Obito was late again. He tore through the streets towards the meeting place. It wasn't his fault that his next door neighbor needed her cheeky cat rescued from a tree, or that Aunt Mikoto needed a hand with the washing. Life was a tricky path to walk. Just thinking about the looks on his teammates faces gave him a headache. Kakashi would be pissed for sure, Minato-sensei would probably be exasperated more than anything and Rin would probably smile at him as always. She always tried to be supportive, but even Rin had her limit.

Obito reached the building and slammed the door open. Minato's eye twitched and Kakashi gave him an icy glare, accompanied by a thumb down. Rin cocked her head to the side smiling gently, though Obito could tell she was trying to keep her expression neutral.

But to the young Uchiha's shock, they weren't the only familiar faces. Kushina-Sensei and Katsumi stood leaning against the back wall. Kushina looked as firey and impatient as always. Beside her stood Katsumi Hatake. The look in her soft mismatched eyes stole his breath. In a room full of heated stares, she was a cool autumn wind. Obito's heart thudded heavily in his chest as he tried to clear his mind with a rough clearing of his throat.

He took a step forward and closed the door, quickly getting muttering his token apologies. The photographer, who was already riled up from the young boys tardiness, was a force to be reckoned with as he chided the goggled boy into place. Obito stood beside Kakashi begrudgingly, grateful that Rin was in between them, even if she was crouching in front of the team. Minato-Sensei stood behind them all placing his hands on the boys heads in a fond gesture. As soon as the camera flashed and sputtered Kushina-Sensei was on her feet dragging her apprentice along beside her.

After the photo was taken Kushina grabbed Katsumi's arm and tugged her in the direction of the camera. The silver kunoichi didn't have to be told twice as she skipped excited towards her brother. She slid her way in between the boys, to stand behind Rin, her being was glowing from head to toe. The tension melted in Kakashi's shoulders as he angled himself in her direction before scooping her hand into his own.

They were like puzzle pieces settling into place. Obito felt as if he was witnessing something very intimate. He turned his eyes away only for a cold hand to shake him from his inner turmoil. Forgetting completely about the photographer counting down, he turned to stare at the smaller girl beside him.

And just like that they were captured in time. Rin beaming at the camera, Kakashi and Katsumi flashing their classic Hatake grins. Obito on the hand was blushing from ear to ear, his lips twisted in a crooked smile.

Minato and Kushina were looking at their student's with knowing smiles. A moment of calm in the storm that was their lives.

—-

The midday sun was shining high in the sky as Katsumi quickly wove across the rooftops. Kakashi had already been dragged out on their day off and she was dying of boredom in the house by herself. Barely a sound was made as she skipped along towards her destination. Her path just so happened to take her past the bustling estate of the Uchiha clan. The silver haired Kunoichi was familiar with this certain family of ninja, after meeting Obito the first time she had done her fair share of research. But today she lingered a little longer, searching the grounds with keen eyes.

A young boy, he had to be only a few years younger than herself, was practicing near the boundary fence. His expression was troubled, which made Kastsumi stop in her tracks. She had seen that look a million times on her brothers face when he couldn't master a technique fast enough. Her mind told her to continue on her path, but her heart betrayed her. Maybe it was all the years of seeing the loneliness on Obito's face, or maybe her sisterly nature. Either way she found herself facing the boundary fence, placing a gentle hand to the chain link, divider. The sound gave the younger Uchiha boy pause. He spun with a look of annoyance and confusion.

"What are you looking at, huh?" Onyx orbs locked with hers as she raises her eyebrows in response. She hesitantly signed to him, praying that he would understand. Luckily for her, he did.

"Yes I understand sign, what do you want? You're not a fangirl are you?" the boy reeled back physically at the thought, getting ready to run. Katsumi slapped a hand over her masked mouth as she giggled, shaking her head.

'No No!' She signed desperately, 'I just wondered if you might like some help?'

The raven haired boy sighed heavily and ran his hand through his curly hair in relief.

"Help? What kind of help? You know anything about Shunshin?" The young twin gave a nod and proceeded to shunshin right next to him with a gentle flutter of the leaves.

"Kami!" The boy cursed as he stared at her wide eyed. "Not bad kid, what's your name?"

She snorted at the "kid" remark, 99% sure this boy was younger than her. Her hands flew through her name signs with such ease, the Uchiha boy could read the excitement in her movements. She was relieved that he seemed so eager indulge her.

"Well Hatake-chan, my name is Uchiha Shisui." The masked kunoichi smiled warmly and nodded, committing his name to memory.

Almost 45 minutes later and a few rip roaring failures, the young boy had managed to master the basics. Katsumi was impressed, he was actually rather impressive with the way he picked up her instructions. It wasn't until she heard a loud bang and rapid apologises that she turned her attention away from her new student. The voice was familiar, very familiar.

Obito Uchiha was scrambling around to pick up various items from the ground, as a middle aged woman watched in exasperation.

He handed them all back while vomiting a string of apologies. As he turned his head away from his mess to run for the exit, but a drop of silver glistened in the corner of his eye. Without warning his feet were moving and before he knew it he was standing in front of her. The masked ninja that swam around in his head. He was never sure why he couldn't stop thinking about her, for years Rin had been the only light in his life. Over the years this little silver minx managed to silently slip into his dreams. At first he thought it was his rivalry with Kakashi that spurred these fantasies, but he wasn't so sure now. In private he had practiced hard for just such an occasion. But now that he was standing right in front of her, with baka Kakashi nowhere in sight, he was tongue tied.

After about 30 seconds of awkward silence, Katsumi waved and signed a familiar greeting. That seemed to rattle his brain enough for him to clumsily form a few signs, though he had been practicing often, he had never gotten the chance to actually talk to her, so he was more than rusty.

'What are you doing here?' He gave a relieved sigh when her eyes shone with understanding. An unfamiliar feeling tingled in her stomach as she realised what he was doing. Had he practiced to communicate with her? She had gotten used to Kakashi's team mates just reading her signs and voicing their own thoughts out loud. It was obvious he had spent time on this.

'I saw my new friend needed some help, so I offered. Kushina- sensei says it's good for me. Why were you in such a rush anyway?' Obito followed her hands closely and chuckled in response.

"I'm late as always. Heading to meet the others, weren't you invited?" He responded out loud while forming the signs for scattered words he knew.

Shisui watched their interaction with raised eyebrows before a sly grin appeared on his face.

"I gotta get home anyway, Hatake-chan. Thanks for your help." He waved and sent his sly grin straight for the now blushing older Uchiha, who had forgotten all about Katsumi's new friend.

Said silver Kunoich smiled and waved goodbye as the third party vanished, leaving them alone. When Katsumi turned back to her friend she noted the flush in his cheeks and wondered if maybe he had a fever. That thought was pushed aside quickly as he spoke.

"So, uh... Kakashi didn't invite you to lunch with us huh? Last I checked almost all of our old class was turning up." He rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled before he noticed the drooping of her features. And then it hit him, Kakashi really hadn't invited her.

Katsumi's eyes dropped to her hands as she tried to recall her brother telling her about such a meeting. All she knew was that Kakashi was getting dragged out by Rin, and it wasn't going to be much fun. At least that's what he said. But this sounded nice and she was sad he had kept it from her. Hurt even. Even with the mask obscuring her mouth, Obito could tell her lip was trembling.

"W-well I'm inviting you!" The words tumbled out of his mouth with such force it actually made the smaller ninja shrink back slightly. It only took a second for her to register the words before her whole being lit up. Her shoulders righted and she beamed at him.

'We can go together!' Her signs were so fast Obito struggled to comprehend, though he did manage to interpret her movements before he felt a cold hand grip one of his. The raven haired boy had to stop his jaw from falling to the floor.

Katsumi had taken his hand in her own and was clasping it tight. Her expression made his already unsteady heart leap and bounce. There was no chance she hadn't registered the enormous blush spreading across his cheeks.

He opened his mouth to speak, only to make the most awkward squeak he had ever heard. Obito wanted to crawl into a ball and die of embarrassment, while simultaneously leaping for joy. It was all very confusing.

The smaller hand gave a tug and the unlikely pair found themselves walking hand in hand out the front gate of the Uchiha grounds. Katsumi held hands with her brother all the time, so this was a completely normal statement of trust for the young girl. Obito on the other hand was lost for words and couldn't stop staring at their hands, it was just like when the squad had their photos taken. He was certain Kakashi was going to skin him alive.

'Where is everyone meeting?' She signed, using mostly one hand, to portray her meaning. Unconsciously he gripped her hand tighter, expecting her to pull away, but she didn't.

"Uh we were all meeting at the dango place, you know the one with the booths outside?" He tried to keep his voice steady as he got more used to the silver kunoichi's attention. She nodded enthusiastically and adjusted her course.

Five minutes of conversation and every word became easier. Turns out Katsumi was a lot easier to talk to than he thought. She was quiet and thoughtful, but her hands were full of expression and excitement. A small ember had been burning away in his stomach since he caught sight of the young girl. Now it was definitely a flame.

All too soon they reached their destination. It was apparent in the slowing of Katsumi's pace and the look of heartache clear on her features. He followed her eyes to find all their school friends crowding around one table.

Gai, Asuma, Kakashi, Rin and a few She didn't quite remember the names of were all laughing and stuffing their faces.

Kakashi was surrounded by what looked to be 2 disgruntled looking boys.

"Come on Kakashi how lame?!"

"What do you mean she's not coming?"

"Yeah?! You keep her locked up or something?!"

Katsumi looked down at Obito's hand and back to the bustling table of kids. And with that her expression changed to a wicked grin.

"You think they are bothering baka Kakashi about you?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

The boys were getting more and more insistent.

"That's so lame!"

"Come on cough up the goods, prodigy!"

Kakashi was shaking with rage.

"Piss off and stop asking about my sister you massive perverts!" He feigned a swipe at one of the boys, causing them to lean back and continue their barrage of questions.

Obito watched as Katsumi's face went from understanding to mischief in a matter of seconds. She turned to him and pulled his down towards her so she could whisper in his ear. It was all Obito could do not to pass out right then. She was so warm, so close, her voice gentle in his ear.

"Want to teach my brother and these boys a lesson?" Her fingers gripped his shirt as he nodded, stunned and unsure of what to do. She pulled back and made a motion with her fingers to follow her lead. Obito nodded as she dragged him towards the group. He was fighting of the instinct to pick her up and run the other way, not hand her back over to her brother.

In the seconds it took for them to approach, two things happened. First the boys turned their attention away from Kakashi and onto their original target. Then there was Kakashi's reaction. Obito had never seen him look so livid in his whole time being acquainted with the male twin. He followed his dark blue eyes to were his own hand was intertwined with Katsumi's.

Shit.

"Obito? What-" Kakashi never made it through his question. The two bothersome pests that had been at his side constantly bothering the boy had chosen their new target.

"There she is!"

"Just the chick we have been dying to see!" Their speed and enthusiasm had Katsumi cringing into Obito's side. Which didn't help said boys blood pressure.

Taking everyone by surprise Katsumi bought her hand up in a motion for the boys to stop. They didn't take heed. Big mistake.

One second the Uchiha boy could feel her body beside his, the next he was cold and the boys were flat on their backs groaning in pain.

Katsumi sat quite happily on the back of Kakashi's seat holding a stick of half eaten dango plucked directly from said twins plate.

All eyes were trained on her as she flipped the bird to the boys on the ground. Before jumping off her perch and making her way back to Obito.

"Hey now, don't go back to him! Imouto!" Kakashi was on his feet only to be stopped by the sharp stick of the, now finished, dango sinking into the table a hair from his hand.

The look on her face was of pure heartache and Kakashi for once was lost. He had only kept her away to stop those pesky boys from bothering her, but he didn't think she would feel so betrayed.

With a swift hand she then flipped the bird at her brother and sauntered back the way she came. Over the groaning genin on the ground. To come face to face with Obito once more.

With a look of defiance she grabbed one of his limp hands and threw one last venomous look to her twin before dragging the Uchiha into a sprint.

"Run!" She squealed as she heard Kakashi's livid cry. The chase was on!

—-

Katsumi flew through the streets of Konoha a cackling Uchiha beside her with every step. They could hear Kakashi's frustrated shouts from a block away. They ducked down a few allyways until Obito pulled them into a strong smelling spice shop. Her eyes began to water from the thick spice in the air, even when she pinched her nose.

"We should lose him in here." As Obito spoke he lifted his goggles from their resting place and let them sink into the crook of his neck. He turned to face his companion only gasp when he noticed her tears. "Ah! Katsumi-chan! You should have told me-" His concerns were silenced by a gentle hand over his mouth and a tug into a crouch.

Kakashi's shouts reached a crescendo as he tracked them both through the streets. Her scent had led him here but now he was slapped in the face with nose scorching smells. There is no way he would catch his little sister down this ally, not with her nose. With a frustrated grumble he kicked at the ground before taking off along the rooftops, trying to pick up any faint trails.

The deep sigh that left the pair was even felt by the middle aged man who sat, looking quite bored, behind the counter. With a warm hand the young Uchiha boy removed the smaller hand from his mouth.

"Let's get out of here, before he realises!" Obito spoke in a hushed tone before helping Katsumi to her feet. Silver hair fluttered as she gave a determined nod.

'Where to next?' She signed creeping, with increasing speed, towards the door. If she didn't get out soon she was sure her nose would bleed.

Understanding flashed in his eyes before he strode towards the door and ushered her outside.

"Lets just see where running takes us?" He suggested sheepishly, convinced that Katsumi would probably up and leave his lame ass any second. Said Kunoichi thought about his words before a light dusting of red warmed her cheeks. She nodded without a second thought.

For a moment Obito found himself lost in those odd coloured eyes. Joy lit her up from within and the dark haired boy felt helpless in her gaze.

With a tilt of her head and a small gesture to lead the way, they were off. The fresh air was like heaven as they cautiously made their way out of the streets and up into the surrounding forests.

This felt like a dream to the clumsy Uchiha. The forest chattered with songs of the creatures within its vast canopy. Katsumi lead them as they leapt from branch to branch, weaving towards seemingly no destination.

Conversation was organic and relaxing to the two ninja. Katsumi was full of bad jokes, while Obito seemed to land himself in the most awkward situations, resulting in hilarious anecdotes. Time passed like sand through their fingers. Before long the pair chose a large tree that sat just above the hokage monument to. The branches large enough for them to settle into the curves of the bark, sitting a palms length away from each other. The view of Konoha was spectacular.

Obito felt like he needed to slap himself. She was everything he expected and more… Every now and again he managed to illicit giggles from behind her mask. Which made him want to cry out in triumph.

"You know, the way Kakashi talks about you… I thought you wouldn't want to hang out with uh… someone like me…" He rubbed the back of his neck with a clammy hand. The wolf nin tilted her head, a frown pulling at her lips.

'Someone like you? What the heck does that mean?' She signed back.

"Well… Uh… A clumsy loser like me?" Obito watching in mild concern as her shoulders began to shake and she doubled over. He almost reached out to touch her, only to stop in his tracks. Laughter floated through the air before the Uchiha boy furrowed his brows.

This was it! The act was up. This happy little illusion crumbled before his gullible eyes. His shoulders sagged in defeat as he realised Kakashi was right, she did think he was a loser! And to top it all off now she was laughing at him like the loser he was.

"Obito Uchiha!" Her voice snapped him out of his self loathing. He lifted his onyx stare from the hole he was boring in the wood, only to have his world rocked again. Now she was staring at him as if he had offended her. What was happening?

"You could never be a loser. Never!" She turned away from the thoroughly confused boy in front of her. Her shoulders slumped as if they were heavy with an invisible burden. She shook her head and raised her hands to speak.

'I love my brother, but he is an overprotective idiot sometimes,' she shifted her heterochromic gaze back to Obito's obsidian eyes. 'He is hard headed and stubborn.' Her eyes never faltered. 'And he is also 100 percent wrong about you.' Her small hands slapped together to emphasise the truth behind her words. Finishing her sentiment by placing her fingers against his chest.

Obito's chest constricted tighter as every one of her words sunk in. He felt the pressure on his chest before he even registered her movements.

"M-me? You sure got the right guy?" He managed to stammer out.

The silver Kunoichi pulled her hand back and placed it over her own heart.

"I would never lie to you, Obito-kun." Every word that fell from her lips had him flawed. Not only did she say he wasn't a loser, but she spoke to him. Gentle words. Every syllable as important as the other. It was clear this was a very rare privilege.

"I-I - would never break your trust either, Katsumi-chan." As if all at once Obito felt the tension in his shoulders melting. This was a safe space. Trust was obviously important to the young Kunoichi, which made the Uchiha boy smile. "If I had known I would have invited you to train with me!"

For once the tables were turned. A rosy blush illuimated the bridge of her nose, highlighting the light dusting of pale freckles nestled there.

'Train with you?' She stumbled through the hand signs, enough to give Obito paise as he tried to work out what she had said.

"Train-with-you- oh yeah totally Katsumi-chan! That would be awesome! You could help me hold my own against Baka Kakashi!" His eyes smoldering with determination as if he had set himself a challenge.

Katsumi watched his passion with wonder. She could feel his spirit warming her guarded heart. This feeling was so unfamiliar yet comforting.

He noticed she hadn't said anything and turned to see her deep blush and wide doe like eyes. Ah there went his coherent thoughts.

"Uh but if you would like to just hang out… well that's cool too?" He rubbed the back of his head in a nervous gesture.

'Oh I- I don't really care,' she smiled at him as she signed. 'Besides I think you're really fun to be around.' If that was one thing about Katsumi that was indefinite fact. She was short, sweet and to the point.

The unlikely pair chatted well into the evening, until the sun began to set. Reluctantly they parted ways, but neither left empty hearted.

—

A/N: Hey folks! Long time no update huh? I haven't abandon my sweet twins, but this story has changed a few times in my head over these years. Katsumi is back with a vengence. Prepare for angst and feels and plot ! Happy reading!