A/N: I apologize for how long it takes me to get the next chapter out. Haven't really been feeling like myself as of late. I've had a lot of time to think about things and figured out why I haven't been feeling like myself. Sometimes I talk a little too much when I'm hanging around with friends that I don't think before I speak and I end up talking about things that most likely upsets those around me. It's my friend AkatsukiDragon, the best friend a girl could ever ask for. It's been few days since I last spoke to her and I miss her greatly. I realized that it's my own fault because of what I talk about, and knowing she'll read this chapter, I just want her and all my readers to see how sorry I am if I did in fact upset her. I'm in tears at this point and only have myself to blame...but the only way to make things right is to apologize, so AkatsukiDragon, from the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry if I did upset you, all I want is to go back to the way things were where we talked everyday and laughed. And to my readers, I apologize for such a long rant, but I had to tell her somehow. I fear losing her friendship.

Chapter Three

Sasori sighed looking at Deidara, "so you think you're able to help me handle this?"

"Of course yea, I've got a few new pieces of art I wish to try out," Deidara replied, grinning.

Sasori growled, "how many times do I have to tell you, what you create is not art! You're using art as a pathetic excuse to make explosions and irritate people!"

"Says you yea!"

"Yes says me! You're explosions will never be art!" Snapped Sasori.

The two were so caught up in their argument that they didn't even realize that Tanzuya and Saito were standing there with trays in their hands, trying not to laugh. Deidara and Sasori just kept on arguing back and forth.

"You take that back yea!"

"Oh bite me brat!"

"Like I would...you probably taste like shit yea! Since you're a puppet...you have no feelings yea!"

"Well you have no taste!"

"I have more then you yea!"

"Oh just shut the hell up brat!"

"Not until you recognize my explosions as art yea!"

"Not on your life!"

That was it, Saito couldn't take it anymore. His tray fell from his hands hitting the floor as he doubled over in laughter. Luckily it only had napkins and utensils on it for their dinner usage as it collided with the floor. Deidara and Sasori looked over, both of them beginning to blush intensely. How long had the two been standing there, one of them had to ask.

Deidara looked over coughing a bit, "uhm, how long have you two been standing there yea?"

Tanzuya chuckled a bit, "oh since about the time Sasori claimed your explosions weren't art."

Saito wiped a tear from his eye as he continued to laugh lightly, picking up everything off the floor and placing it back on the tray. He stood up walking over to the living room table setting his tray down, Tanzuya walking over and placing his next to the other tray.

"Anyways, how about we drink up this tea before it gets cold?" Saito suggested

Sasori and Deidara nodded taking the saucers that were pushed in front of them. Sitting back they began to drink their tea, the four of them remaining silent for the most part. Sasori being the first to finish his tea, he set the cup down on the table and crossed his arms.

"So, around what time would you assume them to try and attack the village again?" Sasori asked.

"Probably within the next few hours...but I've been meaning to ask, how is it you can drink tea if you're a human puppet?" Tanzuya asked, his right eyebrow slightly lifted.

"I have human capabilities, although it's rather hard to explain and I do not find it to be a necessary discussion to begin with." He replied, looking over at Deidara.

Deidara was practically asleep sitting there, his eyes closed half way as he sipped at his tea slowly. Sasori reached over gently pushing him over causing him to snap out of his sleepy state in a panic.

"I'm awake yea!" He pretty much jumped, spilling his tea on his lap.

The others laughed until it was broken by the loud commotion outside. They all jumped up, running out the front door, the scene before them, gruesome and disturbing.

There were several dismembered bodies, limbs spread out every where, the streets becoming stained in blood. Horrific screams of women and cries of children filled the air in the distance as small explosions sounded on the outskirts of the Dead Lands. Smoke hovered over the city as Sasori, Deidara, Saito and Tanzuya looked onward, not being able to see a thing. The large cloud of smoke began to move the village, filling the streets with a dense, toxic fog. The battle cries of several men died down, the sound of their bodies falling, echoing between the houses.

Tanzuya looked at the fog, seeing how dense it was and how toxic it looked, "shit, everyone inside now!"

Deidara and Sasori stayed put while Saito and Tanzuya ran inside. They stopped in the doorway looking at the two Akatsuki members, curious as to way they were not following.

Sasori looked over with a smirk, "close the door, you two stay safe, we got this."

"That fog is toxic!" Saito yelled.

"We'll be fine. Now close that door yea," Deidara said with a smile.

Knowing there was no convincing the two, Tanzuya pulled Saito back and slammed the door shut, peering out the window to the left of the front door, watching to see what would happen.

Deidara and Sasori stood there, looking into the dense fog seeing two silhouettes walking towards them. As some of the fog cleared, they were able to make out two male figures, one appearing to be about 6'2 and the other 5'9. They were both suited in black cloaks and wore gas masks. They both had long purplish hair that was tied back. Their red eyes were covered by clear goggles. It had to be the Sky Strikers, Suji and Hitake Novuen.

Deidara and Sasori looked at each other nodding. It was most likely time to initiate battle operations.

Suji and Hitake continued to walk towards the two ninja that stood before them. Bringing their hands up, they both peeled their gas masks off in unison, throwing them off to the side. Judging by the looks of them, they were not human, or were not human anymore. The duo's eyes practically glowed in the shadows, their teeth seeming now to be demonic like. What were these two people.

Deidara looked over at Sasori speaking low enough only he could hear him, "what the hell are they yea?"

Sasori looked back at Deidara, "looks to me like they are both lab experiments gone wrong. That's enough reason to explain why people could not take them down with their power levels alone. Hell I don't even know if we'll be able to take them down. I hate to say it, but your explosions maybe the way we win against them."

Deidara smirked, "that's what I thought yea," he began to walk forward while Sasori stayed back, "so you two must be the Sky Striker's yea?"

The taller male nodded, "you'd be correct to assume that. I am Suji, the true rule of the Dead Lands. Protecting those twins will cost you your life you know." The shorter male smirked, showing off his teeth with a growl, "and we will take you out and take this village back...it's rightfully ours after all."

Deidara shook his head with a laugh, "like we'd buy that yea. We were hired by those twins to take the two of you out and that's what we intend to do yea."

Sasori walked up and stood next to Deidara, "here's how it's gonna go down. You're going to attack from above and I will attack from below."

"We just told them our battle plan yea." Deidara said with an unimpressed look.

"Trust me Deidara, you know what I mean by attacking from above. They can know our plan, just not what's going to happen when we initiate it." Sasori smirked.

Deidara sighed, "alright, whatever you say yea."

Suji laughed maniacally, "enough with the chit chat, you're just slowing down our operation!"

He and Hitake drew their swords as they began to run towards the two Akatsuki members.

Deidara quickly reached into his clay pouches and pulled out a massive amount. This clay that he was using was no ordinary clay but expanding clay that he could bend and mold at will. Pulling his hands out, he began to feed it into his hands, moistening it greatly to make it easier to mold. It began to foam out of his hands, recreating itself in a massive ball that continued to grow. Quickly he molded a large clay dragon and placed a life seal on it which would give it life and the ability to move of it's own free will. With a smirk, Deidara jumped up onto the dragon, gently tapping his heel against it's back which made the dragon begin to flap his wings and fly upwards. It stopped Suji and Hitake in their tracks as they watched Deidara, not realizing that it gave Sasori enough time to initiate and deliver his attack.

With a quick motion, Sasori pulled out a scroll front he sleeve of his cloak opening it. A puff a white smoke appeared and out of the smoke emerged the puppet of the third Kazekage. Without a moments hesitation Sasori flicked his wrist and the puppet moved forward to attack. As it got within striking distance, large blades appeared out of the puppets forearms and both arms swung towards Suji and Hitake.

Deidara watched from above as Sasori began his attack. With a smirk, he sat down on top of the dragon's back in between it's shoulder blades as he began to use more of his clay, but he infused it with chakra this time as he began to create several insect like creatures from the substance. Now having to focus on Sasori, Hitake and Suji ran towards the puppet that he had summoned, both of their swords still drawn. Skidding to the side of the puppet, the duo clashed their swords which caused a massive white aura to surround the blades. When it contacted it sent the puppet flying back towards the red head.

Deidara looked down and sighed, "I better do this quickly yea.."

He began to send the insects down in a waterfall as he began to work on his next creation. He had been working on it for months and would finally use the perfected result to unleash his attack upon the Sky Strikers.

He began to mold something that resembled that of a Saber Toothed Tiger. He began to mold the clay around two kunais that had exploding tags on them that would serve as the two large teeth of the tiger, making his bite explosive. Even if Deidara couldn't take both men down, he could at least kill or badly injure one with this creation. Meanwhile all of the insects that he sent down began to burst, setting off little explosions which would be more of a diversion so Sasori could counter attack them. Hitake and Suji had fallen for it, spinning around seeing all the explosions that were so minimal they wouldn't cause too much damage if either of them got hit by one.

Sasori flicked his wrist once again stopping his puppet from flying any further back. Sasori began moving his hands in several distinct motions.

As he did this he thought to himself, "Hmmm, so close range tactics won't work. That's fine, I'll just use long range."

The puppets mouth opened and black sand began to pour from it's mouth. The sand levitated in the air for a few moments before forming needle-like projectiles. Sasori smirked at Suji and Hitake, "Now feel the most terrifying weapon in the history of the sand village. The Iron Sand!" He flicked his hand again making the sand needles flying forward.

That did it, Suji and Hitake were going to have to get serious. The two had never faced opponents like the two Akatsuki members before and began to realize they would have to go all out in order to win the battle. Deidara and Sasori weren't feared for no reason in these parts, people feared anyone from the Akatsuki, knowing the power they possessed.

Hitake looked at his father, "hey dad, you deal with the boy who plays with dolls, I got that girl on the dragon!"

Deidara clenched his fist hearing the comment as he grumbled a bit. He hastily put the finishing touches on the tiger and stood up. When he looked down, Suji and Hitake had wings. Hitake was flying up towards Deidara while Suji flew up to avoid Sasori's attack. Deidara sent the tiger to the ground as to not get it destroyed before it's time. Of course he did so just in time as Hitake sliced right threw the dragon and to Deidara. He struck Deidara in the side of the head with the handle of his sword which caused Deidara to fall back towards the ground. He hit the ground with force, rolling across the ground slightly, scraping his cheek and sustained a broken leg. Blood dripped down his lip slightly as he looked up, Hitake coming down and standing in front of him.

Suji saw this from the corner of his eye and smiled to himself, "you're little girlfriend isn't doing so good over there. Maybe you should give up!"

Sasori got an annoyed look on his face hearing Suji's comment.

He thought to himself as black sand began to pour out of the puppet's mouth again, "I've told the brat to watch himself countless times, but no, he's still making these kind of mistakes."

More needles formed as the black sand settled, however this was only to distract Suji. As the black sand needles were sent forward to Suji, both of it's forearms opened and shot out purple poisonous gas. In his mind he knew this poison wouldn't be enough to kill but there was a little secret that this poison contained. Unlike his others, this poison was combustible, considering enough heat was added.

Suji watched Sasori's attack as he began to laugh, he knew exactly what the poisonous gas was capable of. He figured he'd be able to retreat with his son once his son had finished Deidara off.

Hitake knelt down in front of Deidara, "any last words before you die?"

He smirked weakly, "two words...bite...me..."

At those words, the tiger began to run and took hold of Hitake throwing him a distance away. He hit the ground being stunned slightly as he tried to get up, failing as he felt a sharp pain through his chest and abdomen. The tiger began to bite down, breaking the skin as the kunai pierced Hitake's heart. The heat of Hitake's internal organs and his heart was enough heat to ignite and heat the kunais, causing them to explode. It blew Hitake's body apart, leaving his torso almost completely intact except for the large chunk that had been taken out of him by the explosion. The tiger vanished completely as Deidara gave a soft laugh before falling completely unconscious. Suji saw from the corner of his eye as his eyes widened with what he saw.

He had to retreat and fast, "damn you...damn you and your stupid girlfriend!" He turned and began to run as fast as he could, leaving his sons dismembered body behind.

Sasori's eyes narrowed as Suji escaped, "Stop calling him my girlfriend! Just you wait I'll come and kill you myself!" Sasori grumbled under his breath as the puppet burst into white smoke. Sasori walked over to Deidara seeing him unconscious. "Tch, figures." He then walked over to what was left of Hitake's body. Examining it carefully Sasori sighed, "Doesn't look like I'm going to be able to add you to my collection." He turned from what was left of Hitake and picked up Deidara and slung him over his shoulder. He then walked over to Hitake's body and ripped a piece of clothing from him, proof that he was in fact dead.

He walked back to the house as Saito and Tanzuya opened the door for him, stepping out of the way so Sasori could put him on the couch.

"Let me take a look at him," Tanzuya said, walking over.

"He's fine, just a broken leg and a few scrapes." Sasori said sighing slightly.

"Well, we just have to reallign it and I can heal it right away before he wakes up." Tanzuya said.

Sasori sighed, "I always warn him to becareful. Today he just didn't l..."

"Shut the fuck up. We saw how well he fought out there. He killed Hitake. He's greatly weakened Suji," Saito growled.

"How about you both shut up and hold the poor guy down. He's gonna feel this," Tanzuya said.

Sasori and Saito nodded, walking over and held Deidara down. Tanzuya gripped Deidara's leg, putting it back in place. Deidara awoke, crying out in pain, but was immediately relieved from the pain when Tanzuya began to heal his leg completely.

"Alright all done. He should be fine. Deidara I need you to stand up." Tanzuya said.

Deidara nodded as he stood up, not being phased in the least.

"Wow...thanks yea." Deidara said, "now Sasori and I can go after Suji yea."

"Well, tonight just both of you rest. You fought well and it's safe to say Suji won't be back until tomorrow, if not, you can travel up the mountain. Now that Hitake is dead, Suji is increasingly weak."

Deidara sat down, "alright then yea."

"Tomorrow's another day afterall." Sasori smiled, sitting next to Deidara.