Because I love everyone so much…and because I wish that I was a monkey sometimes…I love bananas…I am going to give you all a special treat today! I am going to make this chapter extra super long…and special! It will be much more in depth and stuff, and things. Oh, and there is a special chapter coming up later on…depending on how many reviews I get until then, I might make it extra special for you all as well…or not. It all depends…I'm evil like that. Ok, review like mad, and I will start the show!!

Disclaimer: Blah!

It was around midnight when the four shinobi arrived back at the Hidden Stone Village. The moon lay on the horizon like a half-eaten cookie, glaring down at the earth. Deidara looked up, smiling back at the crescent. It had been a long day, and his feet were sorely tired from walking, but they had marched double time to make it back to the Village. He was glad to be home.

"Ok, everyone! Great job! I'll go deliver the message to the Tsuchikage, and we will meet again tomorrow for training!" Tazuriko gave them a smile, eliciting groans from the three Genin. Training meant more work, which equaled into being even more tired than before. Deidara sighed, thinking about how much sleep he wouldn't be able to get. Tazuriko-sensai usually meant early in the morning for training, meaning he would get little rest.

"See you tomorrow!" Tazuriko made a hand-sign, disappearing in a puff of smoke. The three stood there, shuffling their feet.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow then," Yoko said, turning and walking towards her house. Bushio grunted, turning and walking down a side street, and then hopping up onto a roof to make a speedy return. Deidara watched both leave until they were out of sight, and sighed again. After missions, it seemed no one wanted to do anything with him. They always left. He perked up when he thought about the food he had in the fridge. A rice ball with fresh fish in it sounded good, so he would microwave that when he got back. He rubbed his hands in anticipation, making a mental note to feed his mouths…all of them, when he got back.

"Man, I'm tired, un!" He yawned, again staring up into the night sky. Stars twinkled and glistened in the crisp night air, and he waved at them like he would at an old friend that he was saying goodbye to.

It was ten minutes later that he arrived at the Tsuchikage's palace. He walked in, wincing as the door slammed shut behind him. Tiptoeing to the stairs, he made his way up to his room. However, upon arriving, he felt ambitious. He wanted to know what the mission had been about, and since no one had ever told them what it was, they were left in the dark.

"I bet that Bushio and Yoko would hate it if I knew and they didn't, un," he said to himself. He chuckled, scanning the hallway for life before whipping up the stairs to the Tsuchikage's floor. When he got there, he looked in the hallway. Noticing that a light was coming from the Tsuchikage's room, he tiptoed to it, quietly standing within earshot of the conversation.

"Well, you delivered it then. Well done, Tazuriko…" That sounded like the Tsuchikage's voice.

"Thank you, sir. Now, about them…what are we going to do?" That sounded like Tazurkio. Deidara wondered who the "them" in his statement had been.

"Hmmm…well, they earned it, didn't they? I say let them try. Though, he is underage and will be at a disadvantage against the others. He is a resourceful lad, however. He may surprise us all."

"Very well, Tsuchikage-sama. Though, if you don't mind me saying, I still think that they are highly unorganized and not skilled enough for this."

"That may be, but the best way to learn is to experience, yes? Remember how old you were?"

"Sir…I remember. I was eleven if I remember correctly."

"Yes, and everyone said that you were too young as well. But, you showed them wrong…"

"Tsuchikage-sama, if you remember correctly, I failed three times…"

"Yes…but you didn't die. Everyone thought you were a nobody going in at eleven…but you survived. True, you failed to pass three times, but most fail the first test multiple times. The second is harder, so you must be patient. I am sure that they will do fine." Deidara was interested now. He leaned in closer, and unwittingly touched the door. It barely creaked, almost inaudible to Deidara. He held his breath, waiting. The room was quiet for a time, and then a small chuckle came from it.

"It sounds like we aren't alone, Tazuriko. Deidara, please join us…" the Tsuchikage said. Deidara gulped, and slowly pushed the door open, revealing the two elite ninja. The Tsuchikage was in his chair, smoking his pipe, while Tazuriko looked more annoyed, standing with his arms akimbo.

"Deidara…you know, it's not polite to listen in to other people's conversations…" said the Tsuchikage. Deidara gulped again, bowing.

"I'm sorry, Tsuchikage-sama. I didn't mean to. However, I was interested, and I did. I truly am sorry, un…" he said. The Tsuchikage chuckled lightly, beckoning him closer.

"Well, had you been a nin from another village, we may have had to kill you…but seeing as how you are a Stone Village warrior, I believe we can make an exception," he said, trying to sound reassuring. Deidara straightened, grinning.

"So…what was on your mind, Deidara?" Deidara glanced from one Jounin to the other, and blurted out what he was thinking.

"I wanted to ask about our mission, un! What was it about? Why did we go to the Leaf Village…" he said. He was going to say more, but the Tsuchikage held a hand up, halting him.

"Deidara…your mission was very important. It was a mission of peace between our two villages. As you know, because we make every young Genin learn about it in the academy, we and the Hidden Leaf had been at war for many years. In fact, one of their Hokage's, the Fourth, killed many of our nin in battle. We haven't forgotten this…but we also realize the need for a lasting peace. With this in mind, your unit was sent to the Leaf to forge an alliance with them. It seemed to have worked. Now, in the near future, we will…make that bond stronger…" he said. Deidara stared, wide-eyed. So, that man he talked with…he was the Fourth Hokage, and he was responsible for killing Stone ninja? But, a man that kind couldn't be a killer…could he?

"I met the Fourth, Tsuchikage-sama…he didn't seem like a bad man, un," Deidara said. The Tsuchikage chuckled.

"Of course not, because we aren't at war with the Leaf. Of course, even during war, he wasn't a bad man…he was doing his duty to his village, and by killing our nin, he was saving others. If one of our men did that, would you say he was a killer? Evil even? Of course not. He would be revered as a hero, and be treated as such. So is the Fourth in his village. Do not look at someone as evil when they do things for the good of others…they are the kindest of all," he said. Deidara nodded, understanding dawning on him. The Tsuchikage was right, of course. The Fourth was protecting his home, so he did what anyone else would have done.

"Now, about the other part of the pact. It seems that the Leaf Village has a group of Genin that are advanced enough to become Chunin. We also have a group of Genin that are this skilled, along with a few other villages. For the past few months, we have been sending runners out, to arrange for a special event. The Chunin Exams…and you are to be part of them," the Tsuchikage said.

"This is going against my wishes. The Tsuchikage-sama says you guys are advanced enough…I don't think so, but hey…what can you do, right?" Tazuriko shrugged, then looked back at the Tsuchikage, who nodded.

"Well said, Tazuriko. Now that you know, Deidara, I am sure your teammates will know within the next day, and then the whole village. I trust that, during the Chunin Exams, you will do your best to show others what you have learned. Remember, lots of other ninjas from around the country will be there to try and pass. Doing your best honors our village and shows other villages that we are strong. Can you do that?" The Tsuchikage got up, walking around his desk and kneeling in front of the boy, a hand on his shouilder. Deidara grinned, nodding.

"Of course, Tsuchikage-sama. I won't let you down, un!" He bowed.

"Very well, Deidara. Now, you should be getting to bed. Tazuriko says that you have a hard day of training tomorrow, and you…" the Tsuchikage started to say, before he was interrupted by a Jounin barging in. The Tsuchikage looked up, his eyebrow raised.

"Yes…what is it?" The Jounin looked frantic, staring down at the leader of his village.

"Sir…the Hidden Leaf…the village…it…it…" He was stammering, so the Tsuchikage rose, slapping the man in the face.

"Calm down now…what is it? What has happened?" The man seemed to regain a little of his composure, enough to deliver his urgent news.

"Tsuchikage-sama…the Hidden Leaf…the Hidden Leaf was attacked! It is nearly destroyed, sir!" The Tsuchikage gasped slightly, sighing.

"Who attacked them?" The man began gibbering again.

"It was a demon, sir…the…the Kyuubi…the Nine-Tails…wiped them out…total destruction…no warning…" he began. The Tsuchikage nodded, going back to his seat. He grabbed a pen and pad of paper, writing something down.

"Sir…the Fourth…it's said that the Fourth beat it," said the man. The Tsuchikage looked up sharply.

"What do you mean the Fourth beat it? A demon with the power of the Kyuubi couldn't be stopped by one man. How could he defeat such a menace?" The man was wide-eyed.

"He used some sort of attack…I don't know what he did exactly. I was on my way back from there with the papers when I heard sounds coming from the East. I ran that way, thinking that someone was in trouble. It was the Kyuubi, sir. It was horrible, its tails lashing out. There were people fighting, and dying. It wasn't to be stopped. They tried everything they could to fight it, but nothing seemed to work. Suddenly…suddenly, I saw a giant…a giant toad, sir. It appeared on the battlefield, and then there was this…this huge flash of light…and then the beast was gone. It was terrible…horrible! People were dead all around me…I saw one woman bleeding from her eye…but she didn't have one…it was horrible," he said. He broke down, crying and dropping to his knees. The Tsuchikage looked at the other Jounin, who nodded.

"Come on, pal. Let's get you a drink and calm you down," Tazuriko said, leading the man from the room, leaving the Tsuchikage and Deidara alone. The Fourth was dead? How could that possibly be?

"Sir…Tsuchikage-sama, what happens now, un?" Deidara looked up at the older man, who looked at him and sighed.

"I don't know, Deidara. We already have the Chunin Exams lined up. Perhaps Konoha won't be able to make it…I don't see how they should. We will have to send some help that way, to see if we can reconstruct their village, help them a long," he said, almost saying things out loud to himself. Deidara nodded.

"But Tsuchikage-sama, if they were the enemy, then why not just attack them now that they are weak, un?" The Tsuchikage glanced down.

"Deidara…I'm amazed. You should know better than that," he said. Deidara's eyes widened and he looked down, ashamed. The Tsuchikage softened, sighing again. "Deidara, we have pacts with other villages other than the Hidden Leaf. If we were to attack our ally when they needed us the most, then what would that say for us? No one would want to be our ally, and if we ever needed help, I am sure Konoha wouldn't mind attacking us in return. No, we will help them…for that is how strong bonds are formed…Remember that, Deidara." The Tsuchikage began writing on his pad again, and then seemed to notice the boy once more.

"I'm sorry, Deidara, but you should go back to bed. I will talk to you more tomorrow," he said. Deidara nodded, bowing and exiting the room. He thought long and hard about the Tsuchikage's words as he walked down the stairs to his floor…and his room…and his bed. Strong bonds are formed by helping one another in a time of great need. He needed to ponder on that some more…but first, that rice with the fish sounded like just what he needed.

Arriving at his room, he went in, making himself dinner and popping it into the microwave. As it cooked, he took a quick shower, cleaning away the filth from the trip. Then, a thought hit him. They could have been killed. His group, had they stayed one more day. They could have been annihilated by the fox…the thought made him shiver. He grabbed a towel, wrapping himself in it and walking back to his meal. He ate, slowly, thinking about the day's events with every bite he took. A demon…forged from hate, darkness, and loathing…destroying a village with a sweep of its tail…killing whole families…slaughtering…His hand clenched his fork, and stared at his reflection in it.

"I wonder how many demons are in this world, un," he said to himself. His reflection stared back. Suddenly, he became resolute, scowling at himself in the fork. "When I am a full fledged ninja…I will hunt down the demons of this world…to be sure no one gets hurt by them again, un. I will show them my art…it will be the last thing they see, un." With that, he finished, tossing the dishes into the sink and hopping into bed. He didn't bother with any clothes, for as he saw it, he would be waking up far to early. Changing twice in one day just didn't seem efficient to him.

"One day…I'll take them all out…beat them with my art…because…my art…is a blast," he said to himself, his words drifting apart as he let his mind wander, his eyes close…and his world turn black.

Morning showed three Genin standing beneath a tree. Deidara had already told the other two everything that had gone on the night previous, and both were equally awed by it.

"So…this demon…this nine-tailed fox thing…it destroyed the Hidden Leaf Village?" Bushio asked, once again, not quite believing it. Deidara nodded.

"Yeah, and we were really close to being there when it happened, un. I'm sorta glad that Tazuriko-sensai made us leave on the double." He looked at his hands, which he was feeding, having forgotten to the previous day. They were hungrily lapping up the dirt he was pouring into them.

"But, the Hidden Leaf has thousands of shinobi. They should have been able to deal with it," Yoko said. She sat down with a huff, staring at her watch. "And Tazuriko-sensai is late again! Damn, I wish he would hurry," she said. Deidara nodded, but was still perplexed about recent events.

"Sorry I was late, guys. The Tsuchikage is having a hay day with this whole Hidden Leaf thing. About thirty of our Jounin and twenty Chunin were sent to help with the reconstruction, so it could be awhile," Tazuriko said, appearing suddenly. The three stood to attention, waiting. Tazuriko, his face drawn, rubbed his chin.

"For practice today…Oh, I don't care. Actually, do what you want. I'm to busy with this business to be here today, anyways," he said. He made a hand sign, disappearing. The three stood, displeased at having been awoken so early for nothing.

"Well, I'm going back to bed. You guys do what you want," Bushio said, putting his hands in his pockets and walking down the hill. Yoko raced after him.

"Bushio-kun. Do you want to hang out with me?" He didn't answer, just continued walking. She stopped, clearly depressed. Deidara shook his head. She wouldn't learn…she would always follow him like a faithful dog. He looked at his hands, and yawned.

"Well, we're here. I guess we can train. I don't really feel like sleeping anymore, and the day is bright and sunny…just what we needed, un," he said. His hands panted up at him. He smiled back, and then stuck his hands into his pockets, letting them eat the clay he had brought along. Yoko looked back up at him, and sighed. She walked back up the hill, sitting down near the boy as he waited for his hands to fill up with substrate.

"Are you actually going to train…by yourself? Tazuriko-sensai isn't here, so we can go home," she said. He shook his head.

"Nope. We'll be part of the Chunin exams…and I promised Tsuchikage-sama that I would do my best. So I have to train hard…" he said. Yoko sighed, putting her head on her knees.

"I wish Bushio-kun would train with me…it would be more enjoyable anyway." Deidara balked.

"Why do you follow that guy around anyways, un?" She looked up angrily.

"Hey! Bushio-kun is a great guy! Besides…I like him," she said, looking away and blushing. He shook his head as his hands began to chew the clay.

"You like him…he doesn't like you…you follow him around…he ignores you completely…this relationship is awful one-sided, un," he said. She huffed, turning away.

"You're just too young to understand," she said. He laughed, and then his hand spat out a ball of clay. He molded it, making his bird and tossing it onto the ground. It expanded with the flick of a wrist, and he hopped on.

"Well…I want to try my bird out for a while, un. I will want to use it during the Chunin Exams…It might give me an advantage," he said. Yoko looked up, standing and walking over.

"Um…do you mind if I…well," she began. He sat down, staring at her.

"What?" He was still staring down at her as she looked up at him.

"Do you mind if I try flying? It sounds like fun…and it might get my mind off of Bushio-kun," she said. He grinned, nodding and reaching down. She grasped his hand, letting him pull her onto the back of the bird.

"Alright…let's go!" The bird took off, soaring up into the atmosphere. She yelped, clinging to its back while Deidara laughed.

"This is so much fun, un! I could do this for hours!" Yoko looked down, gasping as the earth slowly lifted away from under her.

"We're going awfully high, Deidara…don't you think we should land now?" She was terrified, now knowing that she was afraid of heights. He laughed again.

"Are you scared, Yoko? I don't think Bushio would like you if you were scared of something, un!" She frowned, staring at Deidara as he stood up, using chakra to balance himself. She was amazed that the force of the wind wasn't whipping the boy off the bird…and to his doom. She felt that she needed to prove something, so she began to lift herself off as well. Her knees shook, but she managed to come to a kneeling position, again staring down at the landscape. Everything looked so tiny. She gulped, and then braced herself, standing up on the bird and planting her feet on its back, using chakra to stay upright. Deidara turned, nodding his approval.

"Good job, Yoko. Now, let's see what happens when I do…this!" He stomped on the left wing of his creation, making it spin. Yoko lost her footing, slipping off the bird and falling with a scream. Deidara plunged after her, his bird doing a spin to right itself. He fell at her speed, watching her plummet.

"See…isn't my art a blast, un?" He yelled out to her, and her eyes bulged with fright as the ground became closer and closer. Swooping in, Deidara caught her easily, letting her flop behind him as he slowed his bird to a crawl, and then stopped in mid-air, hovering. She was trying to regain her breath and composure as he laughed.

"You should have seen your face, un! You were all like…AHHHHH! Hahahaha!" He stopped laughing as she grabbed him by the collar.

"You little basturd…I could have been killed!" He smiled at her.

"Naw. I wouldn't have let you fall, un! I would have had to find a new teammate!" She huffed, setting him down.

"Just…just get me back to the ground!" He shrugged, turning. The bird hovered for a second before plunging down, Yoko screaming behind him. About twenty feet from the ground, it slowed, coming out to a glide. Slowly, it stopped, hovering a few feet off the earth as Deidara hopped off. He turned, watching with amusement as Yoko leapt off, almost missing her footing.

"Good first flight, eh? I think you'll do fine next time, un!" He laughed again, and watched as she walked away. He sighed, staring up at his bird.

"Well, time to see what happens when I blow you up, my friend," he said. He sent the bird careening into the sky, and made his hand signs. The bird exploded, sending shards of clay rocketing down. He smiled up at it. Art was something that was here and gone in an instant…that was what his art was all about. He took his headband off, staring at it. It was blue…the color of a Genin. He smiled, thinking about it in a nice, green band…the color of a Chunin.

"Well, time to upgrade, un!"

I hope you all liked this story. This chapter was for everyone who has reviewed since...um...the last time I said that. Ok everyone...I will see you when I write another chapter...maybe tomorrow, maybe not. :)