Chapter Text
Obito Uchiha watched as the anbu escorted Itachi back to the village. Itachi’s dues had come. Turning back to look upon his twelve charges, he realized that his had come as well. They returned the look, watching him closely with varying expressions. The older members were angry and distrustful, the younger ones more curious, and Team Taka bored but listening. Only one expression had an ounce of respect, and that belonged to Kisame. He didn’t care that Obito wasn’t actually Madara, he only cared that Obito had been the leader in the cause he had believed in, and was still the leader of the new cause they were going to be working for.
Becoming their leader, in the light instead of the shadows, would not be an easy task. In fact, it would be a lifelong struggle that was no one but his to bear. Well, it was time to start bearing it.
“Alright then, let’s go.” He motioned, and began to walk, leading the way through the trees to the compound that Tsunade had set up for them.
It didn’t take them long to get there, and they all came to a stop before it. A newly built structure of light wood and white walls, and a red tiled roof, it was smartly placed away from the eyes of Konoha’s citizens, but within the borders and close enough that anbu would have no issue in checking up on them regularly.
Suddenly, looking at the house in front of them, the reality of having to live in the same quarters as each other indefinitely seemed to hit them all at once. They all stood very still, with no small amount grumbling and muttering under their breath. At least in their cells they had space.
Someone had to break the spell, so Obito sighed, and stepped forward to enter the abode first. It was nothing fancy; the entry had shelving for shoes, but to the left, a living area with seating, and beyond that the kitchen area. To the right, there was a bathroom, and beyond that at a wider point in the floor, were sliding doors that led out to a garden. Following the hall straight, four rooms could be seen, with two on either side.
Quickly and efficiently, Obito assigned out the rooms: far left to Konan and Karin, far right to Deidara, Sasori, Hidan, and Kakuzu, closer left to Nagato, Yahiko, and Kisame, and closer right to Suigetsu, Juugo, and Sasuke. Obito, as the leader, had a room of his own at the very end that doubled as his office. It was a small space, but comfortable. It even had an extra bed, in case anyone needed to go into timeout if they kicked up a fuss in their own room.
Once they had all placed belongings in their respective places, Obito called them back to the living room to speak with them.
“I realize that none of you asked for this; I certainly would have chosen to remain dead than come back like this. But this is our punishment, so we will live it out. Tsunade has placed me as your leader, but that doesn’t mean you have to like it. In fact, I expect you all hate me. That’s fine. I don’t need you to like me, only follow my lead. But if you are ever going to be able to listen to me, then you deserve to know the truth.” He paused, gauging all of their faces.
“I have no idea who you are,” Suigetsu said, rubbing his finger underneath his nose, quite pleased with himself.
Obito had to keep from rolling his eyes, choosing instead to look around at the others. No one else said anything; their eyes were fixed on him, and the hardness of the looks would likely have made any other person turn tail and run. It was a good thing Obito wasn’t normal.
He took this as a license to continue, “I have told most of you lies.” His eyes flickered over Nagato, Yahiko, Konan, “That I am Uchiha Madara,” he then looked over the rest of the original members, “that I am an idiot named Tobi.” His eyes met Deidara’s as he said Tobi, and his former teammate’s face was twisted in some mixture of frustration and confusion. Obito made a mental note to make time to address his former teammate’s ire one on one. With that, he told them his story from the beginning. If anyone deserved to know, it was them. When he finished, the silence that followed was deafening.
Yahiko was the first to speak. “So you were fooled then, just as we were.” His tone was almost reluctant, and Nagato and Konan were giving him looks as startled as Obito's own was.
Obito blinked to hide his surprise that Yahiko out of all of them was the one to say something, and so mercifully, when he hadn’t even been a member. He opened his mouth to respond, but Yahiko raised his hand to stop him.
“We’re with you, Boss,” he said, offering his hand. Obito took it, realizing only then that he'd never understood, and probably never would, the man in front of him. He had killed him, destroyed his dreams, and here he was being the first to say he would work with him. He truly was better than any of them. Even after everything that had happened, he stood by his ideals.
“Just Obito is–” He began to protest, for lack of anything else to say, but then Kisame was behind him and clapping him on the back.
“What’s next, Boss?”
Obito had to keep from rolling his eyes. If they all decided to call him that, he wasn’t quite sure what he would do.
“Next, we get to work.”
~*~
Over the next few days, the border guard settled into their new quarters, and Obito set up their teams and rotations.
The teams would be essentially the same as before, with a few changes: Kisame had been called to support Itachi, so would only be called upon in special circumstances; Yahiko would work with Obito, and Nagato and Konan would form a team.
Two teams would always be patrolling the village border on rotation, each setting out in opposite directions from the compound. They started almost immediately, sending Nagato’s team and Sasori’s team, following their basic directives given by the fifth Hokage. But before they left, Obito made sure to speak to Deidara.
Approaching the blonde as he packed his clay up for the trip, he stood near and his mind suddenly blanked of anything to say.
Deidara only glanced up and scowled at him. He evidently had no more a desire to speak to him than Obito did.
“For what it’s worth, I do think your art is pretty unique.” He tried for a slight smile, but it probably came across as more condescending than friendly.
Regardless, Deidara’s eyes lit up, probably against his will. “You really–?” He began, then cut himself off with a scowl. “You’re just saying that, hm.” He was trying to sound upset, but his eyes flickered with varying emotions. Obito remained silent. Deidara wasn’t a quiet man, and would say what he needed to. “So… you’re pretty strong, huh?” It wasn’t really a question, more of an acknowledgement. He had died believing he was the senpai, but the reality was quite different.
Obito nodded slowly. Deidara had heard his whole story, but needed to clarify it for himself. “You bore the brunt of my deception, Deidara… I’m… sorry.” The word still tasted strange on his tongue, but he felt the meaning of it deeper than he thought was possible.
Deidara blinked, as though trying to decide how feisty he could be without risking his neck. “Hmph, as long as you know you owe me. I expect some favors, Boss.” Obito didn’t miss the little upturn of his mouth at the address.
“I’ll pay for a meal or two, but don’t get too needy.” Obito arched his eyebrow at the younger shinobi. “And you don’t have to call me boss.”
Deidara laughed, to Obito’s chagrin. He was realizing too late that his protesting against the title was only making it stick more. Considering the conversation concluded, he offered Deidara a nod as he pulled up his belongings to leave the compound. That was only one box checked on a list a hundred boxes long. It was time to get back to it.
They still had heard no further instructions, which Obito attributed to the change over of leadership to Itachi. It was about time; the fourth great shinobi war had taken a heavy toll on the village’s leader. Thinking of it, he felt that ever creeping pang of guilt, one of the only things he had felt recently.
When he’d awoken after the Rinne Rebirth, Obito hadn’t felt anything. A little annoyed, perhaps, but it was like his emotions had stayed in the grave when he’d come back from it. It wasn’t a good feeling. He’d spent too many years pushing them away, being nothing, being no one. Once Madara’s seal on his heart had been broken and he’d switched sides at the end of the war, it was like his younger self had stepped in to take over. But Obito wasn’t his younger self anymore, and he would never be again; yet neither was he Madara’s puppet, nor Tobi. He was someone new, some combination of all of the above. His emotions needed a little bit of time to adjust to the fact.
Taking a deep breath, Obito shoved away the thoughts. One would’ve thought the months spent in a cell, he’d have been able to work through any of this. But he laughed at the notion; he hadn’t even scratched the surface.
Obito stood from his desk, located in a back room at the end of the compound. Leaving the office area, he decided it was time to check in on the other’s training. He’d done enough paperwork for the day.
He went outside, and to the training area that was beside their compound. Team Taka was training with each other, three pit against one, Sasuke strong enough to take on them all. Obito felt a ghost of pride at it; the Uchiha clan truly was one of the strongest in the Shinobi world, and for the first time in eight years, Konoha had not one, but three, fully powered clan members at their disposal.
Out of the corner of his sight, Obito saw a flicker of movement revealing an anbu member. Turning from Taka’s training session, he walked towards the newcomer.
“What news from the hokage?”
“The fifth hokage is stepping down; I’ve been sent to bring the border guard the news: Uchiha Itachi is being installed as the sixth hokage tomorrow. Your organization is invited to come, under anbu escort.”
“Oniisan is being made hokage?” Sasuke’s voice sounded behind Obito, pride shining through his tone.
Obito nodded. “He is.” To the anbu he said, “We’ll be ready.” The man flickered away.
“Life just might be getting a little better for you soon, Sasuke-kun.” Obito raised an eyebrow at the younger Uchiha.
Sasuke shook his head slowly, a smile at the corners of his lips. “None of that matters, only…” He didn’t get the chance to finish his statement.
“Sasuke!!” An exuberant voice yelled, and they all turned to see Naruto running towards them. He came to a halt right before them, his face shining with excitement. “You heard, right?”
Sasuke returned the expression with a slightly wider smile than before. “We were just told.”
Naruto seemed to have a glint of ‘I-told-you-so’ in his eyes, but left it be, instead greeting Obito with a grin and a wave before turning to report all the latest excitement of the village to Sasuke.
This was the third time the blonde shinobi had been to visit the compound, but Obito had gotten the impression that he’d kept in touch with his teammate even when he’d been incarcerated. He was glad for them, finally able to start mending the fine threads of friendship that had been torn over the years. He tried not to think of the fact that he’d still not seen Kakashi since very briefly at the end of the war, after he’d been revived. They hadn’t really said anything, only he’d seen the strange mix of emotions on Kakashi’s face.
He had no idea what his former friend truly felt about him coming back to this world. Certainly, he’d been glad enough to see him at the end of the war and work with him again once he switched sides, but Obito had also helped them to defeat Kaguya. It was far more a practical thing than an actual care about Obito himself. Kakashi had always been practical.
~*~
The next day, the border guard went in full uniform, under the supervision of six anbu members. Such a guard was really more for the comfort of the villagers, than actually keeping them in line. If Madara’s directive failed and the border guard turned, then there was nothing six anbu could do about a single one of them, much less the entire group.
Still, they kept to the shadows and away from the crowds. They were placed on a roof overlooking the crowds for the ceremony, with a good view of Itachi and his fledgling entourage. Sasuke was allowed to be with his brother for the occasion, while Kisame had been sent to stand with the border guard.
After being proclaimed as the sixth hokage, Itachi’s address was short and focused, much like the man himself. The crowd listened intently, not cheering, but not dismayed either. They were waiting, learning and becoming accustomed to the idea before making their judgements.
The ceremony finished without incident, somehow, and the border guard was directed to return to their compound– with the exception of Obito. He was called to the hokage’s office. For the first time, officially, Itachi’s office.
He slid the door open, stepping inside tentatively. “You called?” He said, getting a survey of the room. The only ones present were Itachi, sitting at the desk, exhaustion evident in his face and his hat to the side with his robe, not the complete outfit but instead simply his title embroidered on a white haori jacket; and Sasuke, who sat on the couch to the side of the room fiddling with a kunai, his face blank.
Itachi glanced up at him from the papers before him. “There’s a matter I wish to discuss with you.”
Obito nodded, walking closer to the desk. “What is it?”
Itachi didn’t reply immediately, jotting down some more notes on the paper in front of him. When he did, he put his pen down and sat back in his chair. “The people are still afraid of the border guard; the end of the war is too close. On the advice of the fifth hokage, I have decided to assign a jounin of Konoha to work with your group. Someone powerful, who has the people’s trust. They will be a liaison between the village and the guard.” Obito could hear the hint of reluctance in his relative’s voice. It was role he had played himself in anbu, and it wasn’t a pleasant one. At least now, it was only a group of criminals, instead of an entire clan.
“I understand,” Obito said, lowering his head at the smallest incline. He was in no position to argue the fact.
In the corner of his eye, he noticed a barely perceptible smirk on Sasuke’s face. Ironic, considering the kid also fell under the babysitting order. “Have something to add, Sasuke?” Obito raised an eyebrow at him.
“Nothing, Boss.” His face had fallen back to true neutral, hiding again whatever emotion he’d let show.
Obito tried to hide the flash of annoyance at his new title, shifting his attention back to the sixth hokage. “Have you decided who you’re going to assign?”
Unlike Sasuke’s slip, the trace of a smile that graced Itachi’s lips was entirely intentional. “I have. In fact, I have summoned him; he should be here any moment.”
Obito sensed his chakra far before he turned to look at him. In fact, as soon as he felt the presence he felt frozen in place. The emotions that felt so frozen before were melting into him faster than he could handle. He wasn’t prepared to face him. What could you say to a friend that you had so hypocritically betrayed in such a cruel way? Even so, he could feel the vibrations of his chakra, reflections of his own turmoil in his friend.
“Hello, Obito.” Kakashi’s voice sounded behind him, the low timbre, so different from his memories yet familiar, sent a shiver down Obito's spine, and goosebumps raised on his arms.
“Kakashi,” Obito managed to force the name out of his mouth, but he sounded quiet, weak.
“Thank you for being here, Kakashi-san.” Itachi bowed his head briefly towards the newcomer.
“Of course, Itachi… sama.” Kakashi returned, the discomfort at the new address towards his former enemy entirely obvious. Kakashi was normally an expert at keeping his emotions in check, but evidently the current predicament was a bit much for even him. At the very least, the lapse was enough to allow Obito to regain control of himself.
He stepped to the side, turning so that both Kakashi and Itachi were in his view.
Itachi wasted no time, and began explaining the details of the assignment and the applicable limitations on the border guard. The length of time on the designation was indefinite, and would begin immediately. In order to keep close tabs on the group, Kakashi would be living with them for the entire duration. Kakashi was there mainly as an observer, and had minimal authority over the guard himself, unless he had determined that Obito had strayed from the group’s objectives for his own. He also would act as an advisor to Obito, but Obito would report directly to Itachi himself.
When he had finished, Itachi sat back again. “That is all. You are dismissed.” Said with the tone of a man who still had many long days and nights ahead of him. Obito felt his younger self a little consoled as he saw the expression Itachi wore. And Itachi was far better suited to the hat than he ever could have been.
“Let’s go then, Sasuke.” Obito motioned to the younger Uchiha and moved towards the door. When Kakashi moved after them, Obito felt a moment of surprise, then wanted to kick himself for it. They were going to be seeing a lot more of Kakashi after this.
Once they had left Itachi’s office, Kakashi stepped back from the duo. “Well, I guess I’ll be meeting you at the compound. It seems I have some belongings to gather.”
Obito nodded. “Of course.” He only had time to speak the words before Kakashi flickered away. As he did, he took the twisted sensation inside Obito with him. He let out a little sigh.
“Let’s go,” He mumbled to Sasuke, too tired to care about formality at that point. He tried not to think about how the only spare space in their abode was in Obito’s room. It was almost as though the fifth had planned this.