I'll become stronger!
I'll show you that I deserve to be here!
Chapter 7
Obito
I ran through the woods as fast as I could. My first day and I'm running late. Where was that place again? I juggled between dodging branches and logs and trying to remember the place I was supposed to meet my new team. My concentration on both tasks faltered when I noticed a little girl standing alone. What's she doing here? Curious, I stopped running. Walking up to her carefully, so as not to scare her away, I said, "Hey there, I don't think that this is a safe place for you to be in…" The girl looked up, she didn't seem to be surprised at my arrival. In fact, she said, "We've been waiting for you, Obito Uchiha." She held up her hands in a gesture that said, follow me. I found that a bit creepy, her knowing my name, but nevertheless I followed her.
We walked silently for about, I don't know, half an hour? It was starting to get strange. We passed by a rock that looked eerily familiar. Huh? The little girl trudged on, me behind her. After we passed the rock for about the sixth time, I finally realized it. We'd been walking in circles. The girl stopped in front of me, as if she heard what I was thinking. She turned around, and what I saw stunned me. She was smiling evilly, her chocolate eyes twinkling. After that she broke into a run, speeding like someone was after her life. I ran after her, all the while calling out, "Hey, wait!" I was barely able to keep up with her.
I was at her tail, just about to reach her when she disappeared. Now where is she? I punched a tree and cursed. If only I had awakened my Sharingan. I kept moving forward, looking for any tracks she might have left behind. I was about to give up when I saw her again, standing at the front of a cave. Holding up her hand, she gestured at me again to follow, just like before. I don't know why but I still followed her into the darkness.
o--o--o
"What, another wash-out? It took him long enough. We shouldn't bother testing him." A cool, arrogant voice said quietly. Hidden in the darkness, three figures huddled together, watching as the spiky-haired kid entered the cave. "Obito Uchiha, age nine, he's about your age. First test: failed. It took himan hour to realize that he was being led around in circles and he only found the cave by accident. He didn't even notice the chakra markers. His Genjutsu sensing ability is very low." A deep voice, clearly older than the first, assessed in a hushed tone. "But he did find the cave." A female voice spoke gently. "Since he's the only one who was able to get this far, lucky as he is, let's give him a chance to continue. Besides, I think the Third is getting a little irritated about us turning down every Genin assigned to us." The two others were silent for a moment before the older one spoke, "All right, we'll give him a chance. But, if he proves to be a potential weakness for the team, then we'll stop immediately." All three of them nodded, "All right then, to your posts."
o--o--o
It was a little dark in the cave. My hands were starting to sweat, but I continued following the girl. If it wasn't for her I would be lost in the complicated passageways. The walls of the cave were dimly lit by sunlight being filtered through small holes on the ceiling. My eyes kept darting back and forth. I couldn't help myself. I felt like someone was watching us. That shadows were following us silently. I swore I heard hushed whispers behind me.
To my dismay, my goggles fogged over, making the already hard to see path, well, harder to see. I took them off and wiped them with my sleeve. When I put them on again, the first thing I noticed was that I was alone. The girl had disappeared. I looked frantically around. No one else was with me. When someone tapped my shoulder, I jumped. It was the girl. A sigh of relief escaped my lips. The girl looked at me peculiarly then grabbed my sleeve and started leading the way again. I thought I heard someone say, "Hmph, hopeless…" I shook it off and let the girl half lead, half drag me to an inlet of the cave.
"We're here." I looked at the underground pool that dominated the whole space. The water was so clear you could see the bottom. The water looked like it was glowing, giving a faint bluish light around the whole space. Stalagmites covered the edges of the pool while Stalactites loomed dangerously overhead. The girl tugged at my sleeve, I bent down and she whispered in my ear, "Good luck." Then she smiled at me one final time and disappeared in a puff of smoke. "Hey wait!" My voice echoed around me. I was alone again.
What did she mean good- I wasn't even finished thinking when the ground underneath me began to tremble. I fell backward because the shaking intensified. The ground began to crack and already, a huge crevice spit the cave floor in two. That water seeped into the gaping hole. I watched as the huge lake was drained out of water. The trembling around me stopped but my body couldn't stop jittering. Pull yourself together, Obito. I commanded myself. My mind was playing tricks on me again, I thought that when I heard a small chuckle behind me. I picked myself up and forced myself to go and inspect the strange hole. Slowly and clumsily, I made my way to the center of the bowl that once held thousands of gallons of water just a few minutes ago. I looked over the edge of the crevice and found that it was useless, it was too dark to see.
A sudden draft passed through the cave. I shivered and rubbed my hands, the cold started to seep in. The cold was so sudden it caught me off guard. I continued walking around the edge of the pool, to keep my body warm, but the temperature still dropped though gradually. I looked at my options. If I try to find my way out now, I could end up getting lost, never to see the light of day again. If I stay here, I could freeze to death. Judging from the long time it took for that girl to lead me here, I would just waste energy calling for help. I tried to find more options but no luck, it's either die here or probably die somewhere in this God damned cave. Or, if I'm lucky enough, I could just stumble upon the exit just like before. My chances would have been better if I could use the Sharingan.
I sighed and continued pacing.
Anyway, if I don't do something now, I could really freeze. I shrugged off my jacket, the cold intensified but I had to bear with it. I turned it around in my hands, feeling if it is damp or wet in any way. I sighed in relief when I saw that it wasn't. I walked over to the entrance of the inlet, the way I came in. I dropped the jacket on the ground. Clasping my hands together, I pictured my father, teaching me. Snake, Dragon, Rabbit and Tiger. Myhands followed my thoughts. Concentrating as little chakra I could use for this technique, I whispered, "Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu!" A small burst of flame passed through my fingers, igniting my jacket.
Although it was small, the heat was intense that the ground around the burning bundle dried up and the room considerably felt a lot warmer. "Much better." I muttered to myself. I knew it wouldn't last for a long time but it was better than nothing. I sat on the ground, my back resting on one of the rock formations that rose from the ground. I'll get out of here sooner or later, but right now I just… Feeling exhaustion creep over me, I soon forgot about being all alone in a cave.
o--o--o
"Everything is all set. Kakashi get ready." A quiet command that the silver haired boy took with irritation. "We'll continue on. He's proven better than we thought." Kakashi just grunted in reply then positioned himself for his move.
o--o--o
Rumbling woke me up from my nap. The floor underneath me felt…wet. "Oh man, did I just…?" I exclaimed aloud. The fire had gone out and I started to feel cold again. I rubbed my arms, a vain effort to keep me from freezing. It was colder than before, unreasonably so. I looked around me desperate for warmth. My breath came out in small clouds and my teeth were chattering noisily. If I don't do something now, I could die here. Then, an idea popped in my head. I stood up.
It was outrageous by proportions but it could give me at least a few moments in the company of heat. Focusing again, I pictured the seals I needed for this technique. Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger. "All right, here goes. Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu!" I swore I heard a gasp behind me. The huge fireball lit the room up like it was in daylight and the problem, it stayed there, which wasn't supposed to happen. The temperature rose and I wasn't in danger of freezing anymore. Now all I have to endure is the sweltering heat.
Out of the freezer, into the frying pan. Great… I guess I didn't plan that out carefully. What are you waiting for? Do something! "Shoot." That was all I had to say. Then, to my surprise and disbelief, an angered and very irritated voice shouted from, I don't know. "Idiot!". What the… "Who's there?" I called, still aware that I was cooking myself. Later on I thought that it was funny. But right now, I just strained to hear the reply over the enraged shriek of the fire.
And boy, I wasn't expecting that kind of reply. I barely had time to see it, much less to brace myself for the impact. Someone dropped on top of me. I felt a fist digging into my gut. The attack knocked me out for a few moments. Whoever hit me took hold of my collar, raising me up to get better access to my face. "Idiot!" He repeated. "Shoot, we have to abandon everything now." He threw me back to the ground. "Rin, where are you?" he called out. "Kakashi, over here." A girl replied. She was at the mouth of the entrance, "We have to leave now!" She pointed to my fireball. At that moment, I didn't really paid attention to the glowing orb that threatened to swallow us up. I just kept thinking that there were people were with me here, right now.
My head was spinning, so I'm not going crazy after all…I thought happily. But I started to realize that they were already escaping, leaving me behind. "Hey wait!" I stumbled as I rose on my feet. The smoke was making me it hard to breathe. Dizzy but because of my goggles not disoriented, I followed the two. I could barely keep up. Running with all the energy I could muster, despite tripping over something, I almost caught the retreating female figure when something whizzed past my hand. Then another and another. Reaching for my kunai, I used it to deflect the objects that threatened to hit me all the while still running after the mysterious pair. They weren't throwing me anything, which seemed strange. No time to think, keep running. I continued in my pursuit. Then, when I turned around a corner, they just disappeared.
Oh no.
"Where are you?" I cried out hoarsely, despair and exhaustion coloring my tone. I sanked down, tears in my eyes. Now I'll never get out of here. I leaned my head back, trying to calm down. Think Obito, think. I don't have enough chakra for another jutsu. I'm too exhausted to brave the passageways with booby traps. Hey, wait a minute. Booby traps? I don't remember any when I followed the girl in here. What did the boy say before they escaped? "Shoot, we have to abandon everything now." Abandon? My mind started working, incoherent thoughts come together. And finally it all became clear to me.
Bingo!
They're the ones who set them. But why would they want to keep me here? Whatever the reason is, they sure did put a lot of effort in doing it. Something popped in my head, an idea more reasonable and at the same time more outrageous than the one about the fireball. If they don't want me to leave, considering the limited time they had to set up all those traps, they would have picked the passageways that would lead to the exit. Meaning, I would only have to follow passageways with traps. I faintly remember stumbling on something, it felt like string. That must've been the trigger.
Alright, this is the only way. I stood up, wiping my eyes under my goggles and reached for my shurikens. If I remember correctly, it would've been about ankle high. I crouched took aim and threw my shuriken. It sailed through the air, hitting nothing. I was about to give up when I heard a snapping sound then weapons started launching everywhere. After I was sure everything had cleared out, I made my way.
Using my shurikens, I followed every passageway with booby traps. Not long after, I could already smell fresh air, I quickened my pace. It was getting brighter and brighter until finally I found the mouth of the cave. I never felt so good in my life. "Yes!" I shouted with joy. I could see the forest outside, just a few yards away. I raced to the entrance, but something caught my eye. And just in time too. I froze and didn't dare to take another step because if I did, it would mean ending my life here and now.
My foot was directly over a chord that was stretched tightly. Carefully I backed away. My eyes empty and bleak as I trailed the opening with my gaze. The exit was lined with explosive tags. Rows of chords made the cave a deadly prison. If I detonate them, I could be blown to pieces but if I get lucky, I could live and spend the rest of my life trapped in a cave. I looked at the opening now. Freedom at the risk of dying. These people are monsters, I thought angrily.
A figure stepped into my line of view. I recognized him as the boy earlier. A mask covered his face but his eyes, there was no mistaking the expression in them. You can almost see the smirk he is concealing. "Can't believe someone like you got this far." I stayed silent.. "What are you planning to do now?" His face still arrogant, his tone and his words stung, my eyes glazed over but I kept my head held up high. "What are you waiting for, crybaby?" I walked back towards the darkness of the cave, my eyes never leaving his face. "Retreating huh? Coward." Keep it up. All the motivation I need. Keep annoying me, "Idiot." He was stressing the abominable word. I stopped walking, the distance was about right. I took a deep breath then told him quietly, trying to get my voice to sound threatening, "Say that again." He just grunted then drawled, "I-d-i-o-t." I smiled and broke into a run, gaining momentum as I got nearer and nearer to the fatal and sensitive bars that separated him and me.
I watched as the smile slowly disappeared from his face, being replaced by a surprised and horrified look. I could've enjoyed that, but then I realized that he wasn't looking at me. His head was turned away, "Rin, get away from here!" the boy shouted frantically. I hadn't notice the other figure that had been standing there. I recognized her immediately, she looked different but I knew that it was the girl who led me here. She looked at me now, her golden eyes encased in an unreadable expression. Suddenly, I regretted what I was doing, but there was no stopping now, just a meter more and I'd be out of here, dead or alive. "Rin, don't!" The girl did everything she was told not to. In a split second she came between the boy and me, to our dismay. Her arms spread open.
At the same time, I went through the opening, triggering every explosive tag plastered on the wall. I rocketed into her. I knew that she felt all the power of the impact. But nevertheless, her arms went around me in welcome embrace. I waited for an explosion. I waited and waited, strange… I opened my eyes. I was still in the circle of Rin's arms, I realized, my face suddenly getting warm. "Don't worry, they're all duds." She whispered. Her smile confused me even more. "Obito Uchiha," She said with happy grace, "You pass!"
I looked at the boy who was looking at Rin and me like we were from another world. Rin let go of me and looked at Kakashi, her voice changing to a softer tone, "Well Kakashi, aren't you going to congratulate our new teammate?" "N-new t-teammate?" I sputtered. "Hmph, lucky ass…"grunted Kakashi as he turned away. Suddenly a new person joined in our conversation, "Kakashi, don't talk like that." A deep and clear voice spoke gently.
I turned around, surprised to see the blond haired man that walked toward us. "M-minato Namikaze!? The Yellow Flash of Konoha?" I pointed to the annoying guy, "You're Kakashi Hatake, the guy who became a Chunin at just six years old!" then to Rin, "You're the famous pupil of Tsunade-sama!" clearly, I was dumbfounded. "Well, it looks like we don't have to introduce ourselves anymore." Minato-san shrugged. Extending his hand toward me, "Obito Uchiha, welcome to team Minato." Snapping out of my state. Taking hold of his hand and shook it politely. "Good to be here as well." He smiled and helped me up.
I looked at the faces of my new teammates. I still wanted to know something, "Wait, so this was all a test? Every minute I spent in that damned cave?"- I pointed an accusing finger-"Even the girl who led me here?" Rin looked at me cheerfully, "Yes, everything that happened in that 'damned cave'." I looked at her, my jaw dropping open for a second before I closed it again. "No, I don't think so." I argued, "A while ago back there, Kakashi said, shoot, we have to abandon everything now! "I tried to copy his annoyed tone before. I looked at them pointedly now. I didn't expect Kakashi's reply, "Amusing, really." He said, sarcasm dripping in his tone, "If you really should know, that was part of the plan too." My jaw dropped again, "Weren't you listening? Rin said so herself, everything that happened in there was all part of the test. We even considered the fact about you being late." He chuckled then added, "You really are predictable."
I just stared at them, speechless. "How may people had gone through this crazy test?" I asked, "Oh, about fifty, including you. All the others didn't even make it here." Minato-san's eyes twinkled, "You're the only one who passed. Be proud." I nodded and was silent for a moment, then I chuckled. "Obito?" Rin asked, worried if they said something wrong or that I've gone completely. I threw my head back and burst out laughing.
"Alright, from now on, you guys can count on me! I'll show you that I deserve to be here!" I shouted with the nice guy pose, I learned it a while back from a weird guy. They all smiled at me, well except for the one who isn't even taking me seriously. Minato-sensei cleared his throat "Okay, now that that's settled, let's get on with business…," I heard a faint "Finally" from Kakashi. I listened on, keeping that promise I made just a few moments ago locked in my heart. From this day on, I am a part of team Minato.
--
That's it for my Obito Special!
Every now and then I'd be writing specials to explain events better and to make my story more interesting :)
I hope this one done it's job! Please, Reviews!
Wait for more chapters and specials, coming soon!(I hope. (Well this one took a long time to write...)
I'll do my best anyway, :D
