Finally Home

"As if you're the one to talk, Mizukage!" A tall dark man with blonde hair stood, his eyes wild and wide with fury. "Your village destroyed Konohagakure and made one of its own a jinchuukiri!" He slammed his fist down on the table. "How can you talk of peace? Furthermore," he added angrily, "why should us bigger countries pay for what happened a long time ago? The Second Shinobi War is over, and we haven't even used Amegakure or Kusugakure as a base to fight anymore!"

"It wasn't a long time ago, Raikage-sama," Nagato whispered steely. "My parents died at the height of the war when I was ten, which is twenty years ago this day. Amegakure suffered for your selfish wishes to expand your power, and hatred was created. My friend once told me that for people to understand one another, they had to have the same pain. He wished for peace as well, even though the Kumogakure shinobi who killed his parents are still alive to this day." His Rinnegan eyes scanned the Raikage. "The wars have caused nothing but sorrow and heartache for Amegakure and the other small nations, and a recent disaster has to come to our attention as well. Konohagakure was destroyed by Kirigakure more than a fortnight ago, just to gain favor over the war. There is no telling how many casualties there were. And the survivors stand before me. Their names are Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin. They wish to end this hell known as war as well as I."

"There was a leader named Hanzo who used to rule Amegakure," the Tsuchikage stated while running his hands through his graying hair. "Do you kill him, boy?" he asked Nagato.

Nagato neither hesitated nor flinched from the question. "Hai," he stated.

"What?" Screamed the Raikage. "Why should we trust a usurper such as yourself when you're exactly like the leader you assassinated?"

"It's because bastards like you that the world exists!" Obito thundered. He had had enough. "Nagato explained to me how his country was devastated and ruined by our leaders' choice to use their country as their battleground. It was hell, he explained to me. His parents were murdered in front of him as he helplessly watched, and he saw death and despair everywhere he looked! I saw this with my own eyes when Kirigakure…when they demolished my village into nothing but dust." Obito's hand was shaking now as he spoke. Blood rushed to his head, and he couldn't help but to feel the same rage and despair that had consumed him on that day. "It's because of the power we crave that everyone has lost someone they loved in the war. Shouldn't the leaders, the protectors of their people, understand that most of all?" No one spoke at Obito's words, but he thought he saw a glint of understanding in their eyes. "We need to end this war, otherwise future generations will know nothing but despair and blood and death! Just as we have," Obito sighed. He sat down.

For a moment no one spoke. Then the Kazekage spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "You speak from the heart, young Obito, but how do we achieve peace? Our shinobi have known nothing but war, as their fathers and grandfathers have. How can we change them if we're not certain if we can't change ourselves?"

"Call them home," Konan said simply. "I am certain they are tired of senseless war and blood on their hands. I'm certain they will surprise you."

The Raikage said shortly, "You're the leader of the Konohagakure survivors, correct?" Obito nodded. "What do plan to do now? You have an entire village to rebuild."

"Obito plans to not go back to Konohagakure," stated Rin. Her calm voice soothed Obito, allowing him to slightly relax and breathe. "There are too many painful memories for us to go back, and there are people who are with us now that depend on us. When we come of age, we still plan to protect the Land of Fire, as well as our new shinobi village, Takagure." Rin's bright eyes locked onto the Mizukage's. "Mizukage-sama, I do not blame you for what happened to my village. Nor do I hate you for using me as a vessel for Isobu. But I will say this. Being a jinchuukiri is a very hard duty, and pain often results. I am quite fortunate to be loved and to love, but if a jinchuukiri does not have that, they become sullen beings, shells of their former selves, and begin to hate. See them as heroes, for if not them, the biju would use their wrath against the humans that imprisoned them. And tell the jinchuukiri this. Love can only fill an empty hole in their hearts."

It seemed that no one except Obito understood what Rin was trying to say, although he did see a faint smile grace Nagato's face. Slowly, the young shinobi began to speak. "There are many ways a country can be built, and many ways peace can be achieved. I thank you for making me realize these dreams. Thank you." He bowed to them. "Thank you so much for making my dream into a reality." As each kage stood, Nagato continued to thank them. However, he stopped for a moment when Obito and Rin crossed him.

"Thank you…and goodbye, Obito-san, Rin-san."

Obito and Rin were walking side by side as the Tagakure border came nearer. Obito was looking at the clouds, thinking of how as a child, Shisui would throw him up into the air, making him breathless with joy. Although a sadness plagued Obito whenever he thought of those gone, he knew that someday the pain, just like the pain from his new body, would away. He saw Rin pause by the trees and look out west – where Konohagkure had been.

"Do you…think they're still watching us, Obito?" Rin whispered. She was looking up at the sky.

Obito took her smaller hand in his own and squeezed. "I know they're watching us, Rin. And I know they always will." She was talking about Kakashi, about Minato-sensei, about Shisui, about her parents, and even his own parents who he had never known. "I know they're watching us…because they're always going to be in their hearts. Until we forget them, they won't be dead. This...all that has happened to us...is how it should be." Obito softly let go of her hand, and smiled when understanding graced her face.

"Let's go home, Obito." Again her hand entangled around his own, and this time Obito didn't let go.

"Hai," he said. "Let's go home." And together they walked towards home, holding hands.