I do not own Naruto, Kishimoto does.
A flash of yellow light shined through the area causing both Naruto and Obito to turn to a stern-faced Minato, "I'm going to have to ask you to step away from my son, Obito."
Obito slowly stood up and took a few steps from Naruto, "I guess you just ran out without saying anything to your parents," Obito sighed. Naruto gave him one of his 'I'm sorry' smiles. Obito shrugged, "don't worry about it."
"Why are you here Obito? What do you want with Naruto?" Minato-Sensei asked. With his sharingan he saw his sensei's hand tightened around a kunai.
Obito frowned, he hated that his sensei saw him as a threat. That all his friends of Konoha saw him as a threat, but this was the path he knew he had to walk for the sake of peace. "I'm not here to fight sensei," Obito said lowly. He ran his hand through his hair resting it on the back of his head, "if I was, I'd be wearing my mask."
"That still doesn't answer my questions Obito." Minato-Sensei said coldly.
"He already caught us sensei, just tell him you've been training me," Naruto commented.
"You're training Naruto?" Sensei asked.
Obito gave a quick glare towards Naruto, before returning his stare to his sensei, "yes, I have been training him in secret for over a year now."
"Why are you training him?" Sensei questioned.
"Because he is one of the keys to ensuring lasting peace," Obito answered.
Minato frowned, "you mean the peace you plan to create with your death."
"I really did say too much to those two," Obito sighed.
"Yes, but it still took us a bit to figure out what you plan to do. You truly believe uniting all the nations against you is the only way to create peace?" Minato-Sensei asked a hint of sadness in his voice.
Obito gave him a small smile, "yes."
Minato's frown deepened, "why?"
"It's the only way I can see. The systems in place keep us killing each other. It keeps children to grow up without their parents. It keeps the same kids to lose their friends to a war their leaders wanted. In this system, all that is needed is that the whims of only a few can lead to the death of thousands. And in each death, we glorify the need to continue to kill others."
Obito stared intently at his sensei, "You yourself are an example of that sensei. You became a hero in the war with the thousands of lives you took with your own hand. The only way to be praised within the shinobi system is by the killing of others."
Obito took a deep breath, "the only way to destroy this system is to uproot it completely. To do that I need to show the nations that it's best to work together than it is to fight each other. In doing so hopefully, war between nations will cease. With all nations working together it leaves the possibility of even limiting the harm rogue shinobi can cause as well."
"I do agree with you that the nations need to work together but the way you plan to do that is wrong." Minato stated.
"Is it sensei? I can see no other way that the five nations would even begin to work together without a common enemy. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' as they say." Obito responded.
"There is another way Obito. We've been planning on having talks with the other Kage about trade agreements that would be beneficial for all nations. Benefits enough that would make war obsolete between each other." Minato countered.
"Oh. And how do you Yondaime Hokage, the Yellow Flash of Konoha plan to bring Iwa into this? You as well as I know that the Tsuchikage would rather watch his country burn then have anything to do with you. His only wish in this world is your head on a pike." Obito argued.
"I don't think you are giving Onoki enough credit. He cares about his country enough to be able set aside our differences if it would mean his nation would prosper." Minato said.
"I'm giving him enough credit. I know he'd choose war than sitting at the same table as you. And then there is the Raikage, who we know would only agree to terms if Konoha lowers their military power as theirs increases. Which would undoubtedly cause problems with the other nations. Kumo's culture more than any other is engrained in war. It's what they live for. Truth be told Sensei the only ones who would even consider your proposals is Suna and Kiri." Obito responded.
"I know it won't be easy but even getting Suna and Kiri on board will help in bringing Iwa and Kumo in. I think that the other Kage want peace more than you think. Since the Shodaime and Uchiha Madara created Konoha and the other nations rose, we have been warring with each other. I know I'm tired of it, and I'm sure they are as well. Why don't you try to see that there is enough good in people to have peace without violence?" Minato asked.
"Because from what I've seen the only thing people respond to is power and violence. It's what the shinobi system is. It's why we raise children to be soldiers. It's why being a shinobi is so coveted, because we glorify being strong and fighting in a war. Even the Sandaime who you hold so close to your heart is the same, with his talks of the Will of Fire. All the Will of Fire is a tool of manipulating young kids into dying in a war they didn't want." Obito answered.
"Aren't you doing the same thing with training Naruto?" Minato questioned.
"Yes, I am. As I said people only respond to power and violence. It's the reason you will be a key in establishing peace after my death. You at the moment are the strongest among the Kage, but once you are gone the possibility exists that some of the Kage may decide that it's time to go to war once again. To counter that possibility I'm training Naruto, he is your son sensei so I am sure you can see the incredible amount of potential your son has. He can become stronger than both of us. His chakra reserves are easily doubled Kushina's and yours combined."
Obito quickly turned to Naruto, "don't let that get to your head, you still have a long way to go especially in chakra control."
Naruto gave him a confused look, "I still don't know what you guys are even talking about. I'm stuck on trying to figure out what system you are talking about."
"I should've focused more on schooling than training," Obito chuckled.
Obito turned back towards his sensei, "with him in place after you step down, it's more likely that peace will continue on so that it becomes ingrained in society to the point that nobody would want to risk it with war."
"What happened to you Obito? Where is that kid who would be late to our team meetings because he was helping an old woman with her groceries? What could have happened that now you only see the worse in people? The peace you are proposing is to keep people in fear of the power of one man!" Minato yelled.
"Yes, to the point that peace becomes the new normal in our world. As I've told you sensei people only respond to power. It's the reason that if I use Madara's name and collect the bijuu is enough cause of concern to unite the kage against me. Shinobi of all nations will fight and die together, in return friendships will be forged despite what nations they were born in."
"How many people do you plan to kill Obito?" Minato sternly asked.
"Enough that will dissuade the leaders of the world from another war," Obito answered.
"Please tell me Obito, what happened to you? This isn't the Obito I knew." Minato asked.
"The Obito you knew died sensei. He died the day he watched his best friend send his fist through the chest of the girl he loved. Since that day all I saw was darkness, I've traveled across all the nations, and it's only confirmed what I saw. There is far too much hate and darkness within our world. The only thing I wish for now is peace, and if I have to continue to destroy myself to achieve it, then it's a price I am willing to pay." Obito answered.
"But you won't be happy, Obito. Your happiness matters just as much as anyone else!" Minato yelled.
"Compared to the rest of the world my happiness is obsolete. Any happiness I thought I could have was taken from me." Obito responded his hands balled tightly in a fist, "Danzo made sure of that."
"I always had the suspicion that you were involved in Danzo's disappearance, did you kill him?" Minato asked.
Obito nodded, "I did. I tortured him for hours before I killed him. The happiness I felt every time he cried out in pain established something I was trying to hide from myself. I am darkness as well, therefore I along with the rest of the darkness in the world I must be purged. With that in mind at least I can do something good before I go."
Minato sighed, "Asami."
Obito's eyes widened, "where did you learn her name?"
"Kakashi found the grave you made for her after the attack. She had a journal. It's what helped me figure out that you were the masked man."
"I didn't know she kept a journal," Obito said in a low voice, as the memories of his time with Asami ran through his mind.
"She wrote many times that she cared for her Tobi-sensei." Minato said with a smile, "and I think like the rest of us that she hates seeing you tear yourself apart for the sake of a peace that can be achieved in another way."
"I don't think there is another way that'll work," Obito whispered. "Can I see her journal?"
"You can see it on one condition," Minato answered.
"What is your condition?" Obito asked.
Minato smiled, "you join us for dinner, and let us convince you that there can be another way."
"I don't know sensei. I-" Obito took a deep breath, "I don't think I'd be a good dinner guest. Why would you want me to join you for dinner of all things?"
"Because we still care about you Obito. I don't know what all you went through, but I know that no matter how much you try to hide it you are hurting. And when I see someone, I care about hurting I want to do nothing more than help them. We all want to help you. And the only way I think I can do that is by showing you that despite the darkness you think you are, you still deserve happiness and are worth a lot to the people who care for you. So please just join us for dinner and listen to what we have to say, then you can decide what it is you want to do." Minato answered.
"Yeah sensei!" Naruto grabbed Obito by the sleeve of his shirt, "let's go eat dinner. Kaa-chan makes great food!"
"You heard my son, let's go eat dinner Obito," Minato said with a smile.
Obito returned the smile, "okay."
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Obito sat awkwardly in the chair staring at the miso pork ramen that Kushina made, ignoring the stares of the others sitting at the same table and the loud slurping of Naruto thoroughly enjoying his own bowl of ramen.
He could feel the eyes of his former teammates resting on him. Truthfully it made him uncomfortable. He intently could feel how maskless his face was at the moment, every expression free for the world to see. Huh, maybe that's why Kakashi always wears his? Obito thought to himself.
"This is nice, isn't it? All of us together." Kushina said, Obito assumed in order to break through the awkward silence that has settled into the small kitchen since everyone had sat down.
"Yes, I think it is. The table has always felt empty without you Obito." Minato responded.
Obito opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't find any words to respond with. What would he say? If the table always felt empty without him, then it was his fault that it felt like that. He never came home even after he was freed from Madara and Zetsu. It was his fault that the majority of the worries that the people at this table shared were caused by him.
"Does you being here mean you're considering returning to Konoha?" Kakashi asked, Obito barely heard the tiny bit of hopefulness in his voice.
Obito swallowed the lump in his throat, "I'm not sure. I only came because Sensei said if I did I could have Asami's journal."
"Isn't Asami the girl you trained?" Rin asked.
Obito nodded.
"Why don't you tell us about her, Obito." Minato said.
Obito clenched his fist as the lump returned to his throat, "I ran into her in a village on my way to Ame, it was a few weeks after I thought Rin was killed. There was a group of Kiri shinobi there arrogantly expecting to be served before customers who had arrived first. She came from an alleyway covered in dirt with torn clothing. It looked like she had been sleeping outside in the street for months. She walked up to one of the shinobi and asked if he could spare a few ryo. The shinobi refused, just before he kicked her into the ground. I was going to turn away and carry on with my business, but the look in her eyes told me she was as lonely as I felt. The shinobi issued her a challenge, to fight him. If she won he would buy her food, if she lost he would take his prize in a painful way. She quickly lost, he then cut her with his kunai, but that wasn't enough for him. It wouldn't leave a scar he said. He inched closer to beat her to a pulp. It was then that I…"
Obito quickly eyed those around him, "I intervened at that point. I killed the group of them and gave her their wallets. I left the town soon after, she followed. When I realized she was following me I confronted her. She told me she was tired of being weak, she wanted to be strong. Despite the fact that the path I was led to was going to be perilous I decided to train her. She just reminded me of myself, an orphan with no one to call family. She truly was as alone as I was."
The young Uchiha took a deep breath, "in the months that followed I came to realize that I enjoyed teaching her. She became something akin to a little sister to me. Even though she didn't know the whole of my plans, she followed along because she trusted me. And I trusted her with enough information that would keep her safe from those who would kill her if she knew more. Even then it wasn't enough. Even though I felt happy with an annoying little sister, this world of hell decided to take her from me as well. Just like Rin, I watched her die in front of me. In a stupidly ironic twist of fate, Danzo stabbed her through her chest."
Obito watched a tear fall into the bowl of ramen under his head, "another light of my life was snuffed out leaving only the darkness." He raised his head to see both Kushina and Rin covering their mouths with sad looks on their faces, Kakashi had no emotion visible behind his mask, and Minato-Sensei looked about the same, except Obito could tell his jaw was tightened.
"How did you survive that boulder Obito?" Kakashi asked.
Obito grunted in exasperation, he didn't know if he'd ever be with his former team like this again. In this moment he felt more open than he has in years, he figured maybe now would be the only time he could answer the questions that have plagued their minds for years. "I was saved by Uchiha Madara."
"So, he is still alive?" Minato asked.
Obito shook his head, "no. He died a little after I thought Rin had."
"Why did he save you?" Kushina asked.
"He saved me to be his puppet. To accomplish a goal that would leave the entirety of the world in a genjutsu for the rest of their lives. A genjutsu world he would be the god of." Obito answered.
"I see. So it was him who placed that cursed seal on you." Minato stated.
"Yes, he placed it on my heart when he rescued me from the rubble. Along with that, he implanted the cells of Hashirama Senju into me. It is the reason I can use the Mokuton. Actually…" Obito rolled up his right sleeve showing the white skin that covered his right side, "Most of my right side that the boulder crushed is fully made up of the cells of the Shodaime."
"Is that also the reason you keep your sharingan active?" Rin asked.
"No. Well maybe. I haven't deactivated it since I first awakened my sharingan, because I haven't had the need to. The Hashirama cells keep me from wasting my chakra, it even keeps me from needing sleep or food to survive." Obito answered.
"You said others would kill Asami if she knew to much, who would those be?" Minato asked.
"It was something that was called Zetsu. Half of him was a dark entity that was the embodiment of Madara's will and the other white half was a failed Hashirama clone. He was the reason Danzo attacked. There is no need to worry about Zetsu however, once I was freed from the cursed tag I took care of him." Obito responded.
"And what of the orange-haired man who attacked the village?" Kakashi asked.
"That was Nagato. He was being manipulated first by me, then by Zetsu. That wasn't his real body by the way. He is an Uzumaki like you Kushina." Obito answered.
"I knew there had to be others who survived," Kushina whispered.
"He is currently leading Ame from the war-torn rubble Hanzo left it as. He has become a friend to me. I'm sure he'd love to visit with you." Obito responded. Obito stood, "I know you have many more questions, in order to answer all of them quickly of come with a solution. I'll show you my memories, not in the same way I showed Nagato. I'd rather avoid dying again."
Everyone other than Naruto gave Obito a confused look, Obito quickly took the opportunity where they stared into his eyes to place the genjutsu. The four of them froze in their seats as all his memories from his first memory of his grandmother to the moment Minato-Sensei appeared in front of him and Naruto flowed through their mind's eye.
When the last memory faded away Obito sat back down, mentally drained from also having to relive his whole life. "I hope all your questions are answered now, and maybe you can understand more of the reasons I chose this path."
Kushina was the first to respond. She quickly jumped from her seat and brought Obito into a deep hug, "you've been through so much. More so than we knew. Even here in Konoha you were suffering. I'm sorry you had to go through all that, but still, that doesn't mean you have to throw your life away, Obito. Look at my memories. I want you to see how much your death and then your suffering has hurt us. I want you to know how much it would hurt us if we have to watch you kill yourself to accomplish your goal."
"I don't-"
"Do it!" Kushina interrupted.
Obito nodded, his sharingan swirled as he stared into the teary violet eyes. Her memories flowed into him, he saw the way she cried into Minato-Sensei's arms when he told her of his 'death.' He saw the sadness Minato had in his eyes every time someone spoke his name. He felt how much her heart hurt when she thought of the boy who was the favorite among her husband's students. He saw how many times she caught Rin crying at his grave. He saw every time she watched Kakashi beat himself up in guilt over his 'death.'
He felt the happiness when she found out he was alive, then the worry that someone she cared for would harm her. He felt how much her heart broke when she saw him since his 'death' she could see him hurting and broke her even more that she couldn't do anything for him. He saw all the moments his former team would come together to talk about how to help him, how much pain they all had because they believed there wasn't a thing they could do.
What he saw was how much his actions hurt those he cared for. He saw how much his self-pity hurt them. Even though he was struggling with his own pain and guilt, it hurt them all just the same. What he truly saw was his selfishness hurting his friends, his family.
The genjutsu faded away leaving his red sharingan eyes wet with the tears that flowed down his cheeks. For the first time since the death of his grandmother, Uchiha Obito returned the hug of someone who loved him.
"I'm sorry." He choked out.
Kushina rubbed the back of his head, "it's okay, Obito. Your home now. And we will do everything to help you, right Minato-kun."
"Of course, as I've told you before Obito, we all still care about you and just want you to be happy. So please let me try my way towards peace, trust me in helping you accomplish that goal without you having to kill yourself." Minato responded. "Plus, I think subconsciously you didn't want to go that route anyway, isn't that the reason you've been keeping the jinchuriki alive instead of killing them?"
"Maybe," Obito answered. "We'll do it your way sensei, I'll trust you."
"I don't really know what's going on, but does all this mean you're gonna be staying sensei?" Naruto asked.
"I think so, but I'm not sure where." Obito responded.
Kushina stood up, "that's easy, you'll be staying with us. I'll go prepare the extra bedroom, I have to check on Kasumi anyways." She quickly exited the room.
Minato also stood and removed a leather-bound book from his coat, "as promised here is Asami's journal." Minato handed the book to Obito, "I know it won't be an easy transition, but welcome back Obito."
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Obito felt the cool breeze blow through the night air, cooling the warm trail of tears that flowed for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. He set Asami's book down on his lap as he watched the stars dance in the night sky. He shifted his leg out from underneath him, to better adjust himself on the roof of his sensei's house.
He tried to go to sleep but he wanted to read Asami's journal. He felt too constricted within the room, so he chose to read it on the roof. Each entry he read brought a new pain within his heart. Asami truly loved him like an older brother, he only wished he could have told her how much she meant to him.
"I knew you would still be awake." A soft voice said behind him.
Obito turned his head to see Rin standing behind him, "I didn't even sense you coming."
"It seems you were too preoccupied, I didn't even hide my chakra signature," Rin said with a smile. She sat next to him, "or maybe you know that you are safe here, so you don't have to keep your senses active 24/7."
Obito closed the journal and set it next to him, "that could be true. I don't really know, there is far too much going on in my mind to decipher that right now."
"I'm sure there is. There was a lot you went through. There is a lot you are going through now." Rin responded.
Obito turned to Rin, "I'm sorry Rin. I was caught up in my own pity I didn't realize how much I was hurting you."
Tears fell from Rin's eyes as she turned to him, "you should be. You've caused me so much pain and grief. I want so much to be mad at you, but I saw your memories and I don't think I can be mad at someone who was so thoroughly broken by life."
Obito gave her a small smile, "you've always been a much better person than me. Even then I don't have an excuse for the things I did, only just at that time it was the only path that was clear to me."
"Why didn't you tell anyone how much you were suffering even before that boulder?" Rin asked. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Obito returned his attention to the stars, "I didn't want you to pity me. After the death of my grandmother, you were my only light. I wanted to be Hokage for you. I saw the way you looked at Kakashi, so I thought you respected his strength. And since there is no one stronger than the Hokage, I figured that was the way to gain your admiration along with the respect of others. But if I told you I was hurting I worried it would ruin the optimistic persona I cultivated. I wanted you to see me as someone who wouldn't let anything bring him down. I know now that wasn't the way to go about it, I should have known that you and the others would still care despite my weaknesses."
"I hate it so much that you've never trusted me to show me the real you. Even when we were always together, and you were there for me for everything you still didn't show me the real you. Even when I sat in front of you pouring out my heart you refuse to let me see the real you. And for that Uchiha Obito I hate you." Rin took a deep breath, "but I still care for you despite that."
"Then let me make it up to you, starting now. You know everything about me, you've seen all my memories. Right now, sitting next to you is the real me. So, hello Nohara Rin, I am the true Uchiha Obito. An orphaned Uchiha who was ostracized and tormented by his own clan, an Uchiha who should be dead, someone who has been beaten down to the ground more times than he can count. And I would like to be your friend once again if you'll allow me. And from here on I'll only show you the real me."
Rin gave him a small smile, "it's a good start, but it'll take more to make me trust you the way I use to. Right now, I'll just be happy my friend is back, and maybe one day you'll be my best friend again. Only time will tell."
Obito nodded, "I'll work to gain your trust again."
Rin's smile grew, "good." She stood to her feet, "goodnight Obito."
Obito heard her step towards the window that accessed the roof, "thank you Rin, for never giving up on me."
"In the Ninja world those who break the rules are scum, but those who'd abandon their comrades are worse than scum.' Isn't that what you told Kakashi when I was captured when he told me that you said that it was those words that led me to continue to try to save you." Rin replied before walking towards the window. Obito heard her stop just before it, "this time please listen to me and don't act tough and hide your wounds, I'm always watching you know. Even more so now."
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And that's the end of the chapter! From now on Obito will finally just be Obito. I'm excited for this next part of this story, this is where Obito is finally crawling out of the darkness and can move towards the things that will finally bring him the happiness he deserves. Also within the next chapter, the new antagonist of this story will show up so be prepared for that lol. All in all I'm happy I finally got to the point where everything was finally explained, or shown, to Team Minato. I'm happy they have reunited again, and this go around not because of some world-destroying alien lady lol. Also Obito has some more work to do before we can have some ObiRin stuff, which I can't wait for because I want them both to be happy with each other lol.
Anyways hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! Can't wait to read all your comments lol, it's literally the best part of writing this story is seeing how much many you have enjoyed a story I originally started writing for myself, because the lack of ObiRin fics. I just want to thank you guys so much for all the support, and it's because of that support that we have now reached 20 chapters. At this point I can probably say we may be halfway through the story, so I hope you guys will continue to support it for another twenty chapters lol. Thanks again!
