An End To This War

A young man in a black cloak stood before Obito and Rin. Dark red hair framed his face, and purple eyes complete with a ripple pattern stared at them with mild curiosity. The Rinnegan, Obito thought. Uchiha Madara had told him about the legendary dōjutsu, saying that in times when the world was in disorder, a person would be sent down from the heavens and become a destroyer or a protector. Obito thought about the recent disasters that had taken place in his world. The Third Shinobi World War was ongoing still; multiple lives had been taken and the survivors were irreplaceably changed; and Konohagakure had been destroyed. He's got a good entrance, whoever he is, Obito thought with a small smirk. Maybe something good will happen for a change. He felt Rin's warm hand in his own, and her presence calmed him. She always had that effect on him. Obito saw that the red-haired shinobi had a companion. A kunoichi with a paper flower in her blue hair stood closely beside him. Her eyes, although kind, had strength in them.

"My name is Nagato, and this is my partner Konan." Nagato spoke quietly, but his voice was deep and had integrity. "We are leaders of a small shinobi village called Amegakure, and we have come to ask you to join a meeting to end the Third Shinobi World War."

End the war? Shock coursed through Obito's veins as he thought of the possibility. He couldn't imagine it. He looked at Rin, and saw doubt echoing on her face as well.

"How do you propose to end this war?" Obito asked slowly.

It was Konan who spoke. Her voice was calm and assured. "We ask for the surviving leaders of the Five Great Shinobi Countries to gather in Amegakure where the meeting will take place." She added cautiously, "Uchiha Obito, you are the leader of the Konohagakure survivors, correct?"

"Hai."

"Then you will come to the meeting," Konan summarized.

"When will this…meeting take place?" Rin asked.

"It will take two days from now," Nagato said. His Rinnegan eyes glanced toward Obito's direction. "The four leaders from Suna, Iwa, Kumo, and Kiri have arrived in Amegakure. You were the last stop to achieving peace. Thank you," he whispered, bowing his head. Obito felt embarrassment flush his cheeks. Here I am, an orphan boy, being bowed by another orphan. Before he could say anything, Nagato spoke again. "Would you like to come to the meeting with us? It would save your and our time."

"Of course," Obito replied. He smiled at Nagato. "You're much too polite to say no to." He added to Rin, "Daijobou, Rin. We'll tell the others before we leave. The old Obito is dead, remember?" There was a time when Obito would have immediately traveled with Nagato and Konan without telling anyone. That had caused him plenty of trouble in the past, especially in childhood. Now that Obito was gone. I have really grown up, haven't I? "Rin and I will be back in a minute, Nagato." Although Obito didn't notice it when his back was turned, Konan and Nagato smiled, thinking that the shinobi reminded them of their beloved Jiraiya-sensei. A day and a half later, Obito and Rin were beside the border of Amegakure with Nagato and Konan. The two older shinobi stood in silence as they surveyed their homeland. Obito was shocked to find gaping holes where land used to be, and debris scattered around the land. Obito was even more stunned to find Amegakure vacant of trees. All his life since very early childhood, Obito's world had been graced by trees and living things. Obito only saw one thing as he scanned beyond the border of Amegakure. Death. No wonder they want to end this war, Obito thought morosely. He felt a cold hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Konan smiling sadly at him.

"This is the long blood-drenched history of our country. War after war, battle after battle, and never-ending death," she stated. Her voice would almost sound serene if you forgot to notice the sad timber in her voice. "Nagato and I hope to end this war and all the wars by this conference. Thank you for coming," she said graciously. Konan followed Nagato through the ravaged land with Obito and Rin trailing behind them. This place… thought Obito without finishing. Devastation was everywhere. Dirty children and ghosts of the war – shinobi – just stood at the barren and demolished homes, eying the group with wide eyes. Some waved at them, and Obito was about to wave back when he saw Nagato raise his hand and share a rare smile. He's their hope for a better future, Obito observed as Nagato crouched down to talk quietly to the impoverished children. Konan was also whispering to the other forlorn shinobi and civilians. They're both hope to these people. He thought of the village and of the people in it. He remembered their slightly worried faces as he said goodbye to them. Don't worry, guys. I'll come home, and someday…I hope to be like him.

Obito was sitting quietly in a chair trying not to yawn when Nagato began to speak. "As you may know, this is the small shinobi village of Amegakure, where the rain never ends. We hope – and I hope – to end this rain through a peaceful agreement to stop this war." Nagato was standing in the center of the room, where he was speaking to three other leaders of shinobi villages. I don't like the look of the old one, Obito thought as he looked at the Sandaime Tsuchigake. He looks sly to me. The young Uchiha turned his head to the Mizukage, who was about as young as him. Dark brown curls reached her waist, and a coy smile echoed on her face when she had arrived. Obito knew that he shouldn't, but he felt anger towards that woman. Rin had told him that the Yondaime Mizukage hadn't wanted to destroy Konohagakure and make her a jinchuukiri, but "he had no choice." Obito couldn't help but wonder if the Godaime Mizukage had a hand in her predecessor's demise. He looked at the youngish Kazekage next to him. Dark spikes covered his head, and Obito had tried to look into his gray eyes but couldn't see anything. I'm surrounded by weirdoes, he thought privately.

"And why would we do that, young one?" the Tsuchikage sneered. "The bigger villages make so much profit from this war. It's already been going on for four years? Why should we stop now?"

"Because the smaller villages such as mine cannot afford to suffer from your decisions, Tsuchikage-sama," Nagato said calmly. "Many people, including invaluable shinobi from your own village, have died, yes? There sacrifice should not be in vain."

It was a moment before the Tsuchikage replied again, mocking him. "That's too bad, boy. The weak are as they are because they are weak. The strong are strong because it's who they are. Your country, and all the other smaller countries, should learn to bow down to the Five Great Shinobi Countries."

Obito could see that Nagato was losing quickly to hold in his anger. Konan put her hand on his shoulder and started to say something, but the Mizukage spoke first.

"Your successor, Morita Gintsuchi, died in the war, didn't he? So did you beloved son." She paused for a moment, allowing the words to sink in. Her green eyes scanned the room. "Everyone in this room has lost something precious. Nagato-kun has a point, Tsuchikage. The sacrifices of our loved ones should not be in vain." Her eyes strayed on Obito and Rin for a moment. Quietly she added, "Don't you think?"