I do not own Naruto, Kishimoto does.
Minato greeted the young Uchihas training within the Uchiha compound as he walked to where Fugaku was standing. His long-time friend was currently evaluating the younger Uchihas himself so that if there was someone who was like Obito would hopefully be found and trained accordingly. Kids who were considered a genius always stood out, much like Kakashi and Fugaku's eldest son Itachi. But there must be those who are diamonds in the rough like Obito was.
Obito's skill has changed the way Fugaku evaluates those within his clan, helping the clan no longer neglect those they believed where unable to amount to the standards the clan held. It was a great change that Minato enjoyed seeing, and he knows that Obito would enjoy it as well. That hopefully no other within his clan will be shunned the way he was.
"Hokage-sama." Fugaku greeted.
"Come now Fugaku, I've told you there is no need to be that formal with me. You are my friend." Minato replied with a smile.
"I know, however I believe it would be best to keep the courtesy when in front of others." Fugaku responded.
Minato's smile grew, "always the politician." Minato returned his attention to the young Uchihas currently going through a skill test, "any standouts?"
Fugaku slowly shook his head with a sigh, "none to truly speak of. They all possess skills that can be guided to the standards we Uchiha are known for, but none seem to be above average or even below average."
Minato nodded, "well either way they are sure to one day be valuable shinobi to both the Uchiha and Konoha." Minato turned to Fugaku a stern look on his face, "there are a few things I wish to discuss with you in private."
Fugaku gave a small nod and led the Hokage to his office. Once inside Fugaku activated privacy seals, the same ones that Minato uses for his own office. Seals that Minato taught to his friend. When the seals activated Fugaku turned to the Hokage, "I'm assuming this is about Obito."
"In part yes. I want to know what you think the fallout would be if the information of Obito's part within the Akatsuki were to get out. Not for Konoha but for the Uchiha clan." Minato responded.
Fugaku signaled for Minato to take a seat, Minato abliged with a small thanks. Fugaku sat in his own chair, "It's not easy to say. As you are aware of, we Uchiha are always looked on with suspicion especially during times of no war. This did not help with the rhetoric Danzo spewed before his untimely disappearance. However, it is no secret how we ostracized Obito before his 'death.' So, one can assume that his apparent betrayal will be blamed on both the Uchiha Clan and you. And for that failure we can also assume that the Tsuchikage will declare war on us, and we would be looked on with hatred for once again bringing war on Konoha's doorstep."
Minato sat forward and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I have come to the same assumptions. Which is why I wish to know what Obito's plan is. I like to believe I'm certain his actions are for the good of others, but truth be told I'm not so sure. Since that man with the Rinnegan attacked there have been many reports of the Akatsuki being used as mercenaries. Mostly dealing with assassinations, however I have seen one report that concerns me." Minato raised his hand in a flash of yellow a scroll appeared, "this was given to me by Anbu I have observing Kumo."
Minato handed the report to Fugaku, "written in there are witness statements of four members of the Akatsuki laying a town in Kumo to waste. They left no survivors. We only know it was them because they left behind their symbol of a cloud marked into the scorched ground. The witnesses were my Anbu. The don't know why the Akatsuki destroyed that town, but we are assuming that they were either paid to do so, or the Raikage broke a deal they had. One thing for certain is that they murdered over three hundred people."
Fugaku looked over the report when his eyes widened in surprise, "is this true?" He asked handing the report back to Minato.
Minato read the page and nodded, "yes it would seem that Orochimaru is a member of the Akatsuki. A place I'm sure he is using as a front to continue his horrid experiments."
"How long have you known this?" Fugaku asked.
"I only found out a couple days ago. It's another reason I'm debating giving all knowledge I have about the Akatsuki to the council. Even Jiraiya-sama is having trouble discovering more about them. I've also been contemplating the idea of calling for a Five Kage summit to discuss with the other Kage what to do about the Akatsuki. But before that we need more information, which is why I was thinking of implanting someone loyal to us into the Akatsuki." Minato answered.
"Who do you have in mind?" Fugaku asked.
"My first thought was Kakashi. However, I'm not sure Obito would allow Kakashi into the Akatsuki if he is the leader of the group. Which is why I was thinking that maybe Itachi. He has been doing great things within a former root squad turned Anbu. However, if that were to happen that would mean there would be two Uchiha within the Akatsuki which is sure to cause more problems." Minato explained.
"It may be so; however, I think Itachi should do it. Obito being a traitor already will put us in a negative light and a second apparent Uchiha traitor will be worse. However, if we can weather that storm to the point to when we can release the information that Itachi was our spy, I think that could help spin the narrative to work well for both the clan and you. Not to mention we may learn what their end goal is." Fugaku responded.
"I understand it's a tough ask for you and your family but take some time to talk it over with Itachi and Mikoto. Whatever you decide I'll support." Minato said with a smile.
"Thank you." Fugaku replied with his own smile.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Rin furrowed her brow in annoyance as Kakashi and Gai began another round of rock, paper, scissors. Kakashi still had that cold detached calculating personality, however since they found out Obito was still alive he was much more open to other people. And one of those people was the eccentric Maito Gai. The two shared a similar rivalry that Kakashi shared with Obito, the only difference was that these two have become great friends.
She turned her attention to the charge of their mission, a man named Tanaka Sana. He attempted to assassinate the Kazekage. Since Suna is their ally the asked for help in finding him, Minato-sensei dispatched the three of them to find and detain him. They spent the last four days searching and found him inside a brothel. After a tough battle against him they were finally able to detain him.
They were currently waiting for the group of Suna Anbu they are to release Sana to. And since stopping here an hour ago both her teammates have been locked in their rock, paper, scissors battle. One that Kakashi has won the majority of. Even then Gai refuses to concede.
A soft warm breeze blew over them, making Rin close her eyes to enjoy the low wind.
"Something's coming." The voice of Isobu rang through her head.
Her eyes immediately snapped opened; her body tensed. "Gai, Kakashi." She whispered causing them both to become more attentive. She glanced around her and extended her senses. She wasn't that great at sensing, but she could at least sense an attack before it happens. Even Sana began to stir, aware that something wasn't right.
The air around them became oppressive as the breeze died down. Rin felt the hairs on her arm and behind her neck begin to stand up. Rin attempted to move but found she was unable to. She looked down and let out a shock grasp, unbeknownst to her and her teammates, snakes were able to wrap around them.
"Ku,ku,ku three little leaves taken so easily." A voice chuckled.
"Where are you Orochimaru?!" Kakashi yelled.
Rin felt a presence move to her right, turning her head she saw the traitorous Sannin standing in front of Kakashi, a kunai in his hand. "Oh, Kakashi-kun how wonderful! I've been meaning to return the gift you gave me last we met," Orochimaru sneered as he twirled the kunai. Rin knew what gift he was talking about. When the Sannin defected Kakashi managed to stab him with a kunai, unfortunately Orochimaru still managed to get away before Minato-Sensei was able to arrive.
"Leave them be Orochimaru, we are not here for them." Rin snapped her head forward to the recognizable voice. Obito stood by Sana, wearing the black cloak with red clouds and his orange swirling mask. His two sharingan eyes focused only on the rogue shinobi. "I've received your request, Sana." Obito spoke in the same manner and voice that he used back when he was trying to hide the fact, he was still alive.
Rin was confused with Obito, she thought that when Minato-Sensei released him from that seal on his heart that Obito would go back to the way he was. Not continue to be the man that could strike fear into the heart of all those who oppose him. She thought she would see that smiling optimistic face again, even if it would be older and scarred. She wanted to see that gleam he had in his eyes every time he talked about his dream of becoming Hokage. To see the way his face lit up whenever she looked at him. She missed him.
Orochimaru moved closer to Kakashi lifting the kunai, in a whisper he said, "I don't think he'll mind if I leave you with a tiny gift Kakashi-kun." The snake sannin quickly struck out, the tip of the kunai heading to Kakashi's abdomen. It never reached. A small vortex opened between the metal and its fleshy target, sucking in both kunai and the hand that wielded it. Orochimaru hissed in pain and backed away from Kakashi gripping his new stump.
"I said to leave them be." Obito growled.
"I only wanted to have some fun." Orochimaru snorted.
"I don't care what you wanted to do. Go secure a perimeter before our friends show up." Obito ordered. Orochimaru nodded before leaping away. "I have carefully reviewed the information you sent us-"
"Wait who are you?" Sana asked.
"I am the leader of the Akatsuki." Obito answered.
Sana's eyes widened with what looked to be hope, "so you did get my message."
"Yes, I did. After examining the information, you sent to help your case in joining our group I have come to the conclusion you do not meet the minimum requirements to become a member of the Akatsuki." As soon as Obito finished speaking he quickly sunk a wooden rod into Sana's throat. "I've come to this decision because you are worth more as a bounty."
Rin gaped at Obito, she knew deep down he could be cold, but that was still overshadowed by the speed he now held. She never saw him form that wooden rod, she barely saw his arm move to kill him. In under a second Obito made their mission a failure.
Rin opened her mouth to say something to him, but her eyes met his. As soon as brown met red, the entirety of her body was paralyzed with whatever genjutsu Obito placed on her. Obito slowly walked to the three Konoha shinobi stopping in front of Gai. With one look at Konoha's green beast, Gai fell to the floor unconscious. Kakashi attempted to say something, but it came out mumbled. Rin realized he was also paralyzed by whatever Obito did to her.
"I can't risk you two saying my name," Obito said in his own voice. Rin was about to grumble a retort when a couple of explosions sounded in the distance, along with some pain-filled yelling. Obito turned his head towards the sounds, "it seems that the platoon of Iwa Anbu have finally caught up to us."
Kakashi mumbled something that sounded like a question. Obito turned to them, "Sana was a spy for the Tsuchikage tasked with getting us out in the open so that fence sitter can capture or kill us. That is why Sana attempted to assassinate the Kazekage. If he succeeded it would have been ideal for the Tsuchikage, he'd lose an enemy leader and be able to retaliate against those who struck a devastating blow against him. Too bad Sana failed on both accounts."
Obito turned around, his back facing them. He cracked his neck at the same moment over thirty Iwa Anbu appeared before him. "I see that the Tsuchikage decided not to grace us with his presence or send his last jinchuriki. How unfortunate for you all. Without those two none of you have a remote chance at defeating me." Obito taunted. Rin could hear the sadistic smile that was more than likely etched on his face. What made her worry was she didn't know if it was just because of the persona he emulated or if it was something he truly enjoyed.
Obito sped forward through all the Iwa Anbu, stopping just behind the last line of shinobi already facing their backs. Before any of them could turn around to face him, Obito raised his right arm and large wooden spike tendrils erupted from the top of his shoulder to the palm of his hand. The tendrils tore through over ten shinobi in the span of two seconds. Appendages and blood spurted into the surrounding area as the screams of pain overpowered the sound of tearing flesh.
The Anbu not caught in the wooden tendrils leapt away from the onslaught. The ones who leapt to the right were immediately confronted by another Obito who quickly launched a fire jutsu that engulfed them all in flames. The smell of burning flesh reached her nostrils before the smell of blood did. Rin like the rest of the Iwa Anbu never saw him create a clone.
Rin moved her eyes to the left where she saw either the real Obito or a clone completely dominating the remaining Anbu in a vicious taijutsu assault. Each hit Obito connected with reverberated through the forest, along with the sounds of cracking bones. She watched in horror as Obito intimately killed them with quick powerful strikes. One thing she became acutely aware of; every time they fought him, he was definitely holding back.
In just over a minute Obito killed all the Iwa Anbu. He alone stood on top of bodies and the forming pond of blood. He was left untouched, other than his right arm sleeve torn to shreds from the wooden jutsu he used at the beginning of the engagement.
Orochimaru walked out of the shadows of the forest, "there are times where I doubt you are Uchiha Madara, but such a beautiful show of brutality quails those doubts." Orochimaru glanced to over to them, "and what of them?"
Obito walked slowly towards the trio, phasing through the bodies, "I am going to place a genjutsu on them making them my spies. You can go on ahead, there is something else I must do after this."
Orochimaru bowed slightly, "as you say Madara-Sama." With that, the snake sannin leapt away.
Obito stopped a few yards in front of them, his eyes swirled into his mangekyo pattern as the world around her distorted from a luscious green scenery into a dull grey world. The world she recognized as the place he rejected her. Surprisingly she could move, the snakes were gone and apparently so was the genjutsu.
Kakashi quickly launched himself at Obito, swinging a face towards his one-time friend. Obito easily dodged the punch. "I won't let you put a genjutsu on us!" Kakashi yelled.
Obito grabbed Kakashi's arm and tossed him back towards Rin and the unconscious Gai. "I'm not going to place a genjutsu on either of you. It's something I said to help keep you alive."
"What do you mean?" Rin asked.
Obito sighed as he removed his mask. As much as she hated the fact that she couldn't watch him grow into the man that now stood before them, she couldn't deny the fact that he didn't look as tired as he did that last time, she saw him. He was still the most handsome man she's ever seen, but his face was different this time.
His eyes no longer showed as much pain as it once did, they seemed colder. His demeaner was still the same without the mask on. He oozed power, authority, and an aura of danger. His blank expression did nothing to hide the darkness bubbling within him. This was the face of someone who felt nothing as he tore through over thirty men and women. This was no longer the face of the boy she loved. This face belonged to one of the most dangerous men in existence.
"Orochimaru would suspect me even more if I didn't kill you as well, however saying I'm going to make you spies keeps you alive and removes the threat my organization may be too you two. Unfortunately there's not much I can do for Minato-sensei other than continue to go after jinchuriki who are not located in Konoha." Obito explained in monotonous voice that reminded her of Kakashi.
"What are you planning Obito?" Kakashi asked, "we believed that with the removal of that curse tag you'd be free to return home."
Obito's eyes widened slightly, enough for Rin to notice that the uncharacteristic words of Kakashi surprised him. "As I've told Rin before, Konoha is no longer my home. As to what I'm planning I cannot tell you. Mostly because the selfish desire of wanting to protect someone you consider a comrade; will impede the future I wish to create."
"What future is that?" Rin asked.
"Just understand that my actions will lead to peace, even if they seem to not be. That is what I wish for you to tell Sensei, that he is going to be one of the keys to keeping together the peace I hope to establish. There is another key that I am already in the process of guiding." Obito answered.
"I don't understand, how are you going to bring peace?" Rin questioned, trying to ignore the fact that she feels happy that her suspicion that Obito truly was doing something noble was true.
"I've told I cannot tell you, especially you Rin. I have a feeling you'd be the one to do the most to stop me." Obito replied.
"How is capturing bijuu going to lead to peace?" Kakashi asked, "how is killing shinobi who are only doing their jobs going to bring us peace. Your actions are not indicating to that goal."
"There is a reason to it all Kakashi. My plan will one day become more apparent, but by then it will be too late to stop." Obito responded. "Just please I'd rather not make you all forget who I am, so don't say anything about my identity. If you must say something, then tell others that I am Uchiha Madara."
"Why don't you want people to know who you are?" Rin asked.
"Because the name of Madara will provide me with what I need than the name of a rogue shinobi." Obito answered.
"So you do consider yourself to be a rogue shinobi." Rin said quietly.
"Of course, I do. I am a criminal, no matter what my goals are. And in the end, I'll get the end that all criminals ultimately receive." Obito responded.
Rin gasped, "you're planning to die at the end of this!"
Obito nodded.
"That's not right! Obito you deserve to live! You can still have a life!" Rin argued.
"She's right, you still have a life in Konoha. Everyone will accept you back into the ranks. And with the strength you have you are a sure lock to being the next Hokage." Kakashi added.
"My life doesn't matter when you compare it to the thousands of people who are suffering within the system in place." Obito replied.
"Obito there can be another way for peace other than violence that could lead to your death!" Rin yelled.
"There is no other way. There is already to much hate ingrained into this world, for peace to bear without violence." Obito countered. "It would seem our time is up, there are other matters I must attend to. Don't come looking for me. I'll try to keep as much violence away from Konoha as I can. And don't worry neither you nor Kushina will be targeted for the bijuu you hold." Before either her or Kakashi could respond, the world around them disappeared within the vortex of his jutsu to the gates of Konoha. Gai's sleeping form laid next to Kakashi.
Rin furrowed her eyebrows. She didn't know exactly what was going on with Obito, but the conversation and the way he massacred those Iwa Anbu led her to one thing: he need her help. He may not be that boy who was her best friend anymore, but even with all that darkness, she still cares for him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Here's the new chapter! I don't really have much to say about this besides I know its not one of my best, but if I fixed it anymore it become something very different lol. I'm going to continue to show how much Obito has fallen into darkness, especially for Rin, which is a process I've begun. I thought a scene similar to what he did when she died would be good to show her how much he has changed. I originally wanted her to struggle with that, but I realized her personality would be more wanting to save him from himself. So I think that's the route I'm going to go.
Anyways let me know what ya'll think, can't wait to hear from you!
