Chapter 5

"You could come with us. They'll make their own assumptions when we don't show up." Rin offered as she hugged Obito.

He gave her a sad smile. "You two are the most important people in my life, but I've got to go back to the Leaf Village. Not just because I'm supposed to tell them you two are dead, but I also have to stay to protect the people there." He told her, pressing a kiss to her tear streaked cheek.

They were saying their goodbyes. Obito was free to visit any time he wanted, but they knew he wouldn't be able to often while keeping up the pretense that the two were dead. People would wonder why he kept going to the Sand Village.

They'd all cried a little during this, even if Madara did try to hide it when he did. Obito could count on the fingers of one hand how many times he'd seen his brother cry, even adding this time.

"You take care of yourself without me there to do it for you. I don't want to hear about you getting into any trouble." Madara told him as they hugged.

"I'll tell everyone to make sure my dead brother hears nothing of the things I do, don't worry." He teased.

They were all reluctant to part ways, but eventually Obito was headed back to the village.

He walked to the hokage's office to do a mission report, head hung low the entire way there. A few people asked him what was wrong, but he didn't stop to answer them, just kept walking.

"Obito, what's wrong?" Minato asked as soon as Obito entered the office of his former teacher. "What happened?" Even without the way Obito was carrying himself, he was never the one to give mission reports if he went with a group because he couldn't be bothered to be on time while his teammates got it done as soon as possible, and it would be a few hours after getting back if he were by himself before he got around to doing it.

"We were on our way home. They- they came out of no where." Tears started descending down his face. "I- I couldn't –there was nothing I could do!" He choked out, scrubbing at his eyes with the palms of his hands. It had no effect since new tears replaced the ones he wiped away.

"Obito, slow down. What happened? What couldn't you do anything about?"

"We were attacked by mercenaries on our way back. They - they killed Rin and Madara." He let a sob slip through after those words. "They got Rin first, and then Madara while he was trying to put pressure on the wounds. I was able to get them to leave with a shadow clone, there were too many for me to fight alone, and I had to try to help Rin and Madara. I didn't want to let them go, but I had to try and save them. I just had to. I-I could do it though!" Another sob ripped through his throat. "Rin is -was- the only one who knew medical ninjutsu. I couldn't stop the bleeding. There was so much b-blood. And now they're gone because I couldn't save them!" That was when Minato hugged him, trying to assure him that it wasn't his fault while Obito cried on his shoulder.

It didn't take long for word of Rin and Madara's death to spread after that, and people were constantly telling Obito that they were sorry for his loss and bringing him food. He didn't have to cook anything for over a week.

He felt bad for lying to everyone, especially the people who had known Madara and Rin. But he'd agreed to what they wanted, so he kept his lips sealed. And no one ever questioned that the two might actually be alive. Everyone just took Obito at his word. It was an interesting feeling, knowing that one could convince hundreds of people of something untrue, but Obito really only dwelled on the feeling in less than sober states.

Obito started his explanation from when he got home a few years ago to his brother talking about wanting to leave with Rin because of her being in danger. He stopped at telling Minato about their "death".

"So, you're going to tell me that you have an ability to lie like that, and then expect me to believe you telling me a story this ridiculous?" Kakashi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. It's not a skill I'm proud of, or like to use very often, but why would I tell you about it if I were going to use it on you? I would tell you I'm a terrible liar. That people only believed me because they mistook my being upset over them leaving as being upset over them dying. That way you might think you had the upper hand on knowing if I'm telling the truth or not." Obito explained.

Kakashi was still giving him that calculating look and Obito couldn't tell if he believed him or not.

"You can come with me to find Madara. That way, if I'm lying, you can take me back to the Leaf Village knowing that you're taking the right person. That's my proof. You'll see him." Obito suggested.

There was a moment of silence. "When we get to the sand village, you have one day to find him, and then we go back."

Obito nodded in agreement, shoulders losing some of their tension.

"Now that that's settled, go back to bed. I don't need you slowing us down tomorrow just because you're tired." Kakashi ordered.

"So bossy." Obito muttered, but complied anyway. He unrolled his sleeping bag and got back in.

Obito didn't really think he'd have a very easy time sleeping, and he was right, but when he finally did sleep it was nightmares again.

"Do you even know how many Uchihas there are, Obito? I lost count after the first five dozen." Madara was telling him as he buried him alive. Or maybe he was supposed to be dead. He couldn't feel anything and he couldn't close his eyes to block out the image of Madara dropping dirt on him while he was six feet under. "One more Uchiha off the list. Now it's just two left."

Yet again, Obito woke up screaming. Kakashi was on his feet instantly, looking around for a danger that wasn't there.

"Just- just a nightmare." Obito gasped out between deep gulps of air to let Kakashi know he didn't have to fight anything.

Kakashi looked concerned for all of a second, but it was gone as quick as it appeared. "Then pull yourself together and let's get going."

"You should go into psychology. You sure do know how to make someone feel better." Obito said sarcastically, catching the apple Kakashi threw at him.

Kakashi was already dressed, and Obito didn't worry about him looking as he started changing into his own clothes. Although, he could feel Kakashi's eyes on him.

"So, I'm thinking it will be better to go to the Sand Village on the main roads since there's no way in hell I'd trust you to actually take me there, and you probably don't trust me either." Obito said as he adjusted his goggles.

"And what's your plan if someone on one of the main roads recognizes you? Lie your way out of it?" Kakashi asked. Obito noticed that Kakashi didn't have reservations about wearing his Leaf Village headband now that they knew each other's identities.

"Context." Obito replied with a shrug, taking a bite of the apple.

"Context?" Kakashi inquired, giving him a questioning look.

"Yes. No one expects to see a mass murderer walking the streets alongside a ninja from the same village that he's wanted in. It's like seeing a teacher outside of school in civilian clothing. It takes longer to recognize them since you're used to seeing them in a school and that's where you expect to see them." Obito explained.

"So, you're grand plan is to hope people will rationalize their way out of recognizing you?" Kakashi sounded unimpressed.

"Did you recognize me when you first saw me, before following me into that bar?" Obito asked.

"Not immediately, but those stupid goggles gave you away."

"And you were looking for me. So, someone not looking for me definitely wouldn't notic. And excuse you. These goggles are awesome."

"So awesome that any picture of you has you wearing them." Kakashi deadpanned.

"You're not making me get rid of them. Give it up." Obito replied, starting to make his way towards the main road. "Plenty of people before you have tried. Madara, my father, Rin, Asuma, Anko, Shisui, Itatchi, Sasuke, Minato, and Kurenai. That and some strangers. I'll add Steve/Paco/Kakashi to that list. I think Naruto is the only one who actually likes them." Obito said absentmindedly.

"What did you just call me?" Kakashi asked, looking a a bit taken aback by the string of names attached to his own.

"Huh?" Obito turned his head to look at Kakashi. "Oh! Right! I said that out loud didn't I?"

Kakashi gave him an expectant look. "Well, care to share with the class?"

Obito considered that. "No, I don't think I do care to share with the class." He decided. "Actually, I think I'm just going to occasionally bring it up so that the class can ponder over its meaning with no answer." Obito said with a grin.

Kakashi rolled his eyes. "Wonderful. I'm supposed to randomly respond to names that have no correlation with my own." He said, pulling out a book and starting to read as they walked, a clear sign that he was done with the conversation.

"Pervert." Obito said, pulling a face when he glanced at the over at Kakashi's choice in "literature". If one could call it that.