Ugh why does this always happen sorry, fixed.
It has come to my attention Obito has a grandma in the anime, which I will not be referencing because I was planning this chapter long before I found that out.
And I'm pretending it hasn't been a long time since my last chapter. hahaha.
Obito has decided that he's going to be a ninja exactly like Machiko. It's a given, after all-she's a lot of what he aspires to be, and a lot of what he is now.
She's strong and brave and a great ninja, and anyone who says otherwise is a moron.
No exceptions.
He had always heard about the strange, rouge Uchiha who delighted in mayhem. She was the subject of much debate-some thought of her as intentionally malicious, some as simply an annoyance. He never really thought much about it-his life was mostly revolving around trying to become a great shinobi and occasionally taking detours to help people with groceries. This strange family member of his was the last thing on his mind.
The first time was in class.
The day was starting out not well-Obito had left fifteen minutes early, but Hisako-san had really needed help with getting her groceries. Of course, that didn't matter to Sensei, who had marked Obito's sixth consecutive tardy.
"It's fine, you were helping someone. That's what shinobi do." Rin had consoled him. She was really nice like that. Totally different than Kakashi, Obito didn't know why Rin liked him.
He threw a glare at the silver haired boy, who ignored it. Yeah, he was weird. Super snobby because his dad was a good ninja. Plus, he wore a mask all the time! Who did that? And he was always quoting from a "Shinobi Rulebook" that ninja should never be late. Was there even a shinobi rulebook? Someone just made a list of rules for ninjas to follow?
In the middle of battle, "No, Rule 37 states that that is a forbidden move."
But his irritation at Kakashi's general annoyingness and strange penchant for quoting a rulebook Obito wasn't sure existed vanished when Sensei announced a kunochi was here to give a special presentation. There weren't many, but they were always super cool, like turning into someone. Even Kakashi liked them.
Which is why it baffled Obito when a girl walked in. She was the shinobi, yes. She had the headband looped around her neck, black spiky hair pulled into a ponytail, and a smile. She looked like an Uchiha, totally, but the smile was a little weird. Small smirks were normal, but a full blown grin? Really weird.
But what baffled Obito most was that Kakashi groaned and smacked his head onto the desk.
Kakashi. Kakashi, the stoic, 'I'm better then you' guy smacked his head onto the desk.
And the Uchiha girl didn't look even the slightest bit offended. She just looked amused.
"Thanks, Kakashi-kun." The girl said wryly, before switching her gaze to the rest of the now very confused class.
"Hello, small ones!" She announced.
"My name is Machiko! My friend Minato was supposed to be here, but he had something super duper important to do, so I'll be subbing for him doing…"
She turned to Sensei.
"What was Minato going to do?"
Sensei coughed.
"He was going to talk about the life of shinobi."
"Great. Now, shinobi life sounds pretty cool, right?" She addressed the question to Obito and his classmates, who chorused their assent.
"You can use fancy tricks, fight villains, save the day."
The cheer grew.
She sighed.
"Hate to tell you this, but that's a fairy tale."
The excitement that had permeated the air stilled.
"Um, Machiko-san, I don't-" Sensei said.
"You think it's making the earth move under your feet, and moving as fast as light? No, being a ninja isn't jumping between trees and making fire out of thin air, it's emergency rations and danger and the fear that the next mission you went on could be the last. It's dangerous and it's brutal."
The entire class was deathly silent.
"It's not an easy lifestyle, and since you all are ten or so, two years away, I'm giving this as warning. Not everyone is cut out for it, and there's no shame in not being a ninja. You should not be in this for the glory, for the prestige. If you are, drop out before you graduate. Real life doesn't work like that."
Her voice was hard, no trace of emotion, and Obito shivered a bit, glancing around at his classmates. Their faces were stricken, Rin's hands cupping her mouth.
But Kakashi's head was up, eyes narrowed slightly, watching the kunochi who stood in front of them, his gaze dark and inquisitive.
She took a deep breath.
"But if you are here to help and to serve, by all means stay. That is what it means to be a ninja. It's not fancy jutsu, it's the desire to protect others and to keep your precious people safe. Something ninja in Konoha hold dear. It's what you reach to to keep you warm after a bad fight, or a injury. It's the love you hold for people. It's the Will of Fire that you will be entrusted with."
Her quiet finish left the classroom hollow. People gape at her.
Looking around, Obito carefully begins applauding. Rin joins him after a second, and in a shocking turn of events, Kakashi.
It spurred his classmates into action, and the room fills with applause. She offers a quick bow.
Afterwards, there's time for questions, and Obito ignores how when they normally swarm, they hang back this time.
"Who was your sensei?" Asuma asks.
"Jiraya." Machiko replies cheerily.
A ripple of interest and excitement. A Sannin as a teacher is something new.
"How long have you been a ninja?" Kurenai puts forth.
"Five years, give or take a bit."
The questions continue, until finally, Obito raises his hand.
She turns.
"Yes?"
"Do you have any cool jutsu?" He asks, ignoring the snickers.
She pauses, then offers a warm smile.
"Well, just one." She says with a wink.
She darts through hand motions too quick to see, and cups her hands.
Obito's eyes widen, because after a split second, her hands are awash in colored sparks. It hisses and fizzles in reds and purples and oranges, and bright spots dance in front of his eyes. It's like she's holding a supernova in her hands, the light glowing so bright it makes the bones in her hands shine.
With a small whoosh, she breathes on it, and suddenly it explodes into brightly colored sparks that cling in the air like multicolored fireflies. People shriek in delight, past inhibitions forgotten in awe of this incredible technique.
The second time is purposeful. Obito has carefully planned this-learning that she normally went to the river on Sundays through a dark haired man who Obito is pretty sure is an Aburame.
So, to the river he went, trying to utilize his training. She's there, lounging and reading, and she looks at ease. But when Obito takes another step, she speaks, without looking up.
"It's a good effort, but you're not suppressing your chakra enough." She says calmly.
Obito awkwardly steps out from behind his hiding place, and she looks up and makes eye contact. Her brow furrows, then smooths out in recognition.
"Hello-Obito right? You were in that class. Is there a reason you're sneaking up on me?" She asks in curiosity, and Obito nods frantically.
"I have a question."
"Shoot." She replies easily.
Obito steels himself.
"Can you please teach me?" He rushes out.
She pauses.
"Teach you?" She sounds confused, and Obito's hopes sink, but he pushes forward.
"You're a really good ninja and you were talking about protecting your precious people. You're also an Uchiha…" Obito trailed off, but Machiko seemed to understand.
"You want me to help you awaken your Sharingan." She says tiredly. Obito doesn't understand why she looks reluctant. To Uchiha, the Sharingan is everything.
"I'll work really hard." Obito promised.
"I'll do whatever you tell me to do."
She pauses, before her eyes.
"Fine, if you can waterwalk for me. Right now. " She replied, pointing to the river that rushed past in a spray of blue ice.
"It's icy cold, and dangerous around here. If you can do that, I'll train you."
Obito felt his spirits drop to rock bottom. They had barely gotten to tree walking, and Sensei said water was way harder. But he couldn't give up!
"Fine, I'll try it!" He cried resolutely, stepping forward.
"No, don't do that!" Machiko cried in exasperation, putting her arm in front of him.
Obito paused in complete confusion. She had just asked him to do it!
"It's great you have determination, and loyalty, and I'm flattered you want to learn under me that badly." Machiko said earnestly, placing her hands on his shoulders and making eye contact.
"But I don't think you should just follow orders and do things you can tell are stupid."
"So, don't follow orders?" Obito asked, brow wrinkling.
"Don't blindly follow orders." Machiko corrected gently.
"If you want to be my student, I'm not going to tell you exactly what to do. You need to make your own choices and use common sense. Don't defy people just for the sake of defying them, but all rules aren't set in stone, don't act like they are."
In the back of his mind, Obito realized he knew why Kakashi didn't seem to like her that much.
Of course, that made him all the more eager to be her pupil.
"I'll work hard." He said resolutely, and she smiled, warm and slow.
"I know you will."
Okay am I the only one who thinks it's freaking weird that there is a shinobi rulebook? They're shinobi for god's sake, they kill and bite and do whatever it takes, who spent the time to write down a list of rules?! That they'll just break anyway?!
Anyway, next chapter will be Rin. Aw, Rin, I love you. And a special omake regarding Nawaki, and another one connected to that and the wedding!
Of Mikoto, I mean…