Okay so I think I should let everyone know that there will be alternate endings, one of you already know this, many apologies to the rest of you ^^''. There will be a good and bad ending (like a video game), the things is, one ending needs more development than the other so there may be moments when you're annoyed at the seemingly lack of plot, but rest assured, the plot is there. It is there and it is kicking my ass for not planning ahead.
This chapters emotion is Bashful :D you'll get that soon enough.
Excuse any Effect/Affect mix ups.
RDBA does not own Naruto! 3393 words, AHHH! it wasn't supposed to be this long XD
Many apologies for the filleriness!
Zetsu looked around the bustling village of the hidden grass, his eyes locking on the different things each side found interesting, making passers by stop and stare at the plant like man with the cross eyed expression.
"Momma, momma look it!," A little boy cried pointing at Zetsu with an accusing finger.
His mother sighed, exhausted from running her son around all day,"Don't point sweetie, it's rude," she said pulling the boys arm down.
The shouting of the child didn't go unnoticed (Does it ever?)
The villagers weren't afraid of his appearance or by his ability to faze out of the ground like a sprouting flower, they were just curious and soon there was a small crowd of twenty or so people gathered a few feet away from him, whispering to each other.
Black Zetsu ignored them for the most part, though his opposite side was getting a major ego boost from all the attention.
Kuroi grunted, 'How should we do this?,' he thought to other side, referring to how they should go about finding where Madara might be staying.
"Ask around," the white side thought back in a sarcastic tone. It seemed obvious enough to him, but the black side just groaned.
'Idiot, we can't just go up to people and ask!,' he barked.
Shiroi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, 'Why not?,'
Kuroi growled like a dog, he just didn't! was it really so hard to get? He didn't want anything to do with people, he hated them with a deep seeded passion. The person he shared a fucking body with should have known that.
"Oh, right. You hate people,"
NOW he gets it, after he makes an idiot of himself.
"So what should we do then?," The white side felt his darker half grin, though it wasn't visible.
It was time to put on the two's most charming persona.
LINE
Black Zetsu could hear his light half grumble inside their new bodies head.
Kuroi truly was pure evil, putting on a henge to change their appearance, then beating his lighter half in a game of rock ,paper, scissors to see who would be the one to control said form. That bastard, he hoped he fell of a cliff.
But then he would fall off a cliff with him.
"Not if we find Madara first,'
The expression on their henge darkened.
The damn thing was even attached to his emotions!
'What?,' he asked in a menacing tone.
"Nothing," white zetsu peeped back in a small voice.
Kuroi brought a broad grin to the single tan skinned henge, he knew his alternate side had wanted to be the one to control the body.
But the battle had been won before it was even started, the black side had to be the dominate personality, he had the most charisma, the most energy and the muscle, the perfect combination to seduce information out of some poor girl.
What Black Zetsu had White Zetsu lacked.
'Pft, Charisma,' When was the last time they met a girl that actually knew what that word even meant?
His more brutal side didn't even answer him, having spotted the most vulnerable prey he could have ever come across.
Two teenage girls wearing frilly dresses, standing in front of a shop, eyeing Zetsu's henge like a couple of vultures looking over a piece of meat.
Zetsu walked over, bringing his creepy grin down into a suave, cocky smirk,"Excuse me," he chimed making the girls giggle to each other at the sudden gain in his attention, "Have you seen these people?,"
He reached into the now ten sizes too big cloak they wore and pulled out the two Akatsuki members mug-shots.
Yes, the exact same ones that were plastered on the walls of every bounty office and every Bingo book in existence.
They were the type of pictures that somebody would KNOW were the mug shots of some criminal. It was too...
Too-...
"I'm sorry I don't think we have," Whatever it was didn't matter to these girls, who didn't seem to even notice the numbers plastered above their heads.
"No, no we did, remember? yesterday at the lumber yard," The blond girl said.
"Ah right! But I think it was only the blond one," The brown haired girl with a pencil in her hair put on a thoughtful look.
Her friend shook her head,"There was a guy with spiky hair watching him, he had half of his face covered with an orange mask, it could have been the other guy,"
"Only half a mask?," The plant man asked with an eyebrow risen.
They both nodded.
"Interesting," very interesting, Zetsu gave a small smile, "Thank you for your time,"
"It was no problem," The girls smiled.
Zetsu bowed in thanks to them and turned away.
'Madara took off his mask? Are you buying that?,' White Zetsu asked.
But black Zetsu was already off in his own little world. The henge fell and White Zetsu gained control of his body once again, he dipped his hand inside his cloak and got to work writing down the most recent development.
Skip!
Tsunade stood at the foot of a giant pile of wood and twisted metal, watch the people on the pile, as they scurried around like squirrels.
The team consisted of several Jounin, Chuunin, Ninken and even a few of the Gennin from the academy who were working along side their parents.
The job was simple, clean it up and see if there are any survivors.
Though the Hokage wasn't hopeful, the chance that this was a mass grave for the counsel of Konoha was becoming more and more likely with each passing moment.
"Anything?~!," she called up for what seemed like the billionth time.
"No ma'am, we've barely scratched the surface of this mess," Raido said as he wiped his forehead off with a towel.
"Well then what are you doing over here? GET BACK TO WORK! NOW!,"
The usually calm ninja was surprised by Tsunade's anger, so much so that he clicked his heels and bowed,"Yes ma'am!," before getting right back into pulling debris off the pile.
"This is a complete disaster," Izumo said with a sigh.
The two gate guards had hardly gotten away without scratch during the attack, Izumo had broken his arm trying to save Kotetsu, and said chuunin had a couple cracked ribs and several burns, most of which were on his face.
His usual nose bandage had a lot of company.
They were both unable to help, instead they were to 'Supervise' the operation. Tsunade already had that covered, so they got to sit back in the shade of a portable tent that the Intel units sometimes used and relax.
"On the plus side construction on the wall has started up," Kotetsu said, taking everyone's attention to two workers in a lift on the one section of wall that was finally up, they were smoothing the concrete when a rope snapped and one of the workers slide over the edge, barely managing to catch it before he fell to his death. The other was screaming for help as he clung the surrounding support poles like his life depended on it.
From the ground they could hear the one still on the lift yell for help.
"Aren't they ex-ANBU?," Izumo's comment made Kotetsu chuckle.
The blond covered her eyes with her hand, she couldn't stand seeing 'Konoha's finest' acting like Naruto with less skill,"I'm surrounded by morons,"
"Lady Tsunade!," The three looked over to see shizune and TonTon running towards them.
'So this is where she ran off to,' Tsunade thought.
The younger woman looked excited and relieved at the same time,"It's a miracle!," the little piggy by her feet oinked in matched enthusiasm, as if trying to explain in her own way.
"Uh," Izumo and Kotetsu hummed dumbly.
"The Elders! they all survived the explosion," Shizune explained,"And even better, the underground catacombs are still in tact,"
The two gate guards were overwhelmed with shock, while the slug sannin laughed,"This is great news!," She placed her hands on her hips and swiveled back over to Kotetsu and Izumo, "Kakashi,"
The two chuunin and black haired medic ninja jumped as Kakashi appeared behind the duo inside the tent with his usual lanky form and half assed 'Yo'.
"You know what to do!," Tsunade smiled when the Copy nin nodded.
-Skippy!-
Madara banged his fist heavily on new bathroom door that stood between him and the strangely quiet bomber inside, "Deidara," he said in his 'Leader' voice,"You've been in there for an hour, you'll be a prune if you don't get out,"
He was answered with the same silence he had gotten since the water turned on, they hadn't talked much since he was more than a little angry with the blond, and if anybody else had done to him what Deidara had admitted he had done to him, he wouldn't even be up right now.
The gig was up when Tobi's arm went completely numb and he demanded that Deidara tell him.
His partner caved, not because of the demand -which was when he started to kneed nonexistent clay in his hand- but he felt a little bad for doing it. Only enough to tell him, not enough to apologize.
Then again he would never feel sorry enough to do that so it was stupid to even suggest it.
"Brat!," the Uchiha tried again.
"..."
Madara huffed,"Alright fine, this was the fifth warning, I'm coming in!," he opened the door, "What the hell are you doing he-," his words stopped dead mid word when the door jammed against something or someone, making them slide to the floor.
Where they stayed on their side, back facing the Uchiha, completely naked.
Madara grimaced and averted his eyes.
Well Deidara was bathing, it was to be expected that he wouldn't be fully clothed.
Still he could have left his boxers on or something.
The Uchiha nudged him with his foot and called his name again. when it had no effect he made a whining noise, he didn't want to touch him! half of him wanted to leave him to drown, the other half scolded him for being stupid Dei and he were both guys he could do it.
Wake him up, that is.
Nothing else.
Nothing perverted.
Keeping his attention on a light fixture on the far wall and knelt down on one knee and worked an arm around the blond shoulders, pulling him up so he was leaning most of Deidara's weight against his knee.
The older ninja was thankful he had his gloves on, he brought his eyes down and concentrated on Deidara's face, "Wake up," he patted his cheek lightly, his hits becoming harder and harder the more he had to do it.
Finally, once his cheek began to turn red, the Iwa moaned lightly, his eyes squinting open,"Tobi?,"
Madara made a noise of interest, taking notice that Deidara had opened both of his eyes.
This was the first time he had ever seen both of Deidara's eyes open at the same time, even back before any of this happened, the bomber always kept his left one either closed or had it hidden behind his scope.
He always said he was training to use it against Itachi.
Poor boy didn't understand that nothing, except for other two legendary eye Kekkei Genkai, could counteract the Sharingan.
Much less the Mangekyo Sharingan Itachi possessed.
"Well good morning sleepy head, you know I was wondering if I did a good job with the bathroom, it seems it's pretty damn comfortable," Madara said in a sarcastic voice.
"I guess I fell asleep, hmm," Deidara barely managed to mumble, rubbing his eye with the pad of his palm.
The older shinobi moved his hand to the spot inbetween his shoulder-blades and pushed him up,"Obviously, You could have drowned if I hadn't come in,"
Deidara yawned,"Probably, yeah," he said uncaringly.
Madara stood and towered over him with his hands on his hips.
"I'm fine now Tobi go do whatever the fuck you were doing," Staring out the window in the front room probably, that's what he does when he first wakes up.
The Uchiha grunted,"Says the man on the floor sitting cold water,"
"Maybe I like cold baths, hmm," Deidara grumbled, despite his blush and obvious embarrassment.
He winced as he made the stupid move to try and pull himself up, his neck was throbbing, rubbing the spot he remembered that he had fallen asleep leaned up against the wall behind the door.
The only question he had was where the bruise was going to show up, at that thought his arm started to ache too.
Deidara grasped the slowly healing wound and hissed, it wasn't as bad as it had been a few weeks before, but it still hurt as though it were fresh.
While the bomber started to rub his arm trying to quell the pain, Tobi was turning on the faucet in the tub.
"I'm refilling the tub, you should get in before you catch a cold," The masked man said shooting an amused look down at his partner, he knew he couldn't get up and he knew he would have to help him.
Deidara did too, that's why his expression hardened,"Whatever, hmm,"
Madara 'hn'd' and offered a hand to the blond, who took it hesitantly, feeling his pride as a shinobi shatter.
He was being helped into the BATH by one of the same UCHIHA he swore he would KILL. That hurts.
The elder wrapped an arm around his torso -making sure not to look down- and one hand around the upper part of the bombers arm, he half carried half dragged him over to the side of the tub where he let him sit.
Deidara grabbed onto the side, letting himself slide/fall down into the water, leaving his legs to dangle over the edge.
It looked like he had been pushed into a watering troth.
Madara sat on the edge, similar to how Deidara had, only he didn't want to get wet so he leaned forward for extra insurance, "I'm staying here, just to make sure you don't fall asleep again," he said.
Deidara grunted.
They sat there, listening to the heavy hitting of the splashing water, like a miniature waterfall.
Until Madara broke it, with a very heavy handed statement.
"My name is Madara,"
He couldn't believe he was doing this, but he let everything else out of the bag. His face -half of it or all of it, it was the same thing to him- his voice, his real personality.
He figured he might as well reveal his name, plus he really didn't want to be called Tobi anymore.
It was starting to piss him off.
"Uh," The younger ninja blinked absent mindedly.
What the fu...
The Uchiha leaned closer toward his face,"My name is Madara," he repeated more slowly.
Deidara turned his head toward the rising water, glaring at it and Madara fixed his posture.
So Tobi wasn't even Tobi. He was Madara.
Madara Uchiha.
This new detail was big for the blond, it gave him another thing to use against the masked man. It gave him something to water his hatred with.
Another lie.
Though he had to admit,"Spotted fan, yeah," he said with an amused grin, "Is the inability to name children genetic or is it taught? hmm,"
"It's genetic and it started with my grandfather," Madara said in a tone that reminded the blond of a teacher.
He wanted to lighten the mood, it was uncomfortable to sit next to a man you just told your second biggest secret to. He didn't worry though, the bomber was like what a rat was to a cat when it came to power, if he needed to he could end him.
He wouldn't.
But he could.
That's what he thought anyway.
Deidara, being the literal person he was couldn't tell if what Tob-Madara had said was a joke or if he was being serious. His tone said it was the latter but the glint in his eye told Deidara that it was the former.
His sudden warriness made his expression fall.
Madara noticed and his sly grin followed suit.
0 0 0
Pain's eyes narrowed as he clenched his hand around the scroll Zetsu had sent in a vice like death grip.
"Itachi," he said solemnly, "You are to go to Kusa," he turned to face the younger Uchiha,"You are to find that crazy old fool,"
Itachi tilted his head slightly,"Yes sir, but what am I to do when I find him?," he asked.
"You know him inside and out Itachi, you know his weaknesses, if he puts you into that position you have permission to end him on spot," Itachi remained calm but inside he was taken aback by Nagato's bluntness.
It was hardly surprising, he just hadn't expected the fellow pacifist to be so strait forward about killing the person he thought would bring his dream to reality.
"However," The raven blinked, "It would put a massive divot into my plans if he were to be incapacitated or be killed. If need be do it, but dragging him back would be best scenario," Pein said slowly, a little self-doubt shining through his words.
"I am expected to drag a senile hundred year old Uchiha back to you," Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"If you cannot do it Konan and I will gladly go in your place," Itachi took that as a sign to quickly rack his brain, weigh his options.
He hated Madara just as much as Nagato and Konan and he knew it wouldn't be right to let those two go after him, Madara was too strong, much more so than the eldest Uchiha himself and his two underlings even realized.
Itachi did know the secret -A jutsu that could reverse the very flow of time- but it was a secret with a brutal pay off.
But that was where his past time spent with Madara came in, he knew how to end him and he knew how to coax him back without having to get physical, that's why Nagato had called him. If it was all about brute force he would have called Kisame as well, their ''leader'' had a plan, he didn't let anyone else in on it, but he had one.
Itachi could only contemplate what it was. Actions speak louder than words after all and Nagato had been nothing but livid every time he met with Konan and the young raven.
He knew how Nagato was feeling and he felt for them both.
He felt for his old sensei too, though it held a small place in his heart. Madara was a cruel, cold old man that had lost everything because he couldn't get over his own spite.
And those feelings showed, that was what made Itachi hate him.
But he was also someone who was betrayed by his own family and then in the end he helped his descendant -his own student- kill them all, down to last woman and child.
He couldn't really explain what he thought of Madara, he was quite the character.
One thing he knew for sure was that they were smiliar, they had more in common than just blood, it may have killed him a little inside, but it was true.
The elder had stuffed away his own feelings to deal with all the fatalities he had seen during his lifetime, just like Itachi had.
Only he had hidden them for so long It was like he forgot how to feel emotions, and what things like happiness felt like.
That was where they were different.
Itachi was lucky enough to still have those brief moments of humanity, he still had someone to care about.
His little brother was still alive.
"No, I will go and retrieve him," he said.
Pain flicked his eyes over before nodding, "You leave tomorrow, once you reach the village Zetsu will be there waiting for you,"
With that the Uchiha nodded and vanished in a flurry of black feathers.
TBC:
It was fun writing itachi :D have him explain his feelings toward Madara. My thought on their relationship is this:
Whenever Madara was around Itachi he saw his clan and how they all wanted peace, and whenever Itachi is around Madara he sees a living example of war, something destroys everything it touches. Like a tornado. *dies from long winded explination*
Madara: She died the way she lived, writing terrible scenario's.