Kakuzu sat in his office, counting his money with a large scowl on his face. He growled out loud as he looked at the I.O.U that had been left on his desk for over a month now, and he could literally feel his blood boiling – how dare someone take his money and not pay him back? That fucking Uchiha was going to have to pay up sooner or later, and if it were later, that Uchiha would have a body full of broken bones until he did pay.

With that thought in mind, Kakuzu stood up and locked his money away in his safe. He walked to the outside of the base, getting some fresh air. The moon was bright tonight, but that was the last thing on the miser's mind; he only wanted his money back. Right now.

"Fucking thing always hiding behind his family…" Kakuzu growled before punching thin air. "They're always protecting him… Why protect someone like him? Why? What the hell can they even see in the worthless little mutt?"

Kakuzu's thoughts drifted over to the certain Uchiha who had left the I.O.U for over ten-thousand dollars. Why the Uchiha even needed any money at all was a complete mystery because the Uchiha very rarely left the base and his uncle and cousin always bought him everything that he wanted. The Uchiha had just happened to come into his room one night with a signed note from Madara that demanded that the miser gave the Uchiha ten-thousand dollars.

Kakuzu knew better than to mess with Madara and all he could do was begrudgingly hand the money over, even though he was shaking with rage and wanted to snap the Uchiha's neck for taking away his precious money.

"I'm getting my money back one way or another." Kakuzu snarled, storming back into the hideout's living room and throwing himself down onto the couch.

He ignored the others watching the TV and they left him to his own thoughts. Well, most of them.

"What's your problem?" Pein asked softly, getting up from his recliner to sit on the couch beside Kakuzu.

Kakuzu growled at Pein and attempted to shove the faux leader off the couch before he thought better of it; he was the faux leader after all, and he wouldn't take shit from anyone. Things would get bloody if Kakuzu dared try and shove him.

"It's nothing," Kakuzu said gruffly. "It's that fucking Madara."

"What did Madara do?" Pein sighed. He was really getting sick of all the complaints everyone had about Madara. It seemed that all everyone had to say about Madara were negative things – except for Madara's two nephews, of course.

"He made me give money to Tobi and the little shit won't pay me back!" Kakuzu was trying his best to control his temper; it wouldn't be good to take it out on Pein, after all – as stated before, things could, and probably would get bloody.

"Tobi is unable to pay you back for many reasons." Pein pointed out, sympathy in his voice. "I suggest you take it up with Madara. I cannot help you there."

Kakuzu glared at Pein before getting up and storming off down to his bedroom. He was going to get his money back one way or another, and it was going to be tonight. And if it weren't his money he was getting… he was going back to his room with something.

-LINEBREAK-

Tobi was curled up in his bed, sighing in content. He was so warm during the freezing winter. He reminded himself to thank Madara for getting him the electric blanket. Right as he was about to drift off to sleep, someone was at his door, calling him.

"Tobi."

Tobi yawned and looked up at his bedroom door curiously. He waited seconds, but the voice didn't sound again – not until he had laid back down and closed his eyes once more.

"Tobi, open the door."

Tobi frowned and got up, walking to the door and opening it warily - he hadn't expected anyone to visit him so late at night. Before he could even see who was on the other side of the door, he was thrown backwards into the wall. He yelped and whimpered when hands grabbed him around his neck, squeezing so hard his air supply was cut off.

"You stupid little bitch." Tobi looked up to find Kakuzu above him, snarling. The Taki-nin was shaking Tobi back and forth with enough strength to bring pain to Tobi's frail body.

Tobi whimpered, trying to pry at the hands as he cried in terror. He wanted to scream but the grip around his neck effectively quietened every noise he made. Everything was going black on top of it all.

Just as Tobi thought he was about to pass out from the lack of oxygen, his bedroom door was pushed open once again from where it had shut and a shout gave Tobi just a spark of hope – he desperately hoped it was Madara that had come to save him.

"Put him down!" Came Madara's furious shout.

So it was Madara, after all? Tobi felt his heart race in anticipation as he waited impatiently for his uncle to rip Kakuzu away from him.

Kakuzu turned to glare at Madara before doing as commanded and throwing Tobi down onto the ground harshly. He stomped on the boy's stomach and smirked beneath his facial mask as Tobi let out one last shriek of pain.

"I want my money back." Kakuzu snarled to both of the Uchiha as he walked past the long-haired man.

Madara sneered back at Kakuzu, not intimidated in the least. "You'll get your money, but leave Tobi out of this, asshole. Lay one hand on him again, and you are dead."

Tobi watched, sobbing loudly as Kakuzu left the room.

Madara approached him and leant down, pulling him to his feet and picking him up bridal style. He carried him back to the bed and lay him down in it, pulling the covers over him and kissing his forehead. He then ruffled the younger's hair affectionately, bringing comfort the distressed male.

"You just stay in here and have a good sleep and I'll deal with Kakuzu tomorrow." Madara said softly, smiling. "In the meantime I'll tell Itachi to come in here and sleep with you so you're not alone."

Tobi smiled cutely and nodded, wiping at tears that had escaped during his ordeal. "Okay, Madara-oji-sama. Tobi loves oji-sama."

Madara chuckled and nodded. "I love you, too, Tobi-oi. Get some rest, okay?"

Tobi nodded back and closed his eyes, yawning cutely before rolling onto his side. Being with his uncle had always made him feel better.

A/N So this was a request from XxKairalxX. I know that this chapter is short but it's kind of a prologue type of chapter so it will be longer next chapter.

How is it so far?