Work Text:
The first time Obito meets Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto, he's not late.
Contrarily, he's actually ten minutes early. He doesn't take any more detours to help old ladies with their shopping, doesn't rescue cats from trees anymore, doesn't get sidetracked on an errand for someone else only to rush to where he's meant to be.
Because he knows, now, that being late can get you killed. Being late can cause your teammates to die, and you're left, alone, in an empty pool of your own grief.
.
.
.
The first time Naruto is late for training, Obito-sensei spars with him so viciously that Naruto breaks his ankle.
Naruto opens his mouth to complain - it's only been two minutes - and the other two even chime in to defend him, but Obito stops them with a single look.
"You'll die," he says coldly, and they look at him, terrified. "If you don't follow the rules, one day you'll end up dying on some battlefield, and no-one will ever remember your name."
After that, they're never late again.
.
.
.
One day, when Obito-sensei's training is unusually harsh, Sakura gives up. She sprawls on the ground, arms splayed, and says - "I can't do this anymore."
Obito-sensei stares at her. Naruto and Sasuke stop mid-way spar, their faces halfway between horrified and delighted.
"Yes, you can," Obito-sensei's voice is quiet, but his words whirr loudly in their ears. "You will go on, and you will complete the mission at any cost, so that your precious people will never die. You want that, don't you?"
And Sakura lifts herself up and vows to herself that she'll become more powerful, because she doesn't want Naruto and Sasuke to die, and she wants to become the greatest shinobi to ever be known.
Later, Gai-sensei tells her that it's the anniversary of Obito-sensei's friend's death. He doesn't tell her his name.
.
.
.
Sasuke thinks he fits right in with Obito-sensei.
It's difficult to explain. Obito-sensei is serious and stern, and takes no nonsense from any of them. He reminds them of their aims at the start of every mission, and warns them of what could happen if they step out of turn.
Sometimes, Sasuke wonders if he would let Naruto and Sakura die if it were to complete his mission.
And then he looks at Obito-sensei and thinks that if he follows the rules, everything will go right this time.
.
.
.
It is many years later, when the months have spun through and Obito's hair has faded into a spindly grey. He stands at the memorial stone as he always has, but this time he's not alone.
"You know, you've been really good to these kids," Minato-sensei smiles next to him, and Obito's heart breaks.