Chapter Text
“They’re not ANBU,” Obito gritted out. Sakura still clung to his flak, smothering her sobs against his chest, his arms curled around her back. Kakashi met his eyes in an even glare, and Obito refused to back down. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
Whatever it was that Kakashi’s genjutsu showed her, it must be that bad. She had been crying for the past five minutes with no signs of stopping. Logically, it’s good she’s learning how to shake off a genjutsu, but starting her training off with a Sharingan induced illusion that lasted for two hours was pushing it too far.
“She has perfect chakra control. Learning how to dispel a genjutsu before learning how to create them is a good place to start.”
Out in the distance, Obito could see Sasuke and Naruto slowing down from their sprint. Obito threw them a withering glance, and they resumed their laps. Then he turned back to Kakashi with a migraine pounding between his brows. “Sure! But I guess emotional trauma’s necessary too.”
“What? You think that an enemy would be nice enough to show her a field of flowers?” Kakashi’s lone eye lingered on Sakura, there was a flash of emotion that was too quick for Obito to decipher.
“Doesn’t mean you have to treat her like an enemy!”
Kakashi scoffed, “you want me to coddle her.”
“Coddle – do you even hear yourself?” Obito flinched when Sakura let out a distressed wail, and he had a brief moment of panic before shushing and brushing his hands through her hair. “They’re just kids!”
“We’ve been through worse at their age.”
Kakashi was right and wrong at the same time. He did have a point when it came to Sakura’s ability to genjutsu, but the sight of her in tears tore something raw and painful in Obito’s chest.
“Doesn’t mean you have to put them through the same thing!”
“So you’d rather they go out there unprepared?”
Sasuke and Naruto lagged again when they noticed that Sakura’s distress kept increasing. Obito shot them another stern look, and he winced when they looked apologetic as they resumed their training.
Sakura shook in Obito’s arms, and he wished that Kakashi would just drop the fucking subject and let the weeping genin in his arms calm down on her own. But Kakashi refused to back down, and Obito didn’t want this conversation to end with Kakashi thinking that his tortuous training method was right.
This conversation went off the rails all because Kakashi saw him pull Sakura into a hug to comfort her.
Kakashi and Obito reared back at the same time, low growls rumbling in their chests when–
“Please stop,” Sakura whimpered, barely audible. “Did I do something wrong?”
As one, all the fight left Obito and Kakashi. Suddenly, Obito couldn’t meet Kakashi’s eyes, his heart still beat too fast and exhaustion replaced the anger. That seemed to calm Sakura down, and her sobs slowly subsided as the silence stretched on.
“... you did good, Sakura,” Kakashi admitted, his voice gentle. It’s a tone Obito rarely heard, and he found himself holding his breath. “Not many can dispel a genjutsu made with the Sharingan.”
She pulled away from Obito, and a twinge of guilt stabbed through his chest. She sniffled as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
“Can we do more genjutsu exercises?”
Both adults made the same choked sound, and Kakashi looked as lost as Obito felt.
“We can stop for now.” Before Sakura could protest, Kakashi continued. “I used up more chakra than I intended to.”
Alarm bells rang in Obito’s head. There really were dark circles under Kakashi’s eyes. He definitely looked thinner compared to last week, and Obito did notice when his old teammate swayed on his feet when they arrived in the training grounds earlier. Was Kakashi hiding that he was barely taking care of himself again? How the hell did he even do that?
The annoyance could wait, because they just got Sakura to calm down and restarting their… conversation might make her cry again. Any kid would be stressed out if the adults in their lives raised their voices.
Honestly, their conversation should have been in private but Obito just saw red. His first instinct was to comfort her, and Kakashi got pissy when he tried to make her stop crying.
And now here they were.
“... is Sakura-chan okay?” Naruto approached them like they’d bite him.
Which meant that Naruto was afraid and Obito couldn’t help but feel disappointment with himself. Their genin were supposed to trust them, but they looked more afraid and didn’t feel safe at all. Some jounin sensei he was.
“I’m fine,” she answered. Tears were still falling from her eyes, but she was no longer hyperventilating.
“Hn, here.” Sasuke held a canteen of water stiffly up to her. Usually, she’d squeal and fawn because her crush wasn’t just acknowledging her, but was giving her something he used.
She must have been a lot more distressed than Obito initially thought, because she grabbed the metal flask and started gulping.
“Slowly.” Kakashi approached, almost hesitantly.
Ugh, why did Bakashi have to look so miserable?
At least Sakura didn’t flinch when Kakashi rubbed small circles on her back so that she wouldn’t accidentally choke on water. That was something. Kakashi wasn’t entirely hopeless at all.
By the time she was done emptying Sasuke’s canteen, the tears had stopped and her breaths were finally calm.
The sun still stood high above them.
“Let’s take a break,” Obito declared with a too-cheerful tone. He ignored the blank stare from Kakashi’s lone eye. It was almost lunch time anyway, and the kids were probably starving. “We’re having onigiri and norimaki.”
They were calorie dense and very filling. Kakashi seasoned the fillings and cooked the rice, but it was Obito that molded them into shapes besides triangles and the norimaki’s filling looked like stars if cut. The kids looked like they appreciated the touch of homeliness, and nearly snatched the bento from Obito’s hands.
“Thank you for the meal,” Kakashi muttered as he took a proffered bento.
Then he pulled down his mask.
The kids didn’t find it strange because they haven’t known Kakashi long enough, and Obito had to hide his reaction because what the fuck. Kakashi hated it when people saw his face, but the man just pretended it was no big deal. Averting his eyes was automatic, and the glimpse Obito saw of his teammates face felt sacrilegious.
He had seen it before, but Obito was respectful enough not to let his gaze linger.
Was this some sort of apology for being an asshole to the kids? That seemed like a step in the right direction, and Obito was going to act that this was an absolutely normal thing that Bakashi does regularly.
Just… Why did the younger man have to be pretty? Obito really wanted to punch him in the face.
The urge was strong when they were genin, and it is just as strong now.
But that would be a bad example for the children, and both men had reluctantly agreed to the merits of at least working together with a teammate whose guts you hated.
Sakura still ate like a bird, but she did have more than what she usually consumed. That was good. She really needed to gain weight. If not for better muscle mass, but to make sure a single breeze doesn’t blow her away.
By the time they finished their meals, the kids looked cheerful enough and Kakashi’s mask was back in place. Naruto easily bounced back on his feet and pumped fists in the air.
“Are we gonna learn a new jutsu? Or will Obito-sensei teach me that cool move? What next? What next?” His mood was infectious, and the other two regained the bright spark in their eyes.
“Maa, chakra control exercises for you Naruto. Sasuke, it’s your turn with genjutsu resistance. Sakura, give me ten laps after thirty minutes.”
Both jounin shared a look. Kakashi looked like he understood that he wasn’t going to show Sasuke anything traumatic. Hopefully.
If Kakashi does, Obito would beat his ass, even if the kids end up watching him do it.
“How about you do the illusion?” Kakashi gestured at Obito, and he blinked.
“Sure,” he answered after a moment, then he glanced back at Naruto who looked like he wanted to protest his afternoon training. “If you’re successful with your tree walking exercise, I’ll treat you to one bowl of ramen.”
“Okay!” And off he went.
“You’re gonna spoil him,” Kakashi muttered.
“It’s called positive reinforcement, Kakashi-sensei.” Obito grinned at Kakashi, daring him to make another complaint.
The other man shook his head and stood next to Sakura. “I’ll run laps with you.”
She brightened even more. “Thank you, sensei!”
Sasuke nodded up at Obito, and he let the Sharingan spin to life on his only eye. His cousin was still a kid, and the genin probably didn’t even notice he flinched at the sight of their doujutsu.
The first thing Obito took note of was ‘nothing that would remind Sasuke of the massacre’, which was difficult because Sasuke was under Itachi’s genjutsu for a while. Nothing that showed the dark of the night or moonlight either, no dead family or teammates, and no running in endless halls.
As much as Obito hated admitting it, Kakashi was right about enemies not pulling their punches just because their students are children. Kami help them if they ever end up in Iwa or Kumo – those motherfuckers have grudges on what remains of Team Minato.
Maybe disarming an exploding tag? That seemed safe enough and practical. It was just the right amount of stress, but nothing too… difficult.
“You’ll need to disrupt your chakra flow. If you’re having difficulties, negative stimuli can help.”
Sasuke nodded, determined.
WIth a deep breath, Obito began to weave the illusion and let it settle over Sasuke. His eyes glazed over and he slumped forward, senses caught in the illusion.
At the corner of his limited periphery, Sakura and Kakashi then set off into a light jog. Well, light for Kakashi and somewhat strenuous for Sakura. On his other side was Naruto, already wrecking his third tree.
Now that Sasuke’s technically indisposed, it wouldn’t hurt to give their blonde sunshine of a student some pointers.
They had all day.
It was mental exhaustion rather than physical that knocked all three kids off their feet.
Taking their unconscious forms to their homes was unnaturally silent. Which was fine, because talking with Kakashi meant they were loud, and Obito would rather not deal with another noise complaint.
He did let his displeasure show, though.
Kakashi carried Sakura with one hand on her back and another tucked under her knees, while Obito slung Sasuke and Naruto over his shoulder.Because Kakashi ran laps with Sakura and Obito just did light work with the boys, he got to carry Sakura while Obito needed to pull these two deadweights.
The glares were definitely noticed, but Kakashi would just stare dead eyed as they ambled their way to the civilian quarter.
There were still some people out at this time of the night, and they gave Team 7 a wide berth as they beelined for the Haruno household. When they got there, they stood like a pair of idiots for a couple of minutes because neither had a hand free to knock.
You knock, said Obito’s face.
It’ll disturb Sakura, said Kakashi’s raised eyebrow and then his single eye glanced at one of Obito’s hands. Your hands have more free movement than mine.
Fine. But you owe me, was the silent reply.
Obito already maneuvered Naruto so that he could knock, and just as his knuckle was about to make contact, the front door swooped open to reveal Sakura’s parents.
They all stared at one another for what felt like an eternity, anger slowly radiating from Haruno Mebuki as her gaze landed on her daughter.
“This is ridiculous,” she complained and held her hands up expectantly. Obito was about to agree with the woman because this was the third time they ran Team 7 into the ground, but then she snatched her daughter from Kakashi’s hands a little too roughly.
Sakura was too exhausted because she didn’t even stir even as her mother nearly dropped her to the ground. But that was enough of a commotion to wake up Naruto and Sasuke. “Look at what you did to her! She’s so filthy! Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’re feeding her more than she should eat either! She needs to watch her figure.”
Then she pulled Sakura’s locks – that woke Sakura up. It wasn't forceful or painful, but that made alarm bells ring in Obito’s head. Sakura tried to pry her mother’s fingers off her hair, but that earned her a warning swat.
Corporal punishment isn’t illegal, but murdering civilians is, Obito repeated in a mantra inside his head. This is Sakura’s mother. Even if she’s starving and hurting Sakura, we can’t do anything unless she’s a genuine danger. But, what in the actual fuck?
“Mebuki, the neighbors.”
“... what?” Sasuke mumbled still over Obito’s shoulder, eyes widening a little to see Sakura practically dragged in by her mother. Naruto’s eyes were wide as he swung his head between the two jounin and Sakura’s parents.
“Haruno-san, as her jounin commanders,” Kakashi cut in smoothly as the woman glared at him. “Her nutritional needs and training regimen are ultimately under our jurisdiction.”
Obito couldn’t resist chiming in. “If you have any complaints on how Konoha handles its active forces, might I suggest bringing it up to the Hokage? There’s a suggestion box in the tower.”
Sakura looked terrified, but her shoulders weren’t as tense. She took a step towards their Team, but held herself back when she noticed her mother’s livid face.
“Should we find Sakura’s current accommodations hindering her progress as a shinobi of Konoha, you will hear from us.”
Mebuki’s face was red but her lips were nearly bloodless. Sakura looked like she had half a mind to let some of her hair rip away, but that was when her mother decided to slam the door closed.
Kakashi let out a low growl.
“... that’s her mom, right?” Naruto asked as Obito let both boys down, now that they’re awake and can walk. “Why’d Sakura-chan’s mom hurt her?”
Mebuki and Kizashi seemed like nice civilians when Obito, Kakashi, and the Sandaime visited them. She was on the civilian council, and she played good host a couple of weeks ago. Turns out, her patience had its limits and she didn’t like Obito’s and Kakashi’s training methods, who knew.
“Some parents are like that. They think it’s tough love or something… Tou-san dealt with cases like that.” Sasuke glared at the Haruno’s front door, as if willing it to combust.
Obito shared the sentiment.
“Maa, nothing we could do for now unless…” Kakashi sighed. “Come on, let’s get you both home.”
Just when Obito thought the day couldn’t get worse, it did.
They have been to Naruto’s home before their official genin assignment. There had been many, many attempts – both together and separate – to gain custody of Naruto. If they couldn’t get custody, then at least the Sandaime could have done something to make living conditions for Naruto better. Did the old codger not get the mountains of petitions Obito and Kakashi dropped directly on his desk?
“And how long have you been without a front door?”
The last time both jounin had been here, the front door was there but in desperate need of new locks. It was worn, but standing. Now, it’s gone.
Naruto laughed, too loud and fake. Sasuke looked at the wall, pointedly ignoring Naruto’s apartment.
The migraine never really went away, and now it’s ten times worse. It was almost as bad as the time Rin took out his left eye.
“I got traps set up?”
“Where’s your landlord?” Kakashi’s tone was flat, reminding Obito entirely of their time in ANBU. “Where, Naruto?”
The blonde jumped, eyes darting around them in searching for an escape. Obito grabbed him by his jacket’s scruff. “You’re not in trouble, your landlord is. This is a building code violation.”
It was enough to calm Naruto down a little, but he still looked like a spooked animal about to bolt.
“Hesaidhesgonnareplaceitthisweek!”
“Alright, change of plans!” Obito slung Naruto back over his shoulder, and ignored the thrashing squirming knucklehead trying to escape. “We’re having a sleepover!” Then he turned to Sasuke, who also looked like he should have insisted on going home on his own. “Is there something you’d like to tell us, Sasuke?”
The second loyal Uchiha shrunk into himself, shoving his hands in his pockets, feigning ignorance.
“My house is fine.”
Well, duh. Obito knew that. He tried visiting Sasuke whenever he could, even if ANBU (Danzo’s probably, since their old team (just don’t think of Itachi) were all tight knit and wouldn’t bar either of Team Minato from visiting family) guards tend to gatekeep the boy.
The last Obito knew of Fugaku was the old clan head’s tiff with Danzo before the massacre, and Obito only survived by virtue of being out in a fucking mission. Had Obito stayed, would Itachi choose a different path? Would Itachi have told him of any problems going on?
He felt so lost then, and he feels so lost now.
But… there were no ANBU guards to stop them.
Kakashi must have sensed his intent, because he let out a put-upon sigh. “We’re meeting early tomorrow, may as well grab your things and spend the night with us.”
Naruto stopped struggling and he made a face. “No fair! Why’d teme have to be in the sleepover?”
“We’re practicing sleeping in the same vicinity with someone you don’t get along with,” Obito lectured brightly. “If you both manage to make it through the night without a murder attempt, I’ll even treat you both to dango.”
“Hey, Obito-sensei, you promised me ramen!”
“Did you climb up the tree with your feet?”
“...no.”
“Thought so. Anyway, I’m taking these two with me. Kakashi-sensei will be getting your stuff.”
Kakashi rolled his eyes at him, but did go into Naruto's apartment.
There’s an idea churning in Obito’s head. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were all genin now. They no longer had to follow the laws and jurisdiction that befell civilians and orphans. If their commanders considered their living conditions less than stellar, arrangements could be made to either transfer them to the barracks or to a Council approved residence.
It was perfect, and absolutely not an excuse to mother hen Team 7. Obito just cared a lot because they were all abysmal at team work, and someone has to make sure that Kakashi doesn’t throw himself too hard into training them so hard that he stops functioning like a human being.
Yeah.
That’s precisely why.
Does Uchiha Obito like holding grudges? Not really.
Was he petty? Possibly.
Was silently laughing at the Sandaime who looked at him like he was about to spring a Fourth Shinobi war satisfying? Fuck yes.
If Kakashi was in on enjoying the current suffering they’ve inflicted on Sarutobi Hiruzen, Obito pretended he does not see it.
After years and years of bugging the old man to let them take care of either Sasuke or Naruto, or both, they finally get the chance to take both boys home. That was just half the battle though.
Because Danzo was giving them his singular stink eye as they submit airtight paperwork.
Both boys were official Konoha shinobi that have to answer to jounin commanders now. Team 7’s commanders found their current living space to be less than ideal, and they have new accommodations ready for the entire to move into. It just so happened that a couple of weeks before their official team assignment, Obito may have convinced Kakashi that the old, spacious Hatake estate had an enormous open courtyard perfect for training and it had wards that ensured no one’s caught in whatever jutsu mishap that will inevitably happen.
And if they included Sakura with their relocation orders, there’s little the Sandaime and the Council could do to stop them.
Sometimes, bureaucracy could be beautiful.
“I hope you’re proud of yourselves,” Danzo gritted out as he signed the many forms Obito gleefully handed him. “Don’t think this is over.”
Obito wouldn’t delude himself into thinking that things were going to be fine. Danzo still wanted something from most of them in Team 7, and moving to somewhere safer at least made them nearly inaccessible to the warhawk. Sakura moving in with them was necessary. Obito wouldn’t put it past Danzo to pluck her from her bed even if her mother was in the civilian council.
“Maa, isn’t it nice that three potentially powerful assets are moving in with two former ANBU operatives?” Kakashi drawled with just a slight hint of sweetness in his tone. “Who knows where they will be under our guidance?”
“Things will certainly be interesting. Kakashi-kun, Obito-kun,” conceded the Hokage as he finally stamped his approval.
Sakura mostly bought toiletries and sleep clothes. Obito already offered to buy her new equipment because they already ripped her last dress, and it really just wasn’t practical.
Naruto claimed a room closest to the courtyard, while Sasuke picked a room hidden deeper inside Kakashi’s old home.
Honestly, things have been going so well that Obito was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Good things don’t stay for too long, and the universe would inevitably demand payment.
No, that’s a bad train of thought.
Obito would fucking beat fate’s ass if he had to.
He managed to live past Kannabi, he lived past the Kyuubi, and he made sure Kakashi didn’t get himself killed while they were both in ANBU despite everything.
It’s just three genin with less than stellar home situations. Two of which, he was forbidden from taking in because of old men, but that’s fine. Obito has them all. He can absolutely do this.
“Do you plan on staring at the door all day or help me cook?”
Any kind of apron on Kakashi was a funny sight, but Obito was still too shaken to make fun of his teammate. He just grunted and followed the other man to the kitchen, pretending he didn't see the tiny tremors along Kakashi’s exposed shoulders.
“Oyakodon,” Obito declared as he started pulling out ingredients from the freshly stocked and brand new refrigerator.
Calling the rest of the Team, Kakashi delegated different meal prep steps for them. Survival was part of the academy curriculum, and this was just to see how well they’ve retained their lessons.
Unsurprisingly, Sasuke and Naruto were competent in the kitchen. Sakura was passable enough. What was impressive though, was she nearly burnt water. It was baffling and funny, but a little concerning because what if she needed to cook for herself? Sakura couldn’t survive on rations. It’s why Kakashi barely skirted the edge of malnourished!
Teaching Sakura how to cook for herself went up in priority, just below stamina and endurance for her.
Her food didn’t have to be delicious, it just had to be edible enough to swallow. Burning food was as good as burning nutrients.
There was another mishap with Sasuke and Naruto almost accidentally (was it, really?) stabbing each other, which took a single look from Kakashi for them to curb their enthusiastic urge for homicide.
Dinner was a mostly quiet affair, everyone at the table unused to being in such close proximity for more than the usual twelve hours per day. Sakura nibbled at her food, but did eat everything. Sasuke had two servings, while Naruto nearly gorged himself on four. Which was fine, they were all growing, but the blonde would have to learn some restraint.
What good was food if he was going to throw it up later?
Overall, moving day was a nice day. They spent it in relative peace, and Obito took over washing dishes because Kakashi was acting off as the moments passed by.
Kakashi didn’t even complain when Obito herded him off to his room, collapsing face first on his futon, while the Uchiha moved back to the kitchen to finish cleaning up.
Hopefully, this would set the tone for Team 7.
The peace didn’t last long.
Now that they had their own warded training area, Kakashi went straight back to bad habits.
“We are not breaking their fingers!” Obito scowled, heat rising up to his ears. A phantom migraine formed in his left socket, and he gave the best one-eyed glare he could at his co-Jounin. “We’re not sensei, and they’re not us!”
By instinct, they glanced around them for any ANBU presence. Ugh, the stupid fucking gag order.
Was it too late to go nukeninn and take the latest generation of Team 7 with them? Probably.
“Injury shouldn’t hinder shinobi from forming seals.” Kakashi’s single eye glared back, challenging.
They both knew Kakashi was right, but that didn’t mean they had to inflict harm on the children. They weren’t in war, Konoha was relatively safe, and Team 7 wouldn’t leave the village unless Obito was absolutely sure they could at least fend off twenty civilians without chakra.
“I don’t know if you know this, but how about splint and genjutsu?”
The outline of Kakashi’s open mouth was visible for just a second before he clamped his jaw shut, eye narrowed. “...fine. Let’s do it your way.”
Celebrating openly would further undermine Kakashi as a commander, so Obito simply nodded. “Thank you.”
“But I’ll need to cast it with the Sharingan so that it doesn’t break easily.”
The protest died on Obito’s lips, because Kakashi was right, again. If the kids don’t feel the pain of broken fingers, that would defeat the purpose of the exercise:
Which was forming seals and using chakra while their fingers were injured and in pain.
“Fine.” Then he turned to Team 7, all three of them looking up with varying expressions of nervousness to trepidation. “Do all of you want to do it at the same time, or one by one?”
They shot each other looks, and as much as Obito liked seeing them in tune with silent communication, the guilt churning in his gut said that seeing him and Kakashi at odds at all times probably made them feel they couldn’t voice out any protest.
Naruto nudged Sakura, and she nodded at him. “All at the same time, please. It’s possible that all of us could get injured and couldn’t use our fingers.”
Right. Obito could do that.
“We’ll start with one hand,” Kakashi said in a serious tone, and then motioned for all of them to sit, then both sensei knelt down to their level. “Hold your dominant hands forward, Obito-sensei and I will bandage them to limit fine movement. Then we’ll put all three of you under genjutsu that imitates the pain of broken fingers.”
They all put a brave face. Tears were gathering in Sakura’s eyes though, and her shoulders tensed up to brace for pain.
“Hey,” Obito muttered as he started wrapping around her right fingers. “It’s gonna be okay.”
He could feel Kakashi pause next to him, but continued wrapping Naruto’s hand as well.
“It’s just… I’m ambidextrous,” she confessed with an embarrassed flush. “But I use my right hand more.”
“That’s good we’re starting with the right hand, then.”
Kakashi made a derisive sound. Fuck him, Obito’s great at puns.
Naruto grinned, but his eyes looked too watery for his expression to be real. “This is gonna be easy, y’know!”
Kakashi and Obito shuffle back to give the three space. Team 7 stared up at them: Sakura’s lips wobbled, Sasuke’s lips were bloodless, and Naruto was smiling so wide it must hurt.
Twin Sharingans flare to life, and the genjutsu hit all three at the same time.
Sakura sobbed immediately, loud, closer to a wail. Sasuke grunted, but his face turned pale. Naruto coughed and tried moving his fingers right away.
Obito gritted his teeth, hands digging on his trousers, resisting the urge to break the genjutsu right away. Then Kakashi made a sound.
It was a strange, keening sort of noise, drowned out by Sakura’s crying.
There was no time to analyze it, as the loud cry of one of the messenger hawks caught both their attention. It cawed at a certain tone Obito knew well, and he scowled up at it.
“Go,” said Kakashi, tone flat. “I can handle things here.”
“Alright. Send a clone in case you need help.” Obito pushed himself up to stand.
For one insane second, he thought about squeezing Kakashi’s shoulder, but shook the urge off.
Kakashi would probably hate him for it.
How fucking dare Danzo.
He expected the elder to retaliate, but not like this.
For a good two hours and a half, Obito had to push down the urge to use the fucking Mangekyo on the war hawk. There were too many witnesses, and the half dozen ANBU watching from the shadows would behead him sooner before his Sharingan could switch forms.
“No. The compound remains sealed and that’s final, Danzo-sama.” Obito barely kept his tone even. “Do note that while Sasuke remains under the age of majority, non-Uchiha are not allowed in clan grounds until he decides what must be done for all remaining assets.”
The Sandaime, asshole that he was, just smoked while he watched the acting Uchiha head and a Konoha elder argue shit away.
“Since Sasuke-kun’s promotion–” shut up shut up shut the fucking hell up “–he is now considered as an adult in Konoha law and is considered at risk should he take missions outside our borders. As a loyal shinobi, ensuring that his clan’s secrets are shared among our Intelligence officers is prudent.”
“I absolutely understand where you are coming from,” Obito replied placidly. “However, clan laws intersect with shinobi laws for a reason. Even if Sasuke is an active shinobi, he is not in any way capable of making major decisions for clan assets. Those decisions fall under the acting clan head until he’s capable of assuming duties befitting his station. I happen to be the current acting clan head, and his clan secrets are also mine.” He turned to the Sandaime with their family’s signature look of haughtiness. “If that is all, Lord Third?”
A circular puff of smoke escaped the Sandaime’s lips. “I see no reason to continue this discussion.”
Danzo began to protest.
“Obito-kun is the current head of the clan for all intents and purposes. His decision is final.” The Sandaime met Obito’s eyes. “Unless he changes his mind.”
The Uchiha simply inclined his head in acknowledgement, but otherwise remained silent. Even if rage pounded pain in his chest and the back of his neck.
Obito would have treasured the memory of Danzo’s seething in this moment, but he was already pissed since that morning and seeing the elder try and loot his clan’s home made his blood pressure skyrocket.
He and Fugaku may not have resolved their differences, but they were still family.
And what’s left of that was with him now, in Kakashi’s childhood home.
“May I return to my duties then, Hokage-sama?”
“Of course, Uchiha-sama.”
By the time Obito returned, all the rage from that impromptu meeting with the Sandaime and Danzo evaporated.
Because, what in the flying fuck?
All three of their students clung to him as if their lives depended on it, all in varying stages of tears. Sakura was sobbing directly in Kakashi’s flak, Naruto was sniffling and slightly wiping his tear stricken face on Kakashi’s left sleeve, while Sasuke was glaring in front of him as silent tears fell from his face.
Kakashi’s eyes were far away, tears at the corners of his eyes.
Kakashi’s shoulders were tense and his arms were around their students, grip so tight that Obito was terrified he might suffocate them all.
“... Kakashi?” Obito prodded, but the other man was still thousands of miles away.
Fuck.
“Hey,” he called out again, telegraphing every move as he knelt down in front of his teammate. “Where are you right now?”
No response.
Not from Kakashi, and not from any of the kids. The three might all still be under genjutsu, but checking for their chakra might trigger Kakashi. There was no telling what might happen when his only teammate was like this.
As long as Kakashi’s first instinct was to protect the children, Obito was fine with that though.
“What day is it?” Obito continued, sitting crosslegged, hands over his knees, palms up.
“... Mokuyōbi…?” Not good, that was yesterday.
“Can you go through the days of the week for me?”
The nod was barely perceptible, and Kakashi then proceeded to do as he was told. “Nichiyōbi, Getsuyōbi, Kayōbi, Suiyōbi, Mokuyō… Ah, today is Kinyōbi.”
Lucidity returned to Kakashi’s mismatched eyes and he blinked down at the sight of their students in his arms. Pink peeked through the visible bit of his cheeks and ear as he slowly loosened his arms.
“Sensei!” All three cried out, and Kakashi froze.
Obito did, too.
What the hell happened while he was gone?
The rage from Danzo’s stupid stunt flashed for a moment, but worry buried it back.
He wanted to ask what happened while he was gone, but he and Kakashi could only stare at one another helplessly as their students seemed to have reached the breaking point of… well. Everything.
“Alright,” Obito said in a soothing tone. “We’re taking the day off. I’ll get tea and snacks.”
“Obito, don’t–” Then Kakashi clamped up.
Don’t… what?
Whatever Kakashi wanted to say must have been bad, because his eyes were glazing over again and Obito panicked.
“Hey, I’ll send out a clone. I’m… I’m staying.”
Relief flooded Obito as Kakashi slumped and looked up at him with something like gratefulness. He wanted to look away, chest tight and his heart in his throat, but couldn’t. There’s no reason for Kakashi to look at him like that, not when he couldn’t do a thing to help.
He wished Tenzo was there. Their kohai was more well-put together than Obito and Kakashi combined. The kid would know what to do. Unfortunately, he was on a long-term mission and the Sandaime was tight-lipped on when he’ll be back.
Kakashi calmed down long enough to finally dispel the genjutsu on all three. With the promise of food and rest, the three detached from Kakashi and were all embarrassed at their display. Sasuke hid among the trees, but he wasn’t that good at hiding yet so Obito could see his foot peeking out of the trunk. Sakura sat right next to Obito, head buried between her knees. While Naruto laid on the grass, tired.
Obito just noticed, but the finger splints were gone.
When his clone returned with a mountain of dango and cold fruit tea, the rest of Team 7 gathered back to eat.
Just like the first time, Kakashi pulled down his mask and Obito averted his eyes. Both jounin had nothing to say as they stuffed their faces of the sweets – well, savory for Kakashi and Sasuke. Those two hated sweets like its existence offended them.
Now that they’ve all sufficiently calmed down, the kids were sent back inside the house. Once they were gone, Kakashi put his mask back on.
There was a giant bijuu in the room Obito needed to wrestle.
“So, mind filling me in?” he asked casually, as if he didn’t just walk Kakashi through the haze of a panic attack. “I was gone for about a hundred fifty minutes, but you all seemed… compromised.”
That was putting it lightly, but Kakashi was probably embarrassed or something. Caught almost crying. Heh.
Kakashi’s shoulders tensed, his eyes met Obito’s but he wasn’t looking at Obito. He was looking through the Uchiha. “Around 1000, Haruno Sakura expressed distress during the exercise. I assessed the situation and decided to cut the exercise short.”
Damn, Kakashi defaulted to ANBU captain mode. The whole thing must have shaken his teammate a lot more than Obito thought it did.
“Haruno Sakura remained in a state of distress for about ten minutes and I… There was an attempt at providing comfort, however that failed. When Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto noticed that she remained in a state of distress, they started similar signs as well.”
“Ah,” said Obito because he really couldn’t think of anything else to say. He let a beat pass before asking, “and that’s when I found you?”
Kakashi nodded, “affirmative.”
Obito glanced back at the house, three heads disappeared back to the kitchen.
Kakashi’s mismatched eyes still stared back unblinkingly, and Obito reached out. His teammate remained stock still, gaze unfocused, couldn’t seem to comprehend that his co-commander had a hand in his personal space.
Almost gently, Obito pulled Kakashi’s headband back down on his Sharingan, relieved when the single visible eye started blinking owlishly.
“Are you back with me, Bakashi?”
The scowl Kakashi managed to convey with just a single eye meant the younger man was fine enough to be pissed.
Obito didn’t realize he still had his hand on Kakashi’s headband until the silver haired jounin swatted it away lightly.
Alright, Kakashi was back to his bastard self. That was good. That was fine. Obito could live with that.
“I never left.”
Oh, how Obito wished that was true.