Chapter 11
Kakashi is left alone again in this gray dimension of floating blocks when Obito leaves to investigate whatever job he is doing now. (Kakashi still doesn't know what this is about)
He lays on the makeshift bed thinking about everything that happened in the last few hours. How crazy these last few hours were. His body still itched from the pleasure that was denied him earlier and the make-out session he had never leaves his mind. Just remembering Kakashi makes him feel hot again.
He blushes.
Kakashi thinks, a little embarrassed by his own actions. He just grabbed Obito and Obito grabbed him back and they shouldn't have done that... Because they should have talked, but their mouths were too busy. Ugh. Kakashi is trying not to get an erection. What he needs is focus and control, that's what.
(Easier said than done).
Okay, so he focuses on something else: taking stock of his own body. He catalogs his injuries and determines that the healing is going well. The tendons in his feet are more sensitive and he shouldn't put weight on them. Kakashi thinks about Obito using that iryō-nin technique and wonders when the Uchiha learned it. Was it before or after Rin? Or was it out of pure necessity? After all, Kakashi knows that nukenin have to fend for themselves when they don't have the support of any Village. Unless they have connections to fall back on. Or have money.
Kakashi isn't stupid, his brain may have melted a bit from the hot kisses he shared with Obito earlier, but there are still enough neurons working for him to know that Obito lives the life of a missing-nin and Kakashi has no idea what another man does, has done or intends to do.
And yet you agreed to stay with Obito. Your mind says. You agreed to help him. You didn't ask any questions (but you should have). You basically accepted his request to be a missing-nin and do who knows what for him.
Despite the doubts in his mind, Kakashi has no intention of turning back. (He won't abandon Obito a second time. No. No way. He's not trash. Obito came back from the dead for Kakashi. He revealed himself to Kakashi and asked them to be together. Kakashi accepted because he wanted to, without coercion.)
Obito had mentioned a "Plan to stop the bloodthirsty shinobi system", but he had yet to reveal what kind of plan that was.
Again, Kakashi is not stupid. He knows that with a goal as grand as this, Obito must have a very complicated plan – one that is very crazy to achieve.
Essentially, Obito wants to change the world by changing the shinobi system (still a dreamer, apparently), but Kakashi knows that the system does not like to be disturbed or changed. The Villages always fight fiercely to maintain the Status quo. Knowing this, it is safe to say that Obito does not intend to use diplomacy, philosophical speeches of mutual cooperation and peace treaties to achieve his goals - after all, these methods have never worked for long before in the past, just look: Three great wars have already happened before and Kakashi knows that there are people at this very moment planting the seeds for the creation of a Fourth.
...That Obito might even be one of them doing this right now. Damn! What kind of shit did Obito drag him into? Okay, calm down. Maybe it's not so extreme…
Who is he kidding? Of course it might be an extreme plan. Obito wants to end the system and that won't happen without fighting, without war, without deaths.
Kakashi is a Black Ops. An ANBU Captain. He's older now, more experienced, and understands a bit more about the intricacies and nuances of politics than he did when he was just a newly promoted jounin at ten.
What Obito wants is... something big. Difficult.
Okay, calm down. Kakashi needs to have a cool head, after all he can only make speculations until he actually has all the right information.
(But still)
Kakashi is apprehensive. Obito has barely returned to his life and Kakashi already wants to shake him and yell at him. For the Sage! Why does it have to be like this? Why can't they be peaceful together for once?
(It's because Obito is an incorrigible Ahobito and also because the world likes to screw them over, that's why.)
It's because of the shit that's happened to them that Obito wants to change things. A complete radical transformation, it seems. Kakashi isn't surprised. Obito has always been critical of authority, critical of rules. He's never withered in the face of criticism and insults thrown at him. Kakashi has seen these seeds of insubordination in Obito before, and Kakashi knew it would be a problem in the future.
Well, here's the deal. If Kakashi couldn't dissuade Obito from his path and mindset before when they were both just malleable children, it would certainly be foolish to try again now. (Not that he'd want to. But Kakashi knows himself, he can be annoying sometimes and he'll express so many unpopular opinions that Obito will get stressed out and fight with him. Just like old times.) But Obito asked for this, didn't he? He asked Kakashi to stay with him, to help him. And Kakashi agreed, so it's up to him to give his opinion. And if they disagree... Well. They'll have to act like adults and deal with their own dynamics since there won't be anyone there to mediate between them like before.)
Kakashi sighed wearily. So much had happened, so little information, so much stress had been bearing down on him in the past few days. He needed a break. He closed his eyes and the memory of the feeling of a fierce tongue plundering his mouth came back to Kakashi like a tsunami. He felt hot again, flushed, hardening in his pants... Fuck! He needed a bathroom.
A vortex appears inside Kamui and Obito finally appears again.
"I'm back," he takes off his mask
"Finally! It took a long time. I urgently need to piss," Kakashi says unceremoniously because he really needs to piss.
Obito stares at him. "Okay." That's all he says as he walks over to Kakashi and helps him up, taking most of his weight so as not to strain his tendons.
They exit together in a Kamui vortex and reappear in a cramped little room, which looks like one of those rooms in the ANBU HQ, but it is obviously not the small room in the ANBU HQ of Konoha. There is no trinket or symbol to identify where they are. Or what place they are in.
Kakashi raises a questioning eyebrow at Obito. The Uchiha sighs. "No complicated questions now, okay? Wait until we're in Kamui, because it's safer that way."
Kakashi agrees and a small door opens to reveal a tiny bathroom, but at least it's clean and has a toilet and a shower. Huh, on second thought maybe he should take a shower and wash the dirt off his body because he's already itching - (the nasty kind of itchy)
"I want a shower too"
"You can't push yourself"
"I don't want to start smelling"
"Tsk. Okay. Let me get you a stool to sit on so you don't risk falling and cracking your head open because I'm sorry to inform you that I'm not good at healing damaged skulls and brains."
"I appreciate your concern, but it's unnecessary. I'm not a bathroom klutz, I've never fallen before." – No, Kakashi had only stumbled in and out of the bathroom several times before when he was seriously injured, in a zombie-like state due to nightmares, or when he was rarely drunk. But Obito didn't need to know that.
Obito glared at him accusingly. Oh, shit, he knows then.
Wait! That means…
"How long have you been spying on me?"
Obito doesn't answer, he makes a hand sign and then wooden tendrils (Mokuton?! What?) come out of the sleeve of his clothes and create an ugly dark brown stool. Obito puts it on the floor.
"There. I'll get towels. I left clothes for you back in Kamui." – The Uchiha leaves and leaves the door slightly ajar, but closed enough to offer some privacy . Kakashi sighs at the Uchiha's silence and asks the Sage for patience because Obito has a way of pushing his buttons.
"That stool better not stick splinters in my ass," Kakashi muttered critically, looking at Obito's ugly carpentry.
On the other side of the door, Obito snorted and scoffed, "As rude and demanding as ever. But don't worry, Kashi," Obito's voice lowered several tones and said suggestively, "If a splinter gets stuck in your ass, I'll take care of it for you."
Kakashi immediately blushes; his mind going into the gutter very fast as he imagines leather gloves touching his naked and curved ass.
Her sudden silence makes Obito chuckle softly from the other side of the half-open door.
They return to the pocket dimension, and Kakashi takes the new pair of clothes offered to him. He feels a thousand times better now that he's clean.
They sit in comfortable silence, mostly comfortable, but there's a bit of tension (not the sexual kind) that they're trying to ignore. But Kakashi can't leave the questions aside.
"So... Mokuton?" – That is undoubtedly your biggest question here.
Kakashi knows that Mokuton is a highly coveted bloodline limit and from what he has gathered so far, Mokuton is not something that manifests easily. (Not naturally and not even with intense medical intervention)
Obito sits down on the chair and points for Kakashi to sit on the bed. "Yes, Mokuton. A surprise, right? An Uchiha with Mokuton" he sneered, but continued: "I gained this ability thanks to the grafts that were used to patch my body. I call it Zetsu Hashirama's grafts"
"Zetsu Hashirama? Does this have anything to do with Orochimaru?" Kakashi asked worriedly, with so many thoughts running through his mind.
The Snake Sannin is well known for his genetic experiments. Oh heavens
"No. There isn't. It's... hard to explain. Do you want me to show you? I think it's easier."
Explaining Old Man Madara and the Zetsus with words is difficult. Showing it to Kakashi will be more enlightening.
"Yes. Please, I want to see it," Kakashi says and Obito nods. The Sharingan comes to life and they are plunged into Obito's specific memory.
When the genjutsu ends, Kakashi is quiet and thoughtful. He had seen everything that happened from the Kannabi Bridge to the night Obito returned to Madara in the Cave.
"Well, that explains the twisted trees and the shattered Kiri-nins that night. I knew it wasn't me." – He comments.
"So apparently Uchiha Madara told you about this Grand Plan he's drawn up, to bring infinite peace to the world. What's that?" – Kakashi narrows his eyes in that way that Obito finds really annoying!
It's that "I'm judging you" look
But unfortunately the question is completely valid and Obito can't put it off any longer.
Kakashi promised to stay with him, to stay with him forever, in fact, and it's time for Obito to put Hatake to the test.
The sooner this is resolved, the better.
"Listen to the Plan for yourself" – another genjutsu begins and Kakashi listens to the explanation, hears Uchiha Madara speak to a younger and more desolate Obito, about the so-called curse of hatred born from deep love; the concept of winners and losers in the world; the corruption that exists in the villages
Kakashi watches as a spectator as the next scene unfolds: two dreamy children from rival clans wanted to create together a place of peace and prosperity for their clans and end the never-ending war of the Sengoku Jidai, and then Kakashi sees how Konoha was actually founded on the basis of inequality of power and resentment between Senjus and Uchihas.
Kakashi sees how the Founders Hashirama and Madara tried to work together, but it was difficult to achieve harmony when Madara and Tobirama were so intent on undermining each other's power and influence. Unsurprisingly, Madara came out on the losing end of this front.
The intricacies and nuances of politics can be a terrifying minefield.
Kakashi sees how Madara resents and despairs at the growing influence of the Senju, how his own clan turns its back on him, how his name is tarnished by gossip he cannot combat.
Kakashi watches as Madara begins to see the cracks in the Village he had so longed to build but which was beginning to crumble. And Madara fell with it.
Then Madara unravels the secrets of the thousand-year-old Uchiha Tablet.
There is a divine tree; a princess who steals the chakra fruit to cast the first Mugen Tsukuyomi on the world; then the princess has a son, who is actually the Sage of the Six Paths; then the divine tree reveals itself as the Juubi with its Rinne Sharingan eye; a great fight takes place and the Juubi ends up being divided into nine parts (the bijuus); then the Sage has two sons. One of them is the Progenitor and founder of the Uchiha Clan.
Apparently Indra was some kind of seer who foresaw how humans would use chakra for war and death. He left a guide on how to reverse the chaos in the world.
Then Madara finds out about all this and defected. Then the legendary Battle of the Valley of the End took place.
Kakashi watched and listened in disbelief as Shodai Hokage Hashirama proclaimed that to keep Konoha safe, he would step over anyone – be it a brother, a friend, children, family.
(Something in Kakashi is deeply shaken by this.
If the founder of the Village himself, the one who instilled the Will of Fire in them, thinks this way and makes politics based on it… is it any wonder that Konoha spares no effort to get what it wants, through any means possible?
Kakashi thought this was just Danzō's dark influence on the Village, but apparently not. The problem is older)
The genjutsu continues and continues, revealing dark secrets and truths about Konoha and its Founders.
Then the first great war broke out, and it was far worse than the wars fought in the Sengoku Jidai Period. Now the fighting was international. Villages against Villages. More violence and more deaths. A huge escalation of violence and greed.
And it didn't stop there. It didn't get any better. Konoha's original purpose (which was to keep young people away from war) began to fade as wars came and went.
The first war came and went, killing Senju Hashirama and many others.
The second came and went, killing Senju Tobirama and driving the Uzumaki clan to extinction.
The third came and went, killing thousands and driving the Senju, Hatake, and Kurama clans to extinction.
(And it was devastating to find out that Elder Danzou (of Konoha) had a hand in fanning the flames of the Third War using Root and blaming his Father)
That war took everything from Kakashi. His Father, Obito, Rin... including a part of himself.
Then Kakashi listens attentively about the Eye of the Moon Plan and soon after his heart sinks and shatters as Kakashi finally comes to the conclusion that the man before him, his Obito , was the one responsible for the attack on October 10th.
"That night... Why?" – the words struggle to come out of his throat, which is clogged with the burning sensation of suppressed tears.
Obito stares at Hatake in silence. Kakashi stares back at him with teary eyes and a pained expression.
Obito feels his heart rate increase and he is hesitant. But this is the moment of truth.
"I was angry. I was angry, hateful, and in pain for a long time ever since Rin died. I couldn't stop the cycle. I couldn't accept it. At that time, I didn't know the truth behind her death. I still blamed you as much as Minato and the rest of the world. I was living in hell." – Obito confesses and continues:
"I watched you and saw you suffering as much as I did and I didn't understand why. I soon discovered that you really didn't want to do it and were deeply sorry. I forgave you, so there was only Minato left."
"I was mad at him for never being able to show up on time. I could understand why he wasn't there for us when Kannabi happened. But where was he when Rin was taken and you guys needed him? I know you contacted him, I know he received your call for help, I know he didn't come to you right away."
Obito says bitterly: "The fastest man in the world never arrives when his students need him most."
"Do you know what he was doing that night? Following orders," Obito spits out the words. "He couldn't leave without authorization. How funny. You dropped everything when you found out that Rin was taken, but Minato couldn't do the same! He was probably too worried about being reprimanded and how it could affect his dispute for the title of Hokage" – Obito says disgusted and without holding back he starts pacing from one side to the other.
"So after her death I didn't want to go back. I was so disillusioned. Later I found out the truth and forgave you, but I was still mad at Minato. I was so mad at Minato for moving on normally and not looking back! Yeah, I know. I sound like an irrational lunatic, but at that time I wasn't in the best place, mentally speaking. The truth is that I couldn't stand the idea of Minato resting on his laurels at the end of the war, being happy and being acclaimed by the masses while the team of children he swore to guide and protect was broken, shattered and DEAD!" – Obito screams.
"Out of our entire team, he was the only one who came out on top! He recovered the fastest and moved on. And why wouldn't he do that? He didn't lose anything important in the war, right? I mean, yes, he suffered for us and lost some comrades, but it didn't tear him apart the same way it tore us apart!"
Obito paused to take a deep breath before continuing his outburst.
"In the end, all I wanted to do was scream in his face about how rotten this world was, that good things never last, and therefore he shouldn't feel so excited about the prospect of a happy future. A shinobi's future should be the Village, their highest priority. A shinobi must not stray from his purpose… - You know that rule, right, Kakashi? Of course, that wasn't the only reason October 10th happened. That night I wanted to test myself. Yes. I wanted to see if I could cut all my old ties with Konoha in order to commit myself to the Plan." Obito says as Kakashi listens to everything in hysteria.
"Don't look at me like that! I didn't want things to get out of hand, but I was too hasty. I made a lot of mistakes." Obito sighed wearily.
"My original plan was to steal the Kyuubi, to rob Konoha of its greatest weapon of war and in the process say some harsh words to Minato. But he didn't recognize me. Neither did she." Obito said softly; almost fragile.
"I wasn't even trying to hide properly. But Minato didn't recognize me and he told me: I don't care who you are. I guess he was right." – Obito laughs brokenly. A sound that breaks Kakashi too.
Then the Uchiha quickly recovers and clicks his tongue:
"Obviously the original plan to steal the Kyuubi didn't work out, and you know the rest of the story." – Obito finishes and crosses his arms.
"That's it. That's my side of the story. I have to say I regret what happened. A lot of innocent people died. But if I'm being honest, I still haven't processed all my feelings about that night."
This is as honest as Obito can be. It's the whole truth. Obito hasn't processed everything about the events of that October night. He's taken his feelings and locked them away, far from his mind and heart. (Too late to regret it.)
What's done is done. It can't be undone. (Not yet. When the Moon Plan comes to fruition, Minato-sensei will be there, and he won't be a useless sensei.)
- - -
Kakashi doesn't say anything for a long time. He doesn't even look at Obito.
His thoughts are in turmoil and he can't focus on anything right now. All he can feel is the myriad of feelings inside him: anger, disbelief, deep disappointment, denial. Deep denial.
How could this be? His Obito wouldn't hurt their teacher. Obito liked Minato. He had respect and admiration for their teacher!
And yet... Obito did it. He confessed it himself.
Your Obito did this. Your Obito, a bright, big-hearted, optimistic, dreamy boy, turned into this... This broken, angry man.
Oh, Kakashi should know. Their world doesn't like good people. It doesn't like kindness and brilliance. Their world takes the good, chews it up, and spits it out. That's what happened to Obito.
(That's what happened to their team. That's what happens to almost all shinobi.)
Kakashi is still trying to process all of Obito's revelations when the said man approaches him, sits next to him on the bed, raises a hand to caress his face and tangle a finger in a lock of his hair.
"Talk to me, Kashi. Let me know what you think, whether it's positive or negative. Just... talk to me." Obito asks after the silence stretches too long.
"I don't know what to say to you, or what to think. I—I," his voice trembles. "I'm angry with you. I can't believe what you told me, what you did. I can't process it."
"I'm hurt. I'm in disbelief that you're alive. I'm deeply grateful that you're alive. I don't want to be around you now after hearing that." Kakashi is being sincere. That's what he really wants right now. He doesn't want to be around the Uchiha while his head is so messed up.
(A part of Kakashi wants to get away from him, but another part doesn't want to let him go. He's so torn right now.)
"I understand," Obito says. "You need space to think, and I'll give it to you. I can... take you closer to Konoha if you want." There are several reasons why Obito doesn't want to let him go.
1) First, Kakashi is a liability and a loose end that could give him away. 2) Obito really doesn't want him to leave.
Obito has already begun to entertain fantasies about the two of them together. Working together to achieve true peace and eradicate hell from the world. Obito wants to have him by his side. But expressing this to Kakashi now after revealing that he attacked their sensei may not be wise.
Neither of them move and say nothing.
"Would you really let me go back to Konoha with everything I know about you now?" Kakashi asks doubtfully because having such important and sensitive information in his possession, it would be foolish to let Kakashi go.
"I admit that I don't want to let you go. But don't think that it's because of my sensitive secrets. I want to keep you with me because I want to have you here with me. By my side." – Obito confesses the truth.
"I don't want us to be enemies on opposite sides. Please... Think about it, Kakashi. If you still have doubts, talk to me." – He asks, begs in fact.
"What if I have no doubts?"
A million-dollar question.
Kakashi stares at Obito with sharp eyes to listen carefully for the answer the Uchiha is clearly holding back.
Obito doesn't respond, but his silence is answer enough.
With a heavy heart, Kakashi asks, "Would you eliminate me?"
"NO!" Obito exclaims, and tells the partial truth.
Obito has always had conflicting desires regarding Kakashi. He could never decide if he really wanted Kakashi alive to continue suffering from the weight of his mistakes or if he wanted to have him killed with Obito being the one who kills him in the end.
"Why not? I'm a risk." Kakashi presses.
"Yes, you are. But I'm not going to kill you! I want you alive and I can guarantee your silence in another way." - Obito says angry.
If Kakashi is going to report him, Obito will have to cut out his tongue. Or brainwash him with the Sharingan. It would be a shame if it came to that.
"Why do you want me alive?" – Kakashi presses again
"Isn't it obvious? I want to give you a better life! For you to live happily and I want to make all your dreams come true! Er... I mean -"
Oh gods that sounded so…
"Maa, Obito. That makes me blush." – Kakashi, the bastard, is really getting a little red in the cheeks. But his eyes... His eyes are big, bright and mischievous.
Stupid bakashi
"Shut up! Stop looking at me like that, you idiot!" – Obito himself can feel himself blushing a little too. Feeling embarrassed after so long is strange and uncomfortable. Obito hates it.
Stupid bakashi
The silence stretches until Kakashi breaks it again.
"So... Are you serious? About carrying out this Plan?"
"Yes, I am," he says with conviction.
"You know, this sounds very utopian to me. Fanciful, actually. Are you sure this Eye of the Moon plan is reliable? Madara might be tricking you."
A crazy old man keeping a seriously injured young man locked in a cave to sell his crazy plan? Obviously a very big red flag, Kakashi thinks.
"The plan is reliable and it works. I tested it. And yes, Madara is not very reliable. Neither is Zetsu." Obito says
"What? Tested how? And if you distrust Madara and Zetsu so much then why continue to be allies?"
"I'm on their side only because of the plan, because I aim for the happy end result of everyone's dream. But I obviously don't trust them. They have a cursed seal on me, so I'm playing their game, Kakashi. They have a hidden agenda, and I have mine."
His heart rate increases: "WHAT? A seal? What seal??" Kakashi says immediately worried
The last time one of his teammates had a seal placed on them, it didn't end well.
"In answer to your previous question, I tested the effectiveness of the plan using the two of us as guinea pigs. The result was great, you liked it I know!" – Obito says and ignores Kakashi's alarmed and disapproving look.
Obito continues speaking before Kakashi has a chance to argue with him about silly issues like privacy, ethics, and consent.
"The seal that Madara has on me was placed directly on my heart –" Kakashi's eyes widen in horror "– and I'm still not sure what this thing can do in its entirety. But I have a general idea. After all, Madara wanted a guarantee that I wouldn't betray him and I'm also not sure if Black Zetsu can trigger it. So I'm not taking any risks" – Obito says and Kakashi doesn't understand how the Uchiha can keep calm with all this!
Damn it! Obito has a damn cursed seal placed directly on his heart! – Kakashi thinks frantically and scared.
"Okay, calm down! One thing at a time. Let's deal with the most pressing issues first, namely: the seal. But don't think I'll forget about how you tested a jutsu on me and made me your illegal guinea pig." Kakashi sends sharp looks at Obito.
The Uchiha snorts unconcernedly. "I tested it on both of us. And it worked! You liked it!" Obito insists stubbornly. He won't apologize.
Kakashi lets it go, for now. They'll come back to this subject again, sometime in the future.
"You need to get rid of that seal immediately," Kakashi says.
"Obviously," Obito replies.
"If you know, then why haven't you gotten rid of it yet?"
"Did you forget, Bakashi? I have a seal directly on my heart ! How do you expect me to remove it by myself? By ripping the organ out? By letting a stranger cut me open?" – Obito will never let a stranger do that to him. But ripping out his own heart? Mmm , that might be an idea. An absurd idea to be considered as a last resort, but... He has super regeneration.
Maybe if he could secretly grow a new heart from Zetsu Hashirama's cells to replace his current one... It might work. Some of his internal organs have been replaced or patched up with the white plant matter and are still functioning. So the idea has some merit.
Furthermore, Obito cannot become any more of a monstrous freak than he already is.
"I could try. I learned fuuinjutsu," Kakashi offers, pulling him out of his inner thoughts.
"What? Oh, great! You learned how to operate the cardio too?" – damn Hatake genius who knows how to do everything.
If Kakashi stays by his side they can solve this. Obito can get rid of the seal
.... (The silence stretches)
"I'm a meticulous genius. I learn quickly" – Kakashi says and he is actually considering learning more iryō-nin and medicine to perform surgical operations.
He's already making a mental list of the things he'll need to learn when Obito finally speaks
"Ah, I see. You want to make me your guinea pig ," Obito says in a flat, monotone voice
"I wouldn't joke about something so serious. It's your life," Kakashi says seriously. He would never play with Obito's life.
Obito stared at him seriously, thoughts swirling in his mind. "So... If you want to play my cardiologist, does that mean you're staying with me? Joining me?"
Kakashi takes his time answering. He too has a lot of thoughts swirling in his head. Finally, he sighs.
"I still need some time to digest some things, but yes, Obito. I still intend to stay by your side. I promised, didn't I? Besides, you got into so much trouble without me around." – The absolute truth is that despite everything that was revealed to him, Kakashi still didn't intend to let the Uchiha go under any circumstances.
If Obito was so intent on taking over the world and forcing all humans to undergo a dream genjutsu, then it was up to Kakashi to follow him, support him, and ensure that humanity didn't become extinct in the process.
(Tsk. Stupid crazy Uchiha and his crazy schemes)
Obito smiles happily, wide and hopeful – it makes your heart ache because that's exactly how he used to smile as a child.
Obito approaches and pulls Kakashi into a kiss. Their mouths meet and this time the kiss is gentler, but no less wet and electrifying.
Mmm. Obito likes to suck and bite during the kiss. Kakashi thinks absentmindedly.
Meanwhile, deep within Obito's troubled thoughts, a chorus of " yes yes yes, hooked! We got him! He's ours " reverberates loudly.
Obito smiles into the kiss.