No Room for Another Heart (Kakuzu fanfiction)

Explosive Duel

Kakuzu P.O.V.

     It took us only a few days to get back, I pushed Hidan and Ikari to march into the twilight hours of the morning before we rested everyday. Ikari had massive stores of chakra and power, it needed to be figured out quickly. As we entered the hideout, Kisame and Deidara sat on the couch in the center of the main room with Itachi in a nearby chair with his nose stuck in his book. "Hey un! How'd the mission go?" Deidara had gotten up to greet us, mainly Ikari. Hidan simply held up the limp body of Fuu as I pushed past the blond fool. I proceeded straight to Pain's office and banged on the door. Pain's listless voice once more crept through the wooden door. "Enter."

     I entered and was slightly taken back by the stacks upon stacks of papers on and around Pain's desk. "Kakuzu, I trust the mission was a success?" I nodded before walking forward slightly, lowering my voice as I approached. "Leader, the Ikari situation needs immediate attention." Pain's eyes met mine as I felt my figure lock up. I still hate how his eyes chill me. "What do you mean Kakuzu? What happened out there?" I sighed looking back to see Konan enter the room. "Fuu unleashed the power of the Seven Tails. I was managing the situation with the assistance of Ikari until the beast emerged. Before I could subdue Fuu, however, Ikari's own beast unleashed. The flaming wolf took over her body once more and she...or it, savagely assaulted the Seven Tails before subduing it."

     Pain watched me with his eyes squinted in a mix of concentration and thought. "If she had the raw power to subdue a fully unleashed tailed-beast on her own then she has much more power than originally expected...if you approached me with this I expect you have an idea of how to draw this power out?" I nodded slowly. "I believe Kisame was a perfect example. Pit her against each member of the Akatsuki. Each one will place her to the test in a different way and it may help us figure out a way to get her in control of this power." Pain looked interested in my idea before peering down to papers on his desk. After he flipped through two or three he stopped on a page with a picture on it, Deidara's. "Go get Deidara and Ikari and have them spar. I want you and Itachi watching along with Zetsu." I bowed before heading back out.

Ikari P.O.V.

     After that long mission I had went straight to my room and plopped down in bed. I removed the hair tie keeping my hair above my head as I let out a long sigh. Kakuzu's words were ringing in my mind. Why was he so cruel towards me? I can understand being critical of a newbie but I'm confused and frustrated enough with this. Why is this happening to me? What is this power inside me? I rested there, drowning in my thoughts. "Ikari, trust me. Everything is alright." I shot up looking all around. "Hello? Who said that??" After no response I shook my head, I must be imagining things. A knock at the door caused me to yelp, startled by the sudden sound. "Hello? Who's there?" No answer. Am I going crazy? I stood and walked towards the door as another knock made me jump before I tore the door open to see Kakuzu. His cloak was off exposing his arms, covered in black stitches. "Report outside immediately. Leader has ordered a spar between you and another member." Before I could get a word out, Kakuzu was down the hallway.

     I threw my cloak onto the bed feeling I wouldn't need it and followed swiftly. As we exited the hideout, I was greeted by the sun's kind rays blinding me through the tree's. Kakuzu continued forward without a word as I chased after him. We marched along to about the same spot I had sparred with Kisame; however, this time the Akatsuki member which stood in the center was Deidara. Instantly, the blond haired man perked up as he saw us approach. "Your sparring with Deidara today, I will be watching." Kakuzu headed over to a tree where I noticed Itachi also standing.

     Deidara instantly smiled with an almost child-like cockiness to his attitude. "A one on one un? Don't worry Ikari, I'll go easy on you yeah?" I chuckled and lowered into a defensive pose. "Don't worry Ponytail, you don't have to go easy," Deidara looked shocked to say the least as he clicked his tongue. He reached both hands into pouches on his waist and brought them out. I swayed to the right before dashing left going around to his flank. Just before I reached him though, Deidara tossed something into the air drawing my attention for a brief moment. It gave Deidara enough time to sweep my legs as the tiny objects began to rain down. Minuscule balls of clay landed all around me before sprouting eight small legs each. The little clay spiders scurried their way towards me as Deidara placed up a hand sign. Before I could even move, the spiders all exploded sending me flying away.