It's you I need

Chapter 14

Obito POV:

The years had quietly slipped through our fingers like grains of sand, each one marking a chapter of survival, fear, and the fragile hope we clung to. Our little hut, hidden deep in the forest's embrace, had become the shelter where our battered souls sought refuge from the unforgiving world we left behind. The shadows of the village, the threats, the whispered fears about the tailed beast sealed inside Kakashi. All of it seemed far away, yet the weight of those memories never fully lifted.

I found him by the window, the morning light tracing silver along the strands of his hair, his eyes distant yet steady, gazing out into the wilderness. I watched the subtle rise and fall of his chest, drawn by a tenderness so fierce it threatened to break me. How long had he carried that unbearable burden alone before trusting me with it? The truth was, every day I worried about his strength, about the darkness simmering beneath his calm exterior.

I stepped behind him, sliding my hands around his waist. "Another restless morning?" I asked quietly. He didn't turn from the window right away, his eyes distant as they drank in the endless stretch of wilderness. The world outside remained vast and untamed-a perfect contrast to the turmoil we carried inside.

After a long, breathless pause, Kakashi's voice came, low and tired. "Not the restlessness of the night. It's the weight the dawn always brings. The cruel reminder that the past isn't gone. Not really."

I nodded, understanding the shadows that clung quietly to him like an old wound. "But here," I whispered, "right here, you're safe.

He finally turned, silver hair falling across his face like a curtain. I saw in his eyes a fierce tenderness-a vulnerability he rarely revealed. "Sometimes," he said, stepping closer, the subtle tremor in his voice betraying the strength he forced himself to muster, "I forget that there can be peace. I think it's lost to me forever."

I kissed his forehead, pulling him gently into a hug. "It's never lost as long as we're together. The world outside can be cruel, but this hut, this is our moment."

A fleeting smile touched his lips, the kind that belongs to those who have glimpsed hope through the cracks in despair. "Your love has been my anchor, Obito."

"And yours, mine," I said simply. After a long pause,he spoke up again.

"The day ahead will be hard," he murmured. "But for now, in this hut, with your warmth close, I can feel something like peace."

He leaned into my side, head resting gently. "It's not forever," he said, voice quiet but certain. "But it's enough for now."

The sun rose higher, filtering through leaves, splashing golden light across our small home. Outside, the forest hummed with life-wild and untamed, much like the lives we led.

We spent our days in the slow, deliberate rhythms of simple survival. On mornings like this, we rose with the light filtering through the canopy, the air fresh with the scent of pine and earth. Kakashi would often begin with tending the fire, his fingers steady as he coaxed the flame from dry twigs. The warmth it cast was more than comfort.

When the forest's quiet hours unfolded, we worked side by side. Gathering water from the stream was a ritual, each careful step a reminder of how far we'd come. Kakashi's laugh-a rare and treasured sound-would sometimes break the stillness when a fish slipped from his hands and ironically always slapped me with its flipper or when I missed a familiar path despite walking it every day.

We taught each other what we'd known and what we'd forgotten: which berries were safe, how to read the flow of the wind, where the deer hid in the shadows. Our meals, simple but shared, became moments of connection. Kakashi, with his quiet focus, would prepare what little we had with care, and I'd keep watch, ever protective, content to be by his side.

Evenings were the softest part of the day. We would sit by the fire's glow, talking in whispers about dreams that felt almost reckless-dreams of a future far from fear, a world rebuilt from trust and love. Sometimes he traced patterns in the dirt, or whittled little wooden figures, while I listened and let the flickering light swallow our worries.

At night, when fatigue made our limbs heavy and eyes closed, I held him close, memorizing the steady rise and fall of his breath. These moments, fragile and fleeting, were the precious thread that held us together-not as fugitives or victims, but as two souls finding their way, step by cautious step, towards peace.

Then my gaze shifted upward. High above the trees, a solitary eagle soared through the brightening sky. Its wings stretched wide, effortlessly gliding in the vast blue expanse. Something caught my eye-it carried a small bundle, strapped to its leg with a leather tie.

Kakashi noticed it too, his eyes narrowing as the eagle circled and descended slowly over our hut. It was a message-a letter, carried by a bird designed to travel great distances. Seeing it brought a strange mixture of emotions-a link from the outside world, a reminder that no matter how hidden we were, we were not forgotten.

The eagle tapped gently on the windowsill.I opened the window slowly and untied the leather on its leg, holding the letter in my hands with a sense of cautious hope.

Kakashi came beside me, curiosity and wariness etched across his features. "Who would send us a letter?" he asked softly.

"I don't know," I said, breaking the seal. "But it's here. Whatever it says, it found us."

We sat back down together, unfolding the parchment with care.

To Kakashi Hatake and Obito Uchiha,

The world behind our sight still remains with conflict and chaos, yet I write to you with hope and urgency. The burdens you carry, the darkness sealed within Kakashi, are not just curses, but keys to shape the future of our lands.

The village mourns and heals, but it needs its finest to stand once more. I understand the pain and scars that have driven you both away, but it is time to consider returning. Your strength, your loyalty, have never been forgotten.

The path ahead is dangerous. The enemies we face are many, but the bonds we share are stronger than ever. I ask you, not as a commander, but as one who has stood beside you, to rise with us once again. To fight not just for survival, but for the peace we once dreamed of.

Know that the village doors are open, but the choice -your choice- must come from your hearts.

With the deepest respect and hope,

Minato Namikaze
Fourth Hokage

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Kakashi and Obito sat in silence for a long moment after reading Minato's letter. The weight of those words settled heavily on both of them.

Kakashi finally spoke, his voice quiet but edged with uncertainty. "Minato's faith...it means a lot. But are we really ready? The world out there... it's changed so much. The people we once trusted... would they welcome us back? Or see us only as fugitives?"

I thought about his words, the truth settling like a stone in my chest. "I don't know. The world we fled isn't waiting for us with open arms. The scars we carry run deep."

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "And yet... maybe it's time to stop running. For better or worse, this letter means someone still believes we can make a difference. Maybe that's enough reason to try."

A flicker of resolve sparked in his eyes, shadowed by doubt. "But I'm not convinced we'll find peace out there. What if we only stir up more chaos?"

I met his gaze steadily. "We won't know until we step forward. For now, it's just a possibility. A dangerous one, but still a chance."

I tightened my grip on his hand, holding onto the delicate thread of hope that remained. "We can only move forward slowly, carefully. That's the only way."

The letter rested on the table between us, fragile and heavy with meaning-a quiet summons into unknown risks and uncertain futures. Often, it's the decisions filled with doubt that carry the most weight, marking the start of what could change everything...