Disclaimer: I'll say it once. Not mine.
Hiraeth- (n.) A homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past.
It was nearly time.
He glided across the roof tiles, his form hidden by the shadows. His chakra was tightly coiled, concealed from the guards stationed around his target. There were two Anbu squads, three were placed on top of the closest trees, two stood guard in front of the door and the last three rotated around the premises. He had been waiting, counting the squad rotations. Another two will come to replace the current ones in ten minutes.
The replacement of the Anbu will give him a small enough window to slip through unnoticed into his targets house. He had spotted a secondary entryway through the training grounds. His targets house had a private outdoor training ground, centred in the centre of the building. The building in itself was inconspicuous, built close enough to both the Hokage Administrative building and Anbu HQ. It was perfectly placed in terms of protection. Not too far away for reinforcements and close enough to the Hokage building.
His targets had returned from their safe house from outside of the village and were now blissfully unaware to the outside world or of the dangers creeping in the shadows. The birth had taken a lot out of both pair of parents.
He had been staking out the best position from which to enter the building for his objective a couple of weeks before today. Even before, it had taken him nearly a month to figure out the building were they would return after the redhead gave birth to his target. There had been no written notes in regards to the countermeasures made for tonight. Everything had been kept safe through word only to a selective few.
It was fortunate for him that one of the keyed in members was the scarecrow, who frequently visited the Memorial Stone worshipping his memory. All he had to do was turn up and listen- ignoring the feelings of regret, longing and the impulse to proclaim himself alive.
Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he focused on the guards.
A minute left.
If he focused enough he could sense his targets bright, strong and steadfast chakra with the more malevolent searing hot chakra being forcibly introduced into the infants system by the seal. Only the barest drop, considering his targets age of a couple hours.
It was time.
He moved, blurring down from the roof, gaining speed and momentum, he pushed off cutting through the air, twirling his body through the tree branches the second the guard stationed in them left, landing lightly on the buildings roof then sliding down onto the training grounds softly. With a step he stood facing the wall which blocked him from his target. Well, that's easily rectified he thought. With the use of a tiny spark of chakra, he was phasing through the wall and taking a step directly into the room.
His eyes have long ago adjusted to the dark, enabling him to clearly make out the two figures curled around a third, smaller form. Their hands were entwined, laying gently atop the child's tiny feet.
He froze, squeezing whatever amount of chakra he let loose by using his eye as the largest figure twitched. It seemed like eternity before he let his muscles relax, also letting out the breath he hadn't realised he was holding. In reality this only took about ten seconds.
With caution, he swiftly made his way towards the sleeping figures, stopping as soon as he could make out the babes face.
A pudgy face, with three whisker markings on their cheeks, yellow tufts of hair and he knew, that behind those eyelids hid cerulean blue eyes.
A soft, small smile graced his face as he memorised this moment. Seeing the brat again, no matter at what kind of stage it was, was like noticing the sun for the first time. A beacon guiding him out of the dark, away from denial, guilt, chasing away at the shadows holding him prisoner in his own mind.
It was worth the trouble to see the brat again. This time, he would also have a family. A family he had torn away the first time.
Switching his gaze onto the older male his eyes turned sorrowful, remaining wisps of guild clinging to his heart. He wished he could return. To come back and have his sensei back, with those strong dependable arms wrapped around him.
A home to come back to.
Seeing the brat alive and unharmed, with his parents alive, gave him hope. A hope he had not felt in a long time, the hope for a better way.
But he wasn't that reformed to blindly believe in the brat for a lasting peace. He and Naruto were similar, once the same faces of a coin- now the opposite. Darkness had laid a claim on him and it was unwilling to simply let go.
So despite being some what redeemed, finding himself back, Obito could not simply return to Konoha.
There was too much to do, mostly consisting of a lot of fixing and killing. Returning would only put Obito under scrutiny, with many eyes watching his every move and that was the best case scenario. He didn't even want to think what the warmongering old fool would do if he found out about his limbs having been cultivated from the cells of Senju Hashirama.
With a last final glance at the sleeping figures, he used his right eyes ability- Kamui and teleported on top of the Hokage mountain. It was an unknown weakness of his ability, but Obito could only teleport himself to locations he knows, by entering his pocket dimension and then via exiting to the place he had in mind.
Looking over the night scape of his- no of Konoha, he let himself take in the sites, welcoming previously thought erased memories. Memories of the numerous, boring as hell D ranks, moments where he was still a Konoha shinobi, part of Team Seven- most importantly treasuring the memories of Rin.
So he closed his eyes and recalled...
"Ne...Obito" pondered Rin, "do you think the war will end soon?"
"I hope so. Minato-sensei said that we have a very important mission soon!" He turned, giving Rin his iconic grin with thumbs up. Rin in turn covered her giggle with her hand, eyes sparkling in amusement.
"Yeah, and after it's finished sensei will become Hokage" she teased.
Obito spluttered, his eyes going comically wide before gifting her with his splitting grin again. Puffing his chest he pointed his thumb at his chest.
"I'm gonna be the best Hokage after sensei. Minato is pretty old so I guess I can let him keep the seat warm for me!"
"I'll be there. Right behind you Obito- watching your back." Rin smiled, reaching out to grasp his hand, "So you better become Hokage Obito!"
His memories were his sausade of Rin.
"Would you be proud if me brat?" he whispered to the night sky, staring at the dark expanse, but silence reigned and as the stars shone; their light exceedingly bright, as if smiling down upon him.
Turning his gaze back towards the village, he longed to return. Steeling his will Obito disappeared in a spiralling void.
He cursed, he had lost track of Zetsu, the being had become suspicious when the Kyūbi no Yoko had not been released on Konohagakure, resulting in the Yondaime's or previous Jinchūriki's death. He had hope to burn the thing to smithereens before it could realise something was off.
But of course the blasted thing had stayed back far enough, then melted away into the earth in escape before he could do anything.
"Fuck!" he cursed, as he ended in another dead end. He had been running in circles trying to track and catch the thing. Given that it's been hanging around even before Obito was born undetected, it was a sure indicator that trying to find Zetsu would prove difficult.
He had been on the chase for two months.
In-between his information gathering on the future Akatsuki members and keeping tabs on Nagato and Konan, Obito was also gradually making his way through Orochimaru's labs- which so far had ended up abandoned or not yet created.
At this moment in time, Zetsu was his priority. The blasted plant was after all the Rabbit goddesses will manifestation and the root of the problem. The Gedo Mazo- Demonic Statue of the Outer Path as Madara had dubbed it- was next on his list or would be moved up after he figured out a way to destroy it.
After reawakening in his fifteen year old body, he had been disbelieving. He couldn't think of a reason or technique that could've flung him back to the past. At the age of fifteen, where he couldn't save Rin, or prevent the devastation of Kanabi bridge and in default this whole mess.
Not forgetting the fact that he had died.
So yes, Obito had been confused and spent the first couple of weeks trying to figure out how this was possible, and then sorting out his brain for a course of action.
Obito in the end did not solve the massive mystery of how this was even remotely possible, instead of pondering on his sudden fling to his teen body. Obito figured in the end that it was a chance to repent some of his...malevolent deeds.
But he was still a crazy bastard. He was Uchiha Obito, as he was Tobi and could not simply let go of a persona that he had build for himself over twenty years.
It was undeniably, the best way to mess with others as well.
So after calling it quits for chasing after Zetsu for today. Obito casually strolled inside the dango shop, the interior was simple in design with five wooden tables, with menu's which hang over the walls. It was certainly larger and more spacious on the inside compared to how small it appeared to be from the exterior.
Curious eyes followed, taking in his bouncy step, the orange mask with the spiral pattern focused around his right eye. He was dressed in a black long-sleeved top that covered his neck and chin which was matched with black gloves, a pair of dark-coloured pants, a long green scarf wrapped around his neck with standard sandals and on his waist he wore a thick black belt with armour-like metal plates attached to it with similar plates on his upper arms.
His nails were also painted a nice blue, that complimented his get up very nicely, if he said so himself.
"Tobi's been a good boy and wants Hanami dango!" he yelled at the shop owner, making sure to bounce on his feet in excitement.
"Um...right!" the woman squeaked, then nodded and quickly moved to get his order.
Despite his act, the Konoha team leader had continued to eye him with scrutiny the instance Obito had entered the shop.
Obito had noticed the team and thought why not.
"Here you go sir" the woman said.
Grinning behind his mask, Obito made a show of reaching out both of his arms in a 'give me' motion. Leaning his body slowly to come face to face with the woman.
"Tobi is so happy and you're a very pretty lady" he gushed, "Tobi also loves dango!"
The woman blushed, looking down nervously.
Taking the dango he twirled around and with a leisurely pace made his way to the Konoha table. Sitting down opposite the Jonin, and waved his dango in their direction.
"What's a cute little Konoha team doing so close to the Rain border...hmm?" he questioned.
The man narrowed his eyes and the genin looked confused in his direction. The young boy he was sat next to tensed and slowly tried to shuffle closer to his female team mate, but Obito grabbed the boy shoving the dango into his mouth. Ignoring the way the kid choked, trying unsuccessfully to pull his arm away.
Considering he had moved slowly, (Obito was left a bit disappointed at the boys poor reflexes) as to ensure the kids sensei didn't get too twitchy.
Unsurprised, his question was left unanswered with the Jonin levelling him with a glare.
"I'd let go of my student if I were you."
Obito in turn hugged the boy closer to his body. Making kissy noises as he moved to squeeze the boys cheeks with his free hand.
"Genin are so cute, ne...don't you agree sensei?" he gushed again. "Tobi thinks it's bad if they came across any Amegakure shinobi with you being so close to the border."
Now that got a reaction. Subtle as it was, only a twitch of the mans eyelid. Although, it could've been due to him being Tobi.
Suddenly releasing the kid, he jumped to his feet ignoring how the man tensed as his right arm made his way under the table, hiding it from sight.
"Bye!" he yelled and bounced away with the sound of a muttered- "crazy bastard" reaching his ears... ah cute little genin, he thought.
He wondered what a Root member was doing with a genin team. Obito had spotted the shinobi leaving Amegakure while on his pursuit of Zetsu and had decided to follow them to the dango shop where, surprise, the Root operative had joined up with three little chicks stuffing their faces with food.
How did he know that the shinobi in question was Root? Well, that was simply because he had seen the man's seal, hidden under his tongue when he formed the 'L' sound. Well... and the fact that he had been looking for it when he saw the mans unnatural stiffness.
No shinobi was that bad at social interaction as Danzo's Root operatives.
Even Hatake could pretend better than that.
The shinobi in question had also acted way too uncaring when he manhandled and nearly chocked the boy. There was no look of worry or any hint of emotion in the man's eyes.
And yes, Obito acknowledged that he was a paranoid bastard. But hey, now he had some indicator that Danzo was trying to meddle with Ame. It was too early for the Akatsuki to have Orochimaru, or any of the other members as Obito had not yet approached the two orphans.
He was pretty sure Yahiko was already dead.
The Rinnegan was implanted into Nagato by Madara. Obito guessed that his next move was to get at least one eye. He couldn't risk having those eyes not under his control, it was crucial he had those eyes before Zetsu even remembered about them, or stole them for himself.
It was too much of a gamble to leave both eyes with Nagato.
He also needed to find out exactly what the Root was doing. Danzo and his meddling was like an intricate spider web, he wouldn't want to be caught in it. As Obito in this timeline had not founded Akatsuki, leaving it purely in Nagato's and Konan's more than capable hands. The old Hawk was sure to be trying to spin some kind of web around Ame and their future leaders.
Although, he wasn't going to do anything directly to Danzo, (He would leave that privilege to Minato) it honestly was in his interest to know what he was doing.
"Poor genin brats, going have to deal with a sensei's death" he said aloud.
Grinning, Obito shot to the trees. He had a rotted root to burn.
Following the team, was quite frankly the most boring and tedious thing. Even D ranks back in his genin days were more interesting and they consisted of chores. This perpetual boredom led him into the...more darker thought and actions he wanted to take. The first consisting of just killing the Root, disposing of him and then letting the poor kids make their way back to Konoha alone.
Obito never said he was a good guy.
Instead, he had been following the team for two days at a snails pace. Were all genin this slow? Was he this slow? He pondered in growing horror and increasing respect for Minato for his divine patience.
Obito was not. In any shape or form, being dramatic.
The difference in skill and strength between genin and Jonin was vast. It was like comparing a kitten with claws to a fully matured tiger. The best they could do is anger and annoy, unless they were exceptionally skilled and had the Jonin outnumbered, or surprised. Even then, these advantages only lasted for a few seconds as any high ranking ninjutsu techniques could easily overpower the genin's numbers; surprise was short lived after it failed. No worthy ninja would make the way overrated mistake of underestimation.
Finally
The team in question had stopped for the night. Each member delegated to a simple task such as setting up tent, collecting wood for the fire and first guard. Obito could feel his body grow stiff, taking his mask off to cover his yawn and wipe away at the tearing eye. If only the brats would fall asleep already.
As the time went by, Obito thought he'd fall asleep before he went through with his plan. Why was he taking the nice route? Ahh...right, it was to save the brats from probable trauma in seeing their sensei tortured while they were forced to watch hopelessly.
Growing impatient, he snarled. Whatever, screw it.
Flinging a kunai, he struck the girl keeping guard throat. Her eyes widened, mouth opening for a gasp as she gargled on her blood, hands desperately trying to stop the flow. She was dead under a minute, choking in her own fluid.
He then quickly moved to grab the root in a carotid artery hold, which applied force on the artery to constrict the flow of blood to the brain, rendering the shinobi unconscious.
He didn't want to cause blunt trauma to the brain by knocking him on the back of the head with the handle of the kunai. He needed the root in relatively unharmed shape before he did any everlasting damage.
Looked to the other tents he scoffed. The boys haven't even stirred from their sleep. Senses not sharpened enough in such an early start of their shinobi careers.
Searching the girls bag for some paper and pen, he quickly wrote a note. It wouldn't do well to leave without providing the boy's with some closure.
Going over the note with a critical eye. He nodded satisfied. Then turned in his heel, disappearing into his dimension.
He had a poisonous root to burn.
The next morning, two unsuspecting genin woke up to the rising sun, naïvely thankful for the small mercy of receiving full sleep.
Their cheerful grins soon melting away into looks of horror as they noticed their female teammate, mouth open, hands laying limply with still open glazed eyes, a single kunai embedded in her throat.
Above the dead girl a single piece of paper was pinned to the tree in silent mockery. An image of a spiralling mask at the bottom.
Tobi is a good boy and left an explanation!
Tobi is sorry for killing the pretty girly, but he didn't want her to alert the scary Jonin.
So Tobi took him!
Pretty green leaves shouldn't be corrupted by roots
Jaa Ne!
AN: So that's that. Updates will take a while and probs each chp after this one will be around 5k words.
As I don't have a beta and I'm writing on my phone please be patient. I am a slow writer and I like to make sure that what i write isn't absolute garbage.
Jaa ne- informal goodbye
Suadade- meaning will be given next chp.