First part of series: Obito, you dumb shit.
Follows canon to point of Rin's demise. Canon-divergent, introducting Obito's return to Konoha and the aftermath.
Obito-centric.
Platonish ObiRin, KakaObi.
Rated M for some adult themes.
Naruto doesn't belong to me.
Summary: Backdated. Takes place between Introduction and First Chapter.
Also, I'd love to thank everyone for positive feedback so far!
There's a little Minato could do for his students. By a little he means everything beyond his control but he's going to work his way through it.
Minato holds a lot of power and authority inside Konoha and outside, he had to keep himself form failing apart when Pakkun called them for emergency, covered in blood and gore several hours after. Where ANBU team found mutilated corpses of elite Kiri ANBU units, crushed between tendrils, branches of mighty trees, without leaves.
Rin, sweet and innocent Rin. Hole in her chest. Kakashi freaking out, WHO KILLED THE ENEMY, only to pass out from chakra exhaustion. There's third one.
Third one who had killed the enemy with Mokuton and ANBU secured third one as well.
As next Hokage Candidate and ex 2nd Vice Commander, Minato had no trouble taking a sneak peek into someone capable of such abominations. Secured for transportation, stretched on white linen.
Minato couldn't believe his eyes.
It was Uchiha Obito. Declared dead, that's only the beginning of their trouble. Boy had Mokuton, kekkei genkai believed to be extinct for almost a century. Standard ANBU safety procedures required body scan to ensure the person isn't under Control-Seal type jutsu. They both had cursed seals, of similar type inside their chest.
Normally, ANBU would terminate life of anyone who went inside Konoha, under any type of enemy control. War law were very specific about those. Then, boy is a living weapon. Benefits for Konoha outweighting possible danger, so they did locked him in secured ANBU underground labs.
Return of Mokuton jutsu inside Konoha made Council content. They could win the war.
Suddenly Minato had become involved in real mess and Obito turned into valuable asset to village. Sworn to secrecy, he couldn't even inform Kakashi Obito is alive and relieve poor, broken thing. At times like that Minato really hated the Council, Konoha at whole and shinobi system. Then, he is shinobi.
Orochimaru owed big one to Minato.
If not his poor, unstable mind, he could have been perfect soldier on battlefield.
After sixty dead infants and numerous failed attempts to obtain Mokuton, he's once again bissecting that marvelous kekkei genkai, on living subject. The only living subject.
He doesn't need to eat or drink, doesn't tire as easily. Sharingan isn't fact to overlook, too. Maybe that's the cause of boy madness? He's a little too difficult to control to serve as perfect soldier for Konoha right now. Orochimaru is fine with that.
Remember what ROOT and Danzou had done to his dear lover. When Kakashi found Sakumo in pool of blood.
Orochimaru doesn't need permission to doze Obito off with drugs, boy has moments of uncontrolable anger. ANBU reseach team uses various one, not only sedatives. Never stimulatives.
What is real?
If there, on this forsaken wasteland, everything is fake, Mother isn't real?
Obito remembers her gentle smile, warmness embracing his small frame, soft warm light of chakra. She's been always by his side, full of beauty and dignity. She died when he was ten years old.
Mother, was she merely an illusion?
NO. NO. NOOOO!
Lies. LIES. LIES! PETTY LIES!
Obito doesn't want to believe that. He has known pain of loss before. He had lost his parents and siblings. If they're supposed to be fake, it might've been as well nothing they have done, really mattered. Just empty words in the wind, imprint of fake memories, or maybe he's been dreaming all the time?
Mother was real. Her struggle was real. She ached, crumbling from inside, eaten by mysterious illness, and she was in pain.
Obito knows for sure he's not fake. His body hurts more and less. He's patchwork mess, built together by madman. Madara was crazy old man. He can't leave this place. His eye technique, he had used before to get through enemy attacks, doesn't work.
You will return. Then I will have your true gratitude. It's unnerving, at best. Things Madara had said.
Kakashi and Obito's first meeting doesn't go well. Obito is screaming profanities at Kakashi's face, having really bad flashback and no recollection of his surroundings.
Kakashi is backing away, because of things I have done.
"I hate you!"
"You took her from me!" he's screeching out loud. Protective seals are flaring up, his skin breaks, living and creeping forest out of his control. He's aiming for kill, shortens distance between Minato and Kakashi, next Hokage candidate has chakra restraining seals prepared, fingers tingling from their sheer energy. ANBU team is there before he decided to butt in.
Stay out of this, one of masked squad members said.
What does 010886 see in place of Yellow Flash and Friend Killer? It's Madara, his lips seeping a poison into his ears.
I knew you'd come back. You're good boy. So do you want me to teach you about dreamworld? World where even dead can come back to life.
GET AWAY! I HATE YOU AFTER ALL! YOU LIED TO ME!
SHE'S DEAD ANYWAY!
SHE'S GONE!
WHAT IS DREAM WORLD ABOUT? IT CAN ERASE THIS CURSED REALITY AND MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER?
WHY YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME EARLIER? I LOST MY PARENTS AND SIBLINGS AS WELL. WHY YOU'RE OFFERING ME DREAM WORLD RIGHT NOW? WHERE WERE YOU ALL THAT TIME, MADARA!
They were silent. Lips seeping poison haven't spoken. He could have make things better from the start.
You are not alone (pain exploded under his skull, within empty eye socket, the same when Kakashi was closer).
You can't advance.
You can't redo.
His yukata was itchy. When the fireworks started, girls chased through crowded streets to get the best watching spots and Obito followed them without paying attention to other clansmen. Yoritomo and Sandai in expensive kimono, his father's resembling silver stars and moon reflection in lake, with cranes in rush, large clan symbol on back. Fellow Uchiha bowed to his parents, complimenting her look as well. She was beautiful, her kimono matching pattern, with different color. Her own was pastel blue, soft daylight with birds wading in lakeshore.
Obito was nine years old.
"We got ourselves matching dango!" Hikaru moved to the spot on rooftop, already occupied by her sister. "Azuki bean taste is my favourite."
"It takes Mother and Father forever," other whined, licking her fingers from sweet sauce. "Gimme minute, I'll be back with fresh treats in no time!"
He can see their matching kimono for sure, characteristic in crowd. Wait, are they talking to Clan Elders? Fugaku is here, too. Sandai is greeted by old grannies and grandpapas, who stole Tomoko to participate in running charity stand for injured war veterans. It had already started, roughly months ago. Wait, his parents were heading to see Sandai mother, granny Tomoko.
"Granny is here," he explained. "I'm gonna fetch her up!"
He's running through crowd of people. That's Obito Uchiha. Yoritomo's offspring. He haven't lived up to his father name yet. No, he doesn't have Sharingan. No, in his pace mastering an element would take him whole lifetime. He doesn't advance. We're at war, he should have try harder than that. Yoritomo disappears for months, kid has to do it on his own. He's lucky to have parents. Lots of us had reached top on our own. Mother is pampering him. Obito needs more hardships to grow up as both Uchiha and shinobi of Konoha.
"This is my boy, Obito," Yoritomo introduced him when he reached stand where Tomoko was, hand of his shoulder. "He's going to become Hokage."
"No shit, Yoritomo. No Uchiha ever will be Hokage," one of them spoke. "What about Uchiha Police Force? Everyone joins it ranks, he should have soon, too."
He could do it himself. Introduce as first Uchiha kage ever.
"I'll have my face carved on mountainside!" he's excited. "Uchiha Police Force makes Konoha safer place, and I'll do more than that! I'll stop the war! I'll save the world!"
They just laughed. Oh, naive child. World will crush you. Devour whole and spit out leftovers.
"Why they were like that, Father?" Obito looked up to his father.
"My grandfather, Madara Uchiha was Hokage candidate. He happened to have most powerful Sharingan, so in terms of power he had everything, Obito. Then, you know Hashirama Senju become Shodai and fought Madara in place known as Valley of End. Madara Uchiha took over the Kyuubi, most powerful of nine chakra spirits, but Hashirama Senju killed him. Do you know why, Obito?"
"His spirit became weak," Yoritomo shook his head.
"He's been wronged by his own people, Obito. He was certain whole world turned against him and given up on it. Then, Hashirama fought him, betrayed by last person he ever trusted."
"Then why Hashirama haven't spoken to Madara? Why they had to fight?"
"No matter Hashirama had say, Madara wouldn't listen. Same goes for this war, Obito. If you want to stop it, save the world and become Hokage, you cannot follow Madara's footsteps."
Few of them dropped unconscious because of Sharingan genjutsu, they reached to wiggling boy, performing team seal for silencing Obito's powerful Mokuton, ANBU medic rushed in, forcing sedatives into his system. They knew Minato could handle danger alone, but he's supposed to become Hokage soon. His student got hold on destructive prowess of Hashirama Senju. ANBU is under wing of Sarutobi, they are taking great care of boy.
Obito can't control his power.
It's too early to release him yet.
Kakashi is mortified, face blank, no emotions. He didn't accept arm on his shoulder, shuddering away from any comfort.
Obito is alive and first thing he yelled in Hatake's face is worse than any slap to cheek, it went straight through Kakashi's heart. Of Kami, forgive him the wordplay.
It's almost like Obito really hates Kakashi for Rin. Unforgivable deeds. Mental evaluations show no doubt, who is really hold as culprit by Obito. Obito's mind is a mess.
Obito needs more time.
Obito was looking really, really different. Terrible scars twisting his face, parts of grafted skin visible through his hospital gown, Hashirama cells, Minato told him. Minato also told him about cursed seal they found inside Obito's heart. And Rin's. He skipped details of underground findings in Mountain Graveyard, where together with Fugaku and Orochimaru they had put an end to omnious force behind Obito's capture.
Hirashin seal never disappears. Obito's decaying leg led them to madman's sanctuary.
"You should let him out!" acsussation hangs in air. "Obito, he... he did nothing to deserve that."
Minato once again curses any force which caused his team to break and drift apart. He's been unable to hold them whole. At least two of three members are alive.
One, clawing his way out pits of hell, in ANBU underground chambers. Obito is beyond salvation? No, there's still a chance. Obito seems to recognize Madara as a person responsible for Rin's death. How boy went to such conclusions, conducting team never suspected he went that far. Few medics, single person from T&I capable enough to handle Obito is Morino Ibiki. Second, guilt ridden, struggling between relief of his only living teammate being alive and he's piece of shit for killing Rin. That suspension is killing anyone inside, orders to keep both of them away were wrong.
He should let Obito out as fast as possible.
Minato could feel most dreaded question come. Instead Kakashi lowered his head.
He's so sorry. Minato vows to change that. Until this day, never again.
It's almost like Madara knew.
Obito couldn't help it but pry into it. It's very persistent thought.
It's almost like Madara wanted him back, the most wonderful world of dreams within reach. World of peace. World of love. World of victors.
What about the losers then? Do they have a place to live in dreamland?
Dreamland utopia.
He can't go back to the start. He can't advance himself. He's suspended, freely floating in the void. Rin is here, too. She's smiling, gaping hole in her chest.
Go for it, Obito! Become Hokage and show me how you'll save the world! That's another promise! Let's go!
Sincerely encouraging him to chase a dream. She was real. Not a phantom, futile projection of person that faded away, in tragic coincidence. She was flesh and blood, back then, how else he could not feel pride and joy from someone's so truly concerned about him. Become Hokage, Obito!
When they pour synthetic chakra inside his bloodstream, Obito sees himself becoming Hokage. He sees himself wearing Konoha insignia, Hokage hat and robes. He sees his own face carved into mountainside. Soldier pill chakra is radiant like sunlight. Rin's smile is radiant like sunlight.
Very painful sunlight - he's alive. Dawn of new day brings even more suffering and takes Obito awhile to realize the screams were his own.
Smouldering afterburn of fake chakra seared through his pathways. Something is gone, but Obito doesn't know what. When he wakes up he's in pain, smoothered by morphine drip. Medics come and poke and wishper and nod.
What is real, what is real?
Obito doesn't know what he's exactly missing, because he can use and bind his chakra just fine.
"We've terminated your growth, little one," never had such intention, but silencing soldier pill outburst had some collateral damage. Seems ANBU is full of collateral damage and innocent bystanders slaughtered because they know too much.
Obito wouldn't care.
Pain makes you feel alive, pain is real.
Madara told him it's real.
When you know pain, you know you're alive.
Why should he take Madara's words as real?
Madara told him things, petty things, petty lies about the dreamworld. When those didn't work, subtle brainwashing, he had taken Rin away. What should have matter for Obito in first place, Rin is gone. World without Rin should be fake.
Rin weren't supposed to die. People don't live forever. World which forces beloved ones demise, takes sunshine away, doesn't matter. It shouldn't matter. You can't go back to the start. You can't make things better. You can't redo the past. You can't advance towards the future.
Sharingan sees the truth, he knows for sure. Everytime Obito forces his Mangekyou out, he's in pain. Rin is smiling, crying blood, gaping windhole in her chest. Never forget, never forgive.
Oh, how much easier it would be Madara's way. Deny her loss, erase her sacrifice, like it never happened.
Except he's not allowed to. Never forget Rin, never forgive. He's not allowed to threw cherished, lost love, away just because something terrible happened. Never given up on Kakashi before. He had seen Kakashi, or was it a dream?
You are not alone.
Pain is only real thing. He's clinging to that feeling, even smoothered by morphine drip.
Obito dreams once again, hazy, half remembered dreams.
One day, Hatake Kakashi entered his mindscape. Kakashi who had killed Rin, hand drenched in blood and gore. Rin parted lips, face forever mortified in wishpering his name.
Kakashi. Kakashi! KAKASHI. KAKASHI! KAKASHI!
If that's a dream, Rin could be alive. No, no, no, too good to be real, she's dead. She's dead, fucking dead, hole blown inside her chest by Hatake.
How they even let it happen?
"You were supposed to know better, Hatake!" they stood in pool of congealed crimson. Kakashi face is apathetic, betraying no emotions. "You were supposed not to make tragedy like that possible, to force out situation like that!"
"Emotions are hindrace to shinobi. They're useless baggage."
"We've never mattered to you!" he jabbed a finger into his chest. Kakashi was taller than him. "You know how ANBU team calls you? Cold-Blooded Kakashi. Friend Killer," he cackled. "Suits you pretty well. You know, I wonder do you even have a heart?"
"Obito, she-"
"She gave her heart to you, Kakashi! She loved you! She decided to go down by your hand!" tears were streaming down his face, mixed with blood from Sharingan, pinkish vermilion. They here salty and burning. "I can't believe it! You had only one job!"
Mokuton tendrils appeared from nowhere.
"One too many, Hatake. She jumped right in front of your Chidori. How could you miss that one?"
"Obito I'm so sorry."
Is he seriously going to pull out that bullshit on him?
"You told me back then, in Kannabi, only I hold the power to save her. Are you seriously still standing to your points?" wooden tendrils extended, reaching towards Hatake, gripping, immobilizing in iron-like hold. "So please kindly tell me how come you've failed to see that one coming."
"Do you hate me, Obito? Good, because I deserve that."
"So, how does it feel to never grow up to your own expectations, Hatake?" he moved closer. "I never lived up to anyone expectations, anyway. Maybe that one task was too much for you to handle. Maybe you're not that great, after all. I pity you."
He reached towards Kakashi Sharingan.
"I don't deserve that eye. Take it back."
Obito laughed.
"Oh no, my dearest friend. You totally deserve it. Sharingan drains your chakra. Oh no, you're not allowed to forget. Never. Ever. Now, we're both not allowed to forget," he ran fingers through Kakashi eyelids, then his own, empty one. "Sharingan won't let you forget. Ever. Keep that one. That's a gift."
"I... have no excuse, Obito."
"We've both failed her, Kakashi. We've both failed to see greater picture. There's no point denying it, she's gone now. Suicide? That's an easy way out, Hatake. We both don't deserve it. We better stay alive and suffer in hell. Whatever it's real or not, it doesn't matter."
He lets roots recede.
His mental condition haven't improved. Why should he care? Why everyone is so fixated on his well-being? Medical charts and even more evaluations, he's been prodding sunken eyelids for long time, until the medics come and sew those shut.
"You crashed on one soldier pill," ANBU medic expained, taking measures. He hums to himself, takes notes in chart. 010886 had hit the growth spurt, before the cave. He had gained three inches before his growth stopped, in period of two years. Snake said the chakra inhibitors used instead of sealing jutsu made test subject unable on advancing in height. "Freak."
He flipped a bird at medic. His eyelids are sore from performed surgical procedure, it has no sense. He doesn't like the stitches, what's the point of sealing those shut if he has no seeing eye?
(Propably because none of eye transfer attempts have been successful so far. Because Obito is rejecting anything foreign to his chakra system. How come he haven't rejected his own grafts yet?)
They have theory for this one as well, his sensory chakra developed. 010886 haven't been mentioned as sensor before, not even briefly, or having skills in this direction. During his time in ANBU research facility, the guards have confirmed, he's a sensor. His body develops different kind of behaviour, depending of chakra patterns, he reacts poorly to people he doesn't know. Fairly acquintated with Ibiki, who is able to perform hours long evaluations on 010886. Boy's sensory abilities were greatly augmented by Hashirama Senju cells.
First Hokage had abilities of Sage, to balance himself with natural energy and use it as his own.
Forced isolation doesn't do well for Obito.
He needs to be released soon.
Obito gets packed in less than five minutes, in one medium size bag. Door are open and few ANBU, skeleton crew compared to one he sensed before, watching him go. They're ready for anything, chakra compressed in coils, easy to access, easy to release and act at any moment. Except they didn't.
Obito doesn't look back.
No-one is waiting for him outside.
You were dead to the world for years, what you've been expecting anyway?
