Chapter 3: Perfect

Their second meeting, as fate would have it, was a coincidence too.

Patience. That was something Obito had never understood growing up. He'd rather rush into battle without a second thought than sit back and actually think things through.

Now was different. He was different. He was no longer the weak, foolishly optimistic boy he once was.

Obito could be patient when needed. Because patience, he learned, paid off. Very well, in fact.

The masked ninja observed the devastation left in the Kyuubi's wake. The earth was black, scorched by the tailed beast's chakra. The air was heavy with the beast's potent chakra. The air smelled sour from all the smoke. Buildings lay in shambles and Obito simply watched the proud people of Konoha trudge around in woe. They were just as destroyed as their village. Shinobi and civilians alike were killed mercilessly by the Bijuu's massive force or had been driven to insanity by its demonic chakra. The Nine-Tail's chakra was something not to be underestimated and easily corrupted those who were not unfortunate to die under the beast's paws. The Konoha Mental Institution for Shinobi was brimming to the top. They'd have to build a new one at this rate. Obito silently stayed crouched, watching the sad Hidden Village from his perch within the trees. Ignoring his wounds dealt from the battle against the Yondiame Hokage (bitterness trickled into the cavity where his heart had once resided) he continued on with his thoughts. "It will all be better." He shifted. "Once the Eye of the Moon plan is complete everything will be perfect." A maddened gleam entered his crimson orbs. "Perfect. Just like the way it was before…" A flash of a brown haired girl smiling serenely invaded his mindscape. The Uchiha gripped the branch underneath him harder. There was no need to dwell on such thoughts. Especially when everything would be fine in the future. No, perfect. Absolutely perfect.

A sudden crash to his left drew away his attention. Obito carefully checked his chakra, making sure it was masked and he wouldn't be detected by any Anbu members or sensor ninjas. The spinning pinwheel shone through the only eye-hole of his mask as he turned his head.

Earlier…

Tobi bit back a sob. He was lost. Utterly and irrevocably lost. Tears sprang into his eyes, blurring his vision. What would he do now? The six-year-old felt fury, betrayal, and despair sink into his already broken heart all at once. "Why?" He shut his eyes tightly and sped up his pace, running from everything. Twigs snapped and whipped at his face as he raced deeper into the forest. He didn't care. The pain was nothing compared to the deep wrenching agony he felt in his chest where his heart should have been. Only a pile of shattered pieces remained.

"Why does everyone always leave Tobi. Why did Kit-chan leave Tobi all alone?" He gripped his stuffed bunny tighter to his chest, running faster. He hadn't meant to see that, didn't want to see that. But he did. Every single bloody, gory detail.

Tobi had fled the Mental Institution during all the chaos. No one had noticed the small boy was gone until it was too late. There was nothing they could do. Too many shinobi had died during the attack, leaving few to spare and search for just one missing patient. Even one as powerful and unstable such as himself.

Tobi had escaped into the surrounding woods, delving deeper inside in fear of discovery. He never wanted to go back. Feeling the wind rush through his spiked hair and the grass tickling his ankles felt wondrous. It felt like freedom. However, all the giddiness and anxiety he was experiencing vanished in an instant. Once he heard Kit-chan's voice croak, "T-T-Tobi?"

The small child had whipped his head around to the side. Only then did he see the true destruction the Kyuubi had brought upon the village. His attention was ripped away from the carnage as the man he'd grown to look up to and love coughed harshly, blood splattering everywhere and staining the ground red. Tobi had raced forward, eyes wide in horror.

"Kit-chan!" He cried clutching the man's hand and Bunny-chan's in his own small ones. The redhead grinned, his mask sliding off and revealing his smooth face stained by smoke and debris. His bright red hair, that Tobi had admired in the past, was burgundy in color and plastered to his forehead with perspiration. The onyx-eyed boy could only stare into his bright blue eyes. Eyes that were slowly losing their luster. Tobi ignored the tree shard sticking out from the man's side and threw himself onto the Anbu, nuzzling his cheek. Blood seeped into his shirt as he cried.

"Please don't leave Tobi, K-Kit-chan!" He pressed his face deeper into the man's neck. The familiar scent of oranges coupled with smoke filled his nose. Kit-chan had always smelled like oranges.

Kitsune weakly raised his hand and settled it atop the crying boy's head. He ruffled the raven locks and chucked, willing the blood and bile to go back.

"I-I'm sorry you had to s-see," his body shivered violently, frightening the child even more, "me…like th-this, Tobi-chan." He said. Mustering up all his strength he raised the boy's head until they were eye to eye. The Uchiha could do nothing but look back. "Tobi," His voice was hard and serious. "when I'm gone…I-I-I," He coughed, blood spilling down his chin, "wa-want you to leave and f-find a nice ho-home." A whimper escaped the child's mouth as the Anbu's eyes softened and his chest heaved as he gathered the necessary will-power to finish. "Don't let them find you. A-And I wa-want you to promise me something, Tobi." Tobi nodded his head fervently, not liking the deepening pain settling into his heart. It felt awful and it hurt a lot too. But he'd stay by Kit-chan's side.

Kitsune's mouth wobbled as he smiled. His voice was nothing but a whisper now. "Promise me y-you'll be a good boy while I'm gone."

Tobi nodded furiously, "Don't worry Tobi will always be a g-good boy just for Kit-chan." He lowered his head, tears dripping onto the jounin's blood-soaked vest. "But Tobi wasn't a very good boy today because he c-couldn't protect Kit-chan." Kitsune chuckled, blood gurgling in his mouth and making it sound morbid. The man grimaced.

"D-Don't worry ab-about that, Tobi-chan because I least I'll die knowing I protected the village and my l-l-last precious person."

Tobi sniffled and held the shinobi's face with childish jealously inflecting his voice, "Who's Kit-chan's precious person? Is it the pretty lady in the picture that Tobi saw you looking at. The lady with no clothes-" With remarkable speed for a dying man the redhead quickly clamped his hands around the innocent kid's mouth.

"NO! Er, I mean, o-of course she's not, gaki." The dark-haired boy was saddened to see the flush leave his cheeks. His face was pale and skinny now. Tobi's eyes widened. Kit-chan was leaving! More tears fell onto the man's blood-soaked clothes. Kit-chan looked like a skeleton! Kitsune licked his lips and continued. The pain was growing unbearable. He had to finish fast. "Tobi you're my p-precious person, you si-silly child." Tear's gathered in his eyes. This was probably the last time he'd see the brat's cute face. Well, until they were reunited in the Pure World, but he sincerely hoped that would be waaay later in the future. Preferably when the kid's hair had gone gray and he had lived a long, long life. He grit his teeth and blinked back the wetness in his eyes. He choked and Tobi hurriedly wiped the blood from his mouth. The Anbu chuckled again, "P-P-Promise me ano-another thing, T-tobi." He grimaced as his vision went hazy. He could no longer see the boy's heartbroken face. "Promise me that when you're older and s-str-stronger and you find your s-special person that you won't fa-fail like me." Tobi shook his head.

"No, Kit-chan never failed Tobi. Kit-chan is Tobi's precious person!" He said and desperately clutched the man's calloused hands. Kitsune squeezed the boy's small hand with what power he had left.

"…promise me you'll protect them…say hi to them for m-me…" He whispered. Then just like that, his hand went limp in Tobi's and his lively blue eyes dulled, turning a faint gray. Tobi sobbed into the shinobi's vest. He was still so warm.

It had begun to rain but the Uchiha paid it no mind. He ignored the sting of the rain water landing on his cuts, the numbing coldness, and the way Kitsune's blood stained his clothes and face.

"No, Kit-chan cannot leave Tobi!" The child yelled. "No!"

Then suddenly he shot up and into the forest. Maybe if he ran fast and far enough everything would go away. So when he went back Kit-chan would still be alive alongside his Momma and everything would be okay- perfect

So this was how Tobi found himself sprawled out on the floor after having tripped and scared out of his little mind in the middle of Konoha's forest with nothing but a bleeding heart and a horrible sense of direction. What would he do? He couldn't go back to Konoha or they'd just lock him back up again. He wouldn't dare go back. Not when Kit-chan and Momma were...still...dead.

Tobi sobbed and curled himself into a ball on the muddy, cold ground.

He was lost. So so so lost.

Obito watched the child closely, trying to remember where he'd seen that scarred face before. His eyes narrowed in realization.

"Yes, this is the child that those Anbu were chasing down. The one with Mangekyō Sharingan." He thought as his eyes zoned in on the Uchiha. The boy could be a useful asset in bringing the Eye of the Moon plan into fruition. Obito ignored the child's pitiful cries and silently moved to the tree above the small human ball the boy had transformed himself into.

His voice was strong as it rang through the forest, "Are you lost, boy?"

Tobi froze.

Obito frowned behind his mask as the boy looked up. His black eyes were red and puffy from crying. His Sharingan, however, was strong.

Obito sighed. Such a weak container. The boy's heart was too soft. Nevertheless, the child would become a useful tool to him if shaped correctly.

"Why are you crying?" Obito didn't really care but it wouldn't do to just kidnap the boy. He had to make him go willingly; make him see the beauty of a perfect reality.

Tobi hiccuped and rubbed his eyes furiously. Crying always made his eyes itchy.

"Everyone is gone…why do they leave Tobi? Is Tobi a b-bad boy?"

Obito smirked inwardly. This was just what he needed to sway the boy to his side.

"I can bring everyone back, Tobi." He said, thinking of his old teammates. Yes, everyone would be back and things would be perfect. Obito held out his hand to the shaking child. "Wouldn't you like to bring everyone back?"

Tobi sniffed and smiled widely. "Yes! Tobi wants to bring back Momma and Kit-chan and show them that Tobi is sorry and he's a good boy!" He babbled, standing up and looking at the missing-nin with such hopeful, big eyes. Obito dismissed the slight twinge in his heart. It was nothing. Probably just the wounds from his fight with Minato-sensei acting up.

Obito nodded stiffly. "Good. Come with me and I promise," a determined glint entered his remaining eye, "everything will go back to the way it was before. No one will be dead, gone, or lost." Obito turned away remembering Rin's joyful smile. Damn it! He needed to be strong, detached, and focused if he was ever going to fulfill Madara's wishes. "Everything will be perfect."

Tobi made a sound of contentment as he took hold of the oldr Uchiha's hand. Obito had to fight back the urge to flinch. It's been so long since someone had touched him in such a harmless manner.

"Tobi likes shinobi-san a lot! Shinobi-san makes Tobi feel nice." The child's face wrinkled in thought. He looked like a raisin in the low lighting of the forest. Obito found the expression humorous but his body language betrayed no sign of his amusement. "Er, what is shinobi-san's name? Tobi's name is Tobi." he asked/said. Obito frowned. What was his name? It'd been so long since he last heard his name he'd almost forgotten what it was. Usually he spent his time as a nameless nobody or masquerading as Madara Uchiha- the legacy the man had passed on to him. He looked down at the scarred face of a boy who'd seen too much. It was a wonder the child hadn't fallen into the darkness even when his only light had been snuffed. He suddenly envied the kid but the emotion quickly passed.

"You may call me Obito." He said finally, activating his sharingan and preparing to teleport away to his current hideout. He had to plan. Failing to obtain the nine-tails was nothing but a setback. The Eye of Moon plan will continue.

The two steadily faded, the feint voice of an energetic Tobi could still be heard.

"Oh! Where are we going Obi-nii? Oooh, your eye looks just like Tobi's. How come you only have one eye? Are you hiding the other other one behind your mask? Where'd you get that mask? Can I have one? Not the same one though, Obi-nii, because that would be tacky. Is niisan a cyclops? Uh oh. Why does Obi-nii look so angry? Don't worry, Tobi will fix it!" The sound of the boy's small body colliding with other Uchiha's resounded throughout the small area. "There! Hugs make everything better, Obi-nii. Tobi is a good boy~!"

Obito mentally screamed in frustration. The brat better prove useful or he was going to strangle the little shit with his bare hands.