scared of the stars

Chapter 21 - Obito

Either the Hokages start work very early, or Kakashi was desperate in avoiding him. Obito heard him walk through the apartment, trying to make as little noise as possible. He could almost feel him hold his breath whenever he walked past the couch. He ate breakfast - though Obito was sure he barely chewed any of it - and left without uttering a single word.

It was 4 am.

Minato used to start at 7.

Obito considered not opening the door when the heavy knocks arrived and covered himself under his blanket. It was probably for Kakashi anyway, so it wouldn't make any difference whether he answered the door or not.

«Stop being lazy and get out, Obito!» Naruto shouted, kicking at the door this time.

Obito peeked out from beneath the blanket, feeling his mood instantly improve.

Naruto? He thought and stood up. He didn't care for the pajamas he wore and walked over to the door, locking it up and welcoming his first visitor in years.

Or, he was about to welcome him, but a heavy hit on top of his head and him biting his tongue was two things that made him reconsider.

«Honestly, I can't believe you. I was looking forward to hearing how your first mission in a while had gone and you flat out ignored me!» Naruto walked past him and into the house, inviting himself in.

Could Obito invite someone in, or wasn't that his place? Would Kakashi get mad?

Obitos brows furrowed and he almost slammed the door shut. So what if he got mad, he had to pull that stick that was so far up his ass out and get himself together. Obito was trying his best to regain a normal life and Kakashi completely blew him off and acted like a jerk.

«Yeah, sorry. Things didn't go so well on the mission and I didn't want to talk about it.» He said and sat down on the couch. Naruto sat down beside him, putting his feet on the table.

Obito couldn't see it, so it didn't happen. Kakashi never needed to know.

«But you can talk to someone you don't know that well about it?» He asked, making himself comfortable.

Well, you dug yourself a hole there, Obito.

«You've talked with Ino, huh?» He asked and recalled the conversation from yesterday.

«You're evading the question,» Naruto replied and playfully hit him with his elbow.

«You just did that too, you know?» Obito said and hit him back.

Neither said anything for a few seconds. Obito waited for Naruto to say something, and Naruto waited for Obito to talk first.

Eventually, one of them cracked.

«I was kind of worried,» Naruto said. «I know Guy isn't your biggest fan. I didn't know how it would go. I hoped Yamato would be fine with you, but then I remembered I would never have expected that reaction out of Guy and became even more worried. It was your first mission since you left the village and I knew it could be difficult. So when you walked off after you all arrived I knew something was up, so I asked if anyone had seen you and Ino told me she had.»

Obito wouldn't exactly say he left the village, though it was technically true. He nodded, thinking through what Naruto had said.

He kind of felt bad.

«I didn't want to speak with Kakashi.» Obito simply said. He hoped he wouldn't have to say anything else for Naruto to understand. If he and Kakashi had spoken after the mission Kakashi had probably told everything.