Disclaimer: NARUTO © Masashi Kishimoto
Pairing: Obito Uchiha x Rin Nohara
Rating: M

-.x.-

Incandescence

Beginning

-.x.-

It all started when Obito escaped the Mountain's Graveyard.

And it all ended when he stepped in front of Kakashi's lightning cutter, and with his Wood Release, he blocked the attack, yet it still managed to pierce through and strike his heart.

They both froze.

Obito, albeit his eyes wide at the burning pain and his mouth filled with blood that he coughed, held a deathly stare.

"Obito…" Kakashi croaked.

His quivering hand reached and grabbed Kakashi's forearm to pull it out.

"Never." He bit out.

Kakashi had tears rolling down his cheeks. His felt his left eye spin, and it synched with Obito's right eye, and then he passed out due to the immense power that his body was currently incapable of handling.

Obito turned to Rin, who was stiff in her place as she stared at the Uchiha whom she thought was long dead, and smiled as he said,

"I'm always watching you…because I love you."

Before he knew it, he was on his knees, and then…

Farewell…

Blank.

Rin screamed. She screamed until her throat burned and her lungs could burst. She held her head as she fell to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks nonstop.

The Mist ninja were approaching, their weapons were out, ready to surround her.

Thankfully, the Yellow Flash came in time, and wiped them all out.

-.x.-

The next thing he knew, he woke up in a hospital room, disoriented.

His body ached all over, yet he managed to find the strength to pull himself to sit up straight.

And once he did so, he felt arms engulf around him, and wet tears at the crook of his neck.

"Obito..!" Rin cried out, "You're alive!"

His heart was about to burst out of his ribcage, and he felt the familiar butterflies in his stomach and the bright burn on his face.

"Thank goodness you're awake, Obito." A male voice made him look up.

It was Minato, next to Kushina who had tears in her eyes, and her hands clasped at her chest.

"Yo."

Obito felt a hand at his shoulder, and he turned to look at Kakashi. His smile was right behind his mask, but the genuine relief in his eyes shone.

Warm tears rolled down the Uchiha's cheeks as his face broke into a wide smile.

He felt Rin pull away from him, and he smiled up at her. He missed her warmth already.

"Rin… Kakashi…is everyone okay?" Obito asked, looking at the two of them.

They both nodded their head.

"It's you we're worried about." Kakashi said.

"We're fine, Obito. I'm so happy you're back!" Rin cheered.

"You're lucky you're in that hospital bed, or I would punch you to the next country!" Kushina growled at him, startling the young Uchiha, he flinched when she got closer, only to feel his head against her chest.

"Hehehe, well, I did come back alive as I promised." Obito grinned up at her.

"Damn right, ya know!" Kushina patted his long hair. "You're going to need a haircut when you're out of here. Your hair looks awful."

Obito simply chuckled at the red-haired woman. "Ah."

"Obito," he heard his sensei call out. Happiness were shining in his bright blue eyes. "Welcome home."

-.x.-

He was out of the hospital within a couple of weeks.

After that, his hair returned back to its spikey style. It felt good to have it out of his face.

He kept his face exposed, walking around with one eye open, and covered up the artificial half of his body in bandages to hide the secret of his survival. Outdoors and soon, in missions, he would wear a glove over his bandaged hand. No one else needed to know what was keeping him standing.

He resumed training with Minato-sensei and Kakashi, the two of them practicing how to sync their powers and mastering their Sharingan.

His old wish came true.

He and Kakashi grew closer than they were before.

Their quarrels turned into banters.

Rather than rivals, they were each other's support and equals. Their powers balanced, and their bond strengthened.

Obito, whose skills were once average, developed at a remarkable speed through every training that even Minato says if he continued to use his Uchiha bloodline limit and body modifications at his advantage, he could have the strength of a Hokage.

Of course, with that eternal goal, he would train every day, and work as a team with Kakashi.

Rin was practicing her medical ninjutsu at Konoha Hospital, training under the tutelage of her parents who were well-known medical ninjas.

She sat with him one day at a bench nearby the Academy. She had a reminiscent smile on her face as she looked up at the sky.

Of course, Obito would stare at her and take in her features. Memorizing her all over again.

"I missed you." She said softly.

Obito felt his cheeks burn, and his face turned away to look down at his feet.

"So did I. More than anything." He replied.

Rin shifted her gaze to the Uchiha. Her eyes drank the scars that she was facing, and her heart ached for him.

"Ever since you left," Obito glanced at her, waiting for her to continue. "Things were never the same. I would sit here and wait for you to come and tell me how much you wanted to become a Hokage. Only to realize you were no longer here…"

His eye widened.

"Because of you, I also want to work harder and train my medical skills so I can save the world. Even though…" Her hand involuntarily slipped to her abdomen, and her expression faltered.

It was there.

Her darkness.

Minato sealed the three-tails that was inside her so that it doesn't go berserk on Konoha as it was once intended.

Now there were two jinchurikis in the village.

Obito could see that Rin was afraid. He hated seeing her like this. One of the things he loved about her was her smile and positivity through many struggles. He was not going to let anything take away that bright, wonderful smile that made his heart race.

"Rin," Obito didn't know where this courage came from, but he took her hand and held it firmly. A serious look took over his features.

Rin looked up at him sadly.

"You're not alone in this. I am with you every step of the way. Being a jinchuriki means nothing! You're still Rin. The Rin that I know and…"

Obito swallowed, and lowered his head. He confessed to her in full confidence at the time. He didn't want to have any regrets. But now that they were here, both alive and breathing… he was going to hear her answer.

"Love." Obito whispered. "I love you. I've loved you for a long time. You were the only one who was there for me when no one supported my dreams."

Rin felt her cheeks glow as she stared at the Uchiha, but she glanced away sadly.

Obito didn't need to look at her to know.

His next words were heavy in his throat. He felt his heart sink, and a pang in his stomach.

"I know you have feelings for Kakashi." He then said. Rin kept her eyes lowered. He then looked at her directly, and his brows furrowed. Nervousness was written all over his face. Sweat trickled down his temple as he regarded her.

"Rin… I don't want this to change anything between us." Obito said, with both hands held up. This allowed Rin to look up at him with a hopeful look in her eyes.

He then took both of her hands in his in an attempt to make her hear him out perfectly. His obsidian eyes were glazed with a genuine look. "I just didn't want to have any more regrets…After all that happened, my only regret was not letting you know how I felt about you. But I promise you, this doesn't change anything between us. We're still best friends!"

Rin's silence made him falter, his hands loosening around her.

"R..Right?" He asked faintly.

Rin stared at him for a few moments, before her face brightened, her eyes smiling. "Yeah! I'm so happy that I have my best friend back. Let's take care of each other, yeah?"

He nodded. It hurt for him to smile, but he did so.

-.x.-

Among the Uchiha Clan, he is now known as the Late Bloomer. He was once praised for being a hero. His name was famous after his so-called death.

Now he was famous for giving an eye to a non-Uchiha. He was praised and resented all at the same time.

During clan meetings at the Naka Shrine, he was specifically called out on by Inabi Uchiha.

"Are we going to sit here and accept this?!"

Obito's hands fisted as he stared at Inabi. Fugaku, the clan leader, remained composed.

"You've disgraced this clan ever since you gave away that eye of yours. Does our bloodline limit mean nothing to you?!"

"You're wrong!" Obito shouted. "I would never dare to think that way! The Uchiha blood is my honor!"

Inabi scoffed. "That's a lie."

Obito gritted his teeth. "He lost an eye saving my life during that mission. I stand by my words when I say he deserves it…more than any of you."

"You insolent child!" Inabi bolted up. "How dare you!"

Whispers echoed across the room among the seething Uchihas. Some were spitting fire at Obito's words, claiming that he is a disgrace to the clan, and how they agreed with Inabi.

"That's enough!" Fugaku's voice silenced the room. The clan leader stood up, intimidation seeping through. "Inabi. Control yourself."

"Fugaku-sama…!" Inabi gritted his teeth, glaring at the young Uchiha from across the room, before unwillingly sitting down.

Obito looked up at Fugaku anxiously.

Fugaku shut his eyes and inhaled to regain his composure, then opened his eyes and spoke.

"I understand your concerns about Obito giving his Sharingan to Kakashi Hatake, who is an elite since a young age just like my son." He glanced at Itachi, who was sitting in the far back next to Shisui Uchiha. The room grew silent, anticipating Fugaku's next words. "The Sharingan is an Uchiha's treasure. Everyone would kill to obtain it…even our own. However, I did not call any of you in here to start judging Obito's actions, nor are we here to disregard him as one of us."

Obito's eyes widened at the clan leader's words.

Fugaku locked his gaze at him. "Obito is a part of our blood. He risked his life to save his comrades and turn the war around to Konoha's favor." His eyes then narrowed. "Should that eye he gave to Kakashi Hatake ever be misused…he will have to retrieve it back by force. Even if it means killing him. Is that understood?"

Obito gulped and felt dread claw at his guts when he heard these words. He could his clan members staring at him with judgmental eyes and resentment.

He then shut his eyes in attempt to calm his nervousness and collect his thoughts together.

He knew his clan would never approve. Kakashi must have been exposed to their anger and accusations of how he obtained his eye ever since that day.

But he never saw this coming.

All he wanted was for his friends to live. Kakashi was the only one who deserved to carry his only remaining memory.

He thought he surely died.

And when he woke up in that cave, he longed to see them. He knew that once he gets back, he and Kakashi can combine their powers together and make the perfect team.

Now here he was, paying a price for something he never regretted.

He never will regret it.

With his mind collected, he finally opened his eyes and spoke. His eyes held determination in them as he stared at the room filled with fellow Uchihas.

"If I were to do it all over again," he shifted his gaze to Inabi. "Without any hesitation, I would."

Inabi bristled.

He then glanced at Fugaku.

"I will, however, in the name of this clan, watch over that eye and by any means prevent it from being misused."

Fugaku believed him, but he knew what was going to follow those words.

"Kakashi Hatake is the only one I would trust with my Sharingan, because I know he would honor my gift until his last breathe. He would never let his friends get killed. No one needs to worry about anything." Obito concluded.

Fugaku then looked at the room. Inabi remained unsettled, but he had no choice other than staying silent.

"Now that we have an agreement, I do not want to hear about this anymore. Let us move on with this meeting."

Obito let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

-.x.-

He stood in front of the mirror one morning. He wore his long-collared, black shirt that had the Uchiha crest at the back, and black trousers.

His eye took in his scarred face.

Scars are a badge of courage on a ninja..!

He remembered rambling once.

He accepted that this is what he had to walk around with for the rest of his life now that he is alive. He was grateful that he had a chance to be a shinobi, and strive for his dream to be a Hokage to protect the village from the cruelty of the world.

As he stood there, he started to analyze himself.

He didn't want to have a problem with his appearance. He still looked the same, save for the permanent scars that looked like wrinkles on his face, and the right socket that he cannot open anymore since the nerve is permanently damaged.

His voice had also grown deeper for a 16 year old. For three years he focused on developing his strength, and getting into the vibe of his team, grasping at any sliver of how it once was before he disappeared.

His personality had mellowed since his return. Rather than the loud, energetic kid that he once was, shouting out his dreams for the world to hear, he was now calmer and a lot more collected. There are times he would react to Kakashi's snarky jabs, but it wasn't as explosive as it used to be.

Yet for three years, he would stand there and look at his scars again.

'Maybe Rin wanted someone with a clear face… like Kakashi.'

He then looked at his hands, staring at the bandaged one where the artificiality was concealed. 'Someone natural…like Kakashi.'

He ran a hand on his right eyelid. 'With two eyes…like Kakashi.'

'Someone who is a genius…skilled and powerful…and complete…like Kakashi. I wonder if I…could ever surpass him.'

His head then sunk down as he gripped at the sink. 'Why would she want someone incomplete?'

That was the heavy knife stuck to his heart.

-.x.-

He left the Uchiha District to meet up with Rin and Kakashi. Once he reached the center of the village, nearby a dango shop where they agreed to hang out, he froze a few feet away.

There they were. Standing together, Rin was laughing and Kakashi's one eye shone with mirth. He must have said something snarky again. She was standing too close to him, and a blush colored her cheeks as she smiled and tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear. She had decided to grow her hair longer since didn't need to shorten it consistently for combat, and her curves and womanly features were becoming a lot more visible.

She looked so beautiful…

But that smile and giddiness written all over her face wasn't for him.

When they noticed his presence, the two of them waved at him. She called out his name happily.

His heart ached.

His smile was fake.

-.x.-

"So she knows," Kakashi started, leaning on a railing of the bridge, facing the water underneath.

Obito's brow arched. "Knows what?"

"That you love her."

Obito tensed, and grew quiet for a few moments before he spoke.

"Did you know," Obito started, and Kakashi looked at him questionably.

Obito then glanced at him knowingly. "That she is in love with you?"

Kakashi didn't react, nor was he fazed.

"I don't feel the same way."

Obito felt his anger seep through, and his hands fisted at the railing with aggression, shaking it.

"Yeah, well," Obito gritted his teeth, glaring at him. Kakashi remained quiet.

"Aren't you the one she keeps looking at? The one she keeps following? The one her eyes are only for? Even if I worked hard, she wouldn't look at me!"

His face turned dark and he turned away from him. His fists shook.

"Just drop this, okay?" Obito bit out. "We're still friends. That's all we're ever going to be…"

Kakashi shrugged and scoffed. That added fuel to Obito's fire.

"I never pegged you for someone who would want to be a victim of his own struggles."

"What..?" Obito growled.

Kakashi shot him a serious look.

"You're acting like a coward right now."

"Kakashi!" Obito shouted. "Don't tempt me-!"

"I can't believe you, Obito." Kakashi interrupted calmly. "You are different from before. You've changed, and those changes are for the better." Kakashi glanced at his clothing. A navy, sleeveless turtleneck shirt, and a grey vest over it, then his right shoulder, where a particular tattoo was engraved.

"You got promoted into ANBU, and you're a part of my elite team. You wouldn't be where you are if you hadn't struggled, trained, and worked together with me. You're not that little boy anymore. Why are you still beating yourself up like this?"

Obito's glare loosened into a sad look, avoiding Kakashi's gaze as he looked down on his feet.

"That doesn't change anything. She just…doesn't see me that way, okay? I have to work harder. I'm not as intelligent as you are, nor as skilled as you are. Nor as…better looking as you are…" He said faintly. Kakashi heard it though. "The only way she would see me that way is when I become the Hokage."

It was Kakashi who sighed then, then approached him closer and placed a hand on his shoulder. Obito looked up at him in question.

"You're an idiot."

Obito bristled. "W-wha..!"

"I thought you were done comparing yourself to me. You just don't get it, do you?" Kakashi said, shaking his head.

"What the hell do you mean?"

"Obito." Kakashi started, and Obito tensed. "There are things that I have learned a great deal from you too. There are things that I cannot do, but you can do. Nobody is born the same. Stop comparing yourself, and you might even be better than me."

Obito was surprised to hear Kakashi talking to him in such a…brotherly tone. He never heard the man speak this way to him so personally before. Let alone advise him like that.

"If you're doing it for Rin, you're not going to get anywhere."

Obito felt like the truth had punched him in the face. His breathe hitched at those words. It hurt to swallow.

Kakashi continued, "If you're doing it for yourself to become a Hokage and save the world, then trust me, you will achieve your dream. Rin believes in you. So does Minato-sensei, and I. If you're going to take that step, make sure you're in the right road."

He then removed his hand from the Uchiha's shoulder and looked up at the sky.

"It's nowhere near a peaceful world."

The Uchiha stared at Kakashi, absorbing his words and engraving it into his mind. He looked down at his gloved hand. Rin had been his light ever since he knew her. She cared about him, stood behind him when he was laughed at for having such a dream, and always rescued him during his downfalls. His love for her has no end, but he didn't realize how much he had been pining over her, which chipped at his confidence and clouded the real ambition that he needed to work on. Kakashi actually beat some sense into him, and he never would admit it, but he actually needed it.

All he needed was Rin to keep watching over him. Watch him rise up.

That knife at his heart…the only way to remove it is by solidifying the confidence that had its cracks thanks to his selfish comparisons and cowardice.

A determined look blazed in his eyes as he faced the water again, looking at his reflection.

"That's why, I'll put an end to it."

-.x.-

…End…

-.x.-

Author's Note:

This is my view on how it should have been. I know this chapter is Obito-centric, but we'll get some more ObiRin in the later chapters.

I've input a few of my headcanons in this story, and here is what I had in mind:

-Obito's in Kakashi's ANBU Team Ro.

-Rin comes from a family who practice medical ninjutsu.

-He is known as the Late Bloomer among the Uchiha clan.