CHAPTER 4


By the time Deidara returned, everyone had eaten and left, but two men’s voices echoed up to him as he approached the kitchen. One was Pein’s, and the other’s was unrecognizable.

“Why did you let him keep the child?” The unknown man hissed and Deidara swore he heard a tremor in Pein’s voice as he replied.

“This baby is Sasori, who had 1000 puppets at his disposal. This baby could hold the key to us completing our goal.”

“And if and when he does regain his adult form, what will become of me? What will you do with me?”

“W-We’ll give him one of the other’s positions, and yours. Unless you want another-”

“I spent all this time waiting to come out of the shadows and I will NOT give up my rightful place to a young… child like him!” The unknown man growled.

“Yes Uchiha-sama,” Pein murmured lowly.

Deidara blinked at this. ‘Uchiha? Was he talking to Itachi then?’ He walked into the kitchen to find Konan sitting at the table, Pein standing in the middle of the kitchen and Tobi standing near the sink, apparently washing the dishes. All attention focused on Deidara as soon as he stepped foot into the kitchen. Pein glared and stomped off to the table, and Tobi cheerfully told him that his food was on the table.

Deidara sat the table and stared around. ‘Strange, Itachi wasn’t here. Then who was Pein talking to?’ He finished his food quickly and bowed to Pein before running off to his room. He smiled when he found Sasori still asleep, and after kicking off his shoes, he lay down next to the baby and drifted away himself.

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The next morning, Sasori’s loud cries woke Deidara up bright and early, so after changing the baby’s diaper, Deidara took Sasori downstairs for a bottle of warm formula and mashed peaches. Soon after, he received word from Hidan that Pein wanted him. A bit worried, Deidara went to Pein’s office, Sasori still in his arms.

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“Deidara.” Pein said coolly. He then looked toward Deidara’s arms. “You brought the… child.” He commented, not trying to hide his disgust. “I have a mission for you. Tobi will not be accompanying you on it.”

“A solo mission, un? Then, who will take care of Saso-”

“I never said it was a solo mission.” Pein snapped, interrupting Deidara. “You will be taking Sasori along with you. It is a covert mission.”

“And.....?” Deidara said slowly, waiting for Pein to finish.

“You have to go to Cloud country, disguised as a young mother.” Pein waited for this to sink in, and it didn’t take long.

“WHAAAATT?!?!?”

“Shut up. You have to gather information on the jinchuuriki there. Sasori will be your child-” Sasori looked up at this and giggled.

“You will leave tomorrow morning and report back during the meeting 3 days after you leave. After you locate the Niibi jinchuuriki, Kakuzu and Hidan will then come over to retrieve the jinchuuriki from you, do you understand? No more showing off. We lost one of the best members thanks to you getting cocky last time. And we got a useless baby in return. Let Hidan and Kakuzu cover it, and get out of there as soon as you get word that they are coming. Do. You. Understand?” Deidara nodded numbly. “Fine.” He gave Sasori another sickened look. “Dismissed.”

Deidara shut the office door behind him and went out to the training grounds, ignoring Sasori’s curious babbling. The wind was blowing his hair every which way, but he ignored it as he reached the stream. He sat Sasori down against a tree away from the water’s edge and turned around to punch another tree to smithereens with a chakra-powered fist. He panted and glared at the remains.

‘Damn Pein, damn him!’ Deidara was sick and tired of posing as a girl. It annoyed the crap out of him that he got these missions and Itachi didn’t. ‘Itachi.’ Another reason he hated the Uchiha. He turned back around to find Sasori staring at him with wide eyes. Deidara sighed and sat down next to the baby, picking him up so that the little puppet master dangled above Deidara. Sasori giggled and flailed his limbs, liking this new game.

“Sorry Sasori-chan. Did I scare you un?” Deidara smiled and tossed the unsuspecting baby into the air, catching him on the way down. Sasori squealed and Deidara let the baby rest on his own stomach. “Leader-sama is a bitch, un, did you know that un?” Deidara sighed, leaning his head back against the tree. “I think you know that though. You hate him, don’t you, Sasori-kun?” Sasori giggled and Deidara felt the baby squirm against his fishnet shirt.

“You do? He’s sending us on a mission, Scorpling. He’s sending us far away. And I have to be your mommy.” Deidara lifted his head and saw Sasori staring up at him, confusion etched on his face. “I know, Scorpling, I’m not your mommy. I’m a boy, un. But Leader-sama says we have to do this.” Deidara rolled his eyes and picked up Sasori, holding him at eye level. “So we get to track down a beastie for about a week, un. Isn’t that fun?” Deidara remarked sarcastically. He stood up and let Sasori rest his head on his shoulder. “Let’s go in un. You look sleepy.” He started walking back towards the house. As they approached the house, he heard Sasori yawn and he smiled. “Nap time, un.”

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As Sasori slept, Deidara got out a bag that contained the female clothes he had accumulated over the years from all the cross-dressing missions. He chose the most bedraggled ones and packed them into the traveling bag that lay on his bed. The bag was very special because he had placed his own jutsu on it that allowed him to put as much as he wanted in it, so he packed in a lot of Sasori’s clothes, and a ton of diapers as well. By the time he was done packing, the bag still looked like it barely held anything. He placed it by the bed and sat back, looking at the sleeping Sasori.

He’d never gotten the chance to see the puppet Sasori sleep, because, well, puppets didn’t sleep. If he did sleep though, he’d probably sleep like the baby on the bed, who had his hands up by his head, balled up into fists. He looked very peaceful, and Deidara gently stroked the baby’s hair as he watched. He really missed the Sasori who had been his partner, the one who yelled at him, called him a brat, even poisoned him on occasion...

He had nothing against the baby Sasori. No, he quite liked the little guy. But it felt so… weird, to stare at that same red hair and not hear his Danna’s voice telling him to stop staring, to stop being such a brat...it hurt.

Suddenly Sasori’s eyes snapped open and brown was once again staring into blue. Deidara smiled at the baby. “Had a nice nap,un? It’s lunch time.” Deidara picked up the baby and walked out of his room towards the kitchen. “Let’s eat.”

OWARI ~ END!