A/N: Hi all! This is one of the first fanfics I've started before, except I thought that the plot was too stale and decided to re-write it. Updates would be less frequent in this one (around once every four/five weeks) as I intend to focus more on the quality. Please, please, review and post your thoughts on this one: they would all be taken into account!Tell me what you like, what you hate (if you do, I won't mind if you give good criticism on how to make it better) and what you would like to see XD
Prologue
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure, sighed and beckoned his head Jonin's entrance. Over thirty years of overlooking the village had made him feel like a wizened old man, exhausted by ages of experience.
Many things had happened, he wasn't really supposed to re-take this office after the Yondaime's death—except there wasn't any other option, everybody had been devastated by the Kyuubi's attack and there needed to be an approachable, familiar face to assuage the distressed people. Wearied yet determined as ever, he had re-donned his Hokage robes and re-assumed his position.
"Come in Obito."
"What's the matter old man?" The younger of the two smiled a little nervously; from first impressions, most would have deemed him irresponsible and goofy (which he was), but the Sandaime knew better. There wasn't any available jonin more suited for this task.
"You realize that in two weeks, there would be another graduation at the academy. Among them is Naruto Uzumaki, your sensei's son and your relative Sasuke Uchiha, yes?"
Obito nodded, slightly apprehensive at where this conversation was going, "and you want me too…"
"Yes, I want you to be their jonin instructor—"
"Forgive me old man, but I'm really not ready for this!" He couldn't help burst out. Hiruzen sighed again; it was fortunate that Koharu and Homura weren't present, as they might have chastised Obito Uchiha for his 'insolence' at interrupting the Hokage's speech.
"Obito, you've been saying this for the past five years, have some faith in yourself, besides who else would you recommend?"
"Kakashi Hatake. He'll be strict but he's a better mentor."
The Sandaime shook his head, "yes he is a capable jonin but you're more suited for this."
"How? Old man, how? I'm responsible for both Naruto and Sasuke's pasts—"
"The Yondaime's death is not your fault, nor is the Uchiha Clan Massacre—"
"How? I was too late, by the time I arrived, Minato sensei—I practically witnessed the life seep out of him and Kushina-san! And—"
"You did what you could do, you delivered their infant Naruto safely to the village—"
"I did nothing afterwards," he winced in guilt, "I should have adopted him—"
"From what I recalled, you did try, remember?"
Obito reluctantly agreed, it was true that after the attack he had demanded to adopt Minato Namikaze's infant son. The council at that time, owing to their mistrust in the Uchiha's in general as well as contemplating on Obito being underaged, had rejected him.
"But the Massacre—"
"Could have been worse, more could have died."
" I was partially responsible!"
The Sandaime shook his head, "its true what you have said, but both of them could have died or lived much worse lives if you hadn't interfered. From all of your years as head jonin, I've learnt much about you, that's why I still stand by my belief that you should be the one to mentor them—no one else."
Obito bit his lip and acquiesced, he wasn't completely convinced about himself; nonetheless he decided that this time, running away wasn't an option.
"Help, Rin, Kakashi," Obito had invited them over to his place—somewhere outside the uninhabited Uchiha compound (after the Massacre, no one had lived there, painful memories lingered)—for a friend's gathering, "I have no idea how to teach."
Rin had her hair down and looked drained after a day's work at the hospital, her expression was that of understanding and sympathy.
She's gotten much more prettier since the genin days, Obito involuntarily blushed.
Meanwhile Kakashi Hatake, known as the Second White Fang of the Leaf, gazed at him with a cool façade and was relaxed on the coach, as he contemplated on what advices to give; only to realize he had none.
"Don't ask me," Kakashi shook his head, "I've failed every single batch of genin ever assigned to me."
"Same here, not the part with the failing, but it'll be alright, I'm sure you'll be a great sensei!" Rin had cheered him on, "besides didn't you always want a chance to talk to sensei's kid?"
"Yeah but… Every time I see him, I'm reminded of the attack twelve years ago, it's still fresh in my mind!" He started to panic, the attack. He mustn't think about it.
"Obito-kun, please, stop thinking about that, no one blames it on you," she pleaded.
"But I blame it on myself!"
Silence, wounds from a bygone time, torn open once again.
"Your hurting yourself, Obito-kun," Rin said quietly, and upset, " it's not your fault yet you keep punishing yourself. Please, stop thinking about what happened to sensei."
"Rin…" he realized that bringing up the subject had distressed everyone in the room and rebuked himself for being so careless, "I guess your right, I'm sorry for… you know, I promise everything will be alright, I'll…" his voice trickled off as he forcefully pulled a smile. Over the years, he'd become exceptionally proficient at that, conjuring a synthetic smile that would often convince himself and those around him that all is well. Nowadays, even Rin could be fooled.
"Don't worry Rin-chan, I'll be the best sensei ever and then I'll become the Godaime Hokage! It's a promise!" He grinned at her as she smiled back.
It was just like the old times.
"So you're going to be Sasuke's new sensei?" Shisui inquired with… relief? "that boy is a difficult one, he's still traumatized by what happened four years ago and vows on revenge all the time, immersing himself in training. No matter how hard I try, I still can't get to him." He shook his head in helplessness.
Since the incident of the Massacre Sasuke had been taken into custody by his closest living relative, Shisui Uchiha—except the damage was already done, Obito had heard Shisui's numerous confiding's on his inability to help Sasuke emotionally, enough to know that the boy was stubborn on his ways. Obito had often suspected that the boy had received harrowing torture personally from Itachi, he shuddered at the thought.
"It's just, Sasuke still has plenty of family left but he's ignoring us, pushing away help. He also has no manners at all, it's just like his pleasant demeanor was massacred along with… you know." Shisui paused.
"Yeah… "Obito grimaced, from the numerous times he saw Sasuke, the boy seemed embittered beyond his age, so infused with hatred that friends, family paled in comparison. Often the boy's eyes would gaze sentimentally and sternly at a distance—it unnerved him.
Shisui moaned in defeat, there were deep, dark circles around his eyes, Obito noted, as he clasped his hands around his face. Maintaining the clan was a difficult task, most of their higher ups have perished and he was the closest in line. The police force was short on members and Shisui had resolved to admit outsiders to fill up the vacancies. His days were crammed with paperwork, re-organizing the units, supervising newcomers and important cases.
Obito mentally punched himself, it was your fault too, a voice clogged his conscience, you could have taken up this job, Shisui had barely reached 22 and look at his wretched state.
"I'd better be going, there's going to be a jonin meeting soon," Obito decided to leave, well technically the meeting was about to start in one minute but everybody was so used to their leader being late that most of them tolerated up to ten minutes of delay.
"You mean in what, one minute?!" Shisui couldn't help laugh, "I swear Obito, thank Kami I took up this job, not you, the people in the police force would have murdered anyone who showed up more than a second late at a meeting!"
"You're right, I suppose, " Obito pretended to whine. Just before he opened the door, he turned around and remarked, "Hey, by the way, you should get yourself a girlfriend!"
Shisui looked back at him in a confused state. "Wha-what did you say?"
"Get yourself a girlfriend, it helps with the stress!"