Dedication, as always goes to the first person to answer the question!! ------->

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Chapter 45

I stared at myself in the mirror, my hair up in its normal half up half down state, my forehead protector sitting proudly on my forehead. In my hand was a E0. I took a deep breath and my eyes dropped and landed on my clay pouches. I winced when I remembered that I finally sent back the letter to Deidara but didn’t get a reply. Well I suppose that Deidara’s still got a few days left before the letter is supposed to get back but still. He is going to be so mad about me dating Sasuke.

*****Flashback***third person*****Akatsuki Base****

It took nearly a week before Emiko gathered enough courage to send the letter she and Hisashi wrote that day, and five days after that, the letter arrived at the base of the Akatsuki. The bird was first spotted by Tobi, or as we know him as, Obito Uchiha. He smirked and then disappeared to the lounge room in the base where the rest of the Akatsuki were residing.

“Senpai! Senpai!” ‘Tobi’ shouted, running to Deidara.

Deidara, who at that moment in time was fiddling with his art to make the explosive chakra within stronger without it being in his hand mouth when the faker ran in, his head snapped up in time to see Tobi before Tobi could grab him, and dodged out of the way.

“What is it, Tobi? Un,” He asked and Tobi jumped around, pointing to the entrance of the room.

“Bird!! E3!!” Deidara’s eyes widened at Tobi’s words.

Just then, the E3 flew in and headed right at Deidara. The rest of the Akatsuki’s head snapped up at the sight of the bird. Kisame’s face broke out in a sharky grin, Itachi’s eyes narrowed on the letter, Kakuzu was pretty much emotionless at the whole ideal and Hidan grinned psychotically. Sasori was smirking a little bit. ‘So, Hisashi. You think that Emiko is worthy then?’. They all knew the implication of the letter. Emiko had received the letter from Hisashi about joining them… that means she is talented enough for this organisation.

Deidara’s hand snapped out and took the letter. The words were not seen and he smirked. Yet again he went through the ritual of making a clay creation to reveal the letter from Emiko.

Once the smoke cleared away, Hidan shouted. “Well?! Tell us what the fu*k you sister said?!”

Deidara glared at him before both of his eyes landed on the letter and he started to read aloud.

“‘Hello everyone who is reading this!

Its Emiko again, I got the letter Dei-dei. Thank you for the present! I did get it on my birthday and it made my day all the better. I actually forgot that it was my birthday that day, hahaha. I’m glad I’ve made you proud. You just wait until to hear about E4 from Hisashi.’

Deidara’s eyes widened. An E4? How many pieces of art has she made now… E0, E1 are the ones that he remembers her making when she was with him and now E2, E3, E4 and EB… what other surprises is she going to come up with next?

Yes, I figured out that it’s Hisashi. Not all that hard, Sasori no danna, this next bit is for you. Your spy/student is very much like you. Apparently, according to him, our arguments over whose art is better is very much like my brother and yours. So, I guess Hisashi and I are the 2.0 versions of you two. Yah!’

Deidara and Sasori looked over at each other and caught each other’s eyes.

“2.0 versions of us?” Sasori asked and Deidara frowned. “that is not possible.”

Deidara laughed a little. “Well, Hisashi is a lot like you, Sasori no danna… and I know Emiko is like me yah,” he retorted and Kakuzu sighed loudly, making everyone looked over him.

“You better keep them both in line, Sasori, Deidara. If what she says is true… there is going to be more damage to this place in which I am going to have to pay for like I have to do with you two!” he growled, killing intent being sent at the two artists.

Deidara froze and a shiver racked up his spine, but Sasori didn’t reply. He looked blankly at Kakuzu and said. “That is all the brats fault, Kakuzu. And I am sure my student will be able to handle her the same way I can handle Deidara,” Sasori sent out Chakra strings to Deidara and make his arms snap to his side. “like that.”

Deidara’s eyes twitch and he glared at his partner, Kakuzu nodded his head, glad enough that the two puppeteers would be able to handle the explosive chakra users. Sasori let go of Deidara and Deidara’s arm snapped back up and looked at the letter in his hand as Kisame laughed at him.

‘Now, yes. I do call Sasuke Dark Duck and the name I’d come up with for Itachi is… Damned Eye’s. Dah hahaha. I made Itachi twitch again? Success! By the time I am done with him, he shall have a constant twitch.’

Itachi twitched, which made Kisame and Deidara laugh at him. Emiko has a way to annoy the emotionless Uchiha alright.

‘Kisame… I will pout if you want… specking of which I haven’t used my pout against Hisashi… note to self, pout soon.’

At this, Kisame and Deidara grinned at each other, thinking ‘that kid won’t know what hit him!’ Deidara went back to reading the letter shortly after that thought past his mind.

‘Kakazu, I lecture everyone. My best friend Naruto calls it my ‘mother hen’ mode, in which if ignored I will resort to explosives. Sasori no danna! Your spy is a brat!’

Sasori’s eyes widened a little at the sudden declaration and Deidara smirked. When he noticed that the writing changed. He knew that it would be Hisashi from the opening sentence.

“Sasori no danna! Hisashi wrote something as well, hmm,” Deidara called out and Sasori looked at Deidara carefully as he read out the next part.

‘Sasori sensei, I am not a brat. She isn’t… as bad as Deidara, I will admit. But a brat all the same, and a sore loser. Also, Deidara… Emiko has something very important to tell you and if she doesn’t I will! Ha! By the way, at this very moment she is glaring at me, her eye twitching. I think she caught the twitching from Itachi.’

“What is the important thing my little bomber has to tell me, yah?” Deidara muttered to himself and no one answered so he kept reading.

 ‘Have I mentioned that I hate him… anyway… I will gladly go all tag team against Orochimaru with you and Sasori no danna… but not Hisashi, he is an blind person who has no appreciation for true art!!

Orochimaru did tell me that you were his replacement… I never thought I could hate a person more… or thank him… sort of… without you leaving me in Konoha, I wouldn’t have met the people I have! So many conflicting emotions! Un!

I am not going to allow Rin or Yuuki to kill me Dei-dei! I will destroy them! I have this E art that has the ability to ruin someone’s ninja carrier!’

Everyone’s attention was caught at that, she can do what?! Deidara’s over protective big brother instincts activated. He knew that if anyone knew this, his little sister would have a target on her back.

“She is going to be a handful Deidara,” Kisame informed him and Deidara looked over at him. “You do know if that becomes known to everyone… she will be classified A rank at least? To be able to ruin a ninja carrier at genin will make her a threat, a big one,” Kisame stressed to him and Deidara’s jaw clenched.

“I’ll train harder then ever to protect my little bomber, Yah!” Deidara snapped and Itachi understood him.

He did the same thing for Sasuke. One of the reasons behind his training was to protect his little brother. No one should underestimate the lengths an older sibling will go to protect their younger ones.

Deidara continued to read. ‘Alrighty, so I can join you now huh? I don’t… know what to do now. I want to, I really do but… I’ve got a few things I have to do, mainly get the information about what my born kinjutsu has done to me and what’s different about it. Hisashi said that I should find that out before I join you guys if I want to get the information out from Yuuki… because I’ll probably not get the chance otherwise.’

Deidara smirked, it is the perfect time to get the information that both himself and Emiko have wanted since they left Iwa. Information that should have been Emiko’s from the start.

 ‘Deidara… I am dating Sasuke. Don’t kill me! This is the important thing that Hisashi was talking about; I can feel the evil smirk he has right now directed at me. I know, I know. How could I date Sasuke? Well, I don’t know! I can’t help my feelings! And he isn’t like Itachi… oh, wait, Itachi should know this too… so yeah, Itachi, I’m dating your baby brother who hates you! Sorry!’

Both ninja looked at each other in shock; the rest of the Akatsuki was in the room were silent and watched the two polar opposites. The two were frozen, staring at one another. They couldn’t believe it… their little siblings are dating…

Deidara’s thoughts were on killing Sasuke and Itachi’s was on the… why’s. Why was Sasuke with Emiko… Did he really like this girl? How much did he like her?

“If your brother breaks my sister’s heart, I’m going to kill him, un!” Deidara shouted at Itachi and Itachi’s eyes shifted into the Sharingan at his words without thinking.

“Your sister and my brother’s relationship… is not our business… but if you harm Sasuke, Emiko will not be pleased with you, you know this Deidara,” Itachi said in a monotone. The words unsaid were ‘and I would not be pleased either… and we both know I am stronger then you.’

“It is my business! She’s my sister! Hmm!” Deidara snapped at him and glared darkly at Itachi.

Kisame snickered a little at the argument the two younger members were in and he got up from the lounge he was sitting down, tending to Samehada and headed over to the blonde bomber. He yanked the piece of paper in his hand. Deidara yelped and turned his glare onto the blue ninja. Which Kisame promptly ignored.

‘I should go now, Bye! Love you big brother so much and please don’t come here and try to kill Sasuke okay? I would be very upset and annoyed with you!

Art is fleeting! Un!’

“Itachi guessed right, your sister would not be happy with you if you hurt Sasuke,” Kisame snickered and Deidara’s eye twitched.

Deidara snatched the letter back and frowned up at the E3. “Your creator has a lot of explaining to do, un,” Deidara pointed out and then the door to the lounge room opened.

In walked Pain and Kouan, Pain had sensed the E3 a little while ago but waited until he knew that the rest of the Akatsuki had read it. When he walked in, his eyes focused on the letter in Deidara’s hand. He walked over to him, and put his hand out. Deidara begrudgingly handed it over to him and Pain took the letter. Konan read over Pain’s shoulder and she smiled a little. Young love… but she does wonder how it would work though… she supposes that is something that Emiko and Sasuke will have to work out.

Pain’s eyes darted up and caught Tobi’s for a second, not being noticed by the others. Deidara’s little sister is getting more and more interesting. This girl just keeps on surprising them… and making herself more of target. He hopes that Emiko won’t show this power to take a ninja’s carrier away from them during the third part of the chuunin exams… Because the moment that happens and Konoha finds out… they will hunt her down to capture her or kill because of it if she leaves Konoha.

****End flashback**** Emiko’s pov****

A knock on my door echoed out and I headed to the door. There stood Rikku… and Yumi. She was frowning and looking at the ground.

“Hey Emi, you ready to go?” Rikku asked and I nodded once.

“yeah,” I stepped out and shut the door, locking it. “Let’s go, hmm.”

Together, we stepped into a line and started walking in the direction of the Arena. I looked at Yumi and I sighed. “How are you Yumi?” I asked and her head snapped up and met my eyes.

“Fine… Emiko,” she muttered and then sighed. “Listen, Rin… she is going to go at this with the intent to kill you… Her and Yuuki-sensei both want you dead…” She muttered and then rolled her shoulders. “If she went so far against her own sister. She will brutally attack you as well.”

I snorted and shook my head. Both sisters looked at me and I smirked. “Exactly, she is going to put her anger, revenge and every other emotion like it towards me… which I can use against her. She is going to let her emotions rule her in this battle… and I’m going to make her do it,” I stated and both sisters’ eyes widened. “It’s the same plan I used against Rikku. There are reasons why you don’t let your emotions overcome you in battle. Naruto is one of the only people I know that can let his emotions overcome him and it helps him in battle. When I fight, I become what I know as Battle Emiko. I am no longer Emiko the fun loving Artist, I become The Little Bomber,” I stressed to them. “letting your emotions control you in a fight clouds your judgement and your moves become less refined and sloppy.”

 Rikku and Yumi both nodded. “But Rin knows this… she is emotionally detached,” Rikku pointed out and I smirked.

“She won’t be against me,” I retorted and Yumi snorted.

“As if you know anything!” She snapped at me angrily, showing me that her snappish personality was still there. My head snapped to the side to look at Yumi. “I know you’re innocent of killing our parents because I trust Rikku a hell of a lot more then I trust Rin now. But you’re an idiot if you think that Rin will be anything but emotionally detached against you!”

I chuckled lightly and I looked up at the sky with a bright grin. “Trust me… Rin thinks of herself as an avenger, right?” I asked and Rikku and Yumi both looked at me in confusion. “Right?”

“Yeah, Rin used to go on rants about how we are avengers. That we had to avenge our parents,” Yumi snorted in annoyance.

I smirked over at her. “My teammate is one as well,” Sasuke’s face flashed across my mind. “I know how they act, they act all emotionless but if faced with their object of revenge. They won’t be able to keep that emotionless mask, un,” I informed the two. “All I need to do is keep out of her Genjutsu,” I taped the scope I have set on my eye. “She will lose it because her mental attacks aren’t working.”

Yes, I know that Rin will attack me mentally first and foremost. She attacked Rikku three times with their connection during the exams and when she fought Yumi, Kakashi told me that she attacked her mentally first before physically attacking her. My taijutsu has expanded with Guy Sensei’s training in the morning and so has my speed, I’ve also got more ninjutsu than before. I can take her… I just need to be smart about it… really smart. Hisashi and I have discussed ways to take her down with little chakra used on my part. I mean, I need to conserve my chakra from the invasion from Orochimaru.

By this time, we reached the arena, and I saw Hisashi standing at the entrance. My eyes connected with his and we both nodded at each other. My hand relieased the E0 I still had and it dropped to the ground and headed over to him. This is so I can track him later with the chakra within my E0.

“Hey! Isn’t that…” Hisashi disappeared and Rikku looked at me confused. “Hisashi…”

“Yeah,” I stated and I stopped walking and looked them both in the eyes. “Yumi, Rikku. I will warn you. If Rin doesn’t go down as easily as I have planned. I will resort to my last resort jutsu and you will lose your Genjutsu abilities,” I stressed to them.

They looked at me confused and then Rikku’s eyes narrowed. “As long as you don’t kill her. I’ll be fine with whatever you do. I just want my sister back.”

Yumi’s jaw was clenched and she nodded her head in agreement. I smiled at them both and then saluted them.

“Right! I give you my artistic word that I will not kill her unless she has me under her kunai and is about to kill me! UN!” I exclaimed and then I turned around without a single word of goodbye and headed to the Chuunin guarding the arena.

They both looked at me and I smiled at them. “Emiko Kin?” One of them asked me and I nodded my head. “Alright, go into the arena. It’s straight ahead. Everyone is there beside Naruto and Sasuke,” he informed me and I grinned.

“Ha! I guess Kakashi’s lateness I catchable!” I called out as I walked past them. I heard the two chuckle. They must know Kakashi.

I walked to the arena. I could hear it before I saw it. My eyes widened at the hundreds of people here. I slowed my walking to look around in shock. So many people… I guess this is what the Hokage meant by this exam being to show case the villages power and strength. I sped up and I headed to the other Genin.

Shikamaru looked at me as I came to a stop beside him. “You finally made it,” he muttered and I grinned at him.

“Wouldn’t miss it! This is a chance for me to showcase my art, hmm!” I exclaimed excitedly. I’ll never have another chance to show so many people at one time what true art is. I’m about exploding in joy about it!

I felt eyes on me and I tensed slightly. Shikamaru’s eyes moved past me to behind me. He tensed. “That Rin girl is glaring at you.” I nodded my head at him. “And so is Gaara…”

I furrowed my eye brows and I looked back and my eyes caught Gaara’s. He was glaring at me. It clicked in my head. Oh, that’s right… I made an enemy out of him as well before the exams. By making his sand implode. I could see the bloodlust in his eyes… I tensed. He isn’t here to become a Chuunin… isn’t he? He is here for the blood and killing… I bit my lip before switching into battle Emiko. I hope Sasuke has something to fight against Gaara… because Gaara is after blood and I think it’s Sasuke’s.

My eyes then caught Rin, and I could see the anger and excitement for our fight in her eyes and her stance. I was right, she will end up losing control of that emotional detached self the Rikku and Yumi were talking about… I smirked at her confidently and she glared at me hatefully before looking away.

I turned back to Shikamaru with a slight smirk on my lips. “I’ve trained. I’ve made my weaknesses my strengths,” I informed him and he smirked a little at me.

Then he groaned. “I hope I don’t have to fight against you…” he murmured and I laughed at him. “This whole exam is troublesome…”

My eyes looked around lightly and I saw Neji, Kankuro, Temari, Shino (who I waved to slightly) and a new proctor who has a Senbon in his mouth… what happened to the other one? But the one that Shikamaru was supposed to fight isn’t here… where is he?

Suddenly, loud stamping noises was heard from outside of the arena. We all turned around to look in time to see the doors that I just entered in slam open and in slid Naruto. He slid half way across the arena before stopping.

My eyes widened, before I started to laugh at his expression. Shikamaru sighed beside me and approached him. I took deep breaths and I walked over to him.

“What kind of entrance was that?” Shikamaru asked and Naruto looked up at us dazedly. I smiled at him and Shikamaru knelt next to him and put Naruto’s arm around his shoulders before standing up with him. “How troublesome.”

“Hey, Shika. That entrance was very Narutoish!” I defended Naruto and he sighed at me, shaking his head.

Suddenly, Naruto came brushed off his dazedness and removed away from Shikamaru. He shouted, pointing at the entrance. “Everyone, run! The entire villages bulls… The Bulls are going to go after everyone!”

I blinked at him and furrowed my eyebrows looked to where Naruto was pointing. I saw nothing. “Naruto, what are you talking about?” I asked and he looked at me seriously.

“I’m serious! There were so many of them!” Naruto exclaimed and then he got distracted by the sight of the other contestants … all looking at him besides Gaara. He looked at every single one. “Huh? Where’s Sasuke?” he asked before looking at me.

“I haven’t seen him since my birthday,” I stated with shrug.

Shikamaru sighed and said. “That Dosu guy who was supposed to fight me isn’t here, either,” Shika pointed out, sounding a little annoyed. I bet he is thinking that it was troublesome to be here if his first opponent wasn’t even here.

“Hey, you three,” we all looked up at the proctor who was now facing the audience and so was the other contestants. “Stop talking. Stand up straight and show your faces to the crowd,” he told us and I looked up. I couldn’t see anyone I knew from up here… and the Hokage because he is in his own booth.

I only knew where Hisashi was because of my scope and the E0 that was on him. He was under a transformation jutsu to make sure that none of the Hyuuga’s would notice who he was and try to take him down… well, the key word is try.

Naruto, Shikamaru and I lined up as the crowd was cheering and being loud. I could pick out some names being said, even my own…

“You guys are the main players in the upcoming tournament,” the new proctor informed us, moving the senbon from one side of his mouth to the other.  

I rolled my shoulders and I looked upwards when I saw movements where the Hokage was sitting. I noticed that is was the Kazakage. The Kazekage walked towards the Hokage with Suna nin flanking him. I suddenly felt killing intent and my eyes darted to the side and I saw that it was coming from Gaara… directed at the Kazekage. My eyes furrowed… why would Gaara be- oh! That’s right; the Kazekage is his villages Kage, he must be the one that sealed the demon inside of him.

I watched at the Hokage moved from his chair and stood at the railing. “Ladies and gentlemen!” he called out. Everyone silenced and looked up at him. “Thank you for coming to Konoha’s Chuunin Exam today. We will now begin the main matches with the ten that have passed the preliminaries,” ten… there was eleven… did Dosu drop out? “Please enjoy the matches.”

The proctor turned around and faced us. We all focused our attention onto him. “There are some things I need to tell you before the matches,” he reached into his jacket and pulled out… paper with the matches on it. My eyes widened. It’s changed. Dosu wasn’t on it! Now Shika was going to have to fight Temari. “There is going to be a little change in the match-ups. Check to see who you’re going against again.”

The matches are going to go like this. Naruto and Neji, then Sasuke and Gaara, then it would be Kankuro and Shino, before it is Shikamaru and Temari’s turn and then it was me and Rin…

So… what happened to Dosu… he was one of Orochimaru’s wasn’t he? I let it go before and then my thoughts went to Sasuke…

I put my hand up. “Hey,” the proctor looked over at me.

“What?” he asked, putting the paper away and putting his hands behind his back. His eyes watching me and I had to fight the urge to make my hand mouths appear as I lowed my arm.

“Sasuke hasn’t arrived yet. What are we going to do?” I asked and the Proctor nodded his head at me.

He said. “If he doesn’t come here by the time his match starts then he lose by default.” This is odd… why wasn’t Sasuke here? I knew he wanted to be here… he wouldn’t miss this for anything… well, maybe to fight against Itachi but that isn’t happening.

“Listen up,” I was brought out of the thoughts and focused on the proctor. “Although the landscape is different, the same rules apply as in the preliminaries; there are no rules. The match will only end when someone dies or gives up. But if I decide that the match is over, I will stop the match. Do not argue with me over it. Got it?” he stressed to us. None of us moved, we just stared at him. “The first match is… Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuuga. The rest of you need to go back to the waiting room.”

My eyes darted to Neji who was standing next to Naruto. I put a hand on Naruto’s shoulder and he looked over at me. I smiled brightly at me. “Give it all you got. Show this Hyuuga what you got, and do it artistically, un!” I exclaimed and he grinned at me.

“Believe it!” he shouted and I let go of his shoulder and punched him in the arm before moving away from him to Shikamaru who was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs that led to the waiting room.

Once we got to the waiting room, Shikamaru and I headed to Shino and away from Rin and the Suna team. I looked down to see Naruto and Neji facing each other a fair distance away from one another.

Neji smirked at Naruto and I saw Naruto tense. “You look like you want to say something,” he pointed out.

On my birthday, Naruto told me in great detail what happened so I know that Naruto took a vow against him, so that’s why I wasn’t all that surprised at what Naruto did next.

Naruto raised his arm and faced it towards him, his hand curled into a fist. I could see the anger and determination to win in his eyes. “I told you before and I want to make sure you remember,”  He said calmly “I will win.”

“Go Naruto!” I called out. Yeah! Show that stupid Hyuuga’s whose boss!

Neji closed his eyes and opened them, his Byakugan activating. He chuckled as he fell into his gentle fist stance… well; I guess that’s the gentle fist stance. “That makes this better. When you find out the true reality, I will enjoy seeing your discouraged eyes.”

Naruto dropped his arm to his side and my scope picked up Naruto’s chakra starting to spin around him, making a strong wind whirl around the two genin. The strength of it was strong enough to send it flying at everyone in the arena vicinity. I smirked. Nice one Naruto, Neji would see that with his Byakugan and might throw him off a bit.

“Stop chattering,” Naruto called, the wind he created slowly wound  down.

“Now, first match… begin!”

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I will not be writing out Naruto and Neji’s battle, or Shikamaru and Temari. We all know how those battles go, and really? Do you guys need me to write them out? I don’t think so. Soooo, after this chapter, it was Rin against Emiko. Who will win?! What will happen?! Will Rin still be able to be a ninja after this? Who knows… Well, I do but you know, spoilers and all hahaha.

Okay, I have noticed a few people asking about Hisashi being the same name as Neji and Hinata’s father’s. So I am going to set this straight.

Neji’s father is Hizashi

Hinata’s father is Hisahi.

And Hisashi is Hisashi. The reason behind his name is because he is related to those two and his mother named him after them… sort of. Well, I suppose you can look at it that way.

So there you go!!

Now Question time!!

What do you guy think is going to happen with the battle of Emiko and Rin?! I know but I want to know what you guys think is going to happen!!

Okay, so bye for now!! And remember, FOLLOW, VOTE, AND COMMENT!!!!

Art is fleeting, art is eternal, and art is EXPRESSION!! But most of all ART IS A BANG!! KATSU!