Chapter 2

Kakashi summoned his nin dogs, and ordered them to check if the Konoha ninja are still out there, and if so, then ask them to come here. Pakkun looked surprised at Obito.

"Who're you, kid?"

As Obito didn't respond, Kakashi did it for him. "It's Obito."

"What? But you told me he's dead!"

"There's no time for the explanation. You and the other dogs go and see if you can find the reinforcement."

"Okay."

Pakkun and other dogs scattered.

"I think it's better if we wait here. Hopefully, it won't take too long."

Obito and Kakashi sat down on the ground. For a few moments, they said nothing. Both of them busy with their own thoughts.

"Do you think Rin's funeral will be right away?" Obito broke the silence.

"I don't know. First, the medical-nin need to make the autopsy on Rin to find out what exactly those ninja from the Bloody Mist did."

"Everyone will be happy to see you alive including your grandma," Kakashi said.

"My grandma? How is she?"

"She was very sad after she thought you died, but proud of you. Rin and I visited her few times to check on her."

"I can't wait to see her." Obito's lips curled up in a small smile.

"Obito, I will do everything to recompense to you for not keeping my promise to you. I know in the end Rin's death is my fault."

"It isn't. And you already recompensed it to me. You gave me hope."

Kakashi felt his heart becoming lighter.

The reinforcement arrived, they were all shocked to see Obito alive. Kakashi told them, he would explain everything on the way back to Konoha. They all agreed, and they made their way back with one of Konoha's ninja carrying Obito on his back.


Minato returned from his mission, and head straight to the Hokage Tower to give his report to the Third Hokage. He didn't expect that he would be the one to receive the report.

He already knew that something had happened when he saw the serious expression on the Third Hokage's face. He was right.

Minato listened about his student's death, and about his other student, who he thought had been dead, turning about to be alive. Hiruzen informed Minato about everything he had found out from Kakashi.

Tears of sadness and happiness formed in Minato's eyes. "I cannot believe it. Obito's alive. I'm so happy. But, Rin. I should be there. Again I failed my students."

"Unfortunately, we cannot always prevent things we don't want to happen. What we can do is to do our best, and what you can do is to be there for Obito. I'm certain he will need you more than ever. Also, Minato, you didn't fail your students."

Despite, the Third Hokage's words, the guilt still weighed on his heart.

"There's something that bother me."

"You mean Madara still being alive?"

"That too, but Rin's death and Obito agreeing to Madara's plan, because of it. I feel there's connection between these events."

Madara was weak, and he couldn't do much by himself, but with Obito, it was a different matter. Obito wouldn't follow someone like Madara, but with the death of the person he loved, it could be possible.

"So, do you think Madara used the Bloody Mist to cause Rin's death?"

"It's possible. However, first I will have a meeting with the council, and see what they'll say. Also, there's something I must do, and I'm afraid you won't be happy with my decision."

Minato figured what decision Hiruzen made, and he was right. He wasn't happy.

"Even though, Kakashi assured me that he convinced Obito not to follow Madara's steps, I still need to take safety measures. I'll put two ninja from Anbu to keep an eye on Obito."

Minato trusted Kakashi's belief in Obito, and he trusted Obito. He believed that Obito had decided to give up on this world, because he was in his darkest place, but he was certain that Kakashi convinced him not to. However, he couldn't disapprove the Hokage's decision.

He nodded.

"If you allow me, I'd like to see Obito."

"Of course, you can leave."


The Third Mizukage was gripping tightly his head. He asked his subordinates to leave him alone. He had to think what do to next. The problem was, however, nothing was coming to his mind. The plan to release the Sanbi on Konoha's village had failed miserably. His Anbu squad, one of the best ninja in the village had ended up dead, no doubt by Konoha's ninja.

He could send more ninja to Konoha, but their bodies also might end up torn in pieces. It seemed that Konoha's ninja were as cruel as them. What if Konoha, in revenge, would decide to attack Kirigakure? Without Sanbi and his Anbu squad, his village's forces decreased drastically. The Third Mizukage wasn't sure if they would win against Konoha. This was just too much for him.


Minato entered the hospital room. Obito was sitting on the bed, Kakashi on the chair beside him.

"Minato-sensei," Obito said.

"Obito." New tears appeared in Minato's eyes. "I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect Rin. I wanted what the best for my students, and I couldn't give you that."

Obito glanced at his teacher with his sad eyes with the flicker of disappointment in them. "I wished you could be there, because I believe Rin would be alive then. But I also wished I wouldn't be there too late, because I know together with Kakashi, I could protect Rin." Obito chuckled. "I guess, Kakashi, you were right, being mad at me for always being late. Like you said, my negligence could put my comrades at risk, and it did."

"No, you were right. The rules and regulations aren't the most important things. The most important thing is to protect your comrades. And you might be negligent towards rules, but you've never been negligent toward your friends," Kakashi said.

Obito smiled. "And that's not going to change, though I promise I'm not going to be late ever again."

"Well, I guess I should drop my new habit of being late," Kakashi said.

Obito gave Kakashi a confused look. Minato explained, "After your 'death', Kakashi started being late for everything."

"I see." Obito smiled. "Well, now, you don't need to be late anymore. Now, we'll always be on time, so we won't be late to protect our comrades."

"Yes." Kakashi smiled.

Minato wiped his tears away. Obito and Kakashi talking and smiling together. He always wanted it. Only if Rin could be here with them.

The medical-nin came in to check on Obito. Minato asked him about Obito's condition.

"Fortunately, his body accepts the First Hokage's cells very well. Me and and the other medical-nin are using the jutsu to make the cells more solid, so it won't fall apart even if he used taijutsu. However, this process will take time."

"So, you're saying, Obito has the chance to be still a shinobi?" Minato asked, hope in his voice.

"Absolutely. He just need to be patient. I'm only worried about Obito's lack of his right arm. We tried to create it with the First Hokage's cells that is attached to Obito. Unfortunately, it turned out to be impossible without damaging another part of his body."

"I see," Minato said, disappointed. Without one arm, Obito wouldn't be able to use jutsu, and this would limit him as a ninja.

"Don't worry, sensei, I'll be fine. After all, I have my sharingan. And with Kakashi and his sharingan, I won't need to worry," Obito reassured Minato.

"I could talk to Orochimaru-sama. I heard he has his own lab, and he's working on things related to science. Maybe, he could find some solution," The medical-nin suggested.

"Orochimaru-sama? He's one of the Sannin, right?" Kakashi said.

"Yes." Minato wasn't sure if involving Orochimaru was a good idea. He didn't spend much time around him, but he had heard more than once from Hiruzen, how he sometimes thought that Orochimaru didn't inherit the Will of Fire. However, if Orochimaru would help his student, then he couldn't say no.

"All right, please ask Orochimaru-sama."

The medical-nin nodded.

"Also, please do again the tests on Obito. This time more thoroughly."

"Of course. Now if you let me. I'll go to check on another patient."

Obito and Kakashi looked puzzled. "Is there something wrong, Minato-sensei?" Obito asked.

Minato shared with Obito and Kakashi with his and Hiruzen's suspicions about Madara's involvement in Rin's death.

"I didn't give much thought about it, but now hearing about it, this makes sense," Kakashi said.

Obito clutched the duvet, his eyes filled with hate. "If that's true, then Madara will pay for it. I swear."