The following story is brought to you by Jill's strange and slightly demented mind. The ideas within are all her own, though the characters are owned by Masashi Kishimoto.
This story is a result of finding many fanfics and fanvids where Obito is really Tobi and Tobi is really Obito. How that theory ever developed is beyond me, but here is my take on it anyway.
Dedicated to Howard, who shares his birthday today with Sakura. Happy Birthday!
ObiTobi
Obito walked through Konoha, searching for his team. He had just finished setting up the Best Prank Ever, and now he needed someone to try it on.
Spotting his sensei's familiar yellow hair in the ramen stand, Obito walked up and said, "Hi."
Minato turned, about to greet his student when he noticed something odd. "Um, Obito," he began slowly, "why are you wearing an orange mask?"
Obito reached up and felt his face. "Mask? Huh? Oh..." Obito grinned sheepishly, but no one could tell, thanks to the swirly orange mask he was wearing. "Sorry. I must have forgotten to take it off."
"Right," Minato said. "But why are you even wearing it in the first place?" he asked his student.
Obito looked at him. "Why else would I wear a mask? To conceal my identity!"
"From what? We all know you," the blonde pointed out.
"That's true," Obito nodded. "But some people don't, and I don't want them to find out who I am." As if suspicious of people watching him even now, Obito glanced cautiously around.
"OK," Minato said, unsure what else to say.
"Plus it's orange. I like orange," Obito stated.
Just then, Rin and Kakashi walked up and asked the obvious question. "Why are you wearing a mask, Obito?" Rin asked as Kakashi stared at him.
"Shh!" he whispered furtively. "They may be listening in!"
"...Who may be listening in?" Rin asked.
"My...minions," Obito said seriously.
"...What are you talking about?" Minato said.
Obito looked around once more, before leaning in to whisper to his team. "I am really the leader of a secret criminal organization, planning to wipe out all the shinobi villages and somehow use the moon to create peace!"
The three sweat-dropped.
"Obito," Rin said finally, "if this is some kind of elaborate prank to get attention or win my affection, it's not working."
"And it's really lame," Kakashi added.
Obito glared at them. "It is not a prank," he informed them. "I really am the leader of a criminal organization. It's purposely set up so that everyone thinks I'm an idiot, and that this other guy is the leader, but I really am the one pulling the strings!"
The three stared at him doubtfully.
Finally, Kakashi spoke. "Obito, you really are an idiot. Especially if you think we'll believe that," he said, turning away and preparing to go to the training grounds.
Minato looked between his two students, unsure what to say.
"Fine. You don't have to believe me. But when my organization takes over the world and creates peace by being the only place for people to be able to hire ninja from, you'll be sorry you laughed at me," Obito said to Kakashi.
Kakashi turned around. "How on earth would taking over the world create peace? And what point would there be to wiping out the ninja villages and becoming the only shinobi provider if you could create world peace?" Kakashi asked.
Obito's grin grew. "Ow. I have to remember not to smile that wide. This mask is restrictive," he said absently.
"I asked you a question," Kakashi reminded him as Minato and Rin stared at the two.
"Right," Obito said. "And I'm so happy you asked me that." He paused dramatically. "Eliminating the other villages means my organization gets to control what happens between each village and country. We get to determine if there will be wars and how they will turn out."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying that this current war is your fault?" he asked.
Minato knew where this conversation was going. He decided to interject a quick statement before Kakashi and Obito attempted to kill one another. "He did say that they were 'trying' to take over the world, Kakashi. I think it's safe to say this war isn't their fault."
"Sure it isn't," Kakashi muttered.
Obito grinned at him. "Not this time, no." He paused for a second. "We aren't actually a very big organization yet," he confided. "Most of our members are still in diapers."
"...That's...interesting," Minato said uncertainly.
"So just what is the name of this organization?" Kakashi asked tersely, crossing his arms over his chest.
"The Akatsuki," Obito proclaimed proudly.
"'The Akatsuki'?" Rin repeated.
"That's lame," Kakashi said dismissively.
"Akatsuki? That means 'dawn'," Minato said.
"I know that," Obito told him. "I did, after all, name the organization."
"Why did you choose that name?" Minato asked.
"I like sunrise," Obito said simply. "It's got orange in it."
"What is it with you and orange?" Minato asked him, silently thinking it was a color any sane ninja would avoid like the plague.
Obito shrugged.
"Let me get this straight," Rin said suddenly. "Obito is the leader of an organization called 'Dawn', and plans to take over the world while acting like an idiot?"
"Well, it's actually called Akatsuki, but, basically, you got it right," Obito told her.
"You're not even going to deny the 'idiot' part?" Kakashi questioned.
Obito glanced at him. "No. Because that is a part of the plan. Who would suspect a criminal organization to have such a person as a member?" he asked rhetorically.
"Not to mention leader," Minato said thoughtfully.
"Who would have thought the Uchiha's could have produced such a moron?" Kakashi mumbled.
"I heard that," Obito told him.
"So what are you called in this organization?" asked Rin. "Leader-sama?"
Obito shook his head. "No. I try to blend in as one of the members," he reminded her. "They call me 'Tobi'."
"Tobi? Why Tobi?" Minato asked.
Obito shrugged again. "It has the same letters as my real name, which makes it easy to remember."
"You are seriously lazy," Kakahi said.
Obito merely smiled. "Besides," he added, "no one would think a guy named Tobi—"
"Is the leader of a criminal organization," Rin cut him off. "We know, we know."
Minato looked at his pupil thoughtfully. "Why would you tell us all this, though?" he asked.
"You asked about my mask," Obito pointed out. "I couldn't just ignore your question."
"You're going to take over the world and eliminate the shinobi villages, but you couldn't just lie about your mask?" asked Kakashi.
"Well, no. Lying is bad."
Minato, Rin, and Kakashi exchanged glances. Finally, Rin spoke up. "Obito, have you been eating soldier pills again?"
"No," Obito said, glaring at her slightly. "Why is it you always think I've eaten soldier pills when I do something stupid?"
The three gave him a look. "You aren't serious, are you?" Rin asked him.
"Hey, it was one time. Can't you just let it go already?"
"Obito," Minato said. "You knocked down a whole forest singlehandedly after eating three of those things," he reminded his student.
Obito looked sheepish, rubbing the back of his head with one hand. "It was an accident," he reminded them. "Besides, I can be stupid without the help of pills."
"...That statement certainly proves that," Minato agreed.
"Obito, seriously, if you overdose on those things, it can be really dangerous," Rin said.
"I know. I haven't taken any since the forest thing."
Rin looked skeptical.
"Honest!" Obito said.
"If you're not on soldier pills, then where did you get this crazy idea from?" Rin demanded.
"It's not a 'crazy idea'; it's the truth!"
"Sure it is," Kakashi said, mirroring Rin's disbelieving attitude.
Obito glared at him. "Listen, you!" he shouted. "I am the leader of a criminal organization known as the Akatsuki, and I will take over the world using the moon! And I'm immortal!" he added.
"How nice for you," a voice said dryly.
Team Minato all turned to see four ANBU behind them.
"How long have you been there?" Rin asked them.
"Long enough to hear your friend 'Tobi' confess," the sarcastic ANBU replied. "We're going to have to apprehend you now, Tobi," he said to Obito. "For belonging to a criminal organization and planning the annihilation of the Five Elemental Villages."
"Aw, crap," ObiTobi replied.
Kakashi, Rin, and Minato watched as the ANBU took the boy/criminal mastermind away.
"That was strange," Minato said.
"Now I'm beginning to wonder if WE are the ones on soldier pills," Rin agreed.
"Can we go train now?" Kakashi asked, not paying any attention to the sounds of his teammate being dragged toward the Hokage Tower for questioning.
"Sure," Minato said. And the three remaining members of Team Minato went off to train while the fourth had to explain what, exactly, he had been talking about when he said he was going to take over the world using the moon.
He never got to show anyone his Best Ever Prank.