"Please Rin! Amon! Take me with you!"
Obito sobbed grabbing onto Lumian's leg earning a look of annoyance from the boy and a look of pity from the girl.
Rin smiled nervously. "Sorry Obito... But Toka Sensei says we'll be back by next week. Don't worry we'll be back before you know it!"
Lumian sighed and swung his leg around giving the boy, who was still clutching his leg, a ride of his life.
"You heard what she said. Besides, you have a week off from the academy while your at it! You should be celebrating, not whining like a baby."
Obito let out a whimper. "But... You guys will be gone! How would I be able to stand the next days without you guys!"
Lumian: "...."
Rin let out a giggle and gently pried Obito out of Lumian's legs.
"Don't worry Obito. I'm sure your grandma would be more than happy to be in your company!"
Obito, hearing this, nearly had a heart attack, and released his grip on Lumian.
"R-Rin. How can you say that...."
Currently, the group stood on the busy Konoha street in the morning, with Obito's whining earning looks from nearby passerby's. Lumian and Rin collectively wore a backpack, each containing luggage that they would undoubtedly need from their time away.
Lumian sighed and glanced at the sky. The sun was still coming up, but dawn was about its end. If they don't get to the main gate soon, they would undoubtedly be late.
"Hey guys, we should get a move on. I want to be a quick stop with a friend before we leave."
Rin quickly nodded while Obito.... was acting like Obito.
. . .
. . .
"So... you'll be going now?"
Audrey stood outside the hospital entrance with her arms crossed, looking forward at the group dressed for travel.
Besides, Obito of course.
Lumian grinned and nodded.
"Yeah. I'll be back by the end of the week. It'll be quick, so I hope you don't miss me too much."
Audrey let out a snort and smiled in return. However, she glanced at the girl with purple patching's on her cheek and sniffling boy wearing orange goggles.
"I don't think we've met before," she said, curiosity lacing her tone as she gave the two a once-over.
Rin jumped in surprise. "Yeah.. your right!"
She reached over and shoved Obito's head down into a bow, ignoring his quiet grunt of protest.
"My name is Rin Nohara. This is Obito Uchiha. Its a pleasure to meet you!"
Audrey tilted her head, a comical sweatdrop forming on her brow. "Is that so? Something wrong with him, or is he always like this?"
Lumian sighed and casually smacked the back of Obito's head, eliciting a yelp.
"He's fine. Just stubbed his toe a few blocks back," Lumian said dryly. "Isn't that right, Obito?"
Obito shot him a confused glare. "Huh? What are you talki-"
"In fact," Lumian cut in, voice suddenly dramatic, "this boy here is in critical condition."
Before Obito could react, Lumian grabbed him by the arm and shoved him toward Audrey, who instinctively caught the stumbling boy.
Audrey blinked. "Wait, what?"
"This kid needs emergency treatment," Lumian declared, giving her a completely unconvincing serious look. "Physical, emotional, spiritual; honestly, I'm not even sure which one's worse."
Obito twisted in Audrey's arms like a cat being forced into a bath. "Huh?! Hey! I'm not hurt! Let go!"
Audrey raised an eyebrow, but then looked him over with a nurse's eye. "Well… you do seem emotionally unstable. Maybe a little rest and counseling wouldn't hurt."
"WHAT?!"
Without further ceremony, she scooped him up like a sack of potatoes, cradling him effortlessly despite his flailing limbs, and turned back toward the hospital entrance.
"I'm starting my shift now anyway. I'll make sure he's... cared for."
"W-Wait—Seriously?! You're joking, right?! This is a joke?! AMON, HELP ME!! AMON!!!!"
His desperate cries were no match for Audrey's calm strides and firm grip.
Rin stared in disbelief. "You... actually just did that."
Lumian, still wearing that mischievous grin, gave a small wave to Obito's retreating form. "Don't say I never looked out for his well-being."
Rin shot him a glare. "You're impossible."
Lumian chuckled and gestured toward the road ahead. "That's the spirit. Shall we?"
Rin shook her head with a tired sigh but couldn't suppress the faint smile tugging at her lips as they walked away.
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"Whoa."
Lumian and Rin stood frozen, jaws slack, eyes wide as they took in the overwhelming sight in front of them.
Stretching across the wide field outside Konoha's eastern checkpoint was a line of carriages unlike anything they'd seen before. Each one was draped in luxurious fabrics: deep reds, royal blues, silken golds that shimmered beneath the now awakened sun.
The wheels gleamed with polished steel, catching the light in dazzling flashes. Horses stood tethered to each carriage, their bodies covered with armor and jewelry: gems glinting from their bridles and manes adorned with silken threads. They pawed at the ground restlessly, snorting in the cool air.
Standing beside the carriages were nobles, at least, that's what they had to be.
Men and women in extravagant clothing, layered robes with fine stitching and rare dyes, most of them wearing pride and indifference like celestial dragons. They chatted amongst themselves, looking every bit like they belonged on a stage rather than a battlefield.
But none of that was what left the two young shinobi stunned.
It was the shinobi.
Rows upon rows of ninja stretched across the field, organized by clan and rank. Lumian scanned the crowd. He recognized the banners first: colors and symbols fluttering lightly in the wind.
Yamanaka.
Aburame.
Hyūga.
Nara.
Kurama.
The major clans were all here, standing proud and poised. Each had their own formation, their own rhythm. The Nara were relaxed, as if they were already bored of waiting. The Hyūga stood like iron statues, rigid and unreadable. The Aburame's cloaks concealed more than just their bodies. From Elite Jōnin down to fresh Genin, every rank was accounted for, standing like pieces of a living army.
It was breathtaking....and a little terrifying.
If Lumian didn't know the context, he would have assumed that the 3rd Great Ninja war had already started.
And yet...
"Where are the Uchiha?" Lumian muttered, frowning.
He squinted across the crowd and finally spotted them: tucked away on the far right, barely noticeable among the mass of shinobi. A small group, just ten or so. Where other clans had sixty, eighty, even more, the Uchiha presence was so minimal it almost looked like an afterthought.
"That's weird…" Lumian murmured. "Guess they're not getting too involved."
He watched them for a moment longer, trying to make sense of the odd absence of numbers, but Rin's excited voice broke his focus.
"Look! It's Lord Hokage!"
He followed her gaze, and sure enough, at the heart of the gathering stood the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Clad in formal robes, the man exuded quiet authority. He was speaking with a figure bearing a thick beard and robes with fur lining.
"…Big bearded guy?" Lumian muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Where have I seen him before?"
He took a step forward, curiosity pulling him in; until a hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"!!!"
Lumian spun away and scowled at the offender.
Jiraiya.
The white-haired Sannin stood with his hands on his hips, a stupidly satisfied grin stretching across his face.
"Well hello again, old friend," he said cheerfully.
"…"
"Get lost, pervert," Lumian growled, brushing his shoulder off with exaggerated disgust.
Jiraiya flinched but quickly laughed it off, throwing an arm around the boy's shoulder.
"Now, now! No need to be so quirky. We're all companions here!"
Rin watched the exchange, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Wait. You two know each other?"
Lumian didn't answer. He just shot Jiraiya a cold glare. "Move that arm again and I'll bite your finger off."
Jiraiya raised both hands like he was surrendering and took a step back. "Yeesh. Tough crowd…"
He pointed past them, thumb over his shoulder. "Anyway, I'm not here to hang around. Your sensei's looking for you."
Lumian followed the direction he pointed and spotted Toka standing amid a small group of academy-age shinobi. Somehow, the Chūnin had picked them out of the massive crowd and was waving them over.
The two made their way through the sea of shinobi until they reached their group.
"Amon. Rin. Just in time," Toka said as they approached. "We were about to leave."
Lumian nodded and quickly surveyed the others.
Asuma Sarutobi stood with arms folded, giving him a nod of acknowledgment. Genma Shiranui offered a lazy salute with a senbon dangling from his lips. Both gave him a look that said, You've got potential.
Anko, of course, smirked with open mischief. Typical Anko.
The Hyūga in the group, Riko, refused to make eye contact, looking off into the distance like Lumian didn't exist.
And Gekkō Hayate?
…Snoring. Standing upright, somehow asleep with perfect balance.
But then Lumian paused. There was one more person in the back, leaning against a tree with a sort of detached ease.
Rin seemed to recognize him as she gasped.
Spiky silver hair that oriented to his left-side. A classical black Shinobi outfit, geared with Kunais to the side and steel plantings within his attacking parts. He wore black mask that covered the bottom half of his face with a headband strapped across his forehead.
. . .
Kakashi Hatake.
. . .
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(Author's note:
Hey guys! Guess your wondering about my inactivity these past days.
Writing another Fanfic. Rewatching Star Wars. And playing Sekiro.
Not to shabby huh?
Anyways, Please leave a Review!
Comment your thoughts on the comment section!
And as always...
POWER STONES!!!!!
)