#now i imagine some version where obito returns to konoha

[hellcifrogs]

only bc i can’t take anymore angst i would like to think that while kenshi and kakashi went thru similar trauma and found different coping mechanisms that they would get along solely out of respect for their teammates 🥺

They would 😖 I imagined them having more of a "stubborn rivalry" like, they'll work together and save each other's butts when needed, but they'll be complaining all the time...

From the outside it would look like how Naruto and Sasuke were at the very start, but they've been at it for years and that's just how their dynamic works. They don't hate hate each other, but they go *squints* who invited that guy... when they meet 🤣

[ladykissingfish]

Under the Mistletoe with the Akatsuki // Part Seven // “Tobi”

Tobi

Expendable. This is the word that Obito Uchiha hears most frequently from his “savior” and Master, Madara: Expendable. “Everyone in that group is expendable, Obito. Pawns. A means to an end. Getting attached is pointless; they are not your family; I am.” And maybe he’s right, but ... it’s already too late for Obito. He IS attached to this group; they’ve become the family that he’s never had. They weren’t Expendable by any stretch of the imagination, and Obito lives just to be around them ... even when he’s forced to act like the simpleton that Tobi is. Still, there are times when the Uchiha can have a lot of fun with these people — and this Mistletoe game is definitely one of them.

Itachi

Itachi is a difficult one for Obito to read , and even harder to understand. On one level, he’s positive that Itachi knows (or at the very least suspects) that “Tobi” isn’t who he portrays himself to be. But on the other hand, two things that Obito can read for sure are that Itachi is sick, and his depression is so immense that it crushes out almost all other thoughts. Itachi is the sole reason Obito keeps presenting himself as the idiotic Tobi, because to reveal himself would mean death, swift and sweet. He’s not even sure that Madara would have the power to stand up to Itachi. Nevertheless, the time and place for such thoughts isn’t standing under the mistletoe. “Heya, Itachi-san! Ya ready to kiss Tobi now?��� Itachi merely nods, but makes no move to approach Tobi. So Tobi walks up to him instead, moves the mask just slightly off his lips, and kisses his cheek. “There ya go!” Itachi goes, and Obito breathes out a sigh of relief. Still, though, he can’t help but feel a little sad, at what he feels to be the impending demise of his fellow clansmen.

Sasori

Sasori has mixed feelings about Tobi. On the one had he feels that he’s just a simplistic moron who doesn’t really warrant a second thought. But on the other hand — Tobi seems really, really attached to his Senpai, and Sasori’s partner, Deidara. Attached in a way that seems, at times, in a way that’s more than purely friendly. Almost like he — but wait, why does Sasori even care what Tobi may or may not feel for the young blonde? It’s not as though Sasori has (or desires) any kind of claim on Deidara, right? The fact that Tobi is standing in front of him right now and Sasori wants nothing more than to murder him and toss his body to the wolves has absolutely nothing to do with Deidara, right? The fact that Pein keeps Sasori back at the hideout more and more to help with strategizing, and sends Tobi out with Deidara in Sasori’s place ... it was all for the best, right? “Oh boy! Tobi gets to kiss Sasori-san!” Sasori grimaces, as he always does, at the grating voice coming from behind the mask. Instead of waiting for Tobi to kiss him, Sasori takes the initiative by leaning up and quickly kissing his cheek. He walks away feeling inexplicably angry ... and it’s not until much later that night, as he’s sitting at his desk working on a puppet while everyone else sleeps ... that he realizes that when he kissed Tobi, he smelled the shampoo that Deidara used. He continues working but doesn’t get much accomplished, as he spends half the night pondering why the idea of Tobi being around Deidara makes him feel so unsettled.

Kisame

Ugh; this kid. Or was Tobi older than that? Kisame honestly had no idea how old Tobi actually was; he doubted that any of them did. Granted he acted like a tall 10 year old — but surely that’s just an act. He’d have to remember to ask Deidara later — did Tobi have any special combat skills? Did he know any useful jutsus? What was his fighting style like? So many unknowns, so many things to wonder about. And throughout it all, wafting from Tobi and straight into Kisame’s nostrils, that unmistakable scent of a predator. But in the wild, the only way to show superiority to a predator was to show that you weren’t afraid. Kisame walks confidently up to him, and flashes him a wide smile that showcases all of his razor-sharp teeth. “You ready, kid?” Tobi nods, and to Kisame’s credit, Tobi actually DOES seem intimidated by the death-trap mouth. That, and the fact that samehada, who is currently strapped to Kisame’s side, has his head up and staring directly at the man in the mask. Kisame steps forward and kisses Tobi’s forehead, then quickly walks away again, before his own fear can leak through his brave facade.

Zetsu

Zetsu flat-out declines to kiss Tobi. Partially because he knows exactly who he really is, and the two have been “friends” for so long that a kiss would just be strange. The other reason is because he hasn’t eaten in two days, having just returned from a long-term mission about an hour ago. He’s so hungry that anything and everything looks delicious, and if he were to try and kiss “Tobi” right then — there’s no doubt that he would have eaten him. And Madara would surely skin him alive for that. So he simply nods at Tobi, and nobody questions why the two don’t exchange a kiss.

Pein

Mysterious and concealed. That’s how Pein (or rather Nagato) would describe “Tobi”; mysterious and concealed. Being around Tobi gives him a strange feeling deep in his sunken chest, that maybe, just maybe, Nagato isn’t the one running this show. That Tobi is actually someone he needs to watch out for. Still, though, it is unfitting to show one’s misgivings to one’s (possible) enemy. As far as Tobi knows, Pein just thinks of him like one of his “children”. Pein approaches him and kisses the cheek of his mask, not giving Tobi time to remove it. “Thank you, Leader-sama!” Pein nods and walks away, wondering whether he just imagined a hint of condensation in Tobi’s voice upon calling Pein “Leader”.

Konan

When Obito was growing up, like many of the kids in Konoha, he didnt’ have a household with a mother and father in it. He was raised by his grandmother who, although loving and kind, didn’t really provide Obito with the kind of matronly emotional support that he needed. When he came to the Akatsuki, Konan more or less filled that role for him. As she did with everyone else, she cooked for him, she washed his clothes, she cleaned up after him. She scolded him when she felt he did something reckless and foolish, and, most importantly, she cared about him. To have someone care about you in a reality where you sometimes don’t even care about yourself is an amazing feeling. Konan approaches him with a shy smile on her face, her tiny dimples showcasing the young girl she had once been. Aside from Rin, Konan is probably the warmest person Obito has ever met. He moves his mask, thinks about it, and gives Konan a gentle kiss on the tip of her chin, then another on her forehead. Then he pulls her into his arms, embracing her warmly. “Thank you, Konan,” he says, in a low, almost-Obito-like voice. “For what?” “For being Tobi’s friend.” Konan blushes and smiles; as she leaves she tells Tobi that when he’s done with his turn, to come and get some of the pie she’s made, to which Tobi happily agrees.

Hidan

Hidan is blushing pretty damn hard as he walks up to Tobi; after what happened when it was Hidan’s turn under the mistletoe, it’s understandable why. “Listen, you orange fuck — don’t pull any of that shit you did last time, alright?” Tobi tilts his head and studies him as if confused. “What do you mean, Hidan-san? Didn’t you like kissing Tobi?”, he asks, and then, his voice dropping into a somewhat playful whisper, “Tobi sure liked kissing YOU.” Hidan blushes even harder, and mutters a “Just do it already, weirdo.” Tobi removes his mask enough so that Hidan can see the flash of his teeth, smiling before tilting Hidan backwards ((and Hidan is surprised at how strong Tobi is)) and giving him a soft kiss on the lips. As it was last time, Hidan is visibly flustered. Tobi smiles even wider; in truth, Hidan is one of the few in the Akatsuki that Obito likes the least. He finds him to be emotion-driven and overly violent, and these things don’t make for a very good teammate. Still; there’s no denying that to be able to shut Hidan up, even for a few moments like now, is indescribably satisfying. Hidan is still standing there in a daze as Tobi slides his mask back into place, and Tobi can’t keep the glee out of his voice as he asks, “Aww Hidan-san; do you wanna marry Tobi now?” This snaps Hidan out of it, and his loud cursing and stomping off can be heard throughout the entire house.

Kakuzu

“Isn’t this ridiculous game over yet??” “No, Kakuzu-san! Don’t be shy; come get a kissy from Tobi!” Kakuzu just rolls his eyes; he’s never really been sure what to think of Tobi. He’s been on zero missions with him so he had absolutely no knowledge of his battle prowess or combat skills (but judging by the way Deidara complains about him, they can’t be all that good). Also, there’s the thing with him covering his face with that mask. Kakuzu isn’t really one to judge that; HE wears a mask as well. But with Tobi it’s not just a mask; it’s the long black clothing underneath the long Akatsuki robe. It’s the thick gloves. It’s the way not a single piece of skin save his toes ever sees the light of day. What’s he hiding? Kakuzu strongly suspects that Tobi might be one of the more elite ninjas listed in the Bingo Book, and if that’s the case, all Kakuzu has to do is wait for the right time to catch him off guard, capture him, and collect a (hopefully substantial) bounty for him. He approaches him and lets Tobi press his mask against Kakuzu’s mask in their version of a kiss. He resolves to study the Bingo Book in-depth tonight before bed; surely Tobi’s identify must be in there somewhere.

Deidara

The look on Deidara’s face is as he approaches Tobi is indecipherable, even to the one who has the sharingan. Fear, anxiety, excitement — and something else Obito just can’t read. And as for Obito himself — what exactly IS it that he feels for Deidara?? He’s nothing more than a pawn, right? A means to an end, as Madara would say. But ... there have been times. Times away from the various hideouts, out in the middle of nowhere with nothing but their packs and their thoughts, that Deidara has shown himself to be remarkably different from the Deidara that the others (except, likely, Sasori) sees. A quiet young man. A deep thinker. Sensitive and kind. And — “Oi, Tobi; can I ask you something?” “Yes, Senpai?” “When — when I was under the mistletoe ... did me and you kiss? Or did I really faint like you said?” A beat of quiet, and then, “Senpai always says that the past doesn’t matter, so why should it matter if we kissed or not?” Deidara chuckles and shakes his head. “You always choose to remember the most random things I tell you, hm. Damn you — I can never tell what goes on in your brain, Tobi.” “You wanna know what Tobi’s thinking right now? Tobi thinks that Senpai — Senpai is one of the most beautiful creatures Tobi has ever seen.” Deidara blushes fiercely at this, and tries to cover up his embarrassment by saying, gruffly , “Let’s just get this over with, Tobi, hm.” So Obito obliges him. He moves his mask to expose his mouth, sweeps Deidara’s long hair back, tilts him, cups his chin with his thumb and forefinger, and gently leans into him with his lips. Deidara resists at first, hesitant, but eventually he finds his arms circling Tobi’s broad shoulders, holding him tightly. He HAS to hold on because he’s terribly dizzy; he’s not quite sure what’s happening to him, but Deidara feels as though he’s falling down a very deep hole inside of his mind, and Tobi is the only thing keeping him anchored to reality. The kiss finally ends when (and only because) Sasori suddenly comes out of his room, yelling “Brat! I’ve been calling for you for ten minutes; you know I don’t like to be kept waiting!” Deidara steps away from Tobi, and he’s stumbling as though he’s a bit disorientated. “G-Goodnight, hm.” “G’nite Senpai! Sweet dreams!” Obito watches Deidara walk away, just barely conscious of the strange glance Sasori pitches in his direction when Deidara reaches his room.

[kusunogatari]

[ Portal Peril || Chapter Two ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Namikaze Minato, Hatake Kakashi, Nohara Rin ] [ Verse: White Hands of Healing ] [ Previous || Next ]

The walk back to Konoha is mostly silent, Ryū keeping her mind busy with small, distracting thoughts while Obito gives her worried, curiosity-tinged glances. All things considered, he’s extremely confused. Never did he imagine that Kamui was a plane he shared with anyone, let alone another...version of himself. The implications of another timeline - a world so like his own, and yet different - are ones he’s never considered before.

“Will we...be able to see Minato-sama right away?”

Her question snaps him back to the present. “Hopefully. He’s a busy man as the Yondaime, but he always makes time for his old team.”

Ryū gives a thoughtful hum, still staring at the path they’re walking. Even now, he can still see the somber worry on her face.

“...hey. It’ll be okay. We’ll get you back where you belong, and everything’ll be fine. There’s not a problem sensei can’t solve!” He flashes her another grin, trying to reassure her.

But though Ryū looks up, she can’t manage a smile of her own, just letting her eyes fall back to the road.

Obito’s lips purse thoughtfully. “You, uh...you seem awfully worried about m- about, uh...Obito. Is he...a friend of yours?”

“...he’s my whole world,” Ryū admits softly, which makes Obito jolt a bit in surprise at her blunt honesty. “We...met at a crossroads of our lives. We changed each other, for better and for worse. I’m not sure there’s any separating us now. There’s been...too much between us.”

That gets him to soften a bit in understanding. “...no wonder you were so upset. Sounds like you...you really love him.”

“...with all I am.”

Not used to tackling such a topic so openly, Obito clears his throat a bit awkwardly, a hand at his neck. “...well, we’ll just have to work double time to get you back! Both Kakashi and I can use Kamui, since we share Sharingan. Depending on what sensei says, we can both work on getting you back home, Ryū-san.”

In spite of herself, she then gives just a hint of a smile, glancing back up to him. “...thank you. I’m...sorry if I startled you before. And I didn’t mean to snap, I just…”

“No apology needed, ma’am. You’re upset, and I can see why. I’d probably be just as confused and freaked out if I hopped out of a portal into another world!”

A soft laugh escapes her at the title and his exuberance. He’s definitely...different, this Obito. It brings about a curiosity about who Obito was when he was younger. If he’d not faced all the hardships brought upon him by Madara...would he still be like this? So...excitable, and full of smiles? In a way...it makes her sad. She loves her Obito just as he is, but...to see him in what seems to be a far better frame of mind, part of her heart can’t help but ache.

...of course, she doesn’t know what else may have gone wrong for him in this world. So she won’t make any assumptions. But it almost feels eye-opening, meeting this version of the one she loves so much.

By then, they finally reach the village gate. Ryū then pauses. She has her travel papers, but...well, she’s not sure they’re exactly valid in this world. How does one explain that they are from Konoha, just...not this Konoha?

Thankfully, Obito takes the lead, spinning a tale of a young woman needing to speak to the Hokage. The chūnin at the gate look a little confused, but...agree to allow it, given he’s the Hokage’s student.

“C’mon, we’ll head straight to the administrative building. He can fetch Rin and Kakashi, and we’ll figure all this out.” Strangely, he seems to gain a bit of a serious edge, face set determinedly as they cut through crowds toward the Hokage’s office.

Glancing to him curiously, Ryū just follows.

As luck would have it, someone’s in ahead of them, and the pair have to wait outside the office. Arms folded, Obito ticks an impatient finger against his arm, scowling just a bit at the door. Still a bit overwhelmed, Ryū just stands quietly, trying to figure out what to say. How to...explain.

Once a genin squad and their sensei take their leave, Obito wastes no time in making his way in. “Hokage-sama!”

Behind the desk, Minato gives a soft huff, clearly amused. “Obito,” he greets, arms folded loosely atop the lip of his desk. “What can I do for you?”

At that, Obito glances back, gesturing for Ryū to step forward. Doing so, she can’t help but wring her hands a bit nervously.

“Oh…? Who’s this?”

“S...Suigin Ryū, Hokage-sama,” she replies, suddenly nervous. She never had the chance to meet Minato in her own timeline. “I’m...well…”

“Look, uh,” Obito cuts in, moving the blond’s gaze back to him. “We had a bit of a, um...accident…?”

A blond brow perks. “...meaning?”

“She’s not...from here.”

“Well, we see travelers all the time, Obito.”

“No, I mean…” He gestures widely. “Here. This...world.”

That gets blues to go wide. “...I beg your pardon?”

It’s then he does his best to string together their theory. “So, you know my Sharingan dimension - the one Kakashi and I call Kamui.”

“...yes.”

“Well...I was going to head into it today, and...she just sorta...fell out.”

In spite of himself, Minato gives a small, choked laugh. “...she fell out of Kamui? Just…?”

“Yeah! Startled the hell out of me, but...well, she says she’s from some sort of...alternate timeline. There’s another Obito, and everything! Seems he was putting her into his own Kamui on his side...and she fell out on this side. What we’re thinking is that we happened to open a portal in the same place at the same time. And...what we’re afraid of is that it might be really difficult to make it happen again, so we can send her home. I thought...I’d ask you for help, given your expertise with space-time ninjutsu. Maybe you’d have some ideas to make this work?”

As Obito goes on, Minato’s expression grows more and more serious, fingers steepling and leaning his chin thoughtfully against them. “...I see...space-time is a tricky facet of ninjutsu to begin with...and yours is completely unique, given its ties to the Sharingan. I’ve not studied it much, so I’m not too familiar with its more intricate details. But I agree...it sounds like this was indeed quite the sequence of events to create the perfect ‘hole’ between this world, and the other. To recreate it will surely take a great deal of minute intricacies. The same angle, position, time...in order to perfectly align the two planes, and allow passage from one to another.”

At his rather grim analysis, Ryū can’t help but wilt, expression falling as tears threaten to build. “...I see…”

Minato watches her for a moment, seeming to think. “...for now, Obito and I will return to the area where the ninjutsu took place. See if we can figure out the best approach for making this work in reverse. In the interim, miss, perhaps it’s best you stay here.”

“Here…?”

“It will take concentration to start mapping out portal placements. Thus it will likely be easier to do with fewer...distractions. But as soon as we find something, you’ll of course be fetched. And...it’s likely best we keep this to just a few trusted people. Crossing planes and timelines may have unpredictable effects.”

“O-of course.”

“I’ll have Rin and Kakashi fetched to keep an eye on you. I trust them best, as does Obito. If you need anything, just let them know. Hopefully we’ll find a way back sooner than later, and you’ll be on your way.”

Lacking any more words for the moment, Ryū just gives a somber nod, watching as Minato sends a hawk after his other two students. For the moment, she remains in the office, perched tensely on a chair. Kakashi she knows fairly well from her own time...but there’s a knot in her stomach at the prospect of meeting Rin. Someone who meant - means - so much to Obito. Who she herself has a fair number of parallels with. Meeting someone so revered by her loved one, so similar to herself...it’s a little daunting.

After a few minutes of silence, there’s a knock before the door opens. Jolting slightly, Ryū looks up to see none other than the rest of team Minato. Kakashi enters first, and to her surprise, looks...just about the same. Maybe a slight bit less somber in his chakra signature, but...well, three of the people he lost (or thought lost) in her timeline are alive and well. And like his counterpart, he still has a Sharingan as evident by his tilted hitai-ate. Just like this Obito’s.

And right behind him...is Rin.

Ryū has only really seen one photograph of Rin: a copy of the team picture Kakashi still has of himself, her, Obito, and Minato the day their team was registered. That was back when she was about...twelve or thirteen. And now, she’s in her thirties.

Unlike her younger self, her hair is much longer and tied toward the bottom, the same violet clan markings upon her cheeks. A flak jacket sits over a long, loose-sleeved shirt, red fingerless gloves disappearing up past her elbows. The same red is in stockings that reach up beneath the dark skirt falling just above her knees. And as she spots their guest, amber eyes alight with curiosity.

In spite of herself, Ryū stiffens just a hair, a light flush on her face. She’s...really pretty...

“Yo,” Kakashi greets first, lifting a hand.

“H...hello,” Ryū stutters, still taking things in. “I’m...Suigin Ryū. I guess...I’m not sure how much Minato-sama was able to tell you in the note…?”

“He mentioned you were some kind of...interdimensional traveler?” Rin offers, a thoughtful finger at her chin. “And that this was to be kept an S-rank secret for now, given the implications it might have on our timeline.”

“Yes, um...I guess I’m supposed to just...wait out while he and Obito-san look over where I crossed,” Ryū adds. It feels...odd to say his name so formally.

But...this isn’t her Obito.

“He also mentioned you know another Obito - that it’s how you came through Kamui,” Kakashi muses.

At that, Ryū wilts just a hair. “Yes, I...I do.”

“Just for curiosity’s sake - and so we’re all on the same page - mind recounting how that happened?”

As best she can, Ryū tells again of her mission, the bandits, Obito sending her into Kamui, and...the other Obito making her fall right back out.

“How strange,” Rin murmurs. “To think that that dimension is somehow connected to another timeline…”

“It makes a bit of sense, all things considered,” Kakashi offers, arms loosely crossed. “After all, it’s a dimension accessed purely through space-time ninjutsu. That’s how planes are connected.”

“Well, yes...but the odds of this happening are...astronomical! Trying to recreate it, it’s…” Rin fades to silence, catching Ryū’s somber expression. “...well, between you, Obito, and Minato-sensei, I’m sure we’ll figure it out! I feel bad I can’t contribute much...I’m just a combat medic. Unless you need me heal the wormhole, I’m not much use.”

“Me neither,” Ryū murmurs. “I don’t even have combat going for me, really...I can defend, but mostly I’m focused just in medical ninjutsu.”

That gets the Nohara to perk up. “Oh? Are you one of Tsunade-sama’s students?”

“Well...no, not exactly. I’m from a clan of healers. I learned mostly in the village hospital, and then my sage arts through my clan’s teacher, Suigin.”

At that, amber eyes go round. “You...you have sage training?”

Ryū’s cheeks go sheepishly pink. “...yes…”

“That’s amazing! I wish I could do that…”

For a moment, Ryū almost tells her it might be possible, and then...hesitates. Because the thought leads to a whole string of other thoughts. Other...dangerous thoughts.

...there’s so much that’s different about this timeline. Obito doesn’t know her...and neither do Kakashi or Rin. If...if her dimensional double were in Konoha, surely at least Rin would have crossed paths with her, right? Is she...not here? Is she dead?

...or...is she home, with an intact village?

As Ryū seemingly freezes up, the other pair glance to each other questioningly. “...uh...Suigin-san…?”

Rin’s voice breaks the train of thought, and Ryū looks up blankly for a moment. “...sorry, I...I got lost there for a second. I’m all right.”

“Well...seems like there’s at least some parallels between this timeline and your own,” she then muses. “Are there any...notable differences?”

“I’m not sure we should get too deep into that,” Kakashi advises. “Knowing things about a line separate from our own might have...unintended effects.”

“Yeah, guess you’re right,” Rin sighs in reply, looking a bit disappointed. “But still...I’m super curious since she knows Obito! Is he still as big of a goof in your world?”

Blinking, Ryū thinks for a moment. He...has his moments, but it’s clear this Obito is far more light-hearted than hers. Which...makes sense. “...he...is on occasion,” she replies a bit vaguely. “Obito in my world, he...he’s been through a lot. He lost much more, suffered much more, in my world than this one. Or so it would appear, given what I know.”

That makes his team go a bit still. “...man...it’s a bit hard to picture that,” the other medic murmurs. “He’s such a bright, determined guy.”

“He’s still driven. Or...well, sort of.” Much of that drive - that which pushed him through so much adversity and to the near-end of his plans - was lost when he gave that up. What’s left seems to be largely focused on attempting to make amends.

And, well...her.

But that feels awfully awkward to admit...and would lead to a lot more questions she’s not sure she’d want to answer. It’s clear that this Obito is still loyal to Konoha. And while Ryū has her doubts about the village - especially after her stint in Root’s captivity - she overall doesn’t want anything to happen to it. Letting these two know of her Obito’s actions feels like it would somehow...taint the image of the Obito here.

“Hm...so, are you two...y’know…?” Rin gives a grin.

“W...what?”

“Oh, come on...I see the way your face changes when you talk about him,” she retorts, arms folding and giving a sly look. “You love that Obito, don’t you?”

Well...she already confessed as much to this Obito...surely there’s no harm, right? “I...y-yes.” Of course, doing so here feels more...awkward. After all, Obito is rather smitten with Rin...right? “...very much so.”

“Aww...well, I’m glad he’s got you,” Rin offers, smiling more warmly now.

...that earns a pause. “...really?”

“Well sure!”

“But...I thought…?” Ryū’s brows wilt, confused. “Aren’t...aren’t you…?”

Blinking, Rin thinks for a moment before laughing. “Oh, me? And Obito?” A hand waves. “Gosh, no...I mean, yeah, there was some uh...crossed wires when we were younger. And I think maybe he’s still a bit...hung up. But no, we’re not together.”

Next to her, Kakashi gives a subtle shift. Ryū, ever watchful, catches it...and puts two and two together.

“So...you and Kakashi…?”

As the tables turn, it’s Rin’s chance to go pink. “...well, yeah. It uh...took a while. He’s rather stubborn. Mostly we try to keep it more...private. A shinobi’s life can be rather...difficult. Relationships aren’t always easy.”

“Call it us not wanting to jinx it,” Kakashi offers in addendum

“...yeah. Being open about that sort of thing tends to attract...tragedy,” Rin murmurs.

“...I see.” Ryū’s head bows a bit. So...this Obito is alone…?

“Well, if that Obito found himself some romance, I bet ours will someday too,” Rin quips. “It’s not like he’s old and past his prime!”

Still rather awkward, Ryū gives a half smile. “True…” Well now she feels bad after all she told this Obito...hopefully it didn’t in any way hurt his feelings…

“Well, anyway...is there anything you need? Or...want? I guess while you wait there’s not too much more for you to do,” Rin muses, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. “It’s not that fun just sitting here in sensei’s office, either.”

“Well, I...I don’t want to be a bother -”

“Oh nonsense,” Rin cuts in, waving aside her concern. “Besides, if you just sit in here, that means we have to just sit in here!”

Oh, well...she has a point.

“Maybe we’ll just...relocate a bit. Sensei can send another hawk if he needs us, but...something tells me he’ll be out there for a while with Obito. You hungry, maybe? Or we could get some tea.”

“...tea would be nice,” Ryū then finally admits. Maybe a nice hot drink will help her settle her lingering nerves about all of this.

“Perfect! Maybe we can chat a bit more about you - that should be safe territory, right? I mean...neither of us know you. I’ve never even heard of the Suigin clan...at least, not that I can recall.”

“Um...all right. I’m not sure there’s that much to really...know.”

“Well, we’ve got to pass the time somehow. C’mon, I know a nice little place will all sorts of tea blends! Coming, Kakashi?”

“Guess I might as well,” he sighs. “I almost wonder if I’d be more help going with Obito and sensei, given my Sharingan.”

“Hm...maybe. Well, we’ll see if he sends for you. Until then, you can drink tea with us,” Rin offers with a grin.

“Hai, hai…”

Quiet as the pair banter, Ryū just follows, mind full all over again. So Rin wants to know more about her…? And no one seems to know of her clan. Not surprising, given their reclusiveness. But it brings up the question of Kusunokizan’s fate all over again. Does she even want to know…? If the village is still whole...then…

Her head shakes. No...she won’t give into the temptation. It would just make reality all the more depressing. And though nothing could sway her from returning to her home timeline...that would be the hardest hurdle to overcome.

Best not to even consider it.

“Hah...hah…” Heaving for breath, Obito braces hands on his knees. For nearly twelve hours straight, he’s been attempting to create some kind of opening in Kamui. Standing in the same place he last saw Ryū, he’s been carefully combing over the spot he knows he sent her through, opening portal after portal after portal.

And so far...to no avail.

His body shakes with fatigue, chakra running on empty. He hasn’t even taken a break to clean himself up, still peppered with dirt from his fight...and long-dried blood. His shinobi gear - rather than his typical mantle - is stained and partially torn.

But he can’t spare a moment. Who knows what might be happening on the other side, if Kakashi’s theory is correct? What if another Obito is trying to open the bridge between their realities? He can’t miss it! He can’t...he…

For a moment, it overwhelms him. Atop his fatigue, it brings him to his knees, head bowed as he caves in to his exhaustion. The entire situation has him so stressed, so worried, so manic, he can hardly stand it. The one reason he clawed and fought to live past the fourth war...is beyond his reach. The thing that’s been grounding him, that let him live through Konoha’s treatment of him after he woke...being here without her...it’s so indescribably lonely.

“...I’m trying, Ryū,” he murmurs, voice cracking. “Please don’t give up...don’t give up on me…”

For a moment, the thought surges new determination through him, and he attempts to stand...only to crash back to the ground with a groan. It’s been a hell of a long time since he’s pushed himself this hard...and his body just can’t keep up with his will.

“...urgh, damn it!” A fist slams against the leaf-littered floor, teeth gritting in a spike of temper. Kakashi only gave him a few more days until he has to report back to Konoha...he can’t afford to waste any more time…!

“Obito…”

Stilling, he looks up, heart pounding. That...that was…!

“Don’t push yourself so hard, koi...you have to rest…”

Constitution already weakened with fatigue, Obito can’t help a few stinging tears as he hears what she’d surely say. Her stern yet gentle chiding to take care of himself. A lump forms in his throat, swallowed down harshly.

“...I know...I just…” A heavy breath escapes him. “...you’re right. You’re always right…”

Shifting his stance to kneel, Obito stares at this place, now eroded from his pacing. One last thing...he has one last idea. Something tells him it’s fruitless, but…

With his last surge of chakra, he takes himself into Kamui. It’s still dark, silent...and depressingly empty. Reaching into his leg pouch, he draws a scroll, tearing off a piece and withdrawing a dull pencil.

Whoever finds this note...keep trying to open a portal here. I’m working on the other side. Please don’t give up. I have to have her back.

Maybe a little desperate, but...logic tells him the otherworlders won’t find it. Kamui, something tells him, isn’t the shared plane...but rather where they align. They can’t get into his, nor he into theirs, unless they create the same portal at the same moment.

Still...just in case, he lays the parchment nearby. Too tired to warp back out, he instead curls up on a stone nearby, body bound tightly. He misses her warmth, her softness...he misses her.

Ryū...I’m coming...don’t give up...

     Another chapter! Technically I've had this one (and the next one I'll post in a jiffy) done for a while now, just...haven't had time to proofread and post. Life is SUPER busy for me lately, so updates are gonna be sporadic (not that there's much order here to begin with, lol), so if things are few and far between for a while...that's why!      Anywho, we get to see Minato, Kakashi and Rin! Ryū's meeting all the canonly dead people today, haha - and there will be more! But yes, trying to make sure the other timeline doesn't end up tainted by her appearance is going to be difficult...and now she's got her own temptations to deal with. Poor Obito is really putting in the work to try to get her back - hopefully it'll pay off soon...!      With that though, time to go upload the next chapter! Then...who knows when I'll be back xD But thanks for reading!