Title: Halcyon Youth: Switch Around
Notes: Finally some stuff is happening. Well, kind of anyway. Also a bit of a bait and switch kind of moment at the start here. Also now everything is caught up and the posts will come as I complete the chapters...
My fists clench and I duck my head down just that bit lower. Minato... Minato is our Sensei. Which means that the timeline is actually still rather similar to the Prime timeline. Rin. Minato. I stuff a fist into my mouth toddler style to try and keep myself from initiating a second freak out.
It doesn't really work but Kakashi's able to keep me moderately calmer this time by simply being there. I blink rapidly trying to keep my focus primarily on him.
And not on the feeling of imminent doom.
Which is actually more normal than it should be.
I seriously should be getting some therapy really. Except that's one of those things that seem entirely foreign to this universe in general. Or really I've never seen anything or anyone that even remotely resembles a therapist in this universe. And really, no therapists seriously explains how and why most of the more powerful(read: long lived) shinobi tend to be fairly off-kilter.
I really should just get a journal...
I yelp when I feel Kakashi's hand come down on my head and kind of sweat as I realize that everyone in the room is looking at me. Awkwardly I fist the bottom of my shirt and make a few sounds before looking over at Minato who actually seems kind of amused now.
"Team Seven!" Minato claps his hands together with a rather awkward looking smile "up on the roof!" he's gone within seconds and I blink rapidly before rubbing at my eyes. That's speed, although I'm sure that eventually Kakashi and I will surpass it... Hopefully. Eh, goals for the future.
We all sort of stare at each other one last time before quickly making our way up to the roof. Where Minato is standing and Kushina is perched happily on the railing behind him. I blink and Kakashi stares along with Rin.
"Shi?" I ask as a substitute for the ever eloquent huh? The Uzumaki lady only grins of course leaving us all the more confused. Isn't Minato our sensei? Or is there some kind of trick... Is the test going to be right now? "Shi? Kaa?" I am so confused it's not even funny, really I must have missed something earlier when I was in the midst of a mini panic attack.
Also Kushina's grin and excitement is kind of foreboding so I just kind of edge behind Kakashi and out of her reach. I'm kind of not looking forwards to being enveloped into a crushing hug if that's what she's planning on doing. My eyes narrow, I have a Kakashi Kushina! I have a Kakashi... Yeah that's a thing, I'm pretty sure it's a meme actually...
"Kushina-san..." Kakashi sighs closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before he continues catching me up. "Is our actual sensei... She just sent that idiot to fetch us." Oh, so basically Kushina decided to troll us.
That sounds about right actually.
I step back out from behind Kakashi cross my arms over my chest and kind of glare at her because really? I would be more annoyed, but actually I'm kind of relieved. Except that you know, Kushina's a Jinchuriki, also how did she get the clearance to become a jonin sensei? How many D-Ranks are we going to be looking forwards to.
A chill kind of races up my spine and the feeling of doom and despair comes back. Except this time not in the context of possibly being crushed and then turned insane but in the context of possibly being permanently being trapped in the village on D-Ranks.
Jinchurikis aren't really likely to be let out that far from the village... Although then again, Naruto got into a lot of serious stuff so who knows...
I might be just overreacting to the situation in my head here.
Actually thinking about it considering my Chakra Hypersensitivity I doubt that we really would have likely been doing much more than D-Ranks for a long time anyway. Even with the war raging just outside. So it's more than possible that the mission to destroy Kannabi would have been given to another team anyway. That... Doesn't really help though. It kind of gives me the feeling that things are already tumbling towards disaster really.
Not that reality and life in general doesn't already lean that way more often than not.
I blink at Kushina's hand waving over and over in front of my face before raising my head to look at her. Kakashi stands beside me amused and Rin is simply staring. I raise a hand to the back of my head and rub it sheepishly grinning in an offered apology. Minato, who's still there laughs a bit awkwardly drawing barely a glance from me, before Kushina waves him away.
"Anyway 'ttebane! Typically now we would introduce ourselves" Kushina sort of plonks herself down with both legs crossed beneath her. Also, my mind automatically fills in the usual introduction... Name, likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams.
Uchiha Obito, formerly Tammy. I like writing, reading and generally being creative, peaceful days outside and chocolate aren't opposed either. I dislike bullies, brats and being useless, also I can't say that I particularly like rissoles. My hobbies generally include the creative arts and once collecting bottlecaps. I don't really have any particular dream for the future...
Yeah, except that the only problem with that of course is that I can't really speak here. Well, I could try but after I hit around eight and a half it got incredibly painful and I just kind of stopped even at night. Pain even when you're used to it is nothing more than a huge bother and blockage. No matter how hard you try it always attempts to halt you and get in your way.
It probably doesn't help that I'm incredibly stubborn so I keep trying anyway...
I absently listen to my team mates introductions with half an ear, not all that interested really. Since technically I already know them, Kakashi and Kushina-sensei especially. Of course I do keep my ears perked for any interesting facts, or unmentioned information... Kushina-Sensei still wants to be the first female Hokage at this point though.
I kind of want to see if I can push the changes in this timeline far enough that she'll become the Forth instead of Minato now. Because that would be just incredibly amusing.
I'll admit to a feeling of wanting more females in positions of power, So sue me. If the fact that I was more or less a girl in my previous life also happens to be influencing that wish then who cares. It's not as if I ever really cared that much for the gender-binary and gender roles anyway.
I mean, it's not like I really consider myself a girl or a boy...
So the idea of pushing the timeline in that direction is incredibly tempting and amusing and... Yeah I'm totally going to try my best to make that happen. I grin at Kushina before remembering one other thing. The final qualifying test, which would take place tomorrow. If our sensei were still Minato I would have at least a vague idea of what it might possibly be.
Kushina though...
"Shi?" I look up at her with a slightly tilted head even as she beams at us all. She's clearly thrilled to be a jonin sensei. Honestly I can see the draw, MINIONS. Also jokes about us being little ducklings or chicks following after our parent.
"Don't worry 'ttebane!" Kushina laughs single hand reaching over and ruffling my hair. I raise a hand in annoyance to knock hers away and she only widens her grin. "Tomorrow will be fun!" she declares before dismissing us and just disappearing herself. Her statement does not fill any of us with confidence though. Especially not Kakashi or I, whenever Kushina thinks something's going to be fun it generally means that things are going to get a bit crazy.
Or something's going to go incredibly wrong. There's not really that much difference between either thing anyway.
We've learnt to be paranoid whenever she says that something's going to be fun anyway. I trade a look with him before debating on whether or not to warn Rin. It would be a good idea, but at the same time... That would require actually being able to communicate with her without wanting to run away or burst into tears due to guilt.
Yeah, I think that I'll let Kakashi handle that... I give him a look that I'm pretty sure conveys that wish and he rolls his eyes. He still turns to Rin though and she stares even as I duck my head and fidget a bit.
"When Kushina-san says that something will be fun. Chaos typically happens." well okay that's a decent enough warning I think as I nod my head and give a rather awkward smile to Rin. Don't panic... Don't panic...
"You mean that it's only fun in a certain context?" Rin asks and I nod my head vigorously, while trying to keep from allowing my breath to speed up.
"Yeah, also explosions tend to happen quite often." I huff at that because it's not as often as he's implying and he looks at me with half-lidded eyes and I simply press my lips together and puff myself up a bit. "Usually though their Obito's fault so I guess that's not as much of a problem to worry about" I cross my arms over my chest and roll my eyes. "See you tomorrow!"
With that said we both disappear. Heading straight home, I'm eager to see my parents really. Maybe if I can still get away with it I'll curl up on Otousan's lap for a snuggle. Just because I feel kind of as though I need a snuggle. Being forced to realize that yes Rin is still an actual person has probably caused that.
By tomorrow though I'll probably be more prepared to face her presence in my circle though. Hopefully, I close my eyes and duck my head down a bit. My stomach turns and I can feel the pulse of my heartbeat.
My insecurities are clearly on display.
Reaching the house I skid to a stop with Kakashi landing right beside me. I plaster a smile onto my face before taking a deep breath. Kushina's our sensei, which is unexpected but not unappreciated.
I'm betting that my parents have something to do with that... Sakumo as well probably, Mikoto-hakubo is also a suspect. They're protective really and considering that I have a slightly easier time around familiar chakra signatures. I push the door open and wander in behind Kakashi.
Seeking out my parents I wander around the house at a relatively slow pace. Kakashi's already in the yard, likely practicing some kenjutsu with Sakumo. I would join them, but I'm not really all that enthusiastic about it. Besides, Okaasan has news I'm pretty sure, so I'm more eager to find my parents and know what's going on.
Eventually I zero in on my parents signatures and speed up a bit to reach them. I pause outside the closed door just in case... Wouldn't be the first time I'd interrupted them but I still pause and listen for a bit before knocking lightly on the wall beside the door. Then I open it up and poke my head in.
They're both thankfully not really doing anything that could really traumatize me. If anything they both seem to be rather happy simply in each other's presence. Happy that we're all together. I automatically move over to them and clamber up to join them where they rest. Snuggling against Otousan's side I wait patiently for an explanation for what I was curious about earlier.
What I'm still curious about because Chakra signatures don't just change without reason. At least not that I've ever known.
Then again, I try my best not to actively interact with the rest of the world aside from those who I'm comfortable around. And well, their chakra signatures don't really abruptly change, discounting the way that Kushina's will spike and swirl and occasionally flare with biju chakra. So there's got to be some reason for the subtle change in Okaasan's chakra.
"Okk?" honestly though it doesn't take too long for me to forget being patient though. And I squirm around until I kind of lie across Otousan and peer upside down at Okaasan. She laughs lightly and I smile before frowning and reaching out a hand to poke at her. I'm really, really curious and kind of worried about the change in her signature.
She laughs before catching my hand and gently resting it against her abdomen. The action is actually kind of familiar. Cordell, Freedom, the Twins... Feeling for new life. My head sort of locks onto that and I know that I visibly kind of light up. Even if I can't really feel or hear anything, my sensitivity to chakra is able to feel the difference more clearly in this proximity.
Another two signatures just barely beginning to appear. It's barely a blip, but I can feel them(and isn't that amazing).
"It's still only near the start right now..." I hear my Okaasan's words but my mind is still more caught on the fact that there's another set of signatures there. "Obito, it's only a month in at this point..." I pout because does that matter, especially since the measurement of how long seems horribly inconsistent or unreliable. Also why would I care? I'm going to be an older sibling again!
Yeah, I'm going to definitely be the doting older sibling when they're born... Well as long as things go well.
Considering exactly how many complications can crop up during a pregnancy. From the simple and easily handled to the more worrying and unexpected. It doesn't help that now chakra is another dimension that needs to be worried about as well in this world. Although considering that I can feel them already, how is it that I have chakra hypersensitivity if that's one of the first things that develops along with the fetus?
It probably has something to do with my reincarnation... Of course considering that, I'm wondering why I don't have any memories of experiencing the sensation of floating in warmth and darkness. Considering that around week eighteen or something like that a fetus begins to have a regular sleep cycle... Which means vague dreams, and sensations...
Does that mean that my soul was simply dumped into this universe right as Obito was supposed to be born or something? I mean I remember that part of being reborn, quite vividly actually because seriously it was rather abrupt and unexpected. From sleep to suddenly everything's happening at once...
It makes me faintly shiver, and I come back to reality to see my Okaasan and Otousan both watching me worriedly. I allow a sheepish smile to spread across my face and draw my hand back before simply rolling over and hiding in a nest of blankets. It makes Otousan burst into laughter anyway and I grin behind the blankets, that's a win.
Although it's quickly negated by Otousan reaching over and grabbing me. Pulling me over and between them both for a hug. I pout before snuggling down my hair kind of fluffing over as I grin up at them both. Otousan snorts and presses a hand onto my head ruffling my hair. I don't pout rather I grin and try to reach up to ruffle his right back.
I fail but I can feel and see Okaasan's amusement even as I flop back down before pressing my hand back onto her still flat abdomen just to feel the flickers of my possible future siblings.
My eyes close and my mouth curves up into a smile. I'm definitely eager to see them and to be an older sibling again. My eyes open back up and I look up at Okaasan now a bit worried but for another reason. I don't exactly know the circumstances of my birth, but I'm more than aware that there were a few issues.
Least of those caused by the memories of another timeline... Another separate Self-Insert, or OC-Insert, which is the same difference. Of different timelines where complications caused her death the day I was born...
"Don't worry Obito!" I look over to Otousan who's expression has softened. "We're definitely going to take precautions to make sure that everyone's safe, and healthy!" he says and that comforts me only minutely. "We're not going to risk anything!" Okaasan pulls me into a hug and I close my eyes pressing my ear against her chest.
"Don't worry Obito..." Okaasan whispers to me her heartbeat steady "one surprise was more than enough. This time we're actually prepared." I actually kind of smile at that, even if I'm still worried.
Yet. This is also kind of relieving, because it's not exactly anything on the levels of doom. More it's just another change, and... It's family.
Tomorrow is the final qualifying test, but here and now... I'm basking in the knowledge that things are looking somewhat brighter in the context of family developments.
I'm feeling pretty good about my life.
Notes: You know, initially I wanted to have the twins and the pregnancy mentioned much, much earlier, as in they were originally sort of thought of to be brought in when Obito was around seven-eight, and then I just forgot to mention them... So instead here you go. Also, don't worry I know what I'm doing, mostly...
Now the second big thing this chapter brings in. Kushina is their sensei rather than Minato. There are several reasons for this. The main three being a) the first encounter with Minato in this fic resulted in a coughing fit for Obito, b) technically Kushina's status as Obito's fuinjustu tutor actually resulted in some paperwork that claimed them as her apprentice, thus it was "easier" for them to alter that and make her a jonin-sensei than it would have been to draw up some new paperwork, and c) Obito's parents are way overprotective, so is Sakumo for that matter. Also yeah, Mikoto's getting in on that wagon as well.
Next Chapter is finally the full Genin Test, and some fun with fuinjutsu.