.
.
Behind her, Kakashi is crying. She's never seen Kakashi be anything other than calm or mildly irritated, so the sound is disconcerting. "Don't cry, Kakashi," Obito says, and Rin's hands are shaking, because she's only seen this once before and she isn't sure what she's supposed to do. "It'll be okay."
It's quiet in the cave. Except for Kakashi's soft, stifled sobs and Obito's harsh breathing, there's no other sound here, and Rin concentrates, focusing her chakra into the tips of her fingers. "Okay," Rin says, and she looks at Kakashi, nodding to him. "I want you to hold Kakashi's hand."
Kakashi scoots over and Obito takes it, and Rin gently peels the lid back. Obito steels himself. She sees his grip tighten.
"It's okay," Rin says, and the beam of chakra flares. Obito makes a noise, a strangled sort of sound, and Kakashi squeezes his eyes.
Blood trickles down the sides of Obito's face, and Obito breathes, hard.
"It's okay," Rin says, and she blinks, pushing back tears. "Obito...this is going to hurt."
"Just do it," Obito says, and Rin does, pinching the globe of his eye squeezing out of the socket. The tissue snaps with a sickening wetness, and Kakashi cries harder, clutching Obito's hand.
"Okay, Kakashi." Rin turns. "Kakashi we have to do this, otherwise the eye's gonna go to waste-"
"Rin," Obito says, and Rin's jaw tightens. She pushes Kakashi's bandage back. She isn't sure if she's doing it right, but Kakashi winces and his eyes begin to tear, and when he looks at her, he does so with both open eyes.
"Okay. How's your vision?"
"Fine."
Kakashi's voice is shaky. There is a sound. Rock nin, coming after them.
She clasps Obito's hand into her lap, and the skin feels cold. Clammy. Obito is breathing hard, a thin line of blood trickling down the side of his eyelid. "Rin," Obito says. His hand is shaking. "Rin."
"It's okay," Rin says. She bends forward, pressing her forehead against his. "It's okay. It's okay."
She starts to cry. Outside, there are sounds of fighting. Sounds of metal clashing against metal, men crying out. The chidori, bursting and exploding through the air.
The rocks begin to crumble and Kakashi's head pops forward.
"It's starting to collapse," Kakashi says. "We have to leave, now."
"Rin," Obito says.
She looks at him. He weakly squeezes her hand.
xXx
.
"Obito."
They stare at each other from across the shattered glass, the thin yellow liquid puddling at their feet.
"Rin," Obito says. He reaches out toward her, about to cup her cheek, when she flinches away.
The action hurts him. He moves, then composes himself, walking slowly to retrieve his mask.
"They're dead," Obito says, and he adjusts his mask. He lifts his head, sharingan eye opening. "Why should it matter what I do with them?"
"You killed them," Rin says.
"Yes" Obito says. "But things were already set in motion. I was only there to take the opportunity."
"You killed them," Rin says, again. "You murdered them - an entire clan!"
"They murdered themselves," Obito says. "Foolish. Weak. Self-serving in-fighting! The Uchiha were on a path to self-destruction. It was better that an Uchiha would finish it. Not an outsider," Obito says. "Not someone who would take advantage of our clan."
"And this isn't taking advantage?" Rin says. Obito's eyes narrow.
"You already know that I work alone. I need them. I cannot accomplish this task without them."
"What task?" Rin says. "Enslaving the world and taking away their free will?"
"No," Obito says, and his eye narrows.
"To bring about an everlasting peace."
Rin swallows. Glass crunches beneath his feet as he walks, and Rin hugs herself, swallowing, hard. "It does not matter if you hate me," Obito says, quietly. "I will succeed, and when I do you will be happy. Everyone will," Obito says, and Rin closes her eyes.
xXx
.
He lets her escape. She runs, feet trampling through the underbrush, running off in some unknown direction, hell-bent to escape. Obito watches her from the tower, the small, desperate figure charging forward and being swallowed up into the horizon. Behind him, Kabuto hovers, a small smile on his lips.
"What happened?" Kabuto says, and Obito turns, his sharingan spinning. "I thought you two were getting along."
"Can you release it?" Obito asks. He turns to look at him, wearily.
"The resurrection technique. Can it be done?"
"No," Kabuto says, and his lips part into a sickening smile. "Well, you can always kill her, yourself," Kabuto says. "Unlike the others, she won't come back. It might even be easier that way."
Obito says nothing. Outside, the clouds begin to part, the jagged rocks gleaming and being washed with sun.