Konoha's Dream Team

Chapter 13

Sasuke scoffed to himself. Somehow, he felt like he'd drawn the short straw. Naruto was probably having a much more interesting fight than him and Kakashi. After all, you couldn't really call this a fight, chasing after that Deidara guy.

"I think this is far enough, hn," they heard Deidara say, before spinning around and launching eight clay projectiles at Kakashi and Sasuke, who dodged to the sides just in time for the clay birds to explode.

"Sasuke, did you see it?" Kakashi asked as the two landed next to each other on the ground, looking up at Deidara through the trees.

"Yeah. Seems like he's a one-trick pony, too, so this should be easy."

"Don't get too cocky, Sasuke. He's an S-rank ninja for a reason," Kakashi muttered, staring up at Deidara with his Sharingan. "Now, I hope you're not going to be reluctant to strike such a handsome opponent."

Sasuke blinked at that and glanced at Kakashi.

"Was that a gay joke?"

"Maybe."

"Besides, how would you know handsome?"

"Never mind... Let's just focus on this fight..."

"Hey, hey! Stop ignoring me or you'll pay for it, hn!"

Kakashi and Sasuke only just then noticed the clay bird between them. Their eyes widened just as it exploded. Deidara gave a bark of laughter as he stared down at the cloud of smoke that rose from the explosion.

"I'm disappointed! I expected more from Itachi's little brother, hn!"

Deidara's eyes widened when a blade was suddenly placed at his throat, a chokuto to be exact. He looked over his shoulder, to see Sasuke standing behind him on the bird, holding the sword with his Sharingan blazing.

"Then I'll have to put on a good show, won't I?"

"Tch...!"

"According to reports, you use explosive clay to attack, but I haven't seen nearly as many explosions as were reported from your attack on the Kazekage," Sasuke said, a smirk appearing on his face. "I'm guessing you don't have too much clay left."

"Is that so, hn?" Deidara asked, smirking as well. "Whaddya think you're standing on, moron?!"

Sasuke glanced down, to see that his feet had sunk into the bird. He tried to pull them out, but it was like hardened cement. When he looked up at Deidara again, his eyes widened upon seeing the former Iwa ninja also turning into clay.

"KATSU!" was heard from the trees below, and both Deidara and the bird blew up.

–

Sasori looked emotionless, but anyone could see in his eyes that he was at least a bit irritated. Slowly, he reached up and started unbuttoning his coat.

"It really has been a long time..." he said slowly, before taking off his coat, making Naruto, Hinata, and Chiyo's eyes widen, "...since I used myself..."

Sasori's entire body was that of a puppet. He had four long blades on a mechanical arm sticking out of either side of his lower back, a holder for four scrolls on his back, a stinger on a spool of rope in the empty and open stomach cavity, some kind of compartment in the right side of his chest, and a piece of flesh stuck in the left side of his chest, which had the kanji for 'Scorpion' painted on it.

"He turned himself into a puppet..." Naruto muttered in amazement.

"I thought it was strange that he hadn't aged a day since the last time I saw him," Chiyo mumbled gravely.