Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Tamed Only By Lonliness ❯ Tamed -Aid- ( Chapter 2 )

A/N: I don't own any of the Naruto characters. Only the plotline of this fanfiction alone.

The song lyrics are the English translation of `Little by Little', the newest (third) Naruto Shippuuden ending.

 

`And so it begins

Your own long, long story'

 

“Zetsu-sama!” He wailed.

 

I chuckled to myself as I grabbed his flailing arm, preventing him from falling over. I was watching curiously as he tried to function with his new body. I assigned that task as his first… assignment.

 

Tobi sighed. Though it was clearly obvious that the boy was frustrated, he never did complain. I found the young shinobi intriguing; a normal boy his age would surely be complaining that it was `too hard' or `impossible'.

 

Obviously, Tobi wasn't a normal boy, period.

 

“Zetsu-sama,” he paused, “Could you repeat how a puppet master moves his puppets around?” He asked for the seventh time.

 

I wasn't irritated, I couldn't be. The poor kid went through enough already; he didn't need his sensei barking at him.

 

“They use chakra strings, but it takes them months of training to master one puppet perfectly.”

 

Tobi thought long a hard. He placed his gloved hand under his scarred chin as his eyes were downcast.

 

As he was doing this, I replayed a memory through my mind.

 

(A/N: All flashbacks will be in third person)

 

“Who are you?” The young boy asked frantically, trying his hardest to crawl away from the plant Nin. He found that job quite difficult, as he could only use an arm, a leg, and his neck and head. “Why can't I move?”

 

Zetsu's darker half raised a questioning eyebrow at the boy's behavior. His softer half smiled warmly and placed a light colored hand on his fake shoulder.

 

“Don't worry. All I want to know right now is: How are you feeling, if you need any food or water, what happened to you and why you were left for dead.” The sweeter side answered.

 

The boy grimaced at the word `death'. He pondered over what he should tell the plant man, but knew lying wouldn't help. So, he decided the truth was best.

 

“I… I… I don't know,” He bit his small lip nervously; “I can't remember anything.” The young shinobi admitted.

 

This time, both personalities raised their eyebrows. “Nothing? How about your name?”

 

He shook his head. “Not even that.”

 

Zetsu was stumped. “What do you remember?” The darker side prompted.

 

“I'm a ninja…” The boy shrugged.

 

The plant ninja sighed. How troublesome. “Okay, you are at the Akatsuki's recent hideout. I had some of the members make you a new body. No matter if you remember your past, name and whatnot, you are now my subordinate. Understand?” The more sinister personality demanded.

 

The boy thought this over. He didn't have that much of a choice, and he was very grateful that he could, apparently, live longer. He was in debt to Zetsu, and these so called `members.'

 

“Hai, I understand. May I ask for your name?” The boy asked curiously.

 

“Zetsu.” Both halves said in unison. “What should we call you?”

 

For what seemed the millionth time today, the boy thought about the question. “Tobi… call me Tobi.”

 

(A/N: BACK TO PRESENT… er… you know, WHICH IS A WEEK AFTER THE TIMING OF THE FLASHBACK)

 

“I got it!” Tobi exclaimed eagerly. If not for his inability to use his left arm, he would of clapped repeatedly. I raised an eyebrow at him.

 

“Please help me up, Zetsu-sama.” He asked politely. I obeyed, grabbing his elbow and lifted him up, though he did most of the work with his right leg. Once I let go of his elbow, he immediately closed his eyes. I waited.

 

Chakra came from his left foot brightly. I went slightly wide eyed as it shone blue. We obviously had to work with chakra control, he was using WAY too much.

 

Then he stepped forward with his left foot, successfully. He grinned widely, it looked like his cheeks hurt. He began to walk clumsily, but it was walking none-the-less. His left hand was also glowing blue as he reached out towards me. He looked so proud, as happy as his hand was just inches away from my coat. He gave a pleased laugh.

 

Suddenly, his hand and foot stopped glowing and he fell forward, into me. I easily caught him and watched his face fall from disappointment.

 

“I messed up.” He said, his voice laced with sadness.

 

I couldn't help but pat his disheveled head. “Don't be sad, you did well. Very well.” I didn't understand why I was comforting him, but it just seemed like it was needed.

 

“Bad people are the people who screw up…” The boy muttered to himself, he looked like he was close to tears. I wonder who told him that, it was such a stupid sounding theory.

 

“Tobi isn't bad… Tobi is a good boy.” I said with a chuckle. His face brightened up.

 

“Tobi's a good boy?” He questioned, trying to resist a large grin from forming on his pale face. He lost.

 

Even my darker side smiled, -but he could have been smirking. I couldn't see after all, all I could feel was a tugging at the corners of my mouth- “Yes.”

 

Tobi's small, thin, right arm wrapped around me tightly, bringing me into a hug. He let his left arm hang limply by his side, his sadness already forgotten. I was shocked by the sudden contact. All I did was stand there, dumbfound. He looked up at me again.

 

“Arigato gozaimasu, Zetsu-sama!” He said happily, rubbing his cheek against my cloak. He then let me go; turning around to the direction of cabin he had near the hideout. His whole leg started to glow again as he walked awkwardly toward it.

 

I blinked at him for a few moments, not use to being hugged. I haven't been hugged by anyone for years, even when my parents were alive. They wouldn't even go near me.

 

He was already at the door before I realized he was talking.

 

“Bye Zetsu-sama!” He waved his left arm dramatically, hoping that I could see it better. I gave a small wave back as I walked back into the hideout.

 

I was going to take a shower, right before Sasori stopped me.

 

“If he's going to train properly, he is going to have to find a new way of moving around.” The short redhead informed me. He must have been watching us.

 

I nodded, “Yeah, he would waste too much chakra moving around like that… but I do have to admit, it was clever of him to think of that.”

 

Sasori agreed with me, but abruptly walked away. He was such an odd character, I didn't know him well enough to judge him, but he seemed pretty unusual.

 

But that was coming from me.

 

I wasn't going to up and crush Tobi's spirits by telling him he needed a new way to move around. I would watch him for a while before suggesting something easier and more productive.

 

I sighed, this was already getting complicated.

 

`So what if these joyful times make me want to cry waves of tears

And the puddle they leave inspires me to sing?'

 

(Few weeks later)

 

I found myself getting more attached the hyper boy. I've seen him fight, he is actually pretty good considering what he needs to use most of his chakra for.

 

I was glad that I was great in Taijutsu, and that he had a Sharingan, which apparently, he used well.

 

I also found out if he landed a punch on you with his left hand, he could send you flying. Using chakra and the simple fact that whatever material that his left side was made out of was hard, he hit very hard punches and very, very hard kicks.

 

Over the few small weeks we shared together, he was moving around like a normal person. I taught him how to control his chakra better, and how to hide it, so his arm and leg wasn't glowing anymore.

 

All-in-all, it was a very pleasant number of weeks. Tobi made everyone in our gloomy organization more upbeat. Kisame's booming laugh was something that had become common around there. Hidan was happy that someone thought his religion was -in Tobi's words- awesome. Sometimes, Tobi would join in on a non-violent -which was rare- prayer.

 

Pein seemed to smile now and again, and wasn't always yelling at us. We all were glad about that.

 

Konan acted quite sisterly towards Tobi. It was a strange sight to watch the two converse. She usually smiled warmly and patted his head. He would shoot her grins and showed obvious adoration towards the blue headed girl. I think I heard Tobi calling her `onee-chan' once. And I was positive she called him `otouto' at least two times.

 

A knock on my door cut into my thoughts. I got up from my bed and sauntered over to the door. When I opened it, I had to adjust to the light coming from the hallway. I blink a few times before I looked down.

 

“Zetsu-sama…” Tobi's voice reached my ears.

I stared at his face for a moment and I froze. He looked freaked out. I knew he had nightmares, he usually told me about them.

 

But none were bad enough to basically sneak into the hideout -which was amazing because he seemed to have not woken up anyone- and seek my aid.

 

“B-boulders…” He stuttered as I impulsively pulled him inside and closed the door. It was dark again, I could barely make out his features, but his fear rolled off of him so much that I could practically taste it.

 

“It hurt… my eye was… I-I-I...” I had never seen anyone be so terrified of a dream in my life. Tobi wasn't even making full sentences anymore. I had to do something; something was tugging at my heart as I watched him. His expression haunted me.

 

I crawled back into my bed, sitting up so the wall supported my back and I beckoned him over. I could hear his hurried footsteps as he climbed onto the bed and rested his head in my lap. He was quivering. On instinct alone, I began stroking his spiky head, and was singing him a soft lullaby.

 

“Without my prayers delivered no matter how I pray,
The murmuring voice disappears in the cicada-sounding shower.

 

“The signal of the opening echoes again; I dance the repetition helplessly,
A story that composes this world; the finale is only for you.”

 

He had his hand on my shin. I could feel his grip on my pants leg loosen, the lullaby clearly soothing him. He stopped whimpering as I felt his entire body relax.

 

“Even if there aren't many futures remaining anymore,
I want to protect the precious things to the end.
For that, even the act of defying god-
I'll commit sins unhesitatingly and untiringly.”

 

His breathing evened out. I could hear a faint snore between each verse I sung. Even though I knew he was asleep, I kept stroking his hair as I finished the lullaby.

 

“Let's start it again,
So that I can surely hope for a happy ending this time.
And at least smile tenderly all the while,
Until the moment of the end.”

 

I sat still for a moment. This was quite comfortable, I thought, ignoring the fact that the wall was cold against my covered back. My actions and thoughts were strange and unexplainable. It wasn't before long when my eyelids drooped over my eyes and I fell into a dreamless sleep. Tobi would be safe now. Not even his dreams could hurt him. I would make sure of it.

 

`Keep going, keep going off into the distance

My tears of happiness from this kiss are yours alone

Someday there will be a page

Where countless new people walk into your life

And so it begins your own long, long story.'

 

A/N: Sorry if the chapter doesn't make sense. It's 1:24AM here, and I'm quite tired from going to the mall (MANGAS!) with my friends. I MIGHT fix it tomorrow…. Maybe.

 

Enjoy.

 

Playlist:

Little by Little - Naruto Shippuuden Ending 3

Dear You -Hope- Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni song… also the lullaby Zetsu sung to Tobi.