A/N
Sooooo I drew this pic of Shinasui by a lake. It's Meh. Hope you guys like it.
Prepare for some tissues because even I got choked up while writing this.
-v4k
THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW
"Is anyone sitting here?" The silver haired woman looked up to see a blonde with a gentle smile. Shinasui shook her head, giving her big brother permission to sit next to her. It was a week after the fight...a week after Shinasui lost one of the biggest influences in her life.
Obito Uchiha.
Today there was a small service for him where they finally filled his grave that was created decades before, when he was thought to be dead during the Third Great Ninja War. The service was sweet and quick, one Kakashi and Minako were all too familiar with. Konohamaru was unable to attend because he had to watch his cousin Mirai, but Naruto was there...as he always was for his baby sister. Out of everyone there, she was the most affected by Obito's death. Shinasui's hair was tied neatly in a bun, her face flawless from the makeup she put on earlier that morning. She wore the traditional black kimono that women wore at funerals, Obito's being no different. She sat on a bench in front of the well kept graveyard, her eyes never leaving Obito's tombstone. Her expression was one of a stone face, frozen in time. She didn't know what to feel or how to feel...if words could even begin to describe the pain inside of her. She never lost someone so meaningful to her before...Obito was the first.
Naruto ran a hand through his spiky blonde hair as he sat down on the bench, following Shinasui's gaze to Obito's freshly dug grave. The torment within his sister's eyes was something he was all too familiar with...
"How are you feeling?" Naruto spoke the empty words with no curiosity behind the answer. He knew exactly how she felt and why she was feeling that way. The reason he asked is because the words translate into something else: I care about you.
"Can words honestly describe something inside me at this moment? A day we all knew would come at some point yet it still seems like a surprise. Words will never describe the true expression of pain, no matter how many times we try." Shinasui spoke meekly. She felt so tired and exhausted, so drained from everything that has been going on...but at the same time she just wanted to cry and never stop. She wanted to spend the rest of her life mourning if that's what it took to rid the pain in her chest.
But no matter what she does, that pain will never completely disappear.
Naruto wrapped an arm around his sister's shoulder, letting her lean into his familiar scent. This exchange between the Uzumaki siblings was so pure, so genuine that a little part of Shinasui couldn't help but feel better inside.
"You know, he made his choice Shina and that was what he wanted. He wanted to save Kakashi for not only Mom's sake but for you too. It was no secret that Obito loved Mom but you were the only person in the world that actually rivaled that. He would have done anything for you...dying was one of them." Shinasui swallowed the lump in her throat. In many ways, Obito was more of a parent to her than either of her's were. Despite the never ending love and affection both of her parents showered her with, because of Minako being Hokage and Kakashi being head of Anbu, she was often left alone.
"He was there for me...every day. Every time you were on a mission or Mom and Dad were too busy, he was there. He was there...he never failed me...he never put anything above me...he was a father to me as much as Daddy was. He taught me everything I know...he prepared me for the life of a ninja but he never prepared me for this." Shinasui felt the heat well in her eyes, her choking slightly on air.
"I just want him back! I just want him here with me. I want him to tell me to smile! I want him to yell at me for crying over him! I want him to tell me that my kunai was off of the bulls-eye by an inch and that my taijutsu needed work like he used to! I want him to sit with me by the lake and help me practice walking on water! I want him to read to me before bed and I want him to braid my hair when Mom was too busy to! I want him to ask me how my day was at the Academy...I want him to give me a hug after a rough mission! I want him to smile at me and tell me how much I've grown up and that I'm going to be a strong kunoichi like Mom! I want him back Naruto! I want him back so bad and I know I'm breaking the last promise I ever made with him by crying over it." Shinasui's walls were broken down as she shook and sobbed, her entire face wet with tears. Naruto never saw his sister so upset before, never so heartbroken. Naruto knew there was nothing that he could do to help her but impossible was never a word in his vocabulary.
"Shina..." He pulled her tighter into his strong, warm chest. He held his sister closer to let her get her emotions out as much as she wanted. Naruto cared for his son and daughter when they cried, when they were upset they had to go to bed early or that Naruto had to leave for a mission, but his fatherly instincts went into over drive when he felt the overwhelming despair in the pit of his sister's heart. She loved Obito more than the world and would have gladly died for him given the chance.
"I saw this future Naruto...I saw what he did for Dad in a dream...I knew it was going to happen and I was too late to stop it...to late to change the future." Naruto knew the direction her wails were going and wanted to put a stop to that before it carried out further.
"Don't you dare think for a moment that this was your fault. Obito may be gone Shinasui but Shisui and Old Man Fang are here with us now...not to mention that he saved Kakashi's life by sacrificing himself. Obito is a hero and wouldn't want you to mourn him as if he is lost. People are never lost ya know, just waiting for us." Shinasui's makeup stained Naruto's shirt which she quietly apologized for.
She adjusted herself so she was sitting up before reaching into her purse to grab a tissue. She quickly wiped her face and blew her nose, her entire face swollen from the mass of tears. Her violet eyes looked up at the bright and happy cerulean sky. The kids in Konoha were playing, birds were singing, and the cherry blossoms were blooming beautifully. The world was alive and happy, all thanks to Obito.
"Thank you Naruto...for being here." Shinasui said. Naruto gave his sister a heartwarming smile.
"Of course Shina. You're my sister, I love you." Shinasui couldn't help but smile back. Naruto stood up, holding his hand out for Shinasui to take.
"Hinata is preparing your favorite for dinner tonight. Mom and Dad are going to be there too now that she's finally out of the hospital. We missed you so much ya know." Shinasui smirked lightly, almost playfully.
"I can't wait to see Hima and Boruto's expression." Despite being home for a week, Shinasui was unable to visit her favorite niece and nephew because of her and her mother's injuries. She also wanted time alone to clear her head and prepare for this day mentally.
The two siblings walked together to Naruto's beautiful home, gifted to him by his mother a few years prior. Shinasui stared at the wooden door for half a second, half debating if she was emotionally prepared for a family dinner. The thought went out of the window when she spotted a little blue haired girl, one that was finally big enough to fit in her dress that Shinasui bought for her. A wide smile spread across her face when she saw Himawari run out of the front door, eagerly waiting for her Aunt's arrival.
"Aunt Shina!!" The toddler screamed in joy. Shina embraced the little girl and spun her around, the two giggling together.
"Hima!! You got so big!! I missed you so much my little angel!!" Shinasui spoke. Hima clapped her hands excitedly, her smile wide and her eyes a bright cerulean. She was lucky to inherit her brother's beautiful blue.
"Aunt Shina!! Guess how many I am?" Himawari said while holding up her hand, reflecting her age. Shinasui furrowed her eyebrows dramatically.
"Oh I dunno!! Give me a hint?"
"This many!!" Himawari held up three fingers, enlisting a gasp out of Shinasui's lips. She had no idea she missed Himawari's third birthday while away...and the thought pained her.
"You're gonna be as old as Grandma soon!!" Shinasui teased. The little girl giggled while shaking her head. The bluette laid her head down in the crook of Shinasui's neck, the elder woman looking at her brother with a raised eyebrow. Naruto just looked so...happy. There wasn't a teasing expression on his face for once. Naruto was about to walk through the front door when a little yellow haired boy nearly knocked him out of the way.
"AUNT SHINA!!" Boruto screamed out in excitement. He was six years old and tried to act like a big tough guy, but everyone in the world knew he loved Shinasui. When he was a little younger, he insisted he was going to marry her when he grew up and when Naruto explained to him that he couldn't, he cried for hours. Shinasui adjusted Himawari in her left arm and caught Boruto in her right, the blonde boy hugging her tightly.
"Aww did you miss me Boruto?" Shinasui kissed his forehead, not yet noticing the tears in the little boy's eyes.
"Don't move away again!! I missed you too much." Boruto sniffled. Shinasui felt a pang in her heart, realizing how much her decision to leave the village with Takeda hurt the ones she loved. She did it to protect them...to keep them safe. She didn't realize that she was making the biggest mistake in her life.
A mistake that ended up causing her to lose Obito.
~~
"Eat up everyone!" Hinata said as she placed the food in the center of the table, Minako and Naruto having watering mouths. Shinasui was a sucker for Hinata's tempura and boy did she miss it. Minako and Hinata helped the two little ones fill their plates with food before they decided to sit next to their beloved Aunt on each side. Himawari was sitting on several pillows so she could reach the table, refusing the special chair she normally sat in so she could prove to Shina she was a big girl. Boruto sat closely to his Aunt, sending excited smiles her way the entire time.
"Thank you for dinner Hinata." Kakashi spoke, waiting for the opportunity to lower his mask away from everyone's gazes. Minako caught on and leaned forward while biting down on the crunchy shrimp, giving Kakashi the moment to scarf his food down without wandering eyes.
"Dad is that really necessary?" Shinasui sweat dropped at her father's antics. She felt a poke to her side, looking down to see Boruto with a mischievous grin on his face.
"Hey Aunt Shina! Check it out! I'm Grandpa!" He then began to scarf down his food, causing Shina, Minako, and Naruto to all bust out laughing. Hinata's eyebrows furrowed at her eldest child, the boy the spitting image of Naruto.
"Boruto slow down! You'll choke!" The Hyuga princess worried. Shinasui poked his forehead with a smirk on her face.
"That's enough mini-Kakashi." Boruto grinned at the woman, happy to have made her laugh. Minako was observing the way her daughter interacted with them...all of them. She was distant to everyone but the kids, making her worry slightly. She would give Naruto the occasional smile but something was worrying her...something was written in Shinasui's expression that was darker.
Something she didn't like.
Everyone finished dinner together, chatting playfully and happily. Shinasui was unusually quiet unless her niece and nephew said something to her. Kakashi began to notice too despite being less attentive than his wife. Something was really bothering Shinasui.
"Alright Hima, Boruto...it's bath time." Hinata announced to her two babies. Boruto looked over at his sister, the two sharing a competitive blue gaze.
"I'm gonna get there first!" Boruto giggled to Hima. The little girl quickly sped after her brothers, trying to catch up.
"Nuh uh!" Shinasui helped Kakashi clear the table, her mother and brother were doing the dishes.
"Here's the last plate." The nineteen year old said. Kakashi leaned back on the counter in his usual arms crossed pose, watching his daughter and his family interact. Once Naruto and Minako were done the dishes they turned to face Shinasui who looked suspicious.
"Why are you all staring at me like that?" She asked. Mina was the first to respond, her dark violet eyes filled with emotion for her daughter.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay honey. You had a rough day." Shinasui nodded, secretly eager to leave. There was one thing she has yet to do that she promised Obito she would.
"Yeah I'm fine." Minako gave her a weak smile.
"I'm going to be home more often now. I'm letting Itachi remain Hokage." Shinasui's violet eyes went wide. Her father and brother seemed to already know this information.
"W-why? Wasn't being Hokage your dream? You're still young!" Minako chuckled at her daughter's comment.
"Sweetheart...sometimes it's not about me though. I've been running the show for fifteen years ya know. I've made my mark on the world. The recent events made me realize that perhaps new leadership is needed and Itachi is the perfect candidate. Besides, he doesn't want to be Hokage so he's probably just waiting for Naruto to mature more so he can fill the role ya know." Naruto raised an eyebrow at the comment.
"Hey!" Shinasui understood what her mother wanted. She wanted to relax and enjoy the village and yet the new, young generation to take over...the same thing Obito did for her. The reminder of the Uchiha caused Shinasui to grind her teeth again in irritation. She was aggravated.
"Shinasui what's wrong?" Kakashi asked her. The violet haired beauty looked up at her Dad, trying to brush it off.
"Nothing." Minako knew her expression because it was the same face Kakashi made when he lied.
"Don't lie to us Shinasui. We're your parents, we always know." Shinasui felt her stability waiver her fist hitting the table enough to make a loud sound.
"I just don't get it!! None of you cried today! None of you mourned over him! No one took the time to sit aside like I did for him! Obito died for you Dad and you couldn't even spare him a tear!!" Shinasui yelled in an outburst. Everyone was surprised by her words, Naruto turning to his mother and adoptive father to see how they would respond.
"Shinasui, you wouldn't understand ya know. Kakashi and I have known Obito nearly our entire lives. We've cried at his funeral before but this was the honorable death he deserved. He was able to repent for his past sins this way. We love Obito more than you know, that's why we understand exactly what he wanted. He wanted Kakashi to be alive for me and for you and knew that sacrificing himself was the only way to do so. I would be disrespecting Obito if I cried for him even more ya know. You're too young to understand the Obito we knew." Minako said. Shinasui growled at her mother, her eyes flooding with white hot tears, her eyes a blood red.
"Obito repented for his sins? Obito raised your daughter when you and Dad were too busy for me! Obito spent the rest of his life caring for me and protecting me! He trained me and gave me everything I needed to be happy! Why am I the only one crying for him?! You don't care about him as much as you say you do!" Shinasui spat hatefully. Kakashi never saw his daughter so angry before, the nine tailed fox's chakra was dark and consuming her. Naruto and Minako immediately realized that between her not knowing how to control her nine tails chakra and her unstable emotions, Shinasui was just a ticking time bomb. They had to calm her down before she did something she regretted.
"Of course I loved Obito! I loved him with my whole heart! He was your father's friend and mine too! He wouldn't want us to cry for him Shina."
"Shinasui, why are you being so hurtful? You aren't the only one who feels the loss of Obito." Kakashi stated calmly, his usual tone if his daughter and wife argued. Shinasui's eyes remained in slits and were blood red, her lips slowly turning black.
"He is worth more than a funeral. He is worth more than my tears or your promises to him. Obito is worth everything." Shinasui growled, her voice getting deeper.
"Shina you need to calm down...the nine tails chakra is coming out." Naruto warned his sister. Shinasui's thoughts were scattered from the hate that radiated within Kurama's chakra. It was clear that her thoughts were not entirely her own.
"You don't know anything."
"Shinasui Hatake! Look at me! You need to suppress that chakra. It's dangerous." Minako said worriedly. Shinasui snorted sarcastically before turning away.
"I know I'm monster. You don't have to remind me." And within a blink of an eye she was gone. Minako, Naruto, and Kakashi looked at each other, unsure what to do. Clearly Shinasui didn't understand the method her parents honored Obito and it fuled the hatred of the chakra that grew inside of her by the day. It was beginning to over power her and she was losing the little control she had over it. Minako regretted ever giving Shinasui Kurama's chakra in the womb but thought her daughter would be able to learn how to handle it. Sadly because Shina was not a jinchuriki, she didn't have a seal to prevent it from taking over her body.
Shinasui ran through the streets of Konoha before she came across the home she was moving into: Obito's. His last words to her dictated that she recieved everything he owned, including the three bedroom home he grew up in that was in the slowly resurrecting Uchiha compound. Shinasui decided to give her abandoned apartment to her grandfather considering he didn't have a home as soon as she realized she recieved Obito's home as a parting gift. She opened the doors to the house for the first time since her return to the village, the pain in her heart returning ten fold. She walked the familiar wooden steps up to the second floor and walked down the hall to get to Obito's room. Her face contorted into grief when she saw his messy bed from when he last laid in it and the picture frame on his nightstand of him holding her when she finally graduated from the Academy. The grin on her face was unmistakable, her ninja headband displaying the Leaf logo proudly. Obito smiled up at the little girl, not even paying attention to the camera.
She looked around the room to see only one other picture in it. It was on his dresser, overlooking the whole room. It was a team picture of a young Obito growling at Kakashi while Minako and a brown haired girl were smiling in the middle. A cute blonde man stood proudly over all of them, his blue eyes warm and inviting. Shinasui knew exactly who they were and felt a little better while looking at the brown haired girl. Her lips turned back to normal with the small smile she held for the brunette beauty.
"At least you'll be with Rin this time for real, Obito Sensei." She whispered, her voice no longer sounding like the demonic fox. She then remembered what Obito said to her, causing her to whip her head back to the bed. She looked everywhere and under the bed to try and find the secret door but had no luck. She suddenly remembered the most important part.
"An eye technique." She gasped. She quickly sped out of the house and just down the street to see Itachi's house lit up. She knew Itachi would never agree to what she would ask but someone else would. She snuck up the wall to get to the guest bedroom window and knocked on the pane. The curly haired Uchiha jumped slightly, dropping the book in his hands. He looked over at Shinasui with raised eyebrows, his onyx eyes soft.
"Shina...what are you doing sneaking around here? Trying to spend the night or something?" Shisui joked with a half smile. He noticed her eyes were the same eyes of the fox, signaling that she was upset. Something was wrong.
"I need your help Shisui and I need you to swear on your life to never tell a soul." Shisui sighed, turning away to put on his shoes.
"You know, I just got brought back and these Uzumaki women are always getting me in trouble..." He sighed. Shinasui gave him a look to show she was waiting for his answer.
"Alright, alright I swear on my life." He said. The two jumped down from the window and headed back to Obito's home just down the street. Shisui raised an eyebrow at the silver haired kunoichi.
"What are ya doing moving into the Uchiha compound?" He said confused. He didn't judge her, just was curious. Most people avoided this area like the plague.
"Obito left this home for me. He wants me to have a stable home for me to raise a family in without worrying about finances." Shisui sighed.
"Man that would be nice. I'm stuck living with Itachi...which don't get me wrong, Itachi is great and all but he's rarely home and there's only so much 'princess party time' I can take with Mikoto and Yumi." Shinasui smirked lightly at the comment.
"You can be my roomate if you want. It might give you alot more privacy without that added stress." Shisui seriously considered the offer, after all a beautiful girl like Shinasui would not be a bad roommate to have.
"I might really consider that." Shisui responded, running his hand through his messy curly locks. The two entered the home and went back to Obito's room, anxiety settling in Shinasui's stomach.
"Shisui...I need you to use your sharingan to see if there's a secret door in here." The Uchiha looked at her as if she had three heads but did it anyway. After all, she's the reason he's alive. He closed his eyes only to open them a different color. The blood red sharingan observed the room, looking for anything out of the ordinary. He glanced under the bed to see a golden swirl mark labeled directly in the center. He touched it and suddenly an entryway slid open on the right wall.
"Looks like I found it." The Uchiha said as he deactivated his sharingan. Shinasui grasped both of Shisui's hands her eyes holding all of her emotion in them.
"Thank you Shisui. Please wait here, I'll be back in a minute." She quickly ran down the newly exposed staircase, heading into a hidden basement. She performed a low fire jutsu and held the flaming ball in her hands in order to see. The walls were lined with scrolls and files, many of which contained his endeavors away from the village during his grey period. Shinasui's eyes were wide when she saw a massive stack of money, clearly Obito's hidden savings. Shinasui didn't know alot of what Obito did in the past but it was becoming increasingly clear that it wasn't something good. She continued until she reached a back wall with three things on it: a scroll, a cloak, and a mask. She picked up the scroll first.
Shinasui,
I have written this in advance knowing that one day will come where I leave you alone in this world. Don't worry. I know you must hurt inside and that you may feel the world is against you but it certainly isn't. You're the only person I trust with the deepest secrets I have, something I haven't even entrusted your mother with.
I made terrible mistakes in the past and have dedicated my life to righting my wrongs by fostering you as my successor. You will accomplish all of the things I never could, I just know it. However, to my regret, I do leave you with some troubling responsibilites.
This village is fragile despite what everyone will tell you. It needs to be nurtured and cared for like an infant. The Hokage is the parent but the shadow is the guardian. I was your mother's shadow and I pass that role onto you. There will be times where you may feel like giving up...or possibly let your pain consume you but you can't. You must be strong, if not for yourself then for the people you love.
I know you hate the nine tails chakra inside of you and I know you will be much stronger without it. There's a way for you to rid of it once and for all, however the price is high and it is dangerous. Find those who wear this cloak and offer that chakra to them...even if they seem dangerous. Make them an offer they can't refuse and use it to your advantage.
This mask represents everything I have ever done wrong in this world. I've terrorized, killed, and destroyed so many lives with this mask. I'm giving it to you so you can cleanse it of the evil it represents...so you can start this lineage anew.
You can do this Shinasui. I believe in you. I will always be beside you.
Obito
Shinasui wiped her tears and sniffled lightly while reading the letter, her eyes returning to their peaceful violet. Her gaze shifted to the mask hanging on the wall, one that she had feint memories of as a child. She put down the scroll and slowly lifted up the swirly orange mask, staring at it with interest. She took the mask and gently slid it over her face, a single violet eyes being shown through the hole.
She understood what she must do. She understood the task Obito left for her to complete. With a grip of the Akatsuki cloak in her hand, she understood the sacrifice she needed to make. She wasn't going to leave the village like Obito did, but she was sure going to protect it like he did in the end.
Tobi was back.