(I'd just quickly like to say that the characters are portrayed a little differently, e.g. Naruto being smarter and veryyy slightly less loud.
There's also a small time-skip here. Naruto only recently turned 7 in this chapter, and hasn't joined the academy yet. In the previous part, he was around 4 or 5 years old.)
It had been some time since his last visit.
The blonde boy missed him. He wasn't exactly sure who the masked man was. He only told Naruto to call him Tobi, and that he was his friend. Naruto was overjoyed at this news.
Naruto loved talking. So when Tobi would come over, he would sit quietly and listen while Naruto would babble endlessly about anything and everything.
Tobi liked those short, peaceful moments of his life.
He never admitted it to anyone, even himself, but he would steal the child away if he could. He thought he made a better caretaker then the ones at the orphanage anyways. He solved that issue awhile ago, however, so he didn't need to worry.
Occasionally, Naruto would gently poke Tobi's arm and ask if he was stll listening to what he was saying. Tobi would only shrug, but he always listens. Even if he didn't show it.
So when Naruto complained about the workers at the orphanage being rude and cruel, Tobi dealt with it.
Tobi only shook his head at the thought and looked around at his surroundings. Naruto was recently moved out of the orphanage and into his own small apartment, and so Tobi promised to himself he'd come by more often to make sure the boy was healthy and looked after. But his life had been busier lately, and he hadn't found the time to do so.
Tobi peered down at the sleeping boy before him. He was curled up under a blanket with a cat plushie tucked under his arm. Tobi had given it to him when Naruto said he felt lonely without him being there.
He adjusted the blanket, making sure it covered the whole of the child's body.
Tobi turned away to leave, before a small voice stopped him.
"Tobi?"
Turning around, he looked at Naruto, whose blue eyes were seemingly awake despite what at hour at night it was.
Letting out a small laugh, Tobi spoke gently, "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"I only woke up right now-" Naruto sat up now and opened his mouth to speak more, but nothing came out.
Tobi took a step closer. "Something you'd like to say?"
"I... can you stay?" Naruto looked up at Tobi before frantically adding, "A-and I mean I understand if you can't! But... but just 'till I go back to sleep? Please?"
Tobi bit his lip and looked out the window. He supposed he could stay for a little longer. "Sure, kid."
The corners of Naruto's mouth turned up; he scooted a little to the side and patted the small empty space beside him. Tobi came back to the bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress. Naruto quickly abandoned his pillow and instead opted for resting his head in Tobi's lap. Tobi snorted but didn't move. He instead delicately stroked the blonde boy's head.
"Did you know I'm gonna start going to the academy next week?"
"So you are."
"Yeah! And I'm totally gonna be stronger then everyone there!" Naruto opened his arms and spread them. "This is going to be how much stronger I'll be!"
Tobi only shook his head, extending a gloved hand to ruffle his yellow mop of hair. "I bet you will be."
"Tobi, you're a ninja, right?"
Tobi shrugged and turned away, watching the leaves of the trees rustle. "I guess."
"Then you can help me train!"
"Wha–?"
"You heard me! You're probably super strong, right?! So then if you train me I can be super amazing too! Then I can become Hokage!"
Tobi only stared at Naruto before turning his head away to think. Really, the kid had potential. A lot of it. Someone else getting their hands on it would only be bad news for Tobi.
But training Naruto itself was the issue. Tobi would be seen, and that would be troublesome. He looked back down at Naruto again, who had a pleading look on his face.
"We'll see, okay?" Tobi finally spoke again.
A grin was plastered on Naruto's face. "Yes! You're the best!"
Naruto wrapped his tiny arms around Tobi and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug.
In moments like this, guilt always crept up on Tobi. Naruto was an innocent child. He deserved a carefree, loving childhood. He could have had that—should have.
Yet Tobi stripped that all away from him.
Tobi sighed and awkwardly returned the gesture, lightly patting Naruto's back before peeling the boy off him. "Come on, let's get you back home."
"Aw, fine!"
Okay, this chapter is shorter than I wanted it to be but I felt like this was a good place to stop. I tried writing more but it kept coming out crappy. And this version of the chapter came out better than my previous attempts at writing it. Like, I knew what I wanted this chapter be like but it kept coming out wrong *sigh*
Also, the first few chapters will definitely be slow. I think after next chapter things will actually start happening.
The next chapter should also be out by Saturday or Sunday :D
Okay, take care now! Toodles!