Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Author's note: This chapter isn't quite done and may change in some time.
Chapter 5: Deliberation
Obito had always felt self-conscious about his skills and abilities as a ninja, both in general and especially as an Uchiha. Being paired with a veritable genius like Kakashi, who is son of the legendary White Fang of Konoha: Sakuma Hatake, only exacerbates these feelings. Having gained more perspective Obito realizes that they are childish feelings.
Being a chunin at this age is actually a pretty good accomplishment, especially when considering how Naruto's generation were unimpressive at this age. Truly people are a product of their environment, Obito decided. Kakashi's life led him to be like this obsessive soldier of ninja; likewise, many of Naruto's friends also became fearsome when difficult times fell upon them, despite a slower start than Obito.
In the scene before him was an ordinary training ground a mess from the usual scuffles of ninja business: burnt grass and trees, skid marks from practiced movements, residual shuriken and other ninja gear, and plenty of sandal prints from just walking. And yet an otherwise unremarkable piece of the picture did stick out. Or at least, Obito thought so.
His newly gained insight gives him assurance that he may accomplish great things in the near future. But somehow, he still makes silly mistakes. Ones that could really jeopardize the whole future in the long term, but especially his in the short term.
It is like one saying he recalls: "the more things change; the more things stay the same". The obvious interpretation being a complete contradiction, where the wisdom comes from reading between the lines that language cannot express as succinctly.
"I've really done it now, haven't I?" He said, with a laugh and crossed arms. Only an idiot could cast a powerful jutsu and then regret it.
Usually, a problem of weedlike nature could be solved, or rather cleansed with a bit of fire. But according to the stories, not even Uchiha flames serve a proper solution.
This wasn't what he expected to have to deal when he woke up this morning. How troublesome.
Obito had to wake at dawn to head out for the day's training. He took a good look at his own Sharingan eyes as to remind himself what is at stake. Since he was a chunin now, regular team meetings are not required and, in the time of war, may not be expected. Now was a good time as any to take inventory of relevant knowledge and how he should use it.
First things first: The Uchiha. Since the Third Shinobi War might be destined to end when Minato solves the Nidaime's legendary jutsu, Obito is at some liberty to think beyond the war. The flames of discontent burn with the Uchiha now though they are currently tempered by said war. The Uchiha rebellion that Itachi and Shisui desperately wanted to thwart could be considered a foregone conclusion, since the seeds of distrust run deep within both Uchiha and the Leaf Village.
While the Uchiha could've weakened Konoha were they allowed to go through with it, Madara decided it was more convenient to have as little Uchiha running around as possible.
Obviously, Obito would rather not have the Uchiha Massacre be repeated in this timeline. But at really, just what will he be able to do about it? If Minato lives long enough, he may prevent things from escalating as the Nidaime's students previously had. But neither Minato's survival nor his ability to quell the Uchiha's anger is a guarantee.
Obito now understands both Shisui and Itachi's desire to essentially be spies against the Uchiha as that was how they thought would be the best thing they themselves could do. And maybe that is the best Obito can do.
Author's Note:
Posting this chapter just in case it takes me a while to finish it. The chapter is about half or a third of the way done. Last year, a few months after the last chapter was posted, my laptop died and my backup data didn't seem to have all the notes I had written for this story. I was able to remember much of the broader events but not as much for more specific details, especially names and characters, which really sucks for me.
Also I cleaned up the previous chapters a bit.
As always, tell me what you think about the story so far, and what you'd like to see: elements affinities and skills and all that. I still have a lot of things planned out that may happen but it's a matter of actually getting there first, before even thinking about the execution.
I might post some info in my bio as in my notes I wrote a sort of stat sheet for some characters.