Hidden Villages

I: Fire Dance

"The setting sun certainly paints a rather good omen for tonight's festivities, does it not?"

The deep voice came unexpectedly, yet none of the Anbu reacted to the person who approached the third Tsuchikage. Instead, Kurotsuchi heard her grandfather laugh from where he stood behind her as if he were greeting an old friend. The small child turned her head in curiosity.

The person who approached the leader of the village so freely stood tall, yet his hair was a fiery color which rivaled the fiery colors of the sunset playing across the buildings. Mirth shown in the man's eyes as he spoke to the old man with candor. "This must be your granddaughter Onoki, as she looks like that lovely daughter of yours."

"I should hope so. I dread thinking of what my precious granddaughter would have looked like had she inherited her father Kitsuchi's looks instead."

"Are you looking forward to tonight's festival?"

"No." Kurotsuchi turned her head in time to see a flash of yellow peeking around the corner of the building.

"What do you mean no?" Her grandfather's voice drew her attention back to the discussion. "You'll be performing the lead in the fire dance tonight, Kurotsuchi."

"This young?"

The small girl turned her head towards the fire haired man. Her lower lip jutted out in a pout and she narrowed her eyes at the stranger. "Who are you?"

The man's eyes went wide, almost as if surprised to hear someone wasn't familiar with who he was. "I am Roshi, jinchuriki of the four-tailed beast."

"A jinchuriki." Kurotsuchi let her lips press even tighter.

"Let me guess. I'm not what you expected."

"Roshi is older than any of the other jinchuriki, but he has also been a jinchuriki longer than any of them. He is a very wise man."

"Yes, though your grandfather and I do not always see eye to eye."

"He's not killed you for disagreeing with him?"

A laugh escaped Roshi's mouth. The man took a deep breath and looked out at the village from where he stood. The colors painting the stone buildings began to fade into a darkness which evaded every crevice of the stonework. Kurotsuchi took a deep breath and leaned up against the railing. The young girl's small hands twisted around the structure as her dark eyes took in the lighting of the villiage.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

Kurotsuchi glanced over at her grandfather and his friend and noticed the way the third Tsuchikage lifted up his eyebrow. She saw a strict command to head off and change into the costume provided her, but a smile played across her face as she also saw the mischievious look on the faces of both men standing in front of her.

She hurried off towards the room where her costume for the festival dance was located. She changed into the elaborate outfit with ease before taking a deep breath.

"How come he's okay with this kind of art, but not mine?"

Kurotsuchi found herself turning. A person with a familiar head of blond hair leaned up against the wall watching her with his vivid blue eyes."Deidara-nii." The young girl thought over the intruders question carefully. "Grandfather says the fire dance is about properly yielding ones fire chakra as a weapon, but you shouldn't be in here."

"The third is your grandfather Kuro-chan, not mine. I guess I could have been referring to him, but he really doesn't come down on me like Kitsuchi does."

"Father?"

Deidara's head turned as he crossed his arms.

"If you talk to mother, she might..."

"Convince him otherwise? Again, she's your mother not mine." Deidara glanced away. "Doesn't matter though, does it?"

"It matters to you Deidara-nii."

A woman appeared in the doorway. "Kurotsuchi-san, it's almost time..." The woman glanced over at the blond haired male standing by the door. "What are you doing in here?"

"I came to see Kurotsuchi before she does the fire dance."

"Yes, but what are you doing in the female changing room." The woman grabbed his ear and tugged.

The young girl winced upon hearing the string of curse words coming out of Deidara's mouth, but her ears also picked up the scolding he received for using such fowl language. Taking a deep breath, she left the room and followed the path leading to the stage.

Glancing from behind the shrine, she noticed everyone eating. Her own father - Deidara's father - stuffed the food into his mouth. The blond haired shinobi in training was nowhere in sight at first, but then she saw Akatsuchi drag him over to the table so that he might also partake in the food.

Kurotsuchi took a deep breath before stepping out onto the darkened stage so that she would not be visible when she first came out.

Soon, however, she found herself snapping her fingers allowing her chakra to exhibit the fire release as she twirled about and lit the torches at the edge of the stage while she grabbed the fans which were left on the previously darkened stage for her.

Her movements started off flowing in a very dancelike movement, before exhibiting the stronger, harsher movements normally associated with the males who danced the dance. She much preferred the strong movements to the graceful ones, yet her body still moved in the manner she wanted.

A final twirl ended the dance and she bowed down. The clapping sound indicated the village was pleased with her performance, and she found herself leaving so she might change and partake of the feasting.

Upon arriving where her grandfather sat, she found her normal place by his side was taken over by the jinchuriki named Roshi. The fire bearded man motioned for her to come and sit by her, while her father sat on the other side.

Peering around the table, she saw Deidara sulking between her father and mother while Akatsuchi partook in the foods next to the kage's family.

"So..." Roshi took a cup of sake to his lips. "That was an amazing display of control over the fire release. Care to be my student?"

"What?"

"You heard me, Miss Kurotsuchi."

"I'm still an academy student. Normally..."

"They don't get a teacher until they've graduated?" Roshi laughed.

The third Tsuchikage took a break from drinking his own sake. "Consider yourself graduated Kurotsuchi. Those who head the school already decided you would graduate early if Roshi decided to take you on. He doesn't take on many students, so consider it a great honor."

Kurotsuchi made a slight bow. "Then I am honored to be your student."

Glancing over, she saw Deidra look away. Her dark eyes looked down at the food in front of her, yet she found herself unable to eat anything.