A/N: [*] Sorry I'm not replying to most of you - I honestly don't know how to reply to some of your reviews without revealing certain things that could be seen as pretty big spoilers. Word count is ~7.1k.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 29 - Far-reaching Hope

No words were spoken as the remaining members of Team Minato returned to Konoha.

Minato couldn't blame his students. If they weren't in shock, they certainly were mourning, and talking wasn't something people tended to like doing when grieving over the loss of those close to them. Minato himself was still struggling to reconcile his expectations for the mission and what had actually happened in his mind.

A small frown formed on his face as he recalled what had happened when he arrived.

Minato had made short work of the Iwa-shinobi, not bothering to assess the situation first—all he knew was that his students were in trouble, and he needed to do something about it. Terrified looks, blood, screams of pain and loss—he hadn't paid any mind to it, instead blanking his mind from everything as he got to work. He already had a vague idea of what happened when he noticed a distinct lack of Obito's presence, but hadn't allowed himself to think much of it at the time, instead giving his mind the numb reprieve it sought during the times he was forced to slaughter whole battalions of Shinobi. (The second time that day, he noted mournfully.)

And yet, unlike usual he didn't feel the heavy guilt that usually followed, the guilt that resulted from the knowledge that he had just killed people who were like him, people who had loved ones waiting for them at home, people who would never return to their homes and would leave behind grieving family and friends.

As soon as he had exterminated the enemy, he immediately sought to find Obito's chakra signature. He had, at first, attempted Sage Mode, only to realize that he was far too unstable to safely utilize it properly. He resorted to his usual sensing method as a result, and verified that his student's chakra signature was not in the vicinity, no matter how much he searched with his own. Eventually he relented, instead turning to Rin (who was frightfully despondent, and he inwardly worried about Kakashi as well) to ask. Her response had been as he had expected, but hoped against.

When Kakashi woke up, the boy confirmed that Obito had been underneath the falling rocks during the cave-in.

"He… He was right there," Kakashi had stated quietly, in a voice that was monotone yet somehow simultaneously wrought with grief and frustration. "Right there, and I couldn't do anything. I couldn't do anything, and I just watched him die."

Minato had assuaged the both of his students, telling them not to blame themselves. He didn't say much else, couldn't say much else, because he himself was in the same situation—and he knew that he didn't want to hear anymore. And that was when Kakashi had finally broken.

"He smiled." He had looked down at his hands, onyx and crimson wide-eyed in shock and remembrance. "He smiled, as we watched him. Like… Like he knew it would happen. Like he accepted his death. Like he was actually happy that he was leaving us!"

All Minato had been able to do was place a hand on the boy's shoulder, a silent reminder to remain calm. He couldn't help but think how very much like Obito it was, what the boy had done.

To leave them behind, in the dark and confused.

Grief had been the most palpable emotion he felt, but bitterness and a distinct sense of betrayal were close as well. Again, he couldn't help but think. Yet again, Obito had hidden things, hidden his true objective, and as a result the survivors were the ones who paid for his actions. But now, as the three of them walked home with heavy steps, Minato's head was somewhat clearer from the initial shock and loss.

And no matter how much he thought of it, everything simply did not add up.

It didn't make sense.

Kakashi had also testified that the incident had occurred mere seconds before Minato had arrived. It was a morbid thought, but falling rocks wouldn't have killed Obito immediately unless the boy was extremely unlucky (or lucky, in this case, for who would want to live their last moments gasping for air with crushed lungs, each breath a slow suffocation towards death from blood steadily filling the airways?) and ended up with his head being the first part to be crushed. It simply wouldn't have killed him immediately—especially considering the boy's true ability, that Minato still didn't have a full grasp of.

That in mind, he would have sensed a flicker of chakra in the least. A dying flicker, perhaps, but a flicker nonetheless, even if Obito had already passed at that point. The human body still held wisps of it's chakra before being taken over by rigor mortis (considering the bodies of Shinobi-born are saturated in chakra from the moment of birth and only increased if the individual is a Shinobi, it was not something one needed to be a medical expert to deduce) so it made no sense that Minato hadn't felt Obito's chakra at all. This alone was the sole reason for him not blasting through the rubble himself and confirming that his student was under there, because the absence of chakra was telling enough that he would find nothing there.

(At least, that's what he fervently hoped—admittedly, the main reason why he hadn't done so was that he didn't want to cling to the little hope he had, only to reveal his student's very dead form under the rubble.)

Considering what Minato knew about Obito's abilities, it was very well likely he had used his Kamui and either fazed through the rocks or moved to his personal dimension. Even though the blonde knew very little concerning the ability his student had, he knew enough to know that there was still a distinct possibility that Obito hadn't died. The possibility existed that Obito was still alive.

'… That can't be it,' Minato thought quietly to himself. 'Obito said that Rin, Kushina and I died first, and I trust what he said. I trust him.'

He looked up at the sky, eyes narrowed in thought. "… That can't be the end of Uchiha Obito."

Obito stood up to dust himself off, before he henge'd into his older form and replaced his mask.

He wasn't certain how much time had passed, exactly, but he was certain it was enough—he couldn't stand the idea of waiting any longer. With a single pulse of chakra, he leapt out of his dimension and landed atop the rubble that had once served as his supposed grave once, his lone eyes surveying the area.

Bodies, bloodied and significantly drained of life were littered around the vicinity, and there was no sign of any of his teammates amongst the count.

He hadn't known for certain whether or not his teammates had already vacated the area, or if they even made it out alive at all. The two factors that kept him from "spying" on them to confirm their wellbeing was the consolation that he knew Minato would be there shortly, and the knowledge that if he saw the result of his "death" in his teammates, he might've revealed himself just to save himself from having to view their anguish.

Removing himself from his thoughts, Obito turned northeastward where he knew his goal resided.

He vaguely recalled how far away Madara's hideout was. He hadn't gone to the Mountains' Graveyard all that often before despite it being his base of operations, mostly due to the necessity of him being present for the Akatsuki and handling reconnaissance. The Akatsuki itself had several bases, and the Gedo Mazo had been summoned to each one by Nagato depending on convenience to absorb the individual bijū. If he were to label a certain one their "main" base it would be Amegakure, if only for the reason that Nagato was the ruler of Ame and the puppet leader of the Akatsuki, making it a reasonable choice as headquarters. It simply wasn't a necessity for Obito to frequent Madara's old hideout often, so as a result, his memory of the exact location was not as precise as he would have liked.

As Tobi, Madara's "messenger," it had been simple to find and navigate the hidden dwelling—he was technically the "owner" while Madara was dead, after all. Being an outsider, however… The chakra surrounding the area concealed it, making it almost impossible to detect by those un-welcomed. While Obito had very few worries about finding the hideout despite his failing memory, there was also the issue of actually infiltrating without alerting any of the Zetsu or Hashirama-cell-based lifeforms. Because Hashirama's Mokuton was heavily based on the use of Nature chakra, Obito's normal methods for suppressing his very human and distinct chakra would be rendered pointless against the tree-like beings.

Luckily, the treatment he had given himself in this time period should work against that security—he had proven that he could use Mokuton to an extent, however weakened, and if he let out a steady stream of the chakra without actually activating the ninjutsu itself, he shouldn't be detected immediately.

Obito clenched his fist as he darted off into the trees, brow furrowed. His chakra levels were low, that much was certain. Enough to land a killing blow to the aged and already dying Madara, but he still had to be wary of the Zetsu clones—and Black Zetsu. He wasn't certain that he would be able to deal with both, but as long as he managed to kill Madara, at least Black Zetsu's plans would be forestalled for the time being until the future generations were prepared.

His eye surveyed the three figures in front of him, none the wiser to his presence.

It was somewhat of an odd realization, seeing the three children—because really, despite their ambitious, justified goals and all that they had experienced, they still held signs of the youthful innocence that teens their age should have. They were standing in the rain, conversing, casting shadows of a memory to what they could become.

He nodded silently to his counterpart, and watched the other walk out into the open with due caution. Immediately, the three turned towards the newcomer with untrusting gazes, tense anticipation read in their forms.

"Please," the clone stated, holding it's hands up in a placating, peaceful gesture. "I do not wish to fight. I have come here for—"

Obito clone #2 watched with exasperation as the first clone was impaled by a volley of kunai, subsequently dispersing and leaving the Ame orphans staring blankly at where he once stood. Their wariness was understandable considering the climate held amongst the warring nations, but at the same time, Obito was rather glad that the original had decided to send two clones. He would have to tread carefully, lest he be dispelled as well, his warning unheard and forgotten.

"I am a clone as well," he called out loudly for them to hear, before revealing himself from the shadows. Three sharp, unwilling gazes locked onto his masked form. "As I was about to say before you thought to impale the messenger, I have come here for peaceful reasons."

Yet another volley of kunai was sent his way, and he clicked his tongue in annoyance. Onyx morphed into crimson as the weapons fazed through him, inciting shock from the Ame trio. Obito turned to watch as the weapons clattered uselessly to the ground before turning to Yahiko with an unimpressed look that, though he wore a mask, was conveyed properly. "… While I understand your hesitance to trust me, I hope you're done. The information I have can only help you, and does not affect me—whether you die or not is none of my concern." He pointed to a wary Nagato. "The only thing I would be worried about would be the destruction of those eyes, the instrument to bring the world to ruin."

When he saw them tense further, he resumed a non-threatening air. "… But I have no intention of forcing any of you to do as I wish, and I have no ill-intent towards your group. As I stated, my intentions here are peaceful." He paused, gauging their reactions. "That being said, are you willing to listen?"

"… If our state of being does not affect you, why come here anyway?" Konan spoke up, taking a protective step in front of Yahiko and Nagato. Her golden eyes narrowed. "I think it's logical for us to distrust the words of someone like you, during times of war."

Obito inclined his head in acknowledgement. "I'm afraid there is nothing I can do about your distrust, for I have enemies as well, making it imprudent to reveal my identity. However, like I said: my concern lies with the Rinnegan. The three of you are but children thrown into war, without proper protection. There are many out there, far more wizened and with far less admirable goals, who would not hesitate to do all it takes to obtain those eyes you possess."

Nagato took an uncertain step back as Yahiko brought up a protective arm in front of the redhead. "And you? Where do you stand, in this struggle?"

"Your redheaded friend is a distant relative to someone dear to me," Obito replied smoothly. "They are from a clan deceased, wrongly destroyed for their power during a time of strife as this one. It is for the sake of my own loved ones that I ensure that their relatives, whether known or not, are kept alive and well so that they may meet one day."

"That's not what I meant," Yahiko growled angrily, impatience threaded in his tone. "I mean, what are you? The side that wants the Rinnegan for power? Or would you claim to be our ally?"

Obito made a show of contemplating the question before shaking his head, sighing as he did so. "… While I would have no objections to the latter, I know that you would not agree so readily. Rather, I am someone who fully understands the might of the eyes you possess, and abhors it—someone who would rather it destroyed so that none can hold it, not the metaphorical good or evil. But as I said, I would not force you to do anything you do not agree to." He lifted his two hands, palms up. "So, what do you say? My interests are essentially in keeping you alive, and you only need to hear me out. Don't forget that I am only a shadow clone, and it would be easy for the three of you to subdue me."

Yahiko exchanged a wordless glance with Konan, and then turned to Nagato. The redhead nodded at their leader before turning back to Obito, his amaranthine eyes hesitant yet determined. With their silent exchange completed, Yahiko turned to Obito with a reluctant nod. "… Fine. We will hear you out." He turned towards the east. "Follow me."

They fell into an odd formation, one with Yahiko and Konan at the front, Obito in the middle, and Nagato in the back. The time traveler could feel the uncontested teamwork the three had, the understanding, and knew that if he made an erroneous move they would not hesitate to cut him down.

Not an hour later, the four found themselves within the confines of a base, a rearranged cave. Yahiko abandoned his cloak as his two teammates followed and turned to Obito with a supposedly stern glare. Still a teen indeed. "Talk."

"… As I said earlier," Obito began, "there are those after your Uzumaki friend's eyes. Though the three of you and your group are powerful, there are others just as or more powerful who covet the Rinnegan. There is a simple solution to this, considering the other dōjutsu that exist there."

Obito coughed into his fist. "This will contradict with what I said earlier, but remember it is just a suggestion." He paused a moment, inwardly impressed at the almost unreadable expressions the Ame trio wore. "… Go to Konoha."

Three simple words broke their control, and the room flooded with killing intent. While Konan looked between her teammates with worry and Nagato appeared stricken, Yahiko bristled. "… What?"

"I said, go to Konoha," Obito reiterated slowly, as though speaking to a daft child. Maybe he had picked up some mannerisms from his teammate.

"And why should we? Why should we go to Konoha?" Nagato whispered, his voice struggling to remain steady. The earlier burst of killing intent from Yahiko was hurriedly reined in, but it's presence was still felt beneath the surface. "You mentioned that… I am related to someone dear to you. By telling us to go to Konoha, you are hinting that said person lives in Konoha." In the sparse light of the cave, Obito saw something akin to fury and pain in the boy's visage. "What makes you so certain we wouldn't attack them, now that you revealed your allegiances?"

Konan turned sharply to her friend. "Nagato—"

"To search for uncontested peace is a valiant effort. I would not think that those searching for peace would turn around and incite the curse of hatred by slaughtering those dear to one attempting to help," Obito stated without inflection. He felt a small twinge of guilt at the flinches his accusing words incited, but Nagato had brought it upon himself. He was no saint, and the brief guilt dissipated quickly.

He spoke again, with a slightly softer tone, "Jiraiya of the Sannin is there. He was your teacher at one point, was he not?" After a moment of deliberation, Nagato nodded. "Then I see no issue. The man still has much he would be willing to impart to you three, much that you could still learn."

"We need to stay in Ame to change it!" Yahiko barked suddenly, hands fisted at his sides. Two pairs of eyes turned to him in shock, and Obito's lone eye narrowed on his slightly trembling form. "… We're not just ignorant children. Just because wanting to change the world sounds foolish doesn't mean that it is. We know that we have to start small." He gestured behind Obito, indicating the world outside of the cave. "We need to change our home before we can do anything else, and we can't even do that if we're sheltered in some foreign land!"

Obito watched as Konan and Nagato silently inched closer to Yahiko during his passionate display, wordlessly displaying that they agreed with him, and would follow their de facto leader to the ends of the earth.

The Uchiha regarded the three of them for a moment, before shrugging easily. "… You know, I did say it was just a simple suggestion." His flippant reply left them wide-eyed, and Yahiko turned away with an embarrassed flush. He distinctly heard the boy mumble the words, "I was just saying what I thought."

Obito shook his head, reaching into his sleeve to withdraw the scroll he knew was there. He tossed it unceremoniously to their feet, and they inched backwards with wary suspicion. "Using a solution that is two-parts water, three-parts ink, and one-part your blood, each of you sign your names in the specified spots within the scroll." Obito repeated the words Minato and Kushina had recited to him after they had completed the requested seal. He was still grateful to the couple for this, as it was a simple and easy failsafe that he himself could not have come up with on his own. "When the time comes that one or more of you are in trouble… Say, one of you is held hostage, activate this seal. Once you have, follow the trail, and you will find yourself someplace you can remain while you recover."

He turned to Nagato, who had picked up the scroll and was inspecting it with a scrutinizing gaze. At the sudden attention, the redhead snapped up to look at Obito. "You need only say that you are an Uzumaki and that you trained under Jiraiya." He turned back to the trio as a whole, his only eye glinting with hard steel. "Are we clear?"

Again, they exchanged wordless glances, before coming to their decision. As one, the Ame trio turned to him and nodded.

Obito sighed as he relaxed, releasing tension he hadn't even realized he had. "Alright. That's it, then, I hope you three remain safe in your endeavors." He turned away, planning to head out of the cave before stopping at the mouth. He half-turned his head to them.

"Protect your eyes and your friends, Nagato. Your intentions are valiant, brave, but there are those out there who are stronger than you, who would seek your eyes for purposes that are less than amenable to your own dream." He paused for a moment before shaking his head.

"… The idea of 'peace' comes in all forms. Do not be fooled by others trying to sway you… Not even your own grief."

His piece said, he dispelled in a cloudless pop.

Fugaku stared down at the first line on the parchment with a cold, gelid gaze.

Uchiha Obito is dead.

His fists clenched, crumpling the edges of the missive as a dark look crossed his face. He quickly scanned the rest of the contents within the report and immediately, his mind was wrought with suspicions and anger—was it possible that someone had seen fit to eliminate the boy? Had is been the elders? Danzō?—but he forced his body and mind to relax before he tore the paper in two. The mission was only a B-Rank, elevated to an S-Rank due to the sheer number of Jōnin-leveled enemies, so he felt it logical to hold a certain amount a suspicion for the strange occurrence. Of course, unfortunate situations such as this did happen, however they were exceedingly rare.

Fugaku hadn't meant to grow attached to the black sheep, and he was shocked at his sudden loss of composure for the boy. For the idea that the boy was dead. He still found the thought difficult to comprehend, particularly because of the level of ability he had shown in the past half year.

The clan head almost feared for his friend. He knew how much Minato had suffered recently due to rising suspicions and worries over Obito, had seen it with his own two eyes. And to know that he was now dead, on the first mission where the three-man-cell and past-sensei were to act separately… It was very likely a powerful blow to the blonde's mental and emotional state.

And yet, Fugaku still couldn't shake the strange disbelief that he felt. It was irrational, he knew, but something within him told him that it was equally irrational to believe that Obito was dead. Because he had seen the boy's inner strength through the palpable darkness, the hidden and raw power in all senses of the word. But of course, Obito was also a compassionate soul who zealously protected those dear to him. Perhaps that, within itself, was the cause of his downfall—an idea that was somewhat easier to believe and accept.

The door behind Fugaku slid open silently, the only sign of the action being the sudden shift in the air around him.

"Otou-sama," Itachi greeted, walking over to sit by the clan head.

Fugaku briefly glanced at the young boy to nod in greeting before turning back to the missive, hands stiff. "Itachi."

Out of his sight, Itachi's brow furrowed. "… What happened?"

The boy always was far too perceptive for his own good, Fugaku noted quietly. He breathed in through his nose briefly in an effort to regain his composure, closing his eyes as he forced the remnants of unease from his conscience. He placed the parchment on the far corner of his desk, away from his son. "… It is nothing you need to be privy to, Itachi. What did you need?"

"Has Obito-niisan returned from his mission?" The boy questioned simply, so simply and easily that Fugaku tensed once again. Itachi, the brilliant, bright, and damnably sharp boy he was, noticed this. "… Obito-niisan said he would return soon," he whispered, growing horror betrayed in his unsteady tone as he glanced at the missive his father had placed furthest from his eyes. "… Does the letter have to do with the reason why Obito-niisan has not returned with his team?"

Fugaku snapped around to his son and stared at the boy. He could see actual… Worry, and clear concern for the older boy in his son's usually controlled, calm eyes. Fugaku had always held a certain distance from his son, simultaneously prideful, awed and fearful of the boy's prodigious tendencies… But it was moments such as this that he was reminded that his son was not just the soon-to-be killing machine of the clan's will. And he would never be, if Fugaku had a say in it.

The clan head abruptly stood up, eyes narrowed. "… I am going to speak with the Hokage." Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Itachi withdraw into himself—how had he not seen this before? Had he truly been so distant, from his son, despite his efforts to be certain the boy received only the best?—and quickly added to his statement. "You may accompany me if you wish."

He walked out of his office, ignorant to the wide-eyes of his son.

After a moment, Itachi nodded to himself and stood up to follow, steps small but resolute.

Minato wandered the streets of Konoha, reviewing over what Obito had revealed to him thus far.

There was, firstly, the initial confrontation where he found out about Obito's displacement through time. And then, more recently, the little "story" Obito had granted the team.

Frankly speaking, Minato was inclined to believe that the "fool" Obito spoke of with such animosity and utter disgust was Obito himself, but… Was it, truly? The story itself didn't have enough clues to validate this thought, even if Obito's past breakdown during their confrontation had indicated that, yes, Obito did indeed blame himself for whatever he had committed in the future-past. At least, while he was inclined to believe it, that didn't necessarily mean he wanted to—the amount of hatred Obito seemed to have for the "fool" was frightful, even more so if one was under the assumption that he was thinking of himself.

And the other. Who was the boy? Who was the boy, who, in contrast to the fool, Obito spoke of so reverently?

It couldn't be Kakashi, as they were the same age. Perhaps Itachi…? … No, because Itachi's parents were still alive and well—Minato knew this for a fact.

Minato shook his head, realizing he was digressing. The reason for this train of thought that had persisted after their return was not to simply hypothesize, but to find reason within his assumption (hope) that Obito was still alive.

The blonde's eyes narrowed. He had been too emotionally compromised earlier, engrossed in his own thoughts and grief over the likely loss of one of his students. But now that he thought about it, with a clearer head…

If Obito was alive, why hadn't he returned with them?

The only reason Minato could logically draw to the possibility of Obito being alive yet willingly not returning would be if the boy had another agenda, one pertaining to his future knowledge. But why wouldn't he inform them, or at least Minato, of this, so that his death wouldn't be publicized upon his return? So that he could have help in his endeavor? Surely he knew by now that they wouldn't drag him back to Konoha for an interrogation, unless the notion of it was particularly detrimental or went against Konoha.

(An idea of which Minato entertained briefly, before shoving the thought away with vehement disgust, inwardly berating himself for considering the idea. Obito had proven that he valued Konoha and those closest to him. He had no reason to seek some nefarious end for the village, and Minato believed this staunchly.)

That still didn't answer why, though, and the lack of an actual reason made the Jōnin's heart sink further with each second. Without a reason, it meant that Obito most likely hadn't escaped. It meant that Obito was under all of the rubble that they had left in Kusa. It meant that Obito was dead.

Because why wouldn't Obito have returned with them? He had told them his story, and was clearly opening up. He was…

Minato's steps halted.

… No. Minato had, during Obito's retelling, felt a foreboding feeling, one he had dismissed as a result from the tone of the "story." But that wasn't it. And the idea that Obito told them the truth because he was finally more comfortable with them… While that could have been true, it was far too somber to truly be that. It was more like he was passing on his life story.

Yes, the chances of Obito being alive were slim, and he should have returned with them after the mission. Would have, if there wasn't something that had happened in the future… Which there must have been. Minato had seen the way Obito was reacting throughout the mission. He was expecting something.

But he hadn't told any of them anything about it, despite his clear indicators about something. But he had no reason to hide it from them, not when they could help him.

Unless…

Minato straightened in alarm, eyes wide with horror.

Of course. It aligned with Obito's story, the pure hatred he had when speaking of the "fool," if Minato's assumptions were correct.

Obito was a zealous protector of those precious to him, and though he had proven to be rather dense in some cases, he was the type to worry about the wellbeing, both physical and mental, of those he cared for when privy to the changes. Obito wouldn't risk his team helping him if whatever he had to deal with was particularly dangerous, perhaps linked to the "demon" or "ancestor" that he had spoken of in his story.

He wouldn't bring them along if he left with the intention of never returning.

It was with wry humor that Minato noted that one of his very first assumptions during the beginning of Obito's displacement happened to be partially right, after all. Obito was, in a sense, suicidal.

It would make perfect sense for Obito to fake his death and pursue a goal, perhaps the origin of all the grief in the future, if said goal involved his own death. He wasn't the type to involve those he cared for in such a dangerous endeavor, and it made sense—finally, finally, things were starting to make sense—that he would choose this course of action.

But Minato still had time. He doubted that Obito's self-imposed mission could be completed so quickly especially if it involved someone that was the root of the future's darkness, and Team Seven had traveled back to Konoha within a day's time—due to Minato's own skittishness, Kakashi's own will to go home and grieve silently, and Rin's own incentive to dive head-first into work to forget. If he hurried, then maybe…

His mind was made up. He would go back to Obito. But first, he needed the Hokage's approval to send Team Seven back out into the field.

Without another moment spent in thought, Minato Hiraishin'd to the seal he knew was settled comfortably on the door of the Hokage's office. He had expected to find the Hokage alone behind mountains of paperwork, so he was understandably surprised to find his friend and said friend's son there, as well.

"… Ah." He began intelligently, eyes darting between Fugaku and the Hokage before finally regaining himself. He bowed at the waist briefly, composure recovered. "… I apologize, Hokage-sama, Fugaku. But I have an urgent request, and time is of the essence."

He locked eyes with Fugaku, who only took one moment to regard the blonde's pleading, panicked eyes before nodding, to his relief. "… I understand. I shall see myself out."

"Fugaku-san," the Hokage interrupted before the man could leave. "You may remain as well." At Minato's questioning look, he sent a reassuring glance to the blonde before turning back to the Uchiha leader. "I am certain that what Minato-kun has to speak about pertains to the topic we were just discussing. Perhaps, being the Uchiha clan head, you should hold a level of jurisdiction in this as well."

Minato frowned as he noticed Fugaku's tense frame. Fugaku only gave a curt nod. "… I understand."

The Sandaime turned back to Minato, who was still silently questioning just how involved his friend was. "Time is of the essence, you had stated. Speak."

It was all the permission he needed. "I suspect that Uchiha Obito is still alive."

Three pairs of eyes widened as they stared at Minato. "… What?"

"I have no solid proof," Minato hurriedly supplied, "but I wish to go back and check. At the very least, I believe my team and I should be allowed to retrieve the body."

Hiruzen was silent for a moment as he took a puff from his pipe. "… You do not sound as though you are convinced it is simply a life-less body you would be going back for, though you do seem to acknowledge the possibility."

Minato held the Hokage's gaze. "No, I do not, and yes, I am well aware of the possibility."

The Sandaime glanced to Fugaku, who's expression was still a stony mask. "You cannot go back, Minato."

Minato froze, not having expected an immediate refusal. Questions and queries on his reasons, but not this. "… I don't see why not," he stated with forced calm, eyes narrowing.

Soft, wizened eyes sharpened immediately, and a brief flare of chakra coursed through the room. The three standing before the Hokage straightened. "You do not see why, Minato? Perhaps because there is still a war going on, and even though you had cut down Iwa's forces considerably, the fact remains that there are still troops out there, of Konoha and other nations, killing, dying, struggling to survive. War is not a trifling matter that can be overlooked in the face of such a request." After another moment of staring his men down, Hiruzen relaxed back into his seat with a sigh. "… The Tsuchikage has yet to call a cease fire, and I do not intend on sending you and your team back out there for the simple retrieval of a body. Please, understand this."

"Obito sacrificed his life to save his two teammates," Minato intoned dangerously, yet with restraint showing that he knew the juxtaposition of his own rank versus the Hokage's, heritor or not. "And like I said, he might still be alive."

"You said that you were uncertain, which does not help your case. Uchiha Obito has been killed in action, and he will be given the proper respect for the act of protecting his teammates—his name will be engraved on the Memorial Stone. Other than that—"

"With all due respect, Hokage-sama," he stated quietly, his eyes flashing with determination. "… I will not go back on this."

Hiruzen regarded the blonde impassively, narrowing his eyes as he placed his pipe to the side. "… As the Hokage, one needs to know when to prioritize. One needs to know the positives and negatives of making executive decisions, the gains, the losses. To focus so vehemently on something that is of a personal cause is not an attitude befitting a Hokage."

Minato smiled grimly, ignoring the flare of disappointment he felt at the older man's words. While they held their truth, they were words he had expected from a man like Danzō, not the supposedly understanding, wizened Sandaime. "… In that case, I reject the hat." He felt the shocked and incredulous stares, but his own gaze remained trained on the Hokage's own, unreadable countenance. "If being Hokage means abandoning one's comrades, my students who I've raised since they were Genin, well… I don't need it. Because when it's possible, I will do everything possible before giving up on a single one of my comrades."

"… I stand by Minato." Startled blue turned to Fugaku, who frowned at the Hokage. "If there is even the slightest chance that Obito is alive, I wish to take it. I shall file for the mission, and his team shall take it."

Minato's eyes widened further. "Fugaku…"

"That boy has done more for me and the Uchiha than he likely realizes, and we have not been given the chance to repay him," he stated calmly. "This is the least I, as the head of the Uchiha clan, can do." Minato couldn't help the small smile that formed on his face at the show of respect and support his friend was displaying. He was quite glad that Obito had garnered such support—as it was something he would need.

"… And if it is not possible?" Hiruzen questioned, gaze fixed on Minato who turned back to the Hokage sharply. "You stated that, 'when it's possible,' you would do everything you could before giving up. So I repeat. If it is not possible, what would you do then?"

Minato's eyes widened momentarily before he schooled his expression, grave determination written clearly. "… Then I will make it possible." When Hiruzen opened his mouth to reply, he continued unrepentantly, barreling over the Sandaime's words. "I will give my life to protect this village and my loved ones, even when my life alone does not weigh the amount of the village. So long as I live, I will live by the Will of Fire, and I will not give up until all hope is lost in my eyes."

In my eyes, he had stated. It was a silent declaration alluding to the fact that he would never lose hope, and even if all those around him did, he alone would never falter until he achieved the desired result.

A tense silence fell in the room as Hokage and successor silently battled. The weight of what Minato had said and done hung heavily in the air, but he couldn't afford to give up as it was—he had meant what he said, all of it, and he wasn't the type to give up on those he cared for.

"… I see." Suddenly, the Hokage broke into a smile, dispersing the heavy atmosphere instantaneously. "Then I honestly cannot think of a more appropriate successor than you, Minato. I know that you have a good head on your shoulders, and I agree with your line of thought. So long as hope persists, there is still a chance. And as long as the chance still exists, we should not give up on our comrades. A little naive, perhaps, but a good mindset nonetheless."

Minato blinked owlishly, earlier determination replaced with confusion. "W-what?"

"I suppose I still have it in me," the Hokage commented amusedly, turning to a monstrous pile situated in his left to sift through the papers. He withdrew an official document and grabbed his Hokage seal to stamp it. "Even if you were all but announced as my official successor, I still like to make certain of my choices from time to time where applicable. A test, here and there, to make sure I'm not making a mistake." He slid the parchment over to Minato with a smile, ignoring the blonde's croaked, "a test?"

Hiruzen waved his hand, disregarding the question. "It's an old practice. As Hokage, we only pass on the hat once, so we have to make certain we are making the correct decision. Now…" He glanced pointedly to the paper still lying on his desk. "If you would."

Blinking out his momentary daze, Minato gingerly picked up the proffered paper and skimmed over the contents contained.

"You and Team Seven will retrieve Uchiha Obito." Minato stared down at the parchment, the specialized document usually reserved for situations where communication between the village and the one issued the mission could not take place. It was the type of issued mission that authorized his actions without any preset orders by the Hokage—in a way, what Minato said and commanded during the mission held the weight of the Hokage's words. "… Hokage-sama," he stated quietly, staring at the Sandaime's personalized signature at the end. "… This is…"

"A mission from myself, yes," the aged Hokage supplied helpfully with amusement.

Fugaku turned to the man with a frown. "Hokage-sama, I stated that I would—"

"It is unnecessary, Fugaku-san," Hiruzen waved off easily. His eyes sharpened after a moment of contemplation. "… Rather, I believe there is something else you could do for them."

Fugaku stared at the Hokage for a moment before nodding in acknowledgement—the unspoken demand was understood.

The wizened Hokage turned back to Minato. "As for you, Minato. I only have one thing to say." The addressed blonde immediately straightened as the Hokage's tone dropped. "Do not fail."

Minato nodded and replied simply, but truthfully. "I won't."

Without another word, he motioned to leave, but was halted when a small hand grasped his pant-leg. "Namikaze-san." The blonde looked down curiously at Uchiha Itachi, who had remained silent throughout the entire exchange. The boy's head was bowed, his eyes hidden.

"Yes, Itachi-kun?"

Minato noted out of the corner of his eye that the Hokage had already gone back to his paperwork, and Fugaku had a slightly pinched expression on his face. Other than that, however, and the man didn't say anything.

Itachi looked up, and Minato was slightly taken aback by the strength behind his onyx eyes. "… Please bring Obito-niisan home."

Minato stared at the boy. He could see the fire of determination burning within those eyes, stronger than any he would have expected in a boy his age. He realized quite suddenly that this wasn't a meek, quiet and manipulated boy as he and Fugaku had once worried over him becoming, in the past. His eyes held the truth, what he truly felt: if he had the power to do so, he would retrieve Obito himself—but as it stood, he couldn't. So he was entrusting Minato with the task.

It was almost startling how Minato had essentially dismissed Itachi's presence during the brief meeting, if only because the boy had never displayed anything beyond what was typical of child geniuses. It truly went to show that children would be the most dangerous because of their unassuming appearance.

Minato scratched the back of his head before ruffling Itachi's hair, to the boy's clear disgruntlement. When Itachi looked back up, the blonde offered a smile full of conviction and promise.

"I'll be sure to do so," he stated quietly. "I will bring Obito back."