Deidara glanced around the small hallway. The shinobi that had been guarding him had walked into the room in front of him, leaving the boy alone in the seemingly abandoned place. Deidara let his gaze fall back to the floor. He didn't know what was going to happen, but in his past experiences, he knew it wouldn't be good. A ninja almost knocked him down, running to his right and not seeing the small boy standing there. Deidara brushed himself off, even more intimidated by the place.

"I sure hope that Shizune is doing good…wherever she is, un," he said, glancing at his hand. It smiled up at him. He grinned.

"Deidara, the Tsuchikage will see you now," said the kindly shinobi, walking back out into the hall. Deidara gulped visibly, walking brokenly into the office of the head ninja of the Village Hidden in the Stones.

He walked through the portal, wincing as the shinobi closed the door, leaving him by himself to face the nin leader. He looked around at the scrolls hanging from the walls, and marveled at the artistry used in making them.

"Well then, my son. What is your name?" A kindly looking old man sat behind a large desk, a pipe smoking fitfully on his right. Deidara gulped again. He was sure the man had told his name, but he didn't want to be rude.

"Deidara, sir," he said. The old man smiled at him, and Deidara dropped his gaze, looking at the floor.

"Well, well. Deidara is it? That's fine. Now tell me, Deidara, how you came to be here in my village?" He took the pipe, taking some puffs from it. Deidara didn't know what he should say. Should he tell the old man that he had blown a child up in his original village? That his mother was dead after being beaten by the villagers when she wouldn't give him up? That he had run away from his original village? He decided that, for the time being, he would lie.

"Sir, I have no home. I have been wandering around for so long, picking up what I could eat. I have nothing but my clothes, and, well," he began, looking at his attire. He had never bought any new clothes. He had worn the same school outfit for a month, having no money to buy any others. The kindly Tsuchikage looked at him. Getting up, he walked over to the small boy, kneeling down. He placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, eyes closed in concentration.

"Hmm, you are shaking. Are you afraid?" Deidara looked at him, and then glanced back to the floor.

"No sir," he lied. Truth to tell, he was terrified. He had heard of the kage's, the hidden village leaders. They were said to be the most powerful ninjas in the world. This one in front of him could snap him like a twig if had wanted. The old man chuckled, getting up off his knee.

"You're a horrible liar, Deidara. But, you have nothing to fear from me. Actually, I would like to…congratulate you. It would have taken at least two days for the explosives from Suna to get here, and by that time, the workers in the mines would have been dead," he said. Deidara looked up, hope tingeing in his mind. The Tsuchikage looked at him again, smiling deeply.

"So, what are your ambitions, my little friend? What is it you want to do with yourself?" He sat back down, getting his pipe and puffing on it.

"I…I would…would," Deidara began, beginning to hyperventilate. This man was asking what he wanted to do, and he couldn't tell him because of the excitement. The man chuckled to himself.

"Calm down, my son. Just spit it out. It will feel better after you do," he said. Deidara gulped to relieve himself, and then blurted out what he wanted to say.

"Sir! I want to be an artist, sir! I want everyone to know what a great artist I am!" He was too excited to stop there. "I want to show everyone that I'm not a failure! I want to show them all, un!" He breathed heavily, trying to get oxygen into his lungs. The old man stared, that same smile on his face. He got up, walking over to the boy again and taking one of his hands. He looked with interest at the mouths that were panting up at him. Deidara blushed, not knowing what to say.

"Hmm, these hands…no, these mouths. This is how you make your bombs?" He asked. Deidara nodded slowly.

"Yes, sir. I found out by accident one day. I didn't really know what happened, but I have been practicing…with small ones," he said. The old man laughed.

"The bomb you used at the mine was anything but small," he said, kindly. Deidara, ashamed, looked back at the ground. The old man grinned. "Cheer up, lad. As I said before, you did nothing wrong. In fact, many people owe you a great debt." He went back to his chair, grabbing his pipe and taking a long, slow puff.

Deidara stared at the man, and then went back to the paintings and scrolls on the walls. True, they all depicted bloody, horrible scenes of war, but that was art. It was best if art showed things that were instantaneous. War meant that lives were gained and lost, and that was what art was all about, the loss after the gain. Deidara smiled. The old man, catching his interest in the paintings, glanced to them.

"Deidara, life is full of surprises. You of all people should know this. However, you have an exceptional ability that can't be overlooked. Therefore," he said, waiting until Deidara looked at him. "Therefore…I want you…to begin…immediately…" he let the words roll out, and then stopped. Deidara watched, waiting. "I want you to immediately…join the ninja academy. I think you would make a fine ninja, and this village would gain from having a nin like you." He smiled, staring at the boy as his jaw dropped.

"Me? A ninja? Really?" Deidara couldn't believe his ears. The old man, who he had just met not five minutes ago, was asking him to be a ninja. A ninja!

"Yes, I would like you to be a ninja, Deidara. What do you say?" He took another puff on his pipe…right before the boy jumped into his lap, hugging him. He smiled, patting Deidara on the back.

"Yes, sir. Yes yes yes yes!" He jumped up on the desk, throwing his hands into the air and doing a small dance. "A ninja! Wow! If mom could only see me now! I'm going to be a ninja!" He jumped off the desk, grabbing the Tsuchikage's hand and pumping it up and down. "Thank you, sir!"

"Please, Deidara. You are officially a member of this village now, so you may call me Tsuchikage," the man said, smiling deeply. Deidara let his hand go, a grin on his face. He jumped back up into the man's lap, hugging his neck.

"Thank you, Tsuchikage-sama! I won't let you down! I will become the best ninja in the village, un!" He jumped down, staring at the man. The Tsuchikage smiled again before beckoning to the nin outside the door. He came back in.

"Tsuchikage-sama?" The man, saluting, stood at attention.

"Captain Shugio, please escort Deidara to his place. He will find that it has been set up already. Also, make sure he has a new outfit. I wouldn't want him to show up to the academy wearing rags," he said. Deidara was even more amazed. New clothes, food, and a place to stay. This was a dream come true. The man saluted, beckoning to Deidara to follow him. Deidara took one last glance at the grinning man behind the desk before exiting the room.

"Tsuchikage-sama must have taken a liking to you, boy. But, no matter. Let me show you where you'll live. If you need anything at all, there are always nin around. Just ask one of them and they'll be happy to assist you. After all, you did save many lives, a lot of friends, brothers, and fathers. Most will gladly help you out now," said the nin. Deidara smiled, walking steadily. He had nothing to fear anymore. He had a place now…somewhere he belonged.

"Shizune, I did it. I finally did it. Mother…I hope you're watching me now! I did it, un!" He looked at his hands. They smiled at him, tongues lolling out. This was sure to be the start of something great!