Chapter 10: Realization
A/N: As of 6/12/2022, I made some updates to the chapter, including added paragraphs and some extra detail.
It didn't matter how Obito felt, Jitsuko tried reasoning with herself. When she arrived in this world, she decided that the reason for it was to save Obito and nothing else. She achieved that goal. Whether or not Obito disliked her was irrelevant.
Oh who am I kidding. It is totally relevant to me.
But still, after successfully taking down Akito with Obito and Kakashi, she realized some things. Obito was important, but that didn't justify neglecting the other people in this world. Jitsuko was specifically referring to Kakashi and Rin. Never in a million years would she have guessed that Kakashi actually liked her.
But if he truly likes me then how come he's been treating me so poorly?
However, the most important thing to focus on next was Rin. During their captivity, Jitsuko made a vow to Obito that she would confess and make amends with her. She never liked Rin in the show. She was a typical 'nice' girl with no real flaws and was perfect in every way. But getting to know her firsthand let Jitsuko experience just who she truly was – Rin really was remarkable, but she couldn't see that under that thick, suffocating cloud of jealousy. She truly did want to make things up to her, but that was easier said than done.
Have I ever had someone who I once thought was my friend just waltz up to me one day and had them say they hated me, but they don't anymore so that makes it all okay?
She audibly sighed. Gathering up the courage to do so was a work in progress. There was another issue she had to address, though, and that was her relationship with Obito.
Minato warned them that Akito Yamanaka was known for destroying spirits and breaking bonds. Jitsuko and Obito are still strong, he assured her, but he asked for some time to think by himself. That absolutely terrified her. Obito had never asked for time away from her. Even though he insisted that they were okay, Jitsuko couldn't escape the notion of Obito realizing he hated her and that he never wanted to see her again.
That was her worst nightmare, she decided.
Obito, on the other hand, was in utter turmoil. As he laid down on his rooftop staring at the stars alone, it became increasingly, unbearably lonely without her. But he had to think. He couldn't get what she said out of his mind.
"Obito. Loving someone who doesn't love you back,"
"It's hell."
Obito squeezed his eyes shut as he struggled to accept what those words really meant.
Was the reason Jitsuko hated Rin because she was envious of her? What reason would she have to be jealous? She is already amazing in every way!
But wait…
…Does that mean Jitsuko loves me?
…Loves… me?
His heart raced at the thought. He quickly brushed aside the sharp blooming rising in his chest. There was just no way an Uchiha like him deserved anything like that.
Obito couldn't comprehend being on the receiving end of love and affection.
He then thought to when the three of them were traveling back to the village after their successful assassination mission. He was in the middle of bandaging Jitsuko's injured hand when she spoke up.
"Obito, what was that back there? You looked up at Akito and suddenly he just froze. Was that your Sharingan?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"But I've never seen you use it like that before. What made you suddenly do it?"
"I… I'm not sure. I just remember being so disgusted by that guy. How he treated us, how he treated you – I just couldn't stand it anymore."
It was as if a block had been removed from Obito's heart. He was able to unlock a new genjutsu ability with his Sharingan because all he could think about was Jitsuko and the danger she was in. The feeling matched his mission in the Land of Grass when she was almost killed before his very eyes. Since that first mission, Obito battled with his emotions about how he felt about Jitsuko – and how he felt about Rin.
But then, it all became clear.
Rin was still a close friend. He was still deeply hurt when Jitsuko's true feelings for her were revealed to was a time where he believed that Rin was the one for him, but the more he thought about it, the more he found beauty in Jitsuko. It was as if, all this time, his feelings for her had been smoldering below the surface.
Jitsuko and Rin were similar in a lot of ways – they both were kind and gentle with a heavy emphasis on support and protection for their friends, but Jitsuko was different. There was a fire in her – one that held goals and passions, ambitions, and big dreams. He wanted to help her achieve those dreams just like how she strove to help him reach his. She made mistakes, but she was willing to change and grow as a person, and he was all-too eager to help her with that. If he were honest, Obito looked up to Jitsuko to help him grow, too.
It was then, as he closed his eyes softly, he allowed that blooming warmth of clarity to flutter through him.
It felt wonderful.
The next day, Jitsuko found herself walking through Rin's neighborhood, the fear and apprehension of what she was about to do grew with every heavy step. She decided to face her fears now, or risk it eating at her for the rest of her life. The last time she really talked to Rin was when she coldly shut the door in her face after what was otherwise a wonderful night. That was so long ago. Jitsuko had no idea how she'd respond, or if she had any right to be in Rin's life at all.
The door to Rin's house in front of Jitsuko took her out of her thoughts as she stared at its wooden frame. She began knocking at the door with force that dwindled after every knock, signifying her diminishing confidence. The door opened moments later to Rin – but she looked… taller? No, Jitsuko quickly pieced together that the woman must be her mother.
"H-have you found her? Is she safe?" begged the distraught woman while Jitsuko stood there with confusion strewn across her face.
"H-huh? Found her? Found who?"
The woman immediately broke down in tears as her hands reached to cover her face. Jitsuko didn't have people sobbing in front of her often, but she then felt an overwhelming urge.
"What happened? You can tell me what's going on. I… I want to help!"
The woman began to settle down at her words, allowing Jitsuko to think for a moment.
"Are you talking about Rin?"
At her daughter's name, the woman began crying harder.
Oops.
"W-wait, it's okay! I'm a ninja and Rin is my friend. Tell me what happened, and I'll find her!"
Asking for Rin's forgiveness will have to wait.
The next thing she knew, Jitsuko was dashing across the village to reach Obito's house. She felt guilty that she was about to speak to him after he had asked for time alone, but it was an emergency. Rin's mother explained through sobs that Rin had left for her night shift at the Hidden Leaf Hospital days ago, but never came back. Jitsuko pondered various explanations to why that could be.
Maybe Rin's been busy and opted to sleep at the hospital between shifts? No, they already searched there.
Duh.
Next, maybe she had been training so hard at the training grounds that she collapsed in exhaustion and didn't come home?
Now that's just a stretch, Jitsuko.
She sorted through different scenarios that just didn't make sense as she continued her trek to tell Obito…
Hmm…
Maybe Zetsu and Madara got ahold of her.
Jitsuko stopped in her tracks at the thought. She had always anticipated them kidnapping Rin as a possibility, but it was expected of them to do so while she was out on a mission and away from the village. To think that they would capture her while she was within the village borders, surrounded by Jonin and ANBU? It just didn't make sense!
That was, until she remembered why Zetsu was so threatening in the original show. Zetsu has the unique ability to morph himself into any individual, and even copy their DNA and chakra signature down to the single, finest detail. With this, Jitsuko realized, Zetsu can take form of anything or anyone he wanted. He must have disguised himself as a member of the village to infiltrate with ease and lure Rin away somewhere. She'd be too kind to reject someone's call for help, after all. Satisfied with her conclusion, Jitsuko dashed for Obito's house again.
What am I going to tell her? Obito pondered to himself, dejected. He wasn't even sure if he should tell her. After what he said to Jitsuko on that mission, after he utterly screamed at her for something that was more or less out of her control; he'd be amazed if she still wanted to see him after that. She did say that she planned to make amends and be real friends with Rin, though. Obito smiled at the thought.
Suddenly, a couple frantic but relatively polite knocks thumped at his door, a familiar voice followed soon after, a voice that's always soothed him.
"Obito. Obito, are you home?"
It's her.
Well, it's now or never, Obito.
Opening his door, Obito had to stop himself from blushing. He was distracted by the things he'd planned to tell her, though his mind went completely blank after seeing her face.
When did Jitsuko get to be so beautiful?
"H-hi," she said meekly, eyebrows furrowed in worry.
"Hey. I'm… really happy to see you again," he replied softly, his fierce blush returning, unable to stop it.
"I'm so happy to see you, too, Obito."
What she said was an understatement.
After a moment, the two of them spoke up in unison, speaking over one another.
"Jitsuko, I need to tell you someth-"
"Obito, Rin's in troub-"
Both of them paused, silently trying to figure out where to go from there. Assuming that what she had to say was more important, Jitsuko was the first to step forward.
"Obito, don't freak out, okay?" she said and bit her lip as he blinked at her confused.
"Rin's gone missing. People have been looking for her for days but there's no sign of her or her chakra signature either in the village or around the Land of Fire."
At that, his onyx eyes grew wide. The aching pounding in his chest screamed at him that he had isolated himself longer than he should have been. The mounting guilt in his heart was soon replaced by fierce determination.
"We have to go find her right now!" Obito commanded, his face full of passion. He hadn't even bothered to ask what happened, his only concern was finding and retrieving his friend.
Jitsuko nodded firmly and left for the gate without another word.
The gate to the village was quickly approaching when a strong memory struck Jitsuko. She skidded her feet to a halt, kicking up clouds of dust just outside the exit. Hearing the noise, Obito struggled to stop himself and turned toward her in confusion.
"Jitsuko come on, we can't waste time here!"
"Wait Obito, I can't leave."
"What?" he bellowed, his open palms gesturing upwards in frustration. "Rin's gone missing; how can you not leave? I thought you were going to make amends with her?!"
"Obito, remember what I promised the Third Hokage all those years ago? I promised that I would never leave the village unauthorized again. There's no telling how long this will take, or what they'll do to us when we get back!"
Obito's body trembled harder after each passing moment, the growing irritation searing in his body. "We don't have time to get permission, Jitsuko! Rin could be in trou-"
"Think this through, Obito!" she cut the Uchiha off with a slightly raised voice. "If we go, we'll be regarded as rogue ninja. You remember what happened last time I went 'rogue' don't you?"
"I don't care about that, and I don't care about what the shinobi rules say either!" he yelled and turned his back toward her to look out into the distant forest. "In the shinobi world, those who break the rules and laws are regarded as scum."
Is he seriously giving me that speech?
"But those who abandon even one of their friends, are worse than scum."
I can't believe he just said that to me.
Jitsuko was momentarily hit with a wave of Déjà vu, somewhat offended that Obito would say that to her. It implied that he was regarding her as worse than scum. But as she thought about it, he was absolutely right. She was just following the rules, ignoring the wild circumstances. And maybe she was scum when she blindly hated Rin, but things were different now.
Jitsuko pinched the bridge of her nose, now frustrated herself. She knew that the Fourth Hokage had a special team dispatched specifically to track down Zetsu and Madara, so going to him would be the best bet.
It wasn't Obito's fault. He wasn't aware of the investigation, of course, so it was likely challenging to try to convince him to go with her. Jitsuko regretted not going to Minato first, but when she was under a lot of stress, naturally, she looked to Obito first.
"Obito, don't think for a second that I'm abandoning you or Rin."
Obito turned around to face Jitsuko, taken aback by the firmness in her tone.
"But think about it. If we left now, where would we go? We need to go see Minato-sensei. The Hokage of all people can help to give us at least a general direction on where to find her, so we can get to her faster. Right?"
Jitsuko held out her hand to her best friend.
"Come with me. We'll save Rin together, and I promise to protect the both of you with my life."
A gentle breeze rippled through the area around them, caressing Jitsuko's hair as Obito looked on, his expression softening considerably at her words. He then wordlessly gripped her hand tight, exchanging smiles and nods before heading to the Hokage's office together.
