Broken Youth
(Life of Konoha Academy Teens)
CH2.3: Distance II

Tsunade sighed "I still don't think I'll ever fully understand why you picked that boy as an Akatsuki."
"Sometimes I don't either,"said Madara.
"Huh?"said Tsunade and Shizune shocked.
"What do you mean by that Madara?" asked Tsunade.
"I guess I never told you the real reason to why I picked Tobi," Madara said scratching his head.
"Nope,"said Tsunade.
Madara looked at his watch. "Since I have a little time to spare so I'll tell you. I originally wasn't planning to make Tobi an Akatsuki member. To tell you the truth that idea never really crossed my mind. Tobi was only suppose to be my assistant nothing more. The story of how I chose him actually starts the day before he actually started."
More than a year ago at an Akatsuki after school meeting...
"...So that concludes our meeting. Any questions?" asked Madara.
"No sir," responded all the members. Just as they said that the door opened and a huffing and puffing Deidara came in.
"You're late," Madara scolded him. "You've missed the entire meeting, young man. Where were you?"
"Well, at least I'm here," he said catching his breath. "I was helping Jiraiya-sensei in the art room, yeah."
"Right, and did Jiraiya appreciate you're help so much that he gave you a kiss on the cheek?" asked Madara. Deidara put his hand to his cheek and wiped off the lipstick. Deidara's face grew red. "Don't lie to me boy. Now all of you fill out your reports and try not to make a ruckus," said Madara as he walked to his office and closed the door.
Deidara walked and stood next to his desk which was next to Sasori's. "So what was the meeting about,un?" he asked him.
"The usual. You know you shouldn't lie to Madara-sama, he knows more than you think," responded Sasori still filling out the form in front of him.
"I know, but what was I suppose to tell him? That I missed the meeting to have some fun? I don't think so, hmm," replied Deidara.
"Well, you should have at least apologized," said Sasori.
"I should have," said Deidara with a shrug "yet I still got off the hook without having to."
"If it were me you wouldn't get away with it so easily," stated Sasori.
"Well, it's not you and I'm glad. If it were you, you would probably give me the death sentence for being this late," Deidara said laughing.
"Just shut up and do your report," said Sasori.
"Okay. Okay, I'll do as you wish master, un," Deidara said teasing again.
That annoyed Sasori, so just as Deidara was going to take his seat he pulled the chair from underneath him with his threads. Deidara glared at him as Sasori said: "Oh, were you gonna sit there? My bad." That was Sasori's little form of revenge for the earlier teasing.
Deidara got up, and this time when he sat down he grabbed a hold of the seat underneath him just in case. As he scooted his chair in, Sasori said: "You shouldn't have been worried. I wasn't going to do the same thing twice. I believe that once you play a prank it isn't as amusing if you do it again."
"Sometimes you can be a total d-" Deidara stared to say before Sasori covered his mouth.
"Hey, hey watch your language Mr. Potty-mouth. Yes, I know that sometime I can be mean, but I need to let off some steam somewhere and your usually the easiest target. Sometimes I'm a jerk, but you'll always be a brat," said Sasori putting down his hand. After that comment the boys sat quietly for a while.

_
"Oh, Dei I just remembered there was something new at the meeting," said Sasori after some time.
"New? What was it, hmm?" asked Deidara.
"Madara-sama said that we might be getting a new member tomorrow," he said.
"Ooh, do you know who it is, un?" asked Deidara eagerly. 'I hope it's another babe,' he thought.
"It's some guy named Tobi." said Sasori. Deidara didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Who did you say it was again?" Deidara said, his voice cracking.
"Tobi. Do you know him or something?"asked Sasori.
"Tobi?" he said chuckling as he stood up. "Seriously, Tobi! Madara-sama must be losing his mind if he's recruiting someone like Tobi." Deidara's instant burst made all the other Akatsuki turn to look at him.
"The rumors must be true that Madara-sama's going blind, but more than that he's going stupid," said Deidara. "Madara-sama has really dropped his standards."
"Hey, quiet down you idiot, he's gonna hear you," said Sasori yanking him back down to his seat.
"Who's this Tobi guy anyway? Is he really so bad to make you react like this?" asked Konan who was sitting front of him.
"Do you really want to know about Tobi?" asked Deidara.
"Yeah," said all of the Akatsuki who were now all involved in the conversation.
"Then I'll tell you," he said standing back up. "Tobi is a kid from my class and believe me I literally mean kid. He is tall and thin and always wears this stupid orange swirly mask with one eye hole over his face. He has this annoying squeaky voice and he has a tendency to hug everyone he sees. He is also really dumb and talks in first person!"
"That's not so bad, it actually sounds kinda cute. Now I really want to meet this Tobi guy," said Konan.
"Cute? Were you even paying attention to my description? Ah! You are just like all the other girls in my class," stated Deidara.
"I want to meet this guy too," said Pein. The others agreed.
"You know what? You're all crazy! You're lives are perfectly fine without the existence of Tobi! You know what I don't care anymore, if you guys want to ruin the rest of your lives than be my guest. I already have a partner, so it's not like he's gonna get stuck with me! As long as I am not stuck with him for more than I have to then I'm fine," he ranted with a pout. Deidara then stomped his way out the door.
"Oh, is that so?" said Madara to himself as he peeped threw the slit of the door. He had heard most of what Deidara said and how couldn't he Deidara was practically yelling it. "I have an idea that will put that boy into his place."
"Where do you think you're going? You still haven't finished your report!" shouted Sasori at him, but it was useless he was already gone.
"Where did the whole thing about partners come from? You did tell him that Tobi was only gonna be the Teacher Assistant, right?" asked Pein.
"Oh, I guess I forgot," said Sasori with a chuckle. "He'll eventually figure it out."
The next day...
"Good Afternoon, Akatsuki," said Madara. "I see you're on time today Deidara."
"Good Afternoon, Sir," responded all.
"All of you who were at the meeting yesterday, probably remember how I told you that we were adding a new member to our family, well here he is." Madara stepped aside so that everyone could see Tobi who was standing behind him.
Tobi wove and said "Hello ."
"Well, team there were some last minute changes to the plans," continued Madara. "As you all probably remember, Tobi is suppose to be our groups T.A."
Deidara stood shocked. 'Teacher Assistant? Nobody told me that,' thought Deidara.
"Well, he won't be the T.A anymore, but an official member." said Madara.
"You really mean it sir? Tobi's in Akatsuki for real!" said Tobi excited.
"What!"yelled Deidara. "So you're saying Tobi was only going to be a T.A and none of you told me! You've got to be kidding me!"
"Oh, but that's not all the news yet Deidara, there is one more announcement you'll be dying to know," said Madara."The news is Tobi's your new partner."
"My new partner? But I'm already partnered with Sasori," reasoned Deidara.
"Oh, I know and you'll still be, you'll just be a three man cell from now on," stated Madara.
"You're doing this on purpose aren't you?" said Deidara.
"Why would I ever do such a thing?" asked Madara with an almost evil grin on his face. "So, Tobi from today on Deidara will be your Senpai. Even though you are in the same grade you will refer to him as so because he will be your mentor in Akatsuki."
"Great, and I thought things couldn't get any worse,"said Deidara.
"Deidara-senpai!" said Tobi leaping and hugging him around the waist.
"I hate my life," Deidara said as everybody else awed and laughed at him.

"...So that was Tobi became an Akatsuki member," said Madara.
"Now it makes more sense." Tsunade said with a laugh. "I also figure out you have a dark side."
"So that's why you always send Tobi with Deidara," said Shizune.
"I guess it isn't all that bad to torture Deidara with Tobi. It has him more under control. He also doesn't get into as much trouble as he use to. The last time I had to see him in my office was for the whole explosion incident at the science fair last year."said Tsunade.
"Yeah, I remember that. You're little apprentice almost killed him because of that." stated Madara.
"Well, what do you expect? He did destroy something in one second that took her ages to finish," said Tsunade.
Madara looked at his watch again. "Well, it was nice talking to you ladies, but as you mentioned before I need to go off for my patrol,"said Madara.
"See you later, Madara-san,"said Shizune.
"Yeah, good-bye,"he replied. Just as Madara grabbed the doorknob there was a knock on the other side. Madara opened the door, he was surprised to see the two figures that stood before him. "Hey, we were just talking about you."
"No, wonder I've been sneezing so much," said the male figure at the door.
"Well, I have to go now but I'll talk to you two later, we have some catching up to do," Madara told the to figures as he left.
"You're a little early don't you think?"said Tsunade.
"We know but we wanted to explore our old school before the assembly." said the feminine figure.
"Childish as ever I see. Well, please come in and take a seat," offered Tsunade. As they did only a flash of yellow and red were seen in the distance between the closed door and the chairs in front of Tsunade's desk.

End of part 2.3