I totally forgot, but upcoming week is holiday week! So I'll probably be able to write a lot :) I haven't started on chapter fourteen yet, I still need to think out what exactly is going to happen since I read the last chapters over and I think the story is getting a bit lame… Something needs to happen, something big!

Anyway, I don't own Naruto! Please R&R, and again big thanks to the ones who did! I'm always enjoying reading them :3

Have fun reading!

Chapter thirteen: a Kage's visit

Everything went as planned. Tobi and Kisame walked next to each other through the busiest street of entire Konoha, with people coming out of shops or entering them all the time. Tobi looked around like he was a tourist – with every building or shop he saw he punched Kisame and asked him what it was for. At first Kisame had answered but after a while he decided that it was best not to. Perhaps he would stop, eventually.

Then Kisame noticed a crossing in streets. Two main streets of Konoha crossed each other, in what seemed center of town. He slowed his pace down and then patted Tobi on his shoulder. The boy, who had just been wanting to ask Kisame about a little saké bar on the right side of the street, blinked a couple of times with his one onyx eye.

"This is the crossing," Kisame whispered, not looking at Tobi. "You know what to do, don't you?" and then he glared at the dark haired youngster for a second. Again, seeing the black eye made him shiver, and he quickly looked forward again. For some weird reason it seemed like the eye belonged to someone else than Tobi – to someone far more intelligent, sharper, but, most importantly, and that was exactly what freaked Kisame out, the eye seemed to belong to a killer. A cold killer.

"I do," Tobi said and Kisame had trouble hiding his surprise. For the first time since he had met Tobi, he spoke of himself other than "Tobi thinks…" or "but Tobi's a good boy", and together with the creepy eye thing, Kisame didn't really like this "new" Tobi. He cleared his throat. "Well, then, here we go."

They continued walking. Every step they took seemed to take ages and the closer they got to the crossing, the more nervous Kisame got. He didn't know why. He wasn't exactly the best in making up solid plans but this plan had been made up by Pain, and if Pain could do something best then it was making up plans. And Tobi would rather kill himself than blow up the infiltration – or so Kisame hoped. So what was he worrying about?

Then they took the last step. Kisame felt it as his foot touched the floor and he automatically looked at Tobi next to him, who suddenly stopped walking. A man who had been walking behind them, with gray hair and a book held up in front of him, stopped dead just before hitting Tobi.

"Ayoku?" Kisame said, morphing his voice to the one of a worried older brother. "You alright?" next he looked to the man behind Tobi. Even though they seemed to be in the same age, the man looked older. Perhaps due to experiences he had been through..? "I'm sorry for him, mister, but normally he doesn't act this weird…" he rolled the r a bit so that he got a foreign accent and then was just about to take Tobi's wrist and pull him further, when Tobi suddenly collapsed and threw up on the floor.

Nice one, Tobi!

"Ayoku?!" Kisame kneeled next to the boy. Several people had stopped walking, the most with a disgusted look on their face. "Oi! What's wrong?!" Kisame yelled, grabbing Tobi's shoulders. The silver haired man kneeled next to Kisame and then Tobi started to shiver and shake, before he fell back on the floor, his one eye wide open and his breath hitching. Then his limbs started to move around aimlessly before suddenly his eye rolled back in his head and his entire body fell still. For a split second, Kisame was astounded by the performance, but then he started to "panic".

"Oh my god, Ayoku! Dammit!" he looked around. "Please! Someone! Get a doctor or something!"

The silver haired man suddenly bowed forwards and placed his head on Tobi's chest, listening carefully. Kisame looked at the man and froze. He knew him.

Hatake Kakashi, alias the Copy Ninja. Master of more than 1000 ninjutsu and one heck of an enemy. For a moment he wondered what his chances of survival were if he took out a kunai and sliced Kakashi's throat right here, right now. Then he realized that, if he did that, that would seriously ruin the infiltration and probably Tobi's fragile trust in him. So he went on with the show.

"Can you help him?" Kisame asked, grabbing Kakashi's shoulder. Kakashi frowned and then got up, lifting Tobi over his shoulder and then facing Kisame. "I can't, but they sure can in the hospital. Follow me, it's not far from here."

Partly relieved because Kakashi didn't recognize them and partly because this was going to be very, very simple, Kisame nodded fast. "Thank you, thank you, he's my little brother…!"

"Then follow me. People, out of the way please. And you, here, hold this," and Kakashi pushed a small orange book in Kisame's hands before he started running off in East direction, with Kisame on his heels. Kakashi knew the way where Kisame didn't but, as he had said earlier, the hospital wasn't far.

"Did anything similar to this happened before?" Kakashi asked over his shoulder to Kisame, who was just behind him. Kisame shook his head. "No, never! He's been ill before but that was nothing. Just the flu or a cold."

"Okay… then here we are. Stay behind me, it's busy in there."

Kisame nearly had no time before Kakashi took a sharp turn to the left and he was forced to use a very tiny amount of chakra, just to make sure that he didn't slip. Even though Kakashi didn't move or show any sign of that he noticed Kisame sweat dropped. Shit, I shouldn't do that again.

They went through electrical doors and then entered a cool room, probably air conditioned. Several doctors in white robes were talking to each other or to visitors, while on the other side of the large square room people sat on chairs with magazines and a water machine next to them. Kakashi walked straight on to the desk, ignoring the queue that had formed and placed Tobi on the desk in front of a surprised looking girl.

"Sir," she said, an angry look on her face and with a tone that said and-now-I'll-tell-you-the-rules. "You should wait in the queue! Just li- Oh my god," she jumped from her chair and then turned around and pressed a red button, then bowed forwards to speak into a little microphone. "Shizune-sama! We have got a problem!"

Kisame blinked once with his eyes and then electrical doors on the other end of the hall slid open, revealing a woman with short black hair and a serious expression on her face. A little pink pig followed her, and Kakashi stepped aside. "Here he is," he said and Shizune nodded to him. "Thanks Kakashi. I'll take it from here." And she placed her hands on Tobi's chest, with soon green light glowing off them. The people that had been waiting in the queue all leaned forwards to be able to see what she was doing.

Suddenly Kisame realized this wasn't good. He had been planning on going on research, but as things looked like, he wouldn't even get a chance to look through the hospital. If Tobi did himself too much harm he would have to go to surgery and then Kisame would have to wait here, probably together with someone. He overdid it, he thought while he saw the serious expression on Shizune's face harden. The fool overdid it big time.

"Make an OR ready," Shizune suddenly said, "And get Sakura. I don't care about her situation – get her! I need assistance. Now!!"

The girl behind the counter nodded and then got up, raced to the front door and left. Quickly another one replaced her seat, but the people in the queue were all still too shocked by this performance to ask questions.

"Kakashi," Shizune said, turning to the silver haired man. "Carry him to OR 3. I'll meet you there within seconds." Kakashi nodded, took up Tobi and carried him away. Kisame looked after the two, panic growing inside of him. What had Tobi actually done to himself…?

"You," Shizune snapped and Kisame looked at her, slightly startled. "…y, Yes, Ma'am…?" he said, his voice trembling. Shizune looked him over. "Do you know the patient?" He nodded. "He's my little brother, ma'am…"

Shizune nodded. "Can I ask your name and age please?"

"Tawu," Kisame muttered. "Tawu Nagari. My brother's name is Ayoku – I'm twenty three and he's twenty." Shizune raised an eyebrow. "Pretty old for brothers still traveling together, don't you think?"

Kisame swallowed. this woman is sharp, he thought. I need to be careful and think my words over. If I make one mistake it's over. "Well, we've been together since we were six. Our parents died then, and we've been nearly everywhere together. Our bond is… hard to break."

This seemed to satisfy the medic slightly. "I see. I'll do everything I can. Now if you excuse me, I need to go to the OR. Please take a seat by OR 3 and wait until we're ready, Kakashi will accompany you within a few minutes. I'll have someone fetch you after the operation."

Kisame cursed inwardly. What he had feared had become truth. Because Tobi was now officially a patient here in Konoha hospital, their names needed to be recorded and he would be questioned about their backgrounds. And that all because Tobi did… Did what?

Shizune turned around, the little pig following her again. Just before she could walk away, Kisame blurted: "Ma'am! What's… what's wrong with him?"

Shizune turned around to face him. "I don't know, Tawu-san. I really don't."

- On the streets of Konoha -

Dotongu had a quite fast pace. He didn't greet people nor did he apologize if he bumped against someone. At the moment, his entire brain had focused on the soon to come conversation with one of his ex ninjas. One of the most promising, too. And also the one with the largest ego.

That I can already talk to him is a miracle, he thought while he looked at a sign to see in what street he was and where he had to go. I had suspected it to take ages, un. Perhaps living here in Konoha had had its influence on him. He shivered slightly, even though it was still very hot. I hope so. I don't really feel like arguing with him when it's so hot…

He took a right turn and then saw the Hokage tower, a large building with the fire sign printed on it. He smiled without knowing it and increased his speed slightly. Now he would not only see Deidara, he would also meet the kunoichi Tsunade said so much about. He wondered how she looked like and couldn't help but think that she might have slightly the same personality as the Hokage. Apprentice and teacher often share the same personality, he thought and his mind wandered to when Deidara had been one of his students.

-Flashback-

Dotongu shook his head. "No, no, don't use your mouths that way, Deidara-kun. You need to focus on using them like this, un. If you're just eating the rock then nothing good will come out of it."

The little blond boy gave him an angry glare and then crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I do it the way I want to, hmm," he retorted. "besides, I hate this rock! It hurts my teeth!"

Dotongu sighed. He sat down on the floor of the training room and gestured Deidara to do the same. The boy sat down as well, a little hesitating. "Listen to me, Deidara-kun," Dotongu said, his voice low. "You didn't come here because you already knew how to mold stone. You came here because you wanted to learn that, un. So don't say that you already know how it works because you don't."

Deidara looked at his feet, and Dotongu smiled in relief. He remembered acting the same in front of his old teacher, the second Kage, and then pulled Deidara at his feet. "Although we might be able to cure that toothache problem of yours, un."

Deidara looked at him hopefully. "Really, hmm?" he rubbed the insides of his hands and when he did so, Dotongu saw that the mouths looked irritated. The skin around them looked raw and red and then Dotongu knew a solution.

"You are going to use clay, un," he said and he walked to a large dresser in the corner of the room. Deidara didn't follow him. "Clay?" he asked. "Why clay?"

"Don't ask," Dotongu retorted, "Just do as you're told for a change. Here," and he gave the boy two hands full of white clay. "In theory it's the same as with the rocks. You take them in, don't swallow them, and when you've infused the clay with your chakra you spit it out again, un. Give it a try."

Deidara stared at the clay and his fingers absentmindedly started to mold it into various shapes and sizes. Dotongu didn't speak but watched, remembering that his mother had told him that he Deidara was in fact very artistic. He sighed. It had been the last time he had seen her. Next day, the day after she had brought Deidara to the ninja academy, there had been a large earthquake and Deidara's mother and father hadn't survived. Ever since then, Dotongu has raised Deidara as if he was his son, and teaching him was only one of the things he did only for Deidara. Not for anyone else.

Then Deidara carefully took some of the clay into his hand mouth hand and chewed it, very, very slowly. Then he closed his eyes in concentration when he had to insert chakra in the clay. A little breeze started inside of the room, cooling the sweat on Deidara's forehead, and soon a faint blue light shone of his clenched fist, growing stronger with the second.

And then suddenly a jolt of chakra energy shot out of his hand, flashing blue, making him tumble back and Dotongu trip over. The Tsuchikage caught himself in time and jumped on his feet, where Deidara was catapulted towards the other end of the room. Amazing, Dotongu thought while walking towards the boy. So much chakra, and so concentrated…! And that while he's still so young!

"Nice work, Deidara-kun," he said and he offered Deidara a hand to get up. The boy moaned, opened one eye slightly and then lay a small, white bird in Dotongu's outstretched hand, before he fainted. Dotongu kneeled next to him and examined the bird. The details were perfect, every single feather stood out and the beak was long and sharp, unlike any other bird he had ever seen. Just when he was about to put it next to Deidara, it clapped it's wings and flew up. Dotongu jumped up, slightly startled, while he followed the white bird around the room, astounded by its realism.

The little creation flew around twice and then landed in the centre of the training room, where it started to wash itself and looked at Dotongu with it's little round eyes. The Tsuchikage sat down next to Deidara and patted the boy softly on his cheek, making him wake up.

"You're an artist, boy. The bird just flew!" Dotongu said, unable to hide the surprise in his voice. Deidara got up slowly and then looked at the bird, which was now hopping around, before he looked back at Dotongu. "It's not perfect," he said. "I made the head too small and the eyes too big, hmm."

Dotongu sighed. Just what an artist would always say about his art. "It looks good to me," he said smiling. "You just practice more with clay, un, and one day perhaps you'll be able to make a good spy jutsu out of it."

Deidara nodded, a happy grin etched in his face. "Dotongu-sama?" he asked, and the Tsuchikage looked at him. "Yes, Deidara-kun?"

"Can I…" Deidara's grin got wider. "Try something with the bird?"

Dotongu blinked. "Sure. Go ahead, un."

Deidara looked at the bird, closed his eyes and then formed a one handed hand seal. He took a deep breath, then suddenly opened his eyes and screamed: "KATSU!!" (a/n: I thought Katsu means to win, so I guess he yells something like "I will win" to increase his concentration or something. I'm not Japanese so please forgive me if I'm making mistakes!)

The bird detonated. A shockwave lifted both Dotongu and Deidara from their feet and slammed them against the nearby wall, and the fire ball coming out of it burned their skin slightly before the explosion was over.

Deidara was cheering, ignoring the light burns on his skin and his bruised back. "YES!! It worked! You saw that, Dotongu-sama? It actually EXPLODED, HMM!! I knew I could do it, I knew it!"

Dotongu coughed out some smoke and then got on his feet again, wiping off his clothes before looking at the boy, who was having a lot of fun partying on his own. Something inside of him told him to now hug the little boy and tell him he did well, while an other part told him to stand back and let him experience this joy on his own. You're not his father, he said to himself. His father died and you're in no position to take that place.

But deep inside, he wished he could.

-end Flashback-

He arrived at the hokage building and waited a few seconds before climbing the large stairs that led to not only Tsunade's office but also the apartment. He wasn't nervous, to his own surprise, just very, very curious. He entered a long corridor and walked by all the doors until the very last one, with a name plate on it. 5th Hokage.

He knocked on the door, but got no answer. He smacked his own head. Of course there's no one, stupid! She's to Mizura! So he opened the door himself and walked inside, looking around carefully. The desk was filled with piles of paperwork, and he smirked when he saw them. Next he saw bookcases filled with books about medical supplies and rules of Konohagakure, and he studied the titles quickly before focusing at why he was there.

Then his eye fell on a little white note, taped to the door that led to the special apartment. He walked closer and looked at the handwriting. The first part, let's say two lines, was girlish but very inaccurate, like she was writing with her wrong hand. The other part, the rest of the letter, was written with a solid handwriting and he studied it for a few seconds, knowing that it must be Deidara's, before reading the letter.

Dear Kage,

Unfortunately I have to inform you that we won't be able to meet you this afternoon, as has been concluded by us and our Hokage.

Instead of that, Sakura is going to the hospital to save lives. She's a top medic so that's why we're not here. You could wait in the office if you want to but I wouldn't offer that since she's terribly slow… (the handwriting got a bit off and Dotongu guessed that Sakura might have hit him for writing this)and I might need a doctor some time soon as well.

See you,

D&S

Dear kage? Dotongu thought while reading it again. He wondered if maybe Tsunade hadn't told them who exactly was coming, just that they knew that they were expecting a Kage to come over. He took the note from the door and buried it in his pocket. That Tsunade, he thought smiling while he sat down behind her desk, smelling a faint perfume she must've been wearing the other day. She's a hell of an intelligent woman.

-Konoha hospital-

Kisame and Kakashi were the only ones in the entire waiting room. All the other chairs were empty while they kept glaring at the sign above the OR. It had been at least ten minutes since the girl went to fetch that Sakura and he was seriously wondering when she'd show up. Kakashi though didn't mind at all.

"Don't worry," he said. "She'll show up. She's not exactly the type to let people wait."

Kisame grumbled. "I can only hope so. If Ayoku dies because she didn't show up…"

Kakashi grinned. "You won't be able to lay a single finger on her. Many have tried that before you. Even an Akatsuki member wasn't able to wipe her out, the contrary, actually. So I would think that over if I were you."

Kisame looked at Kakashi. "A… Akatsuki? You mean that organization?" his heart was beating fast. Had that Sakura killed one of them? Perhaps she was the one to defeat Deidara in the forests and kidnap him!

"I do, yes," Kakashi said. "I was there too. Anyway, she's terrible strong. Frightening strong I might say. She hit me once and I landed in hospital for two weeks." He shivered at the mere thought and Kisame nodded.

"Who did she defeat?"

He could smack himself for asking that. Too much! He had said way too much!

Kakashi raised one eyebrow. "Why do you want to know that?"

Kisame was nervously seeking a way out, but couldn't find any, "eh, well, er…" when suddenly footsteps made them both look up. He saw a pink haired girl with an angry expression pace down the hall, pulling someone behind her, a blond man. Kisame's heart beat faster as they got closer, and he felt a little bit familiar chakra coming off the man.

It can't be. The guy's got short hair…!

"In here, Kakashi-sensei?" the pinked haired girl asked, while the blond man was still looking the other way. Turn around, Kisame thought, nerves twisting in his stomach. Turn around goddamit!!

"Yup. He's this guys younger brother. You might as well do your best, Sakura. I guess Shizune'll be angry with you for showing up this late."

"Which was not my fault," Sakura exclaimed. "It took me ages to write that fucking letter and then he takes over and writes merely stupid things that are so NOT honorable for kages…!"

"Oh shut up will you, hmm," the blonde said, and then there was no doubt left about who it was. Kisame's heart missed a beat. He had found him! He had found him without doing anything! And when the guy turned around and Kisame saw the way too familiar blue eyes, he knew he was sure. But the short hair…!

He couldn't help himself. Seeing Deidara, with short hair while he had always been so damn proud about his long blond hair, snapped something inside of him and he burst out in laughter, making everyone look at him.

"What's wrong with him?" Deidara asked, frowning but also blushing. He suspected something. The aura coming off that man, it was familiar. Like he had seen it before, like he had seen it a lot, and when the man laughed at him he felt like he laughed at him because of his new haircut. He didn't know why.

"Come on, Deidara, let him be, I need to operate that man," Sakura said and she pulled handcuffs they were both wearing, making him flinch slightly. Kisame wiped away the tears of laughter and studied the handcuffs for a split second. So that's how she managed to kidnap him, by chaining herself to him. Stupid girl. It's a miracle on itself that she's still alive.

The two went inside the operation room, leaving a very awkward silence. Kakashi coughed and Kisame flinched. He obviously needed to explain himself.

"Eh, I, I laughed because, because I just remembered a… a joke my brother used to say…" He looked at his feet, blushing fanatically. It was a very useless excuse. "It was really funny…!"

Kakashi raised both of his eyebrows and then put the little orange book away, leaning back against the wall. Then he looked at Kisame. "Tell it! You've made me curious!"

So, that's that, another chapter done! Hope you all liked it and until the next one!