It was nearly nine at night by the time they arrived at the main gates of the Hidden Leaf. Bushio glanced up at the walls surrounding the city and grunted. They were huge in comparison to the walls of the Hidden Stone. Yoko gazed in amazement at them. It must have taken a while to build those walls, she thought.

"Ok you guys! We're here! We almost didn't make it on time, but…" Tazuriko pulled a watch out of his pocket, staring at it in the gloom.

"It's about nine, so we made it…barely. I guess we can get a hotel room tonight since we'll be in town. Let's go!" He marched resolutely into the city, leaving the boy and girl to catch up.

"Bushio-kun, please wait!" Yoko was busy looking at some stalls, where countless vendors were selling wares to a multitude of people. She was glancing at a belt that was decorated with blue rocks when Bushio walked up.

"Hey, quit looking at things and come on! We're getting a hotel room!" He turned, and she followed him and Tazuriko to a small hotel on the outskirts of the bazaar.

"How much will it be for a night?" Tazuriko was busily inquiring about a room, so Yoko and Bushio took the opportunity to look around the main room. It was quaint, a few chairs, a roaring fire…not much different than the hotels that Yoko had stayed in before. Of course, after the cold of the night, the fire did feel good. She flopped into a chair, closing her eyes and sighing.

"How many with you?" The man behind the desk was totaling some figures up on a pad of paper. Tazuriko turned, counting, as if he didn't really know.

"Umm, two…no, three. One of our party is still…missing for some reason," he said, annoyed. The clerk nodded, adding up the figures.

"That will come to two-hundred and thirty two," he said. Grudgingly, the Jounin counted out the money, handing it to the man behind the desk. He took it and gave Tazuriko a room key.

"You're in room twelve. Have a pleasant night! Breakfast is free at seven if you want to wake up for it," he said. Tazuriko gave him a nod, turning and shouting at the other two to follow him.

Upstairs, they found a neat room, small but homely. Two beds, a long with a bathroom. Tazuriko put his pack down, going to the window and looking outside.

"I wonder where that boy has gotten to," he said quietly to himself. Yoko and Bushio took a bed each, and he turned.

"Hey! I'm the leader of this group! You guys get the other bed, I get this one!" Yoko squealed with delight, hopping onto the other bed. Bushio sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Hey…Bushio-kun…this will be romantic, huh?" Yoko smiled, trying her best to charm the boy into submission.

"…I'll sleep on the floor," Bushio said. Yoko's heart sank. Her best intentions foiled, she glumly began making the bed for herself while Bushio threw a sleeping bag on the floor.

"Hey, I'm going to take a shower. Why don't you guys go out and enjoy the bazaar…and try to find that yellow-haired brat while your there," Tazuriko said. He had already taken his clothes off, leaving nothing but his boxers on. The other two took a quick look before walking out the door, shutting it. He smiled, and then went into the bathroom for a nice, hot bath.

Outside, Deidara was still enjoying his bird. Hopping off in the park, he gave it another pat before dispelling the chakra. It poofed, not exploding, but more disappearing. He smiled, as he finally had the hang of that now, to! He turned towards the city, gazing at the buildings and lights emanating from it.

"Wow, it's huge, un! I hope I can find the others!" He began walking, going into a busy part of town and gazing at the things they were selling. Hearing his stomach rumble, he quickly bought some food, munching it as he walked.

Something caught his attention down the street. A flock of girls were following a boy, about his age. He was walking with a smirk, probably more annoyed at the bunch behind him than he was happy about it. Deidara watched him walk towards him. Then he noticed the headband on his head.

"Wow, he must be a Hidden Leaf Village ninja, un." Deidara watched him as he walked by. Suddenly, the boy stopped, the girls colliding with one another. He stood, standing straight. Deidara shrugged, walking away and staring at everything.

"You…the yellow-haired idiot!" The boy cried out, making Deidara stop in his tracks. He turned, pointing a finger at himself.

"You talking to me, un?" He was puzzled. Why did he want to talk to him?

"Yeah," he said. He turned, staring at Deidara. The girls stood back, believing that a fight was about to happen. The boy walked up to him, staring at him with dull, black eyes.

"Who are you?" Deidara frowned.

"I'm Deidara…of the Hidden Stone Village. Who are you?" He licked his lips, trying to moisten them. The flight had given him wind burn, and his lips were highly chapped.

The boy grunted, turning back around and walking away. "I don't like you…" he said. Deidara frowned again.

"Well, you're none-to-polite. It's a wonder that you have anyone following you, un!"

"Hey, you shut up! Itachi-kun could kick your yellow-haired butt all over the place!" One of the girls, standing in front of him, began poking his chest with a finger. He stared down at the offensive appendage, and then grabbed her hand. She squealed, and he released her. She looked at her hand, a ring made of clay around her finger.

"What…what the hell is this?" She grabbed it, trying to make it come off, but it was stuck to her like glue. Deidara grinned.

"Sorry…I don't like being poked. Now, apologize," he said. The girl glared.

"As if! You little squirt!" She began pulling the ring off again, but it still wouldn't budge. Deidara shrugged, taking another clay ring from his hand and tossing it in front of her. He made a hand sign, and the ring in front of her exploded.

"Now…that ring on your hand is the same. Apologize…or lose your best poking finger. You'll do better without it, anyways," he said. The girl, hysterical, began spouting apologies. He sighed. No one had any guts anymore. He never would have blown her finger off, he would never do that to a woman. It was funny how she was gibbering a reply, he had to admit. He made a hand sign, and the ring slipped off. She threw it at him, and he caught it before it hit.

"Jerk!" She turned, huffily, stopping as she came face to face with the other boy.

"He just saved your finger…I would expect you to be a little more appreciative," he said. She mumbled an apology to him, and he closed his eyes.

"You know, I don't take others in my city who threaten people lightly," he said, walking up to the shorter boy. He looked at him, and Deidara noticed his pupils weren't the same as before. They were reddish, with a tinge of black in them. He also noticed what looked like a ring with a single blade of fire on it. Strange...

"I hope you don't cause any more problems here. I would have to deal with you if you did," he said. Deidara shook his head.

"No…no problems. Thanks," he interjected at the end. The other boy grunted, and turned back to his gaggle, walking away.

"Oh Itachi-kun! That was so cool!"

"I know! Aren't Uchiha's the greatest!"

"I'm going to marry Itachi-kun one day! To think, me, an Uchiha! Oooohhh, it gives me goosebumps…" The girls were still carrying on as the youth walked around a corner, disappearing.

"So…Itachi…Uchiha…huh, funny name, un," Deidara said to himself. He looked at one of his hands, which panted up at him.

"Well, we should find the others, un," he said. He began looking around, trying to see if he could spot anyone.

"There you are! Come on, Tazuriko-sensai was worried sick!" Yoko stood behind him, glaring. He turned, shrugging and putting a hand behind his head.

"Sorry. I got caught up…" he said. She grunted, grabbing his hand and propelling him through the crowd back to the hotel...and a goodnight's sleep.

Next time…A mission of peace….plus Deidara learns about the Uchihas…on…well…A Mission of Peace! See you there!