A/N: [*] So, the projected 29 has turned into 31 chapters excluding the epilogue… But we're still pretty damn close.

I think I may have hinted in an earlier chapter that the Kannabi Bridge mission was a C-Rank, but when I thought about it, that would've been really stupid to label such an important mission a C-Rank, and I'm fairly certain the exact ranking of the mission was never given in canon. If I did, then please disregard it and pretend that it's the B-Rank mission I specified in the previous chapter, and I'll have to change that when I get around to re-reading this for edits. (Speaking of which, I just want to thank those of you who take the time to point out my grammar/spelling errors when you catch them. I don't have a beta and therefore I don't have anyone to correct my mistakes and/or fix whatever incorrect information regarding the English language I may have, so your input is much appreciated. :D Love you guys.)

Also, holy crap we broke 950 follows and 850 favs. When the hell did THAT happen? Just… Whoa. Word count is ~7.4k.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 26 - Returning Darkness

The Uchiha meeting hall was set up suspiciously like a council chamber, with the elders situated around the room in a halved ovate shape, the clan head at the apex.

The room was, in the Uchiha fashion, lined with door-to-door shoji screens, the wall on the far end with a hanging silk of the clan's insignia. He had never come to this particular room in the past, as he had little to do with the clan's politics as a child and it's use dwindled when the idea of a coup sparked—they had moved to a more private facility to discuss their less-than-civil plan.

As soon as Obito had entered, escorted in by some Uchiha Chūnin a couple years his senior, the room hushed to an eerie silence.

"… Uchiha Obito," one of the elders spoke out at last, breaking the silence. His tone was neither derisive nor welcoming.

Obito inclined his head. "Honorable elders."

The small action left a few of the more aggressive Uchiha bristling, appalled at his lack of proper respect. The elder that had spoken coughed, leveling a cold gaze on the younger Uchiha present. "Do you understand why you are here?"

The time traveler meandered over to an unused cushion, knowing it was reserved for himself. The fact that it was set up very much like a court hearing, with his seat at opposition with the others made it rather obvious.

"Boy," another elder called out, a glare in place. "Do you understand why you are here?"

"No, I don't," Obito replied simply, unaffected by what the man no doubt thought was an intimidating tone. He felt the vague inclination to continue the charade and incite the elders' ire even more, but he wished to be there as much as anyone else present.

A different elder, one Obito vaguely recalled dubbing "vapid-idiot" spoke up. "Obito-kun, you have been given the chance to rejoin the clan of your own accord, and you have displayed reluctance to do so. Before it was excused, as the ignorance of a child, but I'm afraid we cannot turn a blind eye any longer."

Obito glanced to Fugaku, who had a look that indicated frustration despite his clear restraint. Either the man had acquiesced to this decision or he was being forced—and though he was inclined to believe the latter, especially considering their last conversation, he couldn't discount the possibility.

"Jirou-san," Fugaku spoke, a certain tightness around his eyes. "The final decision has not been made. We cannot simply have Obito rejoin the clan if he does not wish to."

"Excuse my impertinence, but the boy has the Mangekyō, Fugaku-sama!" Obito froze at this, his eyes darting around the room. No one was surprised at the declaration. "The terms from before were in regards to him having the normal three-tomoe stage, but him having advanced his Sharingan to such a point renders that agreement null and void!" The elder turned to Obito with a sneer. "If not simply for keeping others from obtaining his eyes, the boy needs to be kept under supervision due to the nature of his eyes. We all know the price paid to attain that power, who knows what else the boy will do to gain power?"

Obito's fists clenched. It was a sick joke that they of all people would accuse him as he was currently for being a moral-less, power-hungry monster. Even if the words held truth to them, they were just as much to blame as he was.

But his frustration and grudges held towards them were minor compared to the more important question of, how? How did they find out?

"Fugaku-sama was under oath," an elder commented derisively, perhaps seeing Obito's alarm and questioning look. "We had sent a spy to observe you in your latest C-Rank mission, to see how you faired in battle, and it was reported that you had advanced your Sharingan past stage three. How strange it was that Fugaku-sama had been researching our clan's dōjutsu—a specific level—around this time."

Any other day Obito might have wondered why the man felt it prudent to reveal so much information, but in this case, he knew. It was a show of power, that they had him leashed and watched, that his movements were monitored. He turned to Fugaku, whose expression was faintly pinched, wondering if this was what the man had been alluding to before (and if that were the case, why he didn't simply say it).

The time traveler nodded in thanks to the man anyway. He understood, to an extent, Fugaku's responsibilities as clan head. Under oath, he could not lie, and the fact he had kept Obito's secret for this long earned him a level of gratitude—even if the secret wasn't kept indefinitely.

"Do you understand, now, Obito-kun?" Vapid-idiot—Jirou—spoke quietly, calmly. "It is the logical conclusion to the situation. The clan truly does have your best interests in mind, and it only makes sense for those of Uchiha blood and name to be kept within—"

Obito hummed. "No."

Jirou paused abruptly, his eyes narrowing. "… You cannot simply say 'no,' child. As it is, there is no argument for this. You may have the Mangekyō, but you do not know the extent of it's power, correct? You can receive the proper training if you rejoined the clan, with your family."

Obito laughed.

"I have a better idea. An offer," he stated, eyeing each of the elders before continuing. "If I bring you the head of another Uchiha that is not tied down by the clan, you will not question me on how I did so. You will not question where I retrieved it from. You will not threaten anyone close to me to find out. You willallow me to remain an independent."

Silence permeated the air as several pairs of onyx eyes observed him, and he closed his eyes. He had entered this confrontation, expecting to be reprimanded at most, but this ended up becoming something so much… More. He could have given an excuse, something minor to deflect their attentions until he departed for the Kannabi Bridge mission.

But instead of doing that… He gave this ultimatum.

He realized that this offer, this deal was a sign of him preparing for the possibility of his survival after the confrontation. But it wasn't anything foolish. Insurance, he told himself, it was simply insurance—one always had to be prepared, even for events with the slimmest chances. He wasn't actually…

Hoping.

"… The head of another Uchiha?" An elder finally asked, incredulously. "One that is not tied down by the clan… What is the meaning of this offer? What do you know? Do you really believe that we—"

"I know nothing," Obito interrupted, tone curt. "I am merely presenting an offer, one that you may or may not accept. But why not accept it? After all, what are the chances of there being an outside, uninvolved Uchiha, when generations past the clan has made sure to protect it's dōjutsu?"

"That is besides the point—"

"Section four of our clan's politics dictates that, should someone wish to join the clan and present an approved ultimatum, the clan is to adhere to it and any details specified. The inverse is true, and could be applied to this case," Fugaku spoke out, narrowing his eyes at the elders. "Obito has the right to present this offer, and it is simply a matter of approval. I, Uchiha Fugaku, motion for the approval of Uchiha Obito's ultimatum."

Obito sighed in relief. He knew nothing about the clan's politics and rules, considering, and he was suddenly very thankful for the fact that he had the clan head as an ally in this situation. It wasn't as if he had paid special attention to the prickly elders of the Uchiha as a child, and as a missing-nin there was no need to know about their politics aside from where they met so he knew where to kill them.

A few minutes passed of murmurs and quiet discussion, before the vote was cast, and Fugaku announced the result. "Eight in favor against five. In the event that Uchiha Obito is able to fulfill the ultimatum he himself set forth, he shall be relinquished from the clan permanently."

Obito eyed each of those present with a keen eye, noting the disgruntled but near-victorious expressions on their faces. Clearly, he was right in treading this path; they wouldn't even think to believe that there was a possibility of there being a rogue Uchiha without ties to the clan, and they likely believed Obito had just signed his acceptance of the clan. Only a handful of the elders looked displeased—the ones that had tried to vote against the motion—and it was clear that, out of the rest, they were the more cautious of the group.

"Wait."

All turned to one of the elders (once-dubbed "cranky") as he spoke. "I wish to set a time limit, Fugaku-sama." His eyes glinted with hard steel as he observed his cohorts. "Entering this agreement without a time limit would allow the boy to keep an open-ended deal indefinitely."

Some had the decency to look abashed at their oversight.

Fugaku sighed quietly, glancing to Obito with something akin to hesitance. "I agree, Kazuki-san. I suggest a year—"

"Half a year, and no more," Kazuki interrupted. His statement earned him agreeing murmurs from the others. "We need not drag out this ordeal longer than needed, Fugaku-sama."

The clan head narrowed his eyes but nodded nonetheless, turning to Obito. "… I understand. Are you in agreement with this, Obito?"

An elder sneered. "Whether or not the boy is in agreement is irreleva—"

"Yes, I am," Obito replied, holding Fugaku's gaze. "Are we done?"

Before another elder could reply or chide the time traveler for his "lack of decorum," Fugaku called the end of the meeting. "Adjourned."

Those in attendance slowly filtered out, some ignoring Obito the best of their abilities, some observing him curiously, and some sneering as they passed. The time traveler waited from where he sat, until he and Fugaku were the only ones left.

The clan head stood up at last, heading to the door. Obito followed. They walked out into the public, the streets bustling with various Uchiha families and shops alight with life.

"… I do not know what interest that man has in you," Fugaku finally spoke, his voice a hushed whisper, "but I feel that you must know this. Danzō-sama was the one who informed the Uchiha council of your Sharingan. He had sent some of his men to spy on you during your previous mission and came to inform us on his findings."

Outwardly, Obito kept a calm mask betraying none of his inner thoughts to the outside world. Inwardly, he cursed. He hadn't planned on doing anything about the old warhawk, yet, but it seemed that Danzō was getting to be somewhat too ambitious already.

"Do you know what, exactly, his spies saw?" He questioned, gaze sharp like steel. Depending on the intel Danzō had managed to gain through his spies, Obito would need to handle his upcoming task with caution. He had little doubt Minato would not stand for nor would he allow the warhawk to send his men to monitor them, but in the event any of the Root ANBU did manage to slip beneath the radar, he had to make sure that no connection between the "masked man" and himself were made.

And if they had witnessed the confrontation between Minato and himself (which he logically doubted to an extent, or else he would've been in T&I by now) his repertoire—most notably his Kamui—would have to be cut.

Fugaku narrowed his eyes. "… No. He had relayed the message that your eyes had 'taken on a new shape, something more powerful than the normal Sharingan.' He said nothing else, regarding abilities or the true depth of his knowledge—I am more than certain that he knows the Mangekyō as well as some of our clan members do, but the elders are blind to this possibility due to hubris and misplaced confidence."

"… I see," Obito replied quietly, turning away as he processed the information given. Danzō was a snake, a manipulative conspirator that knew when to withhold information as well as when to give it. He agreed with Fugaku that Danzō likely had more knowledge on the Mangekyō than he was letting on, but he could only hope the man's subterfuge ended there. "Was that all?"

Fugaku nodded, grimacing slightly. "I… I apologize. I had hoped to give you more time regarding this matter of your status as an Uchiha, and I had promised you that this matter would be dealt with. Now there is no going back, and the Elders will force you to join the clan." His voice fell below a murmur as his eyes glinted with hardened resolve. "Though my word no doubt holds questionable merit at this point, I promise you that I shall endeavor to keep their involvement with your life as minimal as possible."

Obito pat the older man on the shoulder—a slightly awkward move, considering their difference in height—causing them both to stop in the middle of the street. "It's alright, Fugaku-san. I'll figure something out. You focus on Itachi, since he'll need your help more than I will."

The clan head frowned, but grunted an affirmative. "I understand. Do not hesitate to call on me should you find yourself in need, however."

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind."

With a final farewell, Fugaku turned away to head home, and Obito began walking in the opposite direction, cursing every colorful expletive he could think of within his mind.

He hadn't thought Danzō was so involved with the Uchiha already, and that was the crux of the matter—he couldn't exactly leave things as they were, or this timeline would no doubt escalate to the same conflict that had come about last time. For fucks sake, he still had Orochimaru to deal with, and he didn't even want to think about how he would handle that situation.

The Kannabi Bridge mission (or rather, what it would lead to) was the end-all for him, his final act. Previously he had hoped that he could talk to Danzō at a later date, but now the Kannabi Bridge mission was coming up, and he hadn't known previously that the warhawk had decided to continue his observations on him. With the knowledge of Obito's Mangekyō, there was little doubt in his mind that the man wouldn't let him operate on his own anymore without close supervision.

What the hell was he supposed to do?

He could only create two Kage Bunshin at a time at the very most without feeling a substantial chakra drain, and even then, they were Bunshin. They would dispel with a single scratch.

A part of him was cursing his past self—and the one from mentally two decades ago, but the one from not even half a year ago. Had he decided to simply kill Orochimaru, he wouldn't be having so many issues.

Obito's eyes narrowed as he leapt to the rooftops and picked up his pace. He had to go see Danzō. He had yet to decide whether or not to simply kill the man (though it certainly would be easier to) but at the moment the man was the most dangerous, as he wasn't actually known as an enemy of Konoha—he was a wolf in sheep's clothing, and was in a prime position to gut the village from the inside out.

"Obito!"

The time traveler cursed, recognizing the voice, and sped up his pace.

"Obito! Damnit, stop!"

The Uchiha stopped begrudgingly, turning to regard his teammate with a narrowed look. "What is it, Kakashi?"

Kakashi landed on the other side of the roof, observing the raven. He settled into a defensive kata and nodded. "… Let's spar."

Obito stared at him like he had grown two heads.

"C'mon," the Hatake urged, his tone biting. Goading. "We never got to spar, after I found out that you were holding back on me."

The Uchiha shook his head. He was half incredulous and half cursing his luck, loathing the timing his teammate had. "Not now. I have to—"

He abruptly brought his hands up in a defensive motion as Kakashi swung his foot down on his head from an aerial maneuver. Obito growled before grabbing the silver-haired boy's ankle and flinging him aside. "Not now, Kakashi."

The Hatake righted himself and landed firmly on his feet, the hints of a smirk behind his mask. "You're just scared. You don't want to lose to me, so you're running away."

Obito's hands clenched but he refused to respond, turning away to continue his trek towards Danzō's Root base. 'I don't have time for this.' He heard Kakashi scrambling to follow, attempting to catch up, and could feel the ire rolling off of the boy in waves.

"… Damnit. God damnit, Obito, what are you hiding? Why are you running away!?" He spat, growling as he tried to reach the Uchiha. "Why have you changed so much? The Obito I knew wouldn't be trying to escape this, he wouldn't be running away like a damn coward—"

His tirade was abruptly halted when Obito's arm slammed into his jugular, cutting off his words with a strangled gasp. Obito threw him to the ground, pinning him with his elbow, and Kakashi stared up at him with wide eyes. He hadn't even seen him move.

"Kakashi, you are not the one to be lecturing me on not cooperating," Obito hissed, whispering in a quiet but stern tone. "You don't tell me about not knowing what is important, because I can tell you this much—you don't know anything. The rules, morals, self-preservation, they don't mean shit, not when your loved ones are out there dying or are already dead. What use are the rules, that are supposed to keep peace and order, when the people you love and care about are gone?" He pressed his elbow deeper, a pained, clouded grin forming on his lips. "The people that keep you grounded, the people that are literally your life?"

Silence was Obito's response, and he sighed, lifting off of Kakashi to let the boy breathe. He could feel the last tethers of sanity and control slipping from his fingers, made thinner by the approaching threat of the mission. He shouldn't have taken out his frustrations on his teammate, but to be fair, his teammate also shouldn't have continued to pursue him like he did.

Kakashi frowned as he sat up, eyeing Obito with a (not frightened, he noted) confused look. "… I know that. You already told me."

Obito's eyes widened imperceptibly. Yes, he had told Kakashi that before, but he hadn't expected the boy to actually take his words to heart completely. He was surprised that, instead of retaliating with his belief on the rules, Kakashi said that he knew… And he could see the understanding in the boy's eyes. He hadn't thought that the simple confrontation would've been all that was needed to get through to his scarred friend, irrevocably damaged by the sight of his dead, disgraced father. But had he truly gotten through to him, that day?

The Hatake didn't notice the surprise and confusion in the time traveler's eyes, because he turned his head away. "I told you about it. My past, and how I felt. I care about Minato-sensei. We're a team, you, Rin, and I. You guys… You're my team. My family." Kakashi turned back to Obito, his eyes determined. "Please, Obito, tell us what is going on."

His tone was sincere, and there was no malice, no veiled threats. No hidden agenda, behind his eyes.

… He'd changed.

It was a good thing, Obito had to remind himself quickly. The boy could display compassion and empathy, now; he understood the importance of bonds and appreciating the people around himself—without the pseudo death of a teammate. Kakashi had changed to the point where he was almost unfamiliar, and Obito couldn't help but think about how different the Kakashi of this time already was from the Kakashi he knew. The one he'd known for two decades.

Rin had changed. Minato had changed. And now, so had Kakashi.

Obito closed his eyes and stood up, suddenly finding that he was very, very tired.

"… Just leave me alone for now."

He turned away and darted off again, ignoring how Kakashi scrambled to his feet as well and yelled after him.

"Wha—you idiot! Why can't you just tell us what is going on!?" Kakashi leapt towards him, having noticed that the Uchiha had slowed down ever so slightly. "You can't just—"

His hand glided through the empty air where Obito's arm had been.

"Minato-sensei!"

The addressed blonde turned around in question before his eyes landed on a strangely unnerved Kakashi making his way over to him.

"Kakashi…?" He called out tentatively, walking towards the approaching boy at a brisk pace. When he reached the silver-haired Chūnin he observed him, noticing the way the boy's pupils dilated frantically. "What happened?"

"O-Obito," Kakashi stuttered out between breathes, before coughing in an attempt to steady his nerves. Minato placed a hand on his shoulder in a calming, supportive gesture. "I went to talk to him, to ask him what was going on—I found him coming from the Uchiha Compound, and I told him to spar with me since I realized—I knew—that he wouldn't just tell me unless I proved myself, but he wouldn't, and I don't know—"

Minato's brow furrowed as the usually reticent and controlled teen before him slowly lost his inhibitions, more open with his emotions than the blonde had ever seen him. His hand on the boy's shoulder tightened in an effort to ground the unstable Hatake. "Kakashi. What happened?"

"He's gone!" Kakashi blurted out, trembles from adrenaline gone but mind still racing. "I tried to convince him to tell me what happened, to explain everything, but he just… He refused. He ran away, using Shunshin… And I couldn't catch up to him." He bowed his head as a more subdued demeanor took hold. "I… I tried to look for him. I figured that I could find him, try again, and I even summoned the pack to look. But… I just couldn't find him."

Minato placed his other hand on the teen's shoulder, kneeling down to eye-level. He couldn't help but note, in wry humor, that ever since Obito had been swapped out with a future rendition of himself, his entire team—including himself—was in a constant state of instability. "Kakashi," he intoned quietly with a stern, unwavering gaze. "Look at me."

Hesitantly, the Chūnin looked back up, his eyes lost and worried.

"Obito will be fine. He will be fine," he reiterated to Kakashi, partly for his own benefit. "So I want you to go home and rest, because you can't allow this to worry you. Your Jōnin Examination is tomorrow, and you will do your best on it."

Kakashi stared at him for a moment before nodding, his usual reticence returning with ease. While Minato didn't like the way his student tended to distance himself from those around him, it was worse when the boy completely lost himself and everything keeping him grounded. Kakashi was still a child and therefore needed moments of emotional release, but for someone like him who had already experienced substantial loss, he didn't need to suffer the worry of losing even more.

Minato held his gaze for a few moments longer before straightening, patting the silver-haired Chūnin on the back as he did so. He turned to gaze in the direction of the Uchiha Compound, a small frown forming on his face. "… Don't worry about Obito, Kakashi. While I'm sure he appreciates the sentiment… It isn't needed."

He was turned away and therefore didn't see it, but he could sense the instant his student's eyes turned to him sharply. "… You know."

After a moment, the blonde only nodded solemnly. "… Aa. A little."

A silence settled between them, and Minato had no doubt that his student was waiting for an explanation. However, this was something that he had yet to inform the Hokage of, and should be told by Obito himself—especially regarding the other Chūnin of Team Seven.

He heard Kakashi sigh and turn away, perhaps realizing he would not get any answers. "… I'll see you later, sensei."

The Hatake left before Minato could respond, but it mattered little. He darted off towards the Uchiha Compound as soon as he felt his student's chakra signature disappear in the opposite direction.

It hadn't taken long for him to reach the gates, considering he didn't bother to hold back his speed.

"Namikaze-san?" One of the gatekeepers questioned, glancing to his partner. "What—"

"I need to speak with Fugaku and the elders immediately," Minato intoned icily, not bothering with his usual genial smile. He breezed past them, and they followed after him nervously after a moment of brief shock.

"… Er, Namikaze-san, you're not supposed to—"

"Minato."

The two gatekeepers froze at the sudden appearance of their leader.

Minato inclined his head, face still expressionless. "Fugaku."

"Ah, Fugaku-sama, I a-apologize," one of the gatekeepers stammered out nervously, eyes darting between the clan's leader and the Hokage candidate. "W-we didn't mean to—"

"Atsushi, Mashiro, return to your posts." Onyx orbs focused Minato. "Follow me." He switched on his heels, his haori swaying gracefully with the movement.

Minato motioned to follow the clan leader, leaving the two stunned gatekeepers to gather themselves and head back.

After they were a fair distance away from the entrance, Fugaku finally spoke. "… I assume this is about Obito."

"Yes," The blonde replied with little inflection, betraying none of what he felt. "I assume you know what I am here for."

Fugaku glanced to him out of the corner of his eye before returning his gaze to the road before them. "… I cannot call another meeting, unfortunately."

Minato inclined his head in acceptance. He hadn't expected the man to call a meeting just for his benefit. "That is fine. I do not need them all present, merely as many as you can gather."

With a sigh, the clan leader shook his head as they continued their brisk walk. "They found out about Obito's Mangekyō."

Minato made no outward movement or reaction in response to the revelation.

"Danzō-sama had been the one to inform them," Fugaku elaborated plainly, but a slightly hostile emphasis was placed on the Konoha Elder's name. "He had sent some of his spies to observe your student on the last mission your team undertook. Unfortunately, the clan Elders had found out that I was researching the Mangekyō around this time, and I was duty-bound to verify their claims. Obito had been called earlier to be told that he was to join the clan, due to his dōjutsu's level."

A moment of silence passed as Minato processed the words. He let out a long-suffering sigh, his brow knitted together in frustration. "And there is nothing you can do, I assume."

"That is correct," the clan leader replied stonily. "It is postponed temporarily for now, due to a proposition he presented to the elders, but the result will still be the same—he will rejoin the clan in half a year."

Minato's jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

Fugaku offered no words in response, only a wry, amused look. Eventually they reached their destination—Minato only vaguely remembered entering a large, old-fashioned building, leading up to a hallway lined with shoji screens—and the two of them entered without preamble.

A narrowed azure gaze scanned the room, noting that several aged Uchiha sat around the vicinity, spread out in smaller groups as they conversed over Shogi or tea. As soon as the duo had entered, however, all chatter ceased as multiple pairs of onyx eyes turned to stare at the one who was clearly non-Uchiha.

"… Fugaku," Minato murmured quietly, his eyes still scanning the room. There seemed to be too many for all of them to be part of the council, but Fugaku had lead him here. Surely, at least a few present were part of the group that had tried to press Obito to rejoining the clan. "… The elders?"

"Are before you," the clan leader drawled in confirmation.

A sharp spike of hostile chakra pulsed through the room, immediately setting the previously relaxed elders on edge as they observed Minato with varying levels of surprise, shock, and indignant ire.

"… Namikaze-san," one of the elders greeted, standing up to meet the blonde. "To what do we owe the—"

"Uchiha Obito," Minato spoke quietly, but with a clear, cutting intent that set everyone present on edge. "Earlier today, you demanded that he join the clan, despite the fact that he has made it clear that he has no intention of doing so."

Some of the elders present bristled at the decidedly hostile tone the blonde had taken. "Obito is an Uchiha, Namikaze-san. There is no reason why he should not—"

"When Obito was a child you disowned him, thinking he was a useless bastard child. When he had to live the life of an unwanted orphan, the black sheep of your clan, you did nothing and had chosen to ignore him because the clan had washed its hands of him. When the Civilian Representative was practically after his head for the burned apartment and the most recent incident, you sat back and did nothing." He grit his teeth, expression somewhere in-between a sneer and a snarl as he narrowed his eyes. "All this time, he had been nothing but a burden to you, something to scoff at. And then, the moment he shows an ounce of power, of promise—achieved by his own merit, mind you—you immediately claim him to be yours?"

"Namikaze-san," an elder growled lowly, standing up in challenge with eyes flashing. "You are allowing bias to affect your judgement, on an issue where emotions and personal attachments are entirely unwelcome. Whether or not Obito is considered an Uchiha by law, and whether or not he or the clan wishes he be reintegrated into the Uchiha, he will always remain an Uchiha by blood. It is imperative that he, who holds power that none have or would have realized prior, remains protected by those who understand his power."

Minato's eyes darted around the room, flickering with burning anger and challenge—how DARE they even attempt to do this, attempt this claim as family when HE was the one who practically raised the boy—before cooling to a frigid, cool gaze. His face relaxed, his shoulders eased out of the tension that had slowly built up and he observed the elders calmly.

"… You are correct, and I apologize for my moment of indiscretion." He bowed slightly at the waist, indicating that he was polite and understood that what he had just done was unacceptable—while also conveying, on a lower level, that he was not truly sorry for his actions. "It was disrespectful of me to behave with such misconduct in the presence of the clan's elders."

A few of the elders smirked, metaphorically puffing out their chests in pride and premature victory.

"However," he continued, "it is unnecessary for the Uchiha clan to assume guardianship of Obito once again, for he is already under the care of Uzumaki Kushina and myself."

They made to protest, but he barreled over their meagre objections with a smile that was all teeth and a low, unforgiving tone. "You will not bother Uchiha Obito with your requests, ever again, or I can promise you that you will have a very formidable foe to deal with. Do I make myself clear?"

A stunned silence followed his declaration, but Minato would not be cowed.

With a final nod to Fugaku (half in thanks, half in permission to leave) which was reciprocated, he left—allowing the elders the privacy to fully process and comprehend the blatant threat.

While it wasn't considered a wise move for a shinobi slated as a potential Hokage candidate, Minato couldn't care less. The Uchiha clan had his support, as much as any other clan. But if becoming Hokage meant abandoning someone he had practically raised, his student who had already gone through so much (that he had already failed not once, but twice), all to stoke the egos of a few pompous elders with their outdated ideals…

Then he didn't need it. The hat. The recognition.

The role.

He loved the citizens of Konoha, and he saw each of them as the humans they were, not as tools or a means to an end, be they civilian or shinobi.

When that humanity was threatened, his very morals and ideals were threatened.

And Minato was a man who held steadfast to his ideals.

Concealed by the shadows.

That was the type of man he was, having been denied the position of Hokage, over-looked in favor of his once best friend. He kept to the shadows, living as Konoha's roots that, while unseen, were what kept the village's foundations firm. And it was with some small sort of humor Obito noted that, despite being a man of the shadows… He was still not in full control.

"Shimura Danzō."

The elder tensed from where he sat, though the reaction was minute and inscrutable to the untrained eye—yet from an individual such as Danzō, it was as telling as a warning beacon. Slowly, his only revealed eye lifted from his desk, the parchment before him, to level a hard gaze on the figure in the shadows.

His eye narrowed, either in threat or measuring, as he attempted to see the faint outline of the man standing by his doorway, the sparse candlelight only barely reaching the interloper's feet. "What is your business here?"

Obito smirked faintly beneath his mask. Danzō was as hardened and distrusting as ever, but clearly knew that identities would be kept and that questioning would help little in this instance—perhaps the mask helped, in that regard. "I have a question for you."

He watched the warhawk as he lowered his pen, slowly, yet kept his hands visible. The time traveler, despite knowing that Danzō was not of the impulsive sort, was surprised that he had not made a move to apprehend or at least call in his Root agents—Obito knew he shouldn't underestimate the man and kept his senses alert to all chakra signatures in the vicinity, so he knew that the man had yet to call reinforcements. Either Danzō realized that he was outclassed and knew it would be a wasted effort to attempt to restrain an individual who had managed to sneak into the deep confines of his base undetected, or he was waiting for an opportunity.

Obito really wouldn't put it past the man for both to apply.

"I have no information for you," the warhawk intoned firmly, his eye narrowing at the shade created by Obito's mask. He couldn't help but wonder if Danzō would be so bold if he knew it was a Sharingan hidden beneath the shadows.

"But you do," he replied simply, easily. "It is a reasonable question, and you may answer if you wish. If you do not feel the inclination to answer, then that is an answer all the same." That he may decide to kill the warhawk should he prove uncooperative was left unsaid and unknown to the other.

A few moments of tense silence passed. Danzō inclined his head steadily, his form tense and coiled; ready for confrontation.

"What is it that you wish for, Danzō?" Obito questioned after a moment, gauging the him. "What do you wish for Konoha?"

The only indication of surprise was a slight twitch of the man's fingers. He seemed wary, hesitant. 'Good,' Obito thought quietly to himself, 'you should be.'

The instant of indiscretion passed swiftly as an impassive look once again crossed the warhawk's features. "… My wish is for Konoha to prosper, and to be the supreme power it deserves to be. That is all."

A prideful proclamation to say the least, and one Obito knew the man would answer with. It was something many who knew Danzō had known about him, and it was no surprise to the time traveler that the man's goal had not changed.

"… Are you certain?" He asked after a moment, challenging. "Are you certain that it is a with to see Konoha unstoppable, a wish for Konoha?" His eyes narrowed as he remembered the man's delusions, his lust for the position of Hokage, and how he abandoned the Kage Summit as soon as danger presented itself despite knowing that such a show would be seen as cowardly and weak-willed in the eyes of the other nations. Danzō, who had always yearned to be Hokage, had only further proven the fact that he was a self-serving wretch that only had his best interests in mind. "… Or is it that you want power, you want prestige and to be seen as a 'supreme power'?"

Obito had injected more emotion into that last statement than he had meant to, and the warhawk's narrowed gaze verified it. "… You are naive," he replied coldly, demeaning. "It is a beautiful concept, yes, to think that there is more beyond what is said—to believe that there is such a thing as a peaceful justice. But it is not the truth. Peace and friendship shall only last as long as the one who brought it to fruition live… But then what? 'Passing on the tradition' to someone else?" The corner of his eye tightened slightly, showing restraint in what would clearly have been a display of obvious distaste. "No one will bow to someone who replaces the original, a new regime must be brought forth for the younger generations to prove themselves… But power and fear are different. They are concrete. No matter how many generations pass, as long as someone strong, someone powerful is in control, then Konoha will never fall."

"The position of Hokage is practically synonymous with 'the one who is most powerful,' is it not?" Obito challenged, taking a step forward. He was surprised that Danzō had not completely dismissed his line of questioning, and had seemingly answered with what he truly believed—however twisted a belief it was. "So why must fear be incorporated as well? Power is important, yes, to back the words one speaks, but fear is not a necessary component. In fact, I would say compassion and competence, understanding of the village and her people are far more important."

Danzō's hand twitched, and for a moment, the Uchiha tensed in preparation for an attack or retaliation. "It is expected that power comes in tow with competence and intelligence, otherwise, one would be dead. Those who allow compassion to seep through their judgement do not deserve the title of Hokage, or any title—in the Shinobi world, such reluctance would sooner bring the end of the village. Ruthlessness, power, and cunning; these are the elements that are most important."

"But what about the people?" The time traveler questioned, feeling faint stirrings of discontent and frustration. This conversation was beyond a simple measure of deciding the warhawk's worth, it was a debate of beliefs. And yet, despite knowing that Danzō's path would only bring destruction, he was… "The citizens of Konoha? Tyrants can only accomplish so much, keeping the people under strict control! There is no way anyone would be happy under such an oppressive regime, especially Shinobi, and peace would never be—"

… Losing.

"Their happiness doesn't matter." The words were spoken quietly, sternly, with an edge of ice as the warhawk cut off his own. "It is not their happiness that lays the foundation of the village, but their lives, their strength. Their existence. For there is no village if there are no citizens, and the weak are the first to be eliminated in times of tumultuous war such as this. In a world such as ours, there is no room for compassion or empathy, as enemies wouldn't hesitate to exploit such weaknesses. To survive, we cannot show weakness or emotion." His voice rose in volume as his eyes flashed dangerously. "There is no such thing as 'peaceful justice.' The world is ruthless and shinobi die, enemy and ally alike. The only way to make one's ideals known and accepted is through force, whether it is through power, fear, trickery, or all of the above. Do not spout your idyllic words to me, for you will find just how ignorant and foolish you truly are."

Obito's fists clenched in the darkness as the warhawk observed him, clearly waiting for some form of retort or verbal retaliation. But the time traveler could not, for he had fallen to his thoughts as he absorbed the full implications and meaning of what Danzō had said.

He was disturbed.

Despite knowing what Danzō's path had lead him to, despite knowing the differences, his own morals and thoughts were actually… Similar, to Obito's.

It was a frightening thought, but one that the Uchiha couldn't help but reference in his mind as the conversation progressed. For instance, the bit about "peaceful justice"… Wasn't that what Obito believed, as well?

He didn't want to sit down and converse with his enemies, because he felt it pointless. If he truly thought he could convince Madara to change his ways, he wouldn't be planning the man's death right now—he would be trying to bring him back to Konoha to be dealt with by the authorities and the clan. He would have incapacitated Orochimaru and left him at Hiruzen's doorstep with a metaphorical key to the snake's lab, wrapped with a bow. But why? Why would he waste his time, trying to convert an individual who had lived so many years of blind hatred and certainty? An individual who was so entrenched in his own twisted ideals and dreams of immortality that he had long ago discarded his humanity? It was much easier to simply rid the world of them, of all the other threats that he felt could harm Konoha and her people.

And of course, "their happiness doesn't matter." Even though Obito truly did want his team happy now, he was still lacking in that regard. Danzō's words resonated with what he had once believed—as long as they were there, even if they were an illusion, it didn't matter to him… No. No, in fact, his reasoning was even worse. At least Danzō appreciated the fact that Konoha's citizens were alive, but Obito, Tobi…? And now, what was he sacrificing?

He never told anyone the truth, he kept his secrets, not paying any heed to the fact that he had been hurting them, all because he was able to justify his actions in a blind, convoluted way.

Because "it is better this way."

All of this time, he had felt that what he had to do was simple: keep his team alive, keep his family alive, keep Konoha alive, contain Zetsu, and kill Orochimaru, Danzō, and Madara. But it wasn't that simple.

Danzō, for all of his flaws and convoluted scheming, was still important. Important to Konoha. Even with his harmful interferences in the future, Obito could not kill him.

(He had known this before, but when he had entered, he had intended on listening to the man. Listening, incriminating, and justifying a reason to kill him despite his position in Konoha's hierarchy. But he couldn't do that anymore, it wasn't so simple.)

To kill the man now meant destroying a powerful figurehead and second-handedly dismantling his shadowed strength. If he were to kill the warhawk right now in the midst of war, the village would not be able to keep it a veiled secret. The other villages would find out eventually, and would most likely take this as a sign of weakness and attack. Konoha needed Danzō right now, despite how Obito truly felt about the matter.

A minute, almost undetectable fluctuation of chakra had Obito on alert. He snapped to attention, glaring at the confident look on the warhawk's face.

"And now, I believe we have talked enough about philosophies and trivial opinions," he spoke evenly, as Obito felt the chakra signatures of Root ANBU literally melt into the room. He'd been right; Danzō was stalling, waiting for an opportunity to strike, and their little debate provided just the opportunity. "Now it is time for the truth, and where you stand regarding my village."

The urge to do something, to melt the bastard's face off, to twist his arms out of their sockets, to cripple him and leave him a paraplegic was stifling, but Obito's ingrained instincts kicked in before what he wanted to do could. The space around him shifted, twisted before the Root ANBU could slice through him with their weapons.

Obito collapsed on the flat, smooth surface within his dimension, gripping his strained eyes.

It was a full throbbing sensation, one he wouldn't have been experiencing if he hadn't overcharged his eyes with chakra… But the pain was a welcome distraction, grounding him, keeping him aware. That this was real, and that he couldn't afford to break down.

Not yet.

He bit his lip as the henge dispersed, but a wry chuckle escaped his lips anyway. He felt anything but amused, but the emotions and thoughts within him raged for release—and it was the only action he could grant himself just shy of going back and introducing the warhawk to a version of his own, real Tsukuyomi.

"… So," he whispered quietly, "I am like Danzō, am I?"

He received no answer, of course, and shook his head. "All the more reason, then."

A/N: I know it'll probably seem weird that Danzo had just kinda jumped into a philosophical debate with a masked unknown like that, but there are two things I keep in mind when writing his character: he is someone manipulative who doesn't take impulsive moves, and his own brand of pride and confidence is his downfall. When first being confronted with the "masked individual," it can be assumed that Danzo would have already heard about him—whether from Hiruzen or Tsunade is up for debate, but with his Root agents he has his claws in almost every "secret" regarding Konoha. And yet, at this point he only knows of the "masked man's" existence, and nothing else—he is an unknown in Danzo's book, so Tobi presenting a question that Danzo could answer and therefore keep him there presented an opportunity. That aside, I STRUGGLED with this chapter, so THAT will also contribute to the weirdness/OOC-ness. UGH. ASPIRIN.

Another thing, because my friend told me that I should just "kill the fucker off already." Sorry guys, but not yet. I dislike Danzo just as much as the next person, but I just don't like the absolute hate and bashing he always gets—I have sort-of plans for the guy in the hypothetical future, possibly leading to an untimely death, but for now Danzo isn't the "big-bad-evil-cyclops-monster" that he's always portrayed as. He's a dick, sure, but he /did/ have good intentions in the beginning, and I have a sort of respect for his ruthless yet effective means of operation, and he is definitely not an idiot. Objectively speaking. A (self-serving, ambitious, and pretentious) dick, yeah, but not an idiot. (*cough*at least he isn't useless like Homura and Koharu*cough*) Not to mention, at this point his sins aren't at their peak, considering /many/ of the overtly incriminating incidents from canon haven't occurred yet.