Chapter 27: Tobi
A/N: As of 6/26/2022, I made significant changes to this chapter. I added a lot more action as well as major dialogue changes. Just like the last chapter, I also removed extra unneeded details to better capture the spirit of Naruto. I also added a surprise guest by the end of this chapter~
"…you have something extraordinary inside of you."
Seven words. Never before had seven words intruded upon Jitsuko with such indestructible force behind their meaning. No. He couldn't possibly be referring to –
"S-something inside me…? You already said that I'm not much use to you, what's so special about my chakra inside me?"
"It is not your chakra I am interested in, dear girl," Orochimaru said with a sly grin. "Kabuto lured you here because of the presence of the Uchiha flowing within your chakra network. That is what has drawn in my fascination."
She exhaled discreetly in a mix of relief and morbid amusement over the legendary Sannin's humiliating misunderstanding. Obito's chakra was strong - so potent that after being within his presence her body was often soaked, pungent with copious amounts of it as it ebbed and flowed with her own. That was what Orochimaru must have been sensing inside of her.
"Orochimaru… I can't believe I have to tell you this, but you're wr –"
"Hush now. You really should not speak. Conserve your energy; it would appear that your body is severely malnourished, that is not a good thing to be when in the midst of incubation."
The young Tobi looked up at Jitsuko while he clasped a frail yet firm hand around hers. "Incubation…?! What's that mean?"
"I…" She couldn't explain it out loud. The fact of the matter terrified her, so she lied, "I'm not sure what it means, Tobi…"
Finally, Orochimaru's repulsively delightful expression morphed into a perplexed and slightly annoyed one. "I'd hope the maternal side of my future vessel would be at least somewhat bright, but no matter. The unsurpassed strength of the paternal Uchiha portion is what is truly of importance."
It struck Jitsuko then, like a slap of imposing thunder. She didn't want to admit it, but she knew. All this talk of a future vessel, incubation and maternal/paternal traits, suffering from ripples of erratic and unexplained nausea, and barely possessing enough energy to keep herself from collapsing… Orochimaru was insinuating what Jitsuko had suspected for weeks now, but have forcefully repressed out of fear and denial. But she couldn't hide it any longer.
Jitsuko was going to be a mother.
The chakra inside her wasn't comprised of just hers and Obito's anymore – deep inside were hints of a tiny and frail individual, one whose chakra contained a blend of both Jitsuko's and Obito's characteristics.
"Oh my god." The ghastly reality finally struck Jitsuko, hard. Not only was she in imminent danger within the presence of the notorious Orochimaru, she now had the crushing responsibility of two other lives to protect from him.
"Th-that's why Kabuto let me follow him here? You want my b… my b-baby…?" Sheer astonishment from outwardly acknowledging her condition made it difficult to spit the words out. When she finally did, Jitsuko's own voice felt foreign to her. It wasn't necessary anyway. She knew all about Orochimaru's plan: his insatiable desire for a strong Uchiha body to transfer into and call his own.
"No… you want them… for their body… for their eyes…!"
"Now I suppose I am guilty of such an ill-mannered accusation. This truly was unexpected, but a pleasant change in schedule, nonetheless. You appear to be about 28 years old, does that sound correct? What an ideal age for such a momentous occasion. There is no need to worry, I will keep you primed and properly fed until you are to give birth, then you won't have to worry about the prospect of unexpected parenthood any longer. We both get what we want, you see."
Orochimaru watched Jitsuko's face soften seemingly in interest, and he leaped at the opportunity. "Come along with me and I will see that you stay in a special facility away from any disease you may catch in this very room. As an added benefit, I will pardon whom you've labeled as, 'Tobi' and grant him special privileges around the base. Now doesn't that sound like a fair trade? Everybody wins in this scenario, lovely girl."
Jitsuko recognized Orochimaru's manipulation tactics. He was simultaneously trying to coerce, persuade, and scare her into obeying his every command. There was one fatal flaw in Orochimaru's scheme, however; he was underestimating the extent to which it took for Jitsuko to back down and surrender.
At first, her face read as if his sly techniques were prevailing, but inside she was fuming. To even suggest that she would hand over any child to such a monstrous and demonic shinobi – especially her children. Harrowing guilt still consumed Jitsuko over not being able to stop Orochimaru before he could experiment on the 60+ children years ago, resulting in their death. She couldn't help but feel every drop of their blood on her hands.
You knew about it, Jitsuko. All this time. You could have prevented this.
She would be damned if she let another child fall victim to Orochimaru's 'pursuit of knowledge.' A powerful burst of possessiveness sprang forth, granting her the confidence to address the legendary Sannin without restraint or conviction.
"Forget it. You can't keep us here, and you won't control either one of these kids. I'm taking them and we are leaving, and if you even think of laying even your tongue on me or Tobi,"
Jitsuko's back straightened upright, indicating the extent of her unfaltering audacity toward Orochimaru.
"I vow to the afterlife I will strike you down where you stand."
Orochimaru's grave stare warned that one more bold move and her guts would be splayed violently across the floor.
"The choice is not yours to make!" His sudden rise in tone startled her. "I see the Leaf Village is still lacking in teaching its citizens proper respect. Allow me to make an example of just who you are opposing, girl."
At that, Orochimaru's grotesque and pointed tongue snaked outward at blinding speed, coiling around Tobi in a slimy and constricting prison.
"NO! Don't hurt him!" Jitsuko's legs feebly stumbled toward Tobi's writhing body. She had succeeded in provoking the legendary Sannin. He was prepared to show her that opposition of any kind will not be tolerated, and what better way to break her spirit than to annihilate someone she held dear?
Tobi had been nothing but a disappointment to Orochimaru. He was brought here for the sole purpose of becoming a promising candidate for Orochimaru's future vessel. Either he was snatched from the Hidden Leaf Village at a negligible age, or his mother was abducted with the understanding that Tobi harbored Uchiha blood, but even after years of torment, his Sharingan refused to activate. Orochimaru even went as far as to seize one of Tobi's eyes for further experimentation to obtain knowledge on a why such eyes were deficient, to no avail.
It was not unheard of where some Uchihas never awaken their Sharingan abilities, and Orochimaru deemed such pathetic individuals as 'defective,' and Tobi was no exception. At this point, Orochimaru kept Tobi solely for his own amusement, but he soon grew tired of such trivial nonsense. If he killed this worm now, he'd be ridding himself of a useless, defective vessel and mentally bludgeoning Jitsuko to comply as a result. This way, he'd be killing two birds with one stone.
Orochimaru smirked at the idea, but it was soon replaced with an unexpected frown when he registered that his body had cemented into the floor up to his waist, courtesy of Jitsuko's jutsu.
"I won't ask again. Let. Him. Go."
Deciding against her mind telling her to comply with Orochimaru, Jitsuko instead took a great chance to confront the irritated Sannin directly. All the while, Tobi looked on, stunned at her bravery to attack Lord Orochimaru, for him.
His tongue unfurled from Tobi's gasping form and darted toward Jitsuko at frightening speed. She concentrated on sending all her chakra to her feet, letting her jump backwards at great heights, legs dancing in the air, to dodge his assault. She quickly regained her balance and turned back to face her opponent. Jitsuko moved again, taking flight towards the Sannin, this time, landing directly in front of him. He stood still, as she focused her chakra to her hands, gathering specs of gravel and stone. With all her might, Jitsuko then slammed her fist against his stomach. The intense pain radiated from her hand and through his stomach. The attack may have been risky, but the damage was fierce.
Blood seeped from the Sannin's jaw as Jitsuko snatched Tobi and leaped back, skidding her feet before setting him down. Peering back at him, she offered him a gentle smile, brows upward warmly. "Are you okay?"
A twinkle in his eye caught her attention as Tobi's face morphed from astonishment to incomprehension. "Yeah, but… but why? Why are you doing this for me?"
At that, her lids lowered slightly, her gentle grin not faltering for even a second. "Because that's what being a ninja is about. Stay behind me. I will protect you with my life."
Turning back toward Orochimaru, Jitsuko had a fraction of a second to pull out a kunai and deflect an oncoming snake, the hardened scales clashing with the medal and generating sparks. The powerful impact forced the wind to be knocked out of her, and she looked up at the snake as it lunged towards her face. With a grunt, Jitsuko threw herself to the side to avoid the strike as it collided with the ground where her feet stood, uprooting the earth below.
As she rolled to safety, Jitsuko formed hand signs and manipulated the loosened ground to shift and harden around the snakes head, effectively trapping it in place before taking the kunai and slicing it at the base of its head, severing it in two. There was no time to celebrate, as Orochimaru lunged another snake at Jitsuko, catching her off guard as it struck her full force, sending her flying toward Tobi, limp body skidding to a halt beside him. As Jitsuko felt the sharp pain of the impact, she was forced to come to terms that she was in no condition to hold off the legendary Sannin for much longer. With that recognition, her trembling body stood up, facing Tobi as he frantically scanned the cuts and scratches riddling her body.
"Tobi, listen to me very carefully," Jitsuko instructed, creating a narrow hole in the ground. "I want you to crawl in this hole, and don't stop moving until you're out of the base. From there, keep following the trees. There will be ninja to help you. Okay?"
Tobi was about to speak, but the words lodged in his throat as she summoned a Mud Wall to block another oncoming attack.
"Tobi, go!"
He stammered, "B-but what about you?"
"I'll be fine," she lied. "Go, now!"
As Tobi hopped into the hole, his wellbeing distracted Jitsuko as the snake shattered the wall, twisting tightly around her with it securing its glistening muscle around her neck and suspending her in midair. Jitsuko's mouth gaped open, but no noise accompanied the action. The suffocating grip around her throat prevented any ability to show evidence of her imminent death.
It was as if an intense fire had ignited within Tobi at him witnessing the light fading from the eyes of the only person to regard him with unconditional kindness. With a distressed cry, Tobi leaped from his safe haven and lunged at the Sannin, blind to any plan or forethought; all he wanted to achieve was to stop Orochimaru from hurting her.
As Orochimaru turned to attack him, within Tobi's one eye was the unmistakable signature trait of the Uchiha – the Sharingan. After years of coaxing Tobi, only to label him as an irredeemable failure, he had unlocked the unique ocular ability from the distress of witnessing someone he cares deeply for in immediate danger.
Jitsuko's eyes squeezed shut, lamenting that she never even had the chance to tell Obito that he now had a family on the way, and the poor soul in her stomach whose life was cut short before it could truly develop at the slimy hands of the despicable creature known as Orochimaru. Her eyes pinched shut as his grasp compressed harder… but she refused to give up – the adrenaline coursing through her body amplified her distressed struggles against his bind.
"Tobi, RUN!"
Hearing the urgent plea in Jitsuko's voice fueled Tobi's ever-expanding fire, and he chose to act instead of escaping. His fumbling hands lifted to converge together and, as if on instinct, imitated the hand seal she had shown him previously.
Snake…
Ram…
Monkey…
His crimson eye never left Jitsuko as she looked at him in shock, the muffled sound of her begging for him to leave barely registering in his mind.
B-Boar…
H..h..horse…
TIGER!
Tobi perceived a strange heat emanating from his torso before a short but intense fire burst from his mouth, setting Orochimaru ablaze while cloth at a nearby table caught its residual sparks, effectively starting what soon became an inextinguishable fire within the base. The heated burst distracted Orochimaru into releasing his hold on Jitsuko in order to pound and bury his head into the soiled dirt in an earnest attempt to douse the scorching flame on his face as her limp body collapsed to the ground with an audible thud.
Immediately racing toward her, Tobi rocked Jitsuko's shoulder with as much force his frail body could muster, rousing her to half-consciousness. Fueled by rage, the flame spread farther, now beginning to reach adjacent chambers and labs, which finally caught Orochimaru's attention. Violently breaking free from Jitsuko's softening jutsu, Orochimaru couldn't contain his seething resentment for Tobi as he dug his grotesque fingernails into his dusty hair before thrusting him into the growing fire. The heat made contact full force with Tobi's exposed skin, severely scorching his right half.
As if on instinct, Jitsuko's body collected any shred of chakra she had left to leap up and snatch Tobi out of the fire, holding him in her arms as her legs gave out and collapsed. All the while, Orochimaru rushed to leave the room, seeking to salvage his important lab work and valuable scrolls before they burned to oblivion by the growing inferno, leaving Jitsuko and Tobi to fend for themselves in the labyrinth hideout.
She had no idea when she blacked out, or how long she was unconscious, but a frantic voice followed by the unmistakable scent of smoke and ash harshly roused Jitsuko back to reality. She never forgot her encounter with Kusuo Uchiha years ago, and how she was mere moments away from death by smoke asphyxiation. The memory still haunted her, and even to this day Jitsuko suffered from traumatic dreams reliving the nightmarish experience. Waking up to her senses being flooded with that familiar heat and smoke sent waves emotionally charged with sheer terror all throughout her body, but a boyish voice snapped her out of her freezing episode.
"J-Jitsuko…?" Tobi called for her between coughing. He was unable to process the conflicting emotions of relief and confusion by her unusual reaction upon waking. The ashen atmosphere painted his once jet-black hair a dusty grey. Unable to see the hands in front of her from the excess amount of black smoke, Jitsuko blindly molded her fingers together to create a bigger hole for their escape, when the sound of a ceiling cracking under pressure filled her ears.
Twisting her head upward, Jitsuko was faced with the stark realization that the foundation above her head was moments from crashing down. Immediately pulling Tobi to her torso, she leaped through the exit into the hallway just as the ceiling collapsed the room they were just in get shrouded in dust and debris. The dimly lit hallway granted just enough visibility to scrutinize his dire condition.
"T-Tobi…! Hang in there!"
He nodded weakly, his one crimson Sharingan peering up at her.
She didn't know where to go. The ground was coated in a thick layer of fallen beams and other unnatural apparatuses. There was no way to escape through the ground now. Jitsuko didn't dare try, anyway. There was no force on this Earth powerful enough to pry Tobi out of her quivering arms.
Dodging the falling debris, she sprinted through the labyrinth hallways while the flames spread through the hideout. The scent of musty dust and suffocating smog permeated her nostrils. The harrowing scent was almost enough to overpower another unfamiliar smell, one that smelled… noxious.
It wasn't until she hastily approached a mysterious doorway and observe various broken vials scattered on the ground did a concentrated blast of the fumes meet with Jitsuko's uncovered face. A thick cloud of poisonous gas surrounded each orifice – her eyes, nostrils, mouth, everywhere. Any remnants of saliva in her mouth immediately evaporated while her throat tightened and shriveled in response to being directly exposed to an unknown toxin – likely conjured by Orochimaru himself. Being unable to shield her face, Jitsuko instead opted to sheathe Tobi's from the fumes with her hand without thinking.
Forcing her stinging eyes open, Jitsuko spotted a glimmer of light at the end of the charred tunnel behind a thick wall of unyielding flames, prompting her dry eyes to snap open and her legs to wobble, mind flashing with the traumatic experience from her previous lethal encounter with fire. Shutting her eyes and with gritted teeth, she dashed directly through the inferno, all while screaming in a mix of fear, adrenaline and determination, and impatiently proceeded through the flames. There was no time for self-preservation or interest. Tobi needed medical attention. Immediately.
The dark trail of smoke ascended into the evening air from a distance while Jitsuko's disheveled form collapsed in a nearby forest, with Tobi still heavily within her grasp. After a few shuddering gasps of air, she looked up to Tobi to find he was still awake. He suffered burns on at least 50% of his body, and she had been carrying him for so long now. The village was still hopelessly out of reach.
"Just hold on, Tobi. Once we get back to the village, they'll patch you up. There are more people just like you there. They're all so amazing and talented, and their eyes glow red just like you. Maybe we can even find your parents! You just… need to… hold… on…"
While listening to his increasingly labored and shallow gasps and the life fading from his eye, Jitsuko had to face the truth – there was nothing she could do for Tobi.
"Jit…suko…" Broken words managed to leak from his chafed lips upon seeing her pained expression. "Did I… do something bad…?"
With an open-mouthed awe, her dusty eyebrows contorted over the boy's calm demeanor.
"N-no, Tobi. You… you did something… g-good…"
One red eye, half-lidded from the weight of depleted energy, peered up at Jitsuko, with his lid raising slightly, "Really…? I did…?"
Drops of warm tears pattered over her quivering hands, stammering between forcing back a sob, "But, why? Why couldn't you just run?"
Tobi grinned lightly. "Because that's what being a ninja is all about."
Jitsuko gestured a forced nod while choking back tears, and the feverish movement prompted the tattered and chipped remnants of her village insignia band to loosen from its once-secure knot. "Th-that's right. Just like a ninja. You chose to save me. You're a hero, Tobi…"
She watched Tobi's eyelid drop at the same time his slight smirk did. At the same time, her headband slithered off, seemingly in slow motion, onto the ashy ground below with a gentle clunk.
"If only…"
The flickering life in his crimson eye faded, and Tobi succumbed to his injuries.
"I could have saved you…"
The night was still. Soil cracking and crumbling under the weight of her shoes and her labored breathing were the only noises to accompany Jitsuko while trudging back to the village like a reanimated corpse - both physically and emotionally. Dragging and skidding her feet along the dirt only amplified the gritty noise and aided in distracting her from the overwhelming turmoil transpiring in her body and spirit. It took roughly 20 years, but the ninja world finally shattered her.
After what felt like endless walking, Jitsuko finally retreated to the village. At this point, she had no desire to be anywhere – not at Ichiraku Ramen, not at the Hokage's office to report what she'd found; Jitsuko didn't even want to go home to face Obito after what she had done. Eventually, she forced her head up to observe where her feet took her, where she ended up in her favorite spot in the village – at the pond where it all began.
How appropriate. It was as though Jitsuko's body knew how to cheer herself up after such a harrowing depressive episode. It had been so long since that fateful night where she plunged into that water. Ever since then, she had taken trips to that park to refresh her mind of the overflowing sentimentality she finally expressed to her soulmate that night. Usually Jitsuko's reminiscing took place while sitting at the bench under the cherry blossom trees; however, that spot was reserved specifically for pleasant visits. Instead, her shattered spirit urged her toward the edge of the pond.
This is where it all began. We were so young back then. Even after all these years, I still can't believe Obito chose me. Even when I'm such a screw-up.
A negligible and weary smile strained against her lips at the thought.
All because I decided to take a walk that night.
Some things never change. Jitsuko remembered how she would always take late night strolls whenever she felt troubled or burdened back home.
Home… exactly where is home for me now?
Thoughts of her life before transporting to this world popped into her mind every now and then. Jitsuko had long been accustomed to the ninja world by now, but sometimes she wondered if she would ever see the people from her old life – her old house, her old neighborhood, it had been so long.
Jitsuko's body finally halted at the water's edge when a subtle, mysterious twinkling in the water caught her eye.
That spark… it… it looks…
Her weary eyes squinted as she leaned closer toward the object, before they widened in shock.
That's-!
It was a shiny object, identical to the one that first lured her into the water all those years ago.
It looked so… inviting.
Guilt and shame overrode any other emotion and inhibition. Jitsuko had only seen this light one other time - perhaps this instance had a specific purpose.
Bending at the knees, she crouched toward the murky pool; the urge to reach into the water obstructed all other thoughts. Before she could think about what she was doing, Jitsuko watched her arm stretch toward the object in the water, entranced by its sparkle, reflecting how she was unable to resist it years ago. Time ceased to flow as her fingertips gradually advanced forward, closer to grazing the pond's marshy surface.
Maybe… this is for the best…
Closer…
Almost there…
….
Right as her skin was about to make fateful contact with its dreary depths, Jitsuko paused.
If I touch this… will I… go back to my world?
Do I want to return to my world?
Her lids lowered wistfully at the thought, the pressure in her chest overwhelming all other emotions.
Maybe… it's time to go back. Clearly I'm no longer needed here. I did all I could for this world. Everyone will be fine without me.
Jitsuko thought about how transitioning into this world forced her into giving up on her past life. She never truly had a choice in the matter, but it would appear that a second chance has been gifted to her. However, she knew that choosing to live in her previous world… meant abandoning this one.
I would be leaving my friends behind…
An image of Kakashi, Rin, and Minato turning around to gleam warmly at Jitsuko flashed through her mind.
And all those years training and perfecting my skills… that would disappear, too.
Her mind then conjured a sequence of restless, sweat-induced nights spent at the training grounds practicing various shinobi techniques.
And of course, I would be deserting… him.
Jitsuko's thoughts finally fixated on the entire reason, her compelling resolve for becoming a ninja: her boyfriend, her partner, her lover – Obito Uchiha, and the adoring glint in his eyes and smile whenever she graced his presence. Her thoughts ended with a warm image of him clutching his child tight with loving eyes.
Jitsuko's hand froze, hovering directly above the liquid barrier – the one that defined the universe's boundaries, the one that divided her from the two worlds. After further contemplation and stilted hesitance, her hand steadily retracted from the pond, and she reclined to her knees.
I… I can't. I can't do it! I can't abandon them.
Eventually, Jitsuko managed to struggle to her feet. Her head hung low and with pronounced bags under her eyes, heart-rending depression began to settle in further as her lips began to tremble uncontrollably. Suddenly, a sound in the distance interrupted her own, but she remained standing, unfazed. She was too numb to turn around or even lift her head. That was, until a swirling noise reduced Jitsuko's sniveling to a stop.
That swirling… she hadn't heard that since…
Strong arms urgently enveloped her trembling body from behind and pressed it to their chest assertively before there was even a chance to turn around. The next sensation came in the form of labored breathing against her neck, indicating that they had been moving, rushing – as if searching desperately for something.
"J-Jitsuko…!" Obito mewed between heavy pants, struggling hopelessly to maintain any shred of his composure. "Wh-where were you…? I thought you'd be… I thought I…" he mumbled sheepishly while hiding his face into the back of her neck. All night he searched – in and outside the village, but he found her. Obito was so scared. He was relieved; frustrated, overwhelmed with powerful and conflicting emotions as he clutched Jitsuko tight from behind with his body trembling, chest heaving.
Jitsuko couldn't speak. Any words that'd leave her mouth would trigger a cascade of tears to fall.
Obito couldn't tolerate the silence. He struggled with quivering arms to place them on her shoulders, and firmly he began to twist her around.
"Jitsuko-"
"Don't look at me!" she demanded while jerking away. Full to the brim with shame, she refused to allow Obito the privilege of facing her after being separated for so long. Jitsuko didn't deserve the sweet reunion. Not after everything that happened because of her.
His motion ceased, but only for a moment. Slowly, he twirled her around to face him once more, with her head positioned stubbornly to the ground.
"Jitsuko. Look at me." He deliberately addressed her with a powerful tone, something he did only during unimaginably intimate moments. His voice was unfocused and hoarse while trying hard to conceal the tremor overwhelming his body.
Lifting her head took a strenuous amount of effort, but Jitsuko's debilitated eyes eventually met with her boyfriend's. He did not look happy. His Sharingan burned an intense red, to reflect the anger, confusion and exasperation that dominated him over putting herself in danger again.
She could see past the sheen of displeasure on his face. Hidden behind the surface of irritation, Obito was overjoyed to see her safe. Still, she had left him to panic, as if what he felt didn't matter to her. The two of them exchanged looks for a brief moment – Jitsuko's was worn out and defeated while his peered slightly downward, wordlessly scolding her while reflecting his intense aggravation. The act soon faded; his stern look eased before averting to the ground while sighing in a mix of relief and frustration.
"Please. Just tell me what-"
Before he could muster another word, distraught arms darted out to clench Obito back as Jitsuko finally allowed her emotions to take over and explode with inconsolable tears. The unexpected reaction startled him, but loving arms descended to her back and waist, embracing Jitsuko and letting her cry it all out. Her body collapsed harshly to the muddy ground, with Obito following her movement without hesitation and dropping to his knees, where she inhaled a slow, agonizing breath, and released a shaken wail of torment and sorrow as a constant stream of tears finally evacuated her eyes. It was a raw howl unlike any sound he'd ever had the displeasure of hearing.
Every moment that day was pure, unadulterated, anguish, Jitsuko's cry told him. A deep and sultry inhale unleashed the shame of being fooled by Kabuto, another strangled howl escaped her lips from almost starting a war, with a raging, scolding ache in her chest from letting Tobi sacrifice himself to save her.
Jitsuko and Obito clasped each other for what felt like hours.
Eventually her wails lessened to distressed whimpers, but the raging tears never ceased. Obito welcomed the nuzzle into his neck, the warmth of her tears against the goosebumps coating his skin diminished his fears that she was gone for good. Obito couldn't fathom what Jitsuko had gone through, at least not in this timeline. What he did know, however, was the sensations transpiring in his own body – the overwhelming panic of learning she was missing, the anticipated exaltation of spotting signs of her chakra nearby, and the utter disconcertment of her uncharacteristic and unfitting reaction of reuniting with him after being separated for so long.
The clashing emotions of what he had to go through that day overpowered Obito, and he began to cry as well. His head dipped into the crook of Jitsuko's shoulder and pressed her harder against him until they were one mass of erratic, billowing emotion.
After countless moments, Jitsuko was the first to break the uncomfortable silence with crushing words mumbled into his shoulder.
"I'm such an embarrassment."
Obito snapped his head upward to look at her, but she only pressed her face harder into his neck in response. He knew being pushy wouldn't work in this instance. With his breathing regulating, he cupped Jitsuko's cheek into his palm, his fingers becoming damp as he brushed the tears away with his thumb. Gently, he coaxed her out of the comfort of his embrace to connect with his eyes.
A thin sheen of sweat coated his exhausted expression, and the darkened intensity of the bags under his eyes matched hers. Despite the negative inference in his face, Obito's dark eyes pulsed with love and captivation for the defeated woman slumping before him. Catching that special spark in his eyes even after all these years never failed in swelling her heart with an enthralling tenderness for the Uchiha, and he inadvertently succeeded in alleviating her troubled expression into a softer, more lax one.
The sudden calming of her mind allowed Jitsuko's senses to perceive the unusual sensation left on her neck – a liquid of sorts, but thicker than tears. Brushing her fingertips across her neck then back to inspect them, Jitsuko's eyes widened slightly over the rich crimson-colored fluid coating them: blood. She used any remaining strength to raise her head to meet with Obito once more, this time noticing thick trails of blood oozing down his cheeks and dripping into the mud below, with it originating from both of his Sharingan.
"O-Obito… have you been…?"
He shushed her gently. "I had to. I wanted… needed… to find you…" he trailed off while breaking eye contact. "No matter what it took."
They both knew the use of Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan was strictly forbidden – without the Hashirama cells he possessed in the original show, Obito was prone to the affliction that plagued all Uchiha's who were blessed – or cursed – enough to awaken the forbidden Uchiha ocular ability of the Mangekyou. Blindness.
Using her thumb to stroke the blood smearing his unscarred cheeks, Jitsuko replied sternly, her gritty voice full of remorse, "You know why you can't keep using Kamui, Obito…! H-how many times did you…" her voice lowered, only then noticing a faint and dull paleness developing deep within Obito's eyes.
He pressed Jitsuko insistently against him once more while closing his eyes and combing his fingers tenderly through her matted hair. The forceful action signified Obito's feelings of being overwrought with a confusing blend of frustration and gratitude. It didn't matter to him how many times he had to use Kamui. He would happily endure the searing pain and welcome the consequences of blindness if it meant keeping her safe.
"Why did you go…?" he asked soflty, pressing his lips tenderly to Jitsuko's forehead.
The stark reminder of all the events that transpired that day sent a chilling wave of pain and guilt through her body, causing her heartrate to speed up, which Obito discreetly took notice of.
"I… I had to…"
Obito's aching and throbbing eyes narrowed slightly in incomprehension. Why couldn't she understand?
"Jitsuko… when you leave… you tell me."
He sought for dominance between the two of them in an attempt to indicate the extent of his frustration and grief of almost losing her again, but the crack in his voice instead pleaded to Jitsuko. He merely wanted her to understand what she meant to him.
"Why should I even bother?" Jitsuko snapped, teeth clenched. "Because of what I did, people are… gone. And now you're starting to lose your eyesight, all because of me. I've made so many mistakes as a ninja. No matter what I know, no matter how hard I try, I keep making mistakes. I can't follow what's going on anymore. Everything's too different now. What's the point, Obito? I was never even supposed to behere!"
"Here?" Obito's eyes furrowed in confusion. "You mean-"
"I mean that I'm from another world!" she admitted, no longer having the capacity to keep Obito from learning the truth. "When we first met, when I told you that I'm not from around here, I really meant it. I'm from a place where there are no ninjas. There's no chakra. No jutsu. The only thing our worlds have that is similar is war. That's still the same. And I may have just caused one."
Obito was speechless. Concern was all he felt for the love of his life slouching before him. Jitsuko couldn't possibly be telling the truth. Could she?
"You want me to believe that you're from some other dimension that nobody else knows about?"
"It's the truth, Obito. Would I lie to you?"
Obito hesitated, his expression blank. "Yes. You have before."
Jitsuko knew all these years of keeping secrets would come back to bite her one day.
"Look… you're right. You really have no reason to believe me, but I'm sick of keeping things from you. I'm sick… of everything. I don't know why the universe decided to throw me into this place with you. But I truly believe that I was meant to protect you, to guide you, and to… love you."
At that, Obito's spent eyes lit up, his chest swelling in warmth. Perhaps she was telling the truth.
"But it's alright. I got you to where you need to be, Obito. That's been my goal since the very beginning… making sure that you're safe. You can still become Hokage. But with me around…"
Her mind wandered to a scenario where villagers constantly harass the two of them after Jitsuko's interception of the Chunin Exams. She was terrified that her presence here will negatively influence his chances of being nominated for the next Hokage. What was even more terrifying was the prospect of Obito becoming blind because of his Sharingan.
"Maybe it wasn't right for me to interfere with what was supposed to happen here. What if I was never supposed to come here? What if you'll be happier…. maybe… you'll be better off if I-"
Jitsuko's sight began gravitating toward that inviting sparkle.
"You're wrong," Obito managed through gritted teeth. "I don't know anything about some other world out there, but I know that you are supposed to be here. I don't care where you're from. All I know is that I'm certain I was supposed to run into you that day. Are you comfortable standing here and telling me that you don't think we were meant to meet? That you don't belong here… with me?"
"Obito… no…" she responded dejectedly. "That's… not how I feel… at all…"
He could tell that she doubted herself still, and his hands instinctively wandered to her waist and gripped it tight.
"It doesn't matter where you're from," he explained calmly, his fingertips stroking her waist lovingly. "Where you are right now, it's meant to be. Even if it feels like you don't belong. You're always determined to improve yourself every day. I know you, and I know you would never give up on me, or on yourself. Listen, Jitsuko,"
His grasp squeezed tighter as he pulled her close against his chest.
"I'm just… thankful that I got to share this world with you. You're the one I look up to the most. Everything you do matters to me. All this talk about how I'm 'better off…' it scares me, Jitsuko. It's not like you. Whatever happened today, I need you to tell me." His eyes darted to the ground in thought for a moment before reconnecting with her eyes.
"And while you're at it… tell me everything."
Obito needed to understand. Jitsuko had kept the truth hidden for all these years. Losing the inhibition to withhold it from him felt elating in a way. Obito was handling it better than she could ever have imagined. He was inviting her to have no more secrets. Maybe then he would understand her choices. She was inclined to try, desperate to apprehend Orochimaru. A task that, despite her best efforts, ended in abhorrent failure. The weight of guilt on Jitsuko's shoulders prompted a nauseating wave to wash over her.
Th-that's right…! I'm sick because… I need to tell him that I'm…!
"O-Obito…" Jitsuko's throat was scratchy and raw from inhaling toxic fumes combined with screaming out her misery and distress.
"I'll start with this. I need a hospital."
It had been years since her last stay in the Hidden Leaf Hospital, but Jitsuko didn't miss the prison-like interior and anxiety-inducing noises produced by medical machinery, but this time she readily ignored it. The erratic pounding in her chest over what she must say overtook every other perception. She had to tell him.
"It's been a while since you got cooped up in here," Obito joked while shutting his eyes casually in an attempt to calm his wired nerves. The nurses had since taken her vitals and inspected her injuries intently, but there was one final test Jitsuko was waiting on.
"H-hey… listen… Obito…" Her words succeeded in snapping his eyes back open at her in confusion and concern. "R-remember how I've been mysteriously sick and… I guess moody on some days…?"
"Heh, you don't have to remind me," he replied while reaching to rub the back of his neck. "The crater you left in the yard back home is all it takes to refresh my memory."
Jitsuko exhaled a brief and forced chuckle. "Y-yeah, well… I used some of that 'womanly intuition' I've told you about and did some searching and… well… I…"
Say it, Jitsuko!
"It's just that-" Jitsuko's words caught in her throat when her nervous eyes connected with his. Throughout the years, Obito was always the source of her bravery and confidence, but in this instance, her boyfriend was ironically the one who was sapping away her boldness.
"What's with the shyness, huh? Don't trust your own boyfriend, Jitsuko?" he teased, trying to coax the words out of her with the unintentional use of good old-fashioned reverse psychology.
She pursed her lips and stared in playful opposition. She could say it if she wanted to.
So go ahead, Jitsuko. If you think you're so tough then just spit it out!
"Um… I…"
Somebody please save me from this unbearable silence!
Just then, the mechanisms of the door unlocked and a rather eccentric nurse scurried inside the room while scrolls and other documents spilled out of her arms.
"Hi! I'm from the Nursery Department, and we're back with your test results."
"Great!" Obito abruptly stood, startling the young nurse. "Is she going to be alright? When can she leave?"
"O-oh! O-Obito Uchiha… I w-wasn't expecting to see you here. I assumed that you would be swamped with missions and paperwork right about now."
The nurse's anxious demeanor perplexed Obito, but his name as a formidable ninja as well as a skilled Uchiha was quickly starting to spread across the village. Unbeknownst to the both of them, the strength and impressive capabilities of Obito that had been developing over the years was beginning to grant him power of authority and leadership, which was catching the attention of villages across the nations, as well as the elders of the Hidden Leaf.
The nurse then straightened her back, adjusting her glasses. "In just a moment, the head nurse will be in to walk you through the procedural steps of the department and congratulate you on your expectancy. I've brought various articles that you may find useful to help you prepare for the new arrival."
Obito blinked heavily, brows raised in confusion. "New arrival?"
"And to answer your first question, everything appears to be in order as of now, but your wife's exposure to unknown toxins can have unanticipated aftereffects that may disrupt their development."
"W-wife…?"
"We ask that she return to the Nursery Unit on a weekly basis so we can keep a close watch on your little one until we can confirm their health and development as stable."
"H-huh?!" Obito backed away nervously and lifted his hand to cover his mouth while whispering in Jitsuko's ear, "Either this nurse has the wrong room or she's completely crazy! She's talking about nurseries and 'little ones' and other weird things."
He then perceived the warmth of Jitsuko's hand wrapping around his fingers that pushed his hand away from her ear as she grasped at the other and gingerly brought both of his hands to her chest.
"She's in the right room."
Obito's eyes glazed over hers, beads of sweat forming on his brow. "Then what is she-"
"Oh! Right on time!" she exclaimed, her voice overshadowing Obito's as she gestured to the doorway before taking her leave. "Our head nurse is here. Rin, please take it from here."
Their attention shot toward the doorway at the mention of her name. Wearing a professional uniform, Rin walked in the room, clutching her clipboard tightly. She offered both of them a quiet smile, but something in her eyes told that more had to be said.
"Rin!" Obito beamed. "It's great to see you! What's going on? Is everything… okay?" His voice diminished upon watching as Rin passed Jitsuko a quick glance, her brows furrowed.
"Hi Jitsuko, Obito," she voiced softly, almost cautiously as she shut the door behind her and approached with a gentle patter in her steps. She leaned over and held Jitsuko's hand, a clear display of understanding in her eyes. "Have you been having any problems? How do you feel?"
Jitsuko's head hung low at her inquiry, the knowing tone in Rin's voice making her realize… she knew. "I… I could be better."
Rin pursed her lips and nodded before standing back up. She scanned the document in her hand before peeking back up to Obito, then to her.
"Jitsuko, I've known Obito almost my whole life. He wouldn't be this calm if he knew. Do you… need more time?"
"Knew?!" Obito exclaimed and stood up, unable to take it anymore. "Knew what? Tell me what's going on! What's wrong with Jitsuko?!"
Rin passed Jitsuko a look, and she nodded silently. Her dark eyes travelled back to Obito, and remaining as professional as she could, she spoke.
"The tests confirm it. Obito, you and Jitsuko are expecting a baby."
