I don't own Naruto Kishimoto does
His bright goofy smile illuminated the dull world around her. His black spikey hair softly waved in the wind. His black onyx eyes gleamed with happiness. It was a look she has seen many times, only when he was with her. It was a look that seemed to be solely reserved for just her. She smiled warmly in return. She was feeling a bit sad, Kakashi once again refused to hang out with her. However only his smile could bring her out of any depression that plagued her mind. He really was her best friend.
"Come on Rin, we can go get something for dinner. We don't need Bakashi to tag along." His voice was still childish, it may have been off putting for a thirteen-year-old, but it fit his bright outgoing personality completely.
"Okay Obito let's go." She responded with a wider smile. Obito motioned her for her to follow him. She took a couple of steps before he stopped suddenly. He turned around the smile still plastered on his face.
"Oh, I almost forgot! You need to see how big of a fireball I can make now!" He exclaimed happily.
"Let's see it, Obito." She said, his excitement reaching her. Obito gave her a thumbs up and turned and faced one of the trees in the training ground. His hands flew through hand signs, he took a deep breath and yelled, "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" A fireball the size of a adult human spewed from his mouth, hitting the tree he aimed for. The fire exploded against it in a wave sending branches and sticks flying through the air. Rin watched as a few of the sticks hit Obito in the face. He quickly turned around and covered himself from the onslaught. Rin let out a giggle.
Obito rose laughing at himself sarcastically, his right hand rubbing the back of his head. "Guess I should have backed up more," he said sheepishly. Rin noticed a gash on his left cheek.
"Obito you're hurt." She stated. Obito turned around.
"I'm fine Rin." He said with a whistle. Rin furrowed her brows and marched to him.
"Obito what have I told you." She turned him back around to face her, her face a foot away from him. A small blush appeared on his cheeks.
"To not hide my injuries." He responded, glancing anywhere but her eyes.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because you're always watching me." He answered turning back to her. She raised her right hand on his injury, the soft green glow of her healing chakra mending the wound.
"Exactly Obito, there is no need to hide them because I am always going to be watching you."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The world around her swirled in front, the view of her raven-haired teammate disappearing in front of her. A sharp pain erupted in her heart as the world settled in front of her. Her silver haired teammate stood in front of her, a look of shock on his face. A tear running down his one opened eye, its glaring red color bearing down on her.
"Rin why?" He whispered, before her world went dark.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Her eyes fluttered open, revealing the darkness that surrounded her. She shook her head trying to clear out the grogginess. Where am I?
"In your mindscape." A deep voice responded to her thought. Rin turned quickly towards the voice. A large turtle like creature stood before her. Rin felt the fear rising through her. The creature moved its body to face her.
"Wh-wh-what are you?" Rin asked backing away from the creature. The yellow pupil surrounded by crimson red bore down on her, a soft hint of amusement evident in the large eye.
"Is it not apparent what I am. Hmm, I guess based off your past actions for the short while we have been together, I should have realized your intelligence is less that what one would desire in their container." The creature sighed out. Rin continue to stare until she realized what the creature had said. Her brows furrowed, cheeks fluffed out, "Did you just call me an idiot?"
The dark mindscape began to shake along with the creature's deep laugh. "It would seem there is a hint of intelligence after all. How quickly your emotions change child, maybe that was the reason for such a rash decision."
"What rash decision?" Rin asked trying to think of her actions before waking up here. She didn't see anything rash about her interaction with Obito. It was an interaction similar to what they've had many times. Then her thoughts traveled to the last image before she awoken. Kakashi. The look on the face of her crush was enough to cause her nightmares in itself. What did she do to have that look on his face along with the question of why? "What did I do?" she whispered.
"Your memory is a stunning reflection of your intelligence." The creature sighed in annoyance. "Why don't you try to remember your last mission."
Rin looked to the creature with a confused look. Last mission? Rin quickly went through her life chronologically. Her first memories with her parents to her time in the academy. Then to her team, their mind-numbing D-Rank missions. Their promotion to chunnin, then to- Obito. The pain of loss hit her like a punch from Lady Tsunade herself. Rin fell to her knees as tears began to stream down her cheeks. How could I forget what happened to him? She thought to his small smile that sat on his face, trying to brighten up the fatal situation he had found himself in. Even with the blood still pouring from where his eye once has been, even with the boulder crushing half his body, he still thought of her. His one request for Kakashi, was proof of that. His smile was to help calm her.
"Move on from those memories child." The creature broke her out of the depressing memory. Rin opened her eyes and nodded to the creature, before closing them once again. She thought pass Obito's death, until she remembered being grabbed my Kiri Anbu. She remembered Kakashi rescuing her, their escape, then the realization of what was in her. She then remembered the choice she had made, the jump that she knew would end her and the threat to her village.
Rin's eyes opened in shock, she pointed to the creature. "You're a bijuu!" She yelled.
"You are correct, I am the Sanbi."
"So, we are dead?" She asked looking around the darkness. "I always thought the afterlife would be brighter."
The Sanbi let out a low grunt. "Do you not remember the first thing I told you. We are not dead, as I said before this is your mindscape. That in itself should be enough for you to gather that we are both very much alive. Even if we barely made it."
"How are we still alive? The last thing I remember was running into Kakashi's Chidori. We should be dead." Rin countered.
"We would have been if not for that masked man causing such a commotion that I was able to start the healing process before anyone noticed."
"You healed me?"
"Is that not what I said?"
Rin crossed her arms. "I thought you were meant to attack Konaha. Then why did you heal a Konaha shinobi?"
"My own survival was dependent on your healing as well. While it is true that bijuu don't truly die, we do however take years to form once again. I solely did not wish to be gone from the world so long, and then force myself to be introduced to a new era." The Sanbi answered lazily.
"That's why? You kept me alive so you won't have to figure what has changed in the years you would have been gone?"
"Is that not reason enough?" The Sanbi questioned. Rin shook her head. The Sanbi sighed, "I guess another reason would be that I refused to be used as a tool."
"Who was using you as a tool?"
"You humans." He responded as if it was obvious. "The man with the red eyes placed me in a genjutsu with the purpose to attack your village once you crossed the gates. And then there was you who used my being sealed within you as reason to end your own life. For reasons I do not understand, even from what I could see there is no such thing that could cause enough disarray in your life to do something so rash."
Rin looked away from the Sanbi, finding the floor more interesting. "I only did it because I didn't want you to attack my village."
"That is still not enough of a reason. Is your master not a fuinjutsu expert along with his wife?"
"Yes they are." She answered slowly, already seeing where the Sanbi was taking this. She knew that if she told Kakashi, he would have helped her tell Minato-Sensei and Kushina ne-cahan. She knew they would do everything in their power to help her and stop the Sanbi from rampaging through Konaha. She felt a short tang of guilt enter her mind.
"Then would it not have been possible for them to make a seal that could keep me at bay?"
"I guess it was possible."
"Of course it is, because that was exactly what they did as soon as you were safe from danger. With those facts now in front of us, what is the real reason child?"
Rin closed her eyes, the guilt growing within her. She knew just as well as he, she used this as an excuse to end her life. She would be seen as hero. The flashy grin of Obito flashed in her mind. Her heart began to thump with pain, this time not just because of the jutsu she took. "I just didn't want to lose someone else. Not again, not because of me." She whispered.
"Ah, so guilt is the reason."
As soon as he said it all the pain, guilt, and emotions escaped from her. All the pieces fell into place. She now had the clear picture as to why she decided to end her life. The revelation brought tears into her eyes. Her body shaking, she looked back at the Sanbi's golden iris. "Yes okay! I was afraid! I was worried about the guilt that would eat at me if I was once again the cause of someone close to me dying. All I've been able to think about was Obito. He is only dead because of me! I can't go through that again with someone else." She sobbed out. For almost a year now she has thought that if she didn't get captured, he would still be here. He would be smiling at her, arguing with Kakashi, and begging Minato-Sensei to teach him some new jutsu. It was her fault he was gone. If she went back to the village and the Sanbi attacked, people would die. And it would once again be her fault.
"Obito? Hmm, is that the boy with the black hair you've been dreaming about since you lost consciousness?"
"Y-ye-yes." Rin stuttered as her cheeks brightened with a pink tint. Waving her arms in embarrassment.
"Interesting."
"What is interesting?" Rin demanded, crossing her arms in annoyance.
"Nothing just the musings of an ancient soul. That is not important, what is important is that we keep you from making anymore rash decisions. It is clear that you have others who are special to you. Did you not think of how they would feel if you were to die?" The Sanbi questioned, trying to help her come to terms with how rash and idiotic her attempted suicide was.
"No I didn't." Rin answered honestly. Not once did she think what her death would do to those who were close to her.
"Well I can tell you that your room has not been empty since you have been here. There are many who are worried for you."
Rin thought to how worried Kushina ne-chan would be. She can see her arguing with the nurses and doctors making sure she got the best care. Minato-Sensei would be pacing back in forth, probably berating himself for not being fast enough. And Kakashi, her crush, would be brooding in a corner of her hospital room blaming himself. Kami, what did I do?
She knew he blamed himself just as much as she did about Obito's death. He won't say it, but the fact that he has been so attentive to her since is proof enough that he is trying to keep his promise to him. And she almost ruined it. Thankfully, he can keep his promise. "I guess I should thank you." She whispered. "So thanks." She said with a smile.
"There is no need child. I did not do it solely for your benefit, I did for myself as well. I am going to need your help. Well, the help of that blonde sensei of yours."
"Why do you need Minato-Sensei's help?"
"To find the red eyed man of course."
Rin looked at the Sanbi with a puzzled face. She didn't remember anyone having a red eye, well except for Kakashi of course. "Red eyed man?" She asked.
"Yes the one who put me under a genjutsu. Have you not been listening?" Sanbi responded sarcasm dripping off every word of his question.
Rin rolled her eyes. "I have."
"Listen carefully. I need him to find that man, not only for what he did. I've never felt such a sinister chakra other than from other Bijuu. I have a feeling that he isn't done with just myself, I fear he has more disastrous plans in mind."
Rin was surprised, who could have such a chakra signature that even a bijuu would find sinister? "How do we find him?" Rin questioned.
"We start with the man with the mask. He reeked of the same smell as the red eyed man."
I don't remember a masked man either. Well except for the anbu. Rin smiled when she thought of what to say. "The one who provided a distraction so you can heal me right?"
"Yes that one."
"See, I was listening." Rin said with a smug look on her face.
"Either way, I am sure he is an associate of the red eyed man. We find the masked man, then we can find the mastermind. Will you help?"
She didn't know what she could do to help. She wasn't that strong, but the Sanbi did save her life. She knew if the only thing he asked for was for her help, then she will do it. "Yes I will."
"I thank you then. Now it's a good time to wake up, you have people who are waiting for you."
Rin looked around. She didn't see a door or any other kind of exit. All she saw was a pitch-black darkness that surrounded her and the Sanbi. "I don't know how to get out of here."
"Just think about leaving and you will."
"Okay, I guess I'll talk to you later." Rin gave the Sanbi another smile with a wave as she dissipated from her mind scape.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Four. That is how many smoke rings the Sandaime Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen blew out from one puff of his pipe. Minato let out a sigh, the anxiousness he was feeling was not something he was accustomed to. He wasn't anxious for himself, but for his student. Rin was attacked, taken, and then forced to become a jinchuriki to the Sanbi. If that wasn't bad enough then there was that masked man who killed all those Kiri anbu with what appeared to be mokuton and the strange jutsu he used that made him almost impossible to hit. And what of that strange sharingan he had?
After learning that Rin would live, Minato immediately came to the the Third Hokage to tell him about the rogue Uchiha he fought. Lord Third didn't have much to say, but he listened patiently as Minato rambled on with his own theories before finally deciding to ask Fugako if he would know anything about this rogue Uchiha and the sharingan he possesses.
Which is why Minato sat in a chair facing the Sandaime, counting smoke rings. His thoughts ranged from how much an Uchiha has made him wait to how much he hated himself for no getting to his students in time. Just like with Obito. He only made it back to them after Obito died. At least this time he was able to save Rin.
A knock on the door broke Minato from his thoughts. "Enter." The Sandaime commanded. The door opened to reveal Fukako, who quickly scanned the room before closing the door behind him.
"You summoned me, Hokage-Sama." Fugako stated with a short bow.
Lord Third took another puff from his pipe before setting it down. "Yes I did Fugako." The old hokage let out a sigh as he activated a privacy seal. "What is about to be said doesn't leave this room. Consider it a S-Class secret until I say otherwise. The information about to be shared could cause a panic and a commotion that would unfortunately would not look lightly on the Uchiha clan."
Minato watched Fugako carefully, trying to see if there was any sign of emotion on his face. He found none. Just as stoic as ever, eh Fugako.
"I understand Hokage-Sama. What is this information." Fugako responded.
"Minato." The hokage nodded towards his planned successor.
"Yes, of course Hokage-Sama. Fugako on my team's last mission one of members was forcibly taken by Kiri anbu and made a jinchuriki. While I don't know exactly what their plans were, but they seemed to be on the lines of having the Sanbi attack the village." Minato explained bringing Fugako up to speed.
Fugako nodded, "That is an unfortunate set of circumstances, but I do not see how this has anything to do with the Uchiha. You said Kiri anbu, not Uchiha."
"I'm getting to that I was just trying to paint the picture of the events." Minato replied. Fugako nodded once again signaling Minato to continue. "Luckily the other member of my team went to rescue his teammate. Unluckily she was already made a jinchuriki and I believe she knew what happened to her because she jumped in front of an attack destined for one of the Kiri anbu. His attack pierced her heart."
Minato took a breath trying to keep his voice from shaking with his guilt and sadness. "By the time I got there she was already bleeding out, and the other member of team was unconscious. The Kiri anbu however were slaughtered. Standing in the carnage was a man wearing a swirling mask with one hole for his eye. He was covered in blood and-"
"You believe this man was an Uchiha?" Fugako interrupted.
"Yes. He had a sharingan." Minato answered, still studying Fugako's stone face. This time he saw his eyes widen a bit. "The curious thing was that his sharingan had a different pattern than the standard three tomoe I have seen before." Fugako's eyes widened more. "Weirder yet was that it seemed he can use mokuton."
"Mokuton? Are you sure? No one has been able to use that famed jutsu since the Shodaime Hokage. And if there was to be one, wouldn't it be from the Senju clan and not an Uchiha." Fugako queried.
"Yes based off the wounds in dead Kiri anbu along with the unnatural tree that was sprouted in the middle of the battlefield that was covered in the pieces of the Kiri anbu. Then there was the other jutsu he used, one I have never seen before." Minato looked to the Sandaime, who nodded. "When fought him, all my attacks went right through him like he was a projection. But he was able to touch me." Minato finished, watching as an empathy hit Fugako.
"Mangekyo Sharingan." Fugako said as if that explained everything.
"What is Mangekyo Sharingan?" the Sandaime asked, interested in the answer.
Fugako let out a sigh. "It's a clan secret, but given the circumstances I feel it its okay to tell outsiders." He took a breath. "A three tomoe sharingan is not the final stage of the sharingan. Only with the pain similar to killing or loosing someone that is or close to a brother can this final stage be reached. The Mangekyo Sharingan. The pattern is different for everyone. Along with this new eye comes special abilities, which could explain the weird jutsu you encountered from the masked man."
"So this man possess this final stage of the sharingan?" Minato asked.
"According to what you have said, I would say yes." Fugako answered.
"Now to the real reason we asked you here." The Sandaime started, "is there anyone within the Uchiha clan who has either gone rogue or possess this Mangekyo Sharingan that could possibly be the masked man?"
Fugako shook his head, "no. The last rogue Uchiha we had was a few years ago, and he was found and killed. As for any Uchiha with the Mangekyo there are only two. Not everyone can reach the final stage, the requirements aren't really known, but I theorize that you have to have strong Uchiha blood and power."
"And who are the two with the Mangekyo?" The Sandaime asked.
"I can't really tell you who one is, but I can say it is a woman. Therefore, not your masked man. As for the other, it is me." Fugako answered.
"So you've unlocked the final stage?" The Sandaime questioned.
"Yes, years ago when my elder brother died." Fugako responded. The Sandaime leaned back in his chair and nodded.
"I'm sorry that you had such a traumatic thing happen, Fugako." Minato said. "However, this Uchiha has me worried. If its not a rogue nin, is it possible that one of your own could be going behind your back with some kind of nefarious plan?"
"No one I could think of. But I promise to look into things on my end." Fugako promised.
Minato gave him a smile. "Thank you Fugako. If this man is left unchecked, I fear what kind of destruction he can bring. Especially since he has the Mangekyo and mokuton. I want to capture him, admittedly because he may be the reason for the pain caused to my team. Any information you find would be greatly appreciated."
"Of course, Minato, if I do find anything out, I will let you know immediately." Minato was about to thank Fugako again when there was another knock on the door.
"I wonder who that could be," the Sandaime removed the privacy seal, "enter!" One of the Hokage's anbu opened the door and kneeled before his commander.
"Hokage-Sama, you asked me to bring you any develops regarding Nohara Rin." He said with an bland tone, popular amongst the anbu.
Before the Sandaime could answer Minato worriedly asked, "what happened? Is she okay?"
"Yes, she is fine, Minato-San. She has woken up." Minato looked to the Sandaime who nodded.
"Thank you for the information you provided, Fugako. I wish to continue this conversation, but I need to check on my team."
"I understand Minato." Fugako responded. Minato gave him another smile before he vanished in a flash of yellow.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Obito watched the leaves rustle in the wind above him. Wildlife flourished from the treetops. He leaned his head against the trunk of the tree he was sitting in front of. It's been a couple weeks since Rin died, and Madara finally letting life go with the promise of his future revival. Yet his thoughts still whirled like a wildfire in his head. Juubi. Rikodu Sennin. Tsukuyomi. Madara. Rinnegan. Rin. The confusion roared through him, along with a headache caused by these thoughts and the memories Madara implanted into his mind.
His life memories, eighty plus years of life soaring through his mind in sequences of images. It took a few days for Obito to figure out how to see the memories in segments, so his own thoughts and memories could take the forefront. He thought of Madara's plan to complete the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Gather the bijuu into the husk of the juubi, use the Rinnegan to control the juubi, revive Madara with the Rinne Tensei no Jutsu, and cast the genjutsu onto the surface of the moon. Simple enough, except for the empty in between parts of the plan. Obito at the moment has no idea on how to even get started.
Given he has spent most of his time thinking of Rin and going through Madara's memories. There were even a few thoughts of his other teammate Kakashi. Though when he thought of him, all he could feel was anger.
"Obito." A cold voice called. Obito turned towards the voice to see Zetsu coming out of the woods. White Zetsu had an innocent smile on his face, while Black Zetsu was wearing a scowl. Obito knew the voice that called for him belonged to Black Zetsu. White Zetsu's voice was more childlike in its nature.
"What is it?" Obito asked.
"Have you formulated a plan to fulfill Madara's wishes?" Black Zetsu answered with his own question.
Obito scoffed in annoyance, "of course not. I'm still having trouble believing in what Madara said. Not to mention his memories storming my mind like bad dango. And honestly, I still haven't figure out if I want to go through with it."
"If you don't go through with it, you'll never see your Rin-chan again." White Zetsu said in his normal sing song like glee.
"It's not just about seeing Rin again; I don't know if this is the best way of going about this."
"What of destroying the nexuses of this world."
"I do want to destroy the nexuses of this world; I want to change it. I want to bring peace I just don't know if a worldwide genjutsu is the best way."
"If not, the Infinite Tsukuyomi then how will you bring peace, hm?"
"I'm not sure, maybe-" Obito choked on his words as he felt like someone was squeezing his heart. Obito closed his eyes as the pain became unbearable.
"Obito, do you think you can disobey me." A familiar chilling voice said. Obito cracked his eyes open to see a phantom image of Madara standing before him. "Even in death you will follow my command. There is no escape from it Obito. The Infinite Tsukuyomi is what is needed in this world. It's the only way peace can be achieved, as stated in the sacred Uchiha tablet. Follow the plan Obito, and you will be the savior of the world."
The squeezing pain in his heart faded along with the image of Madara. Obito keeled over taking deep breaths, drenched in sweat Obito fought to control his breathing. Savior of the world huh? Maybe he can bring about a change. A change that could be good for this world. Peace can be achieved; Rin can be alive again. Maybe even he can have a good a life. A life where he won't be ostracized by his own clan. A life where he won't be a burden to his team, even a life where he can be loved by Rin. A life where no one will be forced to live through the harsh realities of war.
"I have a plan." Obito states to Zetsu.
"Oh, what is it?" Black Zetsu asks.
"Well first, I guess we find Madara's eyes and get them firmly under our control." Obito answers.
A smile crawls over Black Zetsu's face, "then let's go to Nagato."
Obito nods before turning his gaze back to the rustling leaves overhead. I'm sorry I missed your funeral Rin. I'm sorry that this shinobi world ended your life. I promise to change it, even if I have to do terrible things to achieve it.
(A.N.)Sorry for the lack of Obito, but I wanted to set up the beginning of Rin's friendship with Isobu. Also I needed Minato to already start trying to find information about Obito, before Rin asks for his help to find Madara.
Once again thank you for reading, please comment and let me know what you think and if there something I need to work on to make the story more enjoyable. Heck even let me know what you want to see happen because it may even be better than what I'm planning.
