing coming. It was bad enough he had to look after the one-tailed kid, never mind some blonde brat as well. He was never that good with children… or people in general, really….

"Aniki?" Gaara asked, coming out of the bedroom. The child was much more adventurous and explored the bedroom. Despite Sasori telling him it didn't seem like a good idea to him. "Could you read me this story before I go to bed tonight?" he asked, handing his elder brother the book.

Sasori took one look at the bright orange cover and knew straight away what book Gaara had found. "Maybe another time!" Sasori told him, taking the book and putting it on top of the fridge out of the young boy's reach. "And I think we'll camp out in the living room tonight…."

"Why?"

"Just for fun…." Or it was something to do with the fact that Sasori was sure that that book wasn't the only 'explicit' object in that room…. One of the two.

"Remember; as far as Naruto's concerned, you're Deidara Uzumaki. Understand?"

"Yeah I got it old man," Deidara said, rolling his eyes at the Hokage. He had already heard this speech three times upon meeting the old geezer. How important was the kid thinking he was his brother anyway? Deidara was a ninja! He'd learned to adapt to these situations in the academy so well, he could do it in his sleep. He didn't need a pep talk from any kage. He could convince the kid just fine on his own.

The third smiled. "Then let's go!" Maybe, the kid wouldn't be the best brother for him. After all, he is an S-ranked criminal, capable of destroying Konoha if he let his guard town. He didn't have the warmest personality either. He was sarcastic, rude and short tempered. He had spent very little time with the blonde and he was already sussed out these traits. But, despite all these things, he's the first person willing to look after Naruto, even if he was being bribed. Poor Naruto….

Sarutobi knocked three times on the door, paused, and knocked again twice. He had developed a secret knock for when he was visiting Naruto. It was so the blonde knew it was him and was safe to answer it. If he heard another knock, he was to climb out the window and run straight to his office. Anyone else who knocked on the door, were usually trying to get revenge for what the Kyuubi did all those years ago.

The door was suddenly flung open and before Deidara knew what was going on, an orange blur tackled the Hokage, almost knocking him off his feet. "Old man!" it called out, clinging to third's torso as if it's life depended on it. Deidara raised an eyebrow. So this was Naruto Uzumaki…?

Oh dear God.

The small blonde looked up at Deidara, his blue eyes wide. He cocked his head to the side, narrowing his eyes at him before pointing at him. "Who are you?"

It took everything Deidara had to not snap at the brat there and then. He had to hold his tongue in the Hokage's presence if he wanted to stay a free man. He wasn't going back to Iwa, even if it meant looking after some snot-nosed brat who, admittedly, did kind of look like him….

"This is Deidara Uzumaki, your new big brother!" the third intervened, smiling down at Naruto.

"EH?" Naruto jumped back from the Hokage, staring up at him wide-eyed. The old man actually got him a brother? He didn't think he'd listen to his request. He thought it was just another thing he'd tell him he could get when he was older, like a puppy or a parent. He glanced over at the boy who was standing next to him. Blonde hair, blue eyes… he could be his brother, easy! Sure, he was a little feminine and could probably pass as his sister but that didn't matter! The guy - Deidara was it? – was his brother now, so nothing else mattered. But, just to make sure…. "Are you really my big brother?"

Deidara glanced up at the Hokage, who gave him a small nod. He looked back at the blonde who was now staring at him expectantly. He forced a smile and nodded. "Believe it!" …Believe it? Where did that come from? Oh well, what's done is done.

Naruto looked up at him for a moment before grinning. "NII-SAN!" he called out, clinging to the older boy's mid-section. Deidara awkwardly hugged him back, still unsure of the whole situation. Naruto quickly pulled himself away and grabbed the older boy's hand, dragging him into the apartment. "Come on nii-san! I have so much to show you!"

The third smiled at the two. Naruto was usually only this happy when ramen was involved. His plan was risky, impulsive and downright cunning and wrong, but seeing a smile of the young blonde's face would be worth it in the end. Sarutobi walked down the hall, leaving the two to get acquainted. He stopped outside the next doorway over and knocked. He wanted to have a small chat with this Sasori fellow.

Deidara blinked. He didn't pay much attention to the apartment Naruto was so keen on showing him. Instead, he was focused on the fact that Naruto didn't recoil when he grabbed his hand. Did he not mind the hand mouths? Once the younger blonde let go of his hand, he glanced down at his palm and his eyes widened.

The mouths were sewn shut.

He glared down at his hand and began pulling at the thread. He clenched his teeth at the pain before quickly pulling out the thread completely, like it was band-aid. The pink tongue poked out of the mouth, happy not to be restrained by the awful stitches anymore. It licked at any blood that trickled from the newly opened holes in his hands.

Deidara quickly did the same with his other hand before looking up. Naruto was still prancing around the apartment showing him all his useless junk. The older blonde's eyes widened at the state of the young boy's living space. The place was a pig sty. Items of clothing were strewn all over the place, some on the couch, and others on the floor. A few socks even hung from the ceiling fan above, which, was missing a blade and another snapped in half. Magazines and empty ramen cartons were scattered across the floor, which Deidara guessed hadn't been washed since Naruto moved in.

The kitchen wasn't any better and definitely didn't meet any health codes. More ramen packets were stacked on the counter into a haphazard pyramid, the microwave and fridge doors were lying opened and dishes were piled in the sink for what looked like weeks. The awful stench of sour milk wafted from the fridge and judging by the odour, it had been there for a while. Colourful fridge magnets were placed neatly on the fridge door, arranged to spell 'Naruto 4 Hokage'.

Deidara's head swung around when he heard something rattle inside one of the discarded ramen packets. He shouldn't be surprised that a mouse or a rat would be wandering around here. He picked up an old TV guide from the floor, (why he had one, he had no idea. He didn't even have a TV) and rolled it up. He slowly approached the small creature, the magazine raised above his head. He was about to strike at the ramen packet, when Naruto jumped in front of him.

"NO NII-SAN DON'T!" he yelled, kneeling down on the ground and reached into the ramen packet. "It's just Mausu-chan, my pet mouse. See?" he asked, holding up the small, grey animal in his small hands.

"Mausu, un?"

"Yeah! It means mouse! Isn't he cute?" Naruto asked, grinning as he nuzzled his pet into his cheek, the small animal sniffing at his face.

"Doesn't Mausu have a cage, hmm?" Deidara asked, glancing around the apartment, looking for said item.

"Yeah but he doesn't like it. Do you Mausu-chan?" Naruto asked the mouse, earning a slight squeak from the rodent.

Deidara sighed. Why couldn't he have got a cat? It's not that he doesn't like mice, in fact, he didn't mind them. It's just he didn't like the idea of the small creature running around willy-nilly in the apartment, easily popping out of who knows where. "Okay, un. But he has to sleep in the cage at night." Last thing he wants is to wake up with a mouse on his chest. Not again….

Naruto sighed. "Okay nii-san. Come on Mausu-chan," he said, letting his pet go. Mausu ran up the young blonde's arm and sat on his shoulder. "Let's go find your cage!" Naruto finished, running into the bedroom.

Deidara didn't even think about the state of the bedroom. Or the bathroom for that matter. He sighed and began plucking various objects off of the couch, where he was going to sleep tonight. There was probably only one bed anyway and the blonde didn't feel comfortable with sharing with him. Naruto was practically a complete stranger to him, and a kid as well, sharing a bed just didn't seem right.

Deidara didn't mind. He's slept on worse than a couch. How bad could it be?

"Kazekage-sama! Kazekage-sama!"

The Fourth Kazekage looked up from his desk at the ninja that just burst into his office without knocking. He sighed and dropped his pen. "What is it now, Yashamaru?"

"Gaara has gone missing!"