DISCLAIMER: …or whatever: um, yeah…if I owned Naruto, I would say screw college and just do nothing but Naruto all day long… chuckle coughcough
WARNINGS: Language and violence…nothing too naughty...yet
NOTE: Yay..it's chapter two! Much Obito this time…cuz the man needs some luvin'. I've actually gone in here and fixed a bunch of errors, so if you find one, be sure to let me know, and call me a "non-seeing-dumb-ass". Thanks.
SPOILERS: Obito. (yet, since we don't really know much about him in the first place, I really don't know what could be spoiled.)
Enough of my idiot babbling…on with the friggin' story!
…I Wonder…
He was disappointed, to be sure. He'd gotten so far! He was nearly standing outside the old man's chamber before an ANBU team stopped him. And still, only four. Four ANBU to take him down! He wanted to laugh. This whole village be damned! If he'd wanted that old man's heart beating it's last in his hand, he could've had it a few times over by now! Four ANBU. Pathetic. Hell, he'd just walked right into the village through the front door, with no documentation of residency or proof of ninja affiliation, AND he was toting a rather ominous looking bundle, which by the way, was beginning to smell. He'd even stopped to pick a fight and have a nice little chat before he'd strode confidently into the Hokage's tower, through the front door, in broad daylight, and marched his way, undisturbed, right to the old man's door before someone had bothered to say...
"Stop where you are." The head of the ANBU team was holding a kunai dangerously close to his tender jugular.
"It's about time. I was wondering if I should just go ahead and kill him for your lack of attention."
"What is your business here, sir?" That one sounded like he was still wet behind his little ears.
"My business is with Sandaime Sama. If I meant harm, he'd already be dead by now. So, why don't you just show me in, now that you're here?"
"Very well then. You may pass." The ANBU squad leader sure was an idiot. That's all it was going to take to get him to lower his blade? The intruder laughed to himself as he walked the rest of the way down the familiar corridor that lead to the Hokage's meeting chamber. When they reached to door, the two ANBU that flanked him went on ahead and stood on opposite sides of the doors. The ANBU squad leader stood in front of him and the last one was behind him, probably holding a knife to his back.
"Sandaime Sama has been expecting you." The squad leader said as he stepped aside. The other two each slid a door open, allowing the stranger to see inside the chamber. For the first time that day, he'd actually been impressed by the old man. It looked as though every remaining ANBU in the village had been assembled inside his chamber. They all stood facing him, making a wall of bodies between themselves and the Hokage. The ANBU that stood directly in front of him held out his hands to receive the bundle that the stranger had under his arm. The dark stranger smirked and dropped it into his hands. As if on cue, the sea of masked bodies parted and turned to face the narrow path they'd created from the door to the desk where the old Hokage awaited.
Sandaime had his back turned, looking up at the wall to the framed photographs of the previous occupants of this chamber. His own face, though quite a bit younger, was among them. His was the third face in that row, but his eyes were fixed on the one directly to the right. He had been contemplating Yondaime, the long deceased hero of Konoha, the Fourth Hokage.
"Welcome, Obito. As you can see, I've been waiting for you." He paused, still gazing at his former successor. "You're late." The old man turned and gave his young visitor a stern, disapproving look, as though he were a willful child who was in need of punishment.
Obito was amused by the old man's dramatic display. He wondered how long they'd known he was coming. "Well, I had a little…encounter…on my way here." He approached the old man and stood opposite him in front of his desk.
"You may all go now." The old man said, gesturing to his ANBU Corps.
"Hokage Sama?" One of the ANBU asked, questioning his superior.
"It is fine. This man and I have important matters to discuss. Please return to your normal duties now." With that, the ANBU squads began filing out the door way until all had gone except for the ANBU Captain, who stood to the right of the Hokage, and his Second, who was now standing to the right of Obito, holding the bundle which he had taken from him. There was a long pause as the men stood examining each other, then the Hokage decided to break the silence and get right down to business.
"Obito Uchiha, you are an S-Class Missing Nin, and even though I have no evidence that you have committed any crimes against this country, and you were once an Elite and respected ninja, I cannot simply allow this matter to be left with impunity…glad as I am to see that you've decided to return to us. Tell me now, why I should not have you taken into custody and charged with abandonment?"
"Such a strict old man!" Obito laughed. "I didn't come here to stay, but I came across a rather unique object and I thought I'd deliver it you as a gift…and as an act of good faith." He motioned to the bundle that he'd been carrying. The ANBU that was holding it placed it on the desk in front of the Hokage and undid the tie that held it closed. Obito put his hand over his nose, shielding it from the stench he knew would was about to be let out.
The ANBU unfolded the cloth and the layer of plastic that covered its contents. His eyes widened when he beheld the 'gift'.
"Consider it a 'peace offering', to show that my loyalty still lies with The Leaf." Obito said into his hand.
The Hokage's eyes narrowed as he examined the severed head that was in the process of rotting on his desk. "This is…"
"I didn't do this for revenge if that's what you're thinking. I also didn't do this purposefully to gain your favor. The arrogant fool sought me out. I had no choice but to defend myself from him."
"So, you were able to defeat him."
"It wasn't that hard. He was vain and over confident."
The ANBU Captain moved to examine the face of the man who the head had once belonged to. With his index and pinky finger, he pushed up the eyelids to prove that the head really was genuine. Two advanced Sharingan stared blankly back at him. He'd never seen Sharingan like that before. He glanced up to the man who was said to posses those same eyes. "Hokage Sama, by your leave, I will take this to the medical team and have someone examine it…" He looked reluctantly at the Uchiha that was now raising an eyebrow in his direction. "…for authentication, of course."
"Ah ha ha! You can examine that Eye all you want. I've no use for them…though I've heard…they fetch a hefty price on the underground market." He grinned at the old man who was not looking amused by the comment. "Really. It's not like anyone's left to care. I certainly don't. I was actually almost a little grateful he killed the rest of them."
"You have my permission to verify his identity. Take it now and report back to me with the findings. You are both released." The two remaining ANBU took the severed head and exited the chamber without question. The old Hokage took a seat behind his desk and removed his ceremonial hat. He rubbed at the now hairless area above each temple. "Obito, why have you returned? What is the real reason?"
Obito brought a chair from against the wall, placed it in front of the old man's desk, and slumped down on it. He sighed. "I've come to check on my ward. That's all. I also plan on taking him with me when I leave."
"I cannot allow you to remove that boy from this village Obito. I will not allow it. If you try to take him, I will have you hunted and tried for kidnapping."
"This village would not miss him. I've already seen that much."
"This village would uproar if that child were allowed to roam unchecked. They would want him to be hunted and killed."
"Have you forgotten who that boy is? My sensei, YOUR successor, entrusted me with the task watching over him! Entrusted us all! And look how this village treats him! I found three men beating him in the street today! No one even came to aid him! What would you have done if I hadn't been there and those men had killed him?"
"Tell me who these men were and I will see to that they are punished accordingly."
"I've already punished them accordingly. Your actions are not enough! He told me that this village hates, and ignores him. He is Yondaime's legacy! He deserves more than to be shunned and disrespected!"
"Obito, your words and your actions contradict themselves. You abandoned your duty to him when you abandoned this village. Why have you bothered to return now?"
"Have you forgotten old man? I didn't abandon this village by choice. I was forced to flee for my life. My entire clan was plotting against me. They tried to have me assassinated! They feared me…for these eyes! Remember?" He leaned forward towards the old man and flashed Mangekyou eyes at him.
"That is the reason I did not send Hunter Nin to retrieve you. It does not mean that you are forgiven for your actions."
"I was little more than a child myself at that time Sandaime. I had no means of caring for an infant, or I assure you, I would have taken him with me when I left! I refuse to abandon him in this godforsaken village that hates him!"
"Then do not abandon him Obito. Naruto loves this village. Instead of taking him away from the place that he loves, stay here with him and teach him."
"Out of the question. I refuse."
"He has made a great achievement recently. He has graduated from the Ninja Academy, and he has successfully learned a Jounin level jutsu on his own with no instruction. Would you deny him the chance to gain the recognition and respect of his peers and his superiors after all this time of being…unnoticed?" Obito had no reply. He was still angry with the old man. The Hokage continued with his argument. "You are still a Jounin of The Leaf, and when the news of your victory over the Uchiha traitor reaches the village, you will be seen as a hero to the people. I believe it may be easy for you to regain acceptance among our ranks. If you agree, I will see to it that you are assigned as his Jounin instructor."
It was starting to sound like a more acceptable arrangement than hiding from Hunter Nin for the unknown future with a child in tow. Besides, he had missed his home, even though he sometimes felt ill will towards it. "If I agree…then he will be my only student. I won't accept anyone else."
"That brings me to another matter that I wish to discuss with you Obito."
"What other matter could we possibly have to discuss, old man? Save for attending to my families…financial matters, and the bounty on that head?"
"That is a part of what I'd like to speak about." The Hokage reached over to a box and pulled a file from the top of it. He handed it over his desk to Obito, who reluctantly sat up to reach for it. "Were you aware, Obito, that Itachi did not murder every last Uchiha? He left one alive." Obito opened the folder and saw a picture of a boy that, even from a glance, could be easily recognized as an Uchiha. "They found his younger brother curled up with the bodies of their parents. The investigating team thought he was dead too at first because his eyes were open but he didn't respond to their presence at all. He just lay there motionless as they outlined his body." Obito continued scanning the file of the kid while the Hokage spoke. "When they tried to move him, he reacted violently and began screaming hysterically." Obito glanced up at the old man. He already knew what was coming next. "We assume that Itachi used THAT technique on him." Obito felt sorry for the boy in the picture. He knew that the effects of that jutsu were long standing and hard to recover from. He suddenly took notice of the look that the boy's face shown in the photo. His unexpressive face was a thin veil that barely concealed the sheer rage and hatred that burned in the boy's eyes. He looked at the name. Uchiha, Sasuke.
Sasuke ran though the streets of the Konoha as fast as his feet could carry him, which of course was pretty fast, considering that he had just graduated 'top of his class' from the Ninja Academy a couple of days ago. He scanned the streets of the village from the rooftops, desperately searching for the man he'd glimpsed talking to that Uzumaki kid. He looked so familiar to him. He knew he'd seen that man's face somewhere before…somewhere he hadn't dared go to for a long time.
"Shit!" He was having no luck at all and he was getting tired. He'd been running around nonstop for almost an hour trying to find that man. Stubbornly he let his body drop down to a sitting position and rested his head against the wall of the building he was on. He didn't want to do what he was about to do…he absolutely didn't want to go there…but he had to! He had to know if he was right about that man. If he was who he thought it was. If it was REALLY him, then…maybe…maybe that man would help him.
Sasuke stood up and sighed. He had to know. He reluctantly turned his head in the direction of the quietest part of town, the place where no one lived anymore, the place that no one would go…even after all this time. It was said that there was a grudge in that place. The other villagers were afraid to go near it. They swore all kinds of things about it. That they'd seen ghosts there, that people who entered it wouldn't return, that the souls of the dead could be heard at night when there was a full moon, screaming for revenge. Sasuke, of course, didn't believe in those things. He clenched his fists. He had to go. Without a noise he jumped from the building and dashed off in the direction of the Uchiha district.
"So, this kid is the heir to the Uchiha legacy. Must be fun being him." Obito tossed the file back on the Hokage's desk. "So what is it that you're trying to say to me old man? You want me to teach him this Eye?"
"I want you to become his guardian Obito…and yes, you are the only one left to teach him."
"Become his guardian? What? Like, now I have two kids I gotta look after? Ha ha! I should have just stayed away."
"Listen Obito, since that tragedy, Sasuke has been…" Sandaime, paused and considered his words carefully. "He's changed greatly. Of course he's becoming an excellent ninja, and he's graduated top of his class, but I'm afraid that he may have severe emotional problems. His instructors tell me that, though the other children seen to like him, he has no friends and is rarely seen doing anything but training. I fear for the boy's intentions. Also, I worry about how he will react when the news of his brother's death reaches him."
Obito rubbed his eyes and sighed pathetically. It seemed as though he'd bitten off more than he wanted to chew. When Itachi attacked him, and he'd been forced to remove his head from his body, he figured he'd just drop in on Konoha, check on the kid, show off a little to old man Sandaime, and maybe make a few bucks off the bounty on Itachi's head. It was NOT his intention to be forced to play daddy to a couple of messed up little kids! Well, Naruto wasn't messed up; he was actually a good kid. That's the reason Obito decided to take him away with him in the first place. But the other one…'Sasuke'? How the hell could he deal with him? That kid was probably really sick in the head after what happened to him! He imagined all the things that Itachi could have shown him with the Kaleidoscope Eye…
"Aw geez! This is too much old man!"
"Obito, perhaps it is not by accident that you have appeared before me today. That boy is in need of proper instruction. I don't know of any other Jounin that I would trust in handling him. Though he is skilled, I question his ability to function properly as a ninja. You've seen what can happen to children like that." He had Obito with that one. Sandaime was speaking from experience when he talked about a certain 'type' of ninja that had a tendency to go bad and come back to bite you in the ass.
"That's not fair."
"But it is the truth. What else can I do with him? He was already registered at the academy when that tragedy happened. I could not just have him removed from his class, but I would have prevented him from attending in the first place, had this situation arisen before that."
"That's really harsh for you to say old man."
"The truth is… I don't think he is fit to handle the emotional stress of becoming a ninja."
"I'm sure he's not THAT messed up! Plenty of people have seen their families die."
"That was in times of war Obito. I know that you grew up in a world like that, but these days children know nothing of war. Besides that, his family was murdered by his brother, not by enemy soldiers." Sandaime paused and gave a wry smile to the young man in front of him. "If you think he isn't a problem, then you will not have a problem with me ordering him into your custody."
"Oh, now you're ordering me to take him?"
"I am."
"You can't do that!"
"I can, and I will. If you do not comply, I will have you arrested for any number of reasons."
"Like anyone you have could take me down!"
"Then you'd add to your charge. Because when all of my men fail, I will come after you myself, and I will be very angry with you by then."
"Damn you old man!"
"Do you doubt my word?"
"Fine. I'll watch that kid for you. And I'll take him and Naruto as my students. BUT NO OTHERS! I will not accept any more than them! You're asking way too much as it is!"
"Obito, you know that the best way of training students is in groups of three. That is why we only allow a multiple of three to graduate from the academy. I only have the number of instructors to fulfill the number of students in groups of three. If you only took two students, one student would be left without an instructor."
"You mean you have enough instructors to cover all the groups, save one."
"That is correct. I've already chosen a third for the boys' group."
"You mean those two were going to be on the same team anyway? Geez old man! Did you set this whole thing up or something? Who was going to be their instructor? You had to have someone chosen for them if you if you didn't find another instructor by now!"
"I was going to take them."
Obito choked a little. "YOU! A Kage? Taking on Genin students? How the hell did you think you'd manage something like that?"
"I had no choice. There was no one else I would trust with them. I tried summoning Jiraiya, but he still refuses to speak to me. And Tsunade…" The old man rolled his eyes. "I don't think I would want those children to be around her. You also know that everyone from your instructor's team and your team are gone now. I am certain however, that my other former student would be more than happy to have such powerful children under his guidance, but I don't think that would be a good thing where this village is concerned, do you? So, who else could take them?"
"Did you just make a joke?"
The old man smiled again at the young Jounin. Obito didn't like that smile one bit. It looked evil. "It is fortunate for me that you have returned at such a convenient time Obito. I have faith that you will attend to these children properly and create an excellent team out of them in my place. I, more than anyone, would like to see these children progress, especially Naruto." The old man laughed to himself about Naruto's recent escapades with his grandson. "You know, Obito, he has his eyes set on my chair." The old man stood up and stretched his back. "He's made it publicly known that he intends to one day challenge me for my seat as Hokage." The old man was now walking over the giant window in his office that faced the great stone monument. "I think it would be fitting. Don't you? I suppose I could hold back on retiring for another five years or so, but that still isn't much time. I hope that you will train him in a way that I would have, so he will be ready when the time comes."
"Hn! I'll work miracles for that kid! I think my sensei would want it that way."
"It will be a difficult path for him though. The number of people he must make accept him is great. He must be extremely diligent and patient. You've seen this village's reaction to him. That is the task he must overcome. Yet, I still have faith in this one. Though he is a bit… abrasive… he is turning out to be a fine young man."
"As I said before, I spoke with him for a moment today. He…told me that the reason he let those villagers keep beating him, was because he believed that as a ninja, it was his duty to protect them…He's a good kid." Obito had developed a soft spot for the kid when he said those words to him earlier. That, he thought, was the way a true ninja should think. "The people treat him that way and he still wants to protect them…"
"That is why I am counting on you Obito. For now, train him as a spy. He is excellent at hiding in all forms. He uses Henge well, and has also created a unique skill, one that you will find amusing, if not useful to him in that field."
"What about the advanced skill that he learned?"
"He has mastered Kage Bunshin."
"Really? Shadow Replication? How'd he ever learn that without instruction?"
"He snuck into the temple and stole the Scroll of Forbidden Skills."
"HA HA HA! He did? And he wasn't executed?"
"He was coerced into it. He even used Shadow Replication to capture the man who set him up in order to steal the scroll for himself. I'm told that he can even replicate on a large scale. This is probably due to the extra chakra that he receives from his Seal. Even still, he managed to best a Chuunin. That is no easy task for an academy student."
Obito sighed. This was going to be fun. "Alright. I'll do as you ask."
"Thank you Obito."
"Please tell me the third kid wasn't abused and molested or something?"
The old man laughed. "No, no, nothing like that." He turned and walked back over to his desk. "She's very smart actually. She's not very skilled at ninjutsu, but she has amazing chakra control, and her genjutsu abilities are above normal. She would do very well in a number of other groups, but I think she has the potential to excel, as those boys do."
"Great chakra control egh?"
"Yes, if she'd been in the previous class, I would have assigned her to Gai's group which orients itself with hand to hand fighting. I would have liked to see how she progressed as a fighter with a Hyuuga as a teammate. In this case though, I think it would be better if she were steered towards healing. I take it you copied a few healing jutsus that you could teach her…since you had Rin on your team."
"Yeah. I know some."
"Then that will be her path, should she choose it."
"What about the other one. What am I supposed to do with him?"
"I thought you would know that already Obito, since he is your clan."
"Probably a Hunter Nin…or maybe ANBU…depending on Naruto's path, that is. He may want serve directly under his comrade."
"He already seems to be preparing himself to be a killer. He probably intends to seek vengeance from his brother."
"He's gunna have a tough time with that one considering that's not even an option anymore," Obito chuckled.
"That is why you must take special care to guide him down the proper path. I don't want to see another Nin lose his way. The Uchiha clan has always been looked up to in Konoha; I would hate to see its legacy forever tarnished because of this awful tragedy. The people already look up to him as a member of that clan, just as they will look up to you. Please, Obito, see to it that he is not corrupted, as a personal favor to me."
"You have my word old man. These children will ascend to great heights under my care. I will see to it, but I ask that I be allowed…levity…with them. I think my methods may be… different… from most other instructors."
"You have free reign with them. Do with them as you see fit to deliver the best results. But do not over step your place. They must choose their own paths. It is merely your job to see that that path is an acceptable one."
"Understood. I won't fail you…or them."
"I am glad to hear that." The old man opened his drawer, pulled out a long pipe, lit it, and puffed at it casually. "You know…Obito…that this was your trial." Obito looked up at the old man questioningly. "I am glad we could come to an acceptable agreement on how you will gain your penance."
"Hn!"
The old man grinned at the Obito. "Now, we are free to discus the matter of your family's Estates."
Ta Ta For Now!
Yay! So how was it? Didn't suck too bad, did it?
Until next time….. "…What Would Have Happened…"
Smoochies!