Beta: CherryBerry12

EDIT 5/20/20: Streamlined. Characterization tweaked. Plot the same.

A/N: Thank you to those who read previous versions of Chapter 3. Streamlined is final. The last version was also in line with the plot, but slightly different. Special thanks to Pissed dragon! Now, back to the AU.

Ch 4. Promise

Wake up… a voice rippled at the edge of her consciousness.

Rin felt herself being gently rocked. There was the smell of salt without the cutting cold of being on the run. The light pricked through her eyelids, refusing to be ignored. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

An incomparably bright sky hung above her. As did a giant yellow eye, with red sclera instead of the usual white.

Rin stared at it. Her own eyes regained clarity. I died. She glanced down at herself. Whole. She sat up unsteadily, looking around. The inky seal that chained the grey-armored turtle was gone. His three, wide tails freely dipped into the endless sea around them, making small splashes and waves that traveled her way. When a wave reached her, she bobbed up and down with its passing. She looked down at the dark, silver-lit blanket below her. It made her think of a night sky dotted with silver flames.

"Where is this?" Rin wondered.

"My mindscape. Neat, huh?" Isobu chirped.

Rin gazed at the waters. It seemed to be calling her, asking her to join and promising peace. But the blanket kept her in place, helping her resist. Rin crossed her legs and sensed the blanket curiously. It was like air. She couldn't make anything of it.

Isobu checked the situation outside through his chakra cloak. "Your body is stable for now, but your wound is really serious. You need to restore your heart chakra point as soon as possible."

"I can do that?" Rin looked up with surprise. She didn't feel a connection with her body anymore. How she existed in Isobu's mindscape also puzzled her.

Isobu nodded. A large drop of black leaped off the surface of the blanket and condensed into a silver-lined tomoe with a hole in its center.

"If you absorb this chakra, you should be able to restore your heart chakra point."

Rin stared in recognition. This symbol adorned the collars of tailed beast cloaks, and one other person in particular. She reached out and picked the infant-sized tomoe from the air, letting it rest along her arm.

Why did tailed beasts never die? When their chakra scatters, one day, it would be drawn back to one point. This was the source of their birth and sentience—the chakra of the Sage.

Maybe because it was the Sage's chakra, Rin already felt a special connection to it. "Isobu, are you sure?"

She promised him that after they escaped the Anbu, she would find a way to separate them. They didn't choose this, but they could still make a choice about it. If she absorbed the Sage's chakra, she didn't know if things could be reversed.

"I'm sure." He was tired of hopping from one bloodthirsty host to another, and Rin was friends with Nine Bro! Going along with her seemed fine. "After this is all over, I can show you all the good places in Water country."

Rin smiled, eyes shining cheerfully. "Okay!"

She placed the tomoe back in the air, and it levitated on its own. Since her body was stabilized, the situation outside must've subsided. She didn't know how Kakashi was, but he couldn't be well after she was controlled to take his chidori. The far away figure of a maskless Anbu flashed through her mind. She hoped against the worst-case scenario.

Setting aside her worries, Rin closed her eyes. She breathed out and layered her hands in her lap, slowly sinking into meditation.

Thoughts came and went until the only thing left was a pulsing breath.

Isobu watched. A long time of nothing happened. Then one flame flickered, and all of the silver flames flared. The tomoe spun in the air until it blurred into a spinning disc. The blanket came apart in threads, threaded through the disc's center and pierced the heart of Rin's chakra projection.

…Isobu thought sharing a part of it would be enough, but the part he wanted to share was acting on its own.

How interesting!

The amused Isobu didn't feel any sense of crisis as he watched the Sage's chakra being steadily absorbed. It felt like he was getting closer to Rin.

Rin's quiet consciousness was suddenly filled with bubbly excitement. The chakra threads snapped, startling Isobu. The flames also died down. She opened her eyes. The tomoe in the air was spinning like a fan that was just turned off.

Rin sighed in contentment. She placed a palm on her chest. After absorbing the Sage's chakra, she realized her chakra had been on the edge of scattering. Now, her chakra possessed a greater warmth and stability.

"Rin, that was amazing!" Isobu swished his tails in the water, churning up foam and small waves. The Sage used to show him and his siblings lots of tricks, but he hadn't seen anything like that since Uzushio was destroyed and he was captured by Kiri.

Rin smiled, though she wasn't sure what Isobu was praising her for. She caught the spinning tomoe in the air and set it on the blanket. She felt she'd absorbed enough. Any more, and she might be the one absorbed into Isobu's mind. The tomoe smoothly merged into the fabric and disappeared.

Rin stood up and ventured to step onto the sea. She stayed separate, just like the chakra blanket, and no longer felt that strange attraction to the water. She looked back and saw the blanket split and slowly absorb itself. It finally became a distorted speck, then vanished.

"You can restore your heart chakra point now!" Isobu said excitedly.

"Nn!" She had to exit the mindscape first and return to her body.

Rin dove into the sea instinctively, sinking until she was enshrouded in darkness. The sound of water in her ears turned to silence.

Minato looked on helplessly as Obito refused to sleep, anchoring himself to Rin's bedside. He assured him countless times that he wouldn't let anything happen to Rin now, but Obito refused to budge after the medics gave their assessment.

"Her body's in a state of suspension, but it's useless. We can't transfer any chakra to her through the tailed beast cloak. Even if we could, her heart chakra point was destroyed…" Natural chakra circulation would be impossible. Manual chakra circulation would be impossible.

They were saying she would still die. Obito wouldn't allow it!

As one prepared for vigil while the other was in deep thought, the two sensed a stir in Rin's chakra. A strand of chakra moved out from the core.

Obito followed it with his senses. His heart beat faster as the chakra reached the violently spinning bijuudama occupying her heart chakra point. To both of their surprise, the strand of chakra passed through the bijuudama as if it wasn't there. It continued through the single chakra pathway a bit thicker before returning to the core.

Now that the pathway was reconnected, chakra circuited through the same path a little faster. The tiny flame in the core was slowly growing bigger.

Obito broke down into ugly sobs. He fell asleep while sensing her chakra pathways reconnecting and growing in strength.

The dark, silent space was now filled with blue light. Lines of blue chakra flowed in all directions.

When her last chakra pathway was recovered, within the bijuudama, a silver flame flashed and faded from sight.

Rin opened her eyes to the endless sea and bright sky. This was now her mindscape too.

"Rin!" Isobu called happily, but much to his surprise, she ignored him! Rin continued staring off into the distance in a daze. He'd been on guard and even blocked Nine Bro so he wouldn't mess up the process, but he hadn't sensed anything amiss… How could her heart be so disturbed now? Isobu floated closer. "Is something wrong?"

Yes. Rin was afraid she sensed wrong.

His presence wasn't exactly the same, but she was all too familiar with him. She might think it was a figment of her imagination accompanying her—if Minato-sensei hadn't moved him away.

Isobu felt her intent to forcefully wake up and rushed to stop her. "Calm down! Your body still has a hole in it!" Given his water nature, circulating Rin's blood wasn't difficult. But he wasn't Sis Five. Lying flat was the most he could deal with!

Rin composed herself. Isobu was right. She shouldn't jeopardize her recovery. She ran over to him and hugged the heel of his hand. "Thank you, Isobu!"

Obito was alive! She could see him again! She wanted to get better quickly.

Rin didn't dwell on her emotions. Several matters were still unsettled. She recalled her previous worries. Obito would certainly be taken care of. Knowing how resilient he was, she wasn't worried about him. But up until now, she hadn't sensed any sign of her other good friend…

You have to make it back.

"Kakashi! Kakashi!"

Rin was bursting with excitement when she sensed his spark of white chakra. Although, his reserves were a little low again.

She curbed her enthusiasm. "Isobu, can we transfer some chakra to him?"

"Sure!" Since his chakra was already available, it wouldn't take any effort to share it.

Weeks passed. The Sage chakra seemed partial to the energy of the bijuudama, so over time, Rin would absorb the yin-yang chakra for her heart chakra point. At other times, she would hang out with Isobu in their shared mindscape. Her own mindscape didn't disappear, but now appeared as a small island with a shrine in the middle of the ocean. On this quiet day, a meteoric flame burst in the clear blue sky.

A snarling snout appeared as well as red eyes laced with menace. A wave of orange fur came down and fanned nine striking—

"Kurama!"

Kurama looked down at the kunoichi who interrupted his intimidating display. Why was Rin here? How was he supposed to get back at his little brother for blocking him now?!

"Nine Bro, long time no see! Sorry I couldn't greet you earlier." The big little bro bowed his head apologetically.

Kurama wasn't really mad to begin with. If Shukaku said that, he might bite him, but Isobu was too silly to purposefully make a fool of someone. Nonetheless, he kept up a stern front and humphed. "You two are done with…" Shock flickered across his face. He suddenly sensed the difference in their mindscapes.

Even without knowing the rest of the sentence, Isobu nodded. "Rin is ready to receive a new heart."

Kurama became thoughtful, then pushed his thoughts aside. "I'll tell Kushina we can schedule the operation." Even though they couldn't make contact the first time, he and Kushina thought about how to heal Rin when Isobu was involved. A new heart was within their expectations.

On the outside, Kushina opened her eyes in surprise.

Obito was sitting beside her with his new haircut, carefully watching her expression. "How is she?"

Kushina turned to him with a toothy grin. "Perfect! Rin's more than ready for the operation." Since she didn't need a seal, that would simplify things.

Obito quietly looked towards Rin, not sharing Kushina's excitement at all.

"How come I didn't know you were so serious before?" Kushina snorted lightly and looked towards Rin too. "Do you want to watch the operation? I can assign you as a guard."

Obito jumped up, nodding like a woodpecker in front of Kushina. "Assign me as a guard! I definitely won't let anything happen!"

Kushina laughed to see his spirits back up. "Then it's settled."

After several more weeks gathering materials and preparing for the operation, eight medics, two jinchuuriki, and one Uchiha convened in the Konoha hospital basement.

Four medics were preserving a cultivated, beating heart while the other four stood at the corners of the operating table. Seal script covered the entire table. Rin was lying in the center covered with a surgical drape exposing the wound. The bijuudama and green chakra shroud were gone, but chakra-controlled blood continued pumping through the space as if it had a mind of its own.

Rin sunk into her task. However long the operation lasts, her concentration couldn't lapse. She had to keep herself breathing and her blood circulating until her new heart could take over.

Isobu was on standby, ready to support her. Although he had to pull back his chakra to allow the medics access, he could still help Rin guide her own chakra through their shared connection.

After observing the setup, Obito turned his back to the operation to stand guard. Kushina stood at the foot of the table in her tailed beast chakra cloak.

"Chikatsu Saisei no Jutsu!" The medics at the four corners activated the table's seal.

The other four medics brought the heart over and implanted it, starting to heal it in place as the other four medics continued to manage the wound.

The basement was quiet. Kushina and Kurama maintained the chakra levels of the medics while Obito continuously swept the surroundings with his senses and the sharingan.

The approaching shadows turned around and left.

Wake up…

Rin ruffled the smooth sheets beneath her fingers. They didn't feel like the ones in the hospital, like the slightly scratchy gown she felt herself wearing. She opened her eyes. Even in the dim room, the world looked very bright.

"Sleeping Beauty's awake?" a wry voice came from the side. She looked over.

The shinobi sitting by the bed had one ankle propped on his knee. He finished scribbling in a little book and snapped it shut before turning to Rin. A red line was drawn vertically under both eyes. His white mane was wild, with long sideburns and a spiky ponytail that reached down his back.

"Mister!" Rin hastened to sit up. She was surprised she could move and speak without any problem.

Jiraiya's mouth twitched. "Stop calling me that! Don't you know how to respect your sensei's Sensei?!"

Rin smiled in embarrassment. "But Ojisan is Ojisan…" When she and Obito caught him peeping at the hot springs, the impression left was too deep. It wasn't changed even after she learned he was the powerful Toad Sage and Minato's jounin sensei.

Jiraiya could only mourn his profession, which required copious amounts of research.

"Cough. Here, have a fruit." He passed a basket over with apples and bananas.

Rin waved her hand and Jiraiya set the basket back down on the side table. She stood up and jumped down from the foot of the bed. "Where's the bathroom?"

"Outside the hall. First door on your left."

"Thanks, Ojisan!"

After curiously taking in the safehouse, she washed up, and returned to the room.

"Ojisan, why are you here?" She climbed back onto the bed and sat with her legs crossed under the covers.

"Why? Can't I just visit my star pupil's students?" He handed over a plate of apple slices. They were cut into the shape of rabbits.

She smiled in reply and happily accepted the apple rabbits. "How long was I asleep?"

"Five months."

Five… It felt like she'd only slept for a night. She chewed on an apple slice and glanced at the machinery around the bed. "What about the war?"

"Give it a few more weeks, and it'll be over."

"The war's ending?!"

"Nn. Your sensei and big sis are cleaning up the leftovers as we speak, and then it's all treaties and politics from there."

Rin bit another apple slice. "Then Ojisan's here because of Isobu?"

"That's the tailed beast's name?"

"Mm."

Jiraiya gave a crooked smile. "Ou. I'm here to see you both. Say, what do you two think about becoming my disciples?"

Rin paused mid-apple bite.

Disciple? This was the first time Isobu was asked something like this.

Rin put the plate and apple slice aside. We'll be students of the Toad Sage and learn techniques from him.

Truthfully, while most medics admired Tsunade and Orochimaru among the Sannin, Rin looked up to Jiraiya the most. He put down the dagger and picked up the pen, walking among the ordinary folk as a novelist while working towards hope and peace.

But it couldn't be denied that Mister was Mister. After Toad Sage, he was most commonly called—pervert. She didn't know if Isobu would want to follow him.

Wow. So sages look like this now. Isobu looked at the hairy man in a new light. Rin seemed to be nervous about something though. You don't want to be his disciple?

I do! she quickly corrected.

Then me too!

Eh? Was it really okay?!

Isobu was already imagining all the new tricks they'd be shown. The sea around him foamed from all his swimming and thrashing. Sage disciples… We'll be sage disciples, Rin!

Rin was only stunned for a moment. Since Isobu was this excited, what more was there to think about?

She moved to sit on her knees and formally addressed their teacher. "Shishou!"

Feeling the waves of respect, Jiraiya nodded in approval. "Then you'll have to prepare yourselves. We'll be leaving the village in a week."

Rin wore a blank look. So soon? "We can't stay a little longer?" Once asked, she thought it wasn't appropriate. A week wasn't too long or too short. Any longer, and it may feel harder to part… A hint of gloom entered her eyes and her gaze fell.

Jiraiya wordlessly uncorked the gourd at his waist and took a swig from it. He spoke in a mild and patient manner, "The village has grown fractious. Too many people will be tickled by another jinchuuriki under Minato and Kushina's banner. Even with those two at the fore, that wouldn't stop some from trying to pull both—or one of you—into their ranks."

Rin felt a chill down her spine. Isobu swam around in circles, also feeling unsettled.

Jiraiya leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands over his stomach. "Last, but not least, we don't want other villages to know Konoha hosts the Three-tails."

Rin pursed her lips. She raised her head with a new look of determination. "I understand." Whether it was Konoha, Kiri, or Kumo, a new jinchuuriki was considered an easy target. Kushina and Kurama's disastrous capture mission wouldn't be enough to discourage greedy forces. In the history of tailed beast captures, they were the only ones who escaped.

Taking them in as disciples might just be an excuse to shield them, but Rin counted herself as lucky. If she could become a powerful medic under his wing, that would be best. There would come a day where she wouldn't have to run, like she was forced to now and in the chase in Hot Springs.

Jiraiya nodded and patted his legs as he stood up. "Let's go back to the village."

The sun was high overhead and reflected off the snow on the roadside. Rin walked past the faded orange pillars of the gate and looked at the dark wood, cold pipes, and weathered shop curtains of the buildings. Jiraiya came to a stop next to her.

"You know what you should and shouldn't say?"

"Un." There'd be no introducing Isobu, but he could see anything she could see.

"Good. I have some things to do—hehe—so I'll see you in a week." Jiraiya made the ram seal and white smoke enveloped him. It quickly thinned and left an empty space.

Rin trotted down the main road. Her steps sped up. Right now, there was one person she wanted to see. Considering her new heart, she didn't shunshin and rush over. She would slowly test it over this week.

She navigated the bustling crowd. There was a young kunoichi wearing red and white, doing the same. They noticed each other.

"Rin!" she cheerfully called and went over. Her companion, a suave youth with his hands in his pockets, tagged along and nodded Rin's way.

"Kurenai, Asuma!" Rin met Kurenai halfway and they held hands. "It's good to see you."

"We're glad to see you're back."

"Where's Raidou?" There was no sign of their third teammate.

"He went to find Genma's team," Asuma said as he silently praised his stellar wingman.

Kurenai nodded. "We're all headed to the usual place. Want to come?"

Rin could see a million questions in her starry red eyes. She gave a regretful smile. "Sorry, I'll catch up with you guys next time."

"Of course! Are you going to see Kakashi? Or Obito?" Kurenai assumed Rin was told when she woke up.

But to both of their amazement, Rin shook her head calmly. "I'll surprise them later. I'll be going now!"

Rin and Kurenai waved to each other before the medic went off into the crowd again. Her steadfast back grew further away as she headed towards the training fields.

Kurenai's hand dropped as she lost her joyful smile. Without knowing that Rin knew the situation for months, it appeared as though her friend became colder. But she admired her even stronger momentum, unaffected by fortune or setbacks. "I'm glad she's okay." Her spirits rose and she smiled towards Asuma. "Let's go!"

Asuma, who was about to comfort her, smiled lightly. "Ou."

Rin recognized a few older chuunin and jogged up to them. They greeted her with big smiles.

"You're finally back from your mission. Looking for Jou?"

"Yes."

"He should be around Number 35 and 36."

"Thank you!"

Rin tried hard not to sprint. Her heart was already beating like a drum. She heard the rumbling and shifting of frozen earth and walked faster in that direction.

When she arrived, there was a chuunin standing on a half clean, half battle-scarred training field. His hair was the same color as hers, but a bit shorter and wavy, with some of it tied in a low ponytail. He slowly walked around, sensing portions of the earth, and then applied his earth ninjutsu to repair the field.

"Chichi!"

The call startled Jou and he almost tripped! He looked around like crazy before finally spotting her. His eyes reddened. "Rin!" He flashed through horse boar rat—Namitsuchi no Jutsu!

The earth came up below his feet and carried him to where Rin was. He jumped off the mound and hugged his daughter.

She hugged him back. "Dad, I'm home."

Jou wanted to hug her tighter, but seemed to realized something and simply held her, hanging his head, wanting to hide her away. "Thank goodness you're alright!" His breath was shaky.

Rin felt him trembling and her eyes grew hot. She really scared him this time. "Chichi, there's something I have to tell you, Baba, and Jiji."

Although he was forced to retire from missions, Jou was still a shinobi. He took a deep breath and released her. "I'll return early. What do you want for dinner?"

"Mm… How about salmon soup?"

He finally smiled. "Alright! Once I finish this field—"

"I'll go to the store. Don't stay out too long and just come straight home." His old injury would hurt a little more in the cold. He told her he was used to it, but that didn't fool her.

Jou looked at his daughter helplessly. He dug out his coin purse and handed it over. "Buy anything else you want. I'll be home as soon as possible." He tousled her hair. Her bangs flew everywhere, forcing her to shut her eyes.

Rin heard the ground crumble and shift as she fixed her hair. Once her bangs were brushed aside, she saw her dad flattening the field he just ruined.

She watched on silently, then resolutely turned around and headed to the shopping street.

There was a store with a wooden plaque. Ebisu-ya, it read in bold calligraphy. She went through the newly installed glass door and picked up one of the shopping baskets at the entrance.

Sanpeijiru isn't too filling. Pairing it with tempura would also be good. Isobu, is there anything you want to try?

Anything is fine. Ordinary food was flavorless to beings made of chakra. They lived off the host's chakra and the natural energy outside.

Alright.

Rin entered the produce section. Of the few people scattered around, one readily stood out with his silver hair. His arms were crossed as he seriously considered the pricey, out of season eggplants.

Rin beamed and swung her basket behind herself, walking up to his side. She looked over the eggplants, picked one up, and turned it in her hand to show him. "Is this one good?"

The person next to him already wore the mixed scents of the village, so he hadn't expected… Kakashi slowly turned his head. Rin was smiling at him expectantly, eyes bright and eager for his opinion.

He looked at the eggplant she was holding, unhurriedly put it back, and gave her a new one. "This one is better."

"Okay." She smiled brighter and put it in her basket.

"…What are you making?"

"Sanpeijiru and tempura."

"I'll help you pick things out."

She accepted his offer, and the two went about checking off their grocery lists.

"When did you get back?"

"Just today."

They paid for their things and carried their paper grocery bags out, breathing in the frosty air. "I heard Obito's back. How are things between you?"

Kakashi looked up in thought. Her long dead crush almost revived when he turned back with a gentle smile. "Good."

Her smile widened. "That's great!"

They talked about things that happened over the past months, slowly approaching the road where they'd split paths. Neither of them mentioned their last parting, or their future parting. For the moment, it felt alright to just enjoy each other's company.

"Wait!"

At the crossroads, Kakashi stopped to watch Rin rifle through her paper grocery bag. She pulled out the eggplant and handed it to him.

His mind screamed, No! But his hand came up weakly. Who knew if he was refusing or wanted to grab it. "Use it for tempura," he tried to convince her.

She put the eggplant in his hand. "I bought it for you, so take it."

His hand automatically locked around it. Kakashi sighed at himself, but his heart was light as a feather as he stowed it away. Having gone through similar situations before, he was already thinking of a way to repay her.

Rin looked pleased and swept her sights to the sky. "When Minato-sensei and Kushina-nee come back, we should get together as a team again."

"Ah," Kakashi agreed. "Team training is still at the usual time tomorrow."

When she looked back, there was no red in her dazzling smile. Dreams and reality had fully mended. "Okay. See you tomorrow!"

After parting ways, Rin at last saw the snow-covered trees of her neighborhood and the old house that existed since the founding of the village. She walked under the roofed gate and took the stone path to the entrance. The sliding door noisily shuttered and scraped open. "Baba! Jiji! I'm home!"

As Rin set down the groceries and hung up her coat, an old woman quietly shuffled to the entrance. Hunched over, she was about the same height as her granddaughter. Her squinting eyes closed completely. The faded pink rectangles on her cheeks glowed with her smile. "Yaya, welcome home." She stretched out one creaky limb, then the other.

Rin stepped into her firm embrace and returned it. "Baba, I bought things for tempura and salmon soup."

Fumi stepped back and held her granddaughter's face. She nodded. She allowed Rin to go back and carry the groceries, then held her hand as they both walked in. "Have you seen Jou?"

"Yeah. Chichi will be coming home early."

"Tsuchi!" her grandmother called loudly.

An old man who had been pondering over a board of black and white pieces looked up from where he sat in the living room. His caterpillar eyebrows rose, yet still covered his eyes. "Yaya, you've let Grandpa feel lonely," his moustache bobbed up and down without showing his mouth. He waved over beckoningly, "Come, play a game with Grandpa."

"Play after you've washed the vegetables," Fumi said.

Tsuchinoe pushed off the floor and wobbled onto his feet. He clasped his hands behind his back and shuffled over to them. He gave his granddaughter a hug and took the paper grocery bag from her. "What did Rinrin buy?" He peered into the bag. "Green beans, lotus root, shrimp—oh, there are a lot of goodies."

Rin hugged her grandpa now that her hands were free. "I also got your favorite mushrooms!"

If they could see his eyes, there would be a twinkle of light. "Rascal! It's been a long time. Go and see your mom."

"Mm!"

Rin left behind her grandma's murmurs as she loped down the slightly chilly hall. Midway, there was a door left open, spilling light into the corridor. She entered and passed through a barrier, feeling warm again.

The shoji screens were open to the snowy garden. A large pot was set nearby, holding glowing charcoal on a bed of ash. Rin slid closed the door to the hall, and went towards the alcove on the right side of the room. At the foot of it was a small incense table, and inside the alcove itself was an altar with three tiers.

At the very top was a wooden sculpture of a goateed, horned man. He sat, grasping a six-ringed staff in his right hand and forming a half ram seal with his left. An antlered woman wreathed in bones sat in a painting to his right. On his other side was a long-haired horned man, painted with ninjutsu scrolls.

The middle tier had offerings to the Sage and his peers—today, it was a plate of sweets and a pot of tea—framed by vases of lilies. The lowest tier had the portrait of a smiling young woman in jounin uniform, offered a cup of tea and some sweets as well. She had long black hair and blue rectangles on her cheeks.

Rin held her hands together in greeting, then knelt and bowed deeply to them. She rose and went to sit in front of the incense table. Chrk! She dipped the match flame to the candle, waved out the match and dropped it in a black vase. She took two incense sticks and held their tips to the flame, gently shaking them so there were only embers and smoke. A clean wooden scent wafted anew, and the incense was stood in a pot of ash.

Rin smiled towards the young woman.

"Mom, I'm back."

After a long time, the door slid open and Rin came out of the room. Lively voices echoed down the hall from the living area.

"Don't worry, she'll still like you even if you look like that."

"Tsu-jii—!"

"He's saying he speaks from experience."

"Fufu, you know I'm just teasing him…"

Rin broke into a wide smile. She strode down the hall and quickly appeared. The rowdy bunch somewhat quieted. Well, the noisiest one had gone mute.

Obito sat up straight where he was seated. Her smile washed away all the anxiousness he'd secretly had. "Obito, long time no see!"

It was the first time hearing her voice in almost a year.

As his eye watered, he stood up, and without any of his past hesitation, walked over and hugged her.

Rin was caught by surprise, but soon smiled and hugged him back. "I missed you."

Having spoken the words in his heart, the sobs clawed their way out of his chest until it hurt to breathe.

The elders fondly watched from the side. "You kids go catch up," Fumi encouraged.

"Nn. Let's go, Obito." Rin patted his back. She carefully led her sobbing friend up the stairs and down the hall to her room.

The room was a little small, but seemed bigger with the light coming in from the windows. After settling Obito on a cushion, Rin went to close the curtains to block any small drafts. The sun was bright and the curtains were thin enough to still let light through.

Obito calmed down to some extent. He found the cat plush-covered tissue box and helped himself.

Rin came back and sat on a cushion across from him, hugging her knees. She watched as he tossed the used tissues in the waste bin.

Obito sighed and glanced at Rin. She smiled.

Mother! He was going to cry again!

"Obito!" She seemed to be aware of this and held her hand out.

He took her hand and felt more at ease. He unintentionally got lost in the feel of it…

Rin observed all his new scars and was comforted to feel that his right hand was fine. He'd gotten leaner and had a more striking air, like he matured overnight.

"You look good."

Obito looked confused for a moment, then blushed and looked down. Kuso Tsu-jii! What if he was exposed?!

Rin let him be lost in his own world for a bit before swinging their hands. "I have something for you!"

Obito felt some loss when she let go, but stayed put as he saw her walk to a scroll cabinet… Wasn't that his old scroll cabinet?

On top was their team picture, a pair of old goggles… She slid one side of the cabinet open and took an album out. She went back to her spot and handed it to him. "I hope you don't mind."

Obito held the photo album in his hands. No way. He looked down and flipped it open.

The first picture was the only one he had of his parents, holding him while he was a baby. Then came the candid pictures of Rin. Every smile, surprised look, and back silhouette was there. He kept turning through new pictures of Rin, Kushina-nee, Minato-sensei, Kakashi, their friends, Fumi-baa, Tsu-jii, Jou-san…

He blinked back the welling feeling and shook his head fiercely. "I don't mind. I don't mind at all!"

Rin looked contented as she watched him go through the album. Her smile faded as the end inevitably arrived.

"I'll be leaving the village in a week."

Obito snapped his head up. Rin looked serene, and even appeared a little excited, but it was touched by a hint of sadness. "I'm Jiraiya-ojisan's disciple now, so I'll be following him when he travels."

"…You've just recovered. Ojisan can leave a little later. Why does it have to be so soon?" He was so shocked, he forgot to congratulate her.

Despite that, her cheerful smile returned. "I'll tell you a secret, but I think you already know." She crawled next to him and whispered in his ear.

He seriously listened before turning to her. "Then how long will you be gone?"

Rin shook her head and sat back down. "I don't know." She looked at the pictures of her friends and family up on the wall. "Probably a long, long time."

Obito also turned to look at the wall. A few photos paired with the ones in his album.

"Sorry."

He turned to her with surprise. Rin gave an apologetic smile. "I won't be able to watch over you during this time." And I already haven't watched over you for a long time. Sorry.

Obito pursed his lips. He clumsily felt for her hand and grabbed it. "You just watch over yourself." He opened his mouth, but then thought twice before closing it again. "Ojisan can take care of himself." His meaning was to ditch the lecher if she had to!

"Mm!" she accepted his good intentions. "We'll take care."

Obito walked out of the old house, pausing to look back at the corner room. Rin still needed to tell her family. He'd give them space for that. He studied the album in his hands before tucking it safely inside his vest and forming the ram seal.

Obito flickered from the courtyard and appeared at the tall apartments in the middle of the village. He stepped onto a wall and half walked, half jumped up the building until he reached the highest floor and jumped the railing to the corridor. He went up to one of the doors and knocked, pulling it open and letting himself in.

Kakashi was reading a scroll while lying on his stomach under the kotatsu. He didn't bother to look at his visitor.

"Rin's back."

"I know."

"What?! Do you know that she's leaving in a week?"

Kakashi looked up. Obito proudly sat down and stuck his feet under the table to warm them. Kakashi climbed out from under the blanket to sit up.

"Is it a mission?"

Obito leaned back on his arms and waved his feet near the heater. "She's Jiraiya-ojisan's disciple now."

Kakashi put one and two together. He looked down, unsure what to feel except that he should've seen this coming. "So… this is it?" Their team would separate just like this?

Obito was staring forward. After coming down from the initial shock, he thought that this was actually… perfect.

"Kakashi, you know how I told you about Madara?" Obito at last checked in with the barrier team first before dragging Kakashi into the kamui dimension and telling him the details of what happened in Hot Springs a few weeks ago.

"Ah." The village founder became a psychopath who was willing to kill real people for a false dream world. They were almost unwitting pawns and victims.

Obito felt himself become a bit nervous. "If I told you that I want to stop Madara, would you join me? I mean, it's not only about stopping Madara." His eye gained a bit more resoluteness and he turned to Kakashi.

"Hey, do you think there could be a day where shinobi don't have to kill anymore?"

For someone who first took a life at six, that sounded like a fantasy. "Then what would we do?"

Obito shrugged. "There are a lot of missions that don't require killing, and there are many paths besides being a shinobi. It's not something that can be decided for others. But when lives are treated as disposable, no one has a choice but to fight to survive. There can be no peace."

"So." Obito took a breath and smiled. "I think I'll leave Konoha too. Not only to stop Madara, but to help build a new world. A world where life is cherished."

He held his hand out.

"Kakashi, join me?"

Kakashi looked at him with an unreadable expression. He felt his heart stuttering, but he didn't put his hand down. Kakashi's gaze dropped to his hand, and he firmly grasped it.

"Promise me one thing."

"What?"

Kakashi looked up. A faint smile erased his serious facade. "Build that new world."

Obito felt his spirits surge and he grinned. "It's a promise!"

...

..

"Jiraiya, you've arrived."

"I wouldn't miss this for the world, Sensei."

"There's still a bath towel on your head."

Jiraiya removed the stray towel with great proficiency.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen, nodded. They were in his office at the top of Hokage Tower. The Council elders were also present—a spectacled man, a woman with her hair in a bun, and a bandaged man with an X-shaped scar on his chin—all seated with severe expressions.

Hiruzen tapped his hat and then linked his hands in front of his face. "As Hokage, I don't think I've brought as much prosperity as Tobirama-sensei hoped for. This war, and what has led up to it, has been my failing…"

"After the treaties are signed, I will step down from office."

The bandaged man, imperceptibly, gripped the knob of his cane.

"Today, we will decide Konoha's Fourth Hokage."

TMIT jutsu:
Earth Wave Technique (Namitsuchi no Jutsu): A technique that manipulates the earth like water. A small wave can aid movement. A large wave could swallow an army.

A/N: Thank you for waiting *bows*

Next up—Party~