Note: I hope everyone had a happy New Year! Let's see how long this resolution of updating more lasts. Hopefully, a long time.

Note: Thank everyone for their reviews! It helps keep the ideas spinning for the next update.

TBNRkurama: Yeah, it's time to make some sparks~

Vwheel10: I'm glad I wasn't the only one seeing the issues that could arise from their hero-worship/Overprotective relationship. I love them both to death, but it could be dangerous if not worked on.

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Sasuke followed after Tobi, his stomach knotting at the look Itachi had given him when he had left. It wasn't disapproving as he had guessed, or even angry looking. He had looked...worried. Sasuke knew that was the entire issue-- that his brother wasn't willing to let down his overprotectiveness long enough for him to grow. It still hurt to see it, though.

He loved his brother more than life itself. He would willingly give up his life if it meant Itachi was safe. Not that he thought it would ever come to that-- his brother was much too strong to need his help. If he could just get a little stronger, though, he was sure he would be of some use to him.

The two Uchiha stopped outside the school as Tobi headed in to drop off the paperwork. It barely took more than a moment until he had returned, leading Sasuke towards the outskirts of the village, and tossing him a small bag on supplies. "There are a few things we need to go over if you're going to be my ward, Sasuke." Tobi had reverted to his serious yet light voice.

"One, the lessons I teach you to stay with you but are not to be spread. They are ruthless and an edge on the side of barbaric, but they work much better than the polite ways they teach you in the academy. 'Oh, if you could please give us the information, we won't have to fight.' rarely works, and only gives them an opening. Same with the missions. Do not tell others what happens to them. I do the mission reports to Nagato, you have no reason to whisper a word to anyone. These are not children's missions. This is work for the strong." Tobi explained.

Sasuke nodded in understanding as Tobi continued. "Two, do not question my instructions. I know much better than you at this point. When you better understand the ways of the ninja world, then maybe you can contribute to the conversation. Until then, listen, watch, and learn. A misplaced opinion or word could give the enemy space to attack or tell that there is an issue."

"Three, don't expect happy-go-lucky Tobi. He is gone when in front of others. I've lowered such an appearance because it will be distracting when we train or speak. In front of others, I will use this persona to throw them off. I only show you my true self out of a sort of trust. I expect you to return it and tell me all you know." he finished up.

They stopped at the gate of a village. Sasuke read the lining over the gate, his heart squeezing. The sand village. This was where Gaara was from. "Follow those rules, and we will get along just fine. I am of course open to questions before and after the mission, but our result will not be swayed under any circumstances."

Sasuke nodded, hesitantly holding onto Tobi's robe's sleeve for a split second. Tobi turned to him, waiting for his question. Sasuke let go as Tobi settled to listen to him. "Why are we in the sand village? Isn't this where Gaara was from?"

Tobi nodded. "We've come to kill the Kage of this village, his father. Now that you all are becoming ninja, we need to kill him. He sees the tailed beast inside Gaara as a valuable piece; nothing more. If he sees Gaara, he will try to take him back. We will kill him before this happens."

Sasuke's stomach twisted as Tobi bounded off, not allowing him to ask the question buzzing around in his head. That was Gaara's father. They were going to kill Gaara's father. Sasuke couldn't imagine if Gaara and Sasori went out on a mission to kill his father then didn't tell him-- but Tobi had already said no speaking of the mission.

Soon they were on the outer gates of the Kage's office. It had been easy to slip past the guards with his academy training. He could see the man who looked so much like Gaara, writing away in his office. Tobi turned to Sasuke. "Create a soundproofing jutsu and cast it to the walls." Sasuke did as he asked. "Now, go into the hallway and take out any guards. I'll take on the Kage."

Sasuke looked like he wanted to argue-- they had just snuck past all the guards-- but also decided it was better than watching Tobi slice up Gaara's father. He headed off towards the hallway, quickly finding the guards. With little to no effort, he knocked them all out with a bit of the power Karin had started supplying for them in their weapons bag a few years ago. One whiff of it on a rag and you were out before you knew what hit you.

The teen took out seven or so guards, each of them crumbling to the ground without much resistance. Sasuke smiled proudly as he finished, but dropped it as he felt a kunai held to the back of his throat. He tilted his head a bit to see not a guard, but a blonde-haired girl, who looked rather angry. "What are you doing here? I hope you aren't dumb enough to try to attack the Kage." noticing the boy was surprisingly younger than herself.

Sasuke was about to pull his weapon when he met green eyes, strikingly similar to Gaara's in shape as well as sharing a similar color. He halted his weapon drawing. He was frozen. "You're Temari." he stared lightly. She gave him a startled and weary look, so he fumbled, trying to explain. "Oh- my brother- I mean- Gaara told me about you," he explained.

She gave him a sneer but lowered her weapon out of curiosity. "You just called him your brother? My parents don't have any other children." her eyes turning dark. "You dare bring up my brother for your amusement, then mock my father on top of it? You'll die for that."

As she moved to draw her kunai, Sasuke matched her movements to block her. The clashing of metal drew the attention of the boy down the hall, making him come running up. That and a few passed out guards didn't help his suspicions. "Hey, sis, what's going on in here-" pausing as he saw the fight and quickly bringing out his puppets. Sasuke paled.

"Shit, I shouldn't have said that. I said way too much. I don't mean to start a fight-" he tried, much to the two sand siblings' annoyance.

The one he guessed was Kankuro quickly charged in for an attack. "You should have thought about that before attacking the sand village-!" Sasuke easily sidestepped them both, avoiding their attacks.

"Please stop attacking me. I don't want to have to kill you two." Itachi's words against killing innocents echoing in his head despite his best attempts to shoo them away.

Neither seemed ready to back down, and Sasuke took steps back, unsure what to do until he felt a chest behind him. He jumped a bit, swinging around to see Tobi. Despite his wearing a mask, Sasuke could hear the disapproving in his voice. "Unfortunately, Sasuke, that isn't a choice. You let them see you and get information out of you concerning Gaara from your shocked panic. They'll have to die." Tobi spoke, lifting his weapons.

Temari and Kankuro both seemed a lot more nervous now that someone so much larger than them was there, and dripping with blood too. He had just come out of their father's office, they both noticed with dread. Sasuke grabbed onto Tobi's arm as he moved to kill the other children. "Tobi! Stop! They're Gaara's siblings. He'll never forgive us if he knows we killed them. They're barely older than any of us. Mother and father would be upset if you killed them- they're just kids like us!" he pleaded, careful to not use any names that could let the siblings know exactly who had taken their brother.

Tobi scowled from behind his mask. "I agree to train you and this is my thanks? Disobedience and the breaking of the second rule on your first mission."

Sasuke ignored the baffled looks they got from the siblings. "I'll take any punishment you give for me doing this, but you've already killed his father. You can't take his siblings. It's wrong! It could hurt him!" he shouted, drawing the attention of far off guards. Tobi cursed under his breath as they ran towards them, taking guard over the sand siblings and preparing to attack.

Tobi turned on his heel, making way for the window with a growl as the guards came in. "You've drawn guards in. Your punishment will be you taking responsibility for your actions, like a true ninja. If you can escape, good. If not, well, they say strength grows from pain. This is what you wanted." he reminded with a sly look under his mask. "Let's see just how right Itachi was about you not being ready to face the world."

Then, just like that, Sasuke was alone. The guards blocked the window, getting the idea that the older ninja was going to leave the younger behind. Sasuke took a step back, trying to run to the halls. More guards. He was strong, but even he couldn't take on such large numbers. He was suddenly hit with the harsh realization-- Tobi was gone. He wouldn't protect him as Itachi would have. Pulling out a weapon, Sasuke could only barely shake off the thought. This was why he joined Tobi-- to make himself stronger. He just hadn't expected to be thrown into the belly of the beast so quickly.