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: Naruto is born. Obito makes bad decisions.
Also, I'd love to thank everyone for positive feedback so far!
Yumi Take : I have yet to get to Evangelion as whole, yes this is Evangelion reference, kudos for spotting it! Yes, he already had his input, Madara's influence over Obito isn't a thing to shake off in such short time. I'm glad you enjoy it!
Alley McNally : Thank you for stopping by to review!
Obito keeps visiting her grave. Their apartment is littered with sealing ninjutsu patterns, with half-finished notes.
It's almost like Kakashi making pathetic excuses in front of the Monument Stone. Since he's alive, his name should be removed. No, they say he's a real hero. Real hero, duh. So name stays. It couldn't be helped.
He's back from the training session, dressed in top tank and standard issue pants. He's the only visitor right now. Being relieved on his ANBU duties for now feels strange. He has too much free time. Maybe he's over thinking time of Kushina labour. Nothing bad could happen.
He wondered how does it feel like to become a parent. He had siblings, appearance of new person in the world is life changing. Now, they're dead. Obito is physically unable to reproduce, even if his genetics is just fine (with low strain of madness). Be a father? She was only one he ever considered to bond with. He feels his shoulders are heavy from the weight placed upon them.
"Kushina-san is going to give a birth soon," he had tucked hands in his pockets, lowering himself into a crouch on the level of gravestone. "Minato sensei is going to be a father. After everything that forced out your demise, I am afraid, Rin. I am afraid someone else will pry my last family from me. Like hell I am going to allow it to happen. I keep wondering, what if not?"
Madara had leashed Kyuubi by the power of the Sharingan. Hashirama wooden dragon and Uzumaki Mito stopped fox. But the fox is malicious spirit? Obito knew how much forced detention affected him. Maybe Kyuubi is similar case.
Kushina stopped by Rin's place for awhile today. She knew Obito was there before: tidy gravestone, fresh flowers inside the vase. Flowers had tint of Mokuton chakra to it, small patches of green moss where Obito open-toe sandals made contact with ground. Kakashi came here pretty often, too. Rin's death was great loss to everyone in Konoha and her dear Minato still hold a certain amount of guilt, fastest man alive failed his students. Obito and Kakashi didn't seem to blame their sensei for it. Obito and Kakashi, even after few years, have been affected by loss of Rin the most.
No amount of beating them senseless into proper state of mind would suffice. They need to heal.
Naruto under her heart, he will change everyone life. This child, radiant as sunlight inside her, could bring them back into light from shadows of ANBU. Obito would make a great sensei for her son.
Minato assigned her ANBU guard. Hound and Raven. Hound watched the perimeter of Konoha cementery. Kushina lingered by Rin's grave a little longer, as Obito today morning.
Later, Kushina meet Mikoto on streets of Konoha. They were friends? Kushina and Mikoto were wishpering to each other, baby boy in Mikoto arms.
"Oh, Sasuke!" she greeted baby boy, napping inside his mother arms. "He's so cute."
When they grow up, Sasuke and Naruto will be classmates. Sasuke looks so cute he could be mistaken for a baby girl. Obito briefly mentioned his meeting with Itachi, days after failed assassination attempt, cradling baby boy in his arms. Itachi's younger brother and their sensei son.
Kushina and Mikoto share a look, a promise. Their children will grow up together, as classmates. As friends, just like Kakashi and Obito.
"I saw Sasuke today," Hound casually mentioned later on, getting rid of his ANBU uniform. Raven looked at him confused, wearing nothing but underpants and sleeveless top.
"Sasuke?" he echoed faintly, hanging laundry outside. "Who's Sasuke?"
"He's Itachi Uchiha younger brother," he was on guarding duty today. You didn't know they're friends, Mikoto and Kushina? Obito shook his head, done with last piece of wet clothing. Ninkens were sleeping in their dog beds, Kakashi sank in furpit.
Yeah, sure. He's better off the clan drama.
Family ties are important, Father would tell him. For Uchiha, family may come before Konoha. Obito doesn't recognize his clan as true family anymore. Family is more than blood ties. ANBU is his true family. Home is where Kakashi is. He doesn't even have summoning contract with ninneko or birds of prey, as usual Uchiha.
Then, Fugaku gave him scroll with secret Mangekyou techniques. Shared a piece of intel otherwise Obito wouldn't get.
Part of him is still wondering, what does Clan Leader expect in return?
Darkness is leering at him.
You have been wrong, Obito.
He can feel that one with every fiber of his being. That's not Swirly who brought him right in time and place to see Rin's last moments. That's not White Zetsu, mindless minions of Madara. He thought they were gone.
Darkness is leering at him.
Obito stares into void and void stares back.
Last renmant of Madara's will isn't gone.
What if he's the only one to notice their presence?
Orochimaru underground lab is true snake lair. With Captain they visited places like that (he just wants to forget things he had seen there), he had been in one for almost a year. He should be used to it by now.
Obito is sure they had feigned fake reports including that one, prolonged hospital stay, any of existing reports included series of experiments. Forbidden experiments, under guise of detention.
Did Hokage knew and approved this one?
Raven descended deeper in hell, long braid swinging from side to side, to pair of golden eyes.
Orochimaru still makes something inside him twist and shudder. There's no malice in Snake Sannin, he couldn't find one today.
"You seem troubled, Raven."
He's been called Obito-kun before. He takes that one into account. As three of Sannin, he looks really young. Miraclous mix of both Sharingan and Mokuton always piqued sneaky snake interest. Obito falls two years before, back in time. It's much like pointilisms, few steps back to enjoy larger picture.
"Not by you," the things you know. About Madara. "You've been expecting me."
Smile he received sends shiver down his spine.
"I'm here to help you, Obito-kun," it's rude to keep guest waiting on the corridor, so Obito follows Orochimaru in silence. "I'd knew you will start asking questions, soon or later. Since you've found out, what do you need to know?"
"Second assassin," he said finally. "Things left behind in morgue reports."
Orochimaru didn't even flinch. He's not expecting him though, Snake Sannin face can be like a mask. Hatake Kakashi is like a open book compairing to Orochimaru, living with Kakashi Hatake for over a year and he's displaying wider array of emotions. Obito knows what to look for, small details of emotions filtering through that detached, nonchalant appearance. Who is he to compare between Orochimaru and Kakashi?
"This place you call Mountain Graveyard is empty. Razed to the ground. There's no chance anything of that sort could escape. That's unlikely."
Maybe he should have asked Minato instead. He's blundering fool with no self-persevation sense when he opens his mouth.
He'll get it. Nothing left behind, just read closer between lines.
"I assume you know who might've send an assassin to trespass secured area, judging by corpse delivered here," he takes a seat and it's bold statement.
"You lack an authority to receive that kind of information. Have you received clearance from Captain?"
His jaw set, chakra ready to flare through optic nerve. Obito stops right here, from unleashing the Sharingan. What if omnious power behind the assassination attempt may strike back again, at their weakest moment? Recognize, arrange proper conditions, strike, eliminate.
"You're hiding lot of things," it's thousand years too early for him to speak like that to Snake Sannin. "At least drop me a hint."
"Only because you're magnificent, living relic. Senju and Uchiha," golden eyes shift, sleeve ripped by Mokuton. Obito stiffens, catching sight of clear sign of his uncontrolled anger he let slip. "Does this happen often?"
He seems concerned.
"Only when I'm tired of playing games."
Something unnamed crinks in golden, snake eyes before disappearing.
"Your Kakashi is safe. Do you want know more? Just one, little thing in return," keep Kakashi out of this. Of course. Obito nods eagerly.
"Your assassin had nothing to do with omnious presence. He was ROOT operative," Orochimaru looks way too young for his age, Obito had decided. "There's been something more behind Madara. It's ancient, more ancient than Sage of Six Paths. Tea?"
"What do you want in return?"
"A little favour. Keep our meeting in secret," Obito sips his tea. It won't be a secret long enough, he's gotten grab on report describing section of mangled corpses of their unlucky assassins. Not mangled, Kakashi had reacted according to his instincts. The one who fucked things up is him.
"You're safe."
That's not enough.
Bitter taste of nicotine clears his mind, easing headache. Not if your mask has hole to stick cigarette inside without removing it. Obito spits out stub.
Maybe coming to Orochimaru wasn't the best idea. Orochimaru, Danzou and ROOT. Something older than Sage of Six Paths. That's useful bit of information, something credible to start with.
For once, no questions asked. How painted mask, tattoo and full ANBU gear can make things easier. Agent 010886 asking for access to forbidden, ancient scrolls. It's maybe foolish of him to make it official, maybe he's abusing his position for personal reason. No questions asked. He doesn't have an entire week to work his way through seals placed inside archives.
"Raven."
It's time.
"Older than Sage of Six Paths?" he asked, as they were rushing through Kamui dimension.
"Moon Princess, but that's only a folk tale."
"I suppose we've been watched," Obito jaw set, something heavy in his chest. "I can sense a presence similar to Zetsus, much more omnious. I... don't know where they are. Sensei... he doesn't know."
"Should tell him-"
Gloved hands touched hilts of swords upon their arrival, Hound waved a signs towards team. Twin Sharingans were shining in darkness, shared chakra filling their pathways as they made their way towards partition area. Only two wives, several ANBU, Kushina and Minato.
Today is October 10th.
Minato eyes can be that ice cold or filled with worry. Take your positions. Protect the barrier, not even a cockroach dares to slip past it. Take your positions at inner circle.
Kushina is pale, surrounded by mid-wifes, Biwako and the one Raven doesn't recognize. It's actually the first time he gets to experience hours long partition and sense huge strain on redhead. They come to the world in pain, live in pain and leave in pain, he let treacherous thoughts inside his head. Are they watched? Waves of chakra, foreign chakra against seal on her stomach.
This one is masterpiece keeping demonic chakra away.
"You better stay put, Kyuubi!" does Tailed Beast even have a name?
His vision blurred for a second, he saw seal pattern fading away, letters bulging into twisted, thick darkness.
Obito is ready to chase it, take a chance to get leering darkness and destroy it, even if he has no wonder how. Then, presence disappears. Seal is corrupted and Naruto isn't even outside, he's stopped in his tracks by Hound disapproving tap of chakra.
Kyuubi doesn't intend to stay put, scorching red chakra is leaking through corrupted seal, and almost distant roar, fox-shaped head, setting themselves free.
Branches are extending, rustling and Obito founds himself inside someone's else mindscape.
"What are you doing here, Uchiha?"
"Obito, you-"
"I shouldn't be here, Kushina-san..." you're giving birth. The seal is corrupted. "It's my duty to be here, stand my ground."
Last time someone's seal was corrupted, it was with Rin. He's going to assure Kushina delivers baby safely and no-one dies. Until this day, never again.
Fox haven't seen an Uchiha since days of Madara Uchiha. That one was slightly different, having something in common with Madara's chakra. As well Hashirama Senju, when latter used dragon trunk head to bind him. Whatever those ugly humans haven't changed at all, pinning down like monsters, last time they got Isobu and sealed inside girl. She died, too.
Isobu is getting reborn, they're not better. Killing their own kin, disgusting creatures. Yet, they dare to call themselves masters of the world, trying to bind anything and anyone worth of power to their will. They destroy everything that refuses to bend knee to their ultimate will.
"Stand your ground?" fox sneered. "Last time I've seen an Uchiha his chakra was more corrupted than my own. All humans are the same. How come you're not trying to use me for your own ends as Madara Uchiha? You have no wonder how I hate those eyes, well- eye."
Uchiha Madara isn't a one person.
It's a concept of someone who knows falsehoods of reality. Uchiha Madara is a person who selflessly walks down the path, igniting red moon, red moon of dreamland world of peace. Uchiha Madara is a saviour.
No. No. Uchiha Madara is liar.
"You can hate all you want, Kyuubi. I'm just here to assure her safety," kind and scary Uzumaki, weakened, with corrupted seal. He has no time to bargain with Kyuubi but Kushina-san had Tailed Beast inside her for long time. She and Minato, they know what to do. All he can do is hold down huge fox for a second. Sharingan could help. "We can't let you free. You hold too much dangerous power. Besides... she's only family I have left."
Uchiha Madara isn't a one person.
"You're an Uchiha."
"I was born onto Uchiha, but family is more than blood," Kushina chakra is steady, Minato is working on seal. Obito hears distant cry. It's not Kyuubi. It's the newborn son of Kushina and Minato.
"You're too soft, boy."
It's a concept of someone who knows falsehoods of reality. Uchiha Madara is a person who selflessly walks down the path, igniting red moon, red moon of dreamland world of peace. Uchiha Madara is a saviour.
"I have a name. Uchiha Obito. Does Tailed Beast have a name?"
"We do. But humans are unworthy of those."
No. No. Uchiha Madara is liar. For Obito Uchiha everyone who uses and corrupts young souls for their own ends is disgusting as Madara Uchiha.
Maybe he's just a coward. Maybe getting away from Madara was the biggest of small acts of courage he could muster. Ever.
"Obito, that's okay. Naruto is here."
"Naruto..." he repeated, softly. Ah, the newborn. They were serious about naming their firstborn after the fishcake, then. "Are you okay, Kushina-san?"
She nods and pulls him into close embrace. "Thank you, Obito. I'm sure Rin would be happy, too. She was an amazing young woman. I miss her too."
Could it be Kushina visiting Rin grave that day before? Could it be dark presence Kyuubi, not last leftover of Madara's will? Obito feels like crying, he lets ugly sob and clings to her closer, sharing body heat, from such proximity he could feel seal, already done by Minato. It's over.
When he appears by sensei and Hound side, bright light blinds him a little. Seal on Kushina stomach was the same he was trying to copy without his Sharingan. Now the pattern is re-done. It seems similar, but better.
Hound looks at him, your Mangekyou is still active. Since when? He doesn't recall bringing it up, slids optical chakra away. He had used his eye against the Kyuubi. Naruto, in warm blankets, embraced by his mother. Mid-wives are checking Kushina state, she's smiling at Hokage.
"Thank you, Minato. Thank you for everything."
Flickering shadows casted by soft light concealed them, as both of ANBU moved back into darkness.
Kushina and Naruto are safe. Terror is over. Obito finally caught a trail of omnious force he had sensed before. Everyone is safe and sound. Obito replaced himself with Mokuton clone, it won't take too long. Past weeks it has been that one darkness leering at him, Raven can recognize it. He senses it, albeit on another level than sensor-type shinobi. Those are distant echoes of something familiar, just like half forgotten memories of lost paradise.
Raven chases that one, flicker of familiar energy. Doesn't matter traveling across the Fire Country might take a bit longer. He can sustain a clone for enough to deal with danger and make way home before anyone even notices his absence.
Technically, he's not leaving line of duty.