Disclaimer: Still don't own Naruto.

9: Zetsu

In all the time that I had known Sasori, I could not remember being so infuriated with him. I had always been patient; I had always listened to his petty excuses; I had always waited. But now, I didn't want to be patient; I didn't want to listen to his stupid voice; and I was tired of waiting. I remember a time when I forgot what I was waiting for. I didn't forget now, though. I was waiting for him to come to his senses and listen to me for once. Like that would ever happen.

I was also extremely angry at Deidara. The idiot couldn't keep his mouth shut. Three days after Kurinai's "visit" and he and Tobi fought. I overheard. Turns out, Deidara has a black hole for a heart. He was just using Sasori.

Tobi had said something interesting during their fight: "You're acting just like him!!" Though I couldn't really get past my rage long enough to wonder who "him" was. Tobi and Deidara had an odd friendship that neither seemed to value much; opinions didn't matter much to them either.

I thought my friendship with Sasori meant more. But the redhead was being ridiculously stubborn and would not listen. All I could do was think, Fine! Let him get hurt! It's his choice. I don't care! I was lying when I said I didn't care, though. I had known Sasori since preschool and caring just seemed to be part of the package.

On top of my personal life worries, Leader was concerned that Tobi knew "things". So I had to jump the gun and ask the brat to join, like, now. Tobi was like a puppy with me – he followed me practically everywhere he thought was important. No doubt he'd say yes as soon as I asked. That wasn't a worry. What worried me was that meant he had more excuses to stay by me. He was like an unwanted second shadow. Though if I said I hated him, I'd be lying. He kept me guessing and always caught me off guard. I couldn't help but wonder what was under his mask as well.

But the whole thing worried me. I wished the day would slow down. But it just sped up. Why is it, when you're dreading something, time seems to go faster? I was planning on asking Tobi before lunch. The "how" to ask was what I was working on. "Join me and my fellow gang members" sounded like a corny movie line, but slipping it into any conversation was proving to sound difficult.

"Hi, Zetsu-san," Tobi greeted me when we met outside the lunchroom. His shoulders slumped and he sounded sad. He and Deidara were stuck at the same table on opposite ends. His supposed best friend didn't want to talk to him. I guess that's what it was for Sasori and me, but I didn't want to think about it long, so I pushed it out of my mind.

"Hey," I smiled, his cringing somehow brightening my day. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." Tobi sounded like he was trying to reach an offhanded tone, but only succeeded in sounding miserable. I actually started feeling sorry for him.

"You know all my friends?" I sounded stupid. But Tobi nodded. "Well, we all kind of make up a gang and, um, my 'leader' wants to know if you'd join."

Tobi stiffened and tilted his head slightly to one side. "A gang? Why Tobi?" He asked suspiciously.

It wasn't quite the reaction I'd been expecting, but I went with it. "Yeah, a gang. And how the hell should I know? Ask the leader of the damn gang."

Tobi looked into the lunchroom at my table and asked, "Which one's the leader?"

Was he serious? "Orange hair; insane amount of piercings…" I trailed off and followed him as Tobi walked in. "Are you actually going to ask him?"

"Tobi's not scared," he answered simply, not pausing when he said it. I couldn't imagine what was running through his head.

"That's not what I meant. Why are you going to ask him?" I corrected myself and him irritably. I could feel myself start to shift. If he kept this up, my black side would take over – and that seemed all too soon for me.

"Why not? Tobi wants to know." The lunchroom was starting to quiet as he walked past Hidan and Kakuzu. I could see Deidara sitting on the far side of his table. He visibly paled when he realized where Tobi was going. He must have been scared of Leader. I stopped walking when I had passed Hidan.

Tobi slammed his hands onto the table – quieting the rest of the lunchroom – and looked at Leader. "Why Tobi?"

Konan was staring at his hands on the table, which were right by her lunch tray. The rest of my friends were staring at Tobi.

Leader shrugged, seeming unfazed. "Why not?"

Tobi looked as though he were ready to explode. His body shook and he curled his hands into fists. "No. That's what Tobi says! Why do you want Tobi? Why not someone else?!"

Leader looked up at him and calmly said, "Because you seem experienced. Because we need another member and you fit the bill."

Tobi calmed down and let hid hands slide off the table to hang loosely at his sides. Konan stared at the empty space for a moment before going back to eating like nothing happened. "What happens if someone says no?" Tobi asked quietly, the defensive edge still in his voice.

"I don't know. I'll think of something." Leader stared at him for a minute before looking down at his food absentmindedly.

"Well…" Tobi glanced over his shoulder at Deidara – who looked concerned with the way the conversation was going – then back at Leader. "No." Shocked whispers floated through the room. "Tobi's done with gangs. Go find someone else." And he walked over to the blonde.

Silence enveloped the room.

"You're not letting that go," Konan said softly, not glancing up from her tray. At this point, the rest of my friends resumed eating and pretending nothing had happened. I just stood there. What could I do? Sid down and pretend I wasn't confused or angry? Act like the rest of my friends? I couldn't bring myself to do it.

"I won't," Leader replied; his voice was quiet but defiantly irritated.

"What are you going to do about it?" Konan persisted. She was the only person I knew who could bug him without getting hit.

Leader shrugged. "Nothing right now. He might come around."

"And if he doesn't?"

"I'll think of something."

"Mm-hmm. Good luck with that, sweetie." Konan stood up, walked calmly away, threw away her trash and left. Leader scowled at his food for a minute before pushing it away. He put his hand under his chin and propped his elbow on the table, glaring at the floor.

The whole time that they had been talking, so had Deidara and Tobi. And that's who I had been watching. Even though the room was still pretty quiet, I couldn't hear them. But they seemed like they were getting along.

"I thought they were fighting," Kakuzu commented, looking over at the blonde and his friend.

"They were. They had a huge fight and everything," I growled. I was really shocked though. Had I been wrong? Did the two really value their friendship more than I had thought?

"You should really get your facts straight," Itachi murmured, stabbing at his food.

I shifted. Turning to my friends, I shouted, "You think it's so easy?! Following people around and trying to fill in the blanks?! Eavesdropping and watching almost everyone?! It's not easy! Don't believe me? Why don't you try it?!" Everyone was staring. The room was silent. Neither of my sides cared. Still fuming, I turned and stormed out.

I want to talk to Tobi – I don't want him talking to Deidara.

A/N: Sorry Zetsu's chapter was so short. But I managed to slip in some of his feelings for Tobi. : )

Well, I have surprises in the next chapter. Tobi reveals his past. A lot of it anyway. I'm hoping to get Sasori's past in chapter 11 and maybe some of Deidara's in chapter 12. But not a lot of it because he's going to let it all slip near the end.

Anyhow…Hope you enjoyed, please review.