- i do not own any of Naruto.
- 2020 has been a hard year, and it always cheers me up when i see that you guys are enjoying the story, even if it takes me forever to update. i really appreciate your support!
- wishing everyone a merry christmas and i hope that 2021 is better for us all; stay safe!

Kakashi has always thought himself as a good judge of character. Whilst others have often told him that they struggle to read the face oft hidden behind the black mask, he is confident that he can easily decipher those around him.

And if someone had asked him a year ago—after over fifteen years of friendship—he wouldn't have hesitated to bet that he knows almost everything about his best friend.

Yet, recently, whenever he sees Obito's face, whenever he tries his best to decode the meaning behind the Uchiha's increasingly anxious-inducing behaviour, he is drawn to a blank. Obito has always been notorious for wearing his heart on his sleeve via his actions and words—to Kakashi, at least—despite the unreadable stoicism that is often glued to his face. But as of late, as each day passes, Kakashi is repeatedly left staring after the dark haired male, doing his best to ignore the unsettled clenching of his stomach as he does so.

Their spat just the previous week has also not helped with his predicament.

Kakashi has lost count of the times he and Obito have fought—both physically and verbally—and made up over the years.

Their last major one had been almost killed Kakashi. Literally. The image of a blood-soaked Obito, voice hoarse from screaming, hunched over Kakashi's limp body, knee digging painfully into the silver haired male's chest, often torments Kakashi on sleepless nights. The haunted look in Obito's red raw eyes is something he wishes to never see again. And even though he's silently grateful for each morning he wakes, if he's completely honest with himself, he's unsure of how he feels about Obito's last words to him that night.

One day, I'll make sure you understand what it feels to continue living with a heart that no longer beats. That, I can promise you.

Although it has been five years passed, daily, Kakashi looks at Obito and wonders when he will uphold his promise. Sometimes, he fears it. Especially on the days when Obito looks at him, eyes glazed over as if he's looking right through him. And more often than not, Kakashi silently hopes that the day will never come.

But despite the fact that Obito has forgiven him for much worse, Kakashi is stumped that after an entire week, Obito still isn't talking to him for not turning up to the fight they'd been planning for almost an entire month beforehand.

In all honesty, Kakashi had fallen asleep. And against the exasperated warning that both Yamato and Genma had given, Kakashi had stupidly blurted this out to Obito in an attempt to get the Uchiha to give him some sort of response. However, the reaction he received came in the form of a bruised ego when he watched Obito's upper lip curl into a sneer, followed by Madara's front door being slammed shut in his face so roughly that Kakashi had been sure he could have tasted the scarlet red paint on the tip of his tongue. Bewilderment hidden behind his mask, he'd waited until Madara himself had taken pity upon him and joined him on the front step.

'Give him time,' was the advice Kakashi hadn't asked for when he'd declined the offer of a ride home. And when Kakashi had dared to ask how long, Madara's vacant stare had been uncanny in its similarity to his nephew's.

Kakashi had returned home, nails digging into the palms of his hands.

His mood had soured even further when Yamato had recounted his run-in with Sakura. And when Kakashi attempts to check on her, he doesn't know why he's irritated when she ignores him. He barely knows her, he reminds himself, despite the fact that he has to repeatedly convince himself that she owes him absolutely nothing. She has no obligation to answer the door to him, to Obito, to anyone.

And so on Wednesday night, when he's making the journey to the arranged team meeting—assigned to Genma's apartment this time—he's confused when he sees a familiar figure heading towards Sakura's place of work. Hands stuffed into the front pocket of his jumper, the hood pulled far over his eyes, his trainers scuff the concrete as he quickly spins on his heel. From a safe distance, he follows, taking advantage of the shadows that are provided by the disappearing sun. From under his hood, he watches Obito's tall frame entering the building, entire body rigid as he stalks past the threshold. Not too long after, a familiar blonde exits, accompanied by a ravenette who sports a pair of uncomfortable looking heels. They don't notice him, clambering into a BMW, painted an obnoxiously bright orange colour. Kakashi frowns as he watches them drive away. His eyes drift back toward the building and he waits a while.

Due to his own lacking, he realises that he has failed to keep up with the status on Obito's relationship with the pinkette. What had started as a potential-enemy-stake-out, Kakashi now begins to question if the Uchiha has formed an attachment to the young doctor.

It wouldn't be entirely implausible, Kakashi thinks, given Obito's past.

Rin's name comes to mind, accompanied by a flinch that he disguises by leaning against the wall, gaze aimed towards a star-less sky, a sigh sagging his shoulders.

Five years is a long time, he thinks, the corners of his mouth turning downwards as he recalls the words she'd whispered to him that night.

Please forgive me.

He'd wanted to, he remembers, eyes squeezing shut as he exhales. He'd so desperately wanted to forgive her, but it wasn't just Obito who had been hurt by her absence. Kakashi has spent five years trying to justify her betrayal, and with every fairytale excuse he can think of, comes the daunting reality that she simply just didn't love them enough.

She didn't love him enough.

But no matter how many nights he spent lying awake, wondering if there was anything he could have done to change the past, to wipe away his best friend's heartache—even to rid himself of his own guilt—Kakashi knows that as much as he has suffered, Obito suffers more.

And that is the reason why he straightens his spine, glances at the door, and tells himself that this time, Obito deserves the chance to break the rules. Even if he was the one who set the rules in the first place. Kakashi then supposes that it was himself who had broken the rules first.

But just as he's about to slink away into the night, the door opens and Kakashi watches a red cheeked Obito exit the building, followed by a disheveled Sakura, who hurriedly locks the door behind them. She glances down the path, Kakashi only just managing to duck out of view, before he hears their footsteps begin to fade out of earshot. Only when he deems it safe enough, does he step out onto the pathway, eyes glued to their retreating shadows until they round the corner and then they are gone.

Kakashi continues his journey to Genma's apartment, ignoring the tightening of his lungs, his fists curled.

For the first time in years, Obito doesn't appear at the team meeting.

๑

Sakura calls in sick for the rest of the week as soon as she awakens to the sight of a sleeping Obito the following morning.

Hinata's tone is one of concern as Sakura speaks in a hushed tone, mobile phone pressed to her bare shoulder, standing on tip-toes to lean closer to her bathroom mirror. She examines her neck, the skin marred and blooming with bruises that make Sakura's stomach twist with nerves as she recalls exactly how she received them.

'I'll be back on Monday, I promise.'

She presses her index finger to a particularly large bruise just under her ear, wincing.

Hinata sighs down the line, voice timid as she confesses, 'we're worried about you... even though she will not admit it, I know Tsunade-sama is too.'

Sakura feels guilt gnaw at her, her brows pinching together.

'I will not ask you what is happening,' Hinata pauses, and then speaks in a rushed voice, 'but we're here when you're ready to—'

Suddenly, her voice cuts off abruptly and then another, much louder voice snaps, 'Forehead! Where the hell are you?!'

Sakura knows that her next action is selfish, but she honestly doesn't want to deal with Ino's interrogation, especially when she hears a certain dark haired male shift in his sleep. Peeking her head around the doorway, she listens to Ino shout her name once more, before she moves the device from her ear, promptly ending the phone-call. For a moment, she stands in the doorway, and stares down at the device as if she can't believe what she's done.

No matter how much the blonde has aggravated her over the years they've been friends, Sakura has never once put the phone down on her before. And it seems that Ino can't believe it either, as not even a minute later, Sakura's mobile is ringing again.

Dazed, she switches the device off.

Obito shifts in the bed again until he's lying on his stomach, the sheets tangled between his legs, hair falling into his eyes, his right cheek pressed into the pillow. Sakura watches him sleep, his jaw slack, brows pinching a little before they ease back into place. This is the most relaxed she's seen him, she thinks, and wonders how many people get to see him exactly like this. After a moment, she climbs back into bed as quietly as she can. She disturbs him enough that he exhales a soft grunt as she shuffles closer, her cheek carefully avoiding the stitching as it comes to rest on his back. Her right arm is tucked to her side, her left stretching out to touch his shoulder, her fingers dancing across his skin, tickling. He twitches, and she stills until she's sure he's settled. Eventually, she stretches again, reaching for his hand. She's already dozing off, unconscious enough to not realise that he squeezes her hand when she threads their fingers together.

When she wakes the second time, he's still asleep beneath her. They've somehow shifted so that he's now lying on his back, Sakura sprawled on top of him, his fingers buried in the tresses of her hair. She doesn't realise this until she tries to lift her head, only to discover that she can't. She bites back a smile, deciding that the sun is bright enough to keep her awake this time. She's just about to untangle his fingers from her hair when the sound of a fist knocking on her apartment door makes her tense against Obito's body. The knocking is loud, loud enough that Sakura immediately realises just who is behind the door. Startled, she rushes into a sitting position, muffling her yelp of pain when her hair rips free from Obito's grasp.

He's awoken, bolting upright at the sound, eyes wild until they focus on Sakura, who immediately presses her palm to his mouth, using her free hand to touch a finger to her own lips. He exhales through his nostrils, shoulders still tense as his eyes dart toward the bedroom door.

'Haruno!'

Sakura winces, her grasp tightening on Obito, who is as rigid as she is.

Down the hall and on the other side of the apartment door, Tsunade furiously barks her name once more. Sakura almost gets out of her bed to answer her, just to stop the woman from punching a hole through the door. But suddenly, there's a pause, and Tsunade's voice is much quieter, so much softer that Sakura chooses to risk moving from the bed—pausing to wrap the duvet around her body—and shuffling into the living room. Obito is quick to join her, Sakura's cheeks heated as she realises that he's still naked.

But when she glances up at his face, his eyes are glued to the door, boring into the wood as if he can see right through it.

And that's when she hears Kakashi's voice, and although she can't make out his words, she hears Tsunade's response perfectly clear; 'Hatake, I don't give a flying shit if she's with the Lord's Son himself,' she snaps, 'if I find one hair on her head is out of place, you can kiss your precious little truce goodbye, and remove my foot from your throat whilst you're at it!'

'Truce?' Sakura ghosts, frowning. Obito ignores her.

'If you would just—' Kakashi isn't given the chance to finish his sentence, as Tsunade slams her fist against the door so harshly that Sakura swears she sees the hinges rattle. In fear of her door actually breaking, she takes a step forward, only to freeze when Tsunade calls her name again.

'Haruno,' the blonde almost sounds tired. 'Just open the door. Please.' There's another pause, and Sakura shuffles a little closer, hand outstretched. Only, Tsunade's next question has her halting once more, 'Sakura... can you at least tell me if are you safe? The Uchiha, has he—?'

Obito beats her to the door, wrenching it open so fast that Sakura wearily eyes the hinges again.

There's a long moment of silence as the four of them regard each other, until three pairs of eyes land on Obito, who suddenly remembers just how naked he is. He uses one large hand in an attempt to cover his crotch, a poor job in Sakura's eyes, because if she tilts her a head just a little more to the left, she's sure that she can—

Tsunade clears her throat, loudly, matching Sakura's sheepish expression with a scowl.

'We need to have a talk,' she tells the pinkette, her brash tone leaving no room for argument. Pushing past Obito, she enters the apartment, and Sakura barely gets a glimpse of Kakashi's face before her mentor kicks the door shut behind her. Tsunade does not wait for an invite into the living room, barking over her shoulder, 'clothes. Now.'

The pair obey, Sakura hurriedly pulling an oversized t-shirt over her head and shoving her legs into a pair of underwear, followed by shorts. In the living room, she lowers herself into the settee, hands clammy as she clasps them together. When Obito emerges from the bedroom, he's clad in his clothes from the night before, hair ruffled, and Sakura has to avert her gaze to avoid staring. Tsunade looks less than impressed, her lips pursed and her eyes narrowed. She positions herself in the armchair so that she faces Sakura directly.

Completely ignoring Obito's presence, she asks again, 'are you safe?'

Sakura notes the rigidity in Obito's spine, his fists curling. She glances at him, but his stare is focused on the blonde before him, dark orbs unblinking. Palms clammy, she settles for clasping her hands together and pressing them between her knees. Nervously, she glances between the Uchiha and her stony faced mentor, who impatiently awaits her answer. Clearing her throat, Sakura nods, allowing a gentle upwards tilt of the corners of her mouth. 'I am.'

Tsunade's gaze is scrutinising. Her frown does not waver. Sakura watches, heart in mouth, as Tsunade reaches into her shoulder-strap bag, and pulls out a familiar looking purse.

Sakura feels both relieved and panic-stricken at the same time.

Honey coloured eyes flick towards Obito, whose expression now resembles boredom. It's almost as if he's not surprised at all at the sight of Sakura's purse, now placed neatly upon the surface of the coffee table.

'As you can see,' Tsunade starts, tone clipped, 'the request was fulfilled.'

There's a look of understanding that is passed between the two of them, and Sakura struggles to decipher the meaning behind it.

'Request?' She repeats.

Obito's lips part, his gaze dark, silently warning. Tsunade beats him to it, her hardened stare making Sakura feel very, very small, 'all of your belongings are inside.'

Sakura whispers her gratitude, although she feels very confused. Pointing an index finger towards the table, she starts to ask, 'how did you—?'

'Like I said,' Tsunade interrupts brusquely, eyes narrowed, 'the request was fulfilled.'

'Yes, but—'

'You'll get the payment on Friday,' it is Obito who interrupts this time. His expression has not changed, but his entire body is stiff. He ignores Sakura's questioning look, his eyes squinting slightly as Tsunade tilts her head in acknowledgement.

Irritated, Sakura chews the inside of her cheek, gaze fixated onto the coffee table.

'Haruno,' Tsunade sighs, drawing the pinkette's eyes up to meet her own, 'I'll ask again—are you safe?'

Obito visibly bristles and he's immediately on the defence, 'I wouldn't—'

'The last time I checked, your name wasn't Sakura, so therefore I'm not asking you, Uchiha,' Tsunade sneers his last name like it leaves a bad taste in her mouth. Obito's only response is a tightening of his jaw—something which Sakura definitely shouldn't be staring at—and a low rumble of his chest as he mutters something incoherent under his breath. His arms come to cross over his chest and he pointedly turns his chin away, choosing to glare out of the window. Tsunade's attention returns to Sakura, a thin blonde brow arching in question.

Reluctantly, Sakura asks, 'did Ino say something?'

Tsunade doesn't even have to say a word for Sakura to understand that her guess is correct. Because, of course, she should have guessed that Ino wouldn't forgive her for putting the phone down without so much as a word.

'I'm fine,' Sakura settles for a simple answer, silently hoping that it'll suffice.

But of course, it doesn't.

Tsunade glares, warning, 'do not take me for a fool, Haruno. I have known you since you were a child; you cannot lie to me.' There's a short pause as the blonde watches the pinkette grimace. 'Your friends are worried, and after your absolute shit-show of a performance at work this week,' she pretends to not see Sakura flinch, 'I have no choice but to empathise with them.'

Leaning back in her seat, Sakura looks as if she's about to burst into tears. But she does not provide a verbal answer. Tsunade clears her throat and decides on a different tactic.

She leans forward in her seat, her hands clasped together, and she says, 'it has been many years since an Uchiha has called upon my help.'

Sakura's head immediately snaps up to look at her mentor, bewildered by the seemingly-random revelation. Beside her, Obito side-glances at the blonde from the corner of his eye. Curiously, Sakura looks at him, slightly taken aback when she notices the reddened tips of his ears. He blinks back at her, lips pressed into a flat line, and Tsunade interrupts the exchange by continuing her tale.

'So imagine my surprise when I receive a late night call,' the blonde looks utterly offended by this particular detail, 'to arrange the retrieval of my own student's purse from a crime scene, because if left there, her life 'may or may not be endangered by the possibility of the discovery of her existence'.' The end of her sentence is spat out, aimed towards Obito, whose glare now borders on hostile as his jaw tightens again. 'Care to elaborate, Uchiha?'

Sakura practically feels the colour drain from her own face. 'E-Endanger...?'

Her pulse throbs in her neck and she feels her stomach twist uncomfortably.

'Sakura,' Tsunade says her name calmly, in a way that Sakura thinks is supposed to be comforting, yet is anything but, 'do you or do you not feel safe around this man?'

Obito sits up straight, ready to argue, but Tsunade silences him by holding a hand up, her eyes glued to the pale-faced girl before her. Bleary eyed, Sakura peers back at her and asks in a small and very un-Sakura-like voice, 'what do you mean by 'endangered'?'

'After,' Tsunade promises, and then orders, 'answer my question.'

'I, uh... yes?' Sakura answers, but it's clear her thoughts are elsewhere. It takes a moment for her to meet Tsunade's eyes, 'he's never made me feel unsafe, at least.'

Obito's expression is unreadable.

Tsunade's is one of disapproval. 'Then, as intelligent as you are, Haruno, you are an idiot.'

'E-Excuse me?' Sakura splutters, incredulous.

A long, manicured finger, is thrust in front of her face, aiming toward her cheek. 'You may think your poor job at covering up that was fooling everyone, but we—especially not me—are not blind.'

Sakura's hand flies up to cover the almost-healed bruise that has now faded to a sickly yellow colour. In the excitement between this morning and the night before, she had completely forgotten about it. She doesn't notice that Obito is now staring at the side of her face, her skin tingeing an interesting shade of pink.

'She wasn't supposed to be there, was she?'

The question is aimed at Obito, but Sakura recognises that her mentor is referring to the incident at the bar. The memory serves nothing but to make her feel nauseous and she squirms in her seat.

'No.' Obito's voice is low, careful.

'We just wanted go out for drinks—' Sakura isn't sure why she feels the need to defend the brooding dark haired man, but does so anyway. 'Well, I actually wanted to go home, but Ino and Tenten insisted, and then—' And then she spiels an entire recount of what happened, the words spilling out before she can stop them. Surprisingly, both Tsunade and Obito listen to her every word, even when her tongue stumbles as she recalls bumping into Yamato, or when she pauses after admitting that she'd been terrified of losing her job. When she finally runs out of things to say, her chest heaves and her face crumbles before she can hide her tears behind a curtain of pink tresses. Frustrated, she presses the heels of her hands flat against her eyes, flinching ever so slightly when she feels the heat of Obito's palm touching her back in an attempt to comfort her.

'Doll,' he coos, and even Tsunade doesn't have the heart to ridicule or scoff at the ridiculous nickname, not when she watches how it easily calms Sakura's spluttering chest to a normal exhale. It takes a few moments for the pinkette to look up, eyes red-rimmed and cheeks flushed. Obito has moved noticeably closer, and Sakura's body relaxes enough so that her shoulder presses against his.

'Sakura,' Tsunade's voice demands her full attention, and Sakura gives her exactly that. The Senju's face reads a look of regret—for what, Sakura isn't sure—and she hesitates just enough to share a knowing look with Obito, who regards it with an annoyed clenching of his jaw. 'Haruno,' Tsunade starts again, 'I need you to listen to me very carefully.' She points a finger at Obito, who doesn't even attempt to hide his sneer, 'as much as you may think that he has helped you, he—and that hermit living next door—are not the men you may think they are.'

At this, Obito scoffs out a bitter laugh. Tsunade ignores him.

'Their world is not one made for someone like you, Haruno. You do not belong in it.'

Sakura feels her eyes beginning to sting once more. She knows that Tsunade is correct, along with the fact that her friendship with Obito has only lasted just over a month, so far. Could she even call it a friendship, she wonders, especially when she thinks back to the night before. Would that then make them friends with benefits? Lovers? No, she doesn't love him; she doesn't even really know him. Not really, now that she thinks about it. Gods, what had she been thinking yesterday, jumping into his arms so easily and allowing him to have his way with her? Or, she supposes, it was her who had had her way with him. Or maybe it was a mutual thing? She isn't even sure why she's questioning this, but but the heat of his body next to hers is becoming increasingly distracting and she has to force herself to refocus on the conversation that's happening.

'She's safe now,' Obito hisses out between gritted teeth.

Tsunade argues, 'did you not hear a word she just said!? She was seen. I don't know about you, but as far as I'm aware, this town isn't exactly brimming with people with pink hair. As soon as they see her, they'll know exactly who she is, and—'

'They won't know shit, 'cause I won't fuckin' let them see her!' Obito is now leaning forward in his seat, seething as he glowers at the blonde from over the coffee table.

'Gods!' Tsunade's hands raise to the ceiling, outraged, 'all of you damned Uchiha are exactly the same! You are so stubborn that you don't realise that your set-in methods aren't always the way forward.' She exhales deeply, 'let me make one thing clear, Uchiha, I turned a blind eye when you and Hatake showed up at my clinic, only because you'd guaranteed that my staff were to be kept out of the family business.'

At this, Sakura can only blink, stunned.

'You did... what?' Pink brows pull together into a frown, 'you knew about them? About their...?'

'Of course I know who they are, Haruno,' Tsunade states matter-of-factly. 'I know about everything that goes on under the roof of my own clinic.' She looks pointedly towards Obito, 'that, and his uncle and I go way back.'

'His uncle?'

Obito grunts under his breath.

Sakura recalls the wild-haired man, whose eyes she remembers closely resembling both Obito's and Sasuke's. The thought of him encourages the memory of the older man purposely drugging her friends, and although Sakura knows his intentions were well, his actions still do not bide well with her. She swallows thickly, before muttering his name, 'Madara.'

'Another reason that I do not want you involved with these people,' Tsunade scoffs, 'I have known Uchiha Madara since I was around your age. I know most secrets about him that even his own blood relatives do not know of. He is not a man you should be associated with.'

Sakura's frown deepens, 'I'm not associated. I don't even know him.'

'Nonetheless, you've been seen with at least one of his nephews, and that is enough,' Tsunade insists. 'Madara has a lot of enemies, Haruno. Being seen with members of his family will only drag you into their mess. It isn't safe—'

'Am I a target? For these... enemies?' Sakura interrupts to ask, glancing between Obito and her mentor.

It is the former who answers, his hesitation not unnoticed. 'No,' his tone is meant to be one of assurance, but he doesn't even look at her as he aims his stare at Tsunade instead. 'She'll be protected.'

She clearly doesn't believe him, arguing, 'she wouldn't need protecting if you had just stuck to the rules of truce.'

'The truce?' Sakura ghosts, struggling to comprehend what they are talking about.

'Another time,' Tsunade's tone leaves no room for argument. 'The point of my coming here is to ensure that you know exactly who you are getting involved with. I know that you've had a scare, and because you're naive to this world, you'll probably think that it won't happen again. But listen to me, Haruno—what happened at that bar is nothing. Worse things can and will happen, and before you can even think of leaving, it'll already be too late.'

'I—' Sakura doesn't have the chance to finish her sentence. Tsunade is already standing from her seat, shifting her bag up her shoulder with one hand, and twisting her other wrist to check her watch.

'No time. I have to go, but I will be checking in,' she looks at Obito, eyes flashing in warning as she does so. His nose crinkles in response, but otherwise provides no words to part with. When Sakura follows the blonde to the front door, Tsunade pauses, peering at her from over her shoulder. She lowers her head and whispers, 'Haruno, do not make the same mistake that I did. It's not too late to step away.' Frowning, Sakura nods slowly, glancing over her own shoulder to see that Obito is still sat on the settee, eyes heavily lidded but scrutinising as he looks back at her. 'Take a week from work—you need the break,' Tsunade does not let her disagree, 'only return when you have cleared your head. I will hold off Yamanaka until you do.'

Guilt dances around the depths of Sakura's stomach.

Still, she manages a quiet thanks and with that, Tsunade leaves.

Once she locks the door shut behind her, Sakura trudges her way back into the living room. Obito watches her, gaze dark, leaning back in his seat. Once close enough, Sakura sits next to him, legs curling underneath her as she presses her head against a cushion. For a long while, she looks at the purse on the coffee table, apple-green eyes unblinking.

They sit together in silence, and Obito allows her to think to herself. And for a moment, Sakura doesn't exactly know what to think.

She knows that everything Tsunade is correct. Selfishly, it would be much safer for Sakura to remove herself from the equation altogether. Logically, it makes sense. It would also minimise the risk of her friends being involved, too. However, another selfish part of her does not want to walk away. She had made an agreement with Kakashi to treat the members of his group, and as much as it would be easier to tell them to find someone else to take on the responsibility (she's sure that if she asked Tsunade politely, the blonde would easily find a replacement), she knows she would feel guilty for not only loading it onto someone else, but for also going back on her word.

And her guilt only increases when she finally drags her gaze from the coffee table to look at Obito.

His head is leaning against the back of the settee, his eyes closed as his entire body slouches lazily. His chest rises and falls slowly, almost as if he's fallen asleep, and Sakura takes the time to scrutinise him. He's donned the t-shirt he was wearing the night before, muscular arms on display, and before she can stop herself, her fingers are reaching out to touch the marred skin on his right arm. He twitches, as if not expecting her to touch him, and his right eye peels open to look at her. She tickles a pattern up and down his forearm, biting back a smile when his fingers flex upon her brushing the inside of his wrist. He swallows, nostrils flaring as he inhales deeply.

It is he who breaks the silence.

'I wouldn't let anythin' happen to you, you know?'

Her hand stills, and he twists his own to grab at her wrist in order to prevent her from pulling back. She allows him to slip his fingers between her own, squeezing gently. His brows furrow together in the middle.

'If you wanna have nothin' to do with us, you'll still be protected,' he mumbles the promise, turning her hand over so that he can gently drag his nails against the back of her hand. She watches his frown deepen. ''N' I know 'Kashi will do the same.'

At the mention of the silver-haired occupant of apartment number 34, there's a brief moment of silence. Obito's eyes flicker across her face as if awaiting her response to hearing Kakashi's name. But she gives nothing but a slight raise of a pink eyebrow.

'I just need time to… think, I guess,' she eventually sighs. 'Tsunade-sama is right; I'm not supposed to be a part of… this. I could have easily died that night—' Obito's fingers tighten around hers, '—and if not that night, then it would probably would've happened eventually.' She uses her spare hand to rub at her eyes, tiredly. 'I'm lucky that Tsunade-sama is my boss; anyone else, and I'd be jobless right now.'

'Wouldn't have let that happen,' Obito grunts, his eyes blinking heavily as if he's struggling to stay awake. Sakura isn't surprised; they had been awoken rather rudely.

'Oh yeah?' Her smile is small, 'and how would you have prevented that?'

He shrugs lazily, head slumping back against a cushion. 'Have my ways,' he jokes, tone light, but voice thick with exhaustion. It does not take long for him to doze off, lips parting as his jaw slackens. Sakura loses track of time as she watches him sleep, his fingers limp between her own.

Her thumb brushes across his knuckles, and she follows the trickle of goosebumps that rise up the length of his arm. She exhales deeply as she contemplates the past month and a half.

It feels a lot longer than it actually is, and yet in such a short amount of time, she has come to trust the word of not only Obito, but Kakashi—despite the masked man's ever-changing attitude—too, and although she desperately wonders why the reason is so, she cannot come up with an answer. She knows that she should heed Tsunade's warning, especially when Sakura does actually agree with the blonde's opinion on Uchiha Madara, but as her eyes trail across the sharp edge of Obito's jaw and down the gentle slope of his nose, she can't help but wonder if he is any different to his uncle.

Do not make the same mistake that I did.

She doesn't know the history between Madara and Tsunade—a part of her almost doesn't want to know—but with a brief glance at the wall that separates her apartment from Kakashi's, to Obito, and back to the wall again, Sakura knows that she's already made her decision.

And with one last chest-heaving sigh before she settles down beside Obito, she desperately prays that it's right one.