The shadow figure was running at Kisame but Kisame had already had the chance to identify it and stood his ground. The figure threw itself on the desert sand and grabbed Kisame's legs in a tight grip.

"Oh please please please don't tell the others Tobi is here! They would kill Tobi! Tobi just wants likes to watch your group and be just like you so that maybe one day Tobi can join! It would be Tobi's dream to join such a cool organization!" begged Tobi.

"I like you Tobi but the others don't." Kisame said almost apologetically.

"But they like you! Of course they do you're the coolest! You can help Tobi right? Tobi knows you can!"

"I don't know Tobi... Hmmm... I may have a plan. But the only thing is it might get you in or it might get you killed." Said Kisame pensively.

Kisame was almost back at the Akatsuki campground where his teammates were awaiting to see what he had found.

"No big deal guys. Just innocent bystanders and they didn't see m..." he was interrupted by Tobi jumping on his back and throwing him to the ground.

No one in the team had seen him coming in the dark. In one quick, precise move Tobi grabbed Kisame's sword and threw it out of reach. He placed both his legs over Kisame's arms, rendering them useless and grabbed one of his kunais. He quickly placed it just over Kisame's throat, nicking him slightly and drawing a small bead of blood.

The whole group paused in awe not wanting to move in fear of Kisame's life.

"Shit...maybe we should have let him join...he seems pissed now" said Sasori worriedly.

"His talents seem much greater than any of us had expected" gasped Itachi.

"I told you guys he was a good boy..." murmured Deidara.

At that instant Tobi jumped off Kisame.

"Hurray! Tobi is in! And yes! Tobi is a good boy! Tobi is so happy right now! Tobi is crying under his mask!" Tobi was jumping joyously in all directions while the three Akatsukis wondered what had just happened. Kisame was smiling faintly on the ground where he still lay but all were too busy watching Tobi to notice Kisame's joy at a ruse well performed.

Tobi hugged Sasori who just stood in shock. He hugged Deidara and when he let go Deidara seemed to be embarrassingly trying to hide his groin region. He moved towards Itachi who told him if he ever hugged him he would not hesitate to kill him.

Tobi ran back to his camp to grab his belongings and the group got themselves ready for their first night out. Three of them were still trying to figure out what exactly had just happened while Kisame and Tobi secretly shared a laugh at how well it had all gone.

The group woke early the next morning and set off again through the desert of The Country Of Wind. The desert was vast and although they had seen a few silhouettes in the distance, no other traveller had crossed their path and all were relieved of this. Everyone was getting along with the new member except Itachi who still felt Tobi was an idiot bound to ruin their mission.

As he was walking, Itachi felt something hit him in the back of the head.

"I'm sorry Itachi sir! Tobi was aiming that sand ball at Deidara and missed!" said Tobi apologetically.

"Sand balls?" growled Itachi.

"Yeah we're having a sand ball fight" snickered Deidara amused at what had just happened. "Y'know like snowballs but you have to hold them together with chakra cause sand doesn't stick."

"Oh so it's a sand ball fight you want Tobi..." said Itachi menacingly. "Mangekyo sharingan!"

Everything went dark and Tobi found himself suddenly attached to a wall that had not been there before. All his friends had left and only Itachi remained in front of him.

"Where are we Itachi sir? This is scary, Tobi doesn't like this..." said Tobi nervously.

Itachi began speaking in a voice that had a sinister echo: "72 hours of sand ball begin now."

Tobi was pelted with countless sand balls for what felt like hours and even days. Finally they stopped.

"Oh my goodness it's finally over!" squealed Tobi.

Itachi spoke again in the same voice: "71 hours 59 minutes of sand ball remaining."

"NOOOOOOOOO!" shrieked Tobi.

Outside of Itachi's justsu only an instant had passed when Tobi regained consciousness but to Tobi a whole three days of being pelted with sand balls had just ended.

Tobi burst into tears and ran behind Kisame, peeking out to make sure Itachi was not coming after him.

"Now look what you've done." Grumbled Kisame.

"You really still want THAT on our squad!" said Itachi disbelievingly.

"Yes. We all know the mangekyo sharingan is a devastating attack and Tobi didn't deserve that! It was an accident after all!" replied Kisame defensively.

"Ugh...fine let's just keep moving..." sighed Itachi.

Kisame put Tobi over his shoulder knowing that the attack must have drained him and he kept advancing with the group. He liked Itachi but sometimes he felt the guy needed to lighten up a little, although he would rather have him with him than against him in any fight. The group walked on quietly, Kisame carrying a sleeping Tobi over his shoulder until the village hidden in the sand was in sight. They set up their camp far from the road and made preparations for the night. Tobi was to stand guard first since he had slept most of the day. They knew crossing the village at night would be best for stealth purposes but all were too exhausted to fight a heated battle if they were spotted. And since time was of the essence they could not wait until the following night. They would have to cross the village during the day and hope for the best.