There was no request for this update but I felt like writing it. Enjoy.
Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V
Reader begging for Konan’s life: Part VI
You were making your way through the winding hallways to the meeting room to deliver Sasuke’s progress report to Tobi. He was currently convening with Kabuto about preparations for the war to come. You entered the room quietly and waited patiently while listening to the closing remarks of the conversation.
“You’re quite a collector,” Tobi commented casually.
Kabuto chuckled and gave a sinister smile. “Why yes, I am. It’s really become a passion of mine, to fine remarkable shinobi and harness their power for my own. I’m truly grateful for my predecessor Orochimaru laying the groundwork and he truly had an obsession with finding rare jutsu and searching the world for immorality; but unlike him, I don’t seek to live forever, but outlive everyone and gather everyone’s precious traits as my own.”
“And after the war, there will be many for you to harvest.” Tobi concluded, understanding Kabuto’s bigger picture.
He chuckled again. “You could say that. There will be plenty of specimen to sort through and add when all is said and done. Currently, I’m interested in a finding the remains of a relatively deceased rain shinobi. I believe they would make an excellent addition,” he spoke lightly with mischievous glint in his eyes.
Your ears perked up at the sound of your homeland and your heart increased wondering who Kabuto was talking about. Your mind immediately went to Konan and you hoped she was safe.
Tobi kept his cool, but his eyes narrowed at the snake. “You speak highly of this jutsu. Show me how it is cast so I may see the durability of it,” he spoke coldly.
“You wish to see my strength,” Kabuto reasoned, his tone level.
Tobi gave a fake smile beneath his mask. “Remember we’re on the same side now and I need to know if I can trust you. If you can deliver me troops for this war that can stand and fight, you’ll get Sasuke at the end of this as I promised.”
Kabuto smiled lightly in returned. “Fair enough. Perhaps, I can scrounge up a demonstration later today or tomorrow.” His snake like eyes drifted to you before returning to Tobi’s. “I don’t think I’ll be able to get my hands on the rain ninja in time though.”
Tobi was becoming irritated. “Whatever you can scrounge up will do.”
Kabuto nodded as he got up. He locked eyes with you while walking to the door where a white Zetsu waited for him to escort him out. When Kabuto was long gone, Tobi turned his attention to you to see you had a concerned look.
“Do you know who Kabuto is looking for in the rain country?” you asked worried.
“No. Now what’s the progress report on the patient?” Tobi answered shortly and switched the subject.
You were left feeling uneasy but dived into the progress report of Sasuke and the details of his temperament today. You expressed how he was becoming more irritable and how he had started working out continuously in his room by doing pushups, pullups, sit-ups, etc. You told Tobi how Sasuke requested his sword to be returned to him so he could train with it which Tobi didn’t think it was a good idea with his blindness but relented to have you give him a rod to train with instead.
“He also complained about the food again,” you lastly mentioned.
Tobi sighed and had tilted his head back in exasperation. You heard him mumble to himself some semblance of “does this kid think they have a gourmet cook on staff” before lifting his head up to address you. “What do you suggest?”
“I can make a trip out to the closest market or scrounge for some herbs and whatever else I can find outside. I can try to cook something up if needed. I used to do it back home…” You offered.
“On occasion. I’m not the best, but…”
“That’ll do. It will beat whatever canned and rations we have stored.”
You nodded and noticed how tense Tobi was.
There was silence between the two of you for a moment before Tobi stood up and stretched his limbs. “Would you like to spar?”
You again nodded, meeting his eye. He seemed pleased as he gave the command to follow him, so you did through the hideout and to an ascending exit you had not been through before. When you both emerged from the ground you were in the midst of foliage where Tobi mentioned you could use the exit to scavenge for food later. You nodded and feeling somewhat happy to know he trusted you with the knowledge of the exit.
You two walked to a small clearing where Tobi took a fighting stance and so you too took your position and readied yourself. The two of you began to spar. The fight was simple tai-jutsu that worked your muscles and reflexes. Tobi already knew you didn’t have strong ninjutsu methods so he kept it basic for training purposes only. It had been a while since he trained with a partner. Most of the Akatsuki members trained by themselves and only really tested their strength against each other when they were angry like when Deidara wanted to throw clay bombs at him. Tobi huffed, he didn’t miss the yellow ponytail bastard.
You two went on fighting for a while and Tobi could feel the stress easing off of him. He still had a lot to be concerned with but while sparring he only had one. Soon kunai were introduced into the mix and you managed to tear his sleeve with a swipe of your strike. He stepped back but you proceed to follow him. He blocked your next strike and rendered the blade useless in your hand and took hold of it.
You dodged gracefully. Ducking and escaping his attack. He now pursued. You planted your foot and with the other one kicked the kunai out of his hand. He caught your leg and twisted it up higher and you fell to the ground with a loud thud. He landed on top of you claiming victory. Both of you were breathing heavily.
While your breaths mingled, you peered deep into his red eye and without thinking blurted out the question that has been on your mind for a long time. “Who are you?”
He got off of you immediately and stood up. You sat up while analyzing his demeanor, not sure if he was upset.
“I know you’re not Madara. Kabuto has his body, and he can’t have his body if he’s not dead. You’re an Uchiha but I know Tobi is not your real name. So, who are you really?” you asked more gently this time as you stood up.
“The real me died a long time ago,” Tobi mentioned solemnly.
You stepped closer to him, placing a hand on his back and another on his arm. You gradually swayed him to turn around and he saw the compassion in your eyes.
“Was it when you lost the girl you loved?” You asked softly.
“Yes,” he breathed honestly. “It was when I was betrayed by the one I trusted.”
You became sympathetic towards him but found it was hard to truly read how he was feeling through the mask he wore.
“May I see you face?” you requested.
You saw his eye widened slightly and he hesitated to say the next few words.
“This mask does not only conceal my identity but hides my disfigurement,” he revealed softly.
You understood more clearly then and recognized an insecurity that he hid. Your eyes moved from his head down to his body to see the sleeve that was torn during your sparring. His arm showed white patches and wrinkled scars of battered skin. As a medical ninja, you touched his arm before meeting his eyes once again in a soft gesture.
“That won’t matter to me. I want to see the real you.”
His heart skipped a beat and butterflies buzzed in his stomach as your hands came up to reach for his mask. In a moment of panic, he stopped you.
“Perhaps another time,” he mentioned calmly, doing everything he could to keep his breath even.
The disappointed look upon your face made him regret his decision instantly; but still, he broke away from you.
“Gather what you can while there is still daylight and return to the base by night fall. Take all the time you need.” Tobi stated before he left you in the middle of the clearing to fend for yourself.
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