~NRK~
Kaede was honestly left dumbfounded as HE stood in front of all of them.
"H-Hey, what's this about?" Shinna asked nervously as he kept his face neutral even as many of their office workers bowed to him like… L-Like he was someone beyond important.
Onuma stood ramrod straight as they locked eyes before he saluted him out of fear. "I-I'm not doing anything!" He squeaked.
"Hmph, that's good, I wouldn't want my workers being nothing but mindless lust-filled beasts," Obito Uchiha said to them as the Kishimoto Sisters looked at him in confusion.
All of the Sumitomo Brutes did as a feeling fell over them as, with each passing second, Obito's raised brow became a 'bigger presence'.
No… O-Oh shit.
"W-What exactly were you doing here?" Kaede wheezed as she noted no Miyabi. 'He fucking killed him?' She was utterly floored.
And kind of turned on but that wasn't important at the moment.
"I'm sure it'll become more widespread by morning's end," Obito said, arms crossed behind him as Onuma blinked.
"... W-Wait, hold on, you killed the old boss?" The snake 'shed his skin' with ease.
If Miyabi was dead, it wasn't his business anymore, not like he was the man's 'right hand', 'best friend', or anything. The 'closest' they'd ever been was 'gangbangers' and Onuma, while still rather willing to be perverse, had left that behind a while ago.
So if the one who changed him said he was now his boss? Well, guess he was sporting some 'new scales'.
"He's not dead but he's going to wish he was," Obito said.
He explained the entire scenario to every available personnel onsite, the man's expression not really changing even as those who hadn't known kept staring at him like he was some damn unicorn.
"So, with the support of all other Zaibatsu Heads," Obito finished. "I am the CEO of what will soon be known as 'Uchiha Zaibatsu'," he said. "Any questions?"
There was silence as his words really settled in.
"S-So," one of the Kishimoto Sisters raised a bashful hand. "W-What about… Ya know, the whole 'brute' thing?"
"It's still valuable technology despite what I might give away. If you're talking about your contracts, we'll be revisiting them for each one of you."
"Will we still be paid well?" The other sister asked.
"You'll be paid accordingly," he said with crossed arms. "That should be all, I hope this will end well for most of us," Obito shrugged. "You're dismissed, I'll be here in the morning to start my tenure properly but Kishomoto Sisters I need to speak with you about a new assignment."
Three hours later, Kaede listened to Akemi's words.
-I… It's weird- The brunette said over the phone. -He's having one of us monitor his baby mama while the other's watching the CEO office for the rest of the week- Akemi hummed as Kaede laid down on her bed.
"I wonder what's coming," Kaede wondered. "In all honesty, I'm not sure how the outside world will take Sumitomo's downscaling into Uchiha Zaibatsu and it terrifies me."
-Which part?-
"I'm wondering what unaffiliated company will try to make some sneaky moves first."
-Oh, well, about that- Akemi began, confusing her. -He's aware, like, scarily so. Obito-san asked for a few of our contacts- She sounded intrigued. -Me & sis know some real hitmen, nee-chan, and the boss seems very willing to push some boundaries-
The gecko considered her words before grinning.
"Alright," she grew amused. "Let's see how he starts this up."
~NRK~
The following morning, Kaede walked into the kitchen to find several surprising sights there.
"My tongue's good for stuff like this, snake and all that."
"I suppose so, you haven't considered chef as an option, have you?"
The gecko gawked at the sight of Obito & Onuma cooking in the kitchen.
One, t-their new boss really made himself at home!
Two, when the hell could Onuma cook?
"Oh, sup, Kaede," Onuma said with a flick of his tongue as the two turned off their stoves.
"When the hell could you cook?" She asked outright.
"I kinda got into it when I started college back up again."
"... Huh," right, that had been a thing the short reptilian had been doing wasn't it?
Seemingly, he'd downright become a whole new PERSON after what happened in their match with their now-new boss.
Well… Yeah, Kaede had nothing on this. She did notice that Onuma still did a few perverted things but they never went anywhere if the 'target' didn't respond. The little fucker had gained some kind of 'heart', 'brains', or whatever.
"What are you making?"
"Madame Crochet."
Sniffing the air, Kaede felt her stomach rumble before she hurried over and looked down into two large pans where eight cheesy-looking meaty sandwiches sat.
Seconds later, she ate half of her sandwich with a look of delight on her face as Onuma smirked while Obito chuckled.
As the others came in, they took one look at the trio, smelled the food, and then rushed to get plated.
Thirty minutes in, the Brutes slumped against their chairs or the table in awe, Kaede cleaning her mouth with a napkin.
"I get it," she told Obito as Onuma nodded.
"That's not just 'food', that's paradise," the cobra man said.
"It's simply understanding how food works," the new CEO said. "Alright, with us fed, I'm going to speak with each of you about your contracts and the potential new jobs I have for you," Obito began, confusing them. "Kaede-san, let's go to that table."
She hummed but followed without issue, Obito taking one seat across from the other at a table covered in five files.
"So, this is basically an inter-company job interview?" Kaede asked.
"You're smart, Onuma-kun had said as much but I'm glad to see that you apply your head regardless," Obito complimented. "I'm going to be honest, things will likely get extremely rough for a bit," he told her. "Despite the other big zaibatsu agreeing to this, there's likely going to be many who will test our mettle before next year so that's why I'm preparing a lot."
He pushed a file towards her and Kaede hummed before opening it to read… Huh.
"Security head, I won't say I dislike the idea," she said, intrigued. "And you're right, mostly from the fact that-"
"There will be those within my zaibatsu who will cause trouble?"
"Hmm~ You are a smart bastard."
"It's just something those of us who use our heads properly can figure out."
"Oooh, a charmer, too~ Okay, let's say this all works out up to the DR, what exactly is the plan for that? You joining is one of the most unexpected things in all of this crap's history. There's never been a time where one of the heads got involved."
"You're not wrong but that's what will make them want this," Obito explained. "Ignoring the potential technology which I'll need to overlook to see what we have, I've made a reputation of myself, I'm a zaibatsu head, and then there's those who think they could probably extort me mid-fight, I'd bet."
"You ever realize a lot of them are REALLY DUMB?" Kaede asked with a snort. "Like, really?"
"I've noticed. All things considered, I'm going to aim for the top during that battle. There's no more hesitation on my end because this, I'll try to be sure, is going to be my LAST Killing Bites. I've got a family to raise, a restaurant to still run, and now my Zaibatsu. This next year is to set-up these things and train like I never have. So, will I have your support?"
~NRK~
The first week of his new occupation, Obito hadn't appeared in the public eye yet.
He'd spoken with the others over that week, of course, and had informed them of his efforts.
Yet, that all came to an end as he departed from the Uchiha Zaibatsu building, the large 'S' on the front of the sky-piercing construct having been changed recently.
Wearing a pair of clean black boots, black slacks, a red vest over a white dress shirt, and a black blazer, Obito walked out with Kaede at his side towards those waiting reporters.
He'd spoken, he'd declared, and he'd announced without hesitation upon meeting them.
And they went crazy.
~NRK~
Eruza finished her run around the city limits with a long breath as she stretched her back.
'I'm at a good time,' she thought, looking at her stopwatch app on her phone. "I wonder when he's doing it-" Eruza began to say only to find the electronic billboards showing Obito's 'conference' in full definition. "Alright, he's doing it right now."
Her phone rang and she answered it with ease.
"Yeah, I'm seeing it," she said. "Ui-chan, he's doing it. Seriously, things are gonna get weird for you, huh?"
-I-I'm not sure how to take this- Ui whined. -How does this even work?-
"I mean, I don't think he's gonna renege on the whole 'your kids going to Ishida' but you're now in a relationship with another zaibatsu, a decent one now, but still another."
-And what does that s-say about you?-
Eruza hummed loudly. "... That I'm weird," she admitted.
~NRK~
Obito adjusted his collar as he finished meeting with that eighth big casino, Kaede grinning behind him with a trio of full suitcases in her hands or underarm.
"Honestly, this is a lot easier than I expected," she chuckled. "Still, that's the last big one. Now, there's just the smaller ones and that's it for this part."
"Anything else is just merchandise and franchises, those are FAR simpler than this," Obito said even as a series of red 'lights' beamed above and at their sides. "And with most of these individuals still 'not as knowledgeable'," he smirked as Kaede snickered. "We've got an advantage they can't handle. Anything from those men I hired?"
"We're literally almost down 15 employees, turns out that you got a lot of rats in our spot. Crazy considering we're a reptile house."
"Hmm, speaking of, Sumitomo DOES have more Brutes, doesn't it?"
"Not really? The thing with Miyabi was that he didn't like to bring in too many of us, hell, I'm pretty sure he only brought in Akemi and Akami because he thought they were hot. Besides us five? He's only rented others and used them from other small companies who didn't have the finances."
"A businessman until the end," Obito said with a shake of the head. "Come on, Onuma should be done on his end."
He got a call and answered it.
-Boss man? Most of this merchandise is good, no drugs. My senses ain't picking up anything crazy- Onuma said with a sneeze. -It's dusty in some of these warehouses though and Shinna's already handled most of our gangster pals-
"That's fine, dead men can't reveal the truth," Obito told him as Kaede opened the door for him once they reached a car before getting in. "Anything on Shinna, though?"
-Nope- The shorter man whispered. -He's just a bit aggressive when it comes to ya, no more, no less-
"Alright then, meet us back at the zaibatsu building."
~NRK~
Onuma cheered as he looked over his box of cash.
"I pay properly, that's this month's pay as your positions," Obito explained in his office, the Reptile Sisters looking at theirs in surprise. "For now, get some rest, anything else that comes up will be handled by me," he told them before they all walked to the elevators. "I need to go and see my kids."
"Man, you're a different kind of daddy, that's still crazy to me," Kaede smirked knowingly.
"That's not a joke I'm going to give attention."
Going down to the last floor, Obito nodded to them before departing from the elevator with the others spreading out.
"Sir, have a nice day!" The workers on the ground floor stood and bowed towards the rabbit man who nodded.
"Finish up your work by seven and then go rest, we have a half-off on drinks at a nearby set of restaurants," Obito waved them off as the workers grew excited before hurrying about. "Hmph," he pulled out his phone and sent the company-wide text with the flyer designating the half-off restaurants before he made a call as he got outside.
-Sup, Obi?- Eruza answered back.
"I'm probably going to go to a location near the Yatsubishi building," he told her with a smirk. "Just going to call you all and reserve a large table."
-I'll be there in forty! What's the location?!-
~NRK~
Obito leaned back in his seat as Okuni pat his chest with his small babbles & squinty eyes before stuffing his face into his father's chest.
Seated with many of the other zaibatsu, Obito was amused by both his friendly company's confused expressions and the people around them's shock.
"This is truly curious," Youko said with one eye closed. "I don't think I can even imagine a time where the Zaibatsu Heads were gathered without issue," she told the amused brunette.
"Call it a decent history," Obito said. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Seigi-san," he told Seira's husband, the man looking sheepish.
"Yes, well, the pleasure is mine. I've never met you once yet I've constantly heard of you," the man said with a look of wonder on his face. "You've got quite the resume if you will."
"I'm sure," the rabbit man smiled at his son. "I'm hoping my children will grow well under your employ if things go that way."
"I'm hoping so, myself, no offense. I can't imagine how this seems to you."
"I'm a fan of Ishida's policies, no more no less. While I can't see myself ever being capable of internalizing them, I won't say I'm NOT more than content with how you run things."
Seigi looked sheepish as Seira smiled knowingly.
The food came, all pre-paid for by Obito, before they were eating and chatting.
"So, you set up your throne already?" Yugo asked as he ate with what were barely called manners.
"I'm still working out the kinks in that," Obito said. "At present, I've already spoken to most of the big businesses Miyabi dealt with, already removed twenty members of staff who might have had 'worse' intentions," he declared easily as Youzan grew amused. "I won't be having any mutiny on my ship, that's for sure. Alongside that? I've already settled my brute's new contracts."
"You planned ahead?" Yashin asked, surprised while sipping some wine. "The removal from the 'stage' must be ever-clear in your mind, Obito-kun."
"Of course it is, I need to monitor casinos, that's no simple matter. Hell, I've had to set straight several rules of conduct by this point, it's honestly annoying."
"Yes, but being a killer businessman must make life easier."
"Of course, that's just part of the 'game' I have to play with these people."
"So, uhh, what's this gonna do?" Hitomi asked nervously.
"... Yes, well… This might be a bit more strict on my time, for the moment, Hitomi-kun," Obito said with an apologetic smile that she groaned at.
"Well… Whatever, I'm still having fun so hopefully that'll last," she huffed.
"Well, tell me about your training, at least," he smirked knowingly as Hitomi perked up while Shidou raised a brow. "I'm sure that the Killing Bites will start up once more so you need to be at your best and start your matches."
"Of course, I have! I-I'm getting that weird training down, all blindfolded and stuff."
"Good, despite my aversion to it, your reliance on your instincts are some of the best among Brutes in all aspects," Obito noted as Shidou looked surprised.
'He's truly a warrior,' not many could ascertain that about Hitomi on the depth Obito was implying. "You're right, I just wish she could go so 'deep' while also maintaining more human cunning," he admitted as Hitomi blushed while Eruza giggled and Ui smiled unsurely.
"I-I wish I could drop mine," the rabbit woman whined as Kaguya sat in her lap. "T-They just make me scared."
"Ah, yes, I sometimes forget how those instincts take hold," Shidou said in surprise. 'Right, of course, there are animals with instincts that naturally avoid danger,' could that be useful?
Even humans had such an instinct in their noteworthy 'fight or flight' response.
"I can do the blindfolded 200-pounds," Hitomi pouted. "It's really annoying but I think I got better at it with Shidou-san's new training course."
"It's about the habit," Obito told her. "What about you, Taiga, Leo? I'm sure your competitions haven't gone to waste."
"I got him beat in squats," Taiga told him. "Can't even get close in bench press, though," he shook his head knowingly. "God no."
Yugo looked pleased with himself while Youko shook her head.
"Jerome?"
"I've certainly got more used to fast opponents," the sumo wrestler said with a knowing eye thrown Obito's way. "Yes, I'm sure those fast ones who can fully-transform will become easier to deal with."
"I'd hope for that to at least provide some entertainment," Obito smirked as the larger man laughed. "Eruza-chan?"
"Dropping my speed time around the city," Eruza grinned. "Wearing those heavy insulated tracksuits we made, seriously getting used to doing it on normal foot."
"I do remember Ui speaking on that," Seira said, surprised.
"I-It's not bad when we get to the forest," Ui admitted. "It's a lot easier to run in there."
Obito's expression became proud as the others grew intrigued.
"Running in the city's not THAT easy."
"I'd bet, it feels weird, huh?" Hitomi said, interested.
"Yeah. And then the smells get distracting even when I'm focusing on one thing," Ui whined. "I-I'm glad my eyesight's so good."
'So, she's also becoming a monster?' Shidou wondered with a cupped chin. "But forests are simpler?"
"Y-Yeah! I can dig in easier and getting around trees is so much faster. I can catch all the flags now!" Ui beamed as he grew confused.
"We started some flag training," Eruza grinned sheepishly. "I'm trying to make short turns and grabs at full speed but I'm still working on it. Meanwhile, she's got it downpat with Kaori-nee-chan."
"It's about flexibility," Brute Civet said. "Yet, Ui's movements are downright weird," she tilted her head.
"How so?" Obito asked as his girlfriend blushed.
"For lack of better word, she's so light. She can hop off things without stopping, no intervals, and then she can go from 'tree to earth' with ease, she just needs confidence."
'So, her rabbit is 'lighter' sort of,' the former shinobi thought. 'Likely, she's got better turning power,' which he honestly already knew.
Their practices before his current circumstances had already revealed this much but he was glad it worked without 'lust' goals.
"You need to push that envelope, Ui-chan," Obito told her.
"I'm trying," she admitted bashfully.
~NRK~
By the end of the month, Obito had gotten into his 'rhythm'.
He'd handle his paperwork, documentation, and meetings in the mornings for four hours before taking a break.
He'd train or spar in the improved Uchiha Zaibatsu training area with their Brutes for two hours.
Then, he'd do a bit more financial work for another two hours with his trusted company board.
And then finish things off around evening doing what he wanted unless he got an odd call.
It'd been the best way to handle things after purging his problematic members, through death or otherwise,
And, like that, he could even find time to cook on Monday and Friday for his hotel, train as he'd always had with the others on the weekends, and find time to spend with his children and girlfriend.
So, how had what occurred just happened?
~NRK~
He'd come to Yatsubishi Zaibatsu to do the usual: Spend time with his found family and children.
Wearing a simple dark blue long-sleeved top with a v-neck, black cargo pants, and his shinobi sandals, Obito had walked into the lobby area prepared to do the usual song-and-dance.
He'd found Eruza & Ui there, the two wearing simple hoodies of their favored colors, sand-brown for Eruza and pink for Ui, shorts, and sneakers. Obito had truly been confused by the lack of his children before they'd reassured him they were in the capable hands of Ryouko & Seira, the former truly showing her grit when it came to handling children.
So, he'd let them lead him outside towards an open-air cafe where they'd ordered their food & drink, on his unworried dime, and sat like that under an umbrella booth.
"What's this all about?" He asked them, ignoring the people around them who were up this early. "You two have clearly thought this through with how the kids are currently 'busy' so… What's going on?" Obito asked, curious.
Ui shot Eruza a determined pout that the cheetah nodded at.
"S-So, you know how this whole thing got started," Ui began with only slightly red cheeks
It would seem their time together, all of them not just Obito and her, had made her more calm about it.
"Yes, I do. Things certainly took a weird turn but they worked out," he smiled without issue as they blushed before looking sheepish as well. "So, what does That Day have to do with this?"
"I've liked you a LONG time," Eruza told him outright, eyes trained only on the growing confused Obito. "Like, you don't know it, Obito-kun, but I've liked you for at least two years. I think it was sometime after you helped us off of the streets."
Obito considered her and her words before ruffling his head of hair in confusion. "Those, worryingly, aren't the way I'd phrase it," he said as she smiled knowingly. "You both got dragged into this. In fact, it's likely that you might have been better off if I'd been closer that night," the rabbit man sighed. "I'd planned for it, you know?"
"Huh?"
"That night, Eruza-chan, I wish it hadn't happened because I'd convinced my father of something for the week after," he ruffled his hair. "I'd planned on buying some housing so you and Taiga could have lived there."
The air was silent as Ui & Eruza gawked at the awkward-looking Obito.
"You'd both already informed me about your lives and I figured things would have gone differently if the attack hadn't fucked things up."
"... Y-You're seriously not helping your case, you know that?" Eruza said but she was touched, God she was touched to think that he was that thoughtful. "But I think that, fucked-up as it sounds, things are better this way," she grinned. "Your plan would have been great, I'm sure it would have, we all might not even have been in all the bullshit we have up to this point. But that's just it, it was a plan, it was something that could have happened. We can't take back the past, it's already written, but we can build our futures… So, yeah know?"
"... You realize the sheer amount of teasing will be ungodly, don't you?"
"I-It's gonna be crazy," Ui realized with a look of terror Eruza laughed at. "... B-But what's the point of taking c-chances, right?!" She asked determinedly.
"Ui-chan, I don't get how you're so okay with this. Not to say I'm not being selfish but…"
"You gave me something I've never had," she admitted bashfully, confusing him. "Obito-kun, you gave me 'some place' to belong."
"Wait, what?" Eruza blinked, confused. "Ui?"
"You both don't know, likely only Seira-san and Okajima-ossan do but I… Obito knows that my parents basically abandoned me," she admitted. "But you don't know that I also ran from my responsibilities when I was made a Brute in. I'd signed-up thinking I was going to be important, to be good at something b-but then I was a… I-I was a rabbit."
Seeing her look of embarrassment, Obito shook his head. "It's fine, you know. I get it, hell, Ui no one really thought me being a rabbit brute would be grand until I showed them otherwise," he reminded her as Eruza looked embarrassed.
"He's right, even me and bro thought him being a 'rabbit' was off-putting. And then that first training session kicked our teeth in and we realized how stupid that is," the cheetah said. "It's stupid to think that your animal decides just how powerful, how great, you can become. I mean, look at him," Eruza pointed lazily at the amused Obito. "He's literally one of the richest people in the world because he was a rabbit, flemish notwithstanding."
"I-I know, even now, it's weird!"
Obito sweatdropped as Eruza grinned knowingly.
"Then, it's like Eruza-chan said, you showed up," Ui said. "You arrived on the public stage a-and dominated, you became a name on people's tongues and continued to show how great you were despite the whole 'brute' thing. It didn't settle in yet, not then when I still thought you were so different, but after all this time I get it. You were just doing your best no matter what happened, whether it's for your mom," she smiled as Obito's eyes widened. "She told me. W-Whether it's for her, your friends, your team, or even me. You just never backed down and that slowly made me want to do the same."
"I'm touched, honestly," Obito smiled as Ui reciprocated. "... But what does that have to do with this?" He pointed at the three of them as Eruza laughed.
"T-T-That's like a prize for being my emotional support rock!" Ui said flusteredly as Obito snorted. "B-Besides, I got the prize by being h-horny, that's ridiculous," she whispered in disbelief. "What kind of woman does that make me?!"
"The lucky one?" The two asked.
"That's a bad joke!"
~NRK~
Getting back to Yatsubishi had been an odd thing between them, the 'buzz' of energy had been curious.
Oh and people watching him have two women on his arms was another thing he'd likely be dealing with but Obito didn't give a damn about the populace.
He was more 'concerned' about the teasing in his future.
Getting inside the lobby, the receptionist took one look at the three and made sure to double-take as they walked past.
Getting inside the elevator had provided a small reprieve.
"So, how do we do this?" Eruza asked, excited. "I mean you guys did the dating stuff when you could."
"W-We definitely can make stuff happen on the weekends," Ui nodded before tilting her head. "I mean, I only really use it for the twins b-but I have money to use, we could go to an amusement park!" She looked awed.
"It's not going to be in either of your pockets if I can help it," Obito said. "Besides, my first month has finally stabilized, I'll find the time to spend with you so that means finances will be on me. I just want you two to NOT regret this."
"We won't," they said in unison as he wore an exasperated smile.
"God," the doors opened. "Prepare for the jokes."
And wouldn't you know it? Who else would be in the living room area besides damn near EVERYONE?
Obito's smile had frozen, cracked, crumbled away, and died the moment they'd seen him.
"Oh shit, you actually did it," Taiga said, alarmed as the others stared in confusion.
"W-We're laying out a date plan," Eruza said with determined eyes as Ui blushed but nodded.
"I-It's going to be different like this," she said. "W-We can do rock-paper-scissors for some things!"
"Good idea!"
Seira blinked at Obito's defeated expression before her head tilted. "... Uchiha-kun?" She asked, utterly baffled by this situation.
Yugo's jaw dropped as he pushed one of the babies gently to send him on a pillow. "Dude, that's so sick!" He said in awe.
"How is that your reaction?" Obito asked in disbelief of his own.
"S-Son?" Itomi blinked while Kaori laughed. "Son, what happened?!"
"... Welcome to this new part of my life," he said weakly as Hitomi tilted her head from the back of the couch. "So… Meet both my girlfriends," Obito gestured to the waving rabbit and cheetah.
"You what?!" Hitomi yelped. "S-Sensei, what the fuck?!"
"It wasn't his idea," Eruza said with a proud grin.
"W-What?"
"WHAT?!" Youko nearly screeched before her 'volcano' blew at the sight of Eruza's smug grin.
"What's that, single lady? You like cats? Why, you already have one!" The cheetah laughed.
"You tramp!"
"Keep whining!"
Obito looked more confused as he looked between them. "What the hell did I step into? It's been ten minutes!" He complained as Okajima cleared his throat while just… Growing more confused. "What happened?"
"Ah, that's blossomed," Jerome said from the side in a large recliner, drinking a large amount of wine. "You really need to pay more attention to your surroundings," he chuckled heartily.
"What is that going to mean?"
"Nothing if you don't worry about it."
Obito looked very unsure of the world at the moment.
"N-No, go back!" Hitomi asked as she ran up to him before circling. "Sensei, how did this happen? Y-You're book smart!"
Shidou snorted off to the side as Masanobu sweatdropped.
"That's… Certainly one way of looking at it," the General Director at Yatsubishi said.
"Liste-Ahhhhhh," Obito began to say before she opened his mouth every which way in confusion. "Mitomi," he said flatly before she released his lips. "Really?"
She pulled on cheeks in total confusion.
He rolled his eyes. "Look, the point is, I'm just trying to answer their feelings as honestly as I can. Despite how things look, they provided quite the heartfelt speech and argument, I was in awe of their verbatim," Obito said as Hitomi shot him a pout. "... I'm not taking that word back, look it up."
Hitomi groaned but did as told.
"I hate when you use those weird-ass words."
"Haha, tough."
Shidou wondered if this would get in the way or not.
Yashin, meanwhile, watched it all from the door in interest. 'First Brute Rabbit, now Brute Cheetah, who's next?' He wondered, eying up Youko butting heads with Eruza as Ui tried to play peacemaker rather horribly. 'Oh, that'd be curious,' a Zaibatsu's daughter as well?
Well, far be it from him to stop 'progress'.
~NRK~
Two hours of this new relationship status had left Obito confused, immensely.
Seated in the living room's large couch, he leaned back in it as Kaguya & Okuni made small sounds while patting his transformed legs' fur.
"What do you two think?" He asked his children, their little rabbit ears twitching as they stuffed their faces into his fur. "Yeah, I didn't think you had any grasp of this situation either."
"Son," Masanobu called as he came over before sitting down beside his child and grandchildren. "Hmm," the man smiled as he tapped Okuni's cheek.
The baby boy made a mumbling sound before sitting down and looking at him weirdly, grabbing the man's finger with a baby pout.
The fathers chuckled while Kaguya kept patting hers on the chest.
Obito lifted her up and she rubbed cheeks with him, much to his melting heart's enjoyment.
"Kaguya, you're gonna be the hugging-type, I'm sure."
"Bab," the baby rubbed her face into his neck.
"So, what exactly is going on with you and those two?" His father asked as he held Okuni up and got a happy baby for his troubles. "Oh goodness, I'm gonna become such a doting old man."
Obito smirked before explaining the whole situation to him in full.
By the end, Masanobu hummed. "You know, I'm not as surprised," he told him. "Son, we don't live normal lives but you're a whole different case. You are a diamond that no one could have expected and seemed to have garnered affections the world over."
"I suppose… But it's still weird," his son said.
"Oh definitely. Still, you'll want to make them happy, you have to prepare for that… Alongside being careful or urgent with Eruza-kun."
Obito sweatdropped. "I know what you're implying and have already realized that Eruza's either going to get it out of the way while we still have ten months or be the most pent-up contender at the Destroyale," he said with a nervous smile. "I don't know what will be her 'end game' in this case."
"Well, do remember, your children were born in eight months."
Obito stopped, head turning to his father in surprise. "That's right."
"We don't know, mind you, if that's not just the rabbit genes but you all are assumably a rare case," Masanobu said. "We never did get any history on situations like yours."
"I, sadly, think those might have ended up with 'Ligers'," the rabbit man said somberly.
"Ah…"
"I'm still going to try, mind you. Eruza deserves that much."
"Well, like always, I hope for the best, son."
"Same, father."
~NRK~
By the time that night fell, Obito was honestly surprised.
Laying down in his room, he found Eruza and Ui on his arms with the children held between them; Okuni by Eruza and Kaguya by Ui.
"Finished all your planning?" The CEO asked curiously. "It's like I've barely seen you two today."
"Sorry," Ui told him. "W-We had to make this work," she burned bright red as Eruza giggled embarrassedly. "A-Alone time can work for us!"
Obito took several seconds to 'understand' before his eyes closed as his cheeks burned.
Eruza's eyes looked at his embarrassment before she looked down. "T-That's what it is," she 'realized'.
Seeing his boner as it were? Well…
"I-I'm glad I do my stretches," the cheetah said with a nervous grin that didn't help, her eyes snapping down to that covered yet twitching organ. "I-It does tricks?" Eruza whispered in shock.
Obito laughed while Ui giggled.
~NRK~
The following day, Obito left Yatsubishi with Eruza at his side.
Wearing a pair of his blue ninja sandals, black sweatpants, and a dark blue muscle shirt, Eruza grinned in a navel-length tan hoodie, black spats, and some orange running shoes.
"Alright, let's see your circuit," Obito said with a smile as Eruza stretched her arms.
"This way, we can run to an underpass that leads out of city limits," she told him.
They departed not even a second later, the two's bodies running without a warm-up.
As they passed their third block in under ten seconds, they rushed into an unmanned construction site.
Powerfully-enhanced legs and trained bodies had them hopping over beams, flying through holes, and bounding off of scaffolding towards the other end where they hopped over the half-built fence.
"Haha!" Eruza laughed as he smirked.
They ran for another half-mile that only lasted twenty seconds before finding that underpass and running down into it.
As they did, their eyes switched into their transformed states as the light grew dim.
They ran that quarter-mile-long underground road before coming out the other end where they found the roads becoming bordered by forests.
Eruza led the way with a harsh turn he caught onto a second later.
Obito gave chase in an instant as she trailed ahead of him, shins covered by furred spots.
They moved past trees, slid over heavy dirt mounds, and leaped through tree branches.
The more they did, the closer Obito got before he smirked while landing on the same branch as Eruza.
The chase reversed as he jumped back in the branches as her eyes dilated.
He moved in and out of foliage with confidence as his eyes remained solely on her.
Eruza grinned excitedly at the idea before their game continued on.
She lunged, recovered with her enhanced flexibility, and then continued on while Obito began to zig-zag throughout the area, not just the trees.
They were blurs that no civilian could possibly see before things came to a crescendo as Eruza's eyes dilated to a powerful point.
Obito's eyes widened as her legs bulged powerfully, her face covering in spots, and her form growing the slightest bit bigge-
He'd gotten tackled in the time it took her to reach him and return to normal.
They rolled for a bit, his spatial awareness keeping them from hitting any trees before they came to a stop with him on his back and the young woman above him.
Eruza beamed at the flustered Obito.
"When…?"
"Literally last week."
Obito gawked at her before noticing two things.
One, she was getting closer.
Two? When had Eruza's hair gotten so long-?
The kiss wasn't unexpected but he'd still been a bit surprised as she held his face and pressed into him.
He reciprocated, hands coming up and holding the back of her head and lower back.
Eruza moaned as her hair curtained their faces before she released his lips with a red face and bright eyes.
"T-That's what that's like!" She said in awe as Obito snorted before sitting up with a chuckle, Eruza seated comfortably in his lap. "I knew a lady's lips were different but I was totally curious."
"Yep, you're not surprising me with that knowledge," he smirked at her pout.
He kissed her and Eruza made sure he didn't 'escape' by holding his face.
She wiggled in his lap, the two parting as he grinned nervously.
"So… About that part?"
"I-I'm thinking about it… Yeah, we should do it."
Obito sweatdropped at her determined expression. "You're definitely not against the idea," he said in amusement. "I figured, though, nine months is the baseline but we don't know if the whole early birth is an all-animal thing or not."
"Y-Yep, I'm hoping it works," Eruza said nervously as his eyes softened. "Ya know? Or, a-actually, we had a thought about that. You guys did it in full-on rabbit mode, right?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think that had a big part in it?"
Obito blinked, staring at her in complete confusion she understood perfectly.
"I think we need to ask some questions."
~NRK~
"... I'm honestly not sure," Yashin said, blinking in surprise at this concept. 'Actually, we really don't know,' there had been no real experiments in the matter despite many 'altercations' in the past. "Honestly, in this regard, you're both dealing with something we simply don't know. By all metrics, you both are still half-HUMAN."
"I never thought about it like that," Obito said, chin in hand. "Hmm… Is there any possible way for us to know ahead of time?"
"Well, obviously, we can go to the labs and take some blood samples… And other samples," the CEO said with an unsure smile.
The two froze before Eruza erupted into red steam while Obito coughed loudly.
"I-I-Is that is?" The cheetah woman squeaked. "Y-You're telling us w-we'd have t-"
"Climax, yes, is keeping things so vague really to your benefit?"
The two blushed with Obito cursing under his breath.
~NRK~
Their medical professionals looked at the four samples, beast & 'human' mode, of the mortified duo within an examination room.
"T-This is so weird," Eruza whined even as her eyes tried to catch a glimpse. "... I-It's strangely wh-"
"Okay, let's go," Obito said quickly as he ushered her out. "Keep us informed, Yashin."
"Yes, yes," the Yatsubishi CEO laughed.
~NRK~
They'd spent the rest of the day with Ui, the kids, and everyone else.
The rest of the week passed until Friday morning where Eruza found herself within Yashin's office.
Finding the long-faced man's face screwed-up in confusion, she had to assume this would be interesting at least.
"What's up, Yashin?" She asked, looking embarrassed by the files on his desk. "Y-You got back the results?"
"Yes, well, there is good news and odd news," he told her, the cheetah's feline ears popping into existence as she perked up. "So, your words from the day of this experiment held weight. Thankfully, the technology of today is so convenient so we could get the results faster. Human-side-wise, you both can in fact fertilize the egg to produce more cells that'd make a child."
"Y-Yeah?!" Eruza looked excited before she blinked. "Wait, so, what's the 'bad' news?"
"Mmm, 'bad' is oddly not involved, Eruza-kun. It's just confusing how the animal examples worked out. All things considered, you should've been a low chance but those were fertilized as well."
"... W-Well, I mean, is it THAT impossible?"
"Not necessarily but it follows the 'human' samples almost the exact same way save for having more 'additionals' for your animal DNA," Yashin shrugged. "There's no disfigured, broken-down, or odd cells that might imply negative traits. In full, they all seem fine."
Eruza's head tilted at that. "I think we should keep monitoring them, just in case," she said in concern. "Life has a way of throwing curveballs, boss."
"Yes, I was of the same mind."
~NRK~
Friday night, Obito nodded to Eruza and Ui at the news as they sat in the recreational room's couch.
"So, things should go fine," Ui smiled. "Still, y-you have to do it this month."
"Well… Yeah," Eruza's finger scratched her cheek as Obito laid down on a large blanket on the floor, Kaguya & Okuni crawling all over him as the women sat in the couch. "We've got three more weeks in this month before we're at the ten-month mark."
"Yeah."
"So, I also need to keep my training up and want a month to re-introduce myself to this craziness. So, yeah, this month if things go the 'normal' way."
"That still seems weird," the rabbit woman said.
"It is. It's not like you guys were, uh, that controlled," the cheetah laughed sheepishly as her 'counterpart' blushed. "Speaking of… Y-You have done it recently, yeah?"
"W-We're using as many contraceptives as possible," Ui said quickly. "Pills of both varieties, condoms, a-and not trying to do it inside," she steamed as Eruza burned. "I-It's weirdly exciting."
"Yep, I'm gonna get that."
The news spread simply.
Read: Yashin's mouth.
"So, this will be curious," Seira said, intrigued. "You both were smart to do what you did, knowing ahead of time will save you a headache or two."
"It's always good to be safe," Eruza said as Taiga nodded with stretch over the back of the couch. "Hmm…" She looked thoughtful as Youko emanated a 'pouting' aura.
"Still got ten months after this," Hitomi said with red cheeks before muttering about something. "So, you're, uh-"
"Hitomi-kun, I get it," Obito said flatly as she whined. "Thank God, Yugo's busy or I'd never hear the end of it."
"Ah, a smart man," Itomi chuckled. "Still, hmm, son. You're setting up a LOT for after the Destroyale."
"There's reasons for this being my only one, despite things calming down I have to give my place a LOT more attention, I'm trying to figure out which direction I want to take it in," Obito said with a shrug which Shidou looked… Thoughtful.
'Could I…?' Hitomi's caretaker looked considerate. 'Him being a Zaibatsu Head, as is, is problematic,' he had conflicting feelings on the rabbit man.
He'd attained strength, power, and fame in such a short timeframe that it was almost painful to think about. Yet, he was always the perfect fit and had MORALS.
Shidou Reiichi had no real problem with his morals, that wasn't the issue.
'His connections are, by far, his most powerful tools,' he thought as Hitomi poked Kaguya in the stomach before grinning at the baby's patting hands. 'Hitomi's truly taken by him, not that way thankfully, but she's got a connection,' and he was giving her what Shidou had thought he'd have to.
A connection to her humanity if you'd believe it. Hitomi hadn't been so taken with doing things with other people before, she'd never formed bonds before like she had now.
But she wasn't just 'more focused', she was STRONGER. The training, the spars, the lessons, and even the encouragement Obito had given her.
He'd turned her into a 'monster' that was beginning to use 'reason' and 'instinct' at the same time.
'But there's one aspect he can't help her with,' one the man was sure Obito was rather 'horrified' by. 'She needs that one thing,' and he had an idea already. '... I'll talk to him about it,' if things went their way?
Obito might become the leading trainer of brutes… Was it weird he thought of the man as a 'Brute Teacher'?
~NRK~
Obito and Shidou sat within a room of Uchiha Zaibatsu the following morning, the two drinking some tea.
It was a simple matter, the CEO had a lack of meetings that morning and had taken the glasses-wearing man up on the offer of a small lunch.
So, he wasn't fooled. "You're thinking about something, Shidou Reiichi, General Administrator of Killing Bites," Obito said simply, eyes closed as he sipped some more of his tea. "All things considered, you've always been a no-nonsense man so I can only assume this is important."
"Smart, you're right, I have something I wish to propose," Shidou said.
"Please, swear to God, you're NOT going to try and have Hitomi mixed into my love life."
"Well, that avenue's gone."
"... Shidou-san… Shidou-san, please you're joking."
"..."
Obito's head mechanically turned to look at the straight-faced man.
"... Oh God, you're serious," he said with a nervous sweat.
"In all honesty, it was an idea," the older man shrugged. "It's not like you lacking in 'admirers' and you treat them well."
"Please stop talking about that."
"Very well but there was another important prospect I came with."
Anything to get out of that situation.
"Obito-kun, you wanted to make your Zaibatsu around something important, no?"
"I do, that's not a lie."
"Hmm… There's something I've spoken with Yashin about already," Shidou began, surprising him. "Yes, he's quite the curious man but we've all known that for a long time."
"You're right," Obito said with a thoughtful frown. "... It has to do with brutes, obviously, but there's something else here, isn't there? Likely, you're not going to do this with just two Zaibatsu."
"Correct."
"What is it?"
"The legalization of the Therianthrope Process."
Obito blinked in surprise at the idea, looking at Shidou with a raised brow.
"Wait, seriously?" Obito asked. "I mean, with all due respect, you have to know how dangerous such a thing is."
"I'm aware, nowadays, things are at an all-time-low," the older man sighed. "Obito-kun, we're dealing with criminals, children off the street," they locked eyes. "Gamblers, aggressive individuals, and killers. I know how that last one seems, it's downright hypocritical, but I'm aware of the people most of you all employ."
"Hmm, I suppose you're right. Still, surely, this would be to all of our benefit… Unless that isn't true."
"Youzan Mitsukado is a problematic member of society. That man's work has done it utmost to keep our economy stagnant, our finances plummeting because he's appropriating most of the funds."
Obito's frown was deep. "..."
"... Youko Mitsukado, despite the connection, isn't involved in those operations," Shidou said as Obito's eyes closed while his frown relaxed. "... I'm going to be honest, you really don't seem to be doing yourself any favors."
The rabbit man's eyebrow trembled. "Look, ignoring that part, I'm honestly not against it. We just need to be aware that there's going to be so MUCH overhead to handle. Even five years is going to be a short time, Shidou-san. And the less said about how criminals will arise out of this process, the better."
"Sadly, even as a General Administrative Bureau, people aren't exactly all that willing to reveal all of their Brutes."
"Not surprised, it's just a big move is all."
"Hmph."
They sipped their tea in unison.
"This tea is immaculate."
"Thank you, I made it myself."
"Is there some skill you don't have?" Shidou asked, eyebrow raised.
"I don't understand women, that helps," Obito said with a nervous smile.
"If any man did, we'd have a utopia."
~NRK~
The following weekend would be important, Obito knew.
That's why he'd not waited for said weekend. He'd given Kaede and the others their payment, the same for most in his company, and told them they'd be off Friday to Monday before leaving.
That's why, Thursday night, Obito rolled his neck in familiar clothes from the day of the 'proposal' in his office… As he waited for Youko's arrival.
'What could it be?' Obito thought. "... Did he tell her?" If Shidou had, Obito wasn't afraid of this.
He'd prefer talking with Youko on his terms to try and ease her into this. Not to say he felt THOSE kinds of feelings for her but Obito had gone to enough balls, meetings, and other things where they were amicable.
She didn't deserve to be hurt and yet there was one thing he knew about her above all else.
Youko loved her grandfather, especially after her parents' passing from what Obito could piece together.
So, getting her to agree might be easy but having her only living relative in a position of potential pain wasn't going to make her happy.
Obito tapped his desk as he waited for the woman to come up, the only people here being Kaede, Onuma, and a receptionist. The sound of the elevator caused him to get up and walk around his desk to lean on its front.
When those doors opened, Obito was still slightly surprised by the sight of a despondent Youko.
Wearing a pair of white flats, black tights, a knee-length white skirt, and a tight black shirt, the woman's eyes looked down with a dim light while her hands clenched tightly at her side… Bandaged hands.
"Youko-kun," he whispered as her head lifted before she stepped out of the elevator. "... Thank you, Kaede, go get some rest."
"Take it easy, boss man, I think this is actually really important," Kaede told him with a nod only he saw.
"Alright."
Youko's slow steps finally reached him by the time the elevator stopped on another floor, the long-haired woman's bangs covering her hair.
"Come on, I've added a few couches to this pla-" Obito told her, leaning off his desk and holding Youko's shoulder.
"Why?" She whispered, confusing him. "W-Why did Shidou Reiichi say what he did? Why'd he tell me to talk to you?" Youko asked him.
"Because he came to me and told me after Yashin," he answered her without hesitation. "And I knew you'd likely be incredibly affected, Youko. You've been a constant in my life since I was found by my father and you've nothing but good things to say about your grandfather. I asked Shidou, ahead of time, if you were involved and when he told me 'no' I knew this had to happen."
Her shoulders trembled as she pressed her head against his chest.
"I can piece-together clues," Obito said, leading her to one of the long couches in his office before sitting down with her only for Youko to rest in his lap. "I'm aware your grandfather picked you up from the day of your parents' passing and helped make you who you are. You're a beautiful young woman with one of the biggest companies in the world behind her, amazing smarts, business know-how, a bit of a pride streak, and still growing into your prime."
"..." She released a shuddering sigh, slumping against him. "Why? I-Is this true?"
"From what I could research, there WAS some truth to his words, nothing incredibly damning but there's some odd discrepancies…" He explained softly as she grimaced.
He revealed his findings to her and Youko grimaced while holding onto his hand in her lap, her phone soon in her hand to check some of these facts.
And when she did… Youko's body quaked.
She'd shown him, too, this usually uptight, properly private, woman had shown him Mitsukado information he really shouldn't have known.
And Obito sighed as he leaned back in his seat with Youko resting against him. "It doesn't prove everything, Youko," he told her even if the rabbit knew this merely meant there was room for doubt.
There was a high chance that these things would have been a REGULAR thing, especially when you considered how old both her grandfather was and how long he'd been head of the company.
"... I-I'm not a fool," she whispered while stuffing her face into his chest. "I know that those are just meant to make me feel better," Youko rubbed at one of those dried tear tracts. "Fuck."
"You're right, you're not naive."
"I don't think that holds true."
The entirety of her weight pressing against him told Obito just how bad this was for her, his arm hesitant before grasping her side more securely and pulling her in completely.
"Despite how our interactions would seem amicable at best, I made the call to bring you here, I'm here to help," Obito considered this his 'full circle'. "Your grandfather, I'm sure, loved you for you. He's never put you in actual danger he wasn't prepared to put himself in, he knew you needed someone and took you in."
The 'love of a parent', it'd been something he'd never been capable of trying to translate. Not before this life.
Not as a boy, a teen, a man, and then even as a boy again… But that changed.
When a father's own feelings about him, his mother, and who they could be to him pushed a powerful man to find them in the gutters, an act Obito knew had taken him years? Obito GOT it.
He'd finally understood 'love' by then but years later he'd attain the other kind.
"Family isn't something simple, there are things you'd never do for those you don't consider family," the moist feeling on his collar was accepted in full. "That part, Youko, was real."
The rabbit let the woman's trembles, sobs, and tears release without so much as a worried thought.
Youko needed this.
Ten minutes later, she sniffled before pulling something out of her pocket.
She got up and turned away from him before walking to his desk, wiping her face, blowing her nose, and depositing the results in his trash.
Obito was amused as Youko took in one last long sniffle before her shoulders dropped.
She walked back over before plopping down besid-In his lap, that was-Oh, her hands were warm-
The woman pressed her lips to his as his hands pressed into her soft back before Youko jumped, their kiss interrupted as she blushed powerfully at the feeling below her.
I-It hit right in the 'spot'!
She covered her mouth as Obito smiled unsurely.
"I believe there's something you're not telling me," he said without accusation, eyebrow raised at the vermillion-faced woman. "Youko… I guess I should have taken Jerome's words for the hints within, you like me, it's confusing to think about but that's the truth, isn't it?"
The Mitsukado Overseer's hands came down before fidgeting against her chest. "..." She pouted without a bit of a mumble. "Y-Yes."
"... I see," idiot, why'd you ask?!
You didn't even have a PLAN for this!
"Mmm," Youko looked a bit worried, distraught even, as he didn't answer properly. "... It's been a while since I've liked you," she continued on unsurely. "L-Likely, well, around the early portions of us knowing each other."
Obito considered her for a moment before taking a deep breath. 'I'm going to make my life so damn confusing, aren't I?' He wanted to groan but Youko didn't deserve that, especially not right now. "... I'm not used to this, as in, at all. Women liking me is such a confusing concept if you'd believe it."
"I barely do? Y-You're incredibly handsome, have a body beyond compare, and you have status & wealth now!"
He rubbed the back of his head. "I do grasp that I have all of those things… Surprisingly in the first case," Obito admitted. "But I'm still just not used to it. That said, what you seek depends on those two, I don't know my way around this situation, Youko, I'm not sure what the 'rules' are. One, I'm not someone who just goes around marrying women," he said flatly as Youko's cheeks burned once more. "Two, harems aren't something I've ever been familiar with."
"I'll make them understand!" She told him before growing unsure. "O-Onto… Onto the other matter, what do I do?"
Obito cupped his chin and mindlessly tapped his finger on her back before raising a brow at Youko's fidgeting.
"Ah, sorry," he told her, simply resting his hand on her lower back. "I'm trying to think of something," Obito said with a sheepish smirk.
Youko's breathing intensified and Obito realized she might not be willing to let him think.
When he felt cool hands around his face, yep, he wasn't going to.
Their lips met and Youko moaned at the feeling of something thick pressing against her rear sending another jolt up her spine.
The man allowed the woman to push him back, Youko sucking on his lower lip before Obito gently pushed her body more against his. The feeling of her soft body was enticing, her feel even a level softer than Ui's which might not have been surprising.
Ui had been training more, she would likely be getting more toned than their first romp.
So, Obito massaged her lower back with one hand, allowing the same-aged brunette to have the advantage.
Even if she seemed like she couldn't think well enough to use it.
Obito groaned as she wrapped her arms around his neck and tried things.
Licking which he fought back by coating her tongue with his, sucking which he gave only a little leeway before reciprocating more than she could, and then just kissing which he gave her full control.
It was a little 'game' where Youko grew 'warmer' until they parted with gasping breaths and flushed skin.
A fact that, upon dawning on him, made Obito realize he was an idiot as he saw the woman's completely coaxed lust.
Fuck.
~NRK~
Prepare for a PAIR of Lemons in the next chapter, you have been warned.
~NRK Out~
