Well, today is Jess' Birthday, so you all better leave her great reviews. And apparently Coiled's update month is wrong, but I'm sure you get that.

Disclaimer: Only Kishimoto owns Naruto/Naruto Shippuden. Last time I checked, my name wasn't that.

Dedication: To my beautiful, amazing, intelligent, girlfriend Phillipa (Shadow Spirit Dragon-wolf) for being there for me through not only my writing (both fanfiction and my original story) but real life in general. You have been my inspiration and my support through everything.

Warnings: the usual, weirdness, m-pregnancy, violence, suicidal attempts, explicit sexual content, and just the overall weirdness.

Pairings: ObiRin, SakuOro, KakaIta, and various other canon pairings.

Summary: So often bird's wings are clipped before they learn to fly, but when wings are healed they will not only flutter but soar through the sky.

Enjoy! :)

Chapter Three: Steamed

Rin

I wait for Kakashi under the Sakura tree. I blush. Is he…? No. Kakashi has no interest in me. So then why…?

"Sorry, I'm running a bit late Rin."

I smile. "It's okay, Kakashi. Why did you want to meet with me under this Sakura tree? I mean not that I don't mind. I just…" I blush, looking away.

"Rin, I have something I need to tell you."

"Obito, he loved you, Rin."

"Then Kakashi, you need to know about my feelings for you-!"

Kakashi shakes his head. "I abandon you, Rin."

Kakashi, do you see now how perfect we are. Kakashi, please tell me this is that moment. We can get through this together. Obito he meant so much to both of us. I know you and he didn't get along, but he cared. And now he's giving you the strength to tell me how you feel about me.

Yes, Kakashi; go on. Say it. Say how you feel. Because I-

"Rin!"

I'm taken aback by the tone Kakashi just used. I blink. "Kakashi… what…?"

"Did you hear what I said?"

"I…"

"I said Obito's alive."

I stare at him then it hits me. "W-what?"

"He survived, Rin."

"But how?! I mean he was crushed by boulders! How can he possibly be okay?!"

"I never said he was okay."

"So how…?"

"I'm not quite sure. I just found out from my father. He said Orochimaru has been tending to Obito's care."

"Obito…"

"We're allowed to see him, but have to be careful touching him and stressing him out."

"Of course. When can we see him?"

"Now if you'd like."

I nod, tears stinging my eyes.

We reach Orochimaru's home, Sakumo accompanying us. The walk there was long and silent. We're welcomed in then lead down a long flight of stairs. I hold Kakashi's arm, fear to eat me alive. And not because of the poorly lit room.

We follow Orochimaru into a back room. It's filled with machines and a large sink. Cabinets filled with medicines and other strange objects.

"Rin, Kakashi, you've come…" a weak, raspy, but all too familiar voice breaks me from my observations.

I turn to the source. There, sitting propped up with pillows, hooked up to varies medical machines, is my friend: Obito Uchiha. His right side from his face down to his thigh is heavily bandaged. His Sharingan is bright, staring at me with the same adoration its always given me.

I feel my body tremble and I let out a sob as I fall to my knees. "O-Obito…"

Kakashi is beside of me in an instant. "Rin…"

I turn my head, staring at my teammate. If it weren't for that headband covering his left eye, then I'd be looking at…

A sob slips out again and I cling to Kakashi. He awkwardly pats my back.

"Rin…" he whispers.

"Kakashi," Sakumo says.

We both look up at him. "Let me."

Kakashi nods, standing up. His father replaces him.

"I know this may seem awkward, but I don't think you mind too much. I'm better at this type of thing. Kakashi is like his mother in this regard," he says, running his fingers through my hair. "He is doing well, Rin."

"But he-"

"Rin, I am doing better. I still feel a lot of pain, but Orochimaru has been helping me with that. I know I'll be back fighting with you again."

"Yeah, if the girl doesn't get caught and you don't get out of the way in time," a voice scoffs.

I look over to see a strange white creature strapped to a bed on the other side of the room with various machines hooked to him. Though, they're most definitely not for medical purposes. I suppress a shudder. Sakumo looks down at me concernedly.

"Shut up, Swirly!"

"Just telling like it is. Rin is weak."

"No, she is not!" Obito exclaims.

The creature scoffs. "Just telling you the truth! Rin is weak! It's why you're-"

"Shut the hell up!"

"Listen; I know this is hard for you to grasp, but she is the cause of this predicament."

"Actually, Obito is in this situation because I was too stupid not to listen to him."

"Oh, you're to blame too, but Rin especially."

"why?! What did Rin do?!"

Swirly laughs. "Didn't is more like it."

"Explain," Sakumo says, holding my head gently against his chest.

"She's always getting hurt. Always needing her men to save her. She can only stitch someone up and cry. She can't even hold a kunai without getting a bruise."

"And what about you?! Can you fight?!"

Swirly barely manages to shrug in his bindings. "I don't need to."

"Then neither does Rin. Now shut the hell up and eat shit."

"Poo!"

Kakashi and I look at each other, confused.

"No! None for you!"

"Aww but I'm good!"

"I will kill you."

"Obito…"

He glares at the creature. I've never seen him so upset…

"Obito he loves you, Rin."

"Everyone doesn't have to be powerful in battle. We all have different skills to balance our teams and the force of our military," Sakumo says.

"Yes, but Tobi does have a point," Orochimaru says, flipping a page of the book he's been reading.

"What?" Obito hisses, narrowing his eye at the Sannin.

"Being a medical ninja does not excuse her from knowing how to fight. You and Kakashi, especially you, spend all this time and energy trying to protect her-"

"I protect her because she's my friend!"

"Yes, but more so than you do, Kakashi. It's okay to protect them when need be, but when it becomes a ritual like bathing then it's meaningless."

"So protecting Rin is meaningless, is it?"

"What's the point in protecting someone who will die anyway?" Swirly scoffs.

"She will live as long as I'm alive! I will die for her and Kakashi!"

"Obito…" Kakashi and I whisper in unison.

"Rin is not weak! She is an amazing medical ninja!"

"No one is denying that. What we are saying is she is weak. Weak in battle. You can't even move without help. Tobi is right in saying she is the cause. Though, I will say that Kakashi does need to get over himself as far as his father goes."

Kakashi looks away, fists clenched.

"Kakashi…" Sakumo whispers.

"Don't talk about my friends like that!"

"\He's just telling it like it is. You're in that condition because of them."

"I'm in this situation because I chose to save Kakashi!"

"Yes, and I wonder why he got injured…"

"Because I'm a crybaby! If anyone is weak, it's me!" Obito exclaims.

He starts coughing up blood.

"Obito!" I exclaimed, rushing over to him. I support him. He shakes, sweat covering his body. "Kakashi, can you-"

A white hand flashes in front of my vision, holding a wet washcloth.

I look at Orochimaru, taking the rag. I gently clean my friend, careful of the bandages. "When were these last changed?" I ask, checking them over.

"A few days ago," is the reply I receive.

"They need to be changed."

"I'll get some bandages then," Sakumo says, leaving for a few moments. He hands me a med kit.

I thank him and begin undressing the bandages. Obito hisses, clenching his jaw together.

"Hey," I say, touching his face.

He looks at me wide-eyed.

"Don't try and hide your wounds, I'm always watching."

Obito

How dare they! How dare they insult Rin! She is not weak! She's amazing! I watch as she unwraps my bandages. Pain overwhelms me as the cool air hits the healing wounds. I clench my jaw, teeth grinding together. I can't let her see me weaker than I am. She's been through enough.

My eye widens when her soft hand touches my face. I look into those beautiful brown eyes.

"Don't try and hide your wounds. I'm always watching."

"Rin," I whisper.

"Will you let me know if I'm being too rough?"

We stare at each other for a bit. I nod.

"Good."

She carefully takes the bandages off. I hiss.

"I'm sorry you were hurt, but I'm glad you're alive."

"Get stronger if you're so worried," Swirly says.

"I told you to shut up."

"Like Father said, not all of us have to be physically strong. Rin provides support to Obito and me."

"Exactly! See? Even Kakashi gets it!"

"That's because he's s stupid Kakashi."

"Kakashi isn't stupid!"

"Never said that. I said he's a stupid Kakashi."

Kakashi and Rin glance at each other then Rin returns to her task.

"Balance is a good thing, but individuals must be able to protect themselves," Orochimaru says.

"Rin isn't a fighter!"

"Her being a medical ninja doesn't excuse the fact she should know how to pay attention and act accordingly."

"Medical ninja must never go into battle! It's basic stuff!"

"And it's basic stuff I don't poo!"

"Zip it, Swirly!"

"Yes, but it doesn't mean she shouldn't know how to fight. She'll never be able to go on solo missions because she needs protecting. She is skilled, but when she comes, to combat and overall skills, she is lacking. Unless your replacement can do something, then saving Kakashi and Rin would be pointless."

I clench my fists, shaking. "Saving them will never be a mistake! I don't care if they do end up dying after i save them, they get to live another moment, one I could save them!"

I gasp, panting a bit. All this stress is wearing me out.

"Obito…"

I look at her from the corner of my eye. Her face is etched with worry. I smile. "I'm going to be okay, Rin."

"Lovely, you're being too hard on the girl," Sakumo says. "She's not Tsunade. You can't expect her to be. Lower the bar."

"I know she's not, but she can at least learn how to defend herself if nothing else."

"I can do that."

"No, Rin. You let us-"

"I want to be of some use," she says, putting some sort of healing salve into my wounds before using medical, ninjutsu.

I close my eye, sighing in content. "You are useful. Sure, you can't fight all that great, but you're a great support. You really have helped our team. Don't get discouraged, Rin."

"I… Obito…"

I take her hand, squeezing it. "We're going to make it, Rin. I know we will."

She smiles a beautiful bright smile. "Right!" She finishes putting the balm on then wraps me up. "There, now you're all set."

"Thank you."

"How is he?" Kakashi asks, moving the conversation off of our female teammate.

"The synthetic Hashirama tissue I've cultivated from Tobi-"

"That hurt! Master had a better plan!"

"Master?" Rin asks, glancing over her shoulder at the white being resembling his desire before returning to bandaging me up.

"Yup! Master knows all!"

"uh huh. Then go back to him."

"I would but snake man won't let me!" he pouts.

I laugh. "You can have fun being cut up. I'm sure he lets you play with the unflushed toilet."

"He does! It's magical!"

"Can we get back to the task at hand?" Kakashi snaps.

"Anyway, as I was saying, the tissue was cultivated then grafted onto the wounds. It's taking a while for it to conform to his body, but any sort of skin grafting would take time as I'm sure Rin can attest. The larger the wound, the longer the healing process."

"I see, so Obito will be in here a while."

"At least a year," Sakumo says.

"A year, huh'"

"There's something I'm not quite understanding," Rin says.

"And that is, my dear?"

"How is Obito still alive?"

Madara

I crack my eye open, not bothering to raise my bowed head to the noisy chit-chat of my "subordinates". They're nothing but fools. Useless in my great plan.

(At least, the main move in the dance.)

No, they can't hope to help me achieve this dream without him. It's why I set this all up. Except it's been long since Tobi went to investigate.

"What's taking so long?" I snap.

"Tobi's been kidnapped," Zetsu says.

"We've been discussing a way to get him back.

"Kidnapped by who?"

"Some people named Orochimaru and Sakumo Hatake? They came in when Tobi was wrapping his body around Obito. Apparently, Sakumo has a wolf that'll paralyze in a single bite!"

"So those two are here for the fun, huh?"

"Yeah, guess so. Tobi said Orochimaru took his tissue and put it on Obito."

"Excellent."

"Do you think it's going to hold? I mean it's not done by you."

"If I'm going to be completely honest, that child is the best when it comes to Hashirama's cells."

"Really? Seems a bit weird to me."

"What is the plan, Master?"

"Have Tobi gather intel. He is to follow their orders. We must get Obito before we kill the girl."

Preview

Kushina

Rin stares into my husband's eyes. "I need more training. I have to protect Obito."

Minato places a hand on the girl's shoulder, giving her a sad look. "Rin, Obito is dead."

She shakes her head. "No, he's alive."

"What?!"

Next update date: July 14th

I hope y'all enjoyed! Until next time. :)