(A/N: So, um, yeah, like, um, yeah, I like don't even own Naruto, bruh.)

Beta'd by the perfectionist, DarkNite88

This Path I Walk

Chapter 1: Towards The Future

(Arc I: Sacrifice)

Opening: Die Alone. Artist: Ingrid Michaelson. Album: Girls and Boys.

A coat gently flutters in the breeze. The wearer overlooks the Hidden Leaf Village and watches the sunrise with a stoic expression. The wise words of a dear friend ring through his head.

"Self-sacrifice… A nameless shinobi who protects peace from the shadows, that is what it truly means to be a shinobi."

Sighing softly, the man turns around and walks away, the red clouds on his uniform shimmering in the sunlight.

JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'

As she walks along with her friends and fellow genin Sakura, Ino, and Hinata, Heiwa Namikaze gets an odd urge to look over at the Hokage Monument. Shrugging it off as just a strange feeling, she suggests that they all head over to her house for some training. All agree, and so the four kunoichi make their way to the joint clan estate of the Uzumaki and Namikaze.

"Mom, I'm home!" Heiwa shouts as she walks through the door.

"Hi honey! Your brother is in the back with his friends, training. Dinner's almost ready, so could you go get them?" Kushina asks from the kitchen.

Looking at her friends apologetically, Heiwa shouts back her confirmation and runs to the backyard.

"Kibo! Dinner's ready!"

A couple minutes later all the genin are sitting down happily around the table. Kushina looks on with a gentle smile.

"Seven years. You'd be twenty-two, now. I hope you're doing well out there, Naru-chan."

JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'

"Another day of breathing, which means simply another day of paperwork," Minato muses as his signature is imprinted on the last sheet. Running his calloused hand across the wooden desk, the Yellow Flash activates a seal and pulls out a cup of instant ramen. Utilizing his extensive jutsu knowledge, he instantly cooks the delectable noodles and stands up.

Walking over to the window that overlooks his village, he mutters "Itadakimasu" and begins to eat the ramen.

"You almost escaped my senses, son. For your chakra control alone to grow that much, truly remarkable."

A knock comes to his door as he finishes off the ramen. Burning the cup to ash, the Yondaime says: "Come in."

His old, cute, genin-turned Jonin walks in and sees Minato looking out the window. Chuckling, he jokingly says: "Careful, old man. You might forget that's a window one of these days."

Minato snorts and turns to his student.

"Obito, what do you need?" he asks.

"What? Can't a guy just come and talk to his old Sensei?"

"Obito."

Sighing, Obito drops his facade: "Fine. I've been hearing rumors, Sensei. Are we really allowing Kiri and Iwa to participate in our chunin exams?"

"Obito, it's for pea-"

"Bullshit! Iwa almost killed Kakashi, and Kiri fucking KILLED Rin!"

Minato looks at his student sternly. "Obito. I taught you to be rational in all situations. What Iwa and Kiri did was tragic, but they've paid for their transgressions. Almost all of Iwa's forces were slaughtered and they lost land in the Land of Grass. Kiri lost all of the Land of Waves and the Land of Whirlpools."

"I know, Sensei, but Rin…"

"I know, Obito, I know. However, you can't blame the future for the mistakes of the past."

Obito stands up and grabs the handle of the door.

"Obito."

The Uchiha looks back at his Hokage, only to be envelopped in a hug.

"Never allow revenge to consume your soul. Rin would've wanted more from you."

A tear squeezes itself out of Obito's eye. "I-I know, but it's just so hard…"

Minato lets go of Obito and rests a hand on his head.

"An old friend of mine once told me something about hatred. He said: 'Hating is easy and for the weak. True strength comes in the ability to forgive. However, we must also remember to never forget the name of those who've wronged us.'"

Obito nods and opens the door. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, sensei." Minato just nods in response and watches as the door closes behind his student.

"Stay strong, Obito."

JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'

Rubbing out his tear, Obito walks out of the Hokage Tower. Craving some dango, he makes his way to his favorite dango shop. Upon arriving, he notices the infamous snake mistress, Anko Mitarashi, sitting by herself in the corner. His sensei's words ringing in his mind, the chronically late Uchiha decides to take a leap of faith. Walking over to the Tokubetsu Jonin, he takes a seat.

"Yo."

JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'

It was just another day in the life of Anko Mitarashi. She woke up to sake and dango, tortured some arse, drank some more sake, thanked Kami for the Yondaime and his release of her cursed mark and was currently eating some more dango. As soon as Obito walked in, she noticed him. The guy was just a magnet for attention. Well, actually, all of those trained under the fourth were magnets, he was no exception. Kakashi, was known as the second coming of his father, and Obito for his heroic actions in the Third Shinobi War as well as his mastery of the Sharingan. It was a shame that they were both known to avoid any kind of romantic relationships due to what happened to their female teammate, Rin. However, imagine the snake mistress' surprise when the christened "Mukei-sei no Obito" (A/N: Roughly translates to Obito of the Intangibility) approaches her table before sitting down. His lame greeting aside, the Kunoichi licks her lips.

"Why, hello Obito-kun~ What brings you to my humble abode?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Your abode?"

"Why of course," Anko grins devilishly, "after all, I do hold the 'most dango eaten' award."

Obito's onyx eyes widen. "D-damn. How much did you eat?"

She smirks. "55 sticks."

Obito looks at her for second before just chuckling. "Same old Anko, ne? I remember once when we were still in the academy, you stole everyone's dango from their school lunches, and only one noticed."

The snake mistress giggles. "You remember that?"

"Of course. You did share with me after all," Obito says jovially.

"That's right, you were the only one that caught me."

"Uh-huh. I never let my dango leave my sight."

The two emotionally scarred Shinobi talked throughout the night. Neither noticed how comfortable they were getting with each other. Not that either them cared, of course.

JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'JustKeepWalkin'

Kisame looks at his partner with interest. "You really miss that place, huh?"

"I think 'miss' is the wrong word. What I feel towards my home is something I cannot describe. The best word I can think of is 'ambivalence'."

"Ambivalence? Huh, good word."

His partner nods and asks, "Any missions?"

"Nah, Leader-sama's been real quiet lately," answers Kisame.

"Where do you want to go?"

The ex-Kiri-nin shrugs. "Take some bounties?" Another nod, and the two S-rank nin begin their trek to the nearest illegal bounty station. The two reach the station a couple hours later and see two of their fellow Akatsuki members walking out.

"Yo, Hidan, Kakazu!" Kisame grins

The two turn around with different reactions Hidan smirks at Kisame whilst

Kakazu nods at Kisame's partner.

"It's been a while, Fishies," says Hidan with a slight chuckle.

Kisame gains a tick mark and grabs Samehada's hilt. "You wanna go, you

fake religious nut?"

Hidan grabs a hold of his scythe and growls, "Fine. I'm sure Jashin-sama would love some shark fillet."

Both prepare to jump, but threads and chains stop them both.

"Kisame, calm yourself," states Kisame's partner.

"Hidan, you fool. Do you need me to save your ass from everything?"

"Bite me, Kakazu!"

Kisame sighs. "My bad, Naruto."

Naruto nods and his black chakra chains recede, freeing the two. He looks over at Kakazu. "Kakazu-sempai, I apologize. We'll be on our way."

Kakazu waves his hand. "No worries."

Naruto and Kisame both walk into the bounty station and head to the bathroom.

"Hey, Naruto?" Naruto looks back at his partner.

"Why do you call him senpai?"

Naruto chuckles. "Kinjutsu or not, that man's survived for more than a hundred years, Kisame. In this world of constant strife, that deserves respect."

"Still, I've seen you fight. You could probably kill him."

Naruto opens the secret door in the bathroom wall.

"As true as that may be, there is no point in making enemies out of the people who may one day be your saving grace."

Following his partner in, Kisame muses, "Heh. I guess they don't call you a sennin for no reason, ne Kodokuna horo-sha*?"

Ending: Brave Your Truth. Artist: Daisy x Daisy. Album: Koukaku no Regios OP Single.

*(A/N: That should translate to Lone Wanderer.)

Welcome to the reboot of I'll Always Be There. I'm gonna enjoy writing this one solely because I love writing Akatsuki and Obito. So, yeah Obito x Anko. It's happening. And if anyone's wondering about Itachi, he comes in next chapter.