AN: Welp, here's the next chapter. In Obito I wanted to display two things. 1) Even without the enhanced stuff he received we probably still be capable of starting the war. 2) Him without Madara would actually make a good teacher (analysis of naruto's fighting skills rather than sheer mocking).

-Technically 3) the influence he'd have on Sasuke.

- What you think?

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He was walking towards the training grounds he told his team to meet, intending to get there before the fresh Genin and make some preparations. Of course his luck and generosity wouldn't allow that to happen. An elderly grocer called out to him.

"Hey Obito! Can you watch my store for me? My granddaughter was just born and I wanted to visit the hospital."

He looked to the horizon and saw that the light was just barely visible and the sun wasn't even close to showing up. He turned to the old man and shrugged.

"Sure, I have time."

"Thank you so much."

"No problem, happy to help."

He got behind the counter, took off his vest and replaced it with the apron the store owner provided.

Over at the training ground (and two hours later) Sasuke was just arriving. This came as a surprise for the other two given that both expecting him to be the first one there. His nonchalance at their looks of bewilderment and the fact he went over to a relatively clear patch of ground, pulled out a deck of cards, and started setting up solitaire didn't help things at all. Eventually the confusion became too much for Naruto and he just had to ask.

"Uh...bastard, why are you late?...and what are you doing?"

Sakura listening closely with equal curiosity as the blonde. Sasuke didn't stop his game.

"Hn...Have you two eaten?"

He briefly looked up and saw their confused head shakes, then returned to the cards.

"You should've, he's going to be late."

Sure enough, the sun was high in the sky when their Sensei finally showed up. Naruto was annoyed he was made to get up early for no reason and was quick to point at him accusingly. Sakura was equally angry but restrained herself to a glare.

"You're late!"

The elder Uchiha just scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Yeah, sorry about that. You see, this old man needed someone to watch his store while he had family issues to deal with."

"LIAR!"

Obito held up his hands defensively. That's when they the two bags in his hands.

"Honest! He even gave me these apples and some tomatoes."

He tossed the bag of tomatoes to Sasuke (who quickly packed them away) and set the apples aside.

"Now I have to decide if I actually want to teach you or send you back the academy."

All three were shocked by this, with Naruto being the designated speaker of their concerns.

"What?! I thought we were done with all the tests!"

The conference way he put his hands behind his head and the other mannerisms she witnessed out of their sensei was starting to remind Sakura a lot of a certain loudmouth. This was making it very hard for her to believe he was related to Sasuke.

"Nah, the academy is just to find who has potential to be a ninja. It's up to me to decide if you actually make it."

It was her turn to speak.

"Okay, so what's our test?"

He pulled out a timer and two bells.

"Simple, obtain one of these..."

He jingled the bells

"... before this goes off.."

He gestured the timer.

"... and you're in."

"But sensei, there's only two bells."

"Oh, that's so that at least one of you fail and gets sent back. It's no fun if the test is simple."

Sasuke picked up on the amusement and pranking nature in his cousin's voice.

'Teams are usually three man units. There has to be something more to this.'

Naruto matched his potential sensei's confidence (even had a similar posture).

"Ha! This should be easy. You tripped into the classroom and you're always late."

The confident smirk and suddenly serious demeanor removed Sakura's earlier doubts. The mocking statement he made after cementing his status as both Uchiha and Jonin in her eyes. A transition that was almost scary to see.

"Says, the fresh Genin who's most likely to fail and about take on an experienced Jonin. You're one to talk, dead last."

That set Naruto off and he charged in fury with a kunai ar the ready. He was sent to the ground with one halfhearted palm thrust to the chest (which clearly exploited a massive opening in his form). He (despite his similarities to Naruto) was clearly not a threat to take lightly.

"Now, now eager beaver, I didn't say go yet. You had the right idea though."

He looked from the boy on the ground to the other two.

"Come at me with everything you got if want to stand a chance. Now we start."

Two of the hid, with Naruto staying behind to challenge him one on one. That Uchiha smirk never left Obito's face.

"You know that stealth and concealment are vital ninja skills, right?"

'But so is gauging the enemy's capabilities. I wonder if this was a planned strategy or just an accidental tactic.'

"I don't care! I'm taking one of those bells."

The blonde once again made a charge straight for his opponent. The Uchiha simply closed his eyes and placed his hands in his pockets (still smirking). This served to further irritate the attacker.

"Let's test your taijutsu then, shall we?"

The first punch was easily evaded, the high kick blocked with an elbow (hand never leaving the pocket). The block was swiftly followed by a single kick to the chest which sent Naruto into the water.

Sasuke had never actually seen his cousin's battle prowess (or him ever acting like an Uchiha). This was eye opening in more ways than one.

"A feral attack pattern with easily detected airshifts, a form full of holes with almost zero guard...it's no wonder you're the dead last. I will give you points for unpredictability though."

He was actually caught by suprise when someone grabbed him from behind.

"Good strategy, nice execution, admirable uses of a high rank jutsu...one problem..."

Then Naruto was punching himself.

"...You forget basic academic jutsu can beat higher levels when applied right."

That's when the other Uchiha present realized something... They don't stand a chance alone (which was suprising given how Obito usually acted). So he looked at Sakura and saw she was already looking in his direction (which probably meant Obtio already knew their positions) and mouthed a message.

"We need to help him."

After a small moment of reluctance she gave a thumbs up. He nodded and launched a shuriken assault to distract him while she moved to extract Naruto. When they regrouped Naruto was livid. Sakura was trying to calm him down until Sasuke explained.

"What are we running for?! I almost had him!"

She spoke in a harsh whisper.

"No, you didn't. No quiet down. You're giving us up."

Sasuke spoke in his normal voice.

"He probably already knows our location. Naruto, since you're the distraction. Fight to your hearts content and keep his focus on you... he's holding back massively so go hard. Sakura, your paperwork scores where higher which makes you a better analyst so it's up to you to decide what strategy is implemented. I'll provide intelligence since I know him well. Agreed?"

Both Sakura and Naruto spoke at the same time.

"What about that there's only two bells?"

Sasuke responded calmly.

"We'll worry about that if we can actually get them."

That's when a voice came from a tree a few feet away.

"No need. You all pass."

Obito jumped down and made himself visible. Sakura felt the need to ask.

"How? None of us got any bells."

He chuckled..back into his relaxed mode.

"Traps, deception and misdirection...that's what ninjas are known for. As such, we have to be able to see through them."

That's when it dawned on all of them, with Naruto again the mouthpiece.

"So you tried to divide us intentionally?"

"Yup. And one of you realized the odds and United you... this test was teamwork... although Naruto did most of the work in the end you didn't abandon each other...welcome to team 7"

Sasuke smirked, Sakura jumped for joy and Naruto cheered for several minutes...then something strange happened.

"Crap! I'm late for work!"

Then he ran off.