Assassin of the Rose.

An Itachi-Ino Story.

Itachi Uchiha is a deadly ninja who slaughtered his clan. Ino Yamanaka was a girly, girl with only one thought on her mind-Sasuke. What has happened to dramatically change Ino's life and bring these two closer together? And what is Deidara's part in all of this?

-x-x-x-x-

I was stretching out as I waited for the rest of the Akatsuki to come in for my fight with Kisame. My heart lurched and I shook my head, trying to clear my head of the butterflies which were slowly morphing into bees.

'Ready for him Ino?' Konan asked me, I was not surprised that she was there. She had been standing behind me for ten minutes.

'Always ready Konan' I replied, trying to sound haughty and ready.

'Ino, you'll kick arse. Ok?' Konan spoke softly, like a sister would speak to me.

'Thank you' I said quietly.

Konan turned and departed. I grimaced and continued stretching out.

-x-x-x-x-

Deidara followed Hidan into the fight arena, trying desperately to keep his temper. The Uchiha, he noticed angrily, was already there. Kisame was in the arena, leaning on his sword, and there she was. Ino, his sister. A vision of blonde hair and black clothes. In her hand a leaf headband was clasped. He took a seat and fought the urge to scream as Tobi sat next to him.

He watched as Konan and Pein made their way to the center of the seating area. He sighed heavily.

Why haven't you seen her since she was little?

None of you're damn business!

-x-x-x-x-

I stared down at my old Konoha headband, a sick feeling in my stomach. This fight was bigger than any puny Chunin exam fight. Jounin exam fights as well. Kisame was leering at me from across the arena. I grimaced and gave him the finger. He scowled.

'Fuck off fish boy' I muttered to myself.

Pein clapped his hands. Silence fell; I tied my headband around my head, like a bandana. 'Prepare yourselves' Kisame lifted his sword and I slipped into my defense stance. Then: 'Fight'

Kisame lunged forward and ran at me. I gulped. He was fast. I ducked as the he swung the sword at me, missing my neck by inches. Every hit with the sword he threw I dodged, some by the skin of my teeth. I growled under my breath, this was getting old. The sword came swinging out of nowhere and I ducked and back flipped out of the way. I drew my poison senbon and launched them at him. He blocked them all.

'She's got good aim' Pein muttered to Konan.

'Of course she has. I trained her'

'Come on Blondie. Is that the best you got' Kisame shouted at me.

I swore under my breath and threw more senbon at him. Out of my peripheral vision I saw Deidara and Itachi watching me closely. I sighed and put my head on one side, trying to read Kisame's moves. He was sure of himself, I needed to shock him. I grinned and stood very still. He ran at me, sword raised. I leapt into the air and disappeared, reappearing on the roof. Below me I saw Kisame look around angrily then sniff the air. I quickly started the handsigns that Konan had taught me, I flew towards the ground and landed still forming hand signs.

He leered at me and begun to ran at me. When he was fifty feet away from me I completed the hand signs.

'Earth Style, Rocky Defense Jutsu' I cried.

Walls of rock erupted out of the ground, forming defense walls around me. Kisame screeched to a halt, narrowly missing hitting his face on my walls of rock. Hiding behind my defensive shield I tried to regain my breath. I needed to stay calm and focused, like a true Akatsuki member would. I had only one chance to use my best technique and to do so I had to combine it with another technique. I clasped senbon in my fingers, knowing that if this failed I may not have another chance. I flew upwards, like a rocket, senbon in my hands. I made a quick hand sign.

'Ninja Art: Needle Rain!' I cried and thousands of copies of senbon formed around my body. I made another hand sign and the needles flew at Kisame. He growled and covered his head with the sword.

'What the -!?' he shouted as my Shadow Clone shoved a couple of poison dipped senbon into his neck, and then disappeared.

I landed and sighed with relief. Kisame struggled to move. 'I wouldn't' I told him.

'What poison is this?' Kisame hissed.

'It's shut down all your nerve endings, you can't move now. Which means I have free rein over you, to use my best jutsu' I couldn't help but grin.

Konan cheered from the sands, and when I looked I saw Itachi give me small nod of approval.

'Now' I said 'Mind Transfer Jutsu!'

I felt the familiar rush of wind and chakra as my spirit left my body and my spirit took over Kisame's body.

--

Deidara felt proud as he watched his sister do battle with Kisame. She was good, just like he was at her age. He watched with reverence as she used the Mind Transfer Jutsu, a technique common with the Yamanka clan. Ino's body dropped like a stone as her spirit left her body, Kisame's eyes widened as Ino took over his body.

'Now' Kisame said. His arms were shaking, Deidara knew that Ino was having trouble holding his spirit, she had to work fast. 'I Kisame Hoshigaki forfeit to Ino'

As the final word was spoken Ino lost control over Kisame's body and her spirit rushed back to her own body. She stood up as Kisame collapsed glowering, breathing heavily.

Pein stood. 'The winner by forfeit is Ino' he said.

Konan cheered and leapt over the edge.

--

I watched as Konan ran at me, cheering. She hugged me. I laughed and punched my fist into the air. I looked over at the stands. Itachi inclined his head, his eyes sparkling with humour. The blonde, Deidara, looked like he might dance for joy. Konan finally released me.

'You're in Ino!' she whispered 'You're the second female Akatsuki member'

'All right!' I enthused.

'Ino'

'Hai Hatafuri-san' I said easily slipping into the lingo.

'Please make your way to your room, someone wishes to speak with you there'

--

I sat on my bed; eyes closed trying to replenish my chakra. The door opened and I sat up expecting Konan or Itachi. Oh yay fish boy! It was – you guessed it – Kisame.

'Come in here for a rematch' I asked wearily.

'No'

'To tell me I won't be so lucky next time'

'No'

'To beat the living shit out of me'

'Considering it'

'To congratulate me'

'Yeah'

I gagged. I stood up, looking at him trying to decipher if he was kidding or not. He was deadly serious.

'Wow' I muttered.

'Konan trained you well' he muttered angrily.

'I know'

'So I'll go now before Deidara burns a hole in my head with his eyes' he said loudly and departed.

I laughed quietly and then fell quiet when Deidara shoved past Kisame.

'Fish boy'

'Prick'

I sat down on the bed. 'You must be Deidara' I said.

'I am'

Deidara sat down on the bed next to me. I looked at my hands.

'Un, what last name do you go by Ino?' he asked.

'None. I used to go by Yamanka but not any more' I said, my voice slightly breaking on the word Yamanaka.

'Ahhh shit' Deidara ran a hand through his hair.

'Are you my brother?' I asked quietly.

'Yes'

Don't ask me how or why but the next thing I knew I was crying into Deidara's cloak. He rubbed my back comfortingly.

'Come on now. Un, that's enough'

I pulled back and wiped my eyes. Deidara was smiling softly at me.

'Do I get to hear why you left me with them?' I demanded.

He sighed. 'I had no option you must understand, un' he said.

'Just tell me'

He sighed again. 'When you were born Mum and Dad were the happiest they'd ever been. I was excited to have a little sister. We'd be the best of friends I thought. Then Mum got really sick. Dad was really stressed. The villagers thought it was your entire fault that she had gotten sick. I overheard them plotting to kill you and take revenge. I didn't want that to happen so that night I took you and headed away from Iwa. I traveled for days and reached the Leaf Village. I was found by a man Inoichi, the man who became your father. He promised to raise you as his own un'

I stood up angrily. Those damned tears were welling up again. 'He didn't treat me like I was his own. I always felt like I didn't belong. He kicked me out of Konoha!' I cried.

Deidara hung his head. 'I know Hatafuri told me. That was my punishment for abandoning you, un'

I saw how useless he felt. I approached tentatively.

'Deidara?'

'Dei, I'm not mad. You saved my life' I said.

'You should hate me. I should have stayed with you. Made sure that prick didn't hurt you'

'Deidara how were you supposed to know what would happen. Listen to me. You were a kid then you thought every adult told the truth. You would trust anyone who promised to protect me. What matters now is that we've found each other' I said and hugged him.

'Thanks un'

'What are sisters for?' I winked.

He laughed. 'So my little sis a big bad Akatsuki member too un?'

'Yup!' I grinned.

'Well well. Whoever knew it? Well I should go now. I still have a report for Hatafuri-san to finish. Sleep tight sis un' he said, hugged me again and left.

I grinned to myself as I undressed for bed. Thing were going to be interesting now. I could tell.

--

A/N:

Finished! Please R and R. I love this chappy.

Yeah Deidara, Itachi! XP