A/N: Word count is ~8.7k.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 14 - Predator and Prey

"I'd like the three of you to meet at my apartment for dinner, tonight."

Three pairs of eyes blinked owlishly. "… Huh?"

Obito glanced to his teammates—they were equally puzzled, it seemed, wondering what their sensei had planned.

Minato merely smiled. "There is something that Kushina would like to tell you three."

Shock. Confusion. Apt words to describe what the three Chūnin felt, that moment. It wasn't strange, the idea of Team Seven having dinner at the blonde's house—no, what was strange was that it wasn't particularly an offer—it was an order. The tone and all, even the phrasing wasn't a question, but a statement. They had been invited multiple times before, sometimes Kakashi was unable to make it because he had training scheduled, or Rin had a shift at the hospital that she was needed to attend to. But something in their sensei's tone said that this wasn't just a casual gathering, not this time.

But what for, then?

"Uh… Well, I'll be there as usual," Obito stated cautiously. "… But why? What does Kushina-neesan have to talk to us about?"

Minato's smile didn't waver. "I'll let her tell you guys herself. She was quite adamant."

And that was how Obito found himself standing in front of his mirror, wondering if there was some special occasion he was missing, and debating whether or not to get dressed up. What was it that Kushina wanted to talk about? As far as Obito knew, it wasn't going to be Rin or Kakashi's birthdays anytime soon, and Minato's had long passed… Perhaps Kushina wanted to announce hers? If he recalled correctly, hers was just around the corner—in a few weeks. But considering the gravity Minato had put to his words, something as common as a birthday announcement was unlikely, and neither of the Jōnin were the type to celebrate their own birthdays. They were givers more than receivers, and sometimes even forgot about their own birthdays.

No, there was clearly something more important going on, something that apparently warranted Minato all but demanding the presence of his entire team for dinner that night. The only thing he could really think of was something that was not scheduled for another couple of years, and even then, he doubted that—

A cold shiver ghosted up Obito's spine and his eyes widened. No. No, he couldn't have changed things this much—he couldn't have irreparably fucked up the timeline this badly. But what if he did? What if—what if, somehow, his own demeanor had made Minato and Kushina a… Little more… Close, this time around, and… And…

"… Fuck."

Literally.

Obito closed his eyes and took a deep, calming breath. There was no way, he was just over-thinking things—right? There was no way that Naruto had already been conceived… Right?

"… This isn't the time for this," the time traveller nearly growled after a moment, walking away from his mirror and over to his closet. No, it really wasn't, and he would have his answer the moment he walked out of his room. There was no point in worrying over something that had not yet been confirmed. Especially since he had other, more pressing matters to attend to before he left.

He slid his closet door open and, upon spying the worn cardboard box he was seeking, slid it out of the corner it had been safely stored. He stared down at the orange, spiral mask, sitting atop the dark cloth, peering up at him. He had made his decision—regarding Itachi, he had to bring Tsunade back as soon as possible. He was still deliberating on whether or not to incorporate the young Uchiha into his plans—did he have time? Was it worth it?—but that was a choice he'd make later.

Specifically, after he gained the Senju cells he needed.

Carefully keeping his chakra fluctuations to a minimum, Obito henge'd into his older form and donned the dark cloak and mask. He wove through hand seals and two Kage Bunshin popped into existence, both staring at him through their own orange masks. He turned to the one on his left. "You will go track down Tsunade of the Sannin. You know where she is likely to be."

The clone nodded, Mangekyō swirling into an angry red. The tell-tale signs of space distortion formed around the clone and fazed out of reality, just as Obito collapsed to his knees, just managing to catch his mask before it clattered to the ground as his other hand gripped at his aching temples.

"… Damn… It," he swore quietly, hands trembling as his eyesight drifted between darkness and clarity. Of course, it wouldn't be so easy—even the use of Kage Bunshin didn't lessen the strain. What mattered was that they were his Kage Bunshin, meaning that he still couldn't escape the draining affects of the most powerful form of his eyes. Had he been in a more amicable mood, he might've been curious as to the reason behind his affliction when his Kamui was used by a Bunshin(that was certainly strange that he felt it while the Kage Bunshin was still active), but he couldn't give a damn at the moment.

He was too focused on the fact that, no matter what, he needed Hashirama's cells. The strain was getting worse, and his Kamui was growing more and more difficult to control properly as the toll only increased. It couldn't be bypassed with Kage Bunshin, because while being a powerful asset, it was also a detriment. A curse.

Obito looked—glared—up at his remaining clone, who had a look of hesitance. "What are you still doing here? Go," he hissed quietly, still trying to keep his chakra fluctuations to a minimum. "I need the Senju cells. I will not…"

He stood up shakily, his henge dispersing, leaving his dark cloak to flutter uselessly to the ground from his lack of girth. "I will not fall before I achieve my goal."

The clone understood. It left in a quiet swirl of wind, the only indication it was once there being the open window left in its wake. Obito wiped at his eyes, noting that despite the strain his eyes had not bled this time.

He looked at the abandoned cloak, sighing as he shakily went to pick it up. Based on the fact that he could hear Kushina and Minato's voices fade in and out intermittently—no doubt moving back and forth from the kitchen area to the dining area—they were setting up the table. The clock read 6:45pm, and the remaining members of Team Seven were bound to arrive any minute.

Obito grimaced. The pain would not abate, and it was bordering debilitating.

No matter, though. He was used to wearing masks—literal or otherwise. He was more than happy to spend time with his team, and whatever Kushina had to talk about would no doubt serve as ample distraction to the throbbing within his head and eyes.

After storing his cloak and mask in their designated place, he shoved the box back in its designated corner in the closet and slid the door closed before heading out of his room.

"Minato-sensei! Kushina-neesan!" He called out, making his way to the kitchen where he heard the clatter of plates and utensils. "Is there anything I can help you guys with?"

As he walked down the dark hallway, he saw Kushina peek around the corner from the kitchen with a grin. It seemed a little hesitant, compared to the woman's usual, radiant smiles. "N-no, it's okay, Obito. You can just go wait at the table, I'm sure Kakashi and Rin will be here soon."

Obito remained standing in the hallway for a moment, wondering what had the woman so jittery, before shrugging and heading past the kitchen into the conjoined dining room. The table was set neatly with small serving plates, chopsticks and napkins, along with glasses of ice water. The Uchiha frowned, taking note of the precision of which everything was set—Kushina and Minato, while neat individuals, were usually not this… Critical in regards to a supposedly relaxed dinner. Not a single bamboo utensil was out of place, and even the centerpiece vase of flowers seemed rather "perfect."

The sound of a couple raps at the door withdrew Obito from his musings.

"Obito, could you answer that?" Minato called out, walking over to the table with an armful of bowls of miso soup.

The raven nodded, walking over to the door. When he opened it, he was greeted by the sight of his two teammates—Kakashi, with his perpetual look of reticence-bordering-constipation, and Rin, with a bright smile.

"Hi Obito!" The latter cheered happily, sniffing the air. "Wow, it smells great! Kushina-neesan is such a great cook, we're so lucky."

Obito smiled, moving to the side to allow the two to walk in. "Yeah. She's really outdone herself this time, and Minato-sensei helped her."

"Hello Kakashi, Rin," Minato nodded to them, a small grin on his face as he set the table. Kushina walked into the dining area with the main dishes and set them down. "Please, have a seat. We should eat now before it gets cold."

Eagerly, Rin set her shoes aside and darted to the table with little hesitance. Kakashi did the same, though perhaps with more restraint—it was rare that the boy showed anything beyond his calm facade.

Kushina grinned as everyone sat down, picking up her chopsticks happily. "Have at it! I made extra today, and I'm sure you'll all like it. Miso shiru, tonkatsu, battered gindara, rice and tsukemono," she pointed to the two gyoza platters on either side of the flower vase. "… And gyoza, if you guys feel like you still want more."

"Itadakimasu," was said as one at various volumes—Rin's surprisingly, being one of the most energetic. Obito couldn't blame the girl, however; Kushina's cooking was exceptionally tasty.

As the meal went on, a sense of normalcy descended—Kushina and Rin were the main conversationalists, providing the topics of discussion ranging from newly acquired ninja tools and gear to food and clothing. Kakashi gave the occasional, noncommittal "hn" while Minato added his own thoughts on the conversation whenever fitting.

Obito, on the other hand, found it easy to fall into his thoughts and calmly wonder about the progress of his clones. Perhaps it was because he was relaxed, surrounded by his loved ones that were certainly not dead, but he was able to think about his future plans without the usual anxiety and stress that usually accompanied such thoughts. He felt so at ease, in fact, that for a moment… Brief it may have been, but for that small moment, he felt as though it would've been acceptable had neither of his clones succeeded. That it would've been fine if he continued living, not as the time traveler Obito, weighed down by what he thought he had to do, but as Uchiha Obito… The one that these people knew.

The one that was oblivious to the future, and all the darkness and fear that encompassed it.

The time traveller sighed, shaking his head from ridiculous thoughts as he took a bite of shibazuke and rice. It wasn't a worry of his, the idea of him falling back into complacency with the idea of reacclimatizing himself as the Obito they knew, but it was still something that went on as a sort of unspoken concept in his mind. Something forbidden. Besides, it wasn't as if he could simply forget everything that he knew, and even then his Mangekyō Sharingan distinguished him from the boy he once was. The boy he still was in the eyes of others.

Obito glanced back up, expecting to see the homely scene he had seen before turning briefly to his food, and almost choked.

Onyx met piercing, cold azure, and he did choke.

"Obito?" Rin abruptly cut off from her conversation with Kushina to look at the raven worriedly. She pat him on the back. "Are you okay? Need water?"

Obito nodded, reaching out to his cup of water and gulping down the cool beverage as the others resumed their conversation. He hadn't expected Minato's gaze, and had he not been so caught off guard, he might've been able to get an actual read on the man instead of the simple surprise that he was accosted by.

As he glanced back to his sensei, he noticed that the man had joined the conversation again with ease; something about Fūinjutsu this time. It was as if Minato hadn't ever left the conversation, as if he hadn't pinned Obito with that eerie gaze that set the time traveler on edge.

And the worst part? Obito hadn't even noticed.

...

A cloaked figure darted through the shadows, moving from shelf to shelf with a keen eye absorbing each detail.

After what he assumed to be the twenty-seventh shelf, he shook his head and headed into the next room. It was no better; lined with jars of unknown compounds of liquids, ranging from blood to sap and gel. None of which were what he was searching for.

Obito's eyes narrowed as he slowed down, contemplating the implications. He had arrived at Orochimaru's lab, which was… Strangely bare. Not in scientific material and research, no, but of proper barriers and seals, to prevent entry from all but those authorized. That, and the gruesome experiments that the Uchiha had expected—bodies strung up from various places, the heel, the soft flesh of the neck, their hands; bodies splayed across tables and revealing bloody innards; the smell of death, decay, and disease—were absent. All of it, absent.

He couldn't feel the chakra signature of a single individual in the vast underground complex. Certainly, Orochimaru had begun experimenting on civilians as opposed to shinobi earlier on, therefore making it more likely that their chakra signatures were simply too minute to notice(Obito's senses were sharp, but he was no sensor)… But it still made him nervous.

He was worried. The lab seemed almost normal. And though he knew the snake to be the type to hide his "dirty business" in the most discreet of ways, there was also the possibility that Orochimaru had not yet begun that descent into madness. And it left Obito with questions.

When had Orochimaru started experimenting? Had he not started yet? Was it possible that the man was innocent, at the moment?

Obito swallowed thickly. Was this a waste of time?

Shaking his head, the raven continued through the corridors at a more sedate pace—scanning the walls, floor and ceiling with a more assessing gaze. No Genjutsu could surpass his Sharingan, but that didn't warrant complacency. Knowing Orochimaru, he wouldn't just use a Genjutsu, no matter how powerful, to hide his research—research that could incriminate him to the highest degree, should it ever be found… If it even existed.

"… How curious."

Obito froze.

The feeling of a cold, slithering chakra whisked about his form, and probably might have incited a slight shiver had Obito not been accustomed to dealing with the mentally skewed individuals of Shinobi life. Slowly, he turned, eyes locking with intrigued, slitted gold.

"… How curious, indeed," the snake spoke quietly, his tone sibilant and casual. The grin, however, suggested malice and ill-intent. "I do not recall keying an Uchiha into the seals that coat this place. Who are you?"

Obito, ignoring the fact that the first thing the snake noticed was his Sharingan eye—how typical—considered the words. So, Orochimaru did have seals around this place? It was a wonder he hadn't tripped any of them, and, admittedly, it made him feel a small blow to his pride that he had not realized this. Straightening, he pinned the snake with a cold gaze. "… I do not believe it is necessary to introduce myself, Orochimaru of the Sannin."

Orochimaru's grin only widened. "… You are not an Uchiha of this village, are you?" His slitted pupils gazed into the Uchiha's only visible eye, as though mentally probing him for answers—answers that Obito wouldn't give to him. "Your chakra is… Familiar, though that may be attributed to your heritage. Powerful, though, yes indeed… I don't suppose you have any interest in working for me, strange Uchiha? Or, perhaps, working together?"

"I have no plan on relying on the likes of you," Obito stated derisively, behaving apropos to his clan's usual demeanor. "You are correct with your first assumption, however: I am not an Uchiha of this village, and I haven't been for many years."

Strangely, instead of interest, that brought out an actual frown from the Sannin. His eyes darted to the side briefly in consideration before going back to their original place, never leaving the Uchiha. Wise, considering what Obito was more than prepared to do.

"… Uchiha Madara," the snake stated calmly, eyeing Obito with a look that was both predatory and defensive. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Obito's next words were punctuated with the smallest threat of Killing Intent. "I need the Senju cells."

A look of slight surprise crossed the Sannin's face before he grinned slyly. "… I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. I know not how you came upon that particular ounce of information, but I've since learned that you are not someone to be measured carelessly—after all, you've already managed to last all these years undetected, no?" The Uchiha wondered exactly what that meant, regarding how much the snake actually knew.

"… But," the Sannin began again, a tone of amusement lacing his tone. "I do not simply give. I expect something in turn, something that is useful to me."

Inwardly, Obito sighed, relieved at the fact that this wasn't a dead end—Orochimaru had the cells. That was motivating to him, but now, he had a problem. It was impossible for him to continue his search for the cells without Orochimaru interfering, considering the man knew of his presence now. So discreet infiltration was obviously out of the question.

He couldn't kill him either, unfortunately. Not now, while he was still considered a "loyal" shinobi of Konoha. If the man were to die now, it would bring up unnecessary troubles for Konoha that the village didn't need—especially not with the looming threat of war hanging over their head. He could bluff, however, and walk away with what he wanted without a price.

Obito took a small breath and stared at the Sannin, noting the slight widening of eyes as his own morphed.

"Orochimaru, my offer is this: give me the cells, or I shall kill you where you stand—making it impossible for you to achieve that immortality you oh so desire."

...

"Uh… Can I help with anything, Kushina-neesan?"

Kushina shook her head, her smile strained—even more so than earlier. "No thanks, Obito. Just… Can you wait in the living room, with Kakashi and Rin?"

After a moment, the raven nodded, leaving Kushina and Minato to wash the dishes on their own. It was simple enough to tell that the woman needed space. No doubt, it was to steel herself, to work through whatever nerves beset her currently for the impending conversation. Obito was no stranger to the feeling, and as such, knew that leaving her alone for the time being was the right course of action—she would come talk to them when she was ready, after all.

"So… What do you guys think Kushina-chan wants to talk to us about?"

Obito blinked owlishly from where he sat comfortably on the couch, across from Rin and Kakashi. He did not want to contribute to this conversation.

"I wouldn't know," Kakashi stated with a shrug after a moment. His countenance went shadowed. "… Though, I was thinking it might have to do with her hospitalization."

"Me too!" Rin almost exclaimed, before clamping a hand over her mouth. "I mean, it makes sense, right? Why was Kushina-chan sick all of a sudden? Why did she have to stop her missions? It has to be because she's—"

"Why are you acting so happy about this?" Kakashi pinned Rin with an accusatory look, making her falter slightly. "If… If something happens to Kushina-san, if she ends up…"

Rin gaped. "… Wait. N-no, that's not what I meant, Kakashi-kun! I mean, sensei and Kushina-chan have been married for a while, right?"

"If you consider a year a while," Obito mumbled. He didn't want to hear this conversation about two people he saw as older siblings—it may lead to Naruto's existence, sure, but honestly? That only made it even worse.

"Well, they love each other very much," Rin chirped, turning back to Kakashi. "Wouldn't it make sense if they took the next step?"

It must have clicked in the young Chūnin's head, because his face immediately contorted into one of disgust. "… Do you… Really think that's what it is?"

Rin nodded happily. "Of course! Don't tell me you two are actually grossed out, how do you think you came into existence?"

"That… That doesn't mean I want to think about that, regarding my sensei," Kakashi murmured into his hands.

Obito was silent, no longer paying attention to the conversation. After Kakashi had mentioned Kushina's stunt in the hospital, it made him start thinking. If… If what she wanted to discuss was what he thought it was, then it certainly made sense—after all, what was the cause of her supposed declined health? What was it that caused her stomach pains and fainting spells?

The Kyūbi.

It made sense, considering how hesitant the woman seemed throughout the night—she had never actually come out and told Team Seven about her condition before, and that already spoke volumes on how self-conscious she was about it. It was actually… Rather likely, that, due to Obito revealing that he knew about her condition, she felt less hesitant about confiding this truth in the rest of Team Seven.

"… Um, well." The three Chūnin turned to Kushina, who walked over awkwardly to sit on the couch next to Obito. Minato followed, sitting on the red-head's other side. "… I guess, I should get this over with, 'ttebane…"

Rin sent a small smile to the woman. "It's okay Kushina-chan, you can take your time. You cooked all that food for us, so the least we can do for you is wait and listen."

Kushina smiled weakly before turning to Minato, who nodded seriously. She sighed, eyes going to her fidgeting hands as she bit her lip. "I'm not sure how to say this."

"Kushina-neechan," Obito called out quietly.

She turned to him sharply, her violet eyes scanning his face—as though searching for an answer. He nodded, hoping that it would help.

It did. She breathed in deeply, turning to the other two Chūnin of Team Seven. "… Do you two know what a Jinchūriki is?"

Rin's brow furrowed, and Kakashi nodded. "They're containers for the bijū. There are nine total."

"What else?" Obito blurted before he could stop himself. "What else do you know about the Jinchūriki?"

Kakashi looked at Obito with a raised eyebrow but answered anyway. "… They hold back the bijū's power, and… It takes a skilled Fūinjutsu master to create one…" His brow furrowed. "… They're human…?" The answer had Obito relax slightly, and by the way Kushina slid back into her seat, she was relieved as well.

She nodded, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her face. "I'm… I'm the Kyūbi Jinchūriki."

"As you guys know, Kushina was in the hospital for a time," Minato cut in, essentially preventing any response from his students. Not that it mattered; Kakashi and Rin looked far too shell-shocked to reply. "It was due to the Kyūbi, that she was hospitalized and unable to take on any missions. This is also the reason for my absence; I did not want to leave Kushina alone for long periods of time, considering Jiraiya-sensei was out of the village. You guys couldn't take on C-Ranks without my supervision, which is why you were only taking D-Ranks for the duration of Kushina's hospital stay."

Obito nodded, as did Kakashi and Rin, though they were still in a state of slight surprise. "… How long as Kushina-chan been the Jinchūriki?"

Minato turned to his wife worriedly, who smiled warmly at Rin. "I've been the Kyūbi's Jinchūriki for about a decade, now."

"Why… Didn't you tell us before…?" Everyone turned to Kakashi, whose eyes were focused on his hands fisted in the material of his pants. "… Did… Did you not trust us?"

Kushina sighed, reaching out to Kakashi and lifting his chin up so that she could look at him in the eyes. "It was not entirely my choice, that this be kept a secret. When I had first met the three of you, I was not compelled to tell any of you—I didn't know you, and my status is a closely guarded secret. As time passed, I… I didn't think it was necessary for me to tell you guys. I didn't hide it on purpose, it just didn't seem important enough to burden you guys with the information."

She sat back, allowing Rin and Kakashi to process what they had been told. Then, Rin looked up with a frown. "… What changed your mind, then?"

Obito winced. That question.

Kushina's eyes flickered to Obito momentarily before going back to Rin. "That… Well, I figured, revealing this kind of secret would help prepare you guys for the future."

"The future…?" Kakashi questioned, looking at Kushina and Minato.

The blonde's countenance was serious as he leveled a stern gaze on his team. "As I stated before, Team Seven had been temporarily assigned perpetual D-Ranks due to my absence. Now, we will be assigned perpetual C-Ranks for another reason. You may have heard, but…" Minato paused, and Obito felt a sickening worry settle within him. "… The Third Shinobi War has officially started. To help with the war effort, we must take on as many C-Ranks as possible."

Varying degrees of surprise flashed through the faces of the Chūnin, accompanied with other emotions—Rin seemed to be somewhat hesitant yet happy, Kakashi was relieved that they were no longer stuck with D-Ranks… But Obito remained silent.

Inwardly, he was cursing the Rikudō Sennin and his relatives—the war had begun. This meant that the Kannabi bridge mission was a foreboding factor, now. Obito had been in an almost inebriated state, being surrounded by the people he cared for, living the life he had always wished to go back to. He had been metaphorically swimming in ignorance, and the fact that he hadn't been paying attention enough to see the exact signs of the war's beginning spoke volumes of that fact.

It was time for things to begin.

He looked back up and was met by the gazes of his teammates, Minato and Kushina—they were mixed with worry and curiosity. He smiled.

'… No use worrying about it. I'm going to change things, and I will do it no matter what.'

...

Orochimaru stiffened minutely, his eyes narrowing. "… How do you know?"

Instead of answering, Obito looked down the dark hallway. "Are the Senju cells nearby?"

"How do you know?"

Obito turned back to Orochimaru with an almost lazy air about him, noting the irritation and tenseness that surrounded the snake Sannin's form. It was a rare moment that the snake was caught off-guard and pushed to outward displays of what he felt, that was certain.

"I need not answer your petty questions, child," the Uchiha held the snake's gaze with a menacing glare, made more effective by his violently spinning eyes. "You will tell me where the Senju cells are, or your entire lab will be leveled to the ground in the blink of an eye."

It it was possible, Orochimaru grew paler than his naturally pasty complexion. "… You can't. We are underground Konoha, you cannot do so without also—"

"You seem to have forgotten, Orochimaru, that I have a burning hatred for this village. It was not my intention to destroy it now, but there is nothing stopping me." He tilted his head to the side. "… While I have no qualms with it, you still have plans for this rotted hole, do you not? And for your plans to be accomplished, you need Konoha, still standing."

Orochimaru said nothing. His teeth were briefly bared in what could've been a grin or a snarl, before turning on his heel and walking down the hallway. Obito followed silently.

For what felt like hours, they wandered the complex structure of Orochimaru's labs. Obito knew that it was a trick, a method to ensure that he would not be able to replicate the path and find his way back to the deepest part of the lab—he didn't care. If he gained the Senju cells now, he would have no need to make another visit, and he was fine with giving the snake a false sense of security.

Something that Obito noticed as they wandered silently was the steadily growing feeling of discontent. It only grew as they continued, and it was when a muffled scream reached his ears that he fully understood what the feeling was. The halls looked normal, the doors and inner rooms appeared normal, but he could still feel it. The heavy, grotesque chakra thinly veiling the palpable fear. The smell of blood, chemicals, scorched skin and excrement was heavily laden in the air, and each breath would likely be enough to suffocate a Genin-level shinobi.

A sibilant chuckle escaped Orochimaru as he glanced back to Obito. "Does it… Bother you?"

Obito snorted. "Your countenance is much less appealing."

The snake paused immediately, his amusement dissipating like vapor. Obito heard a quiet, "hmph" before the snake turned back down the hall, leading the Uchiha to their destination.

The journey ended when they entered a room with a high, vaulted ceiling, shelves and cabinets filling the entire expanse. Orochimaru led them to a secluded corner, where a small work table with various instruments was set up. Obito stiffened when he noticed a grin making its way onto the snake's face.

"It is… Strange," he began, reaching into a cabinet to withdraw a small vial of liquid. He walked over to the shelves and picked up an unknown tincture, casually pouring a measured amount from the vial into the other and swirling as he glanced at Obito. "I was under the impression that you would have already obtained the Senju cells, through your own merit. Why need more?"

Obito froze, tearing his eyes away from the vial that Orochimaru held in his hand and instead meeting his gaze. "… Hn."

It was all he could reply with. What was he supposed to say? He was not aware that Orochimaru had actually met Madara prior to Obito's supposed "death," and this recent revelation made him question just how much this man knew, whether it was truly wise to simply walk out and leave the snake to his devices…

No. Something was… Off.

He might've laughed had he not still been in the presence of the oh-so-cunning Sannin. The Uchiha almost had to commend the snake for his mannerisms and skill with words. He… He had never explicitly stated he met Madara before. He didn't actually say that he knew Madara, knew that the man had already obtained the Senju cells.

It was all a carefully crafted structure, with the purpose of drawing out more information from the Uchiha. And it had almost worked, but despite the intelligence behind the snake and the veil of certainty he had placed on his words… Obito had seen through it.

When Orochimaru corked and handed the mixture to Obito, he reached out to accept the vial and inspected it—he felt the familiar hum of pure Senjutsu and Mokuton chakra. This was it…

And yet, it wasn't exactly what he had been hoping for.

He turned back to the snake, whose face looked about to split, what with the absolutely horrendous grin spreading across it. Inwardly cursing—he had taken too long to respond, apparently, and though not being a major slip-up, it was still enough for the snake—Obito pushed as much force into his voice as possible. "This… Is not for me. Anymore information, you do not need to know—"

At that moment, Obito felt his body freeze up—not from shock or hesitance this time, but from an actual lack of function. Orochimaru surged for him, his canines seemingly elongating, and Obito's eyes darted for the vial—it was his priority, and he'd be damned before he let all of this end up being a waste of effort.

Time seemed to slow down exponentially, at that very moment, and Obito felt the long, tendril-like hair of the Sannin brush against his neck. The space around his hand distorted weakly, as he struggled to force his dimension open.

A small pop echoed through the cavernous room, and Orochimaru found himself alone.

The sound of shattered glass was absent.

...

Pain.

Obito collapsed forward, heaving breaths of air that his lungs couldn't contain—his eyes swirling into angry, throbbing red, as blood seeped from the corners.

"Obito!?"

He heard the shuffle of feet and felt a hand—or two—on his back, and saw blurs of moving color… But couldn't distinguish anything. His trembling hands gripped around his face and eyes as he sought relief from the sudden waves of excruciating pain that pulsed through his head and body.

"… Fucking… Snake…" He whispered through his gasps, trying desperately to wipe away the stinging liquid from his eyes.

"Obito, here, take this," he felt a cold, damp cloth shoved into his hands, and he immediately buried his face into it. It didn't make the pain leave him immediately, but it was a cool, soothing relief compared to what he had been so suddenly beset by.

A hand pushed him back, and it took him a moment to realize that it, whoever it was that was pushing him, was trying to get him to lie back. He acquiesced after a moment of consideration, and continued breathing deep breaths to try and abate the pain searing every nerve ending in his head and body.

It took a solid five minutes to calm down completely, for the pain to lessen to a dull throbbing. Carefully, painfully, he removed the now blood-sodden cloth from his eyes and opened them, wincing slightly at the light as his sore eyes struggled to adjust. He tried to smile at Rin, Kakashi, and Kushina, who were surrounding him with worried looks. "… I'm fine, now, guys."

"What happened!? Why did that happen?" He turned to Rin, who was trembling. Kakashi wasn't much better, and they both looked almost hesitant to reach out to him. "The… The last time your eyes became like that, you… You…"

Ah. Wordlessly, Obito patted them both on the shoulder, ignoring the way they flinched, one eye still closed due to the throbbing pain. "It's… fine, really. I'm just having some issues controlling the power of my eyes, is all… It'll go away eventually."

Cautiously, the raven slid his gaze over to his sensei, who was standing a small distance away. Obito gulped when he saw that look—and felt a pain separate from the throbbing, when he realized he was getting accustomed to that look.

"… Obito," Minato began after a moment, walking over to place a hand on the raven's shoulder. The time traveller looked up at the blonde with a questioning, hesitance gaze. "We can handle the rest of the clean-up. Go to sleep, I doubt all of that blood is very good for your eyesight."

Obito blinked, as he looked down at the cloth he still held tightly in his hands. He winced, slightly, at how red it looked—some globs of blood were left over, as the cloth was so drenched that the viscous liquid sat on top of it, unabsorbed. After a moment, he looked back up to his sensei and smiled. Maybe… Maybe that was why Minato had looked so unreadable.

"Alright, I'll… I'll do that." He stood up, blinking rapidly at the sudden anemia that hit him. He turned back to the other occupants of the room with a weak smile. "Er… See you guys later, then."

Rin leapt to her feet. "Do you need help, or…?"

Obito waved her away. "Thanks, but I'm fine. I should just go to sleep, now."

Without another word, Obito stumbled off to his room and shut the door.

That was… Well, if he were to be perfectly honest(and vaguely optimistic), he really couldn't have hoped for the encounter to go better—he had managed to slip into Orochimaru's lab, gained the Senju cells, and though he alerted the snake, he was fairly certain he didn't reveal who he was. His identity was still safe, and Orochimaru was none the wiser.

The raven leaned against his door with a sigh and felt his legs go weak, making him slide down until he sat on the floor.

The vial that he had… What he had obtained was not the exact same solution as whatever it was that Danzō used, and Obito could tell as much from the almost raw purity he had felt in the liquid. It was in one of its barest forms yet, nearly untouched.

His… His own ability with the Senju cells varied from Danzō's, and even Madara's. Obito was not entirely certain of the nature of Orochimaru's experiments on the warhawk's arm, though he was certain it was through injection. But with the liquid he had obtained made such a convenient method nearly impossible. The reason for this was simple; though altered slightly, it was nearly untampered with, and trying to inject such a volatile substance… Well, it was much more likely that his body would reject it, and considering the high properties of not only normal chakra but Senjutsu chakra within the cells… The results would be rather violent.

Obito might've been angry about this. In all honesty, he wouldn't have cared if he had ended up with a damn face on his arm or chest so long as he had the cells, and now he had an incomplete solution that couldn't be used for immediate results. Of course, it was, in a way, his own fault—he hadn't known exactly when Orochimaru had completed the product that was granted to Danzō. Considering the fact that the concoction he had in his possession at the moment was practically untouched DNA, the snake likely hadn't even started thorough experimentation with Hashirama's cells at this point in time. It was probable that he hadn't done so until after Minato was named the Yondaime… Which, now that Obito contemplated it, made sense.

However, he had a back-up plan with this unfinished product—one that might actually be more prudent, that left him with an advantage regarding the pure DNA he had obtained, in this case.

The treatment Madara had placed him through was meant for long-term, slowly introducing nearly pure, undiluted Senju DNA to his system—giving his body the time to adjust to the foreign substance as it healed. It was a similar method to what Madara used, which was why the man was perpetually connected to the Gedo Mazo statue.

So, yes, perhaps this was actually a fortunate miscalculation. The purity of the Senju cells he had recently obtained was similar to what he had been bonded to the first time, and with hope, it would also work similarly. Obito was able to recall his treatment with startling clarity, and though he didn't have Zetsu to help him with the process this time around or the proper tools, it wasn't strictly necessary. After all, he wasn't missing half of his body this time around.

He knew what to do.

With a pained grimace, the Uchiha activated his Sharingan once again, and felt the familiar feeling of his shift into the other dimension. It was time to start the treatment.

"C'mon, Legendary Sucker! Cough it up, cough it up! Lessee those cards!"

Tsunade rolled her eyes before staring down at her cards with a frown. This… This was not normal. She should've been happy, as this was her ticket out without a fuss, but…

Shizune's eyes darted from person to person, waiting for the cue to flee. She leaned towards Tsunade and whispered. "… Tsunade-sama?"

With a grunt, the slug princess threw her cards down on the table. "Royal Flush."

She grabbed the gaping 13-year-old by the collar and dragged her out of the joint, leaving in her wake the ashen faces of the once-hopeful debt collectors.

They were about a block away before the young girl regained herself and turned to Tsunade with wide eyes. "Tsu-Tsunade-sama! You actually—you got a Royal Flush! That was a winning hand! If we go back, we could go and collect the residual winnings, since all of those nasty jerks threw in their life's savings into that pile—"

"No," Tsunade replied curtly, continuing to walk. She couldn't get rid of the foreboding feeling twisting at her stomach. "We're going to the next joint. I hear that the other local gambling dens are upgrading soon, so we should be able to get some first-time luck." Her voice fell to a whispered murmur. "That place was cursed… It must've been."

Shizune looked questioningly at her shishō as she struggled to keep up, a frown in place. "… But…" She shook her head. "Whatever you say, Tsunade-sama."

It was at that moment that the slug Sannin felt it. Immediately, she hooked an arm around the young 13-year-old's waist, earning her a surprised yelp, before leaping backwards several meters. Where she had been standing not moments before stood a tall, cloaked figure, wearing an eye-burning, orange, spiral mask.

Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she assessed the man. She felt no ill-intent. He hadn't openly attacked them as she had first assumed, though the fact that he had positioned himself so close to them spoke volumes of speed and power—speaking of which, Tsunade was surprised that she hadn't felt the pressure of his chakra until now. His reserves seemed smaller than hers, but not by much—and the feel of his carefully controlled chakra was oppressive. Dangerous.

Mere moments passed as Tsunade glared at the man, trying to see into the single eye-hole of the mask, trying to read the foreboding figure before her. No light reached past the opening of his disguise, however, and her efforts were in vain, leaving her nervous and afraid—not for herself, no, but for Shizune. Her eyes darted quickly to the young girl tucked under her arm before turning back to the man; she dared not turn away from him for more than a split second.

What was she to do? She couldn't fight, as that would leave Shizune in harm's way the moment Tsunade was distracted with the fight. She couldn't run away, because of the glaring fact that—though she loathed to admit it—the man was faster than her. The reason he was here was obviously connected to her, that much was obvious, but as for the reason…? She didn't know. Tsunade was cornered, and there was little she could do without potentially risking Shizune's well-being. The only solace she had was the fact that the man hadn't yet attacked; perhaps he had come for more diplomatic reasons…

She refrained from chewing her lip in consternation, instead using her inner turmoil to fuel her glare. She dared not think so optimistically. She couldn't read the man, there was no way she could run away from him, and she couldn't fight him. What the hell was she supposed to—

Suddenly, the man leapt onto one leg and threw his arms up in the air with a tilt of his head. "Tobi-chan found you~~! Tobi is so, so ha-ha-happy~~!"

Tsunade nearly dropped Shizune. What did drop was her jaw. "… What?"

The man began jumping up and down, making a small circle in radius—cheering. This man, that had felt so dangerous moments before and had Tsunade feel the incessant urge to run, he was—he had thrown his arms up gaily in the air and started cheering.

The slug Sannin would swear that she had never felt so confused and conflicted in all of her damned life.

"Tobi found her, Tobi found her~~! Yay, now wittle Tacchan won't drown in blood, yay~~!" He continued his little… Dance, paying no mind to the blonde and raven-haired girl.

Tsunade flinched when she felt Shizune shift, turning amber eyes to the young girl. She was glancing between the elder woman and the man, brow furrowed in confusion. "… Tsunade-sama, what is going on…?"

The masked man abruptly stopped and turned to them—Tsunade gasped when she suddenly found herself not several meters away from the man, but several inches away. "Nee, nee, slug-baachan, will you listen to Tobi-chan's reque—"

Almost all hesitance disappeared at the term "baachan." She sent a fist straight for his face… And suddenly found herself fazing through him. She took a sharp intake of breath as she fell forward, just barely managing to catch herself with her free hand and vault away before landing on the ground. She skid to a stop a safe distance away—safe, but most likely not for long—and glared at him in frustration, indignation, and utter confusion. "… Who are you?"

The man—though he called himself Tobi, she doubted that was his true name—placed his hands on his hips, moving his head side to side and his voice sounded… Pouty. "Meanie! It's not very nice to go through people like that, slug-baachan~~! But Tobi-chan forgives you. Tobi-chan is a good boy, and good boys forgive even the biggest meanie meanies~~!"

"Who are you?" Tsunade repeated, growling lowly.

He paused, and immediately, the air around him shifted. Before, even through the mask Tsunade could feel the playful, happy and almost innocent aura that surrounded that strange man—but now, that was gone. Instead, what remained was the original air of danger that she had felt before, though this time his chakra was not masked. Powerful didn't befit him, didn't even begin to describe him, and Tsunade felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise as every basic instinct told her to run, to escape while she still could—

"The life of a gambler and a drinker…" His voice, it was different—completely different. No longer was it the high-pitched, almost nasally and playful tone, but a dark, commanding voice that matched the ominous air the man held about him. What the hell was going on? "… Aiming to forget about her past and losses. Is that truly all you amount to, Tsunade of the Sannin?"

For a moment, Tsunade could only stare at him. That moment passed quickly, as the surprise was quickly replaced by anger. How dare he claim to know her, know her pain? She didn't care how powerful this guy was, she wasn't leaving until she had some answers. She wasn't going to let fear get the better of her.

"I'll ask one more time," she repeated quietly, eyes glinting with fury. "Who. Are. You?"

He regarded her calmly as he shook his head. "My name does not matter. All I am here to tell you is that you could be much more."

"Tch," Tsunade scoffed derisively, her glare not lessening. "I've heard those words many times before, from people who know me much better than you do. You don't know a thing."

"Actually, I do." Her eye twitched slightly at his reply. "I know that you can make a difference. Will you remain as you are, drowning in your sorrows while trying to escape your past, to escape your failures to save your loved ones, or will you be able to push that aside so you can save those who are still alive?" She stiffened, and something in this man's tone told her that he was not bluffing. "Those that you love, whose lives are on the line?"

"You… What are you talking about!?" She shouted as she carefully placed Shizune behind her, shielding the now-cowering girl from the man. "What are you implying!?"

"The war. Surely, you've heard the whispers, have you not?" He replied casually. "That is why you are all the way in the southern region of Hi no Kuni, to avoid the growing conflicts that Konoha has been unintentionally nurturing with the surrounding nations. But of course, the war isn't the only threat."

"You bastard," Tsunade snarled, wishing to smash that mask of his and show him a world of pain. "That isn't what I meant, and you know it. Who, who is in danger? And what are you planning!?" He was threatening her. At least, it seemed that way, and she wasn't willing to let him use her for whatever plot he was creating, but… Why? Why was he doing this, and what was his aim? Was this a trap?

With a breath, she calmed her nerves—even if she knew literally nothing about this man and his motives, she at least knew that he was baiting her. If she wished to win, she had to remain calm. "… You underestimate them. The people of Konoha, they can take on any threat. And I mean, any threat." She allowed a small smirk to form on her lips. "They will be ready for anything, especially since you had so helpfully told me."

The man was silent for a brief moment, before nodding. "… Certainly, the people of Konoha are powerful, and it is from the people they connect with, the people they wish to protect, that their power is drawn. However… What happens when the enemy is the very person you rely on and trust?" Tsunade heard a slight smile in his tone. "Snakes are rather good at playing possum."

The slug Sannin gasped, though he continued without acknowledging her surprise "I am not Konoha's enemy, I seek her protection. It is your choice Tsunade… Whether to heed my words or not."

The next moment, before Tsunade could reply or ask him any of the multitudes of questions he had left her with, he popped. Smoke was all that was left in his wake, and Tsunade growled as realization hit her. A Kage Bunshin. He was toying with her. That sneaky bastard, he had riled her up on purpose, had made her fall for his facade, and had played with her as though he were a cat and she was a half-dead mouse.

… But… Was he, truly?

She paused, a small frown on her face as she examined the conversation. If… If she thought rationally, it had not been him being antagonistic but… Herself. She had jumped to conclusions, as her instincts had told her that the man was powerful, a threat—and she immediately went on the defensive. Had he truly intended on harming or threatening her… It was unlikely a single Kage Bunshin would have been sent. What if that masked man actually was warning her? What if what he said was the truth, that he was an ally of Konoha?

She shivered. What if what he said about snakes was…

"… Tsunade-sama?" The blonde snapped out of her thoughts, peering down at the meek Shizune. No doubt, tonight's events had startled the girl—trained she may be, but she was far from being able to leave a confrontation like that without shaking. Heck, even Tsunade felt… Fear.

She made her decision.

Abruptly, she grabbed Shizune's arm and began dragging the girl.

"Ah, Tsunade-sama!?" The young 13-year-old tripped on her feet as the elder dragged her away from the scene. "This… Isn't the way to the Casino?"

"We're going back to the hotel," Tsunade replied, gritting her teeth. "We're packing our things and leaving. Tonight."

Shizune's eyes widened. "Huh? But, you said you wanted to go check out the—" She paused when her mentor turned to her, a look of sadness and pain visible on her features. "… Tsunade-sama…?"

The blonde shook her head and continued heading down the road.

"We're going back to Konoha."