I do not own Naruto :'(

This fic contains citrus & mature flavors. Children out!

Konan/Obito Uchiha. Slow Burn. Akatsuki blank period (Between the Uchiha Massacre & Akatsuki remerging). Canon-divergent.

Fire and Paper

…..

Summary: She desired to see the truth of the man beneath the mask, the young man with burning red eyes, the one whose existence is devoured by Madara Uchiha. He desired to unfold the delicate papered layers built around her heart. In the gloom of the Hidden Rain, two shinobi indulge themselves in a shadowed romance.

…..

I don't love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,

or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:

I love you as one loves certain obscure things,

secretly, between the shadow and the soul.

Pablo Neruda

…..

Chapter 1: I Have Questions

Konan of the Hidden Rain never thought she would be a beloved leader to her people. Years had passed yet the fall of her ex-lover, Yahiko, felt fresh. The villagers chanted "God's Angel!" As she dutifully flew away, her angelic paper wings launching her into the gloomy sky. She wasn't their savior. That was Nagato. Pein, now. He was the one carrying Ame into a new era. He had breathed life back into their people. She was part of the leadership among her village, but the truth was that she was simply a messenger.

At first it was hard, but then it became easier. Easier because she and Nagato carefully armored their hearts. Nagato folded into Pein. She folded into herself, into the most complicated Origami form she could think of. They grew up. They handled things. She could drown herself in her work with the Akatsuki and daily village business. She did not have to dwell on her past with so much to do, so many people counting on her.

Then there was Madara Uchiha, or what they called him under his alias, Tobi. He was an incredible leader, always ten steps ahead of everyone. He ultimately made all of this possible for them. He was able to put the pieces back together after Yahiko's suicide. He effortlessly scooped Nagato up and pushed forth the Akatsuki. He helped Pein single-handedly start a civil war and win back Amegakure.

Konan knew better than to fully trust Tobi, having not forgotten Yahiko's impression of him, but she had no choice. He was their true leader, and one of the greatest ninja that ever lived. The puppet master. Nagato trusted him wholeheartedly, since the day they met. She still held a protective concern over her long time friend, but she couldn't deny Madara was essential in Nagato's survival and success.

She recalled when Nagato became Akatsuki leader, and Madara was suddenly there, a hundred percent involved.

Madara leaned back on the wall. It was dried with blood, and she wished she wasn't so used to the sight. It was just the three of them in the abandoned Akatsuki hideout, after it being ravaged by Hanzo and his men. "Going forward, I will be appearing more openly to the organization as a recruit, please refer to me as Tobi. As the Akatsuki grows in numbers, I will be using my position to keep an eye on all members, while Pein remains as acting leader."

"Of course." Nagato had replied, composed, and expressionless. Konan remembered his swollen eyes. They were still deeply grieving.

Yet despite the chaos and pain, Konan had her suspicions. "Are you really Madara? You told us how come you cannot tell others?" She had debated asking him before simply because Madara was an incredibly intimidating man, but now that Yahiko was gone, Konan was wary of further betrayals.

The Sharingan spun to life in the dark eye of the mask. He was still an Uchiha, no way to hide that. "Do not worry about my identity, Konan. Because it does not matter in this reality." He replied coldly.

She silently nodded, the level of mystery doubling what it once was in her mind. She knew she should not be testing the waters of Lord Madara's intentions, especially when he helped Nagato hone his Rinnegan. And she was grateful, he also has chosen to stay by their side, even after Yahiko's Akatsuki fell apart. That should've confirmed everything for her. She finally decided to shelve her burning questions, but something akin to doubt had always lingered in the back of her mind.

…..

That meeting was a handful of years ago. Since questioning, if he really was the legendary Madara Uchiha, Konan began to realize he-or Tobi as they call him- acted differently than how an old man would. He walked differently. Fought differently. His mannerisms were hurried. He was impatient with their plans. No matter what fancy forbidden jutsu he might have used to make his body young, he would have to be really talented to fake a young person's sway so naturally. He just had to be younger than what would be a wise, generations-old shinobi. Not that she could name any Uchiha who could be him, but she mentally recorded any telling signs that might help her figure out his identity later.

More disturbingly, when he revealed himself as additional help to the organization, he appeared as this extremely happy and bouncy character. This Tobi had blinding energy and a habit of incessantly talking like an immature schoolboy. She couldn't help but be amused, especially when it annoyed the shit out of the newly formed group to the point where everyone refused to partner with him on missions. He was suddenly a happy, go-lucky idiot, like a switch that flipped. She wondered if this was related to who he truly was, or if he was in fact so mastered in manipulation he could easily manufacture alter-egos.

Her new hyper-awareness led her to notice other small things too. She would catch him often looking in her direction, and she noted his frequent orders to keep her by his side in Ame, while the rest of the Akatsuki go off on their missions. While not tending to Nagato or the village, she was at Tobi's side. Konan's logical side of the brain justified it was because she was important but secretly cringed at the passing thought that he could be an old pervert that liked keeping a young woman in her 20s around the tower. That is unless her theory was true: That Tobi Uchiha was not an old man.

One fateful day, the tides of events turned in her favor when Tobi asked her to join him on a mission. They both had to hunt down Hanzo-sympathizers that tried to ambush their tower. It was a covert operation, only done by the two while Pein dealt with Akatsuki business outside the village. It had been brutal. Surprisingly Tobi had an injury to the neck. Usually, the transparent shinobi was untouchable, however for some reason, he was off his game.

"You have to remove your mask." She said in concern, seeing his cloak darken with blood.

He refused her pleas until she tried to push him out of frustration. Shocked, her hands came in contact with hard mass. She knew he could have easily dodged her blow with his intangibility, but he decided to take it anyways. In the flurry of red and black, she fell with him. In the years of knowing him, it had been the first time they had ever made physical contact.

In between his knees, closer than anyone he could've allowed near, she leaned in to grab his mask.

He held his hand up to stop her. "Fine. I'll move it."

He slid it slightly to the side, pulling down another fabric layer to allow her access to his neck, now she saw a full mouth and a smooth cheek, his other eye concealed by the mask's thick black band.

She pulled down his collar to examine the wound that crept up to his jaw. He sat still, the cold rain drowning out their hurried breaths. Her eyes slid across his strong jawline, she hid the surprise that she actually found a partially handsome face.

"We need to get you back." She said. "The gash is deep. You need tending to."

"I can take care of it myself."

"No, you can't. It's in bad shape, there is shrapnel in there." She retorted softly, making eye contact with his deep, obsidian gaze, slightly obscured by the tilted mask.

"I've been on my own for years, I can manage it." He insisted cooly.

She trailed her hand along his cheek, wiping some of the blood away. He twitched at the contact. "As have I." She said gently. "But now we are here together. And we have to protect our comrades. Especially our leaders. So I'm going to heal you, whether you like it or not."

His eyes slightly widened, as if she said something that strung a heartstring. He squeezed his eyes close, the sliver of his exposed face tensing into a sort of pained expression.

Without warning he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in. She immediately reached for a nearby kunai on the ground to defend herself. But then he tucked his head into the crook of her neck, which made her pause. His tilted mask dug uncomfortably into her collarbone. His black hair brushed against her cheek, and her cold hands tentatively grasped the sides of his Akatsuki cloak. She found herself enveloped in incredible warmth.

They sat there, in that embrace, for what felt like an eternity and a second. She gave in, gently running a hand through his hair in an attempt to comfort him with whatever was brewing inside, unsure what to make of her fearsome leader curling into her like an injured child.

He finally pulled away, hastily covering his face with his mask, as if to hide his expression. Her cheeks warmed as she tried to digest the intimate proximity they were in. She stood up, jumping away to give him the distance. And to distance herself.

"Let us return." She repeated. "We will need you healed before the others get back."

And in silence, they made their way back to the tower.

…..

That night the kunoichi lay in her bed, staring at her ceiling, listening to the soft rain pattering her windows. She replayed the scene over and over again in her head. She felt a mix of exhilaration and guilt. Guilt that she had felt a thrill of being in a strong man's arms, despite who he was-or whoever he was. She had been fighting for so many years, she forgot the comfort of someone's body. Since him anyways.

That too revealed her underlying suspicions. It had not been her imagination. He had some sort of…she wasn't sure if feelings were the words…inclination towards her. He trusted her. Enough to move his mask aside for her, to reveal something deeper under his cold exterior.

It could be she was wrong too. Many times her male comrades would shed their egos in front of her. Her soft nature made them feel safe. They could cry while she sat with them silently, and then they would be back on their way. But then again, the way he clutched her, it ignited a flame within her that she had not felt before, and it burned brightly against their shadows.

Konan remembered the brief glance at his face and frowned to her self. He seemed like he was genuine. But then again, it was their leader, the proven master of deceit. Perhaps it was a ploy for her affection. He let himself get injured in anticipation that she would have to get close to him and touch him to heal his injury. She was, after all, considered pretty-as her former Master would often remind her when she was a girl. Was it a really her affection he sought or was it just some sort of self-pity he revealed to her? She did not think he'd openly seek comfort out of nowhere. There was no way Tobi would have the emotional capacity to be romantic, but underneath it, all was definitely a hot-blooded man.

…..

Konan had not seen their shadowed leader since she tended to his wound. It did not matter, she had plenty of work to complete while Pein was away. She kept to her office, only leaving every so often to refill her cup of tea.

Finally, after three days, Konan awoke to sunny skies. Pein had returned.

She was felt relief as she entered his office, finding the orange-haired Pein at his desk, penciling away at what was probably the stack of paperwork she left for him.

"Good morning Nagato." She said, placing a cup of tea beside him.

He looked up, giving her a brief smile in thanks as he accepted the tea. "Hello Konan."

"Mission successful?" She asked.

He nodded, his eyes going back to his reports. "I hear you and Tobi-sama successfully captured and killed the Hanzo sympathizers?"

"We did. It was not easy but we managed." She answered, ears burning slightly at the memory of their secret embrace. She tried to sound as uninterested as possible as she said, "You already seen him this morning?"

"Yes, he saw me before he left the village."

"Oh." She frowned at the surprising wave of disappointment within her.

He seemed to pick up on it. He glanced up at her again, Rinnegan unwavering. "Did you need something from him?"

Yeah, answers. "No, I just forgot to fill out a report about it. I was hoping I could catch him before he left for a signature."

On cue Pein reached for a sheet of paper, placing it in front of her. "Already created one. You just have to sign it."

"Ah!" She scanned the clinical description of their mission, not seeing any words about his injury. Of course, he would leave that out. "Excellent."

…..

Authors Note: Uh oh, spicy hugs. That's how it all begins. *Evil laugh*

I'm working on some cover art for this story, so stay tuned for that!

Also thanks for taking the time to read this!

I'm a closeted writer and have been writing for years, so it lights a fire under me to think that people will actually read this :')