.

.

"I cannot accept this," the Mizukage says.

Terumi Mei and her advisors sit at the edge of the table, the other kage watching as Obito sits flanked by Tsunade and the village elders. Obito lowers his head while the Mizukage points accusingly.

"He has committed war crimes against our village," the Mizukage says. "He committed any number of atrocities as the leader of the Akatsuki. He was the one who drove Yagura-sama mad."

"He was already mad to begin with," Tsunade says.

"That may be," the Mizukage says, crossing her arms. "But we cannot have diplomatic relations with Konoha if Uchiha Obito is made its figurehead."

The other kages glance uncomfortably at each other.

"Idiots," Tsunade says. She strides down the hallway, her haori flapping, while Obito follows after her. "In all my time gambling, I know when someone is bluffing. They depend on Konoha for our wealth and our aide. No one will be severing diplomatic relations."

"Tsunade-sama, I don't think this is right. I think you should give the title of Hokage to Kakashi," Obito says.

Tsunade stops. "Are you questioning my judgment?"

"No, of course not, however-"

"Then I want you to stop talking about Kakashi." Tsunade starts walking again. "He is too lackadaisical for this post, anyway."

Obito collapses in his room. This whole thing is terrible. He wishes he could just curl up and die, or at the very least just stay in his apartment.

He flops onto his bed, then rolls over, hugging a pillow. If Rin were here, he'd put his head in her lap and wail about how stupid he is. Why the hell did he think he could be Hokage in the first place?

He knows why. He reaches over to the nightstand and plucks the school picture of Madara's daughter. She had given it to him at their last training session. In the picture, the little girl is beaming wide, the background black with gaudy colored lasers crisscrossing behind her. A typical kindergarten picture.

There is a subtle shift in the air.

"Why is it you're always here when I'm at my lowest?" Obito says without looking, and Madara frowns behind him in distaste.

"I do not understand," Madara says. "You once held the world in the palm of your hand, and yet you lie there whimpering while lesser nin trample on your legacy."

"I have no legacy. Just a trail of bodies and people who rightfully hate me."

"And you are bothered by this?" Madara says. Obito pulls the pillow over his head.

"Go away."

Madara sighs. "As much as I'd like to correct you for your mistakes, that isn't the reason why I'm here."

Madara walks around the bedroom. He stops at the dresser, looking at Obito's photos.

"Nohara Rin is currently living in our basement," Madara says. He picks up a picture frame, studying it. Obito lifts his head.

"Rin?"

Madara sets the picture frame down. "Apparently my idiot wife worked out a modification to the resurrection jutsu, and my little girl used her Rinnegan to activate it."

Obito sits up. "Rin is alive?"

"She is indeed, and she's asking for you."

Obito takes a breath. He shakes his head. "I don't want her to see me like this," Obito says.

"Oh? What's this? Are you really that cowardly now? I have to say I'm disappointed," Madara says, frowning at him. "Well. No matter. The message is delivered. I can understand why you wouldn't want to show yourself. If I were as pathetic as you, I would want to hide as well."

Obito doesn't look at him as Madara crosses the threshold. The air settles and he's alone again, sitting in the dark of his bedroom.