Great heroes need great sorrows and burdens, or half their greatness goes unnoticed. It's all part of the fairy tail.

-Peter S. Beagle

Making way to the training grounds, Hinata hummed slightly. She sighed after a while, craning her head to look up at the sky.

It was a warm day, and the sun was out, shining brightly. She stopped, spreading her arms as the warm rays fell on her.

She sighed again, basking in the heat for a moment, before continuing on her way.

She was currently going to join Team 7 for their training session. It was her first session, and truth to be told, she was a little nervous.

Team 7. Their Jounin Instructor was the infamous Copy Ninja, and each of them was a student of the Legendary Sannin.

It was nothing short of an honour to have a chance to train with them.

As she reached the ground, she paused, long enough to take a deep breath.

Then, she stepped forward, smiling at the occupants that were already there.

Sensing her, both, Naruto and Sakura turned towards her, the latter raising an eyebrow in confusion.

After pleasantries had been exchanged, Sakura tilted her head to one side.

"So, what brings you here today?"

Hinata raised an eyebrow, confused at her cluelessness.

"Kakashi-sensei came by for a visit yesterday. He said he wanted me to train with you guys."

She tilted her head as Sakura's eyes widened, disbelief reflected in them.

"He didn't tell you?"

Sakura only shook her head, still in shock.

Sure, other teams trained with them a lot, but it was only because their sensei offered. Kakashi had never been the one to invite anyone for training first.

But, then again, Sakura didn't exactly blame him.

After that incident in the Hokage's office--She shuddered, thinking back to it--it was only natural for him to be interested.

Sakura herself was too, but along with that, she was also worried.

In the Hokage's office, Kiba and Shino had been there to snap Hinata out of her...state. Or whatever it was.

If they hadn't been there, what would have happened?

Sakura knew Kakashi-sensei had a similar train of thoughts, and wanted to know more about it, just in case.

She nodded to herself, before focusing on the conversation in front of her.

Naruto was talking animatedly, blue eyes bright, as Hinata listened, eyes widening at something he said.

She laughed lightly at one point, a hand against her chin. Naruto froze mid-sentence, caught off-guard by the soft sound. As he stared, Sakura grinned, seeing the blush that painted his cheeks as he went to rub his neck.

Then she remembered Lord Kisuke's words.

"Hinata doesn't like him. She said so herself."

She observed them a little longer, and realized it was true.

Hinata seemed much calmer around him, as she nodded politely to whatever he said.

Though she still had that light in her eyes that would only be reserved for him, her smile was different.

It was soft and kind, a contrast to the nervous, longing ones she used to give him before.

Sakura felt her heart sink slightly, as she sighed, disappointed.

They would make a really good couple.

She looked at them again, as Hinata's cheeks turned the lightest shade of pink, and Naruto grinned.

Sakura did the same.

Doesn't mean there is no hope.

Smiling, she stepped into their conversation just Naruto frowned.

"But, why didn't sensei tell us?"

Hinata shrugged, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear.

Then, she blinked, feeling the air shift slightly, the smallest rustle of the wind shaking the tree a few metres behind Naruto and Sakura.

She looked at it a moment longer, before raising an eyebrow, only an outline of the figure visible.

However, it's Chakra Signature was enough for her to recognize it.

She glanced back at Naruto and Sakura, watching as they complained about their sensei.

"Stupid old man..." Naruto muttered, annoyed that Kakashi was late again.

Not a second later, he felt breath fan down his neck.

"What stupid old man?"

Both members of Team 7 screamed, jumping away from where they had been standing.

Behind them, was the devil himself.

Kakashi grinned at their reactions, watching as they clenched their fists, before screaming again, this time at him.

"Sensei!"

"What the hell?!"

Kakashi straightened, tucking his hand in his pockets.

"And good morning to you as well." He said, his cheery tone only grating at the nerves of his students.

Standing away from them, Hinata sweatdropped.

So this is how their morning starts. Somehow, I'm not surprised.

What Kakashi turned to her, Hinata politely bowed, greeting him.

"Thank you for inviting me to train with your team. It is an honour."

Kakashi's grinned again, vaguely gesturing to her, before turning to his own student.

"See? This is how you do it."

Hinata stifled a laugh when Naruto and Sakura groaned.

Rolling his eye, he walked to a distance, before turning towards them.

"Well then, let's begin."

And so began the strangest training session Hinata had ever seen.

In a few short minutes, Kakashi explained the goal of the session. They were supposed to be stealing bells from him.

It had seemed a simple enough task to Hinata until they'd began.

Naruto and Sakura had gone first, two-on-one, trying to steal the Bell from Kakashi.

Hinata had sat at the sidelines, observing for the moment, as she waited for her turn.

As time passed, she realized many things.

For someone who looked like he didn't give a single damn, Kakashi really had a deficiency in that category.

Even with only one eye, his awareness of the battlefield was astounding. He was sure to take advantage of and punish every mistake his students made, made sure they learned not to do it again.

It was no wonder both Naruto and Sakura were a force to be reckoned with. They had a teacher, who himself was a legend.

For a moment, Hinata wondered how she would've turned out had she been under his tutelage.

When Kakashi seemed satisfied with the performance of his students, he loosened up, letting his guard down.

It didn't take long for them to corner him, threatening him with...the ending of Icha Icha Paradise?

Blinking in surprise at the turn of events, Hinata watched as Kakashi closed his eyes and ears, not wanting to hear anything Naruto had to say.

It didn't take long for them to take the bells after that.

In a few seconds, they were back at the grounds, just as Hinata stood up, dusting herself.

Both teens wished her luck as they flopped on the ground, breathing heavily, faces flushed.

It made Hinata all the more excited to get started.

As she took a deep breath, and went into her stance, she watched as Kakashi slouched slightly.

She watched, her guard up, as his hand went into his kunai pouch.

Slowly, he took out his...book and...began reading.

The clearing was dead silent.

Behind her, Naruto and Sakura were staring, wide-eyed, knowing how much of an insult that single action was.

Sakura suddenly felt bad for the blunette, wondering if she should step in, and give an earful to her sensei. But, she also knew that she wouldn't.

Kakashi was the sensei, not her. Stepping in would only add salt to the wound.

Hinata had her head bowed, eyes shadowed as she let out a low breath.

Kakashi glanced at her, watching her every move. He was still surprised that she had sensed his presence earlier. But, exactly how good was she?

Just how much can you take?

He was trying to provoke her.

He watched as Hinata raised her head, going into a firmer stance.

When she looked up, her eyes were burning.

Kakashi's guard was up in an instant, eyes widening, as Hinata's lips split into a grin that could border bloodthirsty.

He felt his breath catch, his disbelief apparent at the look on her face.

Since when had Hinata been the one to enjoy such situations? It was such a change from the meek, conflict-hating person she had been in the Chunnin Exams.

Kakashi simply stared.

What the hell happened to her?!

He had barely finished the thought, and she was coming at him.

She was also much faster than he had anticipated.

In a second or two, she was in front of him, her fist raised.

But Kakashi was Kakashi, and despite his initial shock, he dodged with ease.

He had scarcely moved away, and she was attacking again. She pivoted on her heel, foot going for his face.

He threw up a single arm to block, bracing himself for the blow. He was surprised when it didn't come.

Instead, at the last second, her foot slammed on his shoulder. A twist and her foot was resting said shoulder.

She shifted all her weight to his shoulder, using it to launch herself in the air. At the same time, mid-air, her hand shot out, covered in blue.

Kakashi felt shocks jolt up his arm, just as Hinata backflipped over him.

He moved away at the same time Hinata did, creating distance between them.

He glanced at his arm. Her attack had made contact, but at the last moment, he had supplied his own Chakra to his arm. It had cancelled out the Chakra she was about to send, so that his tenketsu didn't close.

Standing at a distance, he watched as Hinata straightened. Then, she grinned.

He raised an eyebrow.

Her hit hadn't proved effective. What was she so happy about then?

He blinked when she held something up. Something bright orange.

His jaw dropped beneath the mask.

It was his book.

His eyes narrowed, watching as she put the book in her own kunai pouch, eyes challenging as she went into her stance again.

He had tried to provoke her and it had worked. Now, he had no choice but to fight seriously.

He grinned beneath the mask, before going in for an attack.

As they exchanged a few more blows, he suddenly moved away, hands moving in various hand signs so quickly that Hinata was dumbstruck.

However, she had seen him use the same Jutsu before in his fight with Naruto and Sakura, so she was ready.

Just as he was about to finish, her own hands sped into action.

Kakashi faltered slightly.

Since when does she know Ninjutsu?!

Water spewed from his mouth as he attacked, steam rising from the attack when it met her massive fireball.

As the steam cleared, his eyes widened when Hinata stepped through it, flying towards him, kunai in hand.

Her eyes narrowed, as her kunai shunk into his flesh...

...only for him to dissolve in water.

A water clone?!

Hinata turned around just as Kakashi reached her, his own kunai out to attack.

He sunk the kunai into her stomach, eyes narrowing when there was no blood.

Instead, a second later, she dispersed into a flock of doves.

He faltered at the familiar move, before getting his head back into the spar.

Now wasn't the time to mope about his mistakes.

A substitution, huh?

He turned, feeling the air shift slightly, just in time to take in the woman coming at him, full speed.

Believing her punch to be aiming for his face, he threw up his hands to block.

When her fist grazed his cheek, he quickly grabbed it, before twisting it behind her back. Before she could use her other hand, he took ahold of that too, leaning over her, both her hands in his possession.

She twisted her wrist slight, but his grip only tightened.

"Do you surrender?" He asked plainly, as they stood face to face, feeling her squirm in his hold again.

She looked up.

"Never." She declared, before crouching.

The action made him lower too, and his eyes widened, when he saw her foot curve over her own body and aim for his face.

What the fuck? How is that even-

He cursed internally, as his grip loosened. He moved away, just as her foot hit his shoulder.

He gritted his teeth, the force of the blow shaking him.

To his surprise, her other foot came to his shoulder too, using it to launch herself in the air.

He completely let go of her, wanting to create some distance between them, so that he could come up with a strategy.

Hinata, however, had other plans. Using her free foot, she hooked it around his neck, handing upside down, before her other foot slammed on his other shoulder.

Using the force of the blow to launch herself again, she backflipped over him, landing a few metres away.

Kakashi moved away too, narrowing his eyes.

He had underestimated her beyond belief.

Just as he went into a stance again, she relaxed.

Furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, he blinked, as she held something up, grinning.

The soft tinkling of bells echoed in the air.

The clearing was dead silent again.

Damn. She's much better than I thought.

He blinked, a thud echoing as Hinata fell back, still grinning, chest heaving with each breath.

"That was..." She coughed, "...a good spar, sensei."

Good is an understatement. Kakashi thought in his head, but wouldn't admit it out loud at the cost of his pride.

Hinata got up after a while and turned, walking towards her backpack and water bottle, not noticing the dumbstruck faces of Naruto and Sakura. She gulped down the cold water, feeling it revive her body, and slow the pounding of her heart.

A few more minor spars later, they were wrapping up everything.

The three students were exhausted, as they laid on the ground, breathing heavily.

"He doesn't go easy, does he?" Hinata gasped out, coughing to slow down her heart.

The other two grunted in response, not having the energy to reply.

Despite that, Hinata felt happy. She would be dead exhausted after a training session, rather than have energy left because her opponent went easy on her.

As they got up, Hinata bowed to Kakashi again, saying her goodbyes.

Before leaving, she handed him back his book, giggling internally when he blushed, considering the content of it. He took it from her, coughing awkwardly before immediately putting it in his kunai pouch.

"You're welcome to join anytime you want."

Hinata grinned, nodding enthusiastically. Then, turning around, she made way back home.

As she took a bath, Hinata realized that the adrenaline was still pumping in her veins. Quickly getting dressed, she grabbed her cloak, making way towards the door.

Usually she would have gone for a nap after a training session, but now she just felt too restless.

She wanted to tell someone how the training session had gone.

There was Kurenai, of course, but she was currently napping too.

Smiling excitedly, Hinata made way towards the forest, where she had met him yesterday.

"Tomorrow. We will meet again tomorrow."

Hinata hummed determinedly, heart already fluttering at the thought of seeing him.

I am coming. And I can't wait to tell you everything.

Let it be said that Uchiha Obito had nothing personal against Uchiha Itachi. He really didn't.

The young man was a key element to his plans, and was important to the grand scheme to things.

The only complain Obito could think of was how difficult Itachi made things for him. If only he had not been as much of a genius as he was, he would have been easier to manipulate.

Much, much easier.

However, that fool was every bit a threat to Obito as he ought to be. He was a total pain in the ass.

To add to it, he was still so infuriatingly loyal to that village. The same village which had shunned him, labelled him a murderer.

It had thrown him to the wolves, and he still made sure no harm ever befell it. Like a dog that had been abused, but still returned to his owner's side.

Obito clicked his tongue.

How annoying.

Other than that, Obito had no personal problem with Uchiha Itachi.

However, if things went on, they were going to have one.

Out of all the things Itachi was, Obito never thought he could be careless.

Annoying? Yes. But, sloppy? Never in a million years.

Obito grunted, making sure his displeasure was known, when he met the younger Uchiha.

He was making his way towards Konoha, the only village closest to the place where Itachi and Kisame had separated.

Obito could forgive two days delay, maybe even three.

But, the whole damn week had passed and there was no sign of Itachi.

Even Obito had his limits.

So, he had decided to check up on him, wanting to see if he was really alive anymore, or dead in some ditch.

Preferably the latter.

Masking his presence even more as he neared the village, Obito pursed his lips, gritting his teeth behind his orange mask.

Then, he sensed the younger Uchiha's Chakra signature. That would have been enough of Obito to loose his mind completely, but something made him pause.

There was another Chakra getting closer to Itachi's.

Narrowing his eye slightly, Obito moved closer to the Chakra signatures, making sure his own was perfectly suppressed.

He sat on a tree, concealed by its leaves, just as Itachi came into view, his black cloak fluttering in the wind.

As he walked froward, Obito noticed his lips twitch, a slight smile on his face.

He blinked in surprise at the detail.

How strange.

Then, the other Chakra Signature burst through the leaves, standing on a nearby tree.

Obito gritted his teeth, noticing the Konoha Headband around the woman's neck, as she grinned down at Itachi.

Had he been selling information to Konoha? Obito knew Itachi was still loyal to the village, but perhaps he had miscalculated.

Damn weasel. Always full of surprises.

Obito clenched his fists, anger rising, his intention to kill them both solidifying.

Just as he he was about to step out of his hiding place and catch both of them red-handed, the woman shot forward, midnight hair flying behind her.

Obito blinked in surprise.

Was she attacking Itachi? Had his initial assumption been wrong, then?

Had Itachi stayed, because he had known that the woman would follow him to the hideout?

Why not kill her, then?

Kisame's words echoed at the back of his mind.

"He said that he had to repay a debt to that person. And then, he left."

Was this the person Itachi owed something to?

Obito snorted.

Bastard actually kept his word. How very honourable of him.

But, why was the woman attacking him? More importantly, why wasn't Itachi killing-

Her arms wrapped his neck, and the younger Uchiha's around her waist as they embraced.

Obito blinked.

Oh.

He frowned, racking his brain for anyone that had looked like the woman.

Perhaps she's an old frien-

The woman pulled Itachi down by his collor, before crashing their lips together.

Obito stumbled, choking on his own breath.

Not friends then, He thought drily.

After composing himself, he observed them a while longer, his disapproval clear.

A distraction. She is a distraction that needs to be taken care off.

As they separated, Itachi's face fell into her shoulder, arms still around her. He sighed.

Obito paused, hesitating, as he observed more.

Could it be...?

The woman smiled lightly, running her hand though his hair.

Obito sighed, defeated, pursing his lips. He was deep in thought.

His goal was to create a world without pain and suffering. A world in which peace and harmony would be absolute.

But, what of those who already lived in peace? What would become of them?

His ideology consisted of destroying the world and rebuilding it all over again. But, wouldn't that cause suffering for those who already lived happily in it?

He was snapped out of his thoughts, when something broke the silence.

It was Itachi, head leaning back, as he laughed.

Even Obito was rendered speechless for a second.

His doubt against his own plans increasing, he turned back to the scene at hand.

More specifically, at the woman.

He watched her stare, lips parted, as if mesmerized by the view in front of her.

Obito knew the soft look her eyes, the thoughts going on in her head as she clenched her fists.

Knew it all so well, and he felt his own chest constrict, images of Purple and Brown invading his vision.

He had, after all, thought the same when Rin laughed.

This person...is very precious to me.

He watched as the woman leaned forward, cupping Itachi's face, before wrapping her hands around his neck again. She kissed his forehead.

I want to protect this person.

Itachi seemed surprised by the embrace, but returned it nonetheless.

Looking at them, Obito felt sicksicksicksicksicksicksicksick-

He immediately looked away, wanting to get as far away from the couple as possible.

It reminded him too much of what he had lost.

Obito suddenly wished he wasn't such a coward. If such was the case, maybe...maybe he would have had the courage to embrace Rin the same way.

Before she... before she...

Swallowing, he glanced back at the couple, as they began walking, the woman talking animatedly, and Itachi content with just watching her.

Obito knew the look in his eyes too, and for a moment, he could almost see those coffee eyes looking at him, the kindest smile he had ever seen replaced with a serious frown.

"Don't act tough and hide your wounds, you know. I'm always watching over you."

He clenched a hand at his chest, willing the pain below to stop.stop.stop.stop.

He gasped sharply, already moving away. Away from Konoha. Away from the couple. Away from his home.

He ran and ran and ran and ran, until he couldn't anymore.

I miss her. I miss her. I miss her.Imissher.Imissher.Ican'tbreath.Whereareyou?ImissyouImissyoumychesthurts-

Only when he was far enough, did he collapse to the ground, gasping sharply, trying to catch his breath.

Thinking back to the Uchiha and his woman, he felt his heart clench again.

He was going to let them be.

Obito smiled bitterly at the thought, realising that he didn't want anyone else to feel the pain of losing someone they loved.

A coward till the end, huh?

However, he was going to have a talk with Itachi, soon.

With that thought in mind, Obito went to look for an inn to spend the next few nights in.

He didn't think of the woman again, not wondering the kind of power she might hold.

She was an Uchiha's woman, after all. Their kind chose a mate just as feral as themselves. But, Obito didn't think twice about it.

To him, whatever it was, it couldn't have been much.

Months later, during the Fourth Shinobi War, Uchiha Obito would scan the battlefield for the woman, only to find no sign of her or her Chakra signature anywhere.

He would frown to himself.

Nothing special then, huh?

However, years later, he would curse himself for underestimating her when he saw her again--hair flying wildly, whole body covering in purple--and watch, wide-eyed, as she brought the world down on its knees.

YAYYY!! LOOKS LIKE I MANAGED TO FINISH!!!

Before, we continue, I would like to thank all those who stood up for me against the hate comment in the reviews. Thank you sooo much, guys for being so kind and thoughtful!!!

Even though I couldn't care less about what people like them have to say about to me, it still meant a lot to me that you all did care.

So thank you again!!! :3

Back to the chapter, d'you like it? What did you think of the training session? And what about Obito's thoughts? Do you think he was in character??

Be sure to tell me what you think!!

And what about the last few sentences?? What going to happen after years??

Gotta wait to find out!!

Until next Monday, ENJOY!!

-Your constipated author. (Not really, I just wanted to write that cuz it was the first thing that came to my head.)