Deidara lay in bed, his thoughts ranging over the previous days experiences. He and his team had failed the test. He didn't want to believe it at first. He thought that it had been a cruel joke by the Jounin, until he had snatched the scroll and disappeared into a cloud of smoke, leaving the three standing on the hilltop, alone and confused. A tear rolled down his face, and he glanced at his hands.
"We were…we were so close, un!" He punched his pillow, another tear hitting the fabric. He threw his face into the bed, trying to control the pain. It hurt to much, knowing that they had been so close to succeeding…only to fail miserably. He lay on the bed, his eyes puffy and red, as his hands panted at him. He smiled at them, going to the pot on one side of his room and letting them eat some of the dirt he had collected the other day.
"Well, at least you guys don't care if we lost, un," he said. His hands, if they could have answered, were to busy eating to. He shook his head, looking up at the ceiling. Well, he could go back to the Academy…face another year…pass the damn test again. Next time, he would be stronger, better. He would show that damn Jounin. He would kick his ass next time around. He smiled.
A knock on the door disrupted his thinking. He was about to tell whoever it was to go away and leave him alone…but he thought it might have been the Tsuchikage. He didn't really want the man to see him like this, but he didn't really have a choice. He wiped his nose on a sleeve, hoping that it wouldn't be too obvious he had been crying. He went to the door, and opened it.
"Hello?" As the door opened, he stood amazed. It wasn't the Tsuchikage…but Yoko and Bushio standing there. He stared at them for a second before Bushio sighed, staring up at the ceiling.
"You going to invite us in or what?" Deidara shook off his amazement, standing aside as the two filtered in. He took a last look in the hall, shutting the door. He stood there, watching the other two as they found seats on his bed.
"So…what do you want?" He asked. He had no time for them to say that failing had been his fault. He had done what he could, so if anything, the fact that they had almost succeeded should have been his moment. Yoko looked at the other boy before sighing, turning her face towards Deidara.
"Look, Deidara. Me and Bushio-kun here…well…we wanted to say…well…" she said, looking towards Bushio for support. He sighed again, staring out the window.
"We wanted to say thanks," he said. Deidara still didn't understand. Yoko smiled, getting up and walking over to Deidara, kneeling to get on his level. She was about a half foot taller than him, but kneeling put her about right.
"Yeah. We, uh, wanted to say thanks for the work you put in," she said. Deidara was still amazed.
"But…but we lost. We didn't become Genins, un. Why would you thank me when we failed?" He still didn't understand. Yoko blushed.
"You saved me from that pit, remember? You also did the best against that jerk of a Jounin to…so technically, we owe you big time," she said. Bushio hopped off the bed, staring at him.
"Yeah, well. I guess you're not as useless as I thought, squirt. Uh, I mean, for a nine-year old anyways," he said. Deidara smiled. Suddenly, lips met his as Yoko gave him a kiss. They parted, and Deidara felt his face redden. She smiled at him.
"For saving me. I never actually thanked you properly," she said. Deidara put a hand to his lips, and a small grin plastered itself there. She got up, looking around.
"So, this is where you live? Nice place," she said. Bushio walked to the fridge, opening it and whistling at the food that was there. He never had a shortage, and people were always bringing him food and supplies. The whole saving the village mine thing was still in the air, so everyone still figured they owed him.
"Hey…I don't suppose…I mean," Deidara began. Bushio looked at him.
"What?" Deidara began to rub his arm, looking at the ground.
"You guys wouldn't want to…have dinner with me, would you?" The two looked at each other, and Bushio smiled.
"Sure. Why not. Actually, to tell the truth, I haven't had dinner yet," he said. The girl nodded her agreement, her stomach rumbling in unison. Deidara grinned.
"Great. How about some ramen?" The other two laughed, quickly agreeing. Deidara set to work creating dinner. It was going to be…a masterpiece of edible art.
Later that night, when most of the village was quietly sleeping, six figures stole into the main city. They stopped on a roof, each clad in black. One turned to the others.
"Ok, we know the plan. The Tsuchikage's palace is the biggest building here, so it's easy to see," he said, pointing at the building as it loomed above the sleeping city. The other five nodded, and one whispered back.
"Orders are to kill the Tsuchikage, right?" The first nodded.
"Yeah. Assassination. Should be rather simple…I mean, the guards didn't give us much trouble, did they?" The other five chuckled before the six men disappeared in the night. The guards on the wall had already been dispatched, blood pooling on the stones of the wall. The six began to creep towards the tower…and their objective.
It had been late, so the three in Deidara's room had decided to go to sleep. It saved the two older children a walk back to their homes. Yoko had taken the bed, Bushio and Deidara finding places on the floor and in a reclining chair. Deidara had slept outside for a month before becoming a student at the Academy, so it was easy for him. The carpet was soft and warm, so he didn't really mind. He tossed in his sleep, however, dreams of his past coming back. A house on fire, a dying woman, angry villagers…it was coming back in torrents of agony. He awoke in a cold sweat, drops cascading from his face. He shook himself, standing up and walking to the sink. Grabbing a glass, he poured some water for himself, gulping it down. It was only then he heard the light thud that sounded from behind his door.
"Hmm, what was that? Is someone out there?" He walked to the door, listening. Nothing else came from the other side. He opened it slightly, taking a look down the hall. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary. He shrugged, about to close the door.
"Dei…Deidara," a voice said. He turned back around. A Hidden Stone shinobi crawled along the floor of the hallway, and Deidara could see the kunai in his back. He inhaled sharply, running to the man.
"What happened, un?" The shinobi turned his face towards the boy.
"They're…They're going after…the Tsuchikage…Deidara, help…help him," he said. Then, he passed away, having lost multitudes of blood on his way there. Deidara dropped him, looking at the blood on his hands. He shivered, running back to his room and shutting the door.
"You guys!" He ran to his team, shaking them awake. Yoko looked at him in annoyance.
"What? It's early. You were having a nightmare, go back to bed," she said, turning over. Deidara threw himself at her, getting between her and the wall and pushing her out of the bed. She fell with a small scream, hitting the ground. "Damn it, Deidara. If you wanted the bed, you could have asked. I would have shared!" He got down, giving Bushio a shake. He came awake bitterly.
"Man, I'm still tired. What are you doing?" Deidara showed him his hands, still covered in crimson red. Bushio glanced at his hands before looking back at the boy.
"What happened?" Deidara gave both a glance before going back out into the hallway. He was followed by the other two, who gave the dead nin one look. Yoko was about to scream when Bushio grabbed her, propelling her back into the room.
"He's…he's…I…he's…" she couldn't make words come. Deidara looked at them both.
"Whoever killed him, they're going after Tsuchikage-sama…we have to stop em!" He began to undress, getting clothes on in lieu of his pajamas. The other two just stared at him, until he shot them a look.
"I'm not going to sit here and wait for them to kill him, un!" He finished, and walked out into the hall. The other two followed.
"But, if that guy couldn't beat whoever it was…what makes you think…" Yoko started, but he turned on her.
"The Tsuchikage was the only person in the village who I trusted first. He's the only reason that I am even a shinobi…or could have been one. I am not going to let him down, un," he said. With that, he began running to the stairs. He climbed them, two at a time. He had to make it to the top, get to the Tsuchikage's room before the attackers did. He got to the top a few minutes later. He caught his breath, grabbing the door handle.
"Hey," Bushio said behind him. He turned, looking at the older boy. He smiled. "We're with you," he said. Deidara smiled back, looking at Yoko who stood with a resolute look on her face.
"Thanks guys. Come on!" He threw the door open, and the three ran down the hallway. The end of the hallway was the Tsuchikage's room. Deidara hoped that they would be on time!
Will Deidara and his crew get to the top in time to save the Tsuchikage? Will the assassins fulfill their mission?...Will I ever get any sleep today? Tune in to find out! Next time: Countdown to Annihilation!