追憶 (Reminiscence)

Disclaimer: We all know who owns Naruto, and it sure ain't me. ; n;

A/N: Er, so remember how I said this chapter would be out a lot sooner?... ^^;

An important note (of sorts): This chapter still takes place in Mirai's early childhood; she is still four, as are Itachi, Inoue, the rest of Mirai's classmates, etc. Please bear with it for just a little longer, they'll all grow up soon... at least a little haha.

And now, onwards!


six


I hummed quietly to myself as I made my way back home. It was a pretty day, with calm, blue skies and light, breezy weather. Konoha in the spring was absolutely beautiful and not for the first time, I was grateful that I'd ended up in this village and not in one I didn't know as much about, like Kiri...

I tightened my grip on my bag. I don't think I'd have survived there as well as I'd been doing here, simply because most of what happened in the Naruto series was centered around Konoha. I'd have to write down what I could remember at some point, just in case; I didn't want to forget anything. Which reminded me: homework. I'd been assigned to give Itachi his homework as soon as he got back from a trip with his parents. Shisui and I were supposed to go on one soon, too. Something about visiting some Uchiha elders…

I was just about to enter the compound when someone taller and heavier ran out of it and into me. They must have been in quite a hurry because I fell back a few feet away and landed on my butt with an "oomph!" I winced as small waves of pain made their way throughout my face. Whoever it was must have either had something sharp on the front of their clothes or was holding a sharp object because it had somehow cut me, judging by the stinging sensation on my cheek. I touched my face lightly and felt a warm, sticky fluid on my skin. I stared at my hand and sighed sadly. Papa's going to think people keep bullying me. I quickly smoothed over my crushed bag before adjusting it over my body, hoping that the papers inside weren't crumpled too badly.

"Oh man! Hey, are you okay? I can't believe I took down a little kid!" The person's voice–a boy it sounded like–was loud and frantic. "Ack, you're bleeding… I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean to."

I looked away from the blood on my fingers and up at the boy who kept spouting apologies at me. When my eyes focused on the person before me, I couldn't help it. My mouth dropped open. In front of me stood a young Obito clad in a navy blue and orange jumpsuit, his hands patting over himself frantically. I watched, fascinated, as he fumbled with something in his pocket for a moment, all while muttering to himself.

"Where'd I put it… Aha!" With a triumphant grin, he pulled out a tiny handkerchief and shoved it in my hand.

Obito… He's not dead yet, I thought dazedly, only realizing belatedly that the boy had somehow set me on my feet and was now dragging me after him.

"…so don't worry, Rin-chan will take care of it and you'll be as good as new!" Obito's voice finally broke through the haze surrounding my mind.

"Um, sorry, what?" I asked. Inwardly, I cursed myself. I couldn't stop staring at the kid before me. His face was smooth and pale, with both of his eyes intact. His goggles shone brightly under the sunlight as they sat atop his unruly hair. Obito rubbed the side of his head furiously, an embarrassed smile on his face.

"Well, it's my fault you got hurt, so it's only right that I make it better, you know?" he said easily. "If I hadn't been rushing then this wouldn't have happened. Although my teammates are going to be kind of mad at me for being late again…" A gloomy expression settled on his face for a brief moment before he perked up again. "But I have a really good reason this time! As soon as they see you, they'll know I'm telling the truth." Obito nodded to himself seriously as we walked along. "Oh yeah! My name's Obito, by the way."

I was suddenly struck by the similarities between Shisui's and Obito's personalities. They were both cheerful and easygoing, traits that weren't very Uchiha-like. And they're both going to die, a tiny voice in my mind whispered sadly. I shook my head once, ignoring the depressing thoughts making themselves known.

"Uchiha Obito?" I asked. He beamed at me.

"Guess you've heard of the next great Hokage, my little leaf!" he said proudly.

"I, um… We're both from the same clan," I murmured, pointing to the red and white fan on my sleeve. "I'm Mirai."

"Eh? You're an Uchiha too?" Obito stopped and crouched down, peering at me closely. I blushed under his focused gaze. "It does explain why you were at the entrance of the compound… Hum… Pale skin, dark hair, handsome features like mine… Oh wait, you're a girl. Uh, I guess that makes you cute…but hey! Your eyes aren't black like mine. They're like… a weird, gray colour…" Obito stood up and gave me a wide smile and a thumbs up. "Yeah! You are! Can't believe I didn't notice!" He pointed somewhat unhappily to his back where the clan emblem was sewn on. "Though I guess it'd be hard not to…these things are pretty noticeable."

He took my hand (the one that wasn't holding his handkerchief to my bleeding cheek) and began tugging me along again. We walked along in companionable silence for a little while until I realized I had no idea where he was taking me. Wherever it was must have been on the other side of the village, because we'd been walking for at least ten minutes and it didn't seem like we were going to stop anytime soon.

"Um, Obito-san? Where are we going?" I asked. He wasn't evil yet, right? I mean, he was still alive, with both of his eyes…

"Eh? Don't add san to my name, Mi-chan, it makes me feel old," Obito said, wrinkling his nose. "You don't mind if I call you Mi-chan, right? I feel like we're already friends, you know? Mirai is a pretty name, but right now you're more cute than anything!"

I stared at him nervously. Okay, so maybe not evil… But… That sort of sounded, well…odd.

Obito must have realized what he said because he blushed brightly and shook his head quickly. "T-That's not what I meant! It's just, I mean, you're a kid–"

"It's okay, Obito-kun," I said hurriedly. The look of relief on his face was too funny and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Heheh, yeah, okay…" He laughed with me and rubbed his neck.

"Anyway, we're going to the training grounds to meet up with my teammates! I think we have a mission or something, since we just had team training yesterday…"

The smile faded from my lips as his words echoed in my mind. Teammates? But that meant…

We came to a stop in a familiar clearing, three logs in the center. And in front of those logs…

I sucked in a sharp breath as I gazed at the people I knew to make up Team Minato, all young and alive. So this meant the bridge incident hadn't happened…yet. Where exactly in the timeline was I?

"Late again." Kakashi's eyes (both also intact, no Sharingan!) were narrowed in a disdainful glare, his arms crossed tightly in front of him. Beside him stood Rin, her face pulled into a troubled expression.

"Obito-kun, I thought you were going to try and be better about being on time," she said gently. "Remember the last time you were late and we had a mission?"

A light blush dusted Obito's cheeks, his shoulders slumped in what I assumed was either disappointment or guilt. Rin smiled and nudged his arm.

"Hey, just keep trying, okay?"

"Oi. Who's the brat you've got there?" I frowned as I turned to look at Kakashi. Had he really been such a jerk as a kid? Wait, his dad committed suicide because of a failed mission or something, hadn't he? And Kakashi was on the receiving end of that negative backlash? Guess I could find out…

"Hatake…Kakashi-san?" I asked, watching his face intently. "The White Fang's son?" His reaction was immediate; not that Kakashi was relaxed and slouchy but his already prim form stiffened ever so slightly and it was kind of scary to see the darkness that passed in his eyes for a few, brief seconds before a blank look took its place.

I thought of Papa and felt a sad pang in my heart. To hate the actions of your own father…

But Hatake Sakumo had good reasons for what he did, even if Kakashi didn't quite understand yet. I glanced at his teammates once before looking back at Kakashi. I hadn't exactly decided to proactively change anything, or at least attempt to but seeing this Team 7...they didn't really deserve having so many sad things happen to them.

I bit my lip nervously before squaring my shoulders as best as I could. Well, I'm sure something like this wouldn't hurt much. Even if all I had were words... I hope he'll understand in time, before Team Minato's mission goes too far south. "Y-Your father was an admirable man, Hatake-san, a true hero." I bowed as deeply as I could, which probably looked pathetic on my short body, but I didn't care. "Teammates... um, comrades are precious people who matter more than rules. And anyone who thinks otherwise i-is wrong."

The silver-haired boy said nothing in response. If anything, it felt like he'd retreated even further into himself. I winced internally. I guess it was kind of silly to think he'd pick up on it immediately but at least I tried.

"Mi-chan..." Obito's voice sounded surprised.

"Ah, who might you be?" I heard Rin ask politely, no doubt picking up on her teammate's frigid mood. I rose from my bow quickly, trying to shuffle behind my fellow clan member.

"I, um..."

Obito grabbed my shoulders and pushed me forward. "Right! This here is my friend Mirai-chan! I kind of hurt her on my way here so I told her that I'd help fix her! Rin-chan, do you think you could take a look at her?"

The brown-haired girl knelt down and drew my hand away from my face, replacing it with her own.

"What happened, Obito?" she asked. Her touch was light as she gently cleaned the blood off my skin.

Ouch, still hurts. I held my breath and watched Rin's hand intently–I'd never seen medical ninjutsu used in my short life here before and I had to admit that the soft, green glow engulfing Rin's hand was pretty dang cool.

"Something probably stupid," snorted Kakashi.

"I ran into her when I was leaving the compound," Obito muttered, ignoring the silver-haired genius.

"I'm short, I know. I'm sorry for getting in your way, Obito-kun," I added quickly as I stared at the ground.

Rin laughed lightly, the green glow around her hand fading quickly. "All done."

"Hello, my little genin!" a new voice said suddenly. "Oh? Looks like we have a newcomer." Was that…?

"Sensei!" Rin chirped. My head jerked up and there stood the last member of Team Minato, blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Hello there, little one," Minato said pleasantly with a charming smile.

"Hi," I mumbled, unable to tear my eyes away from the blond man.

"Tch, whatever. Just send the brat home so we can get started on our mission," Kakashi said sharply. I finally looked away from Minato and instead stared at the Hatake genius.

I couldn't help the little waves of anger and hurt that washed over me. Did he really have to be so rude? Yes, I knew that the silver-haired boy in front of me would grow up to be a rather amazing person but right now…. Right now he wasn't so amazing. Sure, he had suffered after his father's death but did that mean he had to treat the people around him like crap? I guess I could understand him treating Rin and Obito like that, since they were his teammates, but he didn't even know me!

I knew I shouldn't be taking it personal but it was…totally unfair and if I was being honest with myself, pretty irritating.

"Any time now would be great, dead-last and brat, we haven't got all day." The contempt in Kakashi's voice was unmistakable.

"Kakashi," said Minato, giving his student a disapproving stare. "Being made Jōnin doesn't–" See, even the fourth Hokage doesn't like it.

"Hatake-san, please stop being a rude person," I said unthinkingly. "I think I'd like you better if you weren't mean."

It was silent for several long moments. Minato looked like he was trying not to laugh while Rin looked appalled. And I slowly realized what I'd just said, and to whom I'd said it to. Mortified, I slapped my hands over my mouth, eyes wide and cheeks on fire as I stared at Kakashi and the rest of his team. Was I going to be in trouble?

Kakashi stared back at me, and I think his mouth had fallen open–I couldn't really tell with his mask on. Either way, he didn't look the least bit amused.

"What." Kakashi's voice was flat as Obito burst into laughter. I'd never felt killing intent before but I think that was what I was feeling, because I was kind of scared…

"Shhh, Obito-kun. Stop laughing," I pleaded. My hands were slowly covering my burning face.

"But–but you pretty much just told Kakashi off," Obito snickered, pointing to said-boy.

I blushed even harder. "No I didn't. I-I was making an observation."

Obito patted my head, still snickering. "Sure you did! No one does that except sensei and he–"

"O-Obito." I gulped. That sounded like Kakashi growling. Really, my 'new friend' was just making it worse. The silver-haired boy clenched his hands into his fists and was that his tanto he was reaching for?

I moved and hid behind Obito, clutching at his pants. Would Kakashi attack me? Well, I guess that was why I was hiding behind Obito, but wait… They didn't get along. So maybe he'd still attack… It definitely seemed that way, since he was kind of stalking towards Obito and I.

Who wouldn't Kakashi attack? Rin? Minato? My eyes flickered to the blond man just a few feet away. Yeah, hiding behind the future Hokage seemed like a good idea... he was a tough guy. I hurried over to where Minato stood and ended up tripping and falling down next to him. Funeno-sensei is not going to be happy about the appearance of my homework, I thought as I looked despairingly at my now very rumpled bag. But at least I was by Minato, so that meant I was safe. I mean, Kakashi adored him... A lot... Right?


A/N 2: I'm sure I must sound like a broken record by now but again, thank you so much to everyone who continues to read this fic. You all are amazing and have godlike patience (unlike me). Since this is mainly a fic I write in spurts when I have the time (or am particularly creatively inspired), updates will probably be once a month, maybe twice if life is nice to me.

Okay! A lot of you answered yes to last chapter's question! Again, I can't say whether Mirai will obtain the Sharingan or not but I really enjoyed reading your responses–they definitely provided food for thought.

I've gotten a few questions regarding romance and pairings; the story kind of writes itself when I'm not paying attenton and at this point, it's safe to say that I'm not really planning on any romance in the story (at least not for Mirai, though if I change my mind it definitely wouldn't be for a while).

But I'm curious about the rest of you, so here's my question this time around: are there any pairings you'd like or don't want to see?

...this is probably the longest author's note I've done to date. Sorry guys. ._. Have some cake! (^ω^)_日