Hey guys I'm sorry for the delay today, I had work and I had to wrap a load of presents so that took a couple of hours but on the plus side I'm all prepared for Christmas now! And I gotta say you guys are gonna kill me because if anything this chapter is gonna end in even more of a cliffhanger than the last one! You guys can't hear me but I'm laughing evilly.
Naruto was a whirl of panicked terror as she rushed outside again, looking around frantically, terror turning her blood to ice as she sprinted back towards her families home.
She didn't bother knocking on the door when she arrived, flinging it open, mentally cursing the fact that she'd left Obito out of her stories-worried it would make them worry about her and her mother. "Grandpa! Auntie 'Nami! Inari-kun! Kaiza-san!"
"We're in here." the call came from the kitchen and Naruto sprinted down the hall, skidding to a halt by the door and staring into the kitchen, at the man sat at the table with her family.
Their gazes met, the scar faced man almost smirking at her as her aunt spoke. "Naruto-chan what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"This is Tobi-san." Inari spoke up, "He says he knew aunt Rin befo-"
"Get the fuck away from my family." Naruto's voice cut over Inari's and her cousin frowned, a confused look on his face as he glanced towards Obito, who raised an eyebrow at her.
"You're being very rude Naruto-chan."
"Rude?" Naruto was shaking as she glared at him. He was too close. Too close to her family too close to them. She'd never reach them in time if he decided to hurt one of them.
"Naru-chan what's going on?" Inari's voice was hesitant, confused, and Naruto wanted to cry.
This was her fault. It was her fault they were in danger it was her fault he was here."
"Yes Naruto-chan. What's going on?" Obito tilted his head, "I was simply asking your family about the years Rin-chan spent here. I have things to consider, choices to make after all."
"What? Like if you're going to try and extract Isobu from her?"
"Precisely." Obito's voice was cold.
"What's going on?" Tazuna stood up from the table, glancing between them, "Naruto-chan."
"Grandpa sit down." Naruto tried to keep her voice steady. "Obito I swear if you hurt them-"
"You think I'm evil." Obito shook his head, "I'm not evil Naruto-chan. I don't want to harm anyone I want to make a better world-"
"By killing people-"
"That is an unfortunately unavoidable part of the plan yes." Naruto could see the horrified looks on her families faces, the way Tsunami reached out and dragged Inari closer to her protectively, the way Tazuna and Kaiza both tensed, ready for a fight.
"And this plan requires you to kill me, and not only me but my mom-" and there was a spark of something in Obito's expression but it was gone before Naruto had a real chance to read it.
"I was doing all this for her." there was a hint of longing in his voice, "The world was wrong when she died-when I believed she died-" he corrected himself, "I though that the world had gone wrong and I decided that I had to fix it-no one else was going to so it was my duty."
"That's real nice and all but my mom isn't dead." Naruto pointed out icily, "And your plan would involve killing her. Like I said."
"I admit things have changed." there was something disturbing in Obito's gaze, "It has complicated things... I need to understand to adjust to the changes-"
"Does that mean you're not going to kill us?"
"I haven't yet decided."
"Oh.. wow that's.." Naruto snorted, "Just wow, you're a real gentleman."
"I need to know more about Rin. About the life she lived without me."
"Hate to break it to you but I don't think that she'd like you putting it like that."
"I need to see her again. To speak to her. I need to understand..." his expression tightened, "I... have accepted that she willingly stepped in front of his Chidori. I no longer blame Kakashi for her death... but he was supposed to protect her and he allowed her to become a Jinchuriki, he still allowed her to be hurt... and that is a burden she should-"
"I-kami you just don't fucking get it." Naruto shook her head, "She would be disgusted in you. Disgusted to hear the way you talk about her, as if she doesn't have any control over her own life. Just for your information she doesn't see being a Jinchuriki as a burden, and she is a shinobi you cannot have actually expected him to be able to protect her from all harm."
"He promised-"
"Do you hear yourself? You sound like a five year old! Kakashi-sensei has beaten himself up and hated himself for failing to protect mom for years and you honestly think you have any right to blame him for what happened?"
"I am aware that the situation is complicated-"
"Really, 'cause you don't seem to be." Naruto snapped, "I mean Kami you are obsessed. What even is your plan? Were you going to Edo Tensei her because she would have absolutely hated that."
"My plan is none of your concern at this point." Obito snapped, "There is a chance I may change my plan. I don't yet know-"
"And yet you're still sending out members of your little club to hunt down the Jinchuriki-"
"I have given orders for them to wait to pursue yourself and Rin-"
"Oh how kind of you." Naruto sneered, "I don't think those orders would have stopped Hidan or Kakuzu-"
"What?" Obito was on his feet and in front of Naruto instantly, eyes flicking over her as if examining her for injuries, "You met Hidan and Kakuzu-did they harm you-" his hand touched her cheek and Naruto reeled back as if his touch burned.
"What the fuck?" she demanded, glaring fiercely. "What the actual fuck do you think you're doing?"
"Did they harm you?"
"What the fuck do you think? I had to fight Hidan to protect a fellow Jinchuriki, I didn't know about his stupid weird voodoo curse-"
"I will kill-"
"He's dealt with." Naruto spat the words, "And you don't get to act as if you care if I'm hurt or not when you were perfectly willing to kill me pretty damn recently."
"Rin cares for you. That complicates matters-"
"I..." Naruto's mouth dropped open and she stared at him in a mix of shock and awe. "I honestly cannot believe you Obito. Do you think acting like you care about if I get hurt will somehow win you some points with my mom because boy do I have some real bad news for you there-"
"Rin loves you and therefore I don't wish for any harm to come to you for now-"
"Oh, oh for now." Naruto sneered, "Real gallant of you. Truly you are one of the kindest men alive aren't you?"
Obito's expression tightened, "You don't need to make things difficult Naruto-san." he was gripping her chin suddenly, a touch too tight. "I am trying to be kind."
"Get off of her!" Inari was almost flying towards them, and Naruto cried out in horror when Obito flung his hand out and swatted the ten year old away as if he was little more than a fly, she jerked towards him but Obito's grip on her stopped her, tightening on her chin, his other hand grabbing her arm, and she whirled back towards him, fist hitting his face hard.
Clearly he hadn't expected that because her fist actually made contact and his face snapped to the side.
His grip loosened just for a second on the moment of impact and she wrenched herself away from him, rushing to Inari, who had hit the wall and was crumpled on the ground, clutching his shoulder and gritting his teeth to force back cries of pain.
Her hands fluttered helplessly as she knelt next to him, glancing back to Obito, who's expression had darkened considerably as he raised a hand and pressed it to his cheek where she'd punched him.
"Are you okay?" Naruto focused back on Inari.
"I'll be fine." Inari managed to force out, though his eyes were watery with unshed tears.
"It's gonna be okay Inari-"
"If you hurt either of my grandchildren-" Tazuna's voice shook with rage, and Obito waved a hand dismissively at him.
"I don't care what you say you'd do to me old man. I could wipe out the entirety of your little country in less than half an hour-"
"You wouldn't dare!" Tsunami gasped out, "You said you care about Rin-chan! If you did that she'd never forgive you."
Obito's eyes narrowed.
"What I would and would not do for Rin remains to be seen." his eyes focused on Naruto. "I believe a reunion is on order."
"She doesn't want to see you." Naruto snapped.
"So you did tell them then. That I'm alive."
"I did."
"Good. I wouldn't want to scare her."
"She won't agree to talk to you."
"Oh I know I might need some persuasion to get her to speak to me." Obito's smile was disturbing, the way his eyes were focused on Naruto, "But you've made it much easier for me I must admit. I was going to use one of these four." he gestured to her family still at the table, all three of them looking terrified as Inari pressed into Naruto's side, shaking slightly, "To force her into agreeing to speak. But I do believe you'll make a much better hostage. It seems history repeats itself Naruto-chan."
"Except I'm not a helpless baby anymore Obito. I'd advise against trying to use me as bait-"
"Would you?" Obito was suddenly behind Tsunami, a kunai pressed to her throat, a hand on her shoulder forcing her back further into her chair.
The woman cried out in panic and Kaiza leapt to his feet, only Naruto Hirashining directly to Kaiza's side and pushing him down before he could try and attack stopped him from getting himself killed trying to protect her.
She was probably faster with her Hirashin, probably, but she needed to have seals in place beforehand, Obito didn't. With his Kamui he could get wherever he wanted, it was an infuriating advantage she had to admit.
Naruto forced herself to keep her breath calm, even as she held up her hands. "Obito. If you hurt them she will never forgive you. You know that."
"I do. But I find myself not caring. If you don't do what I say then the people you love die. It's that simple. You are going to come with me, Naruto-chan. And we're going to speak to Rin-chan."
Naruto wanted to refuse, wanted to kill the bastard, but he had his kunai pressed to her aunts throat. She couldn't let him hurt her she just couldn't. She silently cursed herself for not having clones gathering natural energy at all times-that would have been very useful about now.
"Fine." Naruto had to force the words out, "Fine, fine I'll be your bait-"
"You're a fuinjutsu master. I'm sure you know how to seal your own chakra-"
"What?" Naruto's mouth dropped open, "You can't be serious."
"Deadly serious. I know what the basic chakra suppression seals look like, I'll know if you try and trick me."
Naruto gritted her teeth, "Fine." she forced out, biting her thumb and swiping it over the seal on her wrist, pulling out brushes and ink.
It was with great reluctance that she carefully painted a seal on her arm-and before she could activate it herself-or as she planned to, pretend to activate it, Obito was in front of her, pressing his fingers to the seal and using his chakra to activate it.
"Hey!"
"Just making sure that you don't try any funny business." Obito's voice had a note of warning in it and Naruto scowled at him as he rolled his eyes, "I'm not a complete fool Naruto-chan. Spare me your scheming." he was holding her arm tightly still, and Naruto automatically tried to yank herself free, instinctively reaching for her chakra-which she couldn't reach.
"I'm still here." The voice was soothing, reassuring. If it came down to it she could use Kurama's chakra instead of her own, though that was a last resort.
"I know Kurama."
"Just stay strong. You're going to be okay brat."
"You're not going to lecture me for letting this happen?"
"No, no you're protecting them. Just be careful."
"Stop trying to pull free." Obito snapped the words, "I don't want to hurt you right now Naruto-chan but I will if you provoke me."
"Fine." Naruto let out a breath, "I guess we're leaving then-"
And just like the world was twisting and warping around them and Naruto screwed her eyes shut, and then they were landing, Obito still gripping her wrist tight.
She stumbled, an exaggerated motion as she opened her eyes, managing to tear herself free, and then she was moving.
