"Sometimes when I close my eyes, I wonder if maybe there was a chance that I could be different, if things could be different. Then maybe this wouldn't be hell"

Alternate Universe -

His eyes swept over the peaceful village, as he shifted in his position on the carved head of the Yondaime, his former teacher. A cool breeze ushered into the village and he looked up as some birds soared above head. As the sun slowly rose, its golden rays rolled over the village in soft, gentle waves. He stood up and stretched. He smiled at himself and pumped his fists in the air. "Yosh, today's going to be another great day!" he declared before disappearing in a swirl of leaves. When he appeared, he was standing in one of the vacant streets of the village that was slowly but surely waking up. That was when he saw the hunched back of an oh-so-familiar, old lady struggling with her bags.

"Ah, let me help you with that" Obito offered as he rushed after her. The elderly woman smiled at the scarred man.

"Ah, Obito-kun, you always know when this old lady needs help" she said and he smiled. He gently took the bags and they fell into step as they walked towards her house. "Do you have another mission?" she asked, eying his green flak jacket. The man sheepishly smiled at her.

"Yeah, I heading out in a while" he said and Ran chuckled. "So, you, young lady have to get someone else to carry your bags while I'm away" he teased.

"Young lady? I haven't been called that in thirty years now" she said and laughed at Obito's shocked face.

"What? Preposterous! Can't they see that you're fresh as a daisy!" he shouted in mock outrage. She shook her head at him as they appeared in front of her house.

"Thank you as always Obito-kun" she said and he helped her load her bags inside. "Can I offer you a cup of tea?" she asked.

"I would never pass up on such an offer! Your tea is the best" he said and she smiled.

"Kaa-chan, when are we going to get ramen?" Naruto whined and tugged on his mother's hand. Kushina frowned at the four year old who wiggled a little, showing her how displeased he was. He pouted and he attacked her with what she dubbed his 'puppy' eyes.

"That won't work on me, Naru-chan. I am not your father" she said and sighed. He frowned as some of the villagers greeted his mother during their trek to the market. Once her attention was somewhere else, he was bored. However, that was when he saw his favorite older brother. He was waving at the old lady who was smiling at him as he left her house.

"Nii-san!" he shouted and the once the man turned around, Naruto shot towards him. Obito had to brace himself as the boy crashed into his legs. "Nii-san, nii-san, nii-san~" Naruto sang and tugged on his pants' legs. Obito scooped up the bundle of joy into his arms and blew raspberries on his stomach.

"I see you were out saving the world, one old lady at a time, Obito-kun" Kushina said and Obito spluttered. Naruto giggled at his silly brother.

"What can I say, I'm a hero!" he said in a goofy voice, causing Naruto to laugh. Kushina shook her head at the two.

"Of course you are! Because you're my nii-san!" Naruto shouted and Obito puffed out his chest in pride.

"Ah, Kushina-chan" Mikoto greeted and the red head warmly smiled at her. Holding her hand was her youngest son, Sasuke who scowled at Naruto who was glaring back at him.

"Sasuke-bastard" Naruto growled and the young Uchiha just looked away from him dismissively. However, his mother could see the twinge of happiness in her son's eyes. She knew that despite their constant arguments, Sasuke viewed the blonde as his best friend and vice versa.

"Behave, Naru-chan" Kushina warned and her son frowned but quietened down. Sasuke used that opportunity and shot Naruto a smug smile.

"You too" Mikoto chided and a grin appeared on Naruto's face. Sasuke looked away with a trademark Uchiha 'Hn'. "Obito-kun, I was wondering why you left the district so early. Is it another mission?" she asked and Obito nodded.

"Wow, is that true, nii-san?" Naruto asked with wide eyes. He stared at his brother with wonder and awe.

"Of course it is" Obito said, clearly relishing in the younger blonde's admiration.

"You're so strong, nii-san!" Naruto said, hugging him. Obito blushed when the women cooed over their supposed 'cuteness'.

"Hn. My aniki is stronger" Sasuke childishly said, and Naruto stuck out his tongue at him.

"My nii-san is stronger than your baka aniki!" Naruto shouted and Sasuke shook his head.

"Nuh-uh!" Sasuke said and Naruto frowned. "My aniki is cooler and stronger than your nii-san!" he added.

"My nii-san is the best! He's strong and kind and funny!" Naruto shouted at Sasuke who had gotten red with anger.

"Obito and strong in the same sentence?" someone drawled, and the young boys stopped their fighting. When they turned, they saw the Yondaime as well as Kakashi approaching.

"Shut up, Bakashi!" Obito shouted and pointed at the silver haired man who just rolled his eyes.

"I'm a little jealous, Naru-chan. I thought I was the best" Minato, said, after he greeted everyone.

"Of course you are!" Naruto shouted and Minato took him from Obito. "But Obito-nii is special" Naruto added and beamed at his brother whose eyes had widened a little. "You're my nii-san and no one can take your place" he said and Obito blushed as the others chuckled. Sasuke rolled his eyes and that signaled another fight between the two boys.

"Aw, if that isn't the cutest thing, I don't know what is" Kakashi said, from his spot beside him and Obito elbowed him in the ribs, HARD.

"Oh, are we having a meeting here in the street? How youthful!" Gai shouted and Obito chuckled as the man turned to Kakashi. "My eternal rival! How lucky that fate destined that we meet so early in the morning! Let us spar!" he shouted and they laughed as Gai ran down an unwilling Kakashi.

Soon enough the crowd got larger as Hayate, Yugao, Asuma, Genma, Raidou and Anko joined in. Obito silently stared at them from the sidelines when he felt someone else's hand slide into his own. He glanced at the spectral form of Rin who was staring at him. With closed eyes, she smiled at him.

"I'll be fine" he whispered to her, and they both turned to stare at their friends.

Canon Universe, October 10.

"Everything has been arranged" White Zetsu said as he popped out from the ground. He stared at the figure wearing the orange, swirl mask. The lone red eye coldly stared at the sun set in an unforgiving manner.

"Let's go. It's time to pay my old sensei a visit" he said and they flickered out of existence like they were even there in the first place.