Obito stared down the masked interloper, trying to tune out the battle being waged between the intruder's partner and the Hokage. Wordlessly, the charged at each other, clashing against one another with steel, jutsu, and even their fists.
Striking down the masked man, he wheeled around and launched himself to the other battleground, arriving in time to see Minato driving a Rasengan into the man's back.
The roars of the Kyuubi reverberated across the landscape. Both of them looked up in horror.
It wasn't hard to figure out the next objective. More shocking was the Hokage's plan on handling it.
"You're not sacrificing yourself, Sensei," Obito loudly protested. "I won't allow it."
There was a short exchange, words traded that treaded far into the domain of insubordination, before an alternate solution presented himself.
"I'll do it."
Both of them looked to the Sandiame.
"Konoha will need a good leader, and these old bones are tired."
"But-"
"Let me do this one last thing, Minato. Please."
The younger man nodded grimly.
It took a great deal of effort to tie up the Kyuubi's attention long enough to enact the plan, not to mention the high casualty rate incurred, but it was enough. The Kyuubi had been sealed.
While others were taking a breather after the battle, Minato and Obito headed straight for where the fiasco had started.
By miracles unknown, Kushina still drew breath. Medical-nin swarmed around her, bathing her in green, healing light until she stabilized. Minato paced back and forth during the entire ordeal, as Naruto was left in the capable hands of Rin with Kakashi looking on.
Once Kushina's survival was more or less certain, Minato began seeing to the reconstruction efforts.
The years hurried by. Little Naruto grew up quickly, joined by more blond and red-headed children, just as rambunctious as their mother. There were days where he "facilitated" the pranking education of the Namikaze children, ensuring another generation of hellions.
Kakashi and Rin got married, and before long, their family was expanding. Obito laughed, but was joyful that he was named godfather for the oldest.
Winter Solstice, Minato returning late from the office with the young Uchiha in tow, met with a chorus of cheer, Minato's family joined by the Hatake clan. The Yondiame makes for his wife, kissing Kushina before taking a seat at the table. Naruto and the rest of the numerous children that he remembered them talking about making various noises in disgust or appreciation of their parents' display of affection.
In the back of his mind, throughout the entirety, one thing kept ringing in the back of his mind.
"I could have saved them."
RE:
Obito shot up, perspiring a storm. Even under the shade of a nearby tree, his eyes stung from the light.
"Are you okay?" Rin asked.
Blinking out the sunlight, Obito turned to Kakashi and Rin, both sitting across the table from him.
"You dozed there for a minute," Kakashi said.
"And you're sweating," Rin added.
Obito groaned and ran a hand over his face, avoiding the band that covered the left side of his face.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Just thinking about that night. If there was something I missed. Something I could have done differently."
Kakashi kicked Obito in the shin. "Don't torture yourself like that," he reprimanded. You did what you could."
From the café, they could see a familiar blond, blue-eyed boy romping with other children at the playground.
Rin followed his line of sight. "It won't be this way forever."
"Right." Standing up, Obito shelled out his portion of the bill. "I better get back to the office before the old man sends a search party out for me."
Giving one last glance to the playground, Obito disappeared in a swirl of air.
We'll meet each other soon, Naruto.
A/N: This is a scene associated with the Naruto: RE Project. In case it is not obvious, this is very much an AU, as Obito is still associated with Konoha, and publicly so. A more detailed explanation for such can be found with my story titled Reunion.