Chapter Three: Routine

I stare in a weird kind of fascination at Obito as he happily and eagerly falls into our calligraphy lessons. As he eagerly seems to soak them up like a sponge and repeatedly writes out his name over and over filling entire scrolls with just the characters of his own name. I honestly don't get it.

Why calligraphy of all things?

And then he starts to weave other things. As soon as he starts to grasp the characters better. As his handwriting improves by leaps and bounds while mine still looks like Itachi's finger-painting. And what he does with the characters is honestly terrifying.

He doesn't realize, doesn't understand but the patterns that fall from his brush remind me too easily of winding, dancing seals and pieces of fuinjutsu that Minato-sensei would show us. Or that Kushina-nee would share with us, or scrolls that I dug out of the ruins of Uzushiogakure. Kamui was useful for stuff like that.

A so I continue to find myself gently tugging Obito's hands away from the paper.

I know that it's not likely that he'll ever lose control. But at the same time, when I watch him just paint the words and patterns all I can imagine is a small slip. A single miscalculated moment and then everything would be going up in smoke. I would be losing everything again and there would be nothing that I could do.

So I gently pull his attention away from what he's doing and try to find something to distract him with. Something that will keep his attention for longer than a couple of minutes.

"Obito!" I actually hear him sigh and see the slight roll of his eyes before he focuses on me. "It's dangerous!" not really but, I'm so fearful. So terrified that it would really only take one mistake. All he does is roll his eyes, pick his brush back up and return to the paper in front of him. "Obito please"

He doesn't even raise his head to respond to me. Eyes and focus on the paper in front of him as he answers with a familiar response.

"Leash!"

I grimace and huff crossing my arms in displeasure before getting up. I'm going to find Obaachan. I could probably lay off the worry for a while but really I just can't help it. My footsteps are light as I drift from room to room looking for Obaachan.

When I find her I actually briefly pause in the doorway because she's actually relaxed. Smiling and sitting in her chair and reading one of her books. The ones that I never really read myself, the ones I sometimes used to distract Obito when I remembered they existed.

"Obaachan! Obito's doing it again!" I sound so much like a Gaki when I complain like this.

I can hear her sigh and she looks over at me with a look that's almost resigned. I refuse to look away and keep my expression as it is. Which is half worried and half-annoyed.

"Obaachan please..." I sound so petulant and she smiles indulgently at me before standing up and walking over gently running a hand over my hair before walking down the hall. I smile in success before following after her and when she opens the room that Obito's still in I peer around her rather smug in that success.

"Obito"

He looks up at the call of his name and I can see the brief expression of displeasure that crosses his face before he drops his brush and scoops up whatever it is he's been working on.

He looks about as resigned as Obaachan did earlier... Am I getting that predictable?

"Harmless! See" he says also moving just enough to let Obaachan see the other papers scattered on the tatami floor. I peer at it and, there's a dog guarding a candle from a cheeky mouse. Or something like that anyway.

It's a short story. Just like what all the others have been. Truly it is harmless but that's always the lingering fear that one day it won't be.

"Obito!" It's not really disapproving but Obito still takes a deep breath that he blows out before repeating the rule.

"I know. I know... Don't write patters without someone watching" it's really clear and he's frowning. Making a familiar grumpy pout face that makes me want to say that it's alright. One day when we're older he'll be able to make all the patterns and stories that he wants.

Just not today, or while we're under the age of seven. I think that I would get too stressed out if that were to keep happening.

I can feel Obito's displeasure through the bond. Especially as he pokes at it with his emotions on purpose. Another way of pouting really and I purposefully ignore it. I've grown used to ignoring his antics through the bond. It's, strengthened really over the years.

Probably because we both have been poking and using it and maintaining it.

Yet most times the small mental battles that we get into through the link are won by him. And it's not like I can even justify it by claiming that I let him win. Because he actually wins them fair and square, usually with things that then get stuck in my head for hours on end like a repeating tune or song and I always find myself stuck with a goofy smile on my face because of it.

Because how can't I?

How can't I when he's clearly testing his limits and pushing the boundaries. Where I stop to think, to plan at least a little bit he just keeps charging ahead after a couple of moments deliberation. And, he often seems to unconsciously mimic Obaachan. I've seen him match his steps with hers and his body language as well.

It's honestly adorable, and kind of terrifying because he's better at it than I ever was or have been.

He's near silent when wandering around the house. More stealthy and subtle than I ever was and often I have to focus to keep track of him even when he's not suppressing his chakra. Because he's that good at blending in. It's a good skill to have, but at the same time it's a dangerous one because being in the background means that people forget that you're there until you talk or suddenly need to answer a question.

"No Obito. How's about you try practicing some of those stretches I showed you?" I'm brought back out of my musings but Obaachan's voice and I look between her and Obito where he is making puppy eyes. He juts his lip out and Obaachan laughs. It's a nice laugh, light, happy and free. A laugh that warms something deep inside me and makes me glad that this is the way that things are this time around. "Come on now Obito. Surely you don't want Tomoko to overtake you?"

She didn't!

I look at him and his eyes have narrowed into a determined glare that meets my gaze. Challenging and defiant. Mine isn't quite the same but it passes for it, Obito's on his feet in moments and dashing down the hall to practice. I smile and half shake my head in amusement before following after him.

It's easy enough to begin the stretches. Arms up and reaching to the sky, twisting and rolling my muscles and shaking off a bit when switching some of them. Tumbles are also fun, duck and roll, this is how you roll properly to stay on your feet. No falling into the dirt for me. Unlike Obito who often tends to meet the dirt with aggression that spikes through the bond that we share.

Annoyance as well.

With the whole thing in fact.

I think that he knows exactly what this is training us for. What it's setting up. Potentially shinobi. Potentially Military Police. Although seriously, who wants to be a policeman? I know that it's an important job but honestly, I don't understand the draw. And Obito very clearly doesn't as he's always pulling a face whenever the senior officers of the Clan pass our house or drop in for a visit.

He's not impressed.

Then again, he also doesn't seem that impressed by the shinobi that we've met thus far either. Except Obaachan.

He only seems to be impressed by Obaachan. I actually vaguely feel the same way. In all honesty... up until now, we haven't really met anyone who's that impressive. In fact, everyone that we've met have been rank and file. Eternal genin, or eternal chunin. One or the other but it doesn't matter because ultimately it adds up the same way.

Unimpressive.

They're just fodder, the kind of shinobi that I would have torn through like paper in my previous life. As no one,as Tobi.

Obito still tires too easily anyway. Quickly reaching the point where he stops to instead munch on the cookies and drink the lemonade that Obaachan has brought out for us to enjoy. And so as soon as I finish the portion of snacks that were mine I leap back into my training. Preparing for the future. For the challenges that we're going to face.

It's not even just the Academy that I'm scared of.

I can handle the Academy. I've been through it before. Running late all day everyday because I used to help everyone on the way. But no, it's what lies after the Academy that scares me. And what might await Obito especially since he's different to how I remember being.

And maybe that's my fault.

Maybe it's my fault that Obito likes books and calligraphy rather than running around and shouting to Obaachan that he'll change the world. That he can do things, that he'll train and train until he's lying in the mud exhausted and day dreaming about what it will be like in the Academy. Maybe it's my fault that he hasn't started running off every now and again and exploring the compound to just see our cousins and watch them.

It's funny though, because I never actually approached any of our cousins. I would watch them, mimic them and make decisions based on what I saw... but I never approached them.

And even in the Academy, Rin became my friend originally because she approached me.

And I don't know how to feel about it. Because I can remember doing laps of the compound at this age(although it might have been when I was slightly older...).

Obito finishes his glass and lets out a sigh before placing it down beside him. He leaps to his feet and I notice the way that he automatically slides into a stance and takes a deep breath to prepare himself. I see it and something in me twists. Because that's not how I remember training, not really and it's strange and odd and I have to wonder how much of it is because of my presence here.

How much of it is because I'm here in the past reliving my life as my own twin. As a girl... which is still awkward and as soon as that thought passes through my mind I stumble.

Tripping over my own feet and faltering to catch my balance actually grimacing because that was not my best moment at all. Obito's humming and something about the tune catches my attention forcing me to spin around wide eyed to stare as he falls and...

Lands on his hands straightening his back and just balancing there.

It's strange in that moment. Everything is still as he closes his eyes and grins before lowering himself back to his feet and I have to wonder. Despite the fact that he's weaker than me, despite the fact that he's so obviously different and lagging behind. How much stronger will he become as we grow.

Is this what attracted Madara's attention to me in my first life?

Because Obito is so happy just doing things, moving his body in stretches and almost katas that just don't make any sense but work. That we haven't been taught and doing stuff like balancing on his hands for no reason other than the fact that he can.

Is that why Madara wanted me?

Is that why Kuro targeted me?

Is it?

If it is then that's terrifying. And I can actually vaguely remember doing stuff like that. Except in different situations and contexts. It's enough to put me off balance again and for the continuation of our practice I pay more attention to Obito than I do our stretches because he's really doing things that just... they don't match really and I don't entirely understand how he's able to just do them.

I don't understand.

Obito seems to be particularly fond of doing handstands, and then he actually keeps going. I want to catch him but he actually manages to stretch himself to flip up on his feet. He's got this huge shit eating grin on his face and all I can do is scowl at him. Because that was terrifying. He goes up and then when he kept going had he hit the ground.

He could have really hurt himself.

"Baka Otouto!" I hiss at him and he laughs before responding.

"Kyoudai I wasn't in any danger, you would have caught me!" Yes I would have, but that doesn't justify what he was doing. He seems to get that and rolls his eyes before sticking out his tongue. "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about it Kyoudai."

"I'm allowed to worry" I snap at him and he snorts before running a hand through his hair and frowning. "No really Obito I'm allowed to worry. After all, I'm the toshiue kyoudai." I say and I don't even have to look at him to know that he's rolling his eyes.

The rest of our training session is spent in silence. As soon as it's over Obito disappears and I could easily find him again. But, I don't feel like seeking him out. So instead I trot down to the kitchen and dig around in the fruit bowl for something that I can just munch on. I end up selecting a simple apple and rub it against my shirt before biting into it annoyed.

I don't entirely understand him. He's me, but not and as time wears on I begin to wonder whether or not he even is me.

Calligraphy and books rather than running around and chasing imaginary figures.

And that's only the tip.

If you do choose to go back. Things will change.

Rin? I almost drop my apple at the voice and look around confused before blinking and deciding that I'm just hearing things. I take another bite and think about my otouto, about his differences and the fact that he feels like maybe... maybe he's not quite me.

Maybe he's just like me.

But if he is just like me... then who is he?

Who is he?