~NRK~
Ippan's mouth stayed on the ground as Obito rubbed the back of his head.
"We're not… normal people, in this sense," the young man explained as he held Eri's hand. "That's the situation we're all in."
"W-What?!" She squeaked again as Tenko tilted his head.
"Y-Yakuza?" He asked and Obito nodded. "... You're a gang family?" The boy frowned while picking at a scar by his mouth.
"Don't pick at that," Obito said and Tenko froze before blushing a bit. "And… well, for lack of a better term? Yes, though our family is something a bit grander than some random thugs who decided to try and become something by coming together."
Ippan was still in shock as she swallowed. "O-Obito-kun?"
"Yes?"
"I-Is that true?"
He nodded. "It's not something we just tell people, Ippan-san, you understand that," he said as she nodded, looking at him with concerned eyes. '?' Obito blinked in confusion.
"... W-We…" She struggled with something. "... Obito-kun… I'm forever grateful for this, no matter what, I don't think I could thank you enough."
"Yes, uh, well…" He blushed a bit, his right eye closed. "I know that and, while I know how this sounds, there's something I did want in return," Obito said while holding up his hands at her confusion.
Then she blushed and he shook his head rapidly.
"No! Wait, don't get any ideas!" He said as his classmates fixed some of her hair, face rosy and eyes looking away bashfully. 'Didn't know foxes did demure,' but he was audience to it now, no? "So… I know how this sounds but I want to make a trade."
"Trade? L-Like cards?" Tenko asked and Obito shook his head.
"A service… for a home," Obito said as both their eyes widened. "In maybe four or five years, I'm going to be working within a store… and I doubt you two want to return to that place-"
"NO! WE HATE IT!" The two said in unison and he flinched.
"... I see," Obito frowned. "... then if you want, for occupying my home, Ippan-san, I'd like you to help me look after Eri in the future," he said with a bit of embarrassment. 'I don't know if there are going to be things I can't understand,' Obito was a male through and through.
He knew the time would come where Eri was growing in ways he couldn't fathom and needed someone more 'in-tune' with her feminine side to be around.
Still, he was-
"Thank you!" Ippan bowed to him, interrupting his thoughts and getting a choke out of him.
"I-Ippan!? Look, I get it, but-"
"No, please," she looked up at him with pleading eyes. "I… there weren't many prospects for me, Obito-kun, I-I don't think there's ever going to be a better chance than this in my life…" Ippan said with a solemn stare.
"... Then I hope this arrangement works out the best for both of us," he said with a hand running through his hair as his grandfather came into the room.
Dressed in dark brown hakama, a dark gray kimono, and a black haori over that, the grandfather of Obito and Eri hummed as he came in, Ippan's eyes going to him.
"This is my grandfather, Hokei," Obito explained as the man smiled, Ippan bowing to him immediately.
"P-Pleased to meet you, sir!" She said as Tenko blinked before following her example.
"H-Hello, sir," he said.
"Please, raise your heads. I know the situation," Hokei said as he sat next to his grandchildren with a soft frown. "You've been through a lot, young lady."
Ippan sat up with a solemn look. "I… I'm forever grateful I met your grandson… it seems like Obito-kun's helping more in one day than I'll ever be able to repay for the rest of my life."
"Hm, he's a mature young man, I'd be surprised if he held it against you."
"I don't," Obito added as his grandfather laughed while Ippan looked amused. "Still, I came up with a compromise between her and myself, jii-chan, I hope it's not an impossible arrangement."
"Hmm… no, it's not," the man said as Ippan sagged in relief. "Though if she's going to be working for you, she'll need payment," she flinched.
"W-Wait, no! I couldn't! He's already doing so much!"
"It's not wrong of me to want to pay you for your work, Ippan," Obito said as she blushed. "Besides, I'm sure there are things you'll need and want that will require funds…" He considered something as his grandfather chuckled. "I'll work out a workable amount, it won't be obscene, I promise, but it'll reflect the work you'll be taking on, Ippan-san."
"... a-alright… thank you, for everything," she said and he nodded as Eri pat his chest. "Hm, hm," Ippan giggled a bit at the baby while Tenko tilted his head.
"S-So we won't be going back, right?" He asked, hopefully.
"Never again, Tenko-kun."
"YES!" The boy cheered while Hokei smiled sadly.
"You've truly been through a lot… and, apologies for dampening your parade, but I'd like to also speak on some of the issues brought up from four hours ago," he frowned as both youngsters blinked.
"W-What happened?" Ippan asked.
"That group, young lady, can you inform us about them?" He asked.
"... Victor, a quirked man with guns for fingers," Obito blinked. "He's the leader of that group who attacked that man. The group's name is Paranormal, they're a gang from within the city," she said seriously.
"... why were they after my parents?" Obito asked and Ippan's mouth fell before she paled. "At ease, Ippan-san, I'm not taking issue with you, I care enough that I don't want them dead. Why was Victor there?"
"H-He was going to kill a man by the name of 'Shashin'," their eyes widened. "I-I guess that was… your dad?"
"Yes, that would be Obito and Eri's father," Hokei grimaced. "He married my daughter, Obito and Eri's mother."
"Seriously? I-Is he doing a part of your yakuza business on the gang side?"
"... he shouldn't be," the man sighed hotly. "Damn him, what does this mean?"
"Ippan-san? Can you tell me more about this so-called attack?" Obito asked as she nodded.
She didn't skimp on the details, revealing every part of the plan to the two who frowned deeply at the end of it all.
"Father's made a gang?" Obito frowned. "Jii-chan, I don't like the sounds of this," he said as his grandfather nodded with a grimace.
"Ippan-kun, are you sure about this?" Hokei asked one last time and she nodded. "... I don't think this is going to end today."
"It's not," Obito added as Ippan frowned.
"I-I guess someone going behind your back, even family, isn't cool," she said and he nodded.
"Yes but it's more worrying than that," Obito said as she blinked. "If my parents, assuming my mother's involved, are doing this kind of business behind the scenes… why?" He offered.
"I-I don't get it."
"The issue is, shoujo, the two of them are still connected to the biggest underworld group in this city, our yakuza," Hokei said as she balked. "Why create a meager group who seems to have adapted some of our men? It's not good, it speaks of ill omens."
"S-So… what will you do?" Ippan asked, worried. "... I-If we can help… please let me know."
"No, I won't involve you two in this world any more than you have been," the man said kindly. "I don't want Obito or Eri involved, I'm not going to force another child into this life if I can help it."
From behind the screens, Kai's eyes narrowed. 'You won't, Boss, because I'll ensure nothing happens to any of you,' he thought with determined eyes, getting up and leaving silently. 'It's time to do some surveillance.'
Back with the group, Obito sighed. "Well… if anything comes up, please, jii-chan, come to me. There's something else," Hokei frowned as Ippan gasped. "A man was there, one who'd been about to kill Ippan. He seemed to be a justice-rouge vigilante who's going to attack at night," Obito frowned as his grandfather hummed. "Whatever you do, never go alone at night, no less than four men, choose some with defensive quirks, he's not to be underestimated."
"Y-You fought him, though, Obito-kun," Ippan said as Hokei raised a brow.
"A quirk user?" Hokei asked and Obito shrugged.
"I don't know if he was-"
"H-He was!" Ippan said as the two males blinked at her. "I-I… m-my quirk allows me to smell a lot of things," she blushed as Obito's eyes widened.
"Wait… Ippan-san, are you saying you can smell who is and isn't born with a quirk?" He asked as Hokei made a curious sound while she nodded. "... that's an amazing ability," Obito said as she looked down bashfully. "... still, with that known, yes, even though I fought him, he'd overcome any of our less trained men. I had to do everything in my power to fend him off even for the minute we fought. If our men hadn't shown up, it'd have been nearly impossible to get away from him."
"Ah, yes, I'd been told you were the ones who called them," Hokei said. "It's good that you did, having witness accounts for this makes this situation more serious. I doubt Shashin or Irai are going to be forthcoming about this situation. Haa… a mysterious third-party, ey?"
"Most likely."
"... Hmph, I'll gather the council and speak with them and some of the other yakuza in the city. For now, you two need to go home and get rest, you do have school in the morning."
"... O-Oh, wait!" Ippan whined. "M-My laptop, my clothes, it's all back at the apartment."
"Hmm, what level?" Obito asked as she blinked. "If I can, I'll just go in and grab it, it's not like anyone will know it's me."
"I-It'd still be dangerous, Obito-kun," she whispered.
"... then we'll just buy some new things for you in the morning."
"W-Wait! Hold on, w-we can just go and grab my things! You shouldn't have to spend more money on me!" She squeaked, much to Hokei's confusion.
"... no offense, young lady, but… I was of the opinion you were a shark," he said as Obito smirked and Ippan blushed.
"I-I'm a fox."
"... you are?"
Obito chuckled as she pouted a bit.
~NRK~
Victor hissed as he held his side, Batto and Hari tending to his wounds as they sat in the apartment.
"DAMMIT! That bitch was gonna double-cross us?!" Victor hissed as Hari huffed, rubbing her bandaged shoulder as Batto finished tending to them.
"Seems we're not the only ones who wanted to get rid of some competition," the bat man frowned. "With this, though, we're now out of the running. Any chance at joining the Liberation Army is now out of the question."
"And, more bad news? That fox disappeared," Hari said as Victor's arms bulged in anger. "Though, we're not sure if that's because she made it out or because some random vigilante killed her," he stopped and frowned along with Batto.
"What happened?"
"There were two mysterious guys there," Batto said. "I was checking with Urui, he didn't see their faces, both of 'em had masks on, we think they were vigilantes and they took that girl and the kid."
"FUCK! My fucking chance to bone that bad-bodied kit is now out the window!"
"Like, yay and all but what do we do now?" Hari asked and the two and Batto sighed.
"We'll need to either start over… or join up with some other group. There's not much else we can do, over half our guys got nabbed and they're either dead or in jail with the backward-ass yakuza."
"And the Meeting is now off the table."
"We have to go and talk to those Liberation fucks and tell them we screwed up?" Victor looked horrified. "N-No! We need to do some shit! We can't let it all end here!"
"..."
"... well, there might be something we can do," Batto considered something as his fellow co-leaders looked at him. "Okay, so the Liberation Army wants bodies, right? But they'd rather get powerful members who can be worth a shit. We're worthwhile but we all know we're not good enough… no, we need to grab some new powerhouses, and the only ways we're getting any are…"
"From the vigilantes?" Hari's mouth fell as Victor gaped. "Y-You do realize we're prize tickets to those fucks, right?"
"Do you have a better idea?" She shut up. "Exactly, you're acting like we know how to get out of this. Ignoring that the Meeting doesn't happen except for every four years, we now have a target on our backs. Our faces were seen, Victor's the most, you think they're gonna forget someone with finger guns? We're literally on borrowed time and now we have to go down-under!"
Victor grit his teeth. 'That bitch…' If she'd just done her damn job, they'd not be in any of this mess! "If that fox bitch is alive, no ifs, ands, or buts, kill her ass and everyone with her. UNDERSTOOD?"
"Understood."
~NRK~
The following morning, Ippan blinked thrice, moaning into some sheets. Awaking from some of the best sleep she'd ever had? Not appealing to her in the least… but then she remembered.
"Huh?!" Her eyes widened as she shot up, looking around in disbelief at her surroundings.
At a room that was clean, amazing-looking, and held furnishings.
Her eyes watered for a bit as she collapsed back onto her bed, her clean and in-perfect-repair bed, the sleeping form of Tenko next to her gaining her affection as she held the boy close.
'We're really…' This wasn't a dream… they were not in that hellhole anymore! 'And it's all thanks to Obito-kun,' her new 'boss' who treated her more like just a nanny than a burden.
She'd lucked out in ways that simply weren't normally possible for someone with a quirk. She'd been blessed and would be damned if she let this amount of kindness, any kindness, pass her by!
"Hmm?" Tenko blinked against her bosom, looking up at her with a confused look. "Nee-chan?"
"It's fine… we're fine," she whispered to him as the sunlight rested against their sides.
She held him close before considering her move.
"We should get up, though, Tenko-kun," she said to the moaning boy who whined.
"Mmm, d-do we have to?"
"Yep," she chuckled. "I do have class, still," Ippan reminded him and he perked up.
"Sorry, nee-chan!" He stumbled out of her embrace before falling back on the nice, firm, bed. "... N-Nee-chan, a-are we-?"
"Yes, we're out of that horrid place!"
The boy looked excited by the prospect before humming as he looked down at the bedsheets. "... n-nee-chan, we're safe forever, right?"
"... sadly, most likely not," Ippan sighed. 'I never wanted to think about it,' but it was the truth.
Maybe Obito could help them in this regard? The fact remains… they were on borrowed time until Victor came crashing into this safe space, right?
'... I won't allow it,' her eyes narrowed at the sheets. "... We'll protect this safety, Tenko-kun, I know you don't want to go back and I hate it there."
"C-Can nii-chan help?"
Oh? "W-Well… I hope so?" She said unsurely. "Obito-kun has done so much already for us… I want to repay him but I don't know where to start."
"Hmm… breakfast?" Tenko offered as she blinked before giggling a bit. "I-I like it when you make breakfast! Maybe he will, too!"
"Well… it's worth a shot."
Working out in some black sweatpants in his room, Obito blinked at the smells of eggs, hot sauce, and some bell peppers.
'I guess she's feeling at home,' the Uchiha thought as he finished up, back on his feet and his gaze going to the quietly babbling Eri who was still asleep. 'This is going to be my first day like this,' he'd definitely get used to it.
He wiped down his body with a small towel before putting on a blue shirt and going towards his bed.
Obito kneeled down at its side and whispered to the sleeping baby. "Eri," he said quietly as the baby's eyes squinted open, her red irises locking onto him. "Come on," Obito said as he picked her up gingerly, his sibling latching onto his shoulder in an instant.
Leaving his room, Obito found the still-kimono-clad Ippan cooking in his kitchen though not without some confusion.
He chuckled as she looked at the salts. "I-Is the pink something new?" She wondered out loud to Tenko before hearing Obito. "H-Huh?" Ippan turned to find an amused Obito standing there, the girl blushing as she did. "O-Oh, um, I just wanted to make some breakfast for all of us."
"I'm grateful, really. If you're wondering about the salt, the pink salt is far saltier than the regular kind," Obito said as she nodded, focusing back on the food with a smile. 'Looking like a regular old mother,' he thought without thinking, going to the fridge with a yawning Eri on his shoulder, the baby 'nomming' on her sibling's neck. "Hm, hm, I know, I know," he chuckled as he found one of her pre-prepared baby bottles in there and took it out.
Going to the stove, Ippan smiled at him as he nodded, placing Eri's bottle down on the counter and putting on a kettle.
"Oh, you prepared those ahead of time?" She asked. "Do you need more made?"
"For now? I made enough for the week. I'll teach you how to make it sometime later," he said as she nodded with another smile.
He waited for the kettle to boil and, in that time, Ippan had finished cooking, the girl plating out three servings, one of which was larger than usual but not something he minded.
"You two can eat first, I had some of our men bring some of our bigger clothes for you to wear while we go shopping."
"So, we're really not going to class today?"
"No point if you can't go to class. It's fine."
She blushed but smiled brighter, leaving Obito's hormones in a confused state.
'Focus on the food, focus on Eri,' he told himself as he turned off the kettle and poured hot-enough water into her bottle.
Finishing up, he took the more-awake baby to the table and placed her in her baby chair before helping her eat, his plate in front of the seat by hers.
"Thank you. For now, do you have any stores that you know make clothes in your size?" Obito asked Ippan who blinked before she blushed.
"W-Well… I usually just buy the biggest size in Men's and see how it fits," she said with a frown. "B-But the stores I usually go to aren't… close to here… I'm sorry," Ippan said as Obito hummed before shaking his head.
"No, if anything, this might work out more in our favor than I imagined," he smirked as she tilted her head. "When I told you I'd be handling a store in the future, it'd be a clothing store," her eyes widened.
"R-Really?!" She asked, excited, as he chuckled.
"As long as we get the materials, I'll not only get things to make clothes for you but I can show it to my grandfather and see how that store works with it. If I make a store that can handle clothes for every body type, I'd increase my notability, increase reception of people with quirks, and offer a store for those individuals with moderate prices, I'm sure."
"I-I… thank you, so much," she whispered, teary-eyed.
"No problem."
~NRK~
Walking down a backstreet with Obito in a slightly baggy white shirt, a pair of hakama pants that were literally more like bell-bottom jeans with her hips, a navel-length black hoodie, and a pair of large black boots, Ippan smiled in embarrassment as she held Tenko's bandage-covered hands as they reached the sidewalk.
Obito, with Eri attached to his torso by a baby carrier once more and with his katana bag on his back, walked in front of her with a large basket on his back. The young man's eyes focused ahead even as he ignored all the people on the sidewalk.
"Let's see, this way," he said as they turned a corner and walked two more blocks before finding the store they were going to enter. "Arms N Goods," Obito noted the sign as they went in, ignoring the sneers of those around him before his eyes flexed and they all froze, faces pale. "That's what I thought," he said to them with a look of apathy.
Ippan quickly followed after him, head down. "Y-You might not-"
"Ippan," Obito shot her a look that she looked away from. "I won't put up with the foolishness outside, I'd never even care for people of such caliber, I'm not making a mistake."
She gasped at that before biting her lip and nodding.
They navigated past the cashier who simply kept flipping through a magazine, face stoic as they went around, picking up large bundles and spools of thread, yarn, and patches.
By the end of it, the man blinked at the material that had been put out, neatly and in size, on his counter.
The purchase had been easy and quick, thankfully, Obito's black card gaining Ippan's attention only for a moment, the girl knew she wouldn't want people to look into her finances.
As they left, Obito made sure every person who was still there from before was adequately cowed before they left for home.
Then the floor rumbled and Obito sighed as Ippan flinched, free hand coming around his bicep as people began to scream.
"Come on," he said, the two hurrying down the street. "The best way to deal with these situations is to not be caught frozen, you'll end up in a worse situation that way."
She nodded as they ran, the two minding the growing roars from behind them as they ran before hurrying into backstreets and alleyways, thankfully getting away from the next Quirk Incident as people called them.
"Who knew people were so bold?" Obito asked sarcastically as their run came to a crawl, the two walking down a neighborhood sidewalk. "You'd think crime would lower the literal next day but I guess people felt emboldened instead of smarter."
"I don't think it's fair to say that," Ippan said sadly as Tenko tilted his head while Obito nodded. "It's… it's like you said, yesterday… they were pushed to the brink."
"... you're right, I'm sorry."
"I know you didn't mean anything by it."
The return home didn't take much longer following that conversation.
Of course, that only led to another conversation with more embarrassing 'topics'.
Said 'topics' being 'measurements'.
Obito rubbed the back of his head as she blushed, the two sitting in front of one another.
"... if I'm to make the clothes," he began. "I'm going to need your measurements, Ippan-san," Obito admitted, rubbing the back of his head with some red on his face. 'Ah, we'd forgotten this part,' to be fair, it's not like they had needed it going outside.
Now? They needed it for making something out of the materials he'd bought.
The fox girl burned bright red as she nodded shakily. "U-Um, well, I-I could take my own measurements… i-if that will work," she squeaked a bit. 'It's not like he's being a pervert, it's clothes!' Ippan knew that, mentally, but said 'mental' was also conjuring up images of their bodies ending up in 'situations' that made her feel warm.
"Sure… just… I'll probably make them bigger than usual since you're still growing," the image of underwear-only Ippan made the former man facepalm. 'Dammit!' Obito couldn't get the image out of his head.
He'd been slapped by a rather womanly woman and his mind refused to let go in the worst ways possible.
With some coaching from behind a door, Obito finally got those three main points, already planning on making the sleeves and pants legs baggier.
The following two hours consisted of clothing making, calls, and a babysitting duet between Tenko and Ippan.
By the end of those hours, the doorbell rang, with Obito currently in the middle of finishing up the fourth set of clothes, he'd simply asked her.
"Ippan, get that, please," he said without thought, working through the pants legs of a pair of slacks.
Ippan nodded, going to the door and opening it to reveal a pair of suspiciously dressed movers, one of whom held her cap's tongue with a nod.
"Delivery for a Long Hua?" She asked and Obito looked at her with a nod.
"As always, it's a welcomed delivery," the young man responded as the woman brought in a suitcase with a look at Ippan before chuckling nervously as the girl blinked.
"Um… w-well, ma'am, these might be a bit… tight," she explained as Obito stopped what he was doing and mechanically turned his head to see the woman revealing underwear to the red-in-the-face Ippan. "Thankfully, we also got the men's boxers the size of your waist so I hope you weren't planning on wearing something… cute until we could get the appropriate tailors."
Squeak.
Ippan burned as she nodded rapidly, quickly shutting the suitcase and turning to see Obito working still, the female mover chuckling a bit before saluting them.
"Take care, Obito-sama," she left afterward, leaving Obito clearing his throat.
"If I'm right, your laptop's inside at the bottom… you can handle that," he said without turning around, Ippan's hurried steps were all he needed to hear to sigh in relief as his face went down in heat.
Tenko tilted his head as he held onto Eri, the boy blinking at the working teen.
'Grown-ups are weird,' then again, were they grown-ups?
They were pretty close if he thought about it. Working par-people, people, who took care of them and handled the deliveries and stuff.
He blushed a bit while looking down at the giggling Eri, touching her cheek with his knuckle.
She babbled happily and he huffed, holding her close.
One more hour later, with Ippan setting up both of their laptops for online classes, Obito finished her sixth set of clothes before sitting back without a roll of his shoulders.
"That's it for all our material," the Uchiha said as he leaned back on his hands, rolling his shoulders before being rewarded with small cracks and cricks. "Haaa, how do you like them?"
Ippan blinked away from her laptop, putting it aside to check on the six outfits that he'd crafted.
"... O-Oh my God, Obito-kun," she looked so touched while he chuckled. "These look so amazing," Ippan whispered before looking at one set of clothes most favorably.
It was a simple thing, a red sweater-like top with short sleeves and a pair of black slacks. It was not as detailed as the others, which were nice, but these called out to her, simplicity in its finest.
"I love them, thank you so much, Obito-kun," Ippan grinned as he nodded.
"If you feel anything off about them, let me know, I made them a size bigger, you know."
She did, hurrying off with that one pair of clothing first and foremost as Tenko walked up to him, the boy holding Eri, said baby currently chewing on a toy ring of hers.
"Hello, Tenko-kun, Eri-chan," Obito chuckled as he rubbed the back of his hand against Eri's cheeks, the baby squealing at his touch. "Hehe, hmm… ah, here," he said, picking up a quintet of folded clothes and handing it off to the shocked Tenko.
"H-Huh?! I-I thought you said nee-chan's clothes took everything?" The boy said, confused, slowly releasing Eri on the ground.
"I didn't forget you, it'd be hard to forget the one person she cares the most about," the boy blushed, nodding as he took his newly-made clothes.
He scurried off into the bathroom.
"Hmm," Obito looked down at the crawling Eri, the baby girl stuffing her face into his side, much to his amusement. "Hmm, snff, snff…" He sniffed her before nodding, getting up. "Let's change you, alright?"
Changing Eri had only taken five minutes and, in that time, the living room was occupied by two more once again.
Ippan squealed to herself as she hugged her new outfit, the top still baggy around her stomach and biceps while the pants just seemed a bit wider than normal ones, on her size, that is.
It was the greatest gift she'd ever received!
Tenko, meanwhile, smiled in his black shorts and long-sleeve top, the boy grinning as he moved in his new clothes.
"Thank you!" Brother and sister grinned for the Uchiha teen who chuckled.
"No problem."
~NRK~
The rest of the week had gone by without much of a hitch, the teens did their studies while minding their siblings, the younger occupants of the home would find some solace in one another, and they'd all eventually find time in the backyard.
Like now, Ippan blushed as Obito went down again before going back up, his black sweatpants and ninja sandals all that was on. Meanwhile, the young woman had worn another of his outfits, a black tank top with red sweatpants, her feet covered by cloth wrappings
"O-One hundred," she blushed as she sat on her classmate's back, the young man's powerful muscles clear as day to her along with the sweat that glistened against his skin. 'O-Oh no,' Ippan blushed harder, covering her snout with her clawed hands.
Yes, Obito was kinda hot and it was becoming more apparent as more exercises he did. He was strong, capable of lifting her and he seemed adamant about doing so repeatedly for the sake of becoming stronger.
She'd felt a bit happy to help him in this way even if she'd only been sitting… but the embarrassment and arousal rose in equal measure and she delighted in these moments if only because she was seemingly a perverted 'little' fox.
So, as Obito finished his 125th push-up, he nodded to her, the young woman getting off of him and allowing the young man to pull his legs through the opening in his arms, the former ninja sitting down with a roll of his shoulders.
Tenko blinked from his small ball, Eri in a cradle they'd brought outside, asleep.
"You're done?" He asked the two, coming over with a tilt of the head.
"Yes," Obito said as sat there, half-naked, while Ippan blushed and kept her gaze on his face. "Hmm, well, it's your turn now, Ippan-san."
"A-Alright," the young woman said, fumbling with her fingers. "Should I go for 200 again?"
"Hmm… 250," Obito said, still to this day surprised by just how enhanced she was by her quirk. 'It's likely a special one,' that's all he could come up with for the sheer amount of advantages Ippan had gained from it.
Enhanced senses, to the point she could point out someone with a quirk, enhanced stamina, enhanced strength, and some bits of a 'sixth' sense he'd learned about from the internet that might have been 'paramagnetism'.
Of course, she didn't use it, Ippan clearly didn't want to stand out. No, she wanted to be as her namesake entailed.
An 'ordinary woman'. Her parents must have been some sick bastards to say that to their daughter and then abandon her. Obito didn't think humans could be that petty but here he was, sitting on the back of the living proof that human cruelty really knew no bounds.
She went up and down, powerful arms doing their work as he sat atop her back in a cross-legged fashion.
Obito focused on the situation at hand. 'There's honestly nothing not concerning, especially that eventual confrontation,' he knew these peaceful times wouldn't last, not forever.
His parents' machinations, Victor's leftover group if the man himself hadn't been killed, their upcoming graduation, and then there's that individual.
Obito was being honest, he might need to step back into the life of yakuza for a time to ensure that that man was dealt with succinctly and completely.
"... Obito-kun?" Obito blinked at Ippan's call, looking down at the blinking young woman who shot him a worried look. "Is something wrong?"
"... I'm just considering our potential upcoming confrontations," he explained and she blinked. "... Conflicts," she nodded. "We're going to have to deal with your former… boss, eventually," Obito said and she flinched. 'You want to be completely safe but I understand your hesitation.'
"Y-Yeah, I guess," Ippan looked down as Tenko rolled Eri over, looking concerned. "It's nothing, Tenko-kun, it's just… I told you, we have to get strong to beat-up Victor."
"I could just decay him," the boy said with a strength she didn't expect. "H-He's a bad person, right?"
"W-Well, yes, but we don't want to just…" She wanted to utter those words oh so much but… she couldn't. 'I… I-I really…' It all hit her at that moment.
Ippan really wanted Victor dead and she flinched at the fact.
"... you've probably held it in for a while, now, Ippan-san," Obito said as she flinched again. "But you're not wrong for feeling the way you do, you know? If you want that man to disappear, I'll make it happen," Ippan's head snapped to Obito who raised a brow at her.
"What?"
"Victor is barely a man, much less a respectable one, he's clearly involved in methods that'd move my hand," Obito's eyes narrowed. "Ignoring that he's also made a move on my family, caused a situation that shouldn't have happened, and now is likely out for my head? No, I'm removing him from the equation the first chance I get," he said with finality as she looked down.
"... C-Can we still do this? M-Making me strong, that is?" Ippan asked, cheeks red and expression solemn.
"Of course, no one has the right to tell you whether you can or can't become strong, it's all on you, at the end of the day."
"Thank you, Obito-dono."
"Whoa…" Obito rubbed the back of his head as she giggled a bit, push-ups continued. "While that suffix is appropriate for our… connection, I don't think I'd like being called that."
"Hm, hm, you get called 'Young Master' all the time, though?"
"... yes, well… that's different."
~NRK~
The following week had gone well.
With their 'curriculum' sorted out, the two teens studied, took care of their siblings, worked out, and decided on things they'd need.
That's why, the Saturday of the next week, after their half-day of school was done, the four were back on that street, by that store.
Obito in a white shirt and a pair of dark blue sweatpants with his odd sandals, Ippan in the first pair of clothes he made for her with her boots, Tenko in the same with some smaller odd sandals from Obito's younger years, and Eri in a white onesie, the baby once again in her carrier as he had the large basket on.
Ippan now had one as well, the girl deciding to be more helpful than ever before. With the two of them settling into a rhythm, she really felt like she was doing her part while also being able to just live life.
As they walked, like last time, they got looks but Ippan had long since learned to tune out such things even before they met. Readjusting with her new pair in tow had been easy.
Still, her eyes went to Obito's lower back where a new katana bag now bounced off of, the contents of it still curious to her even now.
'Hmm, maybe I could ask him for sword lessons?' It'd been an idea that had slowly grown in her mind.
Obito constantly adjusted for her quirk's enhancements, he never wanted to inhibit her 'advantages' and seemed more than happy to help her develop them into something that'd make her 'strong'.
So, maybe, he could teach her more than just some exercises? It was worth a shot.
They turned that familiar corner only to be met face-to-face with a young man who was a bit older than them.
His eyes were a sharp dark blue, his skin a fair shade, and his hair short, black, and slicked-back. Having a bit of stubble on his chin and a pair of glasses on his face, he dressed rather familiarly in their school's male uniform.
"Hmm?" The young man blinked at them before smiling amicably, Obito raising a brow as he noted him.
"... Ah, Koku Hanabata, yes?" The younger brunette said as Ippan tilted her head at him while the older brunette smiled a bit brighter. "Apologies, we were hurrying to a store."
"The Arms N Goods Store, right?" The older student asked as the two blinked at him.
"Y-You go there often?" Ippan asked and was surprised by the man's nod. 'I guess he doesn't dislike people with quirks,' maybe, she'd keep her optimism at bay.
"Yes, I and some friends of mine in our club," he said as Obito raised a brow. "You've probably heard of it, does the Liberation Front Club sound familiar?"
The two's eyes widened. "You run that club? It's pretty brave," Obito said with a nod of respect.
The Liberation Front Club was one of the few quirk-filled clubs at their school. Of every club, it held the most quirk-users that numbered in almost half the school, most of that half being quirked people. From what the two remembered, the club facilitated interaction between quirkless people and those with them while also aiming to show their spectacular abilities in a good light.
"Thank you, we try our best and, no, I'm just the public speaker," Koku chuckled as Ippan nodded. "Actually, I came here to meet you two, if you'd believe it."
Obito blinked at that while Ippan readjusted her hold on her basket. "Really?" They asked in unison before looking at one another oddly. "... right," that wasn't weird or anything.
Koku chuckled. "Yes. Could we talk?"
Sitting in a cafe two blocks away, Obito, Tenko, and Ippan were surprised by the rather warm reception they'd received, Ippan the most.
"They don't mind?" She asked Koku who chuckled.
"You see, while we do what we do at school, we're part of a bigger organization in Tokyo and Deika City," he explained as Obito's mind fumbled with a bit of caution.
'A bigger organization connected to the school that no one's ever heard of?' During the walk here, Obito had checked on his phone, he'd looked up the Liberation Front Club's website and checked all the other Google matches for the next four pages.
Nothing else but other quirk-help organizations… So where was this guy coming from?
"That sounds crazy," Ippan said.
"It's a rather fortuitous occasion," Koku said with a smile. "Now, with the general information out of the way, the reason I wanted to speak with you both is because of your recent connection seen on the streets."
Ippan blushed while Obito raised a brow, Eri holding onto his hand as he held her in his lap, Tenko sitting next to Ippan with a tilt of the head.
"I'd ask 'in what way?'," Obito said.
"Hmm, many believe you two could be a good part of our organization," Koku explained as he put down a pair of business cards, the two teens taking them with confusion on their faces. "Those are the organization's business cards, the Meta Liberation Front, an organization full of both people with quirks and those without."
Obito looked at the card with a soft frown as Ippan smiled brightly.
"That sounds amazing," she grinned as she looked at Tenko who looked at her curiously. "I think the world will get better in our lifetimes, Tenko-kun!"
"... alright," the boy smiled as she ruffled his hair a bit.
'... why isn't this a well-known organization?' Obito thought with a deeper mental frown, Koku and Ippan's conversation drowned out by his thoughts. 'Half quirk-users and quirkless?' Something didn't feel right about this.
There'd be no way such an organization that seemingly had enough of a connection to be called 'big' and related to one of the better schools in Tokyo while being unknown? Also, Deika City?
Wasn't that location-
"Obito-kun?" Obito blinked, looking back up to notice the others looking at him. "Everything alright?" Ippan asked with concern.
"... yes, apologies, lost in thought. I was thinking about school," he said with a sheepish smile that surprised Ippan a bit while Koku smiled.
"So, this isn't a contract, an obligatory acceptance, or anything. If you feel like making an even bigger step in helping the connections between those with quirks and the quirkless, give us a call," the young man smiled as he got up. "Take care, thank you for the food, Obito-kun."
"Take care, Koku-senpai," Obito nodded as the older male grinned before walking off. "... Hmph."
"It's a pretty impressive group," Ippan grinned as Eri babbled, the young woman tapping her squishy cheeks. "Hmm~" She giggled a bit even as she noted Obito's frowning expression. "... are you sure everything's alright?" The fox girl asked with a frown herself as Obito sighed.
"I'm going to look into this organization," he explained as she blinked, confused. "We can't just trust in platitudes, Ippan-san, I don't know anything about this organization despite their connection to the one at the school."
"I-Isn't that being a bit negative?"
"Our lives aren't exactly brimming with positivity on the regular."
She winced, wilting a bit as Obito sighed.
"I-Is this that… the 'caution' thing?" Tenko asked and the young man nodded.
"I know, Ippan, if this organization is as presented, it'd be an amazing change to the status quo," Obito said softly as she smiled sadly.
"Things aren't that easy, are they?" She asked humorlessly as he winced.
"They're not…" he noted her downward look before considering something. "But, for now," Obito got up, Ippan raising her head. "Let's do some more luxurious shopping."
~NRK~
The fox girl squealed in joy as Tenko grinned, the two eating some sundaes as Obito gave Eri small slips of his vanilla ice cream with a tiny spoon.
Mood lifted, thank God.
~NRK~
The following week, Ippan had sprung the idea on her friend/employer.
Obito, mid-push-up, blinked at her question.
"Weapons training?" He repeated as she nodded. "... I suppose, when we're done with close combat training."
They finished their exercises before Obito took her through the forms and paces.
"Your limbs are longer than average, use that to your advantage!" Obito said as he tipped his head to the side before grabbing her offending arm.
Ippan squeaked as she was put on the ground after being pulled over Obito's head, the younger teen bringing his knee down onto her chest.
"... this isn't the way it'd usually go," he said, quickly getting off of the blushing Ippan with a facepalm. "Dammit, I'm sorry," Obito huffed with a slightly red face, holding out his hand to help her up.
The slight ease he did so with had her blushing some more despite how it shouldn't have been. 'They bounced,' and she was sure something had 'cricked' in her bra. "I-It's fine, I know!" Ippan said bashfully, fiddling with her fingers.
Obito rubbed the back of his head while looking away. "Let's get an early start on your weapons training."
Ten minutes later, Obito had come out into the yard with a large case that he placed on the ground and popped open to reveal kunai, shuriken, chains, normal-looking daggers, and ninja wire.
Ippan came over with Tenko and Eri in her arms, slit pupils going over all the dangerous wares with nervous excitement.
Tenko gasped in awe at all the things that Obito laid out.
"Alright, what do you want to start with?" Obito asked her before Ippan chuckled nervously. "... right, give our men twenty minutes."
One call and delivery later, Obito came back out into the yard with a large case in his hand.
Ippan giggled as Eri rested on her stomach, Tenko on one of her arms as they all laid on the grass.
Obito raised a brow. 'She really falls into the caring role easily,' she was basically prime mother material in his eyes. "..." He groaned a bit as his cheeks reddened. 'Mother material? What am I? Some sort of fool?'
Love and he never went well together, what the hell was his mind on?
"I'm back," he announced and the fox girl's ears perked up, head turning to smile at him. '...' Obito ran his hand through his hair as he burned a little. 'No… t-that's not what this is, is it?!'
He'd not… fallen for this girl, had he? Obito wouldn't accept that, he couldn't.
"Coming!" Ippan grinned innocently, setting his twitching cheek aflame. "?" She sat up, tilting her head at him with a look of confusion. "Are you alright?"
He felt his burning face and grunted. "Yes, I promise. Come, I've had my men find the appropriate sizes for you," don't sound sexual!
As she came over with her brother and his sister in tow, Ippan kneeled by the opened case to look at his wares.
"This is a nodachi," Obito said as she looked at that particular weapon, its sheer length and odd width curious to her. "This one, though, had been altered to be wider for the sake of my grandfather's brother," he hummed, noting that, yes, only that one had 'Unbreakable' on its body. "He said that he used to be in this life but left it behind."
"Really? Do you know him?" Ippan asked curiously as she held the weapon.
"Honestly? No. My granduncle seemed to want nothing to do with this and had jii-chan never utter his name here again," Obito shrugged as she looked a bit sad. "It's not like they have bad blood, despite him changing names, I and Eri have received gifts from him before on our birthdays. He simply desires to not be associated with this life and I can respect that."
"... you're really mature and understanding, Obito-kun."
"... I… I want to make sure I don't have regrets. I can't bog my mind down without understanding something, I should be willing to understand someone before I make accusations."
"Hmph," she smiled again and his cheeks reddened some more. "Yep, you're amazing!" Ippan grinned as he facepalmed at her compliment, Eri giggling away while Tenko blinked, head tilted.
With the rise in emotions settled, Obito made Ippan copy his stance.
Blade in both hands, arms out, left foot ahead a bit with the right one a bit back.
They swung 100 times, Obito watching her the entire time.
"We'll be trying more forms."
"Teach away!"
Half an hour later, Ippan gasped against the grass but with a nod towards her employer.
"Thank you, again," she said.
"You say that a lot," he responded as she giggled.
~NRK~
Hours later, Obito hummed as he made some more clothes for Tenko, the young man focusing away under a lamp as Ippan took Eri to bathe her.
Sitting next to him, Tenko watched him work, curiously. "... n-nii-chan?" He spoke up.
"Yes?" Obito said mindlessly as he sewed some buttons on the pair of pants he'd made. "That's number two, what is it, Tenko-kun?"
"Are you going to be with nee-chan forever?"
Obito flinched at that. "... it's not so simple, I don't know what Ippan would even want to do in the future… well, that's fully true," he admitted as Tenko perked up. "I'm sure she wants to make sure you grow well, Tenko-kun. You're basically her entire world, it's hard to miss."
The boy blushed, fiddling with his bandaged fingers as he smiled timidly. "I-I know!"
Obito chuckled. "And, for your question still… I can't very well say if this is permanent or not," he added as Tenko looked confused. "We'll grow up, it's life. No one knows what'll happen in the future, maybe your sister and I will always be on good terms, maybe we'll get into a horrid argument and leave this place, maybe she'll gain more family members and I'll leave this place, we don't know."
Tenko looked nervous about many of the possibilities. "W-What about you? Don't you like sis?" He asked quietly, startling Obito who grinned nervously. "I-I know that people can like how sis looks," the boy's expression darkened. "What about you?"
Obito frowned at that. "... Tenko, did something really bad happen to your sister while you were in that apartment?" He asked in a whisper and the boy shook his head. 'Well, I can cross rape-fuelled vengeance off my reasons for killing Victor,' he was still gonna kill him, though. "And, for your information… I can't… your sister is very attractive, I thought she was a full-grown woman when we met, she has a generous figure."
"Generous?"
"It can mean very will or very…" How does he explain to a boy that his sister's body was downright horrible for sensibilities? "As in she has a lot in abundance."
"What does that word mean?" Tenko hummed as Obito chuckled nervously.
"It means to have a surplus of something, to have a lot. If someone says someone has 'a lot in abundance', it means they're talking about the quantity of something."
"But how does nee-chan come into this?"
"... she's… got a lot of 'maturity'," Obito answered nervously but Tenko seemed to get it.
"Oh… s-so like hips and chests and stuff?"
"How in the world?"
"The bad men in the hallways say a lot of things nee-chan doesn't like," Tenko frowned and Obito frowned with him.
"Yes, well… There are good ways to admire someone and bad ways. Not everyone has the nicest intentions when they're talking about someone or looking at them. The difference isn't hard to figure and a good amount of individuals who do it aren't exactly good people."
Tenko nodded. "So… you like nee-chan's maturity but don't like nee-chan?"
"Emotionally, we've known each other for, at best, three weeks, I… I don't think such affection builds that fast," Obito said nervously. "I'm no good at romance, Tenko-kun, I'm… rather worthless in that regard."
"Mmm," the boy tilted his head. "But you're super nice."
"Hmm, sometimes, even nice people aren't great at everything. Your sister wasn't a master swordswoman the moment she got a blade, you know."
That was true, Tenko guessed that 'nice' people didn't get everything.
In the bath, Ippan smiled as Eri gurgled at the water, gently washing the 1-year-old's hair.
"Honestly, is most of your family cute or what?" She whispered to the baby who babbled. "Yeah, I thought so, too," Ippan giggled as she looked at her phone on the toilet.
A new thing that they'd bought today after the destruction of her last one, at her own hands.
'Never again, I won't let myself be taken advantage of,' Ippan told herself as she washed off Eri. "Hmph… I guess things can really change all because of a boy," she said to Eri who tilted her head as they got out.
Drying the baby in a towel before forming a little towel seat inside of another basket, Ippan touched the mirror in the bathroom, wiping away the fog to look at her body.
'The body of a woman,' it'd done nothing but cause problems for her.
Gross looks, annoying pick-up lines from people she'd never want to even be in close proximity with, attempts at less than consenting behavior.
This body had been such a disadvantage, the only thing that had kept her going was Tenko. Taking care of him two years back had been the only reason she'd been sane.
… the fox girl blushed.
"I thought it was a woman on the other side of the door!"
'A mature woman,' she held her cheek as she smiled in embarrassment. 'That really was the first time I wondered if this wasn't as bad as it was.'
Ippan giggled to herself before drying off, the light layer of fur on her, thankfully, never made it difficult and also made it easy to wear the kinds of clothes she'd want without worrying about overheating.
'Obito-kun might have forgotten about that part,' hadn't he said he wanted to show off his work?
It felt like he'd simply forgotten, not really worrying about it so much… hm, hm, hm!
Having all his attention was rather nice, a bit embarrassing but she rather cherished it.
A man's attention on her had never before felt so flattering.
Ten minutes later, she came out in a pair of pink pajamas with small ducks on them, her favored animal. Eri babbled happily in her red shirt and shorts, the baby clean and fresh.
"Thanks, again," Obito said as he served them some rice and pepper steak.
"No, it's not a problem at all, spending time with Eri is a joy," Ippan grinned as he nodded, getting seated before they all ate.
Tenko watched the two with interest. 'How do I get him to like-like nee-chan?' He'd never taken on an undertaking like this.
Usually, he was keeping guys away from her but now he was thinking otherwise.
'Hmm.'
"Our break is coming up," Obito said as Tenko tilted his head.
"What'll we do?"
"Mm-Mmm," the older male shrugged. "I'd usually just enter a cooking competition during them. Though, now that I have Eri, I'll likely just be doing something simple."
"... c-can we go to an amusement park?" Tenko asked, eyes bright, before he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Now, Tenko-kun," the boy pouted as he slumped. "Hm, hm, maybe not during the one week we have off from school, Obito-kun's… a-actually, Obito-kun," Ippan blinked before remembering something. "You don't need to really go to classes anymore, r-right?"
"Not really, I'm sure you heard, I finished all of my end-of-year assignments already."
"Then could you help me with my schoolwork," she blushed in embarrassment. "I… getting caught-up in class was never easy, I had more responsibilities, but now that we're… here," Ippan asked demurely.
"Sure."
"You're the best," she smiled at him and he rubbed the back of his head. "Still, anything in mind for the week?"
"Nothing I can-" Obito began to say only for a ringtone to break up the noise. "That's my grandfather," he blinked, pulling out his phone and flipping it open.
"I'm surprised you only have a flip phone."
"Never needed a smart one but I'll get one eventually," he said as he answered. "Hello?"
-Boya?- Hokei's voice came over the line.
"Evening, jii-chan."
-Evening, I guess you and that girl are having dinner?-
"Yes. Are you coming?"
-No, I already ate with your parents and, let me tell you… it was some of the most stressful talks I've had in my life- Obito frowned at that as the man sighed. -And I don't know what else to say but… you'll need to come here for the week, I'm sorry-
"What happened?" Obito said as Ippan and Tenko looked worried. "What'd they do?"
-... they're gonna be looking to leave the family- Hokei said, confusing the boy.
"Oh? Well… why do I need to be there?"
-Because they're asking for ya one more time and you need to take on the things left for your mother-
… Obito sighed. "... I can't just leave Ippan and Tenko here."
-Don't, bring 'em. No matter what your parents say at that point, you all are, unfortunately, separated. Call it your 'final declaration'-
"... Very well, when?"
-Early Monday, around 5 in the morning. Give… no, for the sake of making your separation as clear as possible- Obito blinked at the man's consideration. -I'm going to send you the designs for who we are- His eyes widened. -Become the branch you wish to be, find your emblem, present yourself, this is all for you-
"I see… very well," the Uchiha's eyes narrowed. "I already have an emblem in mind. I'll see you in two days, alright, jii-chan?"
-I'll have Kai and Rappa welcome you-
"Ah… yes, Rappa."
The old man laughed over the line before the call ended.
"... so…" Obito rubbed the back of his head as Ippan tilted hers at him. "There's a Succession Passing that's going to be happening Monday," he explained as her and Tenko's mouths dropped. "So… h-haha, that's what we'll be doing during the break."
"O-Oh! Well, um, if they don't mind me," Ippan said.
"They won't, our yakuza, our group, is actually pretty half-and-half," she looked alarmed as he chuckled. "Despite how it seems, there are people who accept quirk-users… they're just not always on the up-and-up of the law despite how close we work with them."
"I-I always wondered about that, the yakuza and police were working together?"
"Well, you do know that yakuza aren't just a bunch of thugs, right?" She nodded. "My grandfather took over a long time ago with just his and his brother's swords, my granduncle, and a small group he called the Shie Hassaikkai. They were an eight-man group who had conquered the eight concepts of combat: Drugs, not that way, traps, swords, guns, information, strategy, leadership, and, finally, family," she blinked as he nodded. "Yakuza have always been family-oriented despite our reputation. We're blood brothers, sisters, siblings, parents, and more. We'll go to bat for one another and keep one another in line. It's why my grandfather's group is so successful, we don't mess with dangerous shit, we own our territory, create homes for our people, destroy 'bad business', and handle the underworld as best we can. We take on that eight-man band's name as a reminder of where we started and how we'll guide our members."
"It sounds honorable," she said and Obito nodded with closed eyes. "It sounds more like samurai than gangsters."
"... that'd be the proper way of looking at it… but not all yakuza are like this, sadly," he said.
"I understand. So… I-I'll be meeting your parents?"
"In the worst way possible, yes."
Her ears flopped.
~NRK~
Monday morning came quickly for Kai, the 18-year-old young man's eyes narrowed as he checked his clothes for any lint.
None found, he nodded to his usual outfit that had an additional black haori with the logo of their Boss on the back.
Next to him stood a similar-aged, but taller by two feet, young man with a grin, one who was dressed more brutishly in a taut white shirt, thick black pants, similarly-colored boots, and a haori he'd tied at his waist but let fall against the back of his legs.
Having tan skin, nape-length, wild, light brown hair, and a pair of yellow eyes, the man crossed his arms, the martial artist gloves on them black in color.
"Hehe, haven't seen the Young Master in so long," he said as Kai huffed.
"You're too absorbed with going to those underground fight clubs for way too damn long, you missed him when he was here nearly four weeks ago, Rappa," he said as the man next to him, Rappa, choked.
"Seriously?! Dammit!"
"I heard there'd even been a big fight."
"I'll be around more often, DAMMIT!"
"Glad to see you're as energetic as ever, Rappa," came a voice as a car released its occupants, the large estate's lights casting a shadow over the arrivals. "But I guess you wouldn't be you if you weren't."
Obito Uchiha arrived with Eri in his arms and Ippan with Tenko right behind him.
Wearing a pair of black hakama, he had on a dark blue shitagi and had a black haori over his shoulders, the eight-sided trigram on the back the marking of the Family along with one other as a katana hung off his hip. Eri, the happy baby in his arms, had worn a tiny pink kimono, the symbol on the back of it as well along with one other. The baby's own white and gold katana sitting on Obito's hip opposite his own.
The two young men raised their eyebrows at Ippan, the tall fox girl's black sleeveless ao dai dress fitting to her frame while the same mysterious symbol sat on the bottom of the front of her clothes. Her decently powerful-looking arms were covered, along with her shoulders, by an open, thigh-length, black haori not dissimilar to Obito's own but lacking the Shie Hassaikkai emblem on the back but with the new symbol on it. Across her lower back, a familiar odachi sat, the weapon's sheathe blue and gold colors shining in the night.
Finally, Tenko scratched his neck with his fully bandaged hands, the boy's clothes similar to the ones he'd worn when he'd first come to the location but now he had on a small haori over his shoulders with the mysterious symbol on it the back and a small dagger across his lower back.
"Oh-ho! Young Master!" Rappa greeted Obito happily as the younger, shorter, man chuckled with a nod. "Ya gonna be up for a fight after this?"
"I have to handle a ton of paperwork, Rappa… but you may wish to take a shot at fighting him, Ippan," Obito said to the fox girl who squeaked as the taller teen chuckled. "Good evening, Kai."
"Good evening," the tall brunette said.
"She looks strong! Come on! We can have an amazing fight!" Rappa cheered.
"U-Um, well," Ippan smiled shakily while Tenko tilted his head. "Is… I-Is that safe?"
"Mostly!" Rappa cheered while she sweatdropped.
"Rappa's got a good grasp on his strength," Obito explained as he turned to the bodyguard. "It'll do you some good to actually spar with someone beyond your skill level but with a simpler style, no offense, Rappa. I'll probably spar with you sometime this week, maybe twice."
"TWO DIFFERENT FIGHTS?!" Rappa gasped as Ippan giggled a bit.
"W-Well… if it's to get stronger… alright!" She said with determination as Kai raised a brow at that.
"So, Young Master, she's… in?" Kai asked Obito who hummed.
"Only when I call on her here, 'no' outside of those situations," he said and the older raven-haired teen nodded before he and Rappa bowed at the sides.
"Welcome."
The four entered with the two at their sides, Obito leading the way to the Meeting Chambers.
"So, Young Master, why do you have another symbol on yer clothes?" Rappa asked as Obito nodded.
"This is the symbol of my branch of the family, the newly-reinstated 'Uchiha' sect," he explained as the two blinked. "Ah… you two didn't know?"
"We were running errands for the past two days to set everything up," Kai explained as Obito nodded. "So… there's been a change in families, huh?" He noted as he observed the symbol more intently.
It was like an eye with a three-leaf, bladed, pinwheel within its depths. The icon was red in color while the pinwheel was black.
"Seems tough," Rappa said with a grin as Obito snorted.
"I'd hope so. Who else is going to be here?" The 16-year-old asked the two who hummed.
"Most of the smaller yakuza in the nearby wards along with our own. It's a rather big meeting," Kai explained as Obito nodded, the group passing a series of being-prepped rooms. "Most of the 'Precept Families' are here as well."
"This is going to be a change in management even if only a little, I'm not surprised," Obito said as they came to a stop by a large set of sliding doors. "Alright, let's go," he said to Ippan and Tenko who nodded, pulling two masks off of their hips.
They covered their faces, Tenko's was black save for lines that formed the kanji for 'Ruin' on its noggin while Ippan's was black, kitsune-like, and had the defining features highlighted by teal colors and flowing lines.
With those two clasped-up, Kai and Rappa opened the sliding doors for them to enter, a large room of tatami mats being revealed with two long lines of yakuza heads with their wives at their sides and their children right behind them. At the end of the lines, Obito and Eri's grandfather sat with a strained smile as the two's parents sat on one side of him, their eyes indifferent to their children before they hissed at the obvious quirked person that was Ippan.
"Welcome," Hokei said as Obito nodded, entering the room with his group and went in-between the lines, nodding to each member of their Family.
When he came to the end of it all, his face grew impassive as he looked at his parents out of the corner of his eyes before gesturing for his entourage to go behind an empty seat at his grandfather's side opposite the one the siblings' parents were on.
With his group behind his seat, and Kai along with Rappa behind his grandfather, Obito sat down.
"Good, we're all here," Hokei said with a puff of a pipe, Eri's babbling getting a small smile out of him. "Now, let's get this meeting underway, Irai," he turned to his daughter who frowned with her arms crossed.
Dressed in a red and yellow kimono with picturesque roses on the hem and cuffs was Irai Uchiha, a moderately attractive woman with fair skin, long ash-brown hair, and a pair of annoyed gray eyes.
"I'm seeking separation from the Shie Hassaikkai," the mother of a disowned two declared to the now murmuring lines of Family members. "I don't see any point to me being a part of this family anymore, I can't stand it," Irai uttered with a look of distaste sent towards Obito whose gaze didn't shy away from hers in the least, irritating the woman more. "Tsk."
"Haa, I understand, it's not a life many can assume will end well," Hokei said vaguely as the woman's husband frowned. "Are there any who'd object to this action? Are there any who wish to bring up events that will result from this situation?"
One old woman did, the woman's fingers easily handling a series of documents that Hokei nodded to.
"Akane, read them," he said as she nodded.
"With this separation from the Shie Hassaikkai, the immediate protection of those who remain from the separation will not be expected," Akane explained as a series of yakuza members entered the room before moving behind Shashin and Irai. "The members who've joined the former-Uchiha family in separation will be removed from our records and join the departing Family members…"
As the old woman droned on about the immediate changes, Obito simply looked around the room, eyes going to the assortment of men that were standing behind his parents.
'... memorized,' he considered the ones over there before sighing. "Of course," Obito hissed a bit while Ippan leaned towards him.
"Is something wrong?" She asked quietly and he sighed.
"I hope these people don't become a problem for us down the line, those men and women are the most 'hesitant' on quirk-users," he said as she sighed sadly.
"Alright," she said as she leaned back, sitting up to her full height which was a few inches above him even while they were seated seiza-style.
The old woman adjusted her glasses as she flipped several pages. "With that, we've finished the immediate results but now we'll be moving onto the new heads of the Uchiha branch," Akane said kindly as Obito nodded, standing up and showing his back.
With both the Shie Hassaikkai symbol and his own, the members of the Family nodded in interest before he turned back around and kneeled.
"Young Master, with this change in the heads of your branch, I want you to realize it's not a large amount of overhead you need to perform. There are simply areas you need to maintain and keep to our standard."
"I understand," Obito said. "The high school area I go to, I know there are several trucking stations near it that work for us. The area around the suburbs, the loan sharks, right?"
"Correct. There are also the stores in Mustafu you should check every other week or so, we'll have someone take you there while you can't drive. There's a talent station there, they've been handling some up-and-coming individuals, very rich individuals, who are also trying to get their daughter, who has a quirk, to hide it."
Obito's eyes narrowed as Ippan's hands gripped her knees but she remained silent. "I see… What should I do in that case? I've seen a decent amount of some of the other work but not for the talent agencies, taxis, nor factories."
"We'll inform you if you become a rather worthwhile 'inspector'," Akane smiled as he nodded. "Next, there's a gang that needs stomping out. A rather worrisome one that's started toting odd drugs."
"Drugs?" Ippan spoke quietly but the room heard it. "U-Um, that is-?!"
"What my bodyguard means is that it's not near here, is it?" Obito asked curiously as Akane nodded with a worried hum. "... where is it?"
"Naruhata," she said. "It's a worrisome place, that one, Young Master. It's filled to the brim with vigilantes both worthwhile and not," Akane added as he cupped his chin. "We don't know who's toting those drugs but it's becoming apparent due to some of the rumors my family has heard."
"When should that be taken care of?"
"In due time, we all know you're due to graduate soon, there's no need to get in front of that," she smiled and Ippan blinked at the chuckling all around. "Besides those jobs, it's nothing more than accounting we'll be asking you to do again for all the businesses. You'll get you cut, as always, we just need to match numbers."
The boy's parents sneered at that while Obito nodded. "Very well. I'll handle it tonight if you all want."
"I'll tell some of my men to bring the last deposit today."
"Ours is here at your leisure, Obito-sama."
"As is ours, though, could you ensure that the necessary count is there? We'd been having some sticky hands as of late."
Obito nodded to them all, memorizing the faces. "The Akiguro, Murasame, and Hoshijoji families, understood, I'll give those amounts special care," he said, earning grins all-around.
"I really do wonder what it'd have been like, under him, Hokei," one of the men there said with some laughter. "A bright mind like yours leading the next generation is such a missed opportunity."
"Haha, the boy's spoken. Yet, he helps, I do not doubt in my mind he'll be an asset to our Family for the years to come," Hokei chuckled as Obito nodded. "Now, since you are handling business, Obito-kun…"
"A tattoo, you mean," Obito nodded. "I guess we'll have Kai do it like always?" He asked and the gathered group nodded as he began to strip.
Stepping up and in between the lines again, Obito sat in front of his grandfather as Kai got up, and two inkwells in his hands.
"What's it going to be, Boss?" He asked Hokei who hummed.
"..." The grandfather of the siblings observed his grandson's powerful physique, his eyes, powerful ones like his own created his answer. "Hmph, whether he takes over or not, our members are right, you do remind me a lot of myself," Hokei grinned as Obito balked while many laughed and Kai gasped in awe.
"I-I see, very well," he moved behind Obito. "This will be a great honor, Young Master," Kai said as he slowly let the inkwells' content pour down Obito's back.
Not a flinch or twitch, the boy's eyes closed as Kai took off his gloves and rested his bare hands against his back.
On contact, the colors slipped off his hakama, leaving it pristine, and molded themselves over his back and up to his right shoulder.
Swirling marks reminiscent of calligraphy posters formed a shogun samurai on his shoulder blade, the magnificent figure's own back to those who saw it, his blade held aloft at his side. A powerful black, white, and dark blue painting that allowed the dark blue 'samurai shogun' to stand out against a white sun on black scenery.
"D-Done," Kai was in awe at the tattoo, its realization more honorable to him than being the one to craft it onto the Boss's grandson's back. "Young Master," he stepped back and bowed.
Many others in the line of Family members did save for ten, even Ippan, who was holding Eri, and Tenko had bowed.
Hokei and his seven other 'precepts' smiled proudly while the boy's ex-parents grimaced but gave no outward reaction.
The boy had become a 'man' and now ran his sect of their family.
The two shared a glance.
A short-lived tenure if all things went well.
~NRK~
That's a wrap on this chapter and there's not much else to be said.
The story's elements are ramping up: Heroes, vigilantes, the Meta Liberation Army's place in this fic, clearly the upcoming Trigger situation, scheming parents and 'partners' after him, and more.
Obito's gotten more targets on his back in one month than he ever did throughout the entire 3rd Great Shinobi War.
~NRK Out~