Hearts Grow, Chapter 1
Song for the chapter – Akatsuki Theme song
One fine day, a Dragon king and his only daughter were sitting upon a cliff, overseeing the production of the townspeople below. The little girl sat watching, eyes wide with wonder and excitement. It was her first time outside of the cavernous castle in which she was born and raised. Her father, towering over her like an ancient mountain towers over the valleys, smiled. She turned to him.
"Papa, I want to go down there and explore some! Can I? Please???" She gave him the adorable child eyes that could always get him to give her anything. He laughed and nodded.
"Yes, my little princess… But I will have to come with you, so no one tries to harm you." The princess jumped up and down joyfully. Then she climbed upon her father's enormous back, and he flew her down to the village. People saw them and made way. The king landed, and people bowed low to the ground, so low that their foreheads left imprints in the ground. Some of the other children gawked when they saw the little girl climb down from the giant dragons back.
"H-how did you get him to let you ride?!?!" One of the townspeople demanded. She only smiled and said:
"Oh, that? He's my father. I only have to ask." Astonished, the townspeople hurriedly bowed, so as not to anger the king by dishonoring the princess. The child came walking through, her father following her, and explored the whole day. Then, when the hour became late, the king called his daughter from a shop which she was looking at.
"My daughter, come here. It is time to go home. Your nanna will be angry with me if I bring you back late, and with your dress dirty at that." The girl sighed.
"Yes papa. Can we come back again sometime?"
"Of course, Nukala. Now let's go home." Nukala did as she was told, and the king flew her back to the castle, for a good nights rest and the promise of expeditions soon to come.
9 Years later….
"Princess Nukala, please come here! Your father will be angry with you if you do not show up!!!" I sat upon my bed, very intrigued by a box puzzle that I had purchased on my last trip to the village. It was made of carved mahogany and redwood, and the paintings upon it were supposed to tell the history of dragons and humans, the uniting of the two races. On the last face was supposed to be a picture of a Dragothaine, or a half dragon, half human. Like me.
"I'll be there in a moment, Nanna!" My nurse maid balked at this.
"You will come now, Nukala! Put that puzzle down this instant!!" I missed my old Nanna, but she had become ill and could no longer care for me. So my father had gotten a new one, even though I was old enough that I didn't need one. The cantankerous woman climbed the stairs to my bedroom and threw open the door. She grabbed the puzzle and threw it from the window. I cried out as it hit the stones below and broke. "Now get out there, NOW!!" She began to haul me away from the window, but I already knew what to do. I bolted from her arms and ran to my father, crying.
"Nukala, My dear child! What's wrong? Why do you cry so?" My father began to nuzzle me and I threw my arms around his neck.
"Papa! It's that old witch you put as a replacement for my old Nanna! I was almost done with the puzzle…. It would have only taken one minute… But she threw it out the window and broke it!!" I wept loudly as she came running into the room. "I want my old Nanna back!!!" She recoiled at the sight and began flustering.
"M-my Lord… I-I'm awfully awfully sorry about this…. I..." My father cut her off, and glared at her.
"As you should be. Never do you do such a thing that would make my only daughter cry. Never! If you make her cry again, I will kill you and get her another, more patient Nanna. This is the fifth time this week that you have destroyed something of hers."
"I-I was only trying to..."
"SILENCE!!!" She jumped as my father roared. "I don't mind that she wanted to finish her puzzle. It was new, and I always allow her to play with her new toys for a while. Now leave!" She did not hesitate to rush away, leaving my father to comfort me. "Princess… Please stop crying. For me, please…" I looked up at him, and then hugged his scaled neck again.
"Yes, papa…." I sniffled and cuddled closer. One of his clawed hands came and picked me up, bringing me up to his eye level.
"Don't worry… I'll get you a new puzzle. Don't cry over it anymore." I smiled at him.
"You don't have to buy me a new one papa. I would prefer not to be spoiled. How would any mate be able to stomach me?" He laughed a rough, dragon laugh, and placed me upon his back, in between his wings.
"Of course my child. Whatever you wish." He carried me back to my chambers. "Please, get ready for your flying lessons. I know that you can fly almost as well as a true dragon, but the instructor still wants you to go thru the examination." I nodded and walked into my rooms. Once the door was shut, the Witch Nanna appeared.
"How dare you make me look bad again!!" She came at me and slapped me hard across the face. I was surprised at this, but I was tired of crying. Papa always told me only to use my fire in self defense only. Well, this counted. I glared at her, then took a deep breath. "What are you…" Before she could finish, I turned her into ashes. Guards came rushing in, and my father appeared.
"Nukala! I told you only in self defense!" I turned to him and the red mark shone on my face. He gasped. "Did… did she slap you?? She slapped you!?!?!" My father became angry. "At least you got her before I did…." I nodded, and my father told the guards to leave. They did so, then he left me to get ready.
In a cave, about 10 miles from the castle, four shadowy, cloaked figures stood talking.
"So, Leader, you wish for us to nab a princess? Is it a ransom, or is she strong?"
"She is strong. Half dragon, half human. The fabled Dragothaine…" The voice trailed off, and the other three murmured among themselves. "Bring her to us alive. She will be useful in the future….."
"So, this bratty princess bitch is our next target? And possibly a future member? Fuck, what has this fucking world come to???"
"Hey, look at it this way, she could be cute."
"I wonder how Dragothaines' taste…" "We are NOT eating her!!!""Oh? And why not?? I'm hungry!!" "Yes, well, so am I. But I will not eat a legendary creature, not for the world. She's the only one, you know."
"Shit Zetsu, you argue with yourself so much that it gives me a headache."
"Will you three just get going?!?!"
"Yes, but, why three of us? I mean, there's gotta be some money in this child for me to even think about…"
"How about this: You go, you live to see another dollar. You don't, and I kill you. Now what?"
"Fine." Three of the figures disappeared in smoke. The fourth stayed a while and pondered a picture of a young girl in his hands. He seemed satisfied with his choice of kidnappers, and left in a puff of smoke soon afterwards.
I flew through all of the rings perfectly. But the Instructor didn't like perfection, especially in me. He began to complain loudly.
"Well, miss princess, showing off again, eh?" I looked at him, somewhat confused. "You flew through the rings in the very center. Not a single degree off. Would you please refrain from showing off?" My father was nearby and heard all of this, and came over. The instructor went on and on until he realized that the king was behind him.
"You told me that she was hitting the sides last time…. No way anyone could improve that fast… Even in my family." The instructor looked dumfounded when he realized that he had been caught. He wrote the certificate saying that I had passed and no longer had to participate in the exercises. As I left, my father gave the instructor one last glare, and then he walked behind me.
"Papa… I really didn't mind it."
"There is no way I'm letting some greedy instructor milk money from me using you." He growled low and then took off. I decided against following him. Instead, I opted to fly through the forest. It was my favorite place in the whole kingdom.
The trees whizzed by me as I soared overhead. A pond caught my attention. One could not see it, nor get to it from the ground, but overhead it was an excellent landing spot. I banked and swung around and around five times. From the moment my feet touched the ground to the moment I finally looked at the whole thing, I found that this place was more beautiful than a dream. Exploring the place, I found various flowers and plants that could be used as spices, and ingredients in medicine. I collected these, and placed them into the three pouches in my belt. Soon, I became tired and fell asleep.
"Hey! I think I found her!!!" One voice alerted the others. They peered into a thick ravine, finding a hidden pond. A closer inspection of the scene revealed a sleeping girl, probably no older that 16. "Wow, she's cute." The three stood dumbfounded, then seemed to remember their mission. A signal went through the threesome, then they fell quiet. As they moved in closer, the girl turned over, showing dragon wings upon her back. They came closer, quietly, until one of them stepped on a twig.
A twig snapping caught my attention and I awoke. Only to find three men in black cloaks coming towards me. I leapt up and backed away. They came forward, hoping to back me against the wall of trees.
"How'd you get in here?" I demanded. They did not answer, but merely advanced again. "Answer me!!!" My roar startled them, causing them to back away.
"We just walked right fucking in. How the hell did you get in?" A man with silvery, slicked back hair finally answered my question. So I answered his in return.
"I flew in." The three looked at each other, then laughed.
"Okay girl, enough. Come with us and we won't hurt you." "Yeah right.. I'm so hungry, I could eat a whole dragon!!" The black and white plant-man had two voices, which startled me a bit. But I wasn't going anywhere with these guys. Not even an inch. I spread my wings and took off. They blinked in surprise, but the one with a mask on his lower face had strings coming out of his body. One wrapped around my ankle, and before I knew it, I was all tied up and gagged. He pulled me down, then they hit me over the head and I fell into darkness.
"The bitch can really fucking fly… Now I've fucking seen every damn thing…" The silver haired man grumbled as he hefted her onto his shoulder.
"A hundred bucks says she can breathe fire." Replied the one who had caught her.
"Two says she can't"
"You're on." While the two of them placed bets, their black and white comrade argued with himself, again.
"You frightened her!" "Well, you underestimated her!!!" "You told her that we would eat her!!!" "You thought she was bluffing when she said that she flew!!!!" The two sides bickered like this for ten minutes, then they calmed down. "I guess you're right about me underestimating her… I've never done that before though." The other two turned back, and the silver-haired one spoke.
"Hell Zetsu, that's the first damn time I've ever seen you fuck up that bad…. What's eating you?" The latter was supposed to be a joke, but Zetsu didn't bite. He was too busy feeling bad about it to even answer. "Shit… Kakuzu, I think he's gotten depressed… What the hell are we gonna do?"
"Leave him be, Hidan….. I don't think we can do anything else." Hidan shrugged and followed after Kakuzu. Zetsu followed a ways behind, his head hung and eyes downcast.
I began to awaken in total confusion. There was no sound, no light, no movement. Then, slowly, I began to hear muffled voices.
"….You hit her….. not so hard… time…"
"Leader…… never….. she can……." There were more, but they were too distorted to make out. I half opened one eye to get a look at my surroundings. The three who had captured me were there, plus six others. I lay still, until one of them came up and kicked me in the stomach. As I flinched back from the strike, someone called.
"Princess Nukala…. Get up. Royalty should not wallow on the floor as you are doing now." They knew I was awake, so I opened my eyes, and, in one fluid motion, pinned the man who had kicked me to the ground with my foot. Claws shoot out of the fingers in me left hand, and I pressed them to his neck. "Kill him if you like…. That will only convince us even more that our predictions were right."
I looked around at them. Then down at the man I had pinned. He looked like a cross between a fish and a human. A giant sword, which I gathered was his weapon because of how he reached for it, lay just out of reach. I kicked it away, then pointed down at him.
"Another half-breed?" I asked to everyone. Murmurs went through the group.
"No!!! I'm a human who gave his looks to gain the power of my sword, Samehada!!! Now Let me up!!!!" I looked down at him and growled. He seemed un daunted and went for my throat. A ball of fire from my mouth cured him of any intentions to try again.
"Hidan, You lost… hand over the two grand."
"What?! No fucking way!!! Can she do EVERY FUCKING THING that a real dragon can do?" Coins clinked as the voices died down.
"Yes I can do everything a dragon can do…. My father is a Dragon…" I glanced about and saw the others step back a bit. Then an orange-masked guy came up.
"Oh! We have a new pet!!! Yay!!!! What is new pet called?" I nearly fell over in a fit of hysterical laughter. The idiot found nothing funny about this. "Why are you laughing at Tobi?! Tobi did nothing wrong!! Tobi is a good boy!!!" I stood up all of the way and tried hard to stop laughing.
"And what are you supposed to be Tobi? A jester, or a piece of candy?" Snickers went through the group at this, and the silver-haired man, Hidan, spoke.
"I think I like her. She's so fucking funny."
"I know what you mean, un!" A blonde that I had taken for a woman actually was a man with really long hair. This was a new concept for me, as all men in the kingdom were supposed to cut their hair short when they turned 15. He looked around 19 to me. I pointed at him.
"Who are you?"
"Name's Deidara, un."
"How old are you?"
"Why?!?!"
"Well, where I come from, when a male turns 15, he has to cut his hair to his ears."
"Well, I'm not from where you're from,un." I puzzled at this. In my mind, the only people in the world had been in my father's kingdom.
"Where else could you be from?" One of the others shook his head. He had short, blood-red hair, and baby blue eyes.
"Were you really so sheltered that you know nothing of what is beyond your kingdoms boarders? Or are you just playing stupid?" I was insulted at the latter, but I felt betrayed by my father. He was supposed to teach me about the various things necessary to live in this world, and he had failed.
"My father only told me about the kingdom in which we lived. I have never seen what is beyond it." He nodded and understood that my curiosity was bred of ignorance. Another one of them stepped up, and by how he held himself, I guessed that he was the leader of this little rag-tag group.
"Well, you will need to be educated on these things."
"I will teach her, Leader-sama." The red-haired guy spoke again.
"No, Sasori, I think that I will choose the teacher for her…. Zetsu." The black and white guy stepped up. "You will teach her what she needs to know… and NO EATING HER!!!" I felt an odd presence coming from him, like there were two souls instead of one residing within him.
"F-Fine, Leader-sama." "No, Not fine!!! I'm HUNGRY!!!" "You're always hungry!" "Shut the fuck up, moron!" I watched Zetsu bicker with himself, then Deidara stepped up and slapped him. The two of them went racing past me, Zetsu hot on Deidara's heels. The fish guy spoke up from his place on the ground.
"Hey! Nukala!!! Let me up already!!!" I released him and he scrambled up and grabbed Samehada.
"You know my name, now what are you called?"
"Kisame." He said as he leveled his sword at me. I grabbed it just in time to stop his rush short, then used my grip to throw him into a nearby wall. Everybody stopped at this.
"Nukala, How'd you do that, un?!?!" Deidara ran up to me and begged to know. I merely starred at him. Kisame righted himself, then he saw the crack in Samehada.
"HOW DID SHE CRACK MY SWORD!?!?!?!" Everyone ran over to see it. A long crack split it right down the middle, as if it had been sliced through with a sharper blade. They looked at me.
"I can fix it." I stepped up and made a motion. "Ragezac…" I murmured a blessing my father taught me to use on a damaged weapon. The crack snapped back together, and Samehada was whole again. And everyone would be having aches in their jaws from the force of them all hitting the floor.
"HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!?!" Kisame was the first to speak. He picked up his sword and examined it closely. "It… The cracks gone!!!" Leader looked at me.
"Explain."
"It's a blessing that dragons can put on a damaged weapon. It repairs the damage and blesses the weapon so that it won't break…" I looked at Kisame. "Unless you use it against the dragon who blessed it." His face fell, then he looked back at me.
"How did you crack it?"
"It's a vice grip that my father uses in battle. Normally, the sword would shatter, but your weapon is made of something tougher that steel. So it only cracked." He frowned at this and walked off, carrying Samehada gingerly. Leader motioned to the only other female in the room.
"Konan, show Nukala-hime to her room. Give her the attire, and get her bedding. Then she will have to come down to interact and socialize." Konan nodded and led me to my room.
"I'll be back with your stuff…"
"Do you want me to help?" She looked at me.
"You're a princess. Why would you want to help?"
"I hate coming off as a spoiled princess, because I really don't like how it prevents me from making friends. Besides, I always used to share my things will the other children at the palace, though they usually never returned them. I never really cared." She seemed satisfied with my reply, then led the way to get my bedding.
"I can't show you where we keep the uniforms, Leader doesn't want other people to get a hold of them."
"I understand. I'll just take my things to my room and get them situated." She nodded and smiled, then turned and left. Just as I had gotten to my door, Leader stopped me.
"Where is Konan?"
"She went to go get my uniform."
"Did she threaten you to get you to help her?"
"No I offered." He seemed surprised, then he relaxed.
"Nukala-hime, I hope you don't mind, you're rooming with Zetsu." He opened the door and showed me the plants inside. I was amazed.
"Wow! I've only seen plants like these in books and scrying basins!!"
"He is also a cannibal." I turned at this.
"Dragons eat humans too, so I'm used to it."
"Well, Nukala-hime, I.."
"Please stop calling me that."
"What? Nukala-hime?"
"Yes. I don't like being called hime. Just call me Nukala-chan, okay?" He pondered this, then nodded.
"Alright, Nukala-chan. When you're done, please…" He was interrupted my a strange sound, then Zetsu called out.
"Leader-sama!!!! Nukala-hime cannot room with me!!! I don't want to eat her!!!"
"She is just fine with it."
"Yes well, there is only one bed." We all froze at this. I turned to Leader.
"Uh, how can I room with him if there is only one bed?" He looked back at me.
"Well, if we had another room with a bed, I'd put you there. We're full though, and I'm not putting you in the old snake sannin's lab." He thought. "Zetsu, you'll just have to deal with it. I can't put her with one of the other guys, because they might rape her." Zetsu's black half turned gray, and his white half blushed crimson.
"But, Nukala-hime's…"
"Don't call me that!"
"What?"
"Hime! Just call me Nukala-chan!!!" I became irritated.
"Fine! Sorry, Nukala-chan!!!" "No! Not sorry!! I don't care if.. Oof!" Zetsu began to fight himself. I sighed and went to put the bedding away. Afterwards, I decided to socialize with my new teammates. They were all in a giant sized living room, and I sat on the arm of the couch, because Deidara, Sasori, and a black haired man had taken up the remaining seats.
"Nukala-hime, you…"
"Don't call me that!!!"
"What, un?"
"Don't call me hime…" I growled between my clenched teeth. "Just call me Nukala-chan…" I glared over at Deidara and Sasori. They jumped and began cowering deeper into the couch.
"Hello, Nukala-chan." The other man stated. "My name is Itachi Uchiha."
"Nice to meet you, Itachi-san." I nodded to him, then Sasori began to finish his sentence from before.
"Nukala-chan, you can't sit on the arm of the couch, Leader doesn't like it."
"Where else can I sit? You, Deidara, and Itachi are taking up all of the room, and I want to watch TV. too." The idiot had the guts to shrug, so I went to plan B. I hopped down from the arm and walked behind him. In an instant, he found himself thrown from the couch and into a wall while I took the now vacant spot. Deidara looked at me, a bit afraid and intimidated, and ran from the couch to help Sasori. Hidan approached.
"Nukala-chan, is this seat taken?" I shook my head.
"Deidara decided he didn't like the show. You can sit here." He grinned at me and sat down between me and Itachi. Apparently, though, Itachi didn't want him there, because he threw him over the back of the couch.
"Nukala-chan, come and sit here. Hidan can get the end seat, but I wish to speak to speak to you." I nodded and scooted over. He didn't talk for a few minutes, then he asked, "What was it like in your father's kingdom? I don't mean to offend you by bringing up your status as a princess, but I am curious as to what you life was like." I looked at him, then decided that the question was safe.
"There are a lot of forests around the castle and the nearby village. Many dangerous beasts roam through there, but none that a Dragon or a Dragothaine have to worry about. Only humans."
"And what of the village?"
"There were many shops in the market square, which is on the east wall of the castle. Traders and merchants all brought their wares and sold them, and many of them were exquisite. There was a shop that I always loved. The old man inside sold puzzles, every kind you could imagine. He would give me a new puzzle every week, and he would say, "Now Nuka-hime, you can keep this if you can finish it in a week." I always would have it done by the end of the day.
The last puzzle he gave me was on the day Hidan, Zetsu, and that creepy guy with the mask and the tentacles came to get me. My Nanna started yelling at me to hurry up to go to my lessons, and she got so mad when I didn't come, that she threw it out the window." I became sad as I remembered the beautiful wooden box shattering into splinters onto the stone cobble courtyard floor.
"What did you do?"
"I went to tell my father. He always told me to keep my anger in check, but that time I lost it. She went after me and slapped me. After that, the only thing left of her was a small pile of ashes." He laughed at this then looked troubled.
"Nukala-chan, how old are you?"
"I'm 16. Why?"
"Well, most young girls who ever require a Nanna often loose them when they are ten. Why then, did you still have a Nanna?"
"It was my father's idea. You see, He was still upset that I would have no mother to care for me in my teen years, and while he betrothed and married me off. So he made me keep a Nanna."
"What happened to your.."
"She died…. A long time ago…." I got up and left, becoming uncomfortable with the conversation. As I walked, I paid no heed to where I was going, and I bumped right into Zetsu.
"Ahhh… Nukala-chan…. Sorry about…" I stopped him.
"It's okay, I wasn't watching where I was going."
"Oh, well, okay…. But… I'm sorry you have to room with me…." He looked downcast and sad. "You can have the bed, I'll just sleep with my plants."
"Zetsu… I don't mind rooming with you…" He turned towards me.
"But…. But I eat people…."
"So? I'm used to it…" I walked up to him and leaned up to whisper in his ear. "And so do I." I stepped back and his eyes got huge.
"You….you mean….you…eat them… too?" I nodded and put my finger to my lips.
"It's a secret." He seemed relieved now that it was all over. As he straightened, he became more confident.
"Nukala-chan, why don't we…. Uh… start your learning?" Zetsu seemed unsure still, but I would try to make him feel comfortable.
"Sure! It's better than trying to keep the others off of me!" I followed him to a nearby library that was also hidden in the compound. He took a book from one of the shelves and motioned for me to come towards him. I did, and within two hours, we had gone over everything in the book, and several others.
"Wow, Nukala! You're a fast learner."
"My father always told me that."
"Well, what about your mother?" I froze, then turned away.
"N-Nukala? Did I say something wrong?" Zetsu approached me and gently placed his hand on my shoulder.
"My mother…." I let the words fall from my mouth. I knew I couldn't hide what I'd done, nor what my father had done. "My mother is dead…. I……" Trying to find the right words to tell someone that your father forced you to kill your own mother out of spitefulness was hard enough. It's even harder trying to tell someone whom you feel a certain way for.
"You don't have to tell me… If you don't want to.." "What's eating you, Nuka-chan?"
"What did you just call me?" I looked up at him, Surprised.
"Oh, I do apologize, Nukala…. I don't know…." "I called you Nuka-chan. Got a problem with it?" I shook my head. Then I finished.
"My father made me kill my mother…. Because she told him that I would never be used to harm anyone. Human or Dragon. So he made me kill her." Tears fell from my eyes. "Then he ate her remains and told the guards that she had been taken. They all believe that, even to this day." Zetsu looked at me, very aware of the fact that I had just spilled my most heavily guarded secret to him.
"Nuka…. That's…."
"That's the way of life for a Dragothaine. Dragons have no concept of regret or remorse. All they do is kill." He starred in sick shock at me. I got up to leave.
"Nuka-chan, please, I…" Before he could finish, I wrapped my arms around his neck and cried. He stroked my hair gently, trying to comfort me. "Nuka…. Just because you've been through all of that…. It means nothing to me…."
"Zetsu?"
"Hmm?"
"Don't call me Nuka-can in front of everybody else… I don't want them calling me that."
"Why?"
"Someone that I cared about very much used to call me that…. And I care about you, only more…." When I realized what I had just said, I pulled away. "I'm sorry, that was…" I was cut off by his lips on mine. He kissed me softly, assuring me that it was okay. When he went to pull back, I wrapped my arms around him, to keep him there. We were kissing when Hidan and Deidara walked in and saw us.
"Holy SHIT!"
"Zetsu, I didn't know you two were like that, un…" We broke apart as the two of them interrupted the silence. Zetsu put me down, and I let go of his neck. "Don't let Itachi know, un. I think he likes Nukala-chan."
"He fucking does not!! He always plays twenty fucking questions with everybody!!"
"I know. But he's been looking for her for the past three hours, un. Said he had something important to ask her, un."
"Like what?" I snapped, making the three of them jump. "If he wants to talk to me, then I'll just go see what he wants." As I stormed out of the library, Hidan called down the hall.
"Itachi!! We found her, and I don't think she's very happy right now!!!" I growled at him and threw a nearby trash can at him. It hit him with a satisfying thud. Itachi entered the hallway.
"Nuka-chan…. What's wrong?"
"Don't call me that…."
"Why?"
"I don't like to be called that."
"Well, you said the old man in the store…"
"He was my grandfather!!!! You are an entirely different matter." He seemed confused. "I just don't want you, Hidan, Sasori, Kakuzu, Kisame, Deidara, Konan, Leader, or Tobi to call me that!!!"
"What about Zetsu-san?" I froze and looked him square in the eye. Then, deciding to go against my own wishes, I told him.
"Zetsu is the only one I will allow to use that name." Itachi's eyes got wide. He moved in closer.
"Why, Nukala-chan? What makes him so special?" I roared at him, and told him to mind his business. Leader walked up.
"Well, I see you're likely to become Nukala's first blood-feud, Itachi. Good luck." He turned to me. "Nukala, it is now around the time when everyone starts to go to bed. If you are a nocturnal type of person, then please try not to disturb the people who are sleeping. If you are planning certain nocturnal… partner activities… Then you must discuss how to do that, and not disturb others, with your chosen partner." Hidan gagged and laughed while Deidara fell over and Itachi nearly fainted. I could only guess at the meaning of "Partner activities". As I looked back to glare at the three fumbling shinobi, Zetsu stepped out into the hallway. His eyes met mine, and I felt a new sensation creep into my knowledge. I had no name for it, and had never felt it before. All I knew was that only Zetsu could make me feel this way. And I wanted it to stay that way.