Notes: Hello, and welcome to the companion half of Ninja Stealth Art. This is all from Tomoko's point of view. So yeah. I decided to write a bit more of the story, to explain a few things from the other side. Also it feels like a good idea considering the current arc. Having some extra explanation and another perspective.
So enjoy learning more about who Tomoko is in the context of the story. Also blah, blah afterlife stuff. This is only an introduction after all, also first person for reasons.
Prologue
Death actually isn't as bad as I'm expecting it to be. I can feel it as my skin peels and flakes away, crumbling to nothing more than dust but I force a smile and look back at the boy who's freed me. To the man who's changed me, to the world that I'm leaving behind this time around. Maybe I'm a villain, maybe I'm the bad guy but I can still be thankful, I can still be grateful and I ask them to keep going.
Because their way was the right one in the end.
How far I fell, only to end up doing the right thing after all. So I die with a smile and fall. I don't expect to be able to open my eyes again. So when I do it's a shock, and I can't help but gasp and stare at the person in front of me.
"Rin..."
We talk for a while before I realize that Kakashi still needs my help. So I take a breath(even though I probably don't need to) and go to help him. It's strange. Because even after all this time, I suppose that Rin's right. We are friends in a way... Not. There's no way that we can ever get along properly, not really. But we do care for one another I suppose. We're team mates, and besides, I would hate to see him die.
So I transport myself there and arrive with a simple statement.
"Before I go to the other world, I figured that I'd come back to remind you not to follow after me anytime soon! I did just give you that eye as a present for becoming a Jonin after all... If you returned it so soon, it just wouldn't be right."
"Obito... You..." I quickly cut him off, I don't want to get too caught up in the sappy stuff now, the world needs to be saved.
"Not that I'll be waking up to this world anymore anyways... Regardless... What I wanted to talk about... I told Naruto a while back to become Hokage. The Seventh Hokage, that is. The Sixth Hokage needs to be you, Kakashi." I pause for a few moments relishing his shock before continuing "Although you haven't taken the position officially yet, I wanted to give you your congratulations present ahead of time. It may only be temporary, but it's far from useless... You know what I'm talking about, right?" Here I once more pause, I don't know if he'll keep them forever, but still. I take a deep breath and continue, "...You haven't forgotten how your name resounds even across foreign lands? The name 'Kakashi of the Sharingan'!"
That last job done I rejoin Rin and give her a wide beaming grin. She smiles back at me, that familiar smile that makes something in me twist and then she's moving. I have to follow, over the featureless place as she walks.
As we walk and then she pauses.
"Obito... There's something I need to talk to you about." that tone sounds like trouble and I pause looking at her back unsure. "Even though you've taken a step towards redemption... it's not enough." I blink, because what does that mean. "From here you have a choice, kind of... Do you keep going into the pure land, or do you go back?" she turns around and there's something in her eyes that makes me want to turn around and Run for the hills.
This isn't right.
I'm supposed to die now, the end. Nothing more, nothing about going back.
"What do you mean Rin? Why's it not enough?" I ask trying to understand.
"There's a lot of people who hate you Obito..." yeah well that's to be expected, I mean I did set the Kyubi off on Konoha, I did push the Akatsuki to capture the Jinchuriki, I started the Forth Shinobi War, the Uchiha Massacre... Although that was kind of already happening I just helped it along... "You wouldn't be able to be happy here Obito. But there is a second option. You could go back. Of course it wouldn't be the exact same."
"What do you mean Rin? Why wouldn't it be the same..." She laughs and I really feel like running. Slowly she stretches one hand out to the side and lowers it and the white expanse beside her shifts and ripples.
An image forms and I'll be perfectly honest, I gape. It's the image of a hospital I think. And sitting in one of the chairs is me, a much younger me but still me. The me there is surprisingly contained and I look over at Rin confused. She simply shakes her head and I blink before turning back to the image. It's still the same, a younger me(though not wearing any clothing that I really recognise) sitting in the hospital.
He seems perfectly content, and then Kakashi comes in. I frown and then I'm surprised when the Hatake boy sits down beside the me in the image who grins and then moves his hands in a strange pattern only to have Kakashi laugh(actually laugh) and then respond with something in kind. It's strange and foreign and I can't believe that I'm watching it. Slowly I straighten and look at Rin with a question on the tip of my tongue.
"You won't end up in that exact world... but... if you do choose to go back. Things will change." she is rubbing one arm and not looking at me. "Also Obito, if you do choose to go, when you die there. You won't return to this part of the afterlife."
"WHAT?" I shout and straighten up abruptly not exactly excited to hear that. It would mean that I wouldn't get to see her again, or wait around for Kakashi so that I could finally use the late line on him like he always used to do when we were kids. "But... but, that would mean..."
"Oh you would still be able to visit. But you wouldn't be connected to our section, you wouldn't be a permanent resident" she smiles at me again and I can only stare with no words to say. I can't say a word. There's nothing that I can say. "Don't worry though. I'll still be watching over you Obito. Always!" she says and I can't help it I close my eyes with the faintest sparkle of tears that gather.
"Of course Rin! I understand."
I nod my head and then open my eyes back up. I look one more time at the image. The other me is now with the whole team. His Rin, his Kakashi, and Kushina? I rub my eyes and stare but the image doesn't change. That's okay I guess, unexpected, but okay. I look once more at Rin and she looks even more serious than she did when she promised to watch over me originally. Grim and serious.
She takes a hold of my arm and drags me off again, the image of the other world disappearing with a ripple as she steps right through it. I stare back at it for a second before simply following after her.
There's a gate ahead of us but she stops and instead walks towards a plain dull grey door. She gives me a look before raising a hand and knocking on the door. It's thrown open by Minato-sensei, or a Minato-sensei anyway. I can see another two from where I'm standing, among other vaguely familiar faces. There's a couple Hiruzens in there and a few people who I don't recognise at all... And an Orochimaru?
"Hey Sensei!" Rin chirps from beside me and all of the Minatos in view call out cheerfully.
"Hi Rin!" in response. I honestly don't know how this could get any weirder really. Rin continues to smile and offer greetings as she pulls me along through this building and finally to a door where a man in a fullbody red outfit sits on the desk talking to who has to be the Shinigami, or Death, or I don't know. Especially since I thought that I saw several shinigami so far. Also, the person there is a girl.
Death is a girl... Who knew?
Rin stands there and the man turns and basically goes "Whoa! So that's the one who almost destroyed the world once?" Okay what? When did that happen. "Anyway, I'm only here for another month I think... And then I'll go back to doing what I do best!" he says and I look over to Rin, only she's already deep in discussion with the other person. "But hey! Just between you and me, I'm sure that being your own sibling won't be that bad. I mean yeah it will be confusing but... Oh. Wait, I think that might be a spoiler... Oh good luck anyway!"
"What..."
"Obito! Come on, it's time to go... here" Rin grabs me by the arm and shows me to a swirling blue and white portal. "Good luck Obito." she wraps her arms around me and then steps back and disappears. I look around one last time before taking a deep breath and stepping through...
And then I forget... I forget the pure land, but in the warmth and the dark I still remember that... I died.