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// Chapter 4: Art 
// Story: Senya 
// by Arkhamwolf2012 
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            It was in one of the border towns where we decided to wait for the new member to replace Orochimaru, someone who Twilight(despite knowing better than to judge people on their past actions until she knew their motives) didn’t like very much. Sasori felt similarly, but he was the man’s partner. For ages, by the way Sasori was describing it.
“Orochimaru, as great as he was a ninja, had one critical flaw, one that’ll probably kill him one day.” the hunched man said on the way here, describing Orochimaru to her, “It was that he had a one track mind, and a rather selfish one at that. If he wanted something, he’d go to any lengths to get it. If what he wants is out of his reach, something he sees after he’s been humiliated, he goes for the weaker link. However, should he... how should I word this?... ‘cheat death’? That sounds about right... Should he ‘cheat death’ too soon, I have a pretty good idea what he’d do. He’d mature the body to the point it’s on par with the one he has now. However, that has a drawback, as the jutsu he uses to ‘cheat death’ only keeps him alive for another three years.”
What Twilight couldn’t understand is why Orochimaru wished to prolong his life as long as he had. Was it unfinished business, or an overwhelming fear of death? Either way, she thought she’d never get the chance to ask him herself, so she simply assumed the man was too afraid to die.
Then, interrupting her from further thinking about the ex-Akatsuki member, a young man with long, blonde hair, a green shirt with a grey mesh under it, and black pants. Around his waist were two bags of some sort. On his hands, Twilight would’ve sworn that she saw hands but...that’d be impossible, wouldn’t it?
“Huh? Who are you four?” the young man asked.
“We’re the Akatsuki.” Itachi answered, coldly.
“‘Akatsuki’? What the hell is that? You know what, don’t answer. Just... piss off, I’m trying to take in the art here!” He shouted. It was obvious to everyone he got annoyed rather easily.
“Why do I have to be stuck with such a loud mouthed brat? He’s got spunk, I’ll give him that much, but he looks like the kind of guy who dies young.” Sasori sighed, taking an additional gaze at the younger man. Twilight didn’t have to be psychic to know what was running through Sasori’s head right then and there. But, with the mission being later today, they didn’t have much choice when it came to S-rank missing nin, did they?
“Leader’s orders, Sasori. His talents will prove useful.” Itachi answered Sasori’s question with a cold gaze at the man, who looked surprised.
“You all know about me?!” Twilight couldn’t tell if it was angered shock or happy shock, “Who are you people?”
“You’ve been cooperating with insurgents in the surrounding countries, acting as a terrorist and causing damaging explosions.” Twilight was impressed. Such a young boy, and he could cause explosions? Well,(among other things) Iwagakure was known for its explosion corp. So, an escapee from there would know more than a few ways to blow things up.
“What purpose are you trying to achieve, now that you’ve left your village?” Kisame asked a simple question, but Twilight had a gut feeling it would have a long winded response, one that Itachi shared.
“Purpose? Don’t have one.” Twilight gave an internal sigh of relief. Maybe he’d leave it at that? “People pay for commissions, and I fill them out, with my sculptures.” Twilight rose an eyebrow at this, along with Kisame.
“Sculptures?” she asked, getting that feeling again. The young man turned his attention to her, and gave a smile. In his mind, he thought she was interested in becoming his student. He reached into his bags, and pulled out an inflated spider-like thing. It looked weird, but Twilight would call it art of the abstract variety.
“Behold! This is the result of combining highly detailed linework and two dimensional deformations!” Oh, Sage, she set him off for a long winded speech with words that made no sense to her, “This is true art, hmm! But that’s just the beginning! Though they start out as models, my art is alive! My art breaths, hmm!” Twilight tried her best to remain a neutral expression during this speech of his, but internally she was getting a little annoyed, “My art explodes! And, in that short moment of an explosion, it fulfills its vision of greatness that inspired me to create it!” the ‘artist’ raised his left hand to reveal a mouth on his hand, which stuck its tongue out.
Gross... Twilight couldn’t help but think. But, he seems to enjoy what he does. I suppose he can’t be all bad, if that’s all he can do.
“That explosive moment,” the artist continued, “is the only point where I consider it to be true art! Because art is an explosion!” There was silence between the five at that point. The artist must have thought he left us wordless with his ‘philosophy’, but in actuality, no one really agreed with him. But, Twilight’s thoughts were the most sympathetic toward the poor, deluded man.
“Man... he is annoying.” Sasori sighed, most likely mentally facepalming(being an artist himself).
“Is he finished? I can’t tell.” Kisame cheekily said, looking at Itachi.
“It could be worse, I suppose...” Twilight muttered to herself. This rattled the artist, but Itachi stepped in before he could say anything.
“Enough stalling. I’ll fight him.” Itachi said, coldly, walking forward. Twilight had to agree, they needed to get to the Hidden Rain Village soon. Sasori turned to Itachi for a moment,
“Would you, Itachi? I wouldn’t want to poison the poor guy, nor start off on the wrong foot.” Sasori turned to the man, “He looks like the kind of guy who makes his life’s goal revenge if you so much as poke at his ego.” The man shuddered, and Twilight gave the softest smile. Though she’d only seen Itachi in full on combat once, a few weeks ago, she knew how everyone reacted to her big brother’s power. They all feared the power of the Sharingan.
“You... you wanna fight?” the man tried to hide his fear.
“If I win, you must join the Akatsuki.” Itachi bargained.
“D...Don’t you... Don’t you ever underestimate my art! My ninjutsu is the very essence of creativity, hmm!!” the man threw the spider at Itachi, who jumped back. It exploded, and the smoke lingered. Then, from the floor, a white centipede-like creature ventured, wrapping the man up. It didn’t take Twilight long to figure out Itachi had place him under a genjutsu.
“That all you got, hmm?” he confidently smirked.
“You’d better take a good look at yourself first.” Itachi said from within the smoke. Twilight gave off a giggle at the artist’s reaction to being within his own trap.
“It’s a good thing you stopped. Another second, and you would’ve gone from an ‘artist’ to a ‘suicide bomber’.” Kisame jested.
“Told you he’d die an early death.” Sasori shook his head.
“Genjutsu?! But, since when...?” he asked.
“Since the beginning.” Twilight told him, with a tinge of sympathy, “The moment you looked into his eyes.” Then the smoke cleared. The sight was... beautiful. Twilight’s eyes were wide, and her mouth open. In front of the large, rising sun, Itachi stood, completely unfazed by the explosion, in between two statues with, what looked to be, sharingan behind them.
“This... is true art.” Twilight whispered, unknowing she was mirroring the thoughts of the defeated artist. However, his shocked expression turned from superstitious awe to disgust in a matter of seconds.
“You lose, Deidara. You are now a part of the Akatsuki.” Itachi’s expression was cold and almost dead, like how people described angels in tales of old.
“Grr.... fine! I’ll join your organization. I take it I’m the slug’s partner?!” he shouted, impulsively.
“‘Slug’?” Sasori seemed to ask to himself, looking down.
“Show some respect.” Itachi jumped down onto the floor next to Twilight, “He is your superior. I am your superior. You are to obey us at all times, am I clear?” Twilight was slightly concerned at her brother’s change of tone, but thought nothing much of it.
“...Fine. I apologize...?” Deidara asked his partner his name.
“Sasori. Sasori, of the Red Sand. I hope we won’t have a problem, I don’t think you’ll make a very good puppet.” Twilight gulped at what Sasori just implied. 
“Puppet? You mean those almost-art toys?” Deidara went to say something else, but stopped himself when he looked at Itachi.
“I think my puppets are art, you little brat. However, unlike you, I accept all forms of art, and have seen many. Yours is by far the most... interesting, but you could call almost anything and everything art.” Sasori explained. It was obvious Deidara didn’t agree, but saved his complaints for a later date.
“We have work to do. Let’s go back to Amegakure.” Kisame suggested. And, of course, they all dashed off in the direction of the village Twilight had never seen before, but had heard so much about. She had to admit, she was more than a little interested in the location she was headed to. A land that always rains...
Doesn’t sound like a whole lot... makes one wonder why its so important... Why someone would fight wars over it... Twilight thought as they reached the treeline. It wouldn’t be long before they were at Amegakure, she wagered. 



                        In the forest, few hours later.
The sun had reached its peak when Itachi said they were almost there, much to the relief of Twilight. More to Deidara, who mouthed off a complaint under his breath. They hadn’t stopped to take a break, as they had a lot of ground to cover before they could even consider it. The Leader wouldn’t wait for long, but they were a little ahead of schedule. Itachi was always one to be early, though.
Jumping off a tree branch, she noticed she was next to the blonde haired artist, who seemed interested in her form. It was then she noticed she was stuck between Sasori and Deidara, who were looking at her weirdly. They hadn’t been there too long, but long enough for her to be concerned. Itachi was in front, and Kisame was in back, trying to repress a laugh.
“Uhm... is something the matter?” she asked, finally.
“Huh? Oh, nothing. Just looking at how perfect your body is.” Sasori responded.
“Nothing, hmm. Just thinking about how wonderful you would be in your explosive final moments.” Deidara said at the same time, before adding, “That, and you seemed interested in my art. Not a lot of people are. Can’t say I blame them too much, it just hasn’t caught on yet.”
“You know, I could make you the perfect work of art.” both artists said at the same time. This caused both of them to glare at each other menacingly.
“What do you mean, you crazy old coot?! You’d turn her into a rusty old puppet! What person in their right mind would admire a puppet?” Deidara shouted, “The youth of today is looking for a spark, a spark that comes in the final moments of another’s life! It is the explosion of absolute beauty that drives the people of today to reach the top of their game!”
“You ignorant little brat, puppets are what people adore! They’re absolute beauty, yet powerful attacks make people long for another stage of life, where all creatures are beautiful, immortal, and powerful!” Sasori shouted back.
“That slug is beautiful? I could make a better slug with my clay, and it would look 20% cooler when it explodes!” Twilight felt a little light headed, and could’ve sworn she saw two horses in the place of her brother’s comrades. Deidara was replaced by a blue one with a rainbow colored mane, and Sasori was replaced by a white one with a purple mane. Twilight couldn’t make out any finer details, as her brother’s voice shattered her thoughts.
“Enough!” his voice commanded. They returned to normal in her vision, and they both looked ahead at Itachi, “You all need to keep focused! Continue lollygagging and looking at things you shouldn’t, and I might as well carry you.” Twilight gulped, nervously. Her brother really wanted to get to Amegakure early. Deidara sped up a bit to see why. Twilight, however, was on a completely different thought process than the one she had been on a few moments ago.
What were those horses I saw? she thought to herself, eyes downcast as she searched her limited memory, why did I see them instead of Deidara and Sasori?