It just occured to me to start doing this...but you'll forgive me I'm sure...
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto...or the Naruto franchise...or anything Naruto related. The idea of this was mine, original ideas weren't. And although I wish it were so...Deidara is not my brother, uncle, cousin twice removed, related to me in anyway, or my creation. Thank you and enjoy!
Oh, I also have thought about a review given to me, stating that the Stone and Leaf villages were at war with one another, and that the fourth was a ninja cursed by the stone at having killed so many stone ninja. However, this is years after the fighting has ended. The Stone and Leaf are at peace now. I had to go back and reread the Gaiden...so. Thanks to my reviewers for pointing out that little mistake. Also, for those who I love so much (All Yall!) I have redone the ending to this chapter. Check it out, I think it adds to the fun! Again, I also found that I had wrote that the Fourth was 18...which couldn't have possibly worked...so he's older now. Sorry for the confusion my peeps!
This is for Deidara...you live on in us all my friend!
It was morning when Deidara woke up, stretching and yawning. He looked at his chest…and the arm draped on it. Yoko was busy, talking in his ear. He started, staring down at her as she rolled over, still talking in her sleep. He smiled, getting out of bed as lightly as possible and stepping over the unconscious form of Bushio. Going to the bathroom, he shut the door. After taking care of his morning essentials, he came out, fully dressed. By that time, Bushio and Yoko were up, the latter still sitting in bed teary eyed from the sleep she had.
"Well guys, it's time to go visit the Hokage. Let's put our best faces on and do it!" Tazuriko was already up and ready, standing with his arms akimbo and staring at his three Genin.
"Obviously, he was up before anyone, and Deidara was up right after him…again," Bushio said to himself.
"I never could sleep late, un," Deidara said, almost apologetically. Yoko got out of the bed, yawning and walking into the bathroom. Bushio lay back down.
"I'll go when she gets out," he said. The Jounin rolled his eyes, looking back at his watch.
"We better hurry. We're supposed to meet with the Hokage and the council at noon, and it's almost ten," he said. Deidara grinned. He had wanted to meet the Hokage since they left the Stone. He was interested in seeing how the leader of this village differed from his.
After everyone had gotten through in the bathroom, they left the hotel, walking down the Hidden Leaf's main road through town. Deidara stared at all the shops, glancing into each one as they passed. Some were selling trinkets, most were selling food. He glanced at a kunai that one vendor was selling, taking a close look at it.
"Come on, Deidara. We're late!" Tazuriko was calling to him, so he turned, running in that direction. By the time he caught up with the others, they stood in front of the main palace. He thought it looked bigger before, but it was definitely huge now. Hundreds of windows dotted the structure, and it was tens of stories high. He gave a low whistle, looking at Bushio.
"Wow, I'd like to live here, wouldn't you, un?" Bushio gave him a sidelong glance.
"Naw, I wouldn't. To high up for my tastes," he said. Deidara shook his head, again going back to staring at the massive building.
"Well you guys, let's go on in, hm?" Tazuriko said, leading the way into the main building. Walking in, they glanced at the intricate works of art on the walls, the torches giving off merry glows.
"Yeah, we're here to see the council and the Hokage…a whole mission thing, you know?" Tazuriko was busy trying to get them past security, so Deidara was looking at a scroll on the wall. It depicted a man, about twenty-five or so Deidara guessed, fighting a group of enemies. He had a spear in his chest, and an arrow in his shoulder, but he was still fighting on. The funny thing to Deidara was that he had the same eyes that the kid from last night had. He shook off the feeling, but he couldn't help but stare at the eyes. They had three of the fireballs in them. The kid just had the one.
"Hmm, this is an interesting portrait, un. What do you guys think?" He looked at his hands, and they panted up at him.
"You like it? It was done a while ago," said a voice behind him. Startled, he turned. It was a younger man, probably not more than thirty or so. Blonde hair spiked up on his head, he wore a robe, probably ceremonial more than anything. He smiled down at Deidara, and as always, Deidara had a smile waiting for him as well. "This tapestry depicts one of our greatest clans…" he said.
"The Uchiha clan, right, un?" Deidara turned back to the picture. The man laughed, kneeling down.
"Yep! You sure know a lot for being young and not from here. I heard you're from the stone. What's your name?" He was still smiling as Deidara turned. He smiled back. He liked this yellow-haired man who was so kind.
"My name is Deidara…what's yours?" The man stuck his hand out, and Deidara took it happily.
"Pleased to meet you, Deidara. Actually, most people just call me the Fourth Hokage…but you can call me Hokage…" he said. Deidara smiled back. So, this was the Hokage.
"So, you're the Hokage, un? Good, we were supposed to meet you, so I'm glad I did," Deidara said. The man giggled, standing up again.
"No no, I'm not the Hokage, I'm just a Hokage. The one in charge right now is the Third Hokage. He's busy up in the council room," he said, pointing up the stairs. Deidara stared, and then glanced around for his team. They were gone!
"Oops, they left me. Sorry, Hokage-sama, but I have to find them!" He gave a last wave at the man before running up the stairs. The man smiled, waving back.
About two-thirds up the stairs, he ran into his teammates. Bushio turned.
"We thought you were going to be forever. About time you showed up!" He turned, walking up the stairs again.
"Sorry…I just met the Fourth Hokage, un!" Deidara grinned. Tazuriko nodded.
"Yeah. The Fourth Hokage is the youngest one. The First and Second Hokage's are already dead, so it's just him and the old guy now…the Third Hokage," he said. Deidara scratched his head.
"So, why aren't there three and four Tsuchikage's? Wouldn't that make sense, un?" Tazuriko gave a laugh.
"The kage's are the strongest ninja in the village. The Tsuchikage is that way because of his status and his ultimate technique. It's hard to beat it, almost impossible, unless you know how," he said. Deidara lowered his head in thought. So, whoever had gone after the Tsuchikage had also known about the technique…and known how to beat it? That was disturbing news indeed.
"But, our village has never had any need for another kage. So, we just have the one right now," Tazuriko finished. Deidara snapped back to attention, but was still in his own mind, mulling things over.
It was a few minutes later when they got to the top of the stairs. Another hallway went straight ahead of them, and ended in another staircase. A bench, wooden and cold looking, sat facing a set of double doors. Intricate patterns were carved into it, making it seem bigger than it was.
"Ok, you guys sit tight. I'm going to go in and talk to the Hokage and council for a while. I should be out in an hour or so. Afterwards, we'll grab a bite to eat, and leave," he said. His statements left no room for argument, so the three took seats on the bench as he knocked on the door. After a few seconds, he was admitted into the chamber, the doors closing hollowly behind him.
After a few minutes, Bushio got up, walking to the foot of the stairs and peering up. "Bushio-kun, we're not supposed to go anywhere, remember?" Yoko was anxious, glancing at the door as if a squad of ninja would jump through to arrest them. Bushio laughed.
"I'm not going to go anywhere…I just want to see where this goes, that's all." With that, he began climbing the stairs, taking them two at a time. Yoko sighed, resigning herself. She went to the stairs, climbing up after her teammate. Deidara was undecided, so he sat on the bench. He thought it would be just easier to sit there then go exploring, though the concept of exploring sounded fun.
"Hey, fancy meeting you here again," said a familiar voice. He looked up at the Fourth Hokage with a grin. "So, you're sensai is in there, huh? Good luck to him. Those guys in there can be killers," he said. He sat down on the bench opposite Deidara, sighing as he leaned back. Casting a sidelong glance at the boy, he turned his head.
"So, Deidara. You like Konoha? It's a nice place, huh?" He looked up at the ceiling. Deidara glanced down at the floor.
"Yeah, it's nice, un!" The Fourth laughed, patting the boy on the head.
"So, what did interest you in that old tapestry down there?" He put his hands on his legs, staring over at the boy, who grinned back.
"Actually, I met an Uchiha, so I was just curious I guess, un! I mean, what are they? Who are they? What's up with their eyes, un?" He was spurting questions speedily, and the other man held his hand out, laughing.
"Whoa, slow down there. I'll tell you about them…but you'll have to do something for me," he said. Deidara stared as he reached into a pocket, jingling something around before coming back out with a piece of candy that Deidara readily accepted.
"Ok, now, about the Uchiha's. They're origin is really a mystery. No one knows how they came to be. But, they have that eye thing. It's called the Sharingan. With it, they can master moves that other people use. They copy them because they are able to see the chakra that passes between hand signs, and they can memorize the hand signs used. I've heard it said that they can also see chakra with it to," he said. Deidara's eyes widened. See chakra? That sounded impossible.
"But, they also have another technique…one that none have mastered in over one hundred years…or so they say," he said, sounding mysterious. Deidara felt himself lean forward, listening intently.
"They have a special technique called the Mangekyou Sharingan…which is much more powerful then the regular one. You see, there are different stages of the Sharingan. Each stage is represented by a fireball appearing in their eyes. Stage one is one fireball, stage two is two, and three has three fireballs in the pupils. The stage you saw below in the tapestry is stage three, the most powerful stage that most achieve. However, if someone is lucky enough to unlock the Mangekyou Sharingan, than it is the most powerful stage of all. I don't really know the details, but I do know that you are highly unlucky to have a Uchiha with the Mangekyou as an enemy," he said, finishing his narrative. Deidara went back to staring at the ground. So, that Itachi kid…he had stage one? He only had one fireball in his eye, so it had to be stage one.
"But don't worry. The Stone and Leaf Villages are at peace now, so you shouldn't have to face any Uchiha's any time soon," the Fourth Hokage reassured.
"So, what do the Uchiha's do? Are they ninja's or something, un?" Deidara looked up again. The Fourth chuckled.
"Well…yes. They are an elite class of ninja. In fact, they are also the police of Konoha…well, most of them. A good number also help with the ANBU, which are the black ops ninja of Konoha," he said. Deidara nodded. Elite ninja…ANBU…sounded like the Hidden Stone Village.
"So, is this technique…the Sharingan…is it able to be learned by others besides Uchiha's, un?" Deidara glanced down at his hands. The Fourth shook his head.
"No. The Sharingan is a blood-line trait…a Kekkai Genkai," said the Fourth. Deidara stared.
"Wait…so, a Kekkai Genkai is a blood-line trait? Like, only people of a certain clan can use that ability, un?" The Fourth smiled, nodding at him.
"That's right! Only certain people of a clan can use that ability. That's why no one but an Uchiha can use the ability of the Sharingan," he said. He got up, turning.
"Well, I gotta get going now. See you soon, Deidara. Hope you had a nice time in Konoha," he said, waving behind him. Deidara stood, waving back.
"I did! Thanks Hokage-sama!" He watched as the man walked down the stairs, leaving him alone in the hallway. Suddenly, the door swung open, and Tazuriko walked out, seemingly bored.
"Well, that was fun. Where are the others?" He looked down at the boy, who pointed at the stairs…as Yoko and Bushio came walking back.
"Fine, fine. Alright! Mission completed, and successful! Let's go, you guys!" He turned down the hall, beginning down the flight of stairs. Yoko and Bushio walked past, following.
"So, what was up there anyways, un?" He asked Yoko, who seemed more willing to talk than Bushio.
"Not much. Some scrolls and stuff on the walls. Kind of a bother. You do anything while we were gone, Deidara?" She turned, looking at him. Deidara smiled, putting his hands behind his head.
"Nope. I was bored to tears, un!" He glanced out the side of his eye at her as she smiled, nodding.
"Oh well. Maybe we'll do something cool next time we're here," she said. She looked at the other boy.
"Bushio-kun, you wanna walk together?" He was still facing forward as he replied.
"No. Not really. I like the open space of being alone," he said. She sighed. Deidara glanced at her.
"You can walk with me, Yoko," he said. She turned to him.
"No, that's ok. I'll walk by myself. Maybe Bushio-kun will change his mind," she said. She quickly caught up to the other two, leaving Deidara walking alone down the stairs. He smiled, looking at his hands. He was never alone when he was by himself. His hands, with their mouths and tongues, always followed…and though they never talked, they always seemed more alive than they were. Perhaps that was what they were…a Kekkai Genkai. He wasn't sure, but he hoped to learn the truth one day. He sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. It was going to be a long trip back to the Hidden Stone.
"Come on, you guys. Quit slacking behind here! We have to get back to the village. Otherwise the Tsuchikage is going to yell at me again!" Tazuriko was waiting impatiently for his wards to catch up. Deidara walked by himself at the back of the group, staring down at his hands. He shook his head, gazing once again at the Hokage's palace.
"That place...that man...he was sure cool, un," he said to himself. Then, he snapped back to attention, running to catch up to the other three. So began their long walk back to the Village Hidden in the Stone. However, unbeknownst to the group, a hidden danger lurked in the forest. A menacing evil, one that had come to claim the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and everyone who resided there. It was biding its time. It would wait until nightfall to strike at the village. It always had a taste for destruction, and today was no different. It sensed, rather than saw, the four shinobi walking away. It didn't want to give away its position just yet, so it let them pass. Had they seen it...well, it wouldn't have thought twice about destroying the four. In fact, it would have been fun to rip their arms off one by one. It growled to itself, and relaxed. Soon, the entire countryside would be its plaything, to do with as it felt. It closed its eyes, a slow grin playing out on its whiskered face. Soon...
Wow, this is the longest ever! 6 pages in Word! I try not to keep them this long, but it was requested, so…Oh, find out what the mission was all about in the next episode: A New Mission. Time to Upgrade! Until then…