Yes, it took me over a year to write about 2000 words. I really have no excuse except it took me that long just to figure out where this story was supposed to be going.
Shisui could recall with perfect clarity three official letters he'd received from the Hokage. The first had been to inform of him of a commendation for outstanding tactical insight and skill on the field of battle during the Third Shinobi war. Obito had snorted and dismissed it as a weak effort to placate the egos of their clan's 'hierarchy of morons', but Shisui diligently attended the ceremony and accepted the Hokage's embossed scroll and words of praise with quiet sincerity. His father took it upon himself to hang the scroll on the south wall of the house's main room.
The second summons followed the first by a mere three and a half months, and was all in all a rather plain announcement of Shisui's appointment to the rank of jounin. There was further mention of his outstanding performance on the battle field, and that, coupled with his already flawless record of service to Konoha, conspired to give him a position which would, in Genma's words 'give him access to more money than he'd be able to spend on alcohol and women in two lifetimes.' Exaggeration aside, Shisui's increase in standing and mission ranks saw an almost obscene increase in his personal finances, and he really had no idea what to do with his new found, relative wealth.
Obito made no mention of money after he heard the news; he invited Shisui and a handful of their closest friends to his home, and after everyone had helped themselves to food and sake, took the fresh jounin aside and said in a harsh, low voice, 'There's no going back. You've committed yourself to Konoha more fully now than to anything else. Please. Please tell me this is what you want.'
Shisui couldn't speak for a time; in that moment, he'd thought Obito used every ounce of strength not to scream, but in the coming weeks, he realized that the older man's apparent rage was a kind of lowly sorrow that hadn't manifested itself since Rin's brush with death. Shisui couldn't and wouldn't have suppressed the rise of warmth and gratitude he felt at the realization, though he almost regretted that his simple answer of 'yes' hadn't conveyed something more, couldn't encapsulate his willingness to fight and die for his home and family. Maybe Obito might have done more than curtly nod and slowly turn away.
Five months after that incident, Shisui was informed via the Hokage's hand that he was to remain in the Uchiha compound for the duration of the night, and take special care to ensure the safety and order of all those within. He hadn't understood the need for special emphasis on a task that was already second nature to him; the police force was his calling through and through. Still, he did as told, and diligently monitored the streets, from ground and roof level. At the cusp of dusk, Obito approached from the north end of the compound, dual blades strapped to his back, his eyes shining like twin embers, his moniker of 'Black Reaper' for the first time subsuming his given name in Shisui's mind.
'Tomorrow,' was all the explanation Shisui had been given, in the same rough, tired voice he'd heard after his promotion to jounin.
The next day, it was announced that Kushina had given birth to her first child, a son, and collective relaxation spread through Konoha, like someone exhaling after an impossibly long pause. Three weeks after that, Obito gave what Shisui thought to be his first genuine expression of contentment in years, a slight upturn of his lips that would have been missed by anyone standing even a few feet away. There was no easy connection to be had, and Shisui thought it might take another few years before even Obito could fully unfold what had happened to make him smile.
The fourth and current letter arrived early in the morning, right after Shisui had finished breakfast, delivered with near perfect stealth by an Anbu wearing a dog mask.
"I could give all of them a run for their money," Shisui muttered as he unfolded the paper. He scanned it quickly, stared at the message for a few seconds, and slowly stood from his chair, his mouth working in small, silent motions.
Standard message. Summons to the Hokage's office. Haste requested, but not imperative.
Only. Shisui was tempted to activate his sharingan at this point.
In place of 'Namikaze Minato, Yondaime Hokage' there now read 'Uchiha Obito, Personal Assistant to the Hokage.'
There was no doubt it was Obito's signature, and even less reason to question the veracity of its current authority. No one was stupid enough to wield the Hokage's authority by proxy without his approval, least of all Obito.
Shisui lowered the letter.
Though he could remember a time when his cousin would have done just that and more, and still manage to keep a grin on his face. Shisui wondered if this was Obito sliding from one extreme to another, solemn soldier to irreverent prankster. That might explain why Shisui had woken up a few nights ago sneezing uncontrollably, to find that his usual pillow had been replaced by one filled with goose down, along with Obito's snide comment that his cousin looked 'fairly worn out after being on leave for the last few days.'
One way to find out, he thought.
Shisui carefully folded the letter, and tucked it into a pocket on his shirt, stepped outside, and a few flickers later found himself at the base of the Hokage's tower. He moved through to the upper levels silently. He could sense, faintly, the chakra of dozens of Anbu agents hidden throughout the compound; with more time and concentration, he probably would have sensed dozens of others, and more than a few false signatures.
Two Anbu flanked the door to the Hokage's office, as always. They neither spoke to nor otherwise acknowledged Shisui as he stopped to knock. When all was said and done, the two were ornaments; Anbu would be the absolute least of a would-be assassin's worries, if they managed to make it to the tower's top.
"Enter."
Shisui went stiff midway through pushing the door open. That voice.
Quickly, Shisui ushered himself into the office. He turned and made sure the door latched securely behind him before he faced the Hokage's desk.
"Obito?" Uchiha Shisui, red eyed, flickering terror on the battlefield, pride of his plan, stood with his arms slack and mouth open in what was supposed to the be the presence of Konoha's leader and most powerful shinobi.
Obito is strong, yeah, but how could How did he?
Shisui's thoughts tangled with each other as Obito nodded and spoke.
"Yes. In the flesh." He frowned. "Unfortunately." He looked up as he said the word, as though he expected the ceiling to reply.
Shisui collected himself enough to take a few steps forward. He moved cautiously, as he would when approaching potential ambush.
Obito sighed. "You can stop pretending the floor is a mine field. I didn't stab the Hokage in the back and toss him off the tower. Though the punishment might have been less if I had."
"Is this a joke?" Shisui asked bluntly.
Obito paused, his eyes widening a fraction. He looked like he might stand, but stopped at the last moment. Finally, he nodded.
"Yes. It really is. It's the biggest joke since some ass decided to give me my nickname. But. There was nothing I could do about that, and there's nothing I can do about this, so let's get down to business."
When Shisui didn't take even a tentative step, Obito said,
"You know, you might be fast, but I bet I could still catch you and drag you over here, if it comes down to that."
Shisui's limbs slowly started to thaw from his body's shock. He slowly approached the desk, and stopped right where a clean, strong sword slash would bifurcate the surface. He started at the polished wood, and for the first time realized it was devoid of marks. No scratches, no dents, not even a thin coat of dust. He'd never seen a piece of furniture so immaculately maintained.
"Are you going to keep it that way?" He asked the question without thought.
"Keep what?" Obito sounded nothing if not impatient at this point.
"The desk. It's completely smooth. Are you going to keep it that way while you're using it, or is it going to be scratched to hell like the one you have at home?"
Obito stared at him, not with disbelief, or even the obvious resignation he'd displayed before. Somehow all the expression left his face, and Shisui found himself faced with a calm, almost unmoving façade.
After a few beats of silence, Obito leaned back.
"I'll leave it the way I found it." He examined the desk briefly. "Maybe even add a coat of varnish."
Shisui smiled, more at the brief upward quirk of Obito's lips than the comment.
"I'm being groomed to the Godaime."
Obito's sudden remark culled Shisui's levity. He waited for his friend to continue.
"Minato. The Hokage. He thinks that I'll make a good successor." Obito drummed his fingers against the desk. "I don't…fully agree, but sensei is persuasive, so here we are. I am." Obito's gaze went from the desk, back to the ceiling, then to corner of the room.
"Does Fugaku know?"
The inevitable question, the one Shisui wanted to have sorted and put away as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Obito snorted. "He doesn't. But he will soon. That's why I wanted you to see me at my new job first."
"Let off some steam, huh? Won't be quite as easy when you have to listen to the head of Hyuuga clan complain about how his family isn't getting paid enough attention."
"Oh gods, don't even remind me. Once this gets around, the rods those white eyed weirdoes have up their asses are going to expand a few times over. It'll be hell. 'Oh, Hokage-sama, why has an Uchiha been selected above the renowned Hyuuga. And you're old student at that. Your lack of objectivity in this matter is clear.' "
Shisui would have laughed if Obito's tone carried any humor. Instead he heard the barely contained rage and frustration that always emerged when Konoha's politics were brought to Obito's attention. Maybe the Hokage really had misjudged.
Shisui winced at his doubt.
"And that's still nothing compared to Fugaku." Obito's voice went progressively lower. "He'll wonder why the one Uchiha who refuses to integrate into the clan is being selected as the Yondaime's potentials successor." He turned cool eyes onto Shisui. "He's going to go after you. Put pressure on you. Your family. There won't be a single place you'll be able to go in the compound that you won't be followed or watched. You'll be an outsider, Shisui."
"My parents won't turn on me," Shisui said quietly. "And I know that there are other members of the clan who won't think of your new position as a slight."
Obito shook his head. "You don't see yet, but you will. You've never been a pariah." He looked at Shisui with sadness. With. Pity.
Shisui took a deep breath and stopped himself from further protest. He forced himself to keep eye contact with Obito. Anything less would just add to the man's doubt.
"We can worry about Fugaku later." Obito relented. He slid a piece of paper across the desk toward Shisui, who picked it up and scanned it.
A list of the names of the most recent genin class to graduate. The surprises wouldn't cease today.
"Was this your idea, or the Hokage's?"
"His," Obito said quietly.
"Then is this just another idea to placate the clan?"
"Would that be a problem for you?"
Shisui took a step forward. There was no accusation in Obito's tone, but the question couldn't have been as simple as that.
If I say no, I'll probably be grouped in with Fugaku and the others as a 'problem Uchiha.' Simple. But why would Obito even broach the question to begin with?
"If it's what the Hokage wants of me. I'll be a jounin instructor."
Obito's body relaxed. He was relieved, if only for the moment.
The cold dread welling in Shisui's chest wasn't affected in the slightest.