The Cave

  Itachi wasn’t supposed to be wandering the hospital halls, and he wasn’t usually one to go against the rules, but he had started getting quite antsy in his room. Honestly, he thought this whole thing was more fuss than what it was worth. He just needed to stretch his legs a bit is all. And then, he’d go right back to his room, before anyone even noticed.

  He goes to turn a corner, almost running into someone, and he quickly takes a step back to keep from crashing into him. His hands raise in front of his chest, and he opens his mouth to apologize, but the words die in his mouth.

  Definitely an Uchiha, but not one he recognized. His hair was wild and unkept, reaching somewhere around his shoulder blades and covering half his face, the uncovered eye staring down at him. He looks quizzically at Itachi before tilting his head to the side a bit.

  “What happened to you?”

  “Ah—-“ Itachi quickly regains his composure, staring at his bandaged hand and wrist. “I landed on it wrong. The doctor said it is sprained. I think Mother is just worrying too much.”

  A snort from the other, and Itachi blinks up at him. There’s an almost smirk on his lips– it seems to be amusement. He bends down a bit to get a closer look at the bandages, and Itachi raises his arm a bit so that he can. He gives a quiet hum before nodding, and it feels a lot like how some of the other older Uchiha would. Like when a child runs up wanting to show off a cool rock they found. The other didn’t seem too much older than him, however. Even still, there was something in his eye that said more, and Itachi wondered if it was the same other people saw in his.

  The other boy straightened up, looking quite nonchalant. His head was tilted to the side a bit, and he looked like if he had pockets, his hands would be shoved inside of them. Uchihas tended to be composed and formal, and this felt like the opposite, which left Itachi feeling a bit out of his element. Though, he realized it wasn’t in a bad way, per se. Just different. More….relaxed he supposed?

  “So, what’s your name, kiddo?”

  “I—” Itachi’s caught off guard for a moment. He’s never been called ‘kiddo’ before, and he has to take a moment to register it before he can form a response. “Itachi.”

  “Ita—-?” Recognition seems to form in his eye. “Oh, you’re Fugaku and Mikoto’s kid, aren’t you?” A nod in response. “I see. That explains why you look vaguely familiar.”

  “Have we met?” He can’t help the confusion in his voice.

  “How old are you? 4?”

  “Correct.”

  “So, you probably would’ve been….” He hums, head tilting to the side and his eye closing as he thought. “It’s been two years….? I think. I’m not sure about that.” He shrugs. “You were probably about two the last I saw you.”

  That would explain why he recognized Itachi a bit, but Itachi didn’t recognize him. He would’ve been too young to remember.

  “You still have not told me your name.”

  He blinks before looking around a moment, as if seeing if anyone else is around. As if he doesn’t want anyone else to hear. It confuses Itachi, but the hallway is empty besides the two of them so he leans down to the boy, placing a finger to his lips.

  “You have to promise not to tell anyone you saw me,” He winks. “‘Kay?”

  Itachi doesn’t say anything for a moment, and the two of them study each other. Itachi doesn’t understand, and his curiosity gets the better of him.

  “Why?”

  A sigh, and he straightens back up, waving off the question.

  “A bunch of complicated adult stuff you shouldn’t worry about, kiddo.”

  There it is. Calling him ‘kiddo’ again. He finds he doesn’t mind it too much. He understood he was quite grown up for his age, his mind sharp and observant, and he probably understood more than he should, so most people treated him a little more like a small adult than a young child.

  So, to have someone look at him and see a kid. He wondered if anyone else ever saw a kid. Or if he was something else entirely to them. Not a child, not an adult. Just….Itachi.

  “I promise.”

  “Good.” He nods. “My name’s Obito. You don’t gotta remember it, though. I’m probably not gonna be here much longer.”

  “In the hospital?”

  “In the village.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Complicated adult stuff.”

  Complicated adult stuff. Itachi was still curious, but he understood Obito wasn’t going to be telling him any time soon. He wondered if he could ask Father about him.

  Suddenly, the both of them notice someone coming, and Obito scowls and curses under his breath.

  “Remember, you never met me, ‘kay?”

  Before Itachi can even nod, Obito’s gone. Itachi stands there for a moment longer, thinking. It’s the sound of feet behind him and a familiar chakra that causes him to turn around, staring up at Minato.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be in your room?”

  “Everyone is making more of a fuss than necessary.”

  “Itachi….” Minato gives a small sigh, but he’s smiling softly, his gaze gentle as he looks at the boy. “They’re just worried is all. After all the loss of the past couple years—-“

  Itachi nods, understanding. The war had just ended a couple months ago, and then about a month ago, the Kyuubi suddenly attacked the village, and everyone was still on edge.

  Actually, Itachi wonders if he could get the information he wanted now, instead of later.

  “Minato-san, maybe you could help me with something.” Minato tilts his head quizzically and Itachi takes that as his cue to go ahead. “I heard some clan members talking and they brought up a name that I did not recognize.”

  “Oh?” Minato looks confused, and Itachi nods.

  “Yes. Do you know someone named Obito?” There is definitely a reaction to that name. “Apparently he is an Uchiha, but I do not believe I have met him.”

  Minato gives a soft sigh, he starts walking to Itachi’s room, the boy following by his side as he waited for a man to gather his thoughts.

  “Was it about Kakashi?”

  “Yes.” No. He didn’t know what Minato was talking about, but it seemed to be something.

  There’s another sigh, though this one a bit more frustrated. He quickly composes himself, fingers running through his hair.

  “Obito was a student of mine, and one of Kakashi’s teammates. He died on a mission a couple of years ago, though. Before he did, however, he gave his Sharingan to Kakashi.”

  Oh, Itachi was familiar with that, though he hadn’t known all the details. He knew there were members of the clan who were unhappy about Kakashi having the Sharinagan, but Father didn’t want to cause more strife, when things were finally starting to calm down a bit. Though, even Itachi knew things were still rocky.

  “I believe I remember hearing something about that, actually.”

  “I’m honestly surprised you haven’t heard of Obito before now.” Minato shrugs. “Though, I don’t know what kind of relationship he and your father had. Even still, he was Fugaku’s brother—-“

  He’s cut off as Itachi suddenly stops walking, confusion clear on his face. He had no idea Father had siblings? Or— just one sibling? He’s sure he hadn’t ever heard him bring Obito up. Itachi feels something curl in his stomach, but he isn’t sure what it is. It sits there, though, heavy. His train of thought is broken as Minato shakes his head, and they both start walking again, soon reaching Itachi’s room. Minato opens the door, letting Itachi step inside first and make his way to his bed.

  “As I said, I don’t know the kind of relationship they had. Obito didn’t really—-” Minato realizes that with how much Obito tended to go on and on for minutes– hours– it wasn’t ever really about himself. It was about embarrassing things other people did, the old lady he helped, how annoying Kakashi was, how annoying Kushina was, it wasn’t ever—

  It wasn’t ever about him.

  Minato realized he didn’t really know much about him.

  Minato and Itachi stare at each other, both in their own realizations, and Minato finally shakes his head once more, placing a hand on Itachi’s head.

  “You rest, okay? I’m sure you’ll be released soon, and you can go back to your training. Just be a little more careful, yeah?”

  Itachi nods, though he’s still mostly lost in his own thoughts. And perhaps Minato is, too, as he leaves the room.