Chapter 4
The market was alive with movement and chatter, a vibrant maze of stalls and shouting vendors. The smell of fresh bread mingled with the salty sea breeze, and laughter echoed through the narrow streets. Kiyō strolled confidently through the chaos, her son perched on her shoulders like a king on his throne.
Kaido had wandered off earlier, probably causing chaos somewhere to inflate his bounty. Obito didn’t particularly care—Kaido’s antics were more of a constant background noise than a real concern.
Obito rested his chin on her head, observing everything with quiet intensity. The people here were… different. Their smiles weren’t weighed down by dread or the constant looming shadow of war. They laughed openly, their eyes alight with something foreign to the shinobi world: contentment.
They’re living, not just surviving, he thought, a pang of envy creeping in.
His mind wandered back to his own world, where fear had been an ever-present companion. People in the Elemental Nations were often burdened, their joy fleeting, stolen away by the inevitability of conflict. But how can I judge them when I was the one who brought half their suffering?
“Obito,” Kiyō called, her voice snapping him out of his thoughts. “Do you want to grab some lunch?”
He nodded silently, and she veered toward a small restaurant tucked between two bustling stalls. Inside, it was cozy and inviting, the aroma of grilled meat and spices filling the air.
Kiyō ordered with her usual confidence, adding a few items after asking Obito what he wanted. He poked curiously at the grilled meat on his plate while Kiyō launched into her usual complaints about Kaido.
“Honestly, that idiot—he just had to pick a fight with the Marines again in my special day. He thinks the bigger his bounty, the better he is. Ugh, he’s impossible.”
Obito chewed thoughtfully, the tender meat melting in his mouth. Finally, he interrupted her mid-rant. “If he annoys you so much, why do you stay with him?”
The question hit like a shuriken to the chest. Kiyō froze, her fork hovering mid-air as she stared at him. She swallowed her food slowly, looking… embarrassed? Surprised?
“Well,” she said finally, her voice quieter. “I wasn’t expecting that question.” She sighed, setting her fork down. “I don’t know.”
Obito tilted his head. “Do you love him?”
Her laughter erupted so loudly it startled the other patrons. Some turned to glare, others whispered to each other, but Kiyō was too busy clutching her side to notice.
“Love him? Love him?! Absolutely not! I can’t stand him!”
Obito blinked, unfazed by her outburst. He had long suspected as much. Despite their frequent arguments, he had noticed their nights. At first, he thought their bickering might have been their way of showing affection, but it was clear now. They simply didn’t care about each other.
“Are you staying with him because of me?” he asked bluntly.
Kiyō paused, her eyes softening. “You’re too smart for your age,” she said with a grin, ruffling his hair.
He scowled, fixing his hair as she continued. “Kaido’s a pain, but I’ve gotten used to him. And honestly, he’s not a bad dad. Not like my father.” Her expression darkened for a moment before she shook it off. “You deserve someone… fun, I guess. And Kaido’s a lot of things, but he’s fun and seems to genuinely care about you.”
Obito took a bite of meat, his face unreadable. “He’s annoying.”
Her laughter rang out again, drawing more glares.
As they stepped out of the restaurant, the warm air of the bustling market embraced them again. Kiyō was already walking ahead, her posture relaxed, her eyes scanning the crowd for anything interesting. Obito, however, stopped in his tracks, a frown tugging at his small face.
She didn’t notice at first, her steps steady, but when she turned to speak to him, she found him standing still, arms crossed, his expression stern.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.
“You didn’t pay,” he said simply.
Her brows furrowed before realization dawned, and she smirked. “Of course I didn’t. We’re pirates.”
Obito’s frown deepened. “I don’t like that. You should pay. It’s not fair.”
The sheer absurdity of his demand left her mouth agape. “Wait… are you serious?”
“Yes,” he replied firmly. “I won’t move until you do.”
For a moment, she stared at him like he was a puzzle she couldn’t solve. Then her confusion turned to amusement, her lips twitching into a sly smile. “You’re joking.”
But he wasn’t. His arms remained crossed, his expression unyielding.
The tall black haired woman sighed, rolling her eyes. “Fine, you win. Let’s go.”
Okay, maybe I look like a hypocrite right now, but you have to understand: this whole ‘new beginning’ thing means no more stealing either. I’ve done enough of that, and worse, in my past life.
Yes, Uchiha Obito—the same person who once orchestrated wars, stole lives, and shattered worlds—was drawing the line at dining and dashing now. It was ridiculous, he knew that, but wasn’t redemption supposed to start somewhere?
It’s time for atonement, he told himself. I’m not sure Hagoromo would let me rest in peace if I ignored every crime around me just to focus on finding Joy Boy. No, he had to make a real effort. Not just because of Hagoromo, but because he knew someone else was watching.
I know you’re watching, Rin, he thought, a pang of determination settling in his chest. And I want you to see that I’ve truly changed.
When they entered the restaurant, the scene before them was tense. Their waitress was standing with her head bowed as the manager scolded her loudly, gesturing wildly with her hands. Kiyō strolled up to the counter, looking as unbothered as ever, and casually tossed a handful of cash onto the table.
“Forgot to pay,” she said flatly.
The waitress looked relieved, her tense shoulders dropping as she stammered her thanks. The manager, however, counted the money with a practiced eye and pursed her lips.
“You’re twenty beri short,” the manager said, her voice sharp.
Kiyō froze, turning back slowly. Her expression shifted from mild irritation to something darker, and before anyone could react, she had the manager pinned against the wall, her hand gripping the woman’s collar, pulling a gun into her forehead.
“You’re lucky I gave you anything at all,” Kiyō hissed, her voice low and dangerous.
The manager’s eyes widened in terror, and the waitress let out a small yelp, attracting the attention of several other patrons. Whispers spread through the restaurant like wildfire as all eyes turned to the scene.
“Mother,” Obito’s voice broke through the tension. It was soft, calm, but insistent. She paused, her grip loosening slightly as she turned to look at him. “Don’t hurt people,” he said simply.
For a moment, Kiyō stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then she sighed heavily, letting go of the manager and stepping back. She straightened her collar, plastering on a tight smile as she pulled out another wad of cash. Without bothering to count it, she tossed it onto the counter.
Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Obito’s hand and walked out of the restaurant, her steps quicker than before.
The streets seemed quieter now, or perhaps Obito’s thoughts were louder. He glanced up at Kiyō, her face calm but her grip on his hand firm.
She’s not as kind as I thought, he mused silently. She’s just… a pirate. Like all the others.
But could he blame her? Raised by pirates, living in a world where strength and fear reigned supreme, she was simply a product of her environment. Yet with him, she was… different. Softer. Gentler. It was subtle, but it was there.
“What’s on your mind?” Kiyō asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Obito paused for a moment before answering. “I have a request.”
Her brow furrowed in confusion. “Oh? And what’s that?”
“Buy me books,” he said.
She stopped walking, staring down at him. “Books?”
He nodded. “Teach me to read and write.”
The air was crisp, cool, and perfect. Clouds drifted lazily above the ship’s deck, and for once, there was peace. Obito sat cross-legged with Kiyō, who patiently guided his small hand over the parchment. She was teaching him to write his name, her voice gentle yet firm, her fingers steady as they corrected his strokes.
It was a strange language, this one. The spoken words mirrored what Obito had known in his previous world, but the script? It was an unholy mix of something resembling Japanese (thankfully familiar) and an odd, angular style that he found frustrating. Still, he was catching on quickly—After all, he was Uchiha Obito. If he could master the intricacies of kamui, he could figure this out.
“You’re getting it!” Kiyō said, her black eyes lighting up with pride. She leaned closer to check his progress, her smile softening into something rare and warm.
Obito didn’t reply, his brows furrowed with determination. He wanted to learn. No, he needed to learn. There was too much he didn’t understand about this world, and the books he’d managed to skim so far were full of knowledge he was desperate to grasp. Reading was essential.
It was peaceful. Almost too peaceful.
And then Kaido showed up.
His shadow loomed over them like a storm cloud, and Obito sighed inwardly before even looking up. Of course.
“What’s this?” Kaido grunted, his deep voice dripping with disdain. “Turning my son into a nerd, Kiyō?”
Kiyō didn’t even flinch. “He’s not a nerd; he’s a genius,” she replied, her tone sharp as her gaze flicked to him. “Unlike you, he’ll know how to read properly.”
Kaido’s lips twitched, his hand already reaching for the flask at his hip. “You saying I’m stupid, woman?”
“Yes,” Kiyō shot back without hesitation.
Kaido laughed—a booming, drunken sound. “Want me to prove you wrong?” he growled, leaning closer, the challenge clear.
Obito closed his eyes for a moment, gripping his paper tightly. Here we go.
“Stop it,” he said, his tone flat, cutting through the tension like a blade. Both of them froze, staring at him.”I want to learn.”
Kaido’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. “This brat’s spending too much time with you. He needs some real company—a men’s influence.”
Before Obito could protest, Kaido grabbed him by the back of his green shirt, lifting him effortlessly into the air. Obito dangled like a fish on a line, his small legs swaying as he stared at Kaido with a flat, unimpressed look.
“You’re coming with me,” Kaido announced, his grin wide. “Time to teach you how to be a man.”
“Put him down!” Kiyō snapped, standing and planting her hands on her hips.
The Oni ignored her, already heading toward the ship’s railing. “It’s my turn with the kid. You’ve had enough time to turn him into a scholar. Now it’s time for some real lessons.”
Obito sighed, his face a mask of resignation as Kiyō tried to grab him back, cursing Kaido under her breath. “It’s fine,” Obito called to her, his voice calm despite dangling at a ridiculous height. “We can continue later.”
Kiyō glared but reluctantly stood down, crossing her arms. “If he comes back with even one scratch—”
“Yeah, yeah,” Kaido interrupted, laughing as he leapt off the ship with Obito still in his grip.
When Kaido had said “father-son bonding time,” Obito is embarrassed to think of something like fishing or throwing a ball around. Even a trip to a seedy tavern, as much as he didn’t want it, would have been a Kaido thing to do.
What he hadn’t expected was Kaido storming a Marine base out of nowhere.
Obito watched from a safe distance, his face blank as the pirate smashed through the fort like a wrecking ball, cackling madly as Marines screamed and scattered like ants. His massive fists sent soldiers flying, his laughter ringing loud enough to shake the ground.
This man is insane, Obito thought, rubbing his temple.
Kiyō wasn’t perfect, sure. But she had a heart—a sliver of kindness buried beneath her sharp edges that Obito could nurture and coax into something real. She was a challenge, yes, but one he could work with.
Kaido? Kaido was something else entirely. He was chaos personified. A walking hurricane. A complete and utter disaster of a man.
Obito sighed again, crossing his arms as he waited for the carnage to end. He’d promised himself to do good, to atone for his past, but he wasn’t suicidal. Stepping in to stop Kaido? Not a chance. He’d end up as a smear on the pavement before the man even noticed.
This body is my biggest burden. I need to get stronger when I figure out how people work without Chakra.
Kaido kicked the Marine into the wall with a sickening thud, blood smearing the stone. The warlord’s massive frame turned to Obito, his bloodied fists clenched, his grin wide and feral. Anyone else would have quaked in terror. Kaido was enormous, his aura oppressive, his sheer brutality carved into his every muscle. But Obito? He merely blinked.
Kaido’s voice boomed like thunder. “Kiddo, come here. Join me.”
“No,” Obito replied flatly, folding his arms.
Kaido frowned. “What, you scared of getting hurt? You shouldn’t be. My blood flows through your veins—you’re strong, naturally.”
The Beast didn’t wait for a response, scooping Obito up effortlessly and holding him out like a prize. Obito dangled in the air, his expression deadpan as Kaido pointed at the Marine slumped on the ground. “Punch him,” Kaido commanded.
The Uchiha glanced down at the Marine—a bloody mess of a man, his face battered, but his eyes alive. Wide with fear. Pleading. Trembling. The scene wasn’t unfamiliar. Obito had seen those eyes before: in women, men, children, comrades. Victims of his rage, his grief, his madness.
Back then, emotions had been a switch he could turn off. When Rin died, he’d broken something inside himself to survive. But now? Now that Naruto had cracked him open and brought his heart roaring back to life, he felt everything. Regret. Shame. Disgust.
“I’m not hitting him,” Obito said quietly.
Kaido tilted his head, confused. “Why not?”
“Because hitting people is wrong,” Obito replied, his voice steady but firm.
For a moment, Kaido just stared, his face twisting in disbelief. Then, with a scoff, he muttered, “Are you really my son?”
Obito didn’t flinch. He simply stared back.
Kaido huffed, clearly annoyed but not willing to push the matter further. “You’re young. You’ll change your mind in the future.”
Unlikely, Obito thought, but he let Kaido cling to his delusions.
By now, Obito had mastered reading and writing, much to the astonishment of Kaido’s crew. Whispers of “genius” floated through the ship, irritating Obito to no end.
“I’m not a genius,” the four years old muttered under his breath. “They haven’t met real geniuses like Minato-sensei, Kakashi, or Itachi.”
Obito didn’t consider himself special. He was just a man with too much experience stuffed into a toddler’s body that can’t even use them. But the more he learned about this world, the more he realized how bizarre it truly was.
Devil Fruits?! And the world itself—a sprawling collection of islands with no massive landmasses like the Elemental Nations. It explained the endless ocean, the constant sailing, the prevalence of pirates.
DEVIL FRUITS?!
And then there was Haki. A strange, comforting discovery. It filled the void left by his lost chakra, a new power to explore and master.
Obito rubbed his temples as the knowledge piled on. Giants? Fishmen? Entire races he’d never seen before? Kaido’s monstrous size made sense now—he wasn’t just a freak of nature.
Don’t let him start about Devil Fruits. Seriously? Fruits that gave you powers but cursed you to sink like a stone in water? Insane. That sounds suspiciously like the Chakra Fruit that has been eaten by Kaguya, though…
In their shared room that night, Obito lay on his cot, staring at the ceiling. He thought Kiyō was asleep, but her voice broke the silence.
“Are you still awake?”
He turned his head, raising a brow.
She smiled, clearly pleased to see him awake. “Come here. Sleep in my bed.”
He frowned, embarrassed. “I’m fine.”
She huffed, her tone impatient. “Hurry up.”
Obito sighed, climbing out of bed reluctantly. He shuffled to her side and climbed into her bed, where she immediately pulled him close, her grin wide and unrestrained. Her sudden excitement was unnerving.
Her smile faltered, turning serious. “I’ve been thinking about what you said… why I stay with your father.” Her voice dropped, her expression darkening. “I’ve decided I don’t want to anymore. He’s getting more and more like my jerk father.”
Obito stiffened, his mind racing. Leave Kaido? Where would she go? Would she leave him behind? The thought twisted something in his chest but he held it together, like he always does and asked calmly, “Where are you going?”
“Not me. Us. You’re coming with me, Obito. There’s no way I’m leaving you here.”
He relaxed slightly, hiding the small smile threatening to creep onto his face. “Where are we going, then?” he asked, feigning indifference.
Her eyes sparkled with a childlike excitement. "What do you think about Wano?"