Family… I suppose that's what it's like.
"…I know the Land of Hot Water inside out! Why didn't you ask me before going? Do you even know what being ripped off is?" Hidan said, half-joking, half-angry, holding a half-empty beer and sprawled casually at the barbecue table. He addressed Kisame and Itachi, who had just returned from a mission stopover at a hot spring in the Land of Hot Water. Apparently, they had been thoroughly ripped off—the food wasn't anything special, and the springs themselves were nothing to brag about. Only by asking around did they realize they'd been cheated by the inn.
"I told you guys not to go to that fancy place," Kisame said, nursing his own beer, scolding Itachi who had insisted on the priciest inn. Not only was it expensive, but the quality was poor. After the soak, Itachi broke out in rashes that took days to disappear. Itachi dragged his elbow along the table, nibbling at a three-color dango he had packed along, silently fuming at Kisame's complaints. But there was nothing he could do—he had not only developed rashes but also a stiff neck from sleeping awkwardly. So all he could do was mutter quietly.
"Next time, we're never going there again."
"It's really your fault for not asking ahead," Hidan said. "We never go to the Land of Hot Water for baths. Sure, it's famous, but the real good spots are in the Land of Whirlpools." Deidara eagerly nodded. "Yeah! I can confirm! The time I went with the old man to the Land of Whirlpools? Amazing hot springs, totally worth it!"
Kakuzu chimed in, "Is it even open there?" From the tone, he seemed familiar with the springs of the Land of Whirlpools. "Went last year—it was open. This year should be the same."
"Huh? I never heard of it," Hidan interjected, giving him a side glance. "He never took you there?" Hidan shook his head. "Why would he? Kakuzu and I just suffered every day—slept outdoors, never once in an inn, never in a hotel. Seriously. Couldn't even pay for myself."
Kakuzu shrugged casually, flipping meat on the grill. "And yet, you didn't starve."
"Yeah, that's true," Hidan muttered habitually. The group watched him for a few seconds, then Hidan, always slow to react, suddenly yelled, "Hey, wait a second, Kakuzu—don't say it like that—"
HAHAHA!
Laughter erupted. Even Nagato maintained his usual stoic expression, and only Konan seemed able to preserve her composure.
"Then let's all go together! It's been a while," Nagato suggested. Deidara clapped enthusiastically. Kakuzu quickly looked at Nagato. "Company-funded or self-funded?"
A hush fell over the table. Deidara pouted. "Of course it's company-funded! Kakuzu, paying yourself? What kind of leader would that be, right, Sister Konan?"
Seeking confirmation, he looked at Konan. She spit out the hard bone she couldn't chew from her meat and, without looking, simply said:
"Company-funded."
"Awesome!!!" Deidara stood up, arms raised, cheering. Kakuzu glared at Deidara and Konan, his murderous glare making two passes between them. "Each person has a quota of 5,000 ryō. Anything extra is your own cost!"
"For hot springs, that's 6,000, not including meals," he added, his face darkening further. "Price went up again! Let's pick another place. The Land of Hot Water has plenty of cheaper ones."
"Exactly! There are plenty of good places in our Land of Hot Water—you two were just dumb enough to get ripped off." Hidan quickly shoved a piece of meat into his mouth. "Besides the Land of Whirlpools, I'm going nowhere else."
"Same here," Nagato said, putting down his chopsticks and taking a sip of beer. "I remember the Spring Festival is in the Land of Whirlpools, so let's set it for that day." Then, he added for Kakuzu's benefit, "Quota is 20,000 ryō per person." This meant an additional 20,000 ryō over their own cost.
Kakuzu's face darkened. After a moment, he swallowed his resentment. The leader had spoken—no matter how much he disliked it, he had to comply.
"Meet at 7 PM on the 17th, finish by 7 PM on the 19th," Konan quickly set the schedule. Itachi frowned—he had just finished a hot spring trip, which had left a bad impression.
"Can I skip it?"
Nagato glanced at the frowning Itachi with a smile. "The Land of Whirlpools is actually nice. It'll help clear your psychological shadow."
Meanwhile, Hidan kept promoting his homeland's famous hot springs, Kisame asked if it was really that good, Kakuzu muttered about the extra costs, and Deidara calculated logistics.
Obito watched all this and thought of Zaraki Kita.
How long has it been since she had a proper rest? How long since she soaked comfortably in a hot spring?
Even standing lazily in the sun had become a luxury. Her life was a ceaseless cycle of searching Ōtsutsuki ruins, recovering from injuries, and traveling to the Moon. Three points on a line—the entirety of her existence. Her body was steadily wasting away. He hadn't seen her face flush with blood for a long time.
For their smiles… for Akatsuki… for this hellish world…
Obito felt a tight ache in his chest, his eyes stinging. He didn't know why he felt this way—just watching them discuss the future reminded him of Zaraki Kita.
She had barely awakened from unconsciousness, and yet she continued on, maintaining her already fragile body with medicine and poison, using every ounce of her strength to protect a dream so far beyond reach—a dream unrelated to greatness, unrelated to justice.
But there's absolutely no hope, right? No good way left to prevent disaster. No other way to protect that smile.
Despair? Not exactly. He wasn't like when Rin died, wanting to destroy the world. He didn't want to punch the happiest smile off anyone's face.
He just felt powerless.
Why am I so small, so utterly insignificant in the face of this overwhelming problem?
This wasn't despair—but it was a despair a hundred times more painful than despair itself.
——Kita… use the Tailed Beast…
——No… no, maybe this time… maybe it could work…
It hurt more than seeing Kakashi kill Rin.
"Uh… Obito, you just set the coordinates. Why are you crying?"
Tears filled his eyes. Uchiha Obito didn't even notice.
The rooftop was silent. Then, he sobbed, the quiet, ragged choking sobs of a man burdened by unimaginable pressure, bent over as if crushed. He bit his lips to stop the sound from escaping, trying to contain the unstoppable cries that threatened to shatter the sky.
Zaraki Kita said: "When I chat with everyone, drink, and stay up for New Year's Eve, it feels like I'm human too. Family, friends—I have everything. No matter what happens, I want to protect them forever."
Zaraki Kita said: "Sometimes, I'm really grateful to the heavens for giving me a chance to live. Even as a non-human, I'm grateful for meeting them."
Zaraki Kita said: "Because of meeting them, I realized… being alive is truly wonderful."
Zaraki Kita said: "My mission is to protect Akatsuki—whether I'm there or not."
Zaraki Kita said: "Obito, after I die, take my ashes back. Scatter them anywhere—it doesn't matter. I want to go home."
Zaraki Kita said: "I want to go home and feel the rain once. I want to see Konan, see Nagato, see Kakuzu, play chess with Itachi, fight Kisame, hear Deidara say 'Hmm,' see them… I really miss them."
"Help… please… help me…"
Obito sobbed like a child, just like years ago.
Eyes closed, but tears still flowed. Even a man of iron resolve was painfully soft when he cried. Nagato moved slightly, silent; Kakuzu frowned; Hidan froze; Deidara was surprised; Kisame confused; Itachi uncomprehending; Konan silent.
"Please… help me… I… I'm in so much pain…"
So much pain, he didn't know what to do. It was as if all of existence was just an illusion orchestrated by Uchiha Madara.
"Please… there's no hope left… but, but…"
Yet again, he stood, struggling to move forward.
"…I-I… I can't… I really can't…"
Hashirama cells had already been used. There was no time. She would die… she would really die…
"Please… I won't accept it… but… that girl… she's fighting so hard to protect this hellish world… I can't do it alone…"
He couldn't protect them for her, couldn't guard this hellish world.
"So… please… help me… I want to protect this world… protect it here…"
He desperately wanted to protect it—the world that killed Rin, the world that made Kakashi cry at a grave.
"But… I'm useless… I can't do it alone… please… help me… I'm sorry… I really was wrong… please…"
Tears streamed down as Uchiha Obito cried like a pathetic child in front of everyone.
━━━━ ❖ ━━━
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