Mending The Past To A Better Future

42. The Burrow (part 1)

Slight warning for mature content - it's nothing serious, actually. But I just wanted to warn all of you who aren't okay with reading profanity that Obito (both past and present) curses a lot this chapter. The flashbacks in general, contain a lot of cursing.

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“I’m trying to get to Killer Bee” She shouts, and just further up the way, Obito can spot the large octopus and his jinchuuriki, at Madara’s feet. “Madara’s going to kill him!”

“Naruto,” Obito says, but she’s already gone, slashing and beheading the Zetsu’s that try to block her path. Cursing, he chases after her. A hand pulls him back, and Obito automatically flicks a kunai back, and a sense of satisfaction fills his chrome heart when plant decay splatters on the back of his shirt.

The ground rumbles beneath him, and Obito plants his feet down to steady himself as Sakura bulldozes her way to them, chakra infused in her fist and slamming down into the Earth. A manhole opens up, and about three dozen clones are lost to it, falling inside the pit.

Kakashi portals out above, the Kamui swirl familiar and he doesn’t hesitate to clear the landing area for him. For a few seconds, all he can see is a whirlwind of chains and Zetsu’s white cells, and then Kakashi is in front of him, Sharingan eye glowing eerily. “Where is she?” He asks.

Obito can only nod ahead, and watches closely as the sound of chirping birds fills the ground, and the blue lightning of the Chidori crackles. The jonin breaks into a fierce run, Chidori held to his side, razing through the clones in a slaughter-like manner, just to catch up to Naruto.

From there, the blonde forms a few hand signs before a giant tornado is erupting from her mouth. Kakashi breathes another fireball into it, and Obito can only stare in amazement as the deadly combo wrecks the battlefield.

“Holy shit,” He says aloud, as the orange flames lick across his face.

The firestorm grows huge, until it’s towering over them, and the Zetsu’s hiss and scream as it scalds them. Madara’s laugh echoes into the sky, and Kakashi and Naruto are in the midst of it all. And then, he’s bringing Gunbai down on Killer Bee, the heavy fan dealing a mighty blow to the jinchuuriki’s head. He lands with a sick thump. And then Madara is lifting a sword from a fallen comrade, and he brings it up to Bee’s neck. Obito can’t look away – not even when Bee’s head is rolling down the rocks and at their feet. And Obito’s eyes immediately draw to Naruto.

He can’t hear her – not when she’s so far away. But he can see her. Her sputtering golden cloak immerses itself around her once more, bathing her in a river of fiery stars, and the way the scars on her face darken. He can see the way her canines elongate. He can see the way her mouth is open in a scream, and the way Kakashi is gripping her sleeve with a fist of iron. As if he is the only thing holding her back from death itself.

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Kakashi and Obito both nodded in agreement and Shisui turned back to his younger cousin, noting the tilt of his chin and the narrowness of his eyes.

Damn. Damn them. “Okay,” He relented. Itachi breathed again. “But Naruto’s slapping one of those seals on you, got it?”

Itachi smiled in satisfaction. “Got it. Don’t worry. I will be safe. I’m with Naruto, after all.”

Shisui turns again to smile at Naruto, but it falters when he notices her somewhat green face, white knuckles clenching onto the brush like her life depended on it.

“Naruto?” He questions.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” She muttered, holding a hand up to her chest. Then she’s springing up faster than he can shunshin. She’s out the door before her ink brush has finished falling. and they all stare at each other, mystified. The sound of retching travels through the hall, and then Kakashi is on his feet too, sprinting after her.