The Mission

The Deidara I remember isn’t the same as Ino or Chouji’s take on him. Maybe it’s because I spent too much time with him, but he wasn’t always this perfect angel of sorts that everyone makes him out to be. He was human with flaws and contradictions just like anyone else out there.

I met him when I was old enough to meet Ino for the first time. My dad was friends with Inoichi and I figured they wanted us to be friends so they could hang out more. Ino and I didn’t really get along too well back then—she was too loud, too bossy, and she constantly talked about wanting to go play with the other kids when all I wanted to do was watch the clouds. We didn’t hate or dislike each other, we were too different to really click, that’s all.

If I had to describe the differences between Ino and Deidara, it’d be easiest to do with comparisons to flowers.

Ino’s hair is a cream colored rose, her eyes a pale blue hydrangea, whereas Deidara’s hair was the color of a sunflower, his eyes the color of a vivid blue dahlia. The only thing I can say they had in common looks wise was their straight hair, side bangs, and skin tone. Take away all of the above and they were pretty different.

When I first met him, Deidara’s hair was down to his shoulders and he was dressed in a pair of black silk pants and a silver embroidered lavender tank top. He looked as elegant as the sculpture he had made with the clay from the hands on his palms—his first words to me were, “You’re Shikamaru, right?”

I had nodded like a dumbass because he was the most beautiful omega I had ever seen in my life and I was awestruck by his overall presence. He smiled, put some clay into the mouths on his palms, “I’m Deidara…I hope you like this, un.”

Out came a stunning rose sculpture from his palm. I would’ve kept it but only moments later, it detonated, leaving me to wonder, “Was it supposed to do that?”

He smiled before standing back up to full length, “Bet you won’t forget that.”

He wasn’t wrong, I never did forget it. Even now, it’s my primary memory of Deidara, the one that comes to my head whenever I hear his name or see a photo of his face.

It wasn’t because of his smile or his beauty or even the beautiful sculpture. It was the way he made my skin crawl about it all. I could be reading too much into it, but it never made sense to me. Why would he give someone his little sister’s age something that will explode on them and could hurt them?

Not saying I got hurt by it or anything, but I could have if he didn’t make it right.

I wanted to avoid him the rest of the day, but Ino was pretty bent on spending time with him because in her words, “Don’t be so scared, Shikamaru! Deidara would never hurt you—he’s the bestest person ever and someday, he’s going to be the greatest artist of all time!”

To be fair, I saw why she thought so highly of him. When she did knock on his door, he was calm instead of annoyed, his overall demeanor from behind his door not that of normal older siblings I’ve seen before, “Who’s there? Ino, is it you, un?”

“Yeah, it’s me. Can I watch you make your sculptures, Dei? I promise I’ll be really good and get you more clay if you run out of it!”

“Sure thing, come on in! …Wait, I’ll need more clay first, I just ran out of it, un. Can you get me some?”

“Okay, I’ll be right back!” she called back to him before heading downstairs and to their basement…which was full of clay. She had told me, “We keep lots of clay for Deidara to use so he can make his sculptures. He’s really great at his art; each sculpture gets better than the last. His room is really cool too, it’s an art studio where he makes perfects his craft. He’s so devoted to it that he sleeps outside in a tent with his clothes in a bag, which is really cool if you ask me.” As she was going through the clay, she commented with a smile on her face, “Someday when we make enough money, we’re going to get Deidara his own art studio outside so he can make all the art he wants and have his room inside the house again. It will be so amazing to have him back in here; I can’t wait for that day to come!”

I didn’t think much of it until we got to enter his room to give him the clay.

His entire bedroom…no, it wasn’t that. It was an actual art studio.

Everywhere there were pieces of sculptures that had been detonated, splatters of dried clay on the walls, ceiling, and floor. Everything in his room was dedicated to his art whether it be the sculptures on the shelves that did not detonate, or the empty bag of clay strung about with reckless abandon.

“Deidara, we got you more clay.” Ino grinned when giving the bag to him, “If you need more I can always grab more for you.”

“Nah, this is good, un.” he took the clay from the bag and fed it into mouths on the palms of his hands, “I’ll be able to make what I want with this one.”

I didn’t get it until I saw it for myself.

Deidara made a sculpture of a beautiful eagle that would wind up detonating only moments after creation. This explosion was larger and I’m amazed looking back on it that no one got hurt. Ino was smiling, clapping, and cheering after it happened, “That was so cool, Dei! It was a lot bigger than last time, too! You are going to be the greatest artist ever someday, I just know it!”

I didn’t get why he wanted it to explode and I had asked him as much, “Why do you want it to explode?”

“Life is short and fleeting, Shikamaru, un. What matters most in life is leaving behind an existence so lively that it leaves everyone around you with never ending memories. That way you never truly stop existing; you keep on living in the minds of others long after you are gone, un. My art is the same way: it’s fleeting, but it will last forever in their memories.”

He had said it so kindly with such a bright grin it was hard to want to debate with him. I didn’t end up debating with him because I was young and honestly quite scared of him when I was younger. Anyone who thought like that would be someone who wouldn’t be above striking me with such an attack if I so much as made him mad, so I kept my distance from Deidara and tried to have as little do with him as possible.

I honestly did try my best to have as little to do with him as possible, but my dad thought I was being crazy about it. He said, “Son, you’d have to be the dumbest person alive to reject Deidara. He’s the most beautiful omega in our village and if you’re lucky enough, someday, you’ll get to mate him when you’re older.”

The idea grossed me out as much as the idea of mating Ino did. Then again, Ino was never brought up as a potential mate for me. Probably because she was hanging out with Sakura so much everyone thought they’d be mated someday when they were older. I honestly thank Sakura every day for worming her way into Ino’s life. If it were not for her, I’d have to deal with Deidara more than I wanted to and thanks to her, I got reprieve from seeing the bomb loving omega.

My dad really wanted me to mate him someday, though. He was always pushing the idea so he and Inoichi could be in-laws and have validated reasons for hanging out as often as they pleased. He says this wasn’t the reason whenever I bring it up, but I know better than to believe him, “Oh come on, Shikamaru! Deidara is going to be as amazing of artist as you will be as amazing of a shinobi when you’re both grown! Don’t be so quick to write him off—he’s beautiful, talented, and intelligent. You’d be insane to not want to mate him someday.”

Call me insane then because I wasn’t interested then as much as I am now. Mating Deidara never appealed to me, but it did to many others. I will never understand it…though I guess if we’re going off of looks alone, then I could begin to because Deidara is someone who got more beautiful with age.

It was his personality that was off putting enough to make me not see him as appealing as everyone else did.

Deidara was kind, sure. He stood up for omegas and those being bullied or discriminated against, I can applaud him on this end.

What I couldn’t get past was the acidic way he dealt with those he accused of sexism.

Now I have seen alphas and betas being sexist towards him. Whether it be trying to grope him, telling him to dress modestly to not tempt the alphas and betas around him, or making covertly sexist statements towards him, I have seen it happen a few times in the past and I have agreed with Deidara’s blowing up on them.

I have always believed that sexist alphas and betas deserve to be told off by someone like Deidara—someone fiery when angered, yet collected enough to make intelligent arguments to cut through their flawed reasoning. It was moments like those where I respected him deeply.

There were the moments where I had been around for the entire interaction and hadn’t seen nor heard any instance of sexism against him, only for him to snap and attack the innocent person. When asked why he did it, he’d make up some lie about the person being a sexist or doing something sexist towards him. It was enough to make me think there could be a mean streak hiding underneath Deidara’s nice façade.

Then my dad wondered why I did all that I could to not hang out with him after the first time I met him at Ino’s place. No matter what he did, he could never get me to be alone with Deidara.

That is, until the day of this one festival where he finally managed to trick me into spending time with the explosive omega.

The festival had a gaming section, and he managed to get me suckered into a tent that had shogi matches going on. I had beaten many others before then until Deidara took a seat across from me, glowing under the light of the paper lanterns strung about and the glint of a need to dominate in his eyes, “Whoa, who knew you were so smart? You mind taking me on in a shogi match, un?”

I knew my dad would be pissed if I said ‘no way in hell, I don’t wanna be blown up’ and I had a feeling Deidara wasn’t going to let me go this time, so I did what I could in the moment, “Alright, we can play but don’t expect me to go easy on you.”

It was a pretty tough game, that's for sure! Deidara put up a surprisingly good match, far better than I thought he would, and when I won, I was relieved because it meant I was freed from spending time with him.

Now, I’m not sure how true this is or not, but some people say this was when Itachi first noticed Deidara. Apparently he had been in the crowd when this was going on and according to the rumor, he had kept his eye on Deidara the entire time. I’m not sure how true this is, since Deidara was pretty well known in the village before this and he was called the most beautiful omega in all of Konoha by more than one person, by both locals and foreigners.

Anyway, after Deidara lost to me, his first response was a frustrated sigh and a challenge in his eyes, “One more time, un! I swear I can beat you, just one more time, that’s all I’m asking!”

“Fine, but you aren’t going to win.” I warned him and just as I predicted, he didn’t win.

His anger and frustration could cloud his judgment at times, and this was never more apparent than when we faced off in shogi. He lost to me a total of ten times before I had heard his voice for the first time ever, the prodigy kid himself, Itachi Uchiha, “Mind if I take over from here? Surely something so entertaining to watch must be as fun to play, correct?”

“Sorry, but I’m still playing. I can and will win on my own, thank you very much, un.” Deidara announced with much pride though I think he knew he couldn’t win. It was all his own ego and stubbornness preventing him from stepping down.

“Oh, I was thinking if you could win, you would’ve by now.” I still don’t know what the hell Itachi was thinking when he said that. All it did was make Deidara mad at him in an instant, “What did you say?”

“If you could win, you would’ve by now. You are determined and passionate enough to do so…if you cannot, I can understand. This child is exceptionally intelligent; anyone would have a hard time beating him. If you want, I could step in and win in your stead.”

Deidara grit his teeth and despite wearing a rather thin yet intricately embroidered kimono, he was more than ready to throw a punch at him, “What kind of omega do you take me for? Do you think I’m some damsel in distress who is too weak to win his own battles, un? Because I sure as hell am not weak or stupid like you’re making me out to be!”

“There’s nothing wrong with needing help from time to time. Here, allow me to take over. I will dedicate this victory to you when I do win.” Itachi had fully come out of the crowd by now, his eyes were glued on Deidara, and I knew then he wasn’t going to leave him alone no matter what he did.

“Screw you, un!” Deidara snapped, getting ready to attack him…well, he would’ve if I hadn’t been lucky enough to have my dad teaching me how to use my shadow possession jutsu then. I had gotten pretty good at it—or so I had been told at that time. They must’ve been right because it was enough to prevent him from attempting to murder Itachi while allowing me a moment of peace.

“Deidara, we should get going. I’m getting hungry and you told my dad you’d watch me. Let’s forget this guy, go get a bite to eat, then if you want, we can play again.”

Okay, he didn't actually tell my dad that, but I had to make up some excuse for him to leave before he tried to murder Itachi in front of everyone. His angered pheromones were all over the place, letting me think he was getting serious about trying to kill this guy…except, out of nowhere, he calmed down enough to tell me with a huff, “Fine…we’ll get something to eat, but then we’re coming back right here for me to beat you, un!”

I felt a certain tension leaving my chest the moment I got him to agree, “We can do that if you want. I’m up for another game if you are, but I want to eat first.”

I released him from my jutsu, and he turned away from Itachi to come up to me so we could leave.

Itachi’s eyes were glued onto me with a look I know far too well being an alpha myself. You know, the look of jealousy and bloodlust that comes out whenever an alpha is enraged at another alpha for trying to steal someone they are interested in.

In this case, I think he was more enraged I managed to steal Deidara’s attention away from him. Maybe he felt a bit threatened by it or something…I wouldn’t know. Uchihas are strange by nature.

“Deidara, how about we play a round of shogi together? If I win, I get to take you out sometime and if you win, I’ll leave you alone forever.”

Deidara could never turn down a challenge from an alpha and as such, he was dumb enough to buy into Itachi’s obvious goading, “Be prepared to leave me alone forever then.”

He did his best, I’ll give him that much, but he was no match for Itachi. He lost to him in fifteen minutes, with the smug Uchiha shrugging, “Oh well, looks like we will get to go out sometime.”

“No way in hell, un! Rematch!” Deidara seethed and I couldn’t stop myself from noticing the slight smirk on Itachi’s face as he had agreed without any effort on his end, “If you say so…”

“Then you’re next, un!” he growled with a finger pointing in my direction, making me want to vanish into thin air right then and there.

Itachi’s smirk was gone but he managed a way to get me out of being in his line of vision to focus on Deidara instead, “How can you beat a child as good at shogi as him if you can’t beat a novice like myself? Surely it’d make more sense to surpass me first before trying to take on someone as skilled and versed in the game as him. It should be easier for you to do such a thing than taking on someone like him.”

“You’re saying I suck at this so bad, I can’t even beat you? What kind of alpha bullshit is that Uchiha, un! You want me to beat you so bad? I will then, un!”

“Do your best, Deidara. That’s all I could ever ask of you.”

If he wanted Deidara’s attention on him for a night, he succeeded. All he had to do was say something to get him mad and Deidara would snap at him before going another round with him again. He wound up spending the entire festival with Itachi in the shogi tent.

My dad walked me home, but I couldn’t help but to think Itachi felt accomplished in that moment. He certainly didn’t seem fazed by any of Deidara’s angry threats and ranting at him. If of anything, he seemed to take perverse joy in it.

Uchihas are strange creatures by nature. Convince me otherwise.

I didn’t see Deidara much after the festival, but it was some time after this that his snapping at alphas and betas worsened. I don’t know what fully caused it, all I can tell you is I don’t believe every single alpha and beta alive who came into contact with him was being a pervert or sexist. I don’t fully believe they all had it coming like Ino tries to say they did. All I can say is, I don’t think it’s right that so many people suffered at the hands of his anger when they didn’t have it coming.

When I did see him, it was usually whenever I was watching clouds and he would watch them with me without saying a word or when I was playing shogi with someone from the academy and he offered to take their place for them. He was civil during those times, yet all I wanted was to keep my distance from him in case if he dared to strike me out of anger next.

He told me one of the last times we were watched clouds together, “Naras don’t do arranged mating, do they?”

“No, we don’t do that. Why do you ask?”

“Itachi wants me to be arranged to him, un. Like I’d ever let that stupid bastard try to force me into something as backwards as that! Stupid Uchiha, un.”

I didn’t say anything in case if he ever tried to spin this as me being sexist against him. I only spoke up when he commented off handedly, “Too bad you aren’t older…I wouldn’t mind dating you.”

“Yeah, I’m not dating or mating until I’m like, twenty-five or thirty. It’d be better to find someone else to date or mate.”

“Ha, good idea, un!” Deidara didn’t say anything after that. It did nothing to stop me from noticing there was a strong twinge of concern in his eyes, as though he had a lot more on his mind than he was letting on.

He left a lot later than he usually did. I didn’t mind it, though I could have gone without Itachi standing in front of me when he was gone, “Hello Shikamaru…it seems Deidara was here. Am I wrong in assuming that?”

“No, you aren’t. He left a while ago, but I don’t know where he went. You’re better off trying to find him by scent or something.”

Itachi didn’t move from his spot, he narrowed his eyes slightly at me, his voice low, “I will try… I want you to know before you leave that if you ever try to steal Deidara’s heart from me when you are older, I’ll ensure you suffer for it.”

I have never spoken to Itachi before that moment. All I can tell you about the guy is he’s a complete legend in the village for being a complete prodigy child that surpassed all the others in our village’s history. He’s also said to be the most desirable alpha in the entire village; so many were trying to win over his attention that when it became public knowledge he was trying to win over Deidara, everyone began to gush over how beautiful their children would be.

I thought my dad would drop the idea of me ever mating the time bomb but all he did was insist, “Don’t worry Shikamaru, you still have a shot with him! Itachi may have the looks, skills, and charm…but you’ve got the advantage of coming from one of the most progressive clans around. That alone will ensure your getting to mate him.”

I never wanted the explosive omega to begin with. I was fine with letting Itachi have him, I told him that too, “I don’t want him. You can have him if you want, I won’t stop you. I’m not dating or mating until I’m twenty-five or thirty, so Deidara will have no interest in me by then anyway. There’s no need to get all angry about something that will never happen.”

Itachi didn’t say anything to me…it didn’t stop him from throwing a kunai in my direction that narrowly missed me.

He left me after this, and I never saw or spoke to him again. I don’t know what happened between him and Deidara before they left the village. All I know is, whatever did happen, there’s a chance Deidara did choose to leave with Itachi of his own free will. I’m not fully convinced he was completely innocent here, yet I can’t say he wasn’t either.

All I can say is Deidara’s leaving with Itachi caused a lot of pain for his family and I can’t help to be a bit mad at him for leaving over whatever stupid reason it is he most likely left over.