Seals of Fate

by GBAboy313

Fate is a strange thing. Two who's fate was supposed to be death and insanity instead were given something new. Let's see how the world changes when Obito and Rin are around to help both their village and raise their sensei's son. Canon pairings, and some others. Rated M for safety later on.

11. Sparks

Seals of Fate

Not much Funny to say. Don't own Naruto. Sorry about the wait. Towards the end I actually got sick with COVID. Luckily it was a mild case. I'll be returning to society on 12/28. I don't think any more chapters will be coming out this year so Happy Early New Years. Go to hell 2020. Finished this chapter on 12/26/2020 at 11:16 pm. Spent rest of time before upload finishing the editing. I had actually written about half of the finalized chapter during the 72 hours. Some sections were cut but will see the light of day in later chapters.

On with the chapter.

Chapter 11

Sparks

Konoha

4 years following Daybreak

3 months to academy graduation for current senior class

The sun peeked over the tree canopy that surrounded the village, the birds were singing, and early morning business had begun.

And in a certain house, the two eldest members of the family that lived there prepared for today.

Uchiha Rin cleaned the mess she made at the table before reminiscing about her life's changes in the past few years.

Her and Obito's marriage being the big one. Kakashi moving out shortly thereafter was another change.

Though he had moved into an apartment just up the street so he wasn't too far away.

Obito learned how to actually cook a decent meal without burning water unless it was ramen. That was another big change, meant that home-made meals were no longer solely her responsibility after Kakashi moved out.

Still didn't mean she wanted to risk anyone's stomach like that constantly.

The biggest change of this year was Naruto starting his final year in the academy, and soon it would be over.

'Time sure does fly.' Rin thought to herself. It always does. Even to immortals such as myself.

Shaking from those thoughts, Rin began to look over to her charge's room.

Obito however, beat her to the verbal punch: "So is it my turn to wake up the kid or is it yours?"

Rin waved him off: "I'll handle it Obito."

Rin knocked on Naruto's door and awaited a response to see if he was awake already or if he was in the middle of waking up already.

Hearing no movement, Rin opened the door and saw a bed missing the blonde child who was supposed to be in it and an opened window.

Rin's heart stopped as she rushed towards the window in a near panic.

Before she could start going frantic, a hand touched her shoulder and she jumped around ready to fight…

…Only to see the troublemaking blonde with a large grin on his face.

Rin didn't even wait to hear if he had anything to say for himself: "You idiot! You gave me a heart attack! I thought you had been kidnapped!"

Naruto at least had the common sense to look down ashamed: "Sorry Nee-chan, just wanted to have a little fun."

Rin calmed down and spoke with a slight smile: "That's just Kushina talking through you and Obito's influence on it not helping."

Naruto's smile came back: "Though you have to admit, I got ya!"

Rin sighed with begrudging amusement: "Yes, you did."

Rin actually began observing him and noticed that he was already dressed for the day, with that orange tracksuit that looked like a color inverted version of the one Obito wore when they were Naruto's age and the pair of goggles that Hinata gave him for his birthday last year that he wore around his forehead in place of a protector.

Rin wondered how long it would take Naruto to catch on to how Hinata felt about him, hopefully it wouldn't take years of being on a team together, living in the same house, and the stress of a Biju rampage alongside an outright confession to make him realize her feelings for him like it did for Rin to realize Obito's feelings.

Rin motioned him to come along: "Come on Naruto, if I let you go to the academy without breakfast, your mom will climb out of her grave to beat all three of us senseless."

Naruto looked at her puzzled: "Would she really do that?"

Rin shrugged: "Kushina-sensei was a strange and definitely crazy woman. I sure wouldn't put it past her to tell off and beat up the Shinigami just to come back and discipline us."

Naruto started laughing: "That sounds amazing. Maybe we should do it just so we can watch it happen."

Rin stared at him: "Sorry Naruto, but I'm not suicidal enough to do that. I may miss your mom, but I don't miss her that much to risk getting a beating and the following lecture from her to see her again and I respect her more than to disturb her final rest."

"…damn right I would."

Rin went stiff and felt a shiver run down her spine.

'I had to have imagined that…r-right?' Just how crazy was that woman?!

'...it had to be the wind. There is no way we just heard…' Rin started before she turned to Naruto who had a distinctly freaked expression on his face.

"Nee-chan, you didn't hear that voice too, did you?" '…oh shit he heard it as well. Don't freak out, Don't freak out.'

"…I did. I think we need to get going." YOU THINK?!

"That sounds good."

A few minutes later and the kid was off to the academy.

Almost as soon as Naruto left, Obito commented: "Man, he looked freaked out about something. Got any ideas Rin?" He said looking over at Rin and noticing the look on her face. "What? You're looking at me like you do at Jiraiya when he does something stupid and perverted."

Rin spoke through gritted teeth: "I know what you did, it wasn't very nice to scare both me and Naruto like that."

Obito looked even more confused at that statement: "The hell are you talking about?"

Rin just about snapped before she slowed down and explained what happened.

Obito looked even more confused and distinctly unnerved. "I-I swear I didn't do it, Rin! I was sitting here that entire time!"

Rin looked ready to scream and call his bluff, but the look of absolute sincerity in his eyes stopped her and made her consider the possibility that she had almost believed was certain before deciding it was a prank of Obito's.

"Oh…oh shit."

"I think you dodged a much bigger mess than you thought."

…No kidding. A soul forcing its way back into life just to discipline the living is more than just a mess, it's either a nightmare or one really bad Monday.

Xxx

Later that same day

Anko sat contemplating on a bench in the park.

For the past four years ever since the prophecy was given to her, Anko had tried to live her life without letting it be ruled by fate.

She had a feeling that the three flames were going to be academy students. Each year for the last four years she felt a call to take a team and see if they could be those flames.

However her gut told her that this year was going to be the year.

She felt as if she would be giving in and only taking the brats on because destiny said so if she applied for a team this year.

Anko would have gone deeper until the voice caught her attention: "Earth to Anko, come in."

Anko turned to see Jiraiya and Obito standing there.

Anko acted sheepish: "Sorry about that. Just had a lot on my mind today."

The two nodded and Jiraiya spoke: "I understand that plenty. Anything you want to talk about?"

Anko scowled: "Do I look like some emotionally unstable bitch who needs a pep talk to get it together?"

Obito shook his head: "No, Anko you don't. You look like someone carrying the weight of a world on your shoulders and need some advice to lighten the load. Part of never abandoning your friends is helping them when they are down with personal problems however you can."

Anko sighed: "I can't fault that. Fine, here goes nothing. Do either of you have any experience with future seers?"

Jiraiya and Obito looked at each other before the Sannin spoke: "We do, but I have more than Obito."

Anko nodded: "Well that saves a bit of explanation. The White Snake Sage is one, and during my visit to the cave a couple of years ago that saw Manda deposed and banished as well as Orochimaru's contract with the clan severed for his crimes against the clan and nature, she got a peek at my future and, to sum it up nice and shortly, it affected a lot of the plans I had for my life going forward. I won't tell you guys what she told me cause I don't want my life to be ruled by it entirely like I almost let it the last few years, but I don't know what I should do. I know the class getting ready to graduate has something to do with it and my gut tells me… no I'm not gonna finish that."

Jiraiya spoke here: "If the Snake Sage's future sight is anything like the Seer Toad's, then some of it is coming to pass no matter what while others are self-fulfilling prophecies. If you want it to come to pass then you have to work towards making it, or if you try to work against it you end up bringing it about."

Anko nodded at the sentiment. "…I'm thinking about taking on a Genin Squad. If it what I was told will be self-fulfilling then applying for the sensei position will be what gives it to me. Probably anyways. The prophecy did say something about three flames."

Obito perked up at that mention.

Jiraiya nodded: "I think I can guess what part of your hang up is: Orochimaru."

Anko nodded: "Yeah that is definitely part of it. The other part of it is I'm scared that I won't be strong enough to protect the brats and teach them."

The two men nodded in understanding.

Obito began contemplating possibilities: 'Who would we even make her team? Anko has plenty of strong traits on her own: her mastery of Orochimaru's White Snake Style Taijutsu, a good sense for when something is wrong, when to be silly and when to get serious, caution against some terrible decisions, and then there is…'

Obito thought for a moment before a realization hit him: 'Holy shit, she would be perfect for them.'

Obito mentally smirked as he got an idea: "Hey Anko, how about a bet?"

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow: 'the hell are you doing kid?' he probably would have spoken his thoughts but enough time around Hisashi had made Jiraiya used to crazy yet simple gambits and he knew something was turning in Obito's head.

Anko perked up at that and her competitive side was brought to the surface: "What kind of action we talking?"

Obito smiled: "I have an idea. I have an old training plan that I designed way back when and kept the idea around after it did its job because of how viable it was. I want you to run through it for about 2 months and 8 days, give or take. We'll come up with some way to determine the winner, and based on the results we determine the winner and whether or not you get a team to lead out of the graduating class. If you win and you are determine to be a suitable sensei, you have to go in and apply for a team the next day and you get all the dango you can eat on my tab. If I win, you get out of the job but have to foot the bill for one of Naruto's ramen binges, including any friends he brings with him. We got a deal?"

Obito watched with amusement as Anko contemplated the idea and he read what she was contemplating based on her changing expression. Eventually he determined she was remembering the stories about Naruto and Ramen when he saw the horrified look on her face and struggled not to laugh. Hinata would likely be included if it came to pass and then you would have two bottomless ramen consuming pits. But Anko didn't need to know about that just yet.

Anko seemed to be wrestling with herself over this.

Jiraiya was smiling internally. He had seen Hisashi pull this kind of gambit before. The Shadow Wielder said that such a gambit was often referred to as a Morton's Fork where he was from. Giving two equally appealing or unappealing options and forcing them to choose between the two for what they believed to be the favorable option.

Obito was toeing a dangerous line, Anko could always decide to refuse to play or go for the option he didn't want her to choose.

Then she gave her answer: "I'll take that action. When do we start and where?"

Obito wanted to laugh at her answer. Looks like greed won over survival instincts. Though the outcome he wanted was for her to win this bet. "Good. We start tomorrow at 6am in Training Ground 7. Bring plenty of food, water, and medical supplies."

Though he had to admit he was somewhat worried over how she would handle the pick your poison scenario he had given her.

Anko looked at him funny: "This is going to sound stupid but it needs to be asked. Why?"

Jiraiya had the same question though he didn't state it.

Obito answered: "the taijutsu training I developed for the plan is adapted from some of Gai's methods. Hell the general method is based on his MO." Anko looked like she wanted to scream at that. Obito continued: "But mine is much more sensible because I'm not a masochistic lunatic obsessed with bad fashion, haircuts, youth, and a systematic self-torture routine that could just barely be considered training. But it will still be very rough."

Anko shuddered: "If there's no challenge then it's no fun but what Gai does is torture. Probably some of the most beneficial torture there is but it is still torture. Oh well, see ya tomorrow Sensei."Anko added teasingly at the end as she walked off.

Jiraiya reminded the kid of his presence: "Mind filling me in on what the monkeys upstairs have come up with?"

Obito jumped slightly and then had an 'oh right he was here' expression on his face: "Sorry I forgot about you. I had an idea. You know that prophecy the Seer Toad gave you years ago, the one about the three flames."

Obito immediately began walking towards the Hokage Tower, intent on getting the preparations made in advance.

While Jiraiya decided to head down another street on a whim.

As he walked, Jiraiya went by an alley that seemed a lot more shaded then it should be.

"You aren't even trying, are you?" the toad sage called out expectantly.

"Not really, no. And could you tone it down a little, just a tiny bit, I've got a massive headache." A voice answered back wearily.

Jiraiya turned to the source and spoke: "Damn Hisashi, you look like shit."

The shadow user nodded absently: "I feel like it. It has been one hell of a fucking Monday."

Jiraiya concurred: "I can tell. I don't think I have ever seen you hungover before, it almost reminds me of one Tsunade's post binge hangovers."

Hisashi sighed: "You might be right about the similarity, I feel like I haven't slept in weeks, and I'm used to going days in between 15 hours of sleep."

Jiraiya sighed mentally: 'That's another entry to the list of questions I'm going to have to have him answer.'

Jiraiya got ready to speak when he noticed something: "Hey, what the stain on your shirt? It isn't blood is it?"

Hisashi rose an eyebrow: "The Hell? What stain are you…oh." Noticing the reddish stain on his shirt. "That definitely isn't blood and even if it was, there is no way it could possibly be mine. My blood gets pulled back in by my healing if it gets drawn. I can't even get operated on. *Sniff* It's Barbecue Sauce. Definitely not a kind from around here. I don't carry a jar of it on me so how did I get it? Gee, did I go on a trip after making everything a blur?"

"Mind telling me why you have been drinking to this point?"

Hisashi sighed and sat down: "Well you see…"

-x-

Flashback

Indeterminate amount of time ago

Land of Iron Capital.

Well this was just a pile of shit.

First chance to get around to see how things were going here and then his partner messages about a problem.

Well more like a criminal on parole being outside his native sector without permission from proper authorities.

That alone was enough to get a sector boss to actually put forth some effort, maybe even go all the way up to the sub-boss for the area.

The text had been vague but the wording alone had been enough to put the shadow manipulator on edge.

He eventually found the bar he was being asked to meet in, and found his friend and their problem sitting together in a secluded booth.

Well he assumed the man was the problem, not many people had a corpse like pallor to their skin and surgical scars covering them like they had been dissected and parts cut out and then replaced before being sewed back up and then have parts from other bodies sewed on.

It took Hisashi a minute to really take in the man and realize he was familiar.

A look at the man's clothes gave him everything he needed to know before his mood nosedived.

"Dammit Oboro just what the hell are you doing here?! Mikhail, what the fuck was so important that you couldn't give it over the phone?!" Hisashi almost shouted with a steadily worsening mood.

Mikhail seemed to bristle at that: "First off, Hi Hisashi, How are you? Second off, we're getting to that part and both have the same answer, and third: When we are out in the field here don't call me Mikhail, it's Koryo Hideki."

Hisashi rolled his eyes: "One: I'm doing fine how about you? Two: Well stop lollygagging and start talking. Three: I DON'T GIVE A FUCK RIGHT NOW!"

Mikhail scowled and muttered: "With your temperament and your rampant drinking, I have no fucking idea how you haven't been slammed with any kind of Under Influence charge."

Hisashi stared before answering: "Cause I do my job and I have some form of restraint even while as drunk as I get. I wanna know how you lost a drink chugging contest even though you pulled a strawpedo over on the bastard and he played fair."

Hideki stared at him wide eyed: "I didn't think you knew about it."

"And?"

Hideki sighed. "Fair enough. I was visiting the district Oboro here was supposed to be confined to as part of his parole deal. The local law asked me to go check on him, I went to Oboro's place and found a piece of himself there that he left for someone to track him, and my future sight led me here and then I shot him up with bio-factor suppressant to keep some heat off of us if his employer catches wind of this."

Hisashi nodded: "That explains why I can actually see his body….Wait you said his employer?"

Hideki nodded but Oboro spoke with a deep baritone: "I was contacted earlier by middle men for an unknown entity who wished to use my abilities for a job."

"Who was the target and do you know who hired you?"

"A girl and I do know who the middle men were but not the employer himself. The man went by the name Nanashi, and he had a strange eye color, almost pure white eyes, same as the target he wanted me to procure." Oboro finished.

"Let me guess, your target was a 13 year old girl with pale white skin and dark midnight blue colored hair." Hisashi groaned as Oboro slowly nodded. "Figures. Who were the middle men?"

Hideki spoke: "I ordered you a drink, you might wanna wait till they serve it."

Hisashi frowned and grumbled: "I'm gonna be pissed off after this, right?" the nod answered all.

The drink was brought out in a tall glass. Hisashi recognized the type immediately. "A Liver Killer?! Damn this must be horrible."

Hideki nodded grimly: "It was Kazehira and Loptr by the description."

Hisashi went wide eyed before he grew VERY angry: "Dammit! Why can't those assholes stay in the ground?!"

Hisashi took a gulp of his drink before continuing: "Well this confirms our theory of foul play and external manipulation. If it is Loptr then he just exhausted the last of the system's mercy for criminals like him."

Hideki nodded: "Three strikes and kid gloves come off. Life imprisonment in the F.W facility. A place nicknamed Hell's Waiting Room."

The three sat in silence. Eventually Hideki broke it: "Do you have a plan?"

Hisashi nodded after he finished his drink: "You see if you can make Black Mist here's employers believe he is attempting to deliver the target, use that to get close and see if you can use it to bag those bastards. If it fails, you take No Brains home and explain your way out of the mess this may have caused, use a sting operation story cause he basically pulled one off, while I stay and take care of some of the business that I have. I'll regroup with you when I can. If Kazehira is alive then making him not be is a priority, and capturing Loptr is a priority so he can be made to properly pay for his crimes now that we're almost certain he can't be permanently killed by most of the means that we have access to."

Hideki nodded before speaking: "Oboro, was it your intention for this to be a kind of sting?"

The corpse like man nodded, while a dark mist began emanating from his pores signifying the end of the bio-factor suppressant's effect and the reactivation of his abilities: "Indeed. I was intending on you finding my way home and using the little bit of myself found in it to use your ability to track me down. You found me earlier than I intended."

"Dammit, sorry about that. Guess we better get going so we can bag those fuckers." Hideki responded while the bar tender refilled Hisashi's drink

"Indeed. Hisashi-san, I hope we meet again in more pleasant circumstances." Oboro said as the black mist erupting from his pores solidified into a layer surrounding his skin but leaving his clothes exposed, with glowing yellow eyes piercing the mist on his face.

Hisashi raised his glass in a toast like gesture. "I hope so too, Oboro. Be a nice change of pace. Mikhail, happy hunting."

The two began leaving while Mikhail made a quip: "Well, time to do the same as another fellow time manipulating assassin."

"What's that?"

"Time to make the doughnuts."

The two left while Hisashi remained in thought.

'Just what is Nanashi's motive? We can't find anything on who he is, even Moyo's people are stumped. He ostensibly is loyal to Akatsuki but they aren't supposed to attempt Biju gathering for a while. He could be looking to grab Hinata to hold on to and keep her alive until they are ready but something tells me that is not the case with him. What is his angle, is it the bragging rights of having kidnapped the clan head's eldest daughter, or is it even more twisted like breaking her and turning her into a servant or something else that is disGUST….!'

Hisashi failed to complete the thought as flashbacks began to take hold and his mind was blitzed by the memories and guilt of his failures as friend, mentor, protector, and father.

'No, NO! DAMMIT! I'M LOSING CONTROL! SHIT! FUCK! GODDAMMIT, I CAN'T HAVE IT HAPPEN HERE! I NEED TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO CALM THE FUCK DOWN!'

Hisashi downed his drink and left the bar to find someplace to either regain control or work off the emotional storm.

-x-

Back to the present

"… And that was the start, the inciting incident if you will, to one very shitty Monday. That orange cat was right about them sucking." Hisashi ended the recounting.

Jiraiya quickly got over that particular non sequitur but grimaced and feared the response to the next question: "What happened from there?"

Hisashi rubbed his neck and spoke: "Oh nothing much, they caught wind of our trap and high-tailed it on out of the area and we have no idea where those assholes went. We should have been able to find a trail or even something Hideki could use to trigger his future sight but nope, they were expecting us instead of an Inquisition. We should have tried forming one and throwing it at them and see if we could have gotten them then from the lack of expectation."

Jiraiya figured that the ranting was some form of entertainment reference that Hisashi was so fond of but merely sighed and nodded sympathetically to what he did understand: "I know that pain."

"I figured, anyways, usually when something like this happens, me and Hideki either trade off explaining the mess to Alvrick or do it both of us at once. This time we decided neither of us wanted to do that job and we sure as hell weren't going to take it together and so we played Janken and Hideki lost and went back to face the music while I stayed and got just drunk enough that I only can't remember what day it is, and dosed myself with a little something to make sure I didn't make a horrible mistake in my inebriation. When I get home I am taking a whole month off and going on vacation, maybe everyone will want to join in." Hisashi spoke quietly.

Jiraiya spoke: "Well moving on, anything you want us to know?"

Hisashi pulled out two letter from his jacket.

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow: "Who are they from?"

"Kiri, specifically Terumi Mei, and the Makayu. Kiri's officially renouncing their claim to Sanbi and surrendering it to Konoha. Moyo's inner circle is calling a meeting between you and one of their own to pass of some intelligence and stuff. Apparently Pain is starting to get pissed at Nanashi and is attempting to find his identity as well. I may have reported Nanashi's attempt at getting Hinata to him through Moyo. At this point, I'm just trying to frustrate the bastard into letting something slip. That or just make him miserable out of spite."

Jiraiya took the letters and put them away for now.

Hisashi began to walk away: "Well I better-"

Jiraiya adopted a stern face and tone of voice "Hisashi you mind answering something?"

Hisashi turned towards the sannin with an expectant gaze, which Jiraiya answered: "You mind coming clean about some things you've been lying and contradicting yourself about?"

Hisashi went stiff: "What are you-"

"Hiruzen-sensei says you don't look much older than the day he first met you." Jiraiya spoke tersely.

Hisashi prepared to speak a deflection but Jiraiya cut him off: "He told me he met you back during the FIRST Great Ninja War."

"Shit. *sigh* Son of a Bitch." Hisashi said while rubbing his brow and looking almost a century older with just that action.

Jiraiya might have been willing to indulge that any other day, but enough frustration had been built over Hisashi not trusting them with the full truth to make him not care: "Well? I'm waiting."

Hisashi spoke after a moment: "I was planning on eventually telling you unless something happened to force me to tell you earlier than I planned to. I can't tell you just yet."

Jiraiya scowled: "Yet?!"

Hisashi nodded with sorrow: "Yes. But I can give a hint."

Hisashi looked up at the sky: "The stars sure look nice, don't they? Do you ever wonder if the stars we look up at are the suns for other life out there? Do you think that they have chakra or do they have other means of empowering themselves beyond normal limits? Do you wonder if they are aware of other life out there or even us down here? Do you wonder if far beyond the stars we see are identical duplicates where others almost exactly like us who look up to the stars and wonder those same questions?"

Jiraiya was perplexed but also mildly disturbed by the implication.

Hisashi wrapped it up: "Do you wonder if there is a force for good out there to keep evil in check wherever it might grow and fester and strike, who decide when it is time to show others the bigger picture and when to not and let them grow more before enlightening them? Because if there is such an entity I only hope the men and women who support it never lose faith in their mission. Like… Nevermind, See ya lat…." Hisashi went to end the statement but began trailing off and turning towards southeast with an odd look on his face.

Then Jiraiya felt it and shuddered. It felt similar to the sensation that came over when Hisashi started fighting seriously and using the full brunt of his power. Dark, oppressive, like being trapped in a world of shadow with no means of escaping it. But this one felt far more insidious, like the user was far more blood thirsty and had no good intentions unless they assisted his purposes in some way. Hisashi's felt terrifying but there was this underlying sense of hope to it, like you knew he was there to help people.

Then Hisashi's head dropped: "Damn it. They never skipped town. They hid here and made us think that they had ran. Oh man, Alverick is going to be pissed."

Jiraiya rose an eyebrow: "Can't you just start tracking them and grab them using that signature?"

Hisashi shook his head: "No. If Kazehira is unleashing his power like this then he knows I won't have time to try to follow him and use the end of the trail to figure out where he's going or he is getting ready to do something that he knows I'm going to abandon the chase to stop."

The dark presence that Jiraiya assumed was this Kazehira continued to grow until suddenly it stopped and began rapidly shrinking. Then a new presence was detected, something that felt even more sinister.

"No…He didn't…. Damn it… He did, didn't he?" Hisashi began muttering.

"What happened?"

"I think he just broke one of the laws of nature to throw pursuit off his trail. I think he somehow summoned a soul back from the dead, implanted it into a new body, and promised it freedom in exchange for causing chaos if he can get away from me or someone who I know is on their way already if this is what happened." Hisashi explained.

That didn't make much sense like most things with Hisashi and somehow made quite a bit of sense. Wonder if it was deli…

The signature that started this had vanished under the cover of the second but then a third one appeared extremely suddenly and Jiraiya broke into a cold sweat.

"Wh-what the hell is that?!" Jiraiya just barely managed to get out.

"Who I knew was coming here to punish what has happened. She has many names but the title she always comes back to is the White Demoness. She is here to make sure that either the soul attempts to turn over a new leaf if it is an evil one which it probably is or failing that goes back to where it belongs willingly, or is dragged back to her domain to suffer until they are returned the other way." Hisashi spoke solemnly. "I'm a bit surprised you can sense her, must have something to do with your attunement to nature due to your sage training."

Jiraiya struggled to come up with words. The insidiousness of the two presences was almost overwhelming. One felt like it craved bloodshed and misery on all it could while the other had similar qualities but was also battle hungry to an absurd degree but all of it was focused. It felt like standing in front of a great beast that you had no hope of victory against and the creature knew it as well.

Hisashi smiled sympathetically: "Hope, the one you are sensing, tends to do that with her presence and especially when she is radiating her power ever since she stopped suppressing her true nature. I would explain why she's here but I would have to go pretty deep into the truth which I don't really have time to explain, though I bet the sages are going crazy muttering something along the lines of: the White Demoness has come forth from her throne amongst an endless graveyard to drag the damned one back where it belongs. If I was unleashing my full power they would say something along the lines 'Order's Blighted Shadow has fallen upon us, here to blot out evil's pawns wherever he may find them.' Probably would start screaming about Kazehira's presence if he was any stronger. Probably something about Chaos's Cursed Shadow."

Hisashi stopped for a moment and both presences died down to near invisibility but the third one was still detectable even if it was impossible to determine where it was.

Hisashi spoke again: "Welp, I better go say hi to Hope before I skedaddle."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow: "How are you going to find her? I can barely even tell she's in the Elemental Nations."

"She's radiating enough of her power for me to get an idea where she is and she's six foot five, wait no wrong measurements, she's almost 2 meters tall, has bone white skin, solid white hair, pupil-less eyes, has muscles strong enough to crush a man's femur, and wears heavy red and black armor with a black and gold colored sword. There is no way to miss her unless she uses a perception filtration technique. Also be thankful you don't have a prophecy of dying by the hand of your greatest student hanging over your head LIKE I HAVE!" Hisashi almost screamed almost exasperatedly.

Jiraiya conceded that one: "Fair enough."

"Anyways, I better get going and see how much of a mess I'm in. See ya Round."

He got up and pat Jiraiya's shoulder before walking towards an especially dark patch of shadows and disappeared into its darkness. The shadows released their grip on that spot and the shade over both the alley and that spot in particular broke and revealed what Hisashi had walked into….

….A solid brown wall with no openings.

The number of steps he took was definitely far more than the space he had stride through before his steps disappeared.

Xxx

Akatsuki meeting chamber

A Few hours later

The phantoms of the Akatsuki gathered once more.

Pain, Konan, Tobi, Zetsu, Kisame, Moyo, Sasori, Orochimaru, Nanashi, Kakuzu, Hidan, and Shin.

They were now joined by a newcomer, Baku Deidara, better known as the Mad Bomber.

"We gather now to first welcome Deidara to our ranks, but secondly assign permanent partners for the near future. Orochimaru will be withdrawn from all mission planning for the near future to properly organize his Konoha Crush invasion as well as continue his work on the Nisebi project. Nanashi and Shin will be pulled out as reserve members. Shin will continue his experimentation to further strengthen our hand in preparation for the worst case scenario as will Nanashi. Hidan and Kakuzu will continue for the near future as will Moyo and Kisame, Tobi will meet up with Zetsu, and Deidara will link up with Sasori and proceed from there."

Almost all nodded in understanding.

Though the aura of irritation being radiated by one their members was almost tangible.

Konan looked over at the one who was making this display.

"Is something wrong with this announcement, Nanashi?"

The masked Byakugan holder nodded, rage evident in the movement: "I was told I would be part of the effort to capture the Nibi Jinchuriki, But it appears that is being taken away from me and denied to me just like what I was supposed to be given after Daybreak!"

Nanashi volume started going higher: "I joined Akatsuki under the impression that I would be given what I asked for! I WANT WHAT I WAS PROMISED! NOW-" was as far as he got into his rant before a killing intent radiated by Pain silenced him.

The Rinnegan bearer stared directly at him with a stare that many had come to realize was both a death glare and the man rolling his eyes in annoyance.

Pain waited to see if Nanashi dared to continue before he spoke softly yet with every bit of authority he usually spoke with: "I intend to honor my word to all those who join Akatsuki to help see my mission accomplished, no matter how detestable I might find it.

The failure to acquire your payment during Daybreak was an unfortunate happening, one that I had every intention of seeing corrected.

However, a recent event has seen to it that my trust in your devotion to Akatsuki's mission is limited to only seeing your ambitions fulfilled before breaking away and doing whatever it is you plan on.

It has been made clear to me through someone who interfered in your little secret operation, that you have your own sights on the Nibi Jinchuriki for some purpose. Whatever it is, it does not matter.

When each of you joined Akatsuki, you made a pact of sorts with me: help me see my life's work come to fruition and I will grant you what you ask of me in return provided with a few exceptions which you have been understanding of.

However, the moment you decide that whatever it is you desire takes precedence over the mission of this organization, the pact is essentially broken, and once I become aware of this ethical failing on your part:

Whatever it is that you desired will be lost to you."

Pain paused for a moment to allow his point to sink in.

Then he continued: "I do not know who informed me of your betrayal, though they hold my gratitude for informing me of such a failing on your part, Nanashi. I also do not know what you were planning to do with the Nibi girl or who your associates were in performing this failed act or what you promised them as payment. It doesn't matter.

I will be honoring my word concerning your initial payment, however you will have to prove yourself loyal enough to be worthy of actually receiving the payment. A fair condition considering your betrayal. You must also prove yourself worthy of being part of our attempt to capture the Nibi, I believe it would be foolish to allow you anywhere near the Jinchuriki without knowing what it is you're planning. Wouldn't you agree?"

Nanashi nodded begrudgingly: "Yes, I agree Pain-sama."

Pain nodded: "Good, betray us again and death will be the price. This meeting is adjourned. Kakuzu, Hidan, Moyo, Sasori. Stay."

The others nodded and did as they were told.

Though Tobi left with a jab at Nanashi: "Hehehe, poor Nanashi was a bad boy and ended up getting caught. He's lucky Pain-sama hadn't decided to get the belt."

Nanashi scowled beneath his mask: "Silence, Worm."

Tobi flailed manically while tears somehow formed and began water falling down his mask: "MEANY! It's not nice to call Tobi such a mean name, Tobi's a good boy unlike you."

Tobi blew a raspberry at Nanashi before vanishing, his tongue somehow appearing through the mask he wore even though he made no effort to move it into a position where it would have been visible.

Once every member besides those asked for and Konan and Pain had left, then the Rinnegan Bearer spoke: "Sasori, Moyo. I want you two to pull your resources together and find out who Nanashi really is. He gave a location for his base of operations when he joined but investigation has shown it to be a front. I want to know where his true base of operations is."

Sasori nodded: "As you wish Pain-sama. I look forward to working with you Moyo-san."

Moyo nodded as well: "I look forward to it as well but there is one problem, I have been trying to investigate who Nanashi is for years and have turned up nothing. Each one I put on his trail concludes that is almost like he does not exist outside of Akatsuki."

Sasori's neutral expression took on a slight grimace: "I see."

Moyo turned to Pain: "Pain-sama, if I might be blunt, I am aware of the Rinnegan's abilities to some extent. Shouldn't the Human Path be able to extract the information you desire from Nanashi?"

Pain nodded: "In theory it should but the one time I attempted it on him it didn't work. I believe Nanashi may possess a technique similar to my Outer Path ability that allows me to control multiple bodies at once as if they were my own. Except for with Nanashi's version his soul is not projected into the other body. I believe who we have come to know as Nanashi is a literal puppet, without any will of its own, acting as the mouth and will of another who holds the metaphorical strings to manipulate it with and make it dance to his will."

Sasori seemed to take interest in this new topic.

Moyo nodded: "That makes sense. We just need to identify where the real Nanashi is and who he is."

Sasori spoke afterwards: "Once we are able to locate Nanashi's operation, may I be permitted to study Nanashi's puppet or puppet jutsu if it is indeed as you speculate?"

Pain nodded: "Granted, the acquisition of such vital information would need to be rewarded. I see no problem with allowing this."

Sasori smirked: "Then it will be done."

"Then you two are dismissed."

The specters bowed before vanishing. Leaving Kakuzu and Hidan with Pain and Konan.

Konan spoke: "It was not an accident that you two were allowed to hear that. It tied into what we have for you two."

The Earth Grudge Fear master and the Jashinist looked at each other with an understanding of what was most likely going to be discussed.

"What is it you need of us?" Kakuzu spoke for the pair, not trusting Hidan to say it.

"It is said that you snuck into Konoha and attempted to silently dispose of the First Hokage not too long before the Valley Of the End was created. We have use for that skill if you are able to still pull it off, another infiltration of Konoha." Konan spoke while Pain nodded.

Kakuzu gaze hardened at the memory of what came after that battle before responding: "I can. Do you want the Forbidden Falls' scroll for the Earth Grudge Fear Technique's ritual, or the death of Sarutobi, or the removal of the Jinchuriki, or some combination of the above?"

Pain shook his head: "No. That will not be necessary. We are not ready to begin sealing even the tiniest fragment of the Kyubi's chakra yet without a proper amount from the other eight Biju in order to counter-balance it. The mission will be to obtain Nanashi's payment, this time to ensure he follows our orders. Details will be given at a future time."

Kakuzu nodded: "Understood. Is there any other reason you asked for both of us?"

Pain nodded: "Just two more. Kakuzu, find someone we can insert into Orochimaru's Otogakure as a spy. I don't trust Sasori's sleepers to keep themselves alive enough to not end up make themselves of no use. We need someone who knows what their mission is and will fight to stay alive for that purpose. A finder's fee will be given, of course."

"Understood, I'm sure I can find someone who can do the job competently." Kakuzu responded smoothly.

Pain kept his gaze forward: "I thought so. The other reason is that I need someone dealt with."

The Jashinist and the Bounty Hunter smiled at the information given.

They could more than handle this mission.

Xxx

Konoha

3 weeks till graduation

You know, whenever someone thinks about getting ready to graduate, they might think of celebrating being out of school soon.

Anyone sane would think of the prep that goes into getting ready for the Finals, whatever they may be.

Some have more trouble than the others, some have some unique problems to deal with.

"Goddammit! Useless Fox messing up my control!" one loudmouthed Blonde screamed in the middle of a training ground.

I don't think many people have to worry about that one, I think that one is a unique to you problem kid.

"ARG! I hate that the freeloader is messing with my chances like this!" the blonde continued to rant at the others.

"Naruto-kun, p-please calm down a little." Hinata stuttered, despite having a few similar opinions.

"Naruto calm down. Keep screaming and you will make me wish I took a shift today rather than help you two." Rin muttered through rubbing a headache at the volume. I don't know who I pity more, Naruto for having to deal with Kurama screwing him over, or Kurama for having to deal with Naruto's volume. Actually scratch that, Kurama's mind hasn't reawakened yet, he hasn't actually had to deal with Naruto yet. Naruto is being screwed over and Kurama hasn't had to deal with him personally yet. I feel bad for the boy. 'What about Hinata and the Nibi?' Matatabi and Hinata will get along just fine, Hinata has a pleasant personality that will mesh easily with Matatabi's and Matatabi lacks a misanthropic hatred of all mankind and will probably take Hinata under her wing so to speak. 'Good to know, I'll have an easier time getting Hinata to work with her Biju and I'm going to have to work Naruto to get him and the Kyubi to get along if that is even possible.'

Naruto huffed and sighed "Sorry, Nee-chan. I just needed to let some steam off."

Rin nodded in understanding: "I know, I went through the same thing with my Biju. I could actually do the Clone Jutsu before I had Isobu. But the sudden increase to my reserves removed my ability to control the chakra I put into the jutsu. That's why I was taught Shadow Clones and Water Clones when I was, and that's why I'm teaching you two Shadow Clone."

Both kids nodded.

Rin picked up on an unsaid question: "Yes, Hinata? What do you want to ask?"

Hinata spoke with the prompt: "Rin-sensei, I-I was wondering why you chose to teach us Shadow Clone rather than an elemental clone?"

"Yeah, now that I think about it, I was wondering that too. Also why are we having control issues with a jutsu meant to get around this crap?" Naruto said, probably encouraged by Hinata's own asking.

Rin sighed: "These are day one questions, I'm not mad but seriously, I thought you two would have already figured it out by now, and this is not a question to feel stupid or ashamed about asking. This kinda boils down to affinities, My strongest affinity is water but for you two it is fire and wind, neither of which have particularly viable clone techniques like water and earth or some mix elements and the few methods for forming a clone using those elements are not stable. As for Naruto's question: You have to be able to control your input regardless to keep from under-loading or overloading. Anything else?"

The kids shook their heads.

Rin nodded: "Alright, let's take a few more attempts then we'll take a break and then we got something special for today."

Both kids wondered about what that might have been. Could it have been Obito, he had been rather scarce in these sessions for a month or two now.

Rin waited for both kids to take a ready position before speaking: "Now."

Hands rushed to into the configuration for the Hand Seal: "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Smoke exploded and Rin waited for the inevitable failure. No chance it would have suddenly succeeded after Naruto's frustrated tantrum earlier. Never write off anything, karma's a pain.

The smoke cleared and Rin began to speak on auto: "Alright, guys rest a minute and then try agai…" she trailed off as she realized there were suddenly more signatures than just the two kids now emerging from the chakra smoke.

Specifically, two additional Narutos and one additional Hinata in addition to the originals. All looking bewildered. I told you not to write anything off. 'Shut it.'

Rin muttered under her breath before shouting: "Way to make me seem like a bad teacher for believing you would automatically fail…Great job guys!" Nice Save. 'I said shut it.'

Naruto looked at Hinata with wide eyes: "I did it right? You did too right? I'm not just dreaming this or anything, right. I'm not seeing two more me and one more you right, Hinata?"

Hinata shook her head before her expression of bewilderment morphed to excitement alongside Naruto's. "We-we did it!"

"Hell Yeah we did!" the blonde cheered before exhaustion took them.

"I-I didn't realize I was this tired till j-just now." "Me neither."

Rin laughed: "Congrats on pulling it off, take the moment to rest and then will go to our special surprise."

Both kids muttered understanding before going back to sitting.

Eventually the two got up and followed Rin to a different clearing.

"Alright, I know he is around here somewhere, he isn't doing something stupid unless he got a spyglass and this yard has a clear vantage point of any women's hot springs." Fat chance of that not being the case.

"Hey, Nee-chan, what are you mumbling about?" Naruto wondered.

"Sorry, someone was supposed to be here waiting for us." Rin replied.

"Try looking above instead of underneath, for once." A voice called out and the three jumped and turned towards it to see a green and red dressed man with white hair.

"Hey, Ero-sennin." Naruto responded casually while Hinata struggled against instinct that had been given to respond to people like Jiraiya of the Sannin to give them what they deserved.

"Will you cut that nickname already?" Jiraiya groaned.

"Once Naruto finds a good nickname for someone, it takes an act of the Kami for him to quit. Get used to it, Ero-Sennin." Rin uttered with finality. Talk about harsh, unless you already noticed the hastily hidden notes and spyglass. 'Yeah, but I'm not going to do anything about them.' …Why? 'I'm not about to ruin someone else's life's work over me not agreeing with them. I don't think he really hurts anyone for his research. And at least he has some standards compared to other creeps.' …*sigh* True. A low bar to meet but I can't argue it.

"At least Hinata will probably refer to me properly." Jiraiya muttered out loud hopefully.

"You lost that a long time ago, Ero-Sennin." Hinata responded deadpan.

"GODDAMMIT!" Jiraiya screamed with tears in his eyes.

A hyenic laugh washed over the group and made the kids and Rin shudder slightly while Jiraiya stopped his fit and spoke: "That's strange. That sounded exactly like Hisashi. Nothing surprises me about him anymore, honestly."

Naruto spoke after a moment: "So what are we learning?"

Rin responded: "Summoning Jutsu."

That caught both kids' attention.

Jiraiya followed up: "Yeah, both of you are offered a spot on the Toad Contract. It was kind of decided years ago, and now I think you're both ready to begin learning from what the toads have to teach and learning how to summon."

Jiraiya pulled the scroll out and unrolled it before the two kids: "If you decide to take up the contract, you sign it like all the others, sign your name with blood and press your fingers covered in blood to the spot you sign."

Naruto nodded with a smile on his face as he went about signing the contract.

Hinata was hesitant. A small part of her wanted to say give her spot to someone else but a more rational part of her overruled that impulse saying that this spot was for her alone and giving it up would ultimately be a waste. A moment more and she went through the same steps as Naruto before her.

Jiraiya smiled as he put up the contract scroll. "Excellent, now let's get started on the more practical part of today's lesson."

Jiraiya showed the hand seals to the two who prepared to attempt their own summonings.

Jiraiya signaled and the two went through the signs, "Summoning Jutsu!" with an explosion of smoke…and a tiny tadpole.

"W-what?" "The Hell?"

Jiraiya smiled: "And now we set in for the next few hours and tomorrow as well."

The kids sighed. It was going to be a long session.

Xxx

Konoha

Training Grounds

2 weeks till graduation

Anko would be the first to admit that her first impressions of people weren't always spot on.

Especially with the changes of time accounted for.

After all, Orochimaru's impression went from kind of creepy but cool sensei to creepy asshole fucking with the natural order real fast.

Well these last several weeks had definitely changed her view of Obito.

The first impression she got of him was that of a nice guy with some severe confidence issues that manifested as a need to prove himself.

That had never changed, but he definitely proved himself to be able to be a cold and manipulative bastard when needed to be.

But the last month and a half had been HELL.

Pretty standard stuff. Weights, personal techniques, refining rough edges, and coming up with new ideas and working them into feasible style changes.

The spars when they came were intense.

WHEN! They could start at any time. Break, personal training, taking a shit….

….alright that last one hadn't happened but it reinforced the point.

Obito was quite willing to throw anything he had at her within reason and make sure she could, at the absolute worst, get help to be able to safely come back the next day.

Anko was starting to wonder if she had done something to the Uchiha Phantom to cause a grudge to be held against her with the systematic torture he put against her. And wonder how to put that grudge to rest if it did exist.

Then three week ago these punks got dragged in and everything changed.

Shin was Shisui light, if Shisui was somewhat slower and couldn't use body flicker quite as well but might be using Iwa's camouflage technique and could erase all trace of his presence until a moment before he struck.

'Though I'm only about 95 percent sure that the little shit can use that camouflage technique.' Anko thought as she used a blast of water to cancel out an incoming fireball.

Immediately after Anko completed that thought her instincts screamed and she dodged another slash from Shin and turned to find him fading out of his camouflage.

'Well better change that to he definitely knows camouflage hiding. I FUCKING KNEW IT!' Anko thought as she countered with Shadow Snake hands, forcing Shin to break off his attempt to follow up and press the attack.

Shin retreated from the clearing to regroup with the others which gave Anko a moment to rest and collect her thoughts.

Torune was an Aburame who learned Taijutsu and had a type of bug that made it dangerous to face him in Close Combat.

If this hadn't been training then the Snake Kunoichi would have been dead many different times from where Torune caught her.

Torune ordering his swarms to do no permanent harm was a definite saving grace. But learning his tells had been what really saw improvement. Most Aburame had a tell when they were going on the offensive that their swarms would start buzzing aggressively. Torune was no exception but the amount of bugs he had to be hosting had both a unique buzz and volume to it that Anko learned to use to tell when he was attempting to attack and use that to figure out any additional tells he had in his movements.

Fu was a Yamanaka who fought with a pretty diverse bag all things considered. He was probably using some of his mind techniques to coordinate their assaults.

Though he might not have been. His Mind Techniques were definitely being used decisively when he pulled them out, however. One was designed to disrupt the sense of sound like some kind of Genjutsu and force Anko to deal with Torune without being able to hear the buzzing or the movements of anyone else. Ironically that had been the biggest help in trying to remove the buzz as a crutch to tell when and what Torune was doing and even learn other ways of detecting the other two shits when they were trying unique methods of attacks.

That took a bit of getting her ass kicked to learn.

Anko could definitely see what Obito was trying to teach here, he was trying to give an idea of how you coordinate a team to play to the greatest possible organization of their strengths and weaknesses.

Though as the days dragged on, each little bit of improvement was becoming apparent.

Especially how she was doing against these three shits.

Anko jumped to as she began hearing the buzzing a set of footsteps through the foliage on one side away from the buzzing and other set of footsteps attempting to sneak up behind her.

Another one of the three attempting to gang up on her.

Anko smiled. Which would attack first?

One set of steps, the set nearest to Torune's buzzing and the one Anko assumed to be the orange haired Yamanaka, suddenly stopped while the buzzing continued to get closer and the other continued to grow closer.

'I think I see what the punks are doing, Torune strikes first, while Shin circles around and slashes while I'm focused on bug boy while Fu uses Double Decapitation Suicide or some other tunneling technique to sneak up and get me while they have my attention. Scratch Double Decapitation Suicide, probably Earthworm digging or something. I definitely don't hear tunneling.'

Anko smiled while she waited listening ever intently till the punks decided to attack.

The buzzing went from somewhat subdued to murderously aggressive in an instant and Anko jumped to intercept Torune's first strike, a right hook aimed at her chest. He was aiming towards her clothes rather than her skin.

Nice, rather thoughtful of him, however it wasn't going to save him from the thrashing for not taking his opponent seriously.

Anko used her forearm to hook his elbow and use his jacket to keep his bugs from getting her while she tossed him to the side.

Before she could complete the toss, the tell-tale sound of a tunneling technique being exited met her ears and she rushed to get ready for whatever Fu was planning on throwing at her…

…only to be caught nearly flat footed when Shin exited the ground and slashed at her.

'That was Shin tunneling?! Shit, I thought it was Fu! What the hell is he getting ready to do?! FUCK! ARGH!'

Anko screamed as Fu's technique took hold. A mind technique of some kind by the familiar head pain of one setting in forcefully.

"Alright, check everything. I can use Chakra, I can definitely hear myself. I can still hear Torune's buzzing and footsteps." Anko recited to herself as if going down a checklist.

Anko made a sign to test for Mind-body disruption variants: "I can use jutsu still. And my balance doesn't feel off. The Fuck did he do?"

Every odd thing they did had a method behind it. Just what this one was, that was the question.

As soon as Anko finished her ingrained checklist, the punks came at her again.

Torune stayed towards the back while Fu began signing and Shin rushed.

"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!" and a small fireball was shot out which Anko countered with Water Bullet before grabbing Shin and pushing him to the ground and throwing a punch to his ribs while his teammates rushed to help. Torune receiving a gut punch for his troubles once he was too close to see it coming during one of his Taijutsu rushes, and Fu being wrapped up and thrown at a tree with Shadow Snake Hands.

The brawl carried on for a six minutes before Anko's instincts began highlighting something was wrong.

The three began getting up and retreating from the clearing while Anko began scratching her head trying to figure out what the hell was wrong.

'It has to be part of what Fu did with his mind technique. Could the mind technique have been a cover for something else…Genjutsu? Maybe.'

Anko did the Genjutsu release and felt her chakra go back to a normal flow.

"He did hit me with a Genjutsu. What the hell was it about?" Anko said out loud as she started looking for anything off.

But then a new voice caught her attention.

"Gee, took you long enough to figure out he was using a mind technique to sneak in a Genjutsu. Though considering I just pitched the idea at him earlier, I can't really blame you for that. Blast Wave Wild Dance!" the now recognized voice screamed as Anko dodged the fire vortex.

Anko's eyes darted looking for Obito, muscle memory from previous bouts coming to the forefront and new improvements rushing to compensate for how off balance she was caught.

An air pressure shift she learned to associate with Obito's Kamui technique alerted her and she responded as quickly as she could: "Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!" she screamed hoping to catch him before he shifted into that pocket world.

Movement a second later from that direction saw Obito jump through into the clearing before another hole opened up from his eye and the fireball Anko spat at him came back at her.

Anko just barely avoided her redirected fireball, but it left her open to Obito grabbing her and jettisoning her into Kamui.

Anko's sight blacked out for a moment before she re-emerged in the black colored void and the floating cube filled space of the Kamui World.

"This is where he sticks everything he sucks up with his eyes? Geez no wonder he was going blind at one point." Anko snarked to herself.

"Everything worth keeping anyways. Some people I close the portals on when they're in the middle of crossing over, usually tearing them apart or ripping their heads off." Obito stated matter-of-factly as he entered the pocket world.

Anko gulped at the thought of dying that way. He already landed a hypothetical death blow.

"That being said, my Distance Kamui could open in the middle of you, and then you be down that portion of the body. So me just looking at you is kind of me having a deathblow aimed at you and ready at all times. And then there is Amaterasu which can burn you to a crisp if you're not fast enough to escape my line of sight and Tsukuyomi to torture you with if you can't break eye contact." Obito continued. Anko already knew about Kamui, the other two were news though. Three deathblows ready just by looking at her. That was humbling, terrifying and rage inducing all in one.

Obito stayed in a neutral stance before raising his right hand in the confrontation seal. Anko half expected him to jump at her the moment she shifted to reciprocate, but his eyes said he was waiting for her.

Anko dropped out of her starting stance to return the gesture. Obito smiled almost nostalgically, probably remembering something with the punks.

"Prepare yourself Mitarashi Anko. This is your final exam. Prove to me how much you have grown. Succeed and I will be rewarding you as I promised. Fail to give it your all, or holdback out of a desire to undercut yourself, and I will make you suffer." Obito spoke somberly.

Anko nodded. Point was understood. No more words were needed for this conversation.

Both went into starting stances and Anko led off: "FIRE RELEASE: GREAT FIRE DRAGON STREAM!" Which Obito anticipated and countered with the same move.

The two streams met and their flames began illuminating the dark void. The clash lasted for fifteen seconds before Obito ended it. "Amaterasu."

Anko just barely heard him utter that name and second hand knowledge told her to 'STOP SPITTING FLAMES AND GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE! RIGHT FUCKING NOW, DAMMIT!'

The clash was slowly but steadily consumed by the black flames as Anko fled to avoid getting it on her as well as the heat of the infernal flames themselves.

Anko moved to a new cube and Obito followed, with the previous cube platform becoming a torch of black and red flames illuminating the void with an almost hellish light.

Every instinct in Anko's body wanted to call this a duel to the death rather than a test. Anko just barely reigned them in as Obito rushed at her which Anko countered by pulling one of her kunai.

Anko aimed and stabbed shallowly into Obito but the smile on his face told her he was expecting that. A puff of smoke left behind a log in his place and the hissing sound from a tag had Anko push it away from her to avoid the worst of the explosive's blast even as she was pelted by fragments.

Obito was nowhere to be seen but Anko's instinct kept screaming something was wrong and a moment later more logs prepped with explosives came down and exploded, pelting her with more fragments but dealing no real damage.

When the smoke cleared Obito was back and now unravelling a small personal summoning scroll and forming signs as he prepared to finish the summon: "Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!"

From the smoke, yet another log appeared, this one with a bladed weapon stabbed into it that Anko vaguely recognized from a weapons study. It almost resembled a weapon she had seen associated with some of Wind's desert tribes and other desert tribes. She wasn't sure if this weapon had ever been adapted to the Ninja Arts, but she was pretty sure it was some variant of what she believed was called a Katar.

Obito grabbed the blade by its grip before using his foot and free hand to wrench out the blade from the log before dropping the blade momentarily to toss the log at Anko and detonate the explosive before grabbing his blade and obviously counting for a moment before rushing her.

Anko fired a Water Bullet to deflect the log aside a few moments before it was to detonate, which stalled Obito an extra heartbeat, and during that moment she pulled a kunai and began rushing just before he had tried to move.

Anko just barely anticipated where Obito was going to aim his retaliation slash and prevented it from even getting close to her while her kunai phased right through Obito.

Obito started trying to make a Kamui Jump and Anko punished him for dropping his phasing with a quick one-two. He was letting her get these hits in but she was holding her own far better than she did when they started these sessions.

Obito fired off another Blast Wave Wild Dance and used the vortex to disappear, but before Anko could start looking, Obito jumped out of the ground attempted to grab Anko but was unable to grab her. Anko countered the attempt by grabbing his wrist and used it to toss him while that part was solid.

Each clash felt like Obito was testing for a certain quality. Like each one was something he believed she would need. Anko almost felt like she was also the test subject for Obito's new style. This entire pattern felt like it was designed to remake Obito's style to catch anyone who was familiar with its base version off-guard in order to give him a decisive edge.

The fight eventually noticeably moved away from anything considered a strategic bout to a straight Ninjutsu duel and then a Taijutsu brawl which stretched on.

The three cubes the battle had moved between had been marred with gouges, dents, explosive craters, scorch marks, and destroyed logs.

The battle continued until Obito's expression reached a proud smile and he uttered two words.

Two words Anko couldn't decide if she was happy to hear or not.

"I concede." His voice communicating a sense of personal victory.

"…What?" Anko questioned trying to figure out what had just happened.

"I conceded the fight. You passed the exam and won the bet, but I won this war." Obito said as he grabbed Anko and teleporting them back out of the pocket dimension.

Anko could only stare: "I-I won? But then why did you say you won the war?"

Obito nodded: "Yep. But you do remember the other half of our bet, the part that gave you pause?"

Anko stared for a moment then blinked before the kunoichi promptly face palmed: "Shit! Dammit!"

Obito smiled at the pseudo-breakdown before opening up another Kamui hole and pulling a box out of the Kamui World. He waited for Anko to calm down before he continued.

"I had this made for you as kind of a graduation present." Obito said as he presented Anko with the box. "I heard you were aiming at T&I before this whole prophecy started going down, so I kind of had this jacket made for you as kind of a consolation." Anko opened the box and found a black long coat in the box, clearly based on T&I's brown uniform coat.

Most would wonder what the hell Obito was doing, those who knew him would say that this was just what he did.

"Thanks for the jacket, you manipulative son-of-a-bitch!" Anko replied happily as she threw on the jacket.

Obito put one hand over his heart and raised the other to mockingly wipe away a false tear: "That is the nicest thing you have ever said to me. And you're welcome you sadistic, overly theatrical bitch."

"Hmm, now that was the nicest thing you eve said to me. I'll be going to sign up for a team I guess. I'll be collecting on that dango sometime." Anko responded.

Obito chuckled: "I figured. You never turned down that stuff."

"If I did, people would be shitting themselves trying to figure out when I was replaced. And Obito, thanks for all this." Anko responded with smug smile that turned sincere.

"You're welcome." Obito smiled back before he vanished from the clearing.

Anko began leaving the clearing, a smile on her face and hope for the future in her heart.

Xxx

Konoha

Graduation Day

The students sat eagerly in the classroom for the final time.

Silence ruled the room as the door opened and Iruka walked in.

The chunin began speaking

"It has been a personal honor to see all of you grow and develop here at the academy, but this is where we must part ways. We gave you those forehead protectors to acknowledge you as Shinobi of the Village, but now we have to give you your team assignments. Some of you may not like them, but the Hokage has personally picked these teams and the each of the sensei who will lead them based on his observations as well as opinions of those he trusts. If reassignments are done, it will not be because someone complained to Hiruzen-sama enough but because he believes a critical failure of those team's dynamics have emerged. Now let us begin the assigning."

The class was on the edge of their seats.

Iruka worked down the list.

The first one Naruto actually payed attention to was when one of his friends was called.

"Taki no Fu, Aburame Shino, and Sai. You three will comprise team 6."

Fu's joy at being with Shino was heard well. Sai took to the news with his usual poker face, though his lips did quirk up just slightly.

"Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuga Hinata, Uchiha Sasuke. You three will be team 7."

Naruto was happy to be on a team with friends and looked over to see Hinata and Sasuke both happy as well.

Though the three grimaced moments before the inevitable fangirl meltdown occurred.

Iruka had to fight to resume order over the class but Naruto could just barely hear a bitter sentence: "This isn't fair, I should be with Sasuke-kun, not that idiot or that bimbo. That idiot should be happy he even graduated out of pity because there is no way he managed to do it legitimately and that bitch doesn't even see how awesome Sasuke-kun is, always staring at that loser."

Now that was mean! The hell gave her the right to say that?! Naruto just about lost it at that bad mouthing when a hand touched his shoulder.

He looked over at the hand and traced it back to Hinata who had sad look but also a determined one, but then he saw the look in Sasuke's eyes and knew that they had heard it too.

"If that is what you think, then I'm glad I'm not on a team with you. I'll take the so called 'idiot' and 'bimbo' over a bitter child like you any day. No one insults my friends." Sasuke fired back audibly.

The girl looked shocked that she had been heard and even more that Sasuke didn't agree with her.

Shock turned to fear when she was told to go out in the hallway and wait till assignments were over.

After Iruka restored order he resumed reading the team assignments.

"Haruno Sakura, Inuzuka Kiba, Kurama Yakumo. The three of you will be team 8."

Iruka had to deal with a few disgruntled moans before he finished the list.

"Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Yamanaka Ino. You three are team 10."

With that the last of the teams were assigned. Iruka mentioned that the kids were dismissed for lunch but had to be back to get their sensei.

Iruka got up and so did the students and they began making for the door when it opened and revealed a group of four standing outside the classroom.

The black haired woman at the front of the group spoke: "Pardon the interruption, Iruka-san. We know the protocol but we wanted to pick up our teams and take them to lunch to get introductions out of the way as well as other things."

Some of the less mature boys almost drooled over the woman. And a girl or two as well.

Iruka spoke: "It's alright, Kurenai-san I believe. I understand the reasoning, Come in."

The group of four came into the room.

Three women and one man.

All of them were vaguely recognized by the majority of the class, with Fu beaming at one of them.

Iruka coughed to gather the class's attention: "These are Yuhi Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma, Kowinaga Kagome, and Mitarashi Anko. Four of the teams here will be under the tutelage of one of them."

The tanned skinned one stepped forward: "I am Kowinaga Kagome, could team 6 follow me."

Fu seemed to be overjoyed at that statement grabbed her teammates and dragged them to follow the former Taki Jonin out of the room and to her destination.

The man stepped forward: "like Iruka said, I'm Asuma. Team 10, follow me."

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio obeyed and followed the man out of the room.

Kurenai seemed to be annoyed or aggravated by something but also resigned as she put on her best game face and spoke: "Iruka was correct in his assumption of my name. Could team 8 follow me to lunch."

The three nodded and began following her.

That left the woman wearing a mesh bodysuit, orange miniskirt and a long black jacket. The very presence she projected with her mannerism and her movements felt like staring down a snake that was so much larger than them.

The woman's slight grimace morphed to a maniacal grin that promised pain. "ALRIGHT YOU BUNCH OF MAGGOTS! LISTEN UP CLOSELY AND LISTEN WELL BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE REPATING MYSELF EVEN IF MY VOICE SOUNDS AMAZING!"

The entire class quieted down at that declaration.

The woman's smile shifted and became less deranged and yet somehow just as sinister before she spoke again: "Looks like you brats know how to follow orders. Good, looks like you guys just might make it out there. Like Scar Face said, I'm Mitarashi Anko, kickass kunoichi and Jonin-sensei for team 7. We got a big day ahead of us and I want to get a head start on it. Follow me!"

The three genin just nodded, with a slight hint of fear, as they got up and followed the woman out of the class room.

It sure was going to be a fun year.

End chapter

FINALLY I FINISHED THIS CHAPTER!

So what do you think about the Genin teams? I know some people are going to have problems but for the most part they will be staying like this. The only team I'm completely opposed to having reorganized is Team 7. Anyone else can be appealed for but most of my plans going forward are based around the way the teams have been organized here.

What Obito pulled my be considered predatory or unlikely for Anko to go after, Greed can cloud common sense and doubt.

Yes, Hisashi popped a Garfield reference. I don't care much for Garfield but I hate Mondays as well because they usually do suck. And Hisashi started revealing more of the truth. But how much is him screwing around and how much is actually him telling the truth.

Pain's speech about desires is a RWBY reference for those who don't know. Difference between Pain here and Salem there: Pain knows he's being used but once his goal is accomplished and Akatsuki doesn't get in his way once their done he will not bother them and will help them accomplish their goals, Salem has no intention of helping any of her folllowers achieve their goals unless it keeps them in line until she can finish her mission to summon back the gods and have them destroy the world for mankind not uniting out of pure fucking spite towards the gods and towards Ozpin. Also wish RT would stop trying to make Cinder sympathetic, after everything she has done she is unsympathetic, she is pitiable but nothing that has happened in her past possibly justifies the lengths she has gone to in search of power and the lives she has taken and destroyed along the way.

Project Nisebi will be an important plot point going forward, remember it.

Obito's weapon is the weapon he uses after he is unmasked and returns Madara's Gunbai/ War Fan. I drew parallels to a Katar because it more or less is a Katar just with a design favoring being thrown if necessary.

That bit about the coat being a T&I uniform is something I'm borrowing from another Fic called ANBU Boot Camp. Great story, a bit darker than I like my usual darker more realistic takes on Naruto to be honest but I still like it because at no point did I feel like I started reading Berserk. It is officially on hiatus due to the author suffering a debilitating seizure but that was over a year ago in September of 2019. I'm not holding my breath on it being continued. It was prematurely ended before the Chunin Exams could commence and it was one of the first fics I actively followed. I will admit that bits of Hisashi's personality are based on that author's OC Chief Inspector Kuzai, both are a lot older than they look and give kicks to the ass to those who need them, though Kuzai's relation to certain canonical characters, I won't spoil it for anyone who cares, is not the case with Hisashi. Speaking of Naruto fics darker than I usually like, Yet Again also fits in there with ANBU Boot Camp, though recent chapters of its sequel Take Two Round Two have kind of toned down the more depressingly dark tone. I have a love hate relationship with Yet Again, especially that one part of T2R2 that everyone is broken up about, but I feel like Third Fang has definitely realized just how dark he was making it and kind of backed off to focus more on the humor which I think is a good call.

If anyone was wondering what was Kurenai pissed off about in that last scene? Well, we'll find out next chapter.

I have already expressed plans for Gaiden chapters before and some of the Academy scenes will be included. Some of the more signature moments and how they would play out in this.

Well until Next Time Guys:

SEE YA LATER!