~Chapter Five~

~Something Fishy~

Onoki, the Tsuchikage, honestly didn't know what to think when he received the Hokage's letter. The good news was; he had successfully captured Deidara. The bad news was; he wasn't going to hand him over.

"I don't know what Hiruzen is thinking!" he complained to Akatsuchi, the ninja that brought him the letter. "He's supposed to hand missing-nin over to the respective leader of the village they defected from, not keep them to babysit some jinchuriki! Deidara is dangerous! He could blow up Konoha without even breaking a sweat! We're still recovering from the damage he did to out village for crying out loud!"

Akatsuchi watched him carefully, waiting until Onoki was finished his tirade before speaking. "Tsuchikage-sama," he began. "Hokage-sama must know what he's doing otherwise he wouldn't have done it at all. Don't you think he has more sense than that?"

"Sense? Oh I know he has sense! If only he'd use it every once in a while!" Onoki continued to complain. "This time, he's listening to his heart rather than his brain! Hiruzen Sarutobi has a soft spot for that nine-tails kid and is bribing Deidara to be his brother! That boy is dangerous! He could kill them all!"

"You've already made that point, Tsuchikage-sama…"

"Don't back sass me, boy!" Onoki scowled him, pointing a finger at him menacingly. He sighed. "Hiruzen Sarutobi is a stubborn old coot, much like myself. Once he gets an idea in his head, he isn't going to let it go without a fight. The easiest thing to do is let him carry through with it, and if- no, when it literally blows up in his face, then he'll realise the mistake he made when he thought he could control that boy. I couldn't control him! What makes him think he could?" The Tsuchikage reached into the drawer in his desk and pulled out a pen and paper. "Send this letter to the Hokage as soon as I'm finished writing it. Got it?"

Akatsuchi nodded. "Hai Tsuchikage-sama!"

-0-0-0-0-

Deidara stretched his arms above his head, loosening his stiff muscles. Who knew working with dogs could be such hard work? He had spent the majority of his first working day on his hands and knees cleaning out kennels and attempting to gives the pups a bath. Most of them had no desire to be clean and either kept jumping out or rolling in the mud again a few moments later. Plus the mothers were especially protective of their young and wouldn't let him near them until Hana assured them it was okay. However, one mutt was having none of it and sank its teeth into his wrist anyway.

He pulled at the bandage wrapped his wrist as he and Hana made their way towards the Academy to collect their respective siblings. Deidara was an only child but had to refer Naruto as his sibling because of the Hokage's orders. He didn't think of him as a little brother, but still treated him as if he were one. He had to, to make it believable. Then again, Naruto just had that personality that it was hard not to treat him like he was your relative. He treated everyone like that, so it wasn't hard to treat him like that in return.

From what Deidara could tell, Sasori and Gaara seemed to be quite close. Gaara trusted him unconditionally, and Sasori didn't seem to mind when the red head hid behind him as a mean for some protection. However, a ninja must look underneath the underneath and Deidara could see that there was something wrong about their relationship on the elder brother's part. Gaara adored him, that much was obvious, but Sasori… there was just something that wasn't right…

"Hellooo~? Anyone home?" Hana asked him, waving a hand in front of the boy's face. Deidara snapped out of his thoughts and blinked at the Inuzuka genin. "What were you thinking about? You were really out of it…"

"Nothing really, un!" Deidara told her, grinning sheepishly. He looked ahead at the neutral blue sky hanging above the gates of Konoha. The Leaf Village was sunny as always, few clouds floating by. It was so peaceful here, compared to Iwagakure. The rock country was prone to earthquakes that if the ground wasn't shaking, it felt too weird. Then again-

"You're doing it again!" Hana laughed, lightly punching him in the arm, successfully knocking him out of his daze again. "Seriously! What's going through that head of yours?"

Deidara paused. "The weather."

"The weather?" Hana repeated, eyebrows raised. "Who drifts off into la la land to think about the weather? You're a true blonde, you know that?"

Before Deidara could reply to that, Sasori approached and joined them in going to the academy. "Hana, brat," he greeted, nodding at them in turn.

Deidara glared at him. The red head had only known him maybe an hour more than he knew the Inuzuka, yet he had taken to giving him a nickname? If 'brat' can even be considered a nickname that is. The point was, he knew nothing about him. What right did he have to around insulting him like that? Zero right.

"Hey Sasori!" Hana greeted him cheerfully, flashing her famous fangs her clan were famous for in a bright smile. "So, did ya get a job?" Oh yeah. Deidara had forgotten about that, what with being absorbed in his own new 'career'.

He nodded. "I'm going to be a chunnin," he told her. "I have to go back tomorrow with my Amegakure headband and we'll discuss switching my loyalty from Ame, to Konoha. I'm only allowed to partake in genin missions until Hokage-sama is sure of my loyalty, which, is very degrading, compared to what I'm used to…"

"Aww come on! Being a genin isn't that bad!" Hana said, smiling sheepishly. Sasori raised an eyebrow, causing her to sigh. "Yeah, you're right. Being a genin sucks…" she agreed, before looking over to Deidara. "You're lucky you're just a civilian and never had to do any of those awful missions!"

Deidara remembered those missions from when he was a genin. Painting houses? Rescuing cats from trees? Raking leaves? He was glad those days were long gone. He had a theory that the main purpose of D-rank missions was to motivate genin enough to want to be promoted to chunnin as soon as possible. It was a very effective strategy. "I'll take your word for it, un."

Soon, the trio had arrived at the academy. Naruto and Gaara ran towards them with Kiba and Akamaru at their heels. Or rather, Naruto dragged Gaara PAST them and the Inuzuka and his boy chased after them. "We're going to the park, Hana-nee!" Kiba called at his elder sister. "Bye~!"

"TO THE PARK!" Naruto called out, pointing in the direction of Konoha Park. Gaara sweat dropped at his blonde friend, but continued to smile at his actions, not questioning them in the slightest.

"Aren't you boys' hungry?" Hana called after them, worried about their well-being.

"…TO ICHIRIKU'S!" Naruto said, changing his mind and lead the boys in another direction. The elder siblings sweat dropped at their actions before following after them at a much slower pace. As they made their way to the ramen stand, the trio passed a pair of raven-haired boys and couldn't help but over hear their conversation. Partly because they were speaking loudly, partly because they were eavesdropping.

"Can we go to the park too, Aniki?"

"Sorry, but I have to train."

"Then… Can I train with you? You can show me how to do that Fire jutsu!"

"Maybe another time, Sasuke!" the elder of the two told him, smiling apologetically and poking the young boy on the forehead.

Hana wrinkled up her nose at the display. Itachi had changed. She remembered him, back when they were their age and were starting the academy together. They were in the same class right up until the Uchiha graduated. Back then, there was nothing he loved more than his little brother. In fact, he was like that up until a month ago! Something must have happened since then, as he definitely seemed more… distant. Well, more so than usual anyway.

"Hey Itachi," she spoke up, mildly surprising the artists next to her that she interrupted their private conversation. "I'll take Sasuke to the park. I mean, me, Kiba and these guys and their brothers are going too," she said, pointing at the secret missing nin. "It'll be no bother at all!"

Sasuke looked up at his brother with hopeful eyes. Itachi looked down at him, his face impassive while his mind was going a mile a minute. Truth be told, he wanted to go with the park with him, where he'd indirectly train him via child games, like he's being doing since the boy could walk. But, after what the Hokage had told him a month ago, he REALLY needed to train… There was no way he would be able to murder his clan without as much training as he could possible get.

Itachi glanced at Hana. It wouldn't hurt to let the boy join her and Kiba. She was Inuzuka and Inuzuka's are known for the loyalty. If she gave him his word that'll he be okay, he knew she meant it. Although, those two boys she's with… there is definitely something fishy about them. He thought it out a little more for a moment, before nodding, silently allowing Sasuke to tag along.

The younger boy grinned before giving him a quick hug. "Thank you Aniki~!" he sang in a childish voice before turning to Hana and bowing. "Thanks Hana-san!" he said before running after his fellow classmates. "Gaara! Kiba! Naruto-baka! Wait up!"

"Sasuke-teme's coming! Quick! Run faster before he catches up!"

"DOBE!"

"TEME!"

-0-0-0-0-

"Pein… You have a message."

Pein glanced up at his partner, as Konan entered the room with a bird perched on her out stretched arm. A tiny piece of paper was tied around its leg. "Does 'Pein' have a message? Or does the Akatsuki Leader have a message?" Madara asked from behind Pein's desk, his masked head resting in his gloved palm.

"Pein has a message," she repeated, glancing at the Uchiha with her amber eyes. "From the Hokage."

Before Pein could speak, Madara interrupted him. "From Hiruzen Sarutobi? I remember when the old coot was just a lad. Never liked him. He was too much like his sensei," he ranted, shaking his head. "Well, give it here!" Madara stretched out his free hand to Konan, flicking up his fingers towards him.

The only female Akatsuki member glanced at her childhood friend, who merely nodded, telling her it was okay. She carried the bird to the man and Madara untied the paper from its ankle and began to read it to himself. "Hmm… Seems our little Sasori wants to become a Konoha nin…" he mused aloud. "Hiruzen wants confirmation from his village leader, ie. Nagato, to make sure it's alright and blah blah blah blah." Madara trailed off, handing his subordinate the message.

Pein took the paper and began reading it himself. What Madara said was true. He already knew Sasori's plans, Zetsu informed earlier and he sent the spy back with a spare headband. He expected a letter from the Hokage, he just didn't expect it so quickly.

"Speaking of Konoha," Madara said and stood from the desk. "Seven years have passed since I last tried to destroy it. I think it's about time I tried again!" He tugged at the mask, fixing it a little before heading towards the door to make his leave.

"What about Sasori?" Pein asked, glancing at him.

"He's guarding the Shukaku and hopefully the Kyuubi," he said, pausing to answer the red head's question. "I can't afford to let him die so don't worry, he'll be fine! You care too much about this organisation, Nagato. That's a sign of weakness. Put your feelings for them aside. It'll suit you better." With that, Madara left the two Ame ninja in Pein's office and shut the door behind him.

Pein sighed at the Uchiha's words before slipping in behind his desk that Madara claimed and began to reply to the message. Konan watched her friend for a moment with anxious eyes, before looking out the window as the rain pattered against it.

-0-0-0-0-

The park was just as crowded with civilians as it always was. Children (both ninja trainees and regular kids) were running around after having completed a day of school. The odd elderly couple was walking together or feeding the ducks with leftover bread. Our protagonists were in the play park area. Hana, Sasori and Deidara were lounging around on the swings, watching the four kids play 'ninja'.

"Why do I have to be the one who runs off to the creepy snake monster?"

"'Coz Sasuke-teme, I'm the hero and the hero has to rescue someone! Believe it!"

"At least Naruto gave you a big part. He has one fight with me and Akamaru, and then we fall asleep for the rest of the game!"

"I don't want to attack Konoha…"

Naruto sighed and placed his hands on his waist. "If you guys won't agree on your parts, how am I supposed to save the world from a crazy guy with a mask who wants to put an eye on the moon? You three aren't thinking clearly!"

"WE aren't thinking clearly?" Kiba exclaimed, flailing his arms. "You're the one who made up some guy who wants to put some weird eye thingy on the moon! I mean, who in the world is EVER going to do that?"

"And does he HAVE to be an Uchiha?" Sasuke scowled, crossing his arms and adopting the infamous Uchiha glare.

Naruto nodded. "Yes, he does. Kiba's clan isn't evil enough and we all agreed that neither Deidara-nii-san nor Sasori will ever do something so evil like leave their village and join some evil group full of bad guys! So, that means he has to be an Uchiha!"

"But that's not fair!" Sasuke complained. "You only want to make an Uchiha because you don't like me!"

"FINE! We'll make him some guy who everybody thought died in a war when a rock fell onto of him!"

"Much better!"

"But he's also an Uchiha…"

"NARUTO-BAKA!"

Gaara didn't pay any attention to their argument. He didn't see the point. He had only spent one day with the three boys and already figured that fights like this were going to be plentiful. So, he decided he'd stay out of them and let them sort it out amongst themselves. They usually did. Gaara dipped his hand into the sandbox, which he was sitting on the edge of it, and let the grains slip through his fingers.

'What's the matter, boy? Homesick?' Shukaku's voice rang out in his head. Gaara winced. He hadn't heard the usually chatty demon talk to him in a little while and he forgot how loud it could be. He nodded in response. 'You know what's a good cure of homesickness? A nice, long nap…'

Gaara could sense the killer intent behind its words, and remembered a promise he made a long time ago. 'Uncle Yashamaru told he can't sleep or you'll hurt everyone!' he said inwardly, knowing it'd be pointless to reply to the demon out loud since it could read his thoughts.

'Not everyone…' Shukaku chuckled maliciously. 'I can't hurt you or I'd die too. Can't touch your little blonde friend either or I'd risk letting the Kyuubi out. Even though the odds are I'm likely to kill that foxy bastard… Kukukuku!'

Gaara shook his in a sad attempt to stop the horrible laughter giving him a headache. Of course, it was in vain. If a simple head shake was all it took to silence the demon, then it would rarely ever speak to him. He was about to ask the raccoon monster about this 'Kyuubi' thing when Naruto spoke, just like the last time he tried to find out what it was.

"Gaara! We're gonna play pirates instead of ninjas since Sasuke-teme is being unreasonable!" This comment earned the boy a glare from said Uchiha which the blonde ignored. "I'm going to be the stretchy captain, Teme is the swordsman and Kiba and Akamaru are going to be some type of transforming reindeer doctor. You can be my brother who controls fire and right now, you're in prison but not because you did anything bad and…"

Gaara smiled at Naruto as he listed off the latest game they were going to play. He liked this one better. Partly because he isn't destroying a village, mostly because he gets to be Naruto's brother.

-0-0-0-0-

A/N:

This chapter took too long! D; The next one will be out faster, I promise! As always, thanks for the feedback~ It's much appreciated! ^ ^