Archive of Our Own ^beta

“So why is the Land of Fire called the Land of Fire? Actually, why are any of the lands called what they are?”

“I could tell you, but if you want to know the answer, we’d have to go back to the beginning.”

“Ok, then! Let’s start from the top!”

“Are you sure? It’s a very long story.”

“We have the time!”

“Well… *sigh* I suppose if you insist.”

Once upon a time, before any of the modern Lands were founded, there existed only a single village… and a tree. No one really knows how that tree got there, but most people agreed that it had been there since the beginning of the world, and so, it became known as the God Tree, and they worshipped it like they would any god. 

“Obito, wake up already!” 

Dark eyes snapped open as the boy sat bolt upright in bed. “I’m up!” Next to him, his close friend gave him an irritated look. While his perpetual mask was still in place, one only needed to look at his eyes to know he was scowling underneath it. 

“You’re going to make us late again. How many times do I have to tell you to go to sleep early?” Kakashi scolded. “At least get an alarm!”

Overall, it was a normal morning. 

“I just have a hard time waking up, okay?” the older boy grumbled as he started to get ready (which really just meant putting their clan’s signature cloak on since he slept shirtless). “I don’t mean to do it on purpose. Besides, what’s the point of getting an alarm if you’ll do it for me anyway?”

That cheeky grin (combined with the equally-as-cheeky remark) was going to send the younger boy’s heart into palpitations. He was so grateful for the fact he wore a mask; it would cover up the light dusting of red he had suddenly gained. Unwilling to let the other win, he said, “I wouldn’t have to if you could function like a normal human being.”

“That’s not fair!” The two continued their bickering as they made it to their small village’s main square, Obito trailing behind his shorter companion. “Not everyone can wake up at the crack of dawn like you and then immediately get going. Some people just take a while.” 

Kakashi snorted. “You don’t just ‘take a while’ though. If getting up were a race, you wouldn’t have even made it to the starting line. You’re not even in the running.”

“You’re so mean, Kakashi. What did I ever do to you?” Obito whined. He only got a raised eyebrow in response as if to ask him ‘do you really want to know?’ so he nipped that in the bud. He didn’t need everyone hearing all of Kakashi’s grievances with him. They had been friends for so long, he was terrified of the amount of dirt the petty silver-haired boy had collected over the years. Damn geniuses and their ridiculous memory capacity!

At his friend’s silence, Kakashi couldn’t help a small breath of victory. “That’s what I thought.”

Still, for all that they argued, the very fact that Kakashi came to wake Obito up every morning without fail was evidence enough of their bond. Just looking at them, it could be hard to understand why they stayed friends. Most people in their clan didn’t, but nobody questioned it. The two had lost their parents when they were just wee children, and no one wanted to take responsibility for them, so they let them be. 

The clan wasn’t necessarily wrong in their assumptions. The start of Obito and Kakashi’s friendship had been a rocky one. Back in those early days, their personalities clashed so much it seemed impossible to overcome and achieve any kind of middle ground, much less the depth of understanding for each other that they had now. 

However, fortunately for the two of them, there had been one string holding their tentative connection together: the death of their parents. For all of their bravado, they were inexplicably lonely. Days and nights spent taking care of themselves with nary a warm presence to interact with slowly wore on them. They had been children, after all, accustomed to the happiness of family, so to go without - in such a sudden way - left them bereft. 

Thus, through sheer stubbornness and will, Obito managed to force his way into Kakashi’s carefully guarded heart, chasing away that dreadful loneliness they both felt. 

And that’s the way it’s been ever since. 

Them coming together was nothing so romantic. In fact, they were prone to having explosive arguments and moments where the hut was too quiet because they decided on silent treatment as their method of revenge. But it worked for them, and that’s all that really matters, right? 

“Getting up this early for something so morbid is kind of messed up, don’t you think?” The words were kept to a low mumble as the two friends arrived at their destination. It was already teeming with people, which set Kakashi on edge. He never did like being around crowds very much. Knowing this about him, the older boy purposefully interrupted him and chose a spot at the very outskirts of the square so they weren’t around as many people. Kakashi didn’t argue; his relief was clear and that was reward enough for Obito. 

“It’s just the way things are,” was the straightforward reply. 

The black-haired boy wished it wasn’t. Sadly, that was the society they lived in. 

“Welcome, everyone. I’m sure you’re all intimately aware of why we’ve gathered here today,” the clan head said and cracked a small smile. “Once again, it’s time to honor the gods so that we may continue to enjoy such bountiful harvests. With that said, let’s skip the pleasantries so you can all get back to what you were doing… or in bed, yes?”

The statement drew a few chuckles from the crowd, but everyone soon hushed when the familiar woven basket was brought out. It felt like the world was in slow motion as the clan leader reached in and took out a slip of paper that would decide someone’s unpleasant fate. 

…with sacrifice, of course. For years, they gave up one of their own to feed the God Tree in hopes of good fortune and bountiful harvests. Then, one fateful day, they chose…

“…Obito Uchiha.”

The world went quiet. Or, no - it went muted. Like his head had been dunked underwater and he was drowning. His breath was leaving him and everything moved so slow. Like with all near-death experiences, he could see his life flash before his eyes.

It wasn’t too far from the truth. 

“Obito.” Slowly, ever so slowly, he registered a trembling hand coming toward him. A few more seconds and he could identify that it belonged to Kakashi. 

Kakashi who was shaking. Kakashi with his eyes full of despair and his body language screaming his thoughts when his expression couldn’t. Kakashi who was his first real friend in the village, and still his closest one to this day. 

If it were any other moment, he knew the other boy would hate how much his body betrayed him, showcasing emotions no one else was meant to see. If it were any other moment, Obito would’ve enjoyed the rare display of vulnerability. 

Unfortunately, that display was because of him - for him. 

“I’m ok, Kakashi.” His voice was remarkably steady; it only wavered a tiny bit. Small victories, he supposed. “It’s ok.”

“How can you say that?” Kakashi’s hooded eyes looked even more sunken with his sorrow. “I’m going to be alone.” You’re going to leave me alone went unsaid. The silver-haired boy didn’t want to say it aloud because it wasn’t Obito’s fault. 

They were so lost in their own world and their anguish that they missed all the other clan members leaving. The yearly sacrifice to the God Tree was a tradition; people were so used to it by now that they felt nothing anymore so long as their own name wasn’t called. There was no sympathy to be had when everyone’s head was equally on the chopping block. But, while they were definitely outnumbered, there were a few who still felt bad for those who were chosen and the people close to them, offering sympathy and condolences. In the end, it meant very little; everyone was just relieved it wasn’t them. 

“Let’s just… go home. Please?” His eyes were tired. “I’d rather spend the time we have left there.” 

Kakashi nodded, but his head felt heavy. “That sounds like a great idea.” Usually, it took a lot more for him to concede anything to Obito - they were both petty and annoying like that - but his heart wasn’t in it.

With Obito gone, he wasn’t sure it ever would be again. 

Predictably, the news caused Kakashi and Obito great misery. They were being torn asunder and it hurt. Terribly. But what could they do? It was for the village, and they couldn’t go against the will of the gods.

The walk home was silent as the two wallowed in their shared misery. It was a relief when they finally arrived at their hut, the walls hiding them away from the prying eyes of others.

Immediately, Obito made for the sofa, collapsing on it in a heap of limbs as he let out a tired sigh. Kakashi felt the same way, but he maintained some decorum and sat upright next to the dark-haired boy.

“So what do you want to do? We still have a long time before nightfall.”

“Well, I definitely don’t want to spend my last hours in this world doing work.” If nothing else, at least Obito still had the good humor to make jokes. He chuckled for a bit at his own quip, but then fell silent and somber. “Can you just lay here with me?” 

Obito was ashamed to say it, but he had harbored a crush on his best-friend-slash-rommate for a while now. At first, he had thought the butterflies in his stomach that always appeared whenever he talked to the other boy was just caused by nerves. Kakashi was perfect, after all. He was the model clan member - good at everything he did and a huge asset to the village with his intellect, hardworking tendencies, and skill. Obito thought he was just intimidated. 

It couldn’t have been farther from the truth.  

He had only recently realized the actuality of his feelings… but now it was too late. He was to die by the end of today for the sake of the clan’s prosperity. 

And, yes, he could take advantage of this perfect opportunity to confess his feelings to Kakashi so he could die without regrets. But he knew he couldn’t do that to someone he claimed he loved. In the event that Kakashi (somehow, miraculously) returned his feelings, it would be cruel to give the boy that kind of gift only to take it away almost immediately.

And Obito had always been too soft - too willing to help others even at the cost to himself. His self-sacrificing habits were something he knew his friend hated, but the dark-haired boy would rather live with regret than let his friend shoulder that burden in his stead. 

So he did what he thought was best. “Not like that, asshole. Get your mind out of the gutter,” he said to Kakashi’s raised (and suggestive) eyebrow. Expecting it, the other boy just snorted.

“Well, move over then, you big lug. You’re taking up my half!” Just like that, the tension dissipated as they devolved back to their old habits of arguing over every little thing. 

Unfortunately, time seemed to pass faster when they goofed off with each other. Before the two knew it, the sun was preparing to set. Hurriedly, Obito ended whatever argument they had started on and dragged Kakashi out of the hut, trying to catch the last sunset of his life with the person who had stuck by his side the longest.

“Obito, what-!” was Kakashi’s token protest at being bodily hauled by the older boy. But then he saw what his friend had been aiming for and he shut his mouth. 

It was a beautiful sight; the sky being lit up in hues of red, orange, and yellows with the stray pink and purple made it look more like a painting rather than real life. Standing there, side by side, the scene would’ve been perfect if it weren’t for the fact that they still had Obito’s impending doom hanging over their heads. Kakashi was almost too distraught to enjoy it, though you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking— his expression was more closed off than normal, locking his heart tightly away lest he did something he would regret. 

(Confessing his feelings would be a really bad idea and he didn’t want to add more to Obito’s plate - he would be a shitty friend, and didn’t that word hurt more than ever?) 

The dark-haired boy, on the other hand, had reached a serene state of acceptance. He much preferred it over the turmoil he had been experiencing just a few hours ago. While he wasn’t able to be with Kakashi in the way that he truly wanted - and now he never would - it was enough for their last moments together to have been some of their best. 

“Obito-“

“Hey, Kakashi-“

They both spoke at the same time and laughed when they realized it. Then, the silver-haired boy inclined his head. “You first.”

A cheerful grin, so characteristic of Obito that it hurt to look at, made its way onto the older boy’s face. Even now, he prioritized others’ happiness. 

“I just wanted to say that you’ve been the best friend I’ve ever had! Thanks for sticking by me all this time,” he said. “Sometimes, I know it feels like we argue more than not, but I’ve enjoyed it. Putting up with each other.” 

Kakashi nodded along. His throat suddenly felt tight and scratchy, so he didn’t trust himself to say anything just yet. It all felt an awful lot like a goodbye speech. 

Obito paused for a long moment, seeming to be waiting for something. When Kakashi didn’t speak up, he searched his eyes. Then, “Anyway, I don’t wanna say more and ruin the mood… was there something you wanted to tell me?”

“Yeah.” It came out rough and hoarse, so Kakashi cleared his throat and tried again. “I wanted to say the same. You beat me to it this time.” No. That’s not what I wanted to say. What I want to say is that I love you. I have for a while now. You are the light I needed in my life. I wish you didn’t have to go and take that light with you, leaving me back in my darkness. But none of it came out. His mouth wasn’t listening to his brain. Even at the most crucial time, it seemed that Kakashi still couldn’t bear his soul, and that would be his burden to bear. 

Obito was a little disappointed, but he did his best not to show it. After all, that would be hypocritical. If he didn’t have the strength to confess, how could he expect Kakashi to? Obito was a little emotionally oblivious, but Kakashi was emotionally stunted. Or maybe repressed was the better word. And while the older boy thought there could be something between them, that may be his own feelings and stress over their current situation coloring his vision. “Heh, yeah. I finally beat you at something! Where’s my congratulations?” 

It was a good attempt at clearing the emotionally-charged air. Any more talk of feelings and one (or both) of them would simultaneously combust.

Eventually, their time came to an end. The gods had come to take their due. 

“Obito Uchiha.” 

Those two words, spoken without inflection, pierced through the air. It felt like a knife with the way it made their hearts stop beating (temporarily). The two boys immediately turned around to meet the eyes of two guards and the village priest. Used to this dirty work as they were, their eyes showed no pity; they were serious and hard, not allowing any wiggle room for escape. 

“It’s time, son,” the priest spoke gravely. 

Beside Obito, the silver-haired boy clenched his hands into fists. But no matter how much he detested everything that was happening (this was all wrong!) he couldn’t do anything about it. He had no power here. 

With a bitter smile, Obito bid his friend farewell for the final time. And Kakashi could only watch as he turned his back to him to follow the trio. His eyes stayed glued to the four figures all the way until they disappeared into the distance. 

The sky was dark and the stars were twinkling by the time they finally made it to their destination: the grounds where the God Tree had sprung one fateful day. 

To Obito, who had never been the most patient person, the trek was excruciating. Excruciatingly boring, that is. It felt like they were never going to get there, and kami knows Obito tried to keep himself entertained, but after receiving a death glare, he figured he should just keep his mouth shut. The longer they walked, though, the more he regretted that decision - if he was going to die anyway, he might as well annoy the bastards sentencing him while he was at it. They deserved it. 

Despite the darkness, the tree stood out. Even though he could hardly see anything, Obito could still spy the silhouette of it, and it was massive. The trunk was so thick it may have been able to fit a village in its circumference, while its many roots formed a dangerous web of terrain around it that made it hard just to stand in front of it. 

The dark-haired boy was gobsmacked, the mere sight of the tree in all its majesty enough to render him speechless (which was a hard thing to do - he was definitely a yapper). While he had lived in the village for well over a decade, he had never actually been able to lay eyes on the tree that they worshipped. Just like everyone else, he remained in the dark; only the priest, guards, and village leader were allowed to make their way into the sacred grounds. And the sacrifices too, of course, but they didn’t exactly have any opportunity to tell others about what they’d seen. 

Suddenly, the boy felt someone roughly nudge his back, forcing him forward. He snapped out of his daze enough to remember to follow them as the group carefully made their way across the roots in order to stand directly in front of the tree. From up close, it was even more amazing! Obito craned his head to look at the top, but he soon realized that he’d have to be lying on his back in order to get the full glimpse because it was just that tall. But he wasn’t particularly inclined to lay down on the grass - if you could even call it that. The ground beneath his feet, just like all of the earth within a few miles vicinity of the tree, looked dead. Nothing about it felt sacred at all, and it unnerved Obito. The closer they got to the tree, the more he could smell something strange and distinct - only now that he was here at the source of it was he able to finally put a name to it. 

It smelled like rotting. That couldn’t be right, could it?

It was probably just the bodies of all of the sacrifices before him, their corpses absorbed by the tree and serving as fertilizer. That was a morbid thought. When he had been picked as a sacrifice, he didn’t think he would literally nourish the tree. 

“Uchiha boy.” Obito tuned back in just as the two guards manhandled him into a spot in front of the tree that looked like it was still soaked with blood. It must be the sacrifice spot— but still, the last sacrifice had been a year ago! Why hadn’t the blood been buried or covered yet?

The dark-haired boy was so disturbed by the strangeness of the situation that he didn’t utter a peep of protest at the rough handling. He grumbled a bit after, but obediently stood still as the priest and guards started to chant. 

He sighed. I guess this is how I die. Goodbye, cruel world. Take care of Kakashi for me. 

Then, just as he thinks he’s about to see the light, a voice calls out to him. It comes out of nowhere and startles him so bad that he actually jumps.

“Be quiet, boy,” the priest hissed, attempting to resume the chant after Obito’s disruption. 

But now Obito couldn’t sit still. Where had that voice come from? Who was it? And why where they speaking to Obito?

I must be going crazy, he thought. And, as if to spite him, the voice spoke again. 

It’s not your imagination, boy. 

There it was again! Louder this time, and it even sounded vaguely amused, as if it found Obito entertaining. Even in death, it seemed he wouldn’t find peace, made fun of to his last moment. His life truly sucked. 

“This isn’t funny, you know!” Obito looked around wildly. They probably thought he had well and truly lost his mind (to be fair, he still wasn’t sure that wasn’t the case), but he couldn’t let it go. Being chosen as the sacrifice was one thing. But being taunted at what was supposed to be his last seconds in the world? 

Obito wouldn’t - couldn’t - let that stand! 

Aggravated, the priest gestured for one of the guards to step forward. “Go over there and shut him up, please. We’ll be stuck here all night if this goes on.” Suffice to say, no one wanted to be out here any longer than they had to be with the late hour (Obito included, though his opinion didn’t matter much because he was going to be dead soon), because the guard closest to the boy forcefully held him to stop his erratic movements. 

Just before he could slap a hand over his mouth, Obito managed to slip out, “Wait! You’re telling me you seriously didn’t hear anything?”

“Stop with the theatrics, Uchiha,” the priest growled. “If you think this stalling will save your life, you’re sorely mistaken.”

“But I’m being serious! There’s someone here!” Obito swiveled his head as much as he could while trapped, trying to catch the voice again. He pleaded in his head for it to make its presence known so he could prove them wrong, but alas, it seemed to have abandoned him at the most crucial time. The dark-haired boy sighed, hanging his head, and ceased struggling. 

“Giving up? About time.” The ritual continued. 

Finally, after what seemed like forever to Obito, it was over. There was just one step left. As the priest neared, he couldn’t help but scoff at the young sacrifice’s expression. Even held down and muzzled, his eyes were shining with an interesting contrast of resignation and defiance. 

“I knew you were always an odd one amongst our clan, but I had never considered that you were just plain crazy,” he continued as he produced the sacrificial dagger from the folds of his cloak, “Really, I don’t know how or why you and that Hatake boy stayed friends for so long.”

Squick. Even though he was prepared for it, Obito couldn’t stop his wince, eyes momentarily falling shut in pain. Still, he had his pride. And so, even with blood blooming and bursting forth, he maintained his stare-off with the priest. 

“Tch. I’m loathe to say thank you to the likes of you, but a sacrifice is a sacrifice.” With a quick wave of his hand, the boy was released, but without the guard holding him upright, he immediately crumpled to the ground. “We appreciate your service to the village. May your soul find our gods.”

And they left, turning their back on him as he felt his life fading as fast as his blood seeped out of him. There was nothing to left to do but wait. 

Accepting death, Obito simply laid there, thinking, when his thoughts were interrupted by a thump. He raised his head and squinted at the object in front of him. It was an apple that hadn’t been there before - shiny and exuding some kind of strange, blue aura. Otherworldly as it was, it looked like something right out of a dream. 

The God Tree would get its sacrifice, and this time would be no different. However, as Obito laid there, something strange happened. It seemed that the tree had borne fruit. A gleaming apple, supernatural in quality, laid in front of him, tempting him to take a bite.

Had he died already and just didn’t know it?

Do you want to live, boy?

The voice again. This time, though, Obito was too tired to argue. 

“Of course I want to,” he croaked. “I don’t… want… to leave Kakashi by himself.”

Great; now he was talking to himself and airing all his troubles to a disembodied voice in his head. 

Then eat. Eat it and live. The fruit of the tree will restore you and you will be able to go back to your friend.

Fruit of the tree? Is that where the apple had fallen from and why it looked so out-of-place? Frowning, Obito studied the apple, and after seconds of nothing happening, hesitantly reached out with all of his remaining strength. It was a pain to accomplish just that small movement, every muscle in his body screaming at him, but he didn’t exactly have the luxury of time. 

Fuck it. If it was all just his imagination or not, it didn’t matter. He didn’t really have any other options here.

…So Obito bit into the apple. 

It felt like he couldn’t get enough, a feeling compelling him to take and take and take, as if his stomach was a void. Like a man possessed, he consumed the fruit faster than anything he’d ever eaten until there was nothing left.

For a second, nothing happened. He had taken a risk following that voice and it hadn’t panned out. But then, a minute or two after, laying there and staring at the empty space his hand was cradling, his body felt strange. He felt a flux of unexplained energy building inside him. It flowed through every pore in his body that it felt like he was a bomb ready to explode. Or like his spirit was just unceremoniously shoved back into his body from where it already had one foot out the door. 

With his newfound vitality, Obito could only think about one thing: getting back to Kakashi. He didn’t know how long this lease on life would last, so he had to hurry. Unfortunately, the burst of energy did little for his actual wound, which was still sending out pain signals in abundance. 

Damn it, I can’t let such a small thing stop me! Not now - not when I’m so close!

The boy clenched his eyes shut and tried to will it all away… and, to his surprise, his body obeyed. He felt the gaping wound in his stomach stitch itself closed and quickly sat up to see if he was just imagining things, but the sight that he was met with was nothing short of a miracle. 

Where there was once an open hole, there was now only smooth, unblemished skin - it was as if he had never been injured in the first place. But the pain had been so intense, he knew it was real. And the cruel words spoken to him were certainly not just his imagination. 

After that pleasant surprise, Obito took stock of himself to see if anything else had changed, and he realized that he felt better than he ever had in his life - refreshed, restored. Just a minute ago, his body felt too weak to even crawl, but now, he could stand with no problem. Hell, he could probably run with no issues!

Wait. Speaking of running—

“Kakashi!” He suddenly remembered his original goal. There was time to think about all these odd changes later. If there was truly an expiration date, he had to take advantage of it while he still could. 

Obito wouldn’t realize it for a while yet, but eating the fruit of the God Tree had given him chakra. And even though it was something entirely new, somehow, he managed to make it his. He used it to heal himself, and with his life renewed, Obito hurried home. 

As he ran home, Obito cursed himself for not paying more attention to the journey. If he had, maybe he wouldn’t be scrambling trying to find the way back to the village. He was operating purely on instinct at this point, following trees and flowers that looked familiar, which he knew wasn’t the most foolproof method but he really had no other leads.

After a while of struggling, he found himself at the fields near the border of the village. Fortunately for him, the night still hadn’t made way for the sun yet, so the sky hid him from anyone who might still be awake at the late hour (or early depending on how you thought of it). 

As carefully as he could, Obito snuck into the village. So far from the main square, his and Kakashi’s hut didn’t have many lights to guide the way, but he knew the way home by heart, thus even the darkness couldn’t stop his pace.

If he wasn’t running on an adrenaline high and sheer excitement to see his friend (maybe something more was possible now!) again, he probably would’ve thought about how it would look for him to just stroll in like a living ghost. As it was, well, Kakashi could forgive him one more time… in his long line of offenses, this one was hardly his worst.

“Kakashi!” Obito whispered as he shook his friend to wake him. 

The silver-haired boy shot up in an instant, holding a kunai to his friend’s neck on instinct. 

Obito froze, holding his hands up in surrender as he waited for Kakashi to realize there was no threat. He swore he hadn’t meant to give the other boy a heart attack! 

When Kakashi finally got his bearings, he squinted at Obito like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The kunai wasn’t lowered. “…Obito?” The whisper was tremulous, much like its owner who looked like he had seen a ghost. “Is that really you? Am I still dreaming or have my nightmares followed me into the real world?” 

“It’s me, Kakashi.” He would put his hand around his friend’s - the one gripping the kunai like a lifeline - if he didn’t think it would get his throat slit. Kakashi had never been volatile or emotional, but this situation was unprecedented. No sacrifice ever came back alive. 

“Prove it. Prove you’re really Obito.”

Almost immediately, a thousand memories sprung up of their time together. On autopilot, Obito started to recount the most important ones. “We met when I was 8 and you were 6. I saw you in the river fishing by yourself. This was just after your dad had died, and I knew how you must’ve felt, as someone in the same situation, so I decided to try to be your friend.” Kakashi’s expression wavered and Obito took that as a good sign. “Your favorite color is white because of the way your dad’s blade reflects when you swing it. You dislike sweets, but you’ll still make them because I like them.” As he talked, his voice grew more confident. And not once did his eyes wander. “One time, we got into a big argument - about what, I can’t even remember now - but we ignored each other for days after. Out of sheer stubbornness, I decided to take on a mission that I probably wasn’t qualified for just so I could leave the hut and be away from you. It was a mistake and you ended up having to rescue me, losing an eye in the process… We both felt so bad that we promised never to go to bed angry at each other again.”

After his long-winded speech, there was a moment of complete silence. Obito didn’t let it bother him; for once, he waited patiently as Kakashi processed everything.

The other’s eyes dilated. “It’s… it’s really you!” Then something completely unexpected happened. Kakashi surged forward and wrapped his arms around Obito. For the first time since they’d met, the other boy had initiated the hug. Dumbfounded but so incredibly elated by that fact, Obito hurried to return it. “How are you alive? Did you… did you run away?” Kakashi looked at him with fear. “You didn’t fight them, did you? Idiot, if you were planning something, you should’ve told me!”

“Kakashi! Breathe!” Obito would laugh at the irony if his friend weren’t currently on his way to hyperventilating. “I didn’t do any of that. Come on— I’m not that dumb!”

“I don’t know. Sometimes, you make me wonder,” Kakashi muttered. Thankfully, he seemed to have calmed down. Good! If he had the energy to bitch about Obito, then he was just fine. Just this once, though, the Uchiha would let it pass.

“Sooo… how are you?”

Kakashi rolled his eyes. “I should be asking you that,” he rebutted. “How are you here, then? You’re telling me they stabbed you and you still got away somehow? Or did you get away before that?” 

“Yes, they stabbed me. No, I didn’t get away?”

“…what is that supposed to mean?”

“I mean— the ritual went as planned. They stabbed me, I bled out, all that boring stuff.” 

The silver-haired boy looked at his companion with an incredulous look as if saying ‘Are you kidding me?!’ with just his eyes. He was disturbed by the older’s nonchalance at his apparent ‘death’ but didn’t deign to interrupt. 

“The interesting part is what happened after!” Obito spoke animatedly as Kakashi just quirked a brow. “So I was laying there dying, right? Well, just when I thought it was all over, there was this apple. It apparently fell down from the branches of the God Tree itself!“

“How can you be so sure?” Kakashi finally cut in. 

“I’m getting to that part! But, for now, I’ll tell you that it looked strange. It was an apple, that’s for sure, but it had a weird, blue aura surrounding it. It almost felt like it was from another world.”

“Are you fucking with me, Obito? It isn’t funny, you know.” 

“No, I swear!” The dark-haired boy jumped up. “That’s what I really saw!”

The younger boy simply huffed, and Obito took that as his cue to keep going. “Anyway, as I was saying— this apple looked really weird. Then, something even weirder happened. When I stepped into the sacrifice area, I heard a voice. It sounded like someone whispering into my ear, but there was no one there! I tried to tell the guards and the priest, but they didn’t believe me.” 

“I wonder why.” 

“Listen, smartass, I know what I heard! And it was this same voice that told me to eat the apple if I wanted to live. I did, of course… I wanted to get back to you. So I ate it. Almost instantly, I felt so energized! My wounds were still there, I was still bleeding out, but I felt so powerful all of a sudden,” Obito waved his arms wildly. “Obviously, it didn’t matter how much energy I had if my body couldn’t keep up with it. So, I dunno, I just focused on getting better… and somehow it worked? The next thing I know, my stab wound’s stitched itself closed, and I feel stronger than I have ever had in my life.”

“So you just… willed away your fatal injury? Obito, that’s…” Impossible, Kakashi thought.

“I know, I know, it doesn’t sound real. But look!” Obito pulled his shirt up to expose his stomach, which, as he said, looked unperturbed. If his clothing didn’t have a hole from where the knife had undoubtedly pierced through to the skin, Kakashi would’ve thought it never happened at all. 

Oh, and there was also the copious amount of blood staining the white fabric. That was unlikely to be fake. Kakashi’s superior nose would have sniffed it out, so the fact that there were no alarm bells ringing in his head meant that all of that blood was truly Obito’s. It was a terrifying thought as the amount of blood present was definitely enough to kill a man. 

…

“Why can’t anything ever be simple with you?” Kakashi sighed. 

“It’s because I’m awesome.” Though Obito still pouted. 

For a long moment, there was nothing but silence broken only by the chirping of crickets and cicadas. Obito didn’t want to rush Kakashi, but the late hour was really wearing on the silver-haired boy’s ability to consider the information being presented to him. He had been up a majority of the night, nightmares and guilt plaguing him every time he shut his eyes, and had actually just fallen asleep when Obito barged in.

“Well, whatever,” Kakashi said, making a decision. “It’s still late. Let’s go to sleep; the rest we can figure out in the morning.” And that decision was to table this conversation for the morning. 

“Okay,” Obito agreed easily. He was probably tired too, Kakashi realized, and he had a lot more reason to be. While the younger boy was at home, staying up out of cowardice, the other boy had been fighting for his life out there!

“Come on. After the day you’ve had, you need to sleep a lot more than I do.” The Uchiha needed no further invitation (it was his house too, though) as he followed Kakashi to their shared bedroom. Not a single thing had been moved; everything was exactly as it had been before he left. For some reason, Obito thought that wouldn’t be the case, but he was glad to be proved wrong. 

The dark-haired boy hesitated. “…where should I sleep?”

Tired as he was, Kakashi couldn’t even muster a confused expression. “What do you mean? Where you always have.”

“Okay.” The tension (he hadn’t even realized it was there) left him immediately. It was such a no-nonsense answer - just so Kakashi - that Obito couldn’t help but laugh. What started out as snorts turned into full chuckles, the utter glee of just being alive to appreciate nuance like that suddenly overtaking him. 

Meanwhile, the boy in question just rolled his eyes, used to his friend’s antics. “Weirdo,” but no one could deny the warm smile and tone, especially coming from someone like Kakashi who kept his feelings close to his chest. 

As soon as they lay in their futons, unconsciously facing each other out of habit, they were out like a light. 

The next morning was… chaotic. 

Kakashi was the first to wake, of course, and startled so bad he froze when his eyes opened and saw Obito laying in front of him. Honestly, he had been half convinced that last night had been a fever dream brought on by his desperate and depressed mind. 

As he waited for his heart to calm down, Kakashi simply stared at the very familiar face… a face that he thought lost to him forever, only to return in the middle of the night like some kind of wraith. 

He was tempted to reach out, to touch that smooth skin and make sure the body it was attached to was actually real and not just a figment of his imagination, but then the boy himself stirred. 

“Mhn… wha’ time is it?” Obito mumbled, squinting in the bright light of day. 

“Probably around 11 in the morning, judging by how bright it is and where the sun is at.” 

The dark-haired boy, who had previously been sitting up and scrubbing the sleep out of his eyes, suddenly fell backward into a very undignified heap. “Ugh! Let’s just go back to sleep.”

Kakashi huffed in amusement. 11 was already quite late for an early riser like him. Though, considering the night they both had had, he would let it go. Still… there were things that needed to be discussed that could not wait. The late hour had only been an excuse to postpone. 

“As much as I would love to do that—“

“Don’t lie, Kakashi, you workaholic.”

“We should really get back to where we left off last night. Starting with: what now? Did you even have a plan before you came all the way back here?” 

Obito rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Uh… no. To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking at all yesterday. All I had in my head was…” Getting back to you, he wanted to say. Instead, what came out was, “Going home.”

If Kakashi was disappointed by that answer, he didn’t show it. Instead, he simply sighed and crossed his arms in annoyance. “That’s the problem. You never think, Obito.”

The other felt the undercurrent of anxiety in his friend, so instead of returning the irritation, he just faced the younger with a determined gaze. “I know you think it’s stupid. It was dumb of me to come back with no idea of what comes after. But… being here… I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” 

The silver-haired boy closed his eyes. Damn Obito and his earnestness! It was hard to stay mad at him when he was just so sincere in everything he did and said. 

After a harrowing night, Kakashi and Obito were reunited and all was well… but their troubles weren’t over yet.

“Ok, that’s nice and all, but we still need a pl—“

“Kakashi? Who’re you talking to?” Suddenly, a head peeked into their hut. “It’s late for you to still be in bed. Are you okay? Is this about…” Both boys froze at the arrival of one of their peers. “…yesterday.” 

Kakashi hurried to cover Obito, but it was too late. The other boy had already seen the Uchiha - alive and doing well, even - and covered his mouth in disbelief. Three sets of wide eyes met each other, all seemingly unsure of what to do next, until, finally, the trespasser turned heel and ran away. 

“Shit! If he tells the chief about you, who knows what will happen!” Kakashi surged up, making a mess of the room as he tried to pack a bag of essentials as quick as possible. “We have to leave now.”

In total contrast to his pacing friend, Obito was practically frozen. “Kakashi, I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to drag you into this.” 

“What are you talking about, idiot?” The younger boy rolled his eyes. “I was already part of it, and I was always going to be part of it. I never should’ve let them take you— but now that you’re here, there’s no way I’m going to just let you go by yourself.”

“Kakashi…” Obito sniffed, eyes getting a little teary. 

“You’d die if left to your own devices,” Kakashi shook his head fondly. “Now, come on. Grab whatever you need. There’s not much time.”

Finally, finally, Obito got the hint and began moving. The silence between them would be comfortable if not for the tension caused by their limited time and the reason they had to leave in the first place. Neither of them had ever lived away from the village, and scarcely had a plan in place, but Kakashi wasn’t hailed as a genius for nothing! He’d figure it out eventually when both he and Obito were relatively out of danger.  

The two departed some minutes later with heavy burdens but light hearts. Always the optimist, the Uchiha decided to treat their abrupt exit rather as an adventure he was taking with a dear friend. 

Unfortunately, only a couple miles into their journey, they started to hear the telltale sounds of being followed. To most people, the rustling of branches wouldn’t be cause for alarm, but Kakashi had always been observant. Not to mention, the change in wind direction had all but wafted the familiar scents of their village head straight to Kakashi’s sensitive nose (one of the reasons he always kept his mask on). The boy tensed, preparing to bolt and drag Obito along with him whether the other liked it or not, but fortunately for him, it seemed that his friend had come to the same conclusion. With a grim look, the dark-haired boy nodded at his companion, and with the barest nod of his head as a signal, both of them ran. 

Kakashi naturally followed after Obito, who already seemed to know exactly where to go. He would probably be mortified to find out that the other was relying purely on instinct and muscle memory at that point. Something was telling him to go back, and rather than leading them on a hopeless chase that would inevitably end in them being lost, he thought it would be better to just listen. 

Behind them, their pursuers had abandoned their attempts to conceal their presence and were now razing through the undergrowth.

The minutes passed like hours as Obito steered everyone in the direction of the God Tree. 

When they arrive, the grounds are as he left it last night. In fact, the Uchiha was pretty sure that the pool of blood in front of the tree, still fresh and gleaming red in the daylight, was his. It seemed that Kakashi thought the same because he suddenly looked sick. Despite that, he bravely followed Obito as the older boy practically ran to the tree. 

Just as they reached the base, their pursuers broke through the tree line. While the network of large roots would hinder them, it wouldn’t hold them off for very long. 

Knowing this, Kakashi looked at his friend with an expression that practically screamed ‘What now?!’ but Obito didn’t know.

He shut his eyes, trying to rack his brain, when a familiar voice boomed inside his skull. 

I knew you would be back.

The relief he felt at that was short-lived as the village chief and several of their best warriors closed in on them. At their approach, Kakashi valiantly brandished his tanto; though he knew this was a fight he couldn’t win, he could at least bring some of them down with him!

“Do you even understand what you’ve done? You broke the cycle and now you’ve doomed us all!”

Obito’s mouth flapped open and closed like a fish as he scrambled for words to explain himself, but none would come. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kakashi shift to an offensive stance, which only made him panic more. Then, as if to save him from further embarrassment, the disembodied voice that apparently only he could hear made itself known again. 

Fuse with me.

“What?!” 

Kakashi startled at Obito’s outburst, lowering his guard to give him a worried look. It was only a second, but it was enough for one of their opponents to take a swipe at him. Fortunately, Obito had enough awareness to quickly grab the younger boy by the scruff and pull him away, the arc of the blade just barely missing him. 

What are you waiting for, child? Your friend will die.

“But I don’t know how—“ The two of them lay against the tree, trying to catch their breath. 

Leave that to me. 

The ground shook with powerful tremors. Their attackers immediately stopped what they were doing, awed yet terrified as they watched their beloved tree’s roots break the earth. Then, the branches of the great tree began to coil around Obito (and Kakashi by extension). 

The village chief held up a hand, signaling for the rest of the squad to retreat to a safer distance. Unfortunately, Kakashi did not have such luxury. The roots and branches were coming in fast, but in the last second… Obito leapt forward and bodily shoved Kakashi out of the encroaching cocoon. 

The silver-haired boy could only stare with wide eyes as his friend was completely engulfed. “Obito!” He barely felt it when he hit the ground hard, the fear overpowering the pain.

There’s an agonizing scream coming from within the tree, which was now turbulently roiling. A big mass started to protrude from the middle, prompting Kakashi to attempt to make his way through with the hopes of freeing Obito, but a blinding light stops him in his tracks. He held his arm in front of his eyes to shield himself from the worst of it and only barely manages to jump out of the way when the mass splinters outward. 

The alarmed shouts around him tell him some weren’t as lucky. 

What emerges from the chrysalis… is nothing short of stunning. 

It’s Obito. But at the same time, it’s not. The teenager had been transformed. Gone were his distinctive black hair and dark eyes; in their place was shockingly white hair (almost like Kakashi’s) and eerie purple-ringed eyes. His skin had gained a greenish-white tint… and were those scales?! 

At least his hair and general body shape stayed the same; it still belonged to Obito.

Hovering there, though… with horns on his head, a blank expression, radiating an aura of power, and being blanketed by the tree of myth— he looked like a god. Their god.

Maybe the village leaders were right about the tree after all. Except, Kakashi was sure this wasn’t what they imagined. 

“…Obito?” Kakashi broke the silence.

The god (half-god?) turned his new eyes toward his friend. Without saying anything (the quiet was really starting to unnerve Kakashi), he floated down until he was touching the ground just in front of the younger boy. 

“Obito? Is that you?” He wanted to reach out, but hesitated. 

The other boy seemed to be at war with himself for a second, but he eventually nodded to Kakashi’s question. “Yes. Home?”

“You want to go home?” A nod. “Well, that’s up to—“  Kakashi swiveled his head, only to find their village chief and the squad he brought with him all kneeling on one knee with their heads bowed. “?!”

“Kami-sama! Thank you for gracing us with your presence. We are at your mercy.”

Obito simply stared, uncomprehending. He turned to Kakashi as if demanding him to respond in his place. “Uh,” said Kakashi eloquently. He had never been good with words; he wasn’t prepared to be put on the spot like this! Obito was always the one doing the talking!

Thankfully, he was saved from further stuttering by the village chief. “Now that you’re here, you must come with us to the village! Please. Everyone will be so honored to meet you!” 

Kakashi sent an uneasy glance Obito’s way, but it seemed the other still didn’t feel like speaking (or handling his mess that he’d dragged Kakashi into). Sighing, the silver-haired boy steeled himself to be the voice of their duo.

“Sure. We’ll go with you,” Kakashi responded for him. “But! If I sense any intention to do Obito harm, we’re leaving.” Or Obito, radiating that commanding, uncontrollable energy, would kill them all. Honestly, Kakashi probably didn’t need to worry about him. 

“Of course not. Why would we hurt our god?” It was practically a scoff.

You were trying to kill us just a second ago! Hunted us down like dogs! Kakashi wanted to scream at them, but refrained. He had a feeling that Obito wouldn’t react very well to his anger. There was some sort of aura to him, strong and wild, that would likely respond to any kind of provocation. And he seemed attached to Kakashi, so if he sensed any kind of upset, who knows what would happen? 

Best not to find out. 

“Lead the way, then.”

When they make it back to the village, they’re greeted with cheers. With Obito’s new appearance, the villagers would probably have been more wary were it not for the chief - beaming with excitement and definitely not trying to kill them - leading the way. 

It’s a little surreal. Just this morning, they left this place as fugitives. Now, they were being welcomed as heroes. Or gods, in Obito’s case. 

“Everyone! Gather around! We come back to you with exciting news!” The chief announced, ”Our God has emerged from the God Tree! All of these years of devotion… and we have been rewarded. Rejoice! A new age has come for us all!”

Kakashi stood awkwardly beside Obito, who looked unbothered by his former village people crowding around him, observing his new features with fascination and awe. However, the minute they started pressing up too close and pushing Kakashi away, he growled. 

Immediately, everyone took a step back as the gravity in the air shifted. 

No one moved for several seconds, afraid to anger the god. 

It was the right thing to do. 

Determining no threat to Kakashi, Obito’s proverbial hackles lowered. This time, everyone was a lot more cautious with their approach (they took care not to jostle Kakashi). 

“Excuse me, mister god?” A brave child spoke. Impressively, she didn’t even flinch when she got said god’s full attention. “What is this… energy I feel around you? Or is it inside you?”

Everyone waited with bated breath. Then, “It’s… chakra.” Even Kakashi was surprised that Obito had responded. 

Perhaps emboldened by the success of his vocal cords, the half-god then leaned down, crouching in front of the child so that they were eye level. He raised his hands and formed a cup with them, from which a blue essence sprung forth. It rippled and swayed like it was being buffeted by the wind. “See?” His demonstration had, once again, garnered everyone’s attention. 

“I see! That’s so cool!” The child’s eyes sparkled. “So how does chakra work, mister god?”

A new age, indeed.

A few years later…

“Now that everyone has somewhat of a handle on chakra, the hard part is over, at least.” Kakashi sighed. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us, though, and they have a long way to go.” In the privacy of their home, Kakashi wrapped his arms around Obito’s neck. 

In response, the half-god just grunted, hovering a hand over the younger’s stomach. It had taken Kakashi a while to get used to the other’s silence, replacing the normally loud and exuberant Obito that he knew. He was always the quiet one and Obito the talker in their dynamic— now, that dynamic has been flipped on its head. Obito was still Obito at heart, though, and the silver-haired man would know his partner anywhere. Years of friendship - and now, something more - helped familiarize him to the other’s habits and little gestures. 

They didn’t need words. 

“Hm? You want to start on the next step? What was it— expansion?” Kakashi smirked. “Well, you better get started then.”

…your great-grandfather was born. The first of many children.

“And the rest is history.”

…

“Oh my. It seems someone fell asleep.” 

The man sighed, but he couldn’t help the fond smile on his face as he tucked the child into bed properly. Just as he finished the task, a delicate sound like wind chimes announced the presence of someone very specific. 

It was the telltale sign of Kakashi Uchiha. 

“He fell asleep in the middle of the story?” The half-god asked; though his voice was soft, the quiet of the night made it echo like a haunting melody. 

“As interesting as you and great-great-grandfather’s story is, it’s quite long. And sleep was calling,” the man reasoned. “He tried hard to stay awake, though.”

“I don’t blame him for choosing sleep,” Kakashi chuckled. The two spent a few seconds staring at the sleeping young one before Kakashi turned sharp, grey eyes toward the other. “And you, child? How are you?”

“I’m doing alright. The village could be doing better, though. There’s talks of a possible war happening.” The man frowned and tried to keep his voice to a harsh whisper so as to not wake up the child. “Will you and great-great-grandfather really not step in? You could stop it before it starts!” 

The half-god merely gave his progeny an aloof look, mouth pulled into a firm line. “Watch it. You forget yourself, child.” The warning - delivered calmly and softly with an edge of steel - seemed to do the trick as the other man slumped back, sufficiently heeled. “Obito and I promised not to meddle in human affairs a long time ago. The world will change itself as it will. We have done our part; now, we only observe.”

“I understand.” The man bowed his head. “Forgive me. I don’t know what I was thinking. You had made your stance quite clear.”

After a long (tense) moment, he felt a hand on his head, but he didn’t dare look up at the ethereal being that had been responsible for his creation. “It’s fine, my child. I know it pains you to see your village suffering. It pains me, too, to see my children so at odds.” There was a lengthy pause, at which point the hand was removed. “Still, we will not intervene. Not until the time is right, at least…”

The billowing of his white cloak was all the man saw before the half-god was gone, the soft sounds of wind chimes the only sign he was ever there in the first place.