Disclaimer I don't own Naruto, or Naruto Shippuden. It belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, and this fan fiction is for entertainment purposes only. That said, please enjoy!

You're Late

Prologue

The Third Hokage heaved a sigh, and took a drag from his pipe. The sacks beneath his eyes were heavier than usual, and there was a distinct look of grief smouldering in his dark irises. Obito Uchiha wasn't sure what to make of it, but it definitely started to stir a heavy feeling of unease.

Furrowing his brows, the twenty-two year old black sheep of the Uchiha clan was before the Hokage to give his report on the fortnight-long mission in Kusa. But it was evident that there was something the Third wanted to tell him. And it wasn't something good either.

Giving another sigh and preparing himself to speak, the Third looked Obito right in the eye. Speaking evenly, he began.

"It brings me great sadness to tell you this, Obito … but your clan has fallen." He told the dark-haired man, and Obito sucked in a breath, his eyes widening.

"Wh…What? Hokage-sama I don't understand…!" Obito stammered.

Hiruzen gave him a sympathetic look, "I think you do understand. A few nights ago, the Uchiha clan was almost completely wiped out by a traitor, Itachi Uchiha." He explained.

Itachi…!

No, it couldn't be… couldn't be that Itachi! Not Mikoto's boy!

Sure Itachi was a quiet sort who didn't interact with many apart from Shisui and his immediate family, but he clearly loved Konoha. Obito couldn't fathom a reason why his nephew would do such a thing!

His family was gone… his mother and father were dead. Though they'd never really approved of him much until he'd awakened his Sharingan, they were still his parents and they were precious to him. He loved them. And he'd never see them again.

...

'Obito! Get your lazy ass up now! Don't you have a mission to go on!'

'Hmph… Ever the disappointment… You're already 13 years old. When will you awaken your Sharingan?'

…

'I heard you made Jonin! Well done, Obito, you're going places now, huh? Now if only you'd do as well with your time-keeping!'

'Good job, son. You finally did it.'

'A mission in Kusa? Hn.'

'We'll have your favourite for supper, waiting when you get home!'

…

His heartbeat thumped in his ears, his legs began to feel weak…

His parents…His older sister…his cousins, aunts and uncles… even his nephew? Itachi had slain them all…?

Obito bit his lip, and pulled his goggles off his eyes, hastily rubbing away the tears before the Hokage noticed. But to no avail - Hiruzen had already seen it.

"I know this must be hard to take in. I can only offer my deepest condolences, and thank the gods for their small mercies. You see there is a shred of hope amidst this tragedy," he told Obito, and the young man lifted his head, blinking back tears threatening to fall. He gave the old man a confused, but curious look.

"There was another survivor, besides yourself." Those words were more uplifting than he could have expressed. Someone made it… who…

He drew in a breath, slightly shaky, "Another survivor…?" he repeated in wonder.

The Third Hokage gave a small smile, "Your nephew. Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha, was recovered from the compound alive." He said. Obito's lips quirked slightly, lifting upwards. Mikoto's other son was alive, then… his nephew was alive…!

Even though the relief was overwhelming, one question still wracked his brains. Looking to the wise Sarutobi with a glint of desperation. He lifted his arms to motion.

"But…why did Itachi do it, Hokage-sama…? I know my nephew – he was nothing if not loyal to the clan, to Konoha…! He wouldn't have done this kind of thing, n-not… not without good reason!" he said shakily.

There was a complicated look in the Third's eye. Obito couldn't quite decipher it.

Hiruzen slowly lifted himself up, groaning as his bones ached.

"Itachi had been recently promoted to Anbu captain. The stress was too much for him to handle, and he slayed his kin in a fit of insanity. He fled the village after committing his acts." He said, his head lowered. "…We can leave your mission report until later. Would you like to accompany me to the hospital, to visit young Sasuke?" he asked the Jonin, who gazed at the old Hokage a moment, before nodding his head.

They left the Hokage's office together as the sun sat low in the sky outside, signifying the days' coming to an end.

Obito gazed down on the unconscious 7-year-old laid before him in the hospital bed. His short black hair fell around his pale face, and he looked so vulnerable and fragile. Obito bit his lip – he'd never wanted to see his nephew in this state.

How could Itachi do this to his little brother…

Next to him, the Third Hokage gazed at the academy student as well, "He was recovered from the district under a genjutsu. We believe he'd had a run in with Itachi but for some reason he was spared. Rin was able to remove the genjutsu, and now all we can to is wait for him to wake up." He said.

Obito barely registered his team-mate's name over thoughts. His head was spinning. The once mighty Uchiha clan, had been reduced to three; himself, Itachi, and Sasuke. Obito himself was independent already. He had his own apartment separate from the Uchiha district and he supported his own income, though he still paid visits to his family.

Sasuke on the other hand was a 7 year old kid. He'd just lost his parents, and the dark revelation that it had been by the hands of his brother, whom Obito knew he'd idolized, must have shattered his world. He had nothing to cling to, nobody to support him.

Obito frowned. No. That wasn't true. He has his uncle. And even though, admittedly, he probably wasn't really ready for this kind of commitment…

Licking his lips anxiously he gazed over to the Hokage, to find him looking right back at him, almost expectant.

"Would it…be possible, Hokage-sama… for me to take Sasuke in? I know I'm still pretty young and all but…but Sasuke needs…someone. If I can't be the one…who can…" he said, feeling as though the Hokage's gaze on him was scrutinising him somehow.

A light smile grew on the lips of Hiruzen Sarutobi, and he spoke, "I had been hoping you would do so. Don't worry about your age. I'm sure you'll be able to handle it. Rin has offered her help as well," he said, and turned to the doorway.

Obito looked over his shoulder to see his team-mate standing at the door, clad in her medical robes. Her brown eyes were on his, and there was a look of unrestrained relief in them.

"Obito…" she murmured, a wobble in her voice.

"Rin…" he nodded back to her uncertainly. With that, the brown haired medic-nin crumbled, and ran towards him, throwing her arms around her and putting her head against his Jonin vest. Her shoulders were shaking as he placed his hands on them.

"I'm so glad… you're still with us. I'll do whatever I can to help… Kakashi will help too…!" she uttered into his chest.

Obito's eyelids drooped, and he put his nose against her head as he thought of his moniker.

Lucky Sharingan Obito. The one whose luck has helped him escape almost certain death on many an occasion.

He'd escaped again, and could only wonder why.

It didn't matter though. Now he had a purpose. To look after his nephew.

He gazed at his team-mate through eyes laced with slight tears, as the girl silently shook against him.

"Don't cry, Rin… I'm still here. I'll always be here." He said softly, rubbing her back. He glanced at the Hokage.

"I'll have the adoption papers ready for you tomorrow morning, Obito." He nodded to the young man, who nodded wordlessly.

"Thank you."

Kin: I don't think it's completely perfect, but I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of 'You're Late!'

There is an annoying lack of Obito-is-Team-7's-Sensei fanfics around, which is why I decided to write one myself. In this fic, as you've just read, Obito is Mikoto's little brother, and thus, Itachi and Sasuke's uncle. Sasuke has been taken into Obito's care after the Uchiha massacre. There will be the Obito x Rin pairing in this fanfic, but apart from that nothing else is planned pairing-wise.

The first chapter is already half-written, but I'd love some feedback and ideas of what you'd like to see in this fanfic before I post it!

Please let me know what you thought!

Thanks so much! :) xxx