how did this even happen...

[mooneye]

It wasn't a bad sort of place. Lots of things to do and people to see. Plenty of freedom to dart over the rooftops and down the alleys--or out of the village and into the woods and rocky wild places beyond. Obito liked Michi no Sato.

He had stopped for lunch and was eating at a table outside the restaurant, watching people walk past. The food was good. The cold breeze was nice. Ah, yes. Years and years trapped in a cave with a crazy old man and a bunch of plant monsters--it had left him really able to appreciate the little things.

[ooc: here is an AU Obito in his twenties. Got through the time with Madara, and Rin's death, but didn't go completely evil after all of it...]

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[youngesthokage]

"The Sakegari Longsword." He hummed, asking for another cup when the tea arrived a moment later, and he leaned to pour himself one. "I'd never considered using a fan."

[mooneye]

"A fan's good in combination with special techniques." And he smiled, thinking of the wall beyond the cave with all the battered weapons on it, the deadly instruments from the era when the clan had been an armed militia. "Kusurigama I've used. I'm not good with the chain, though. My teacher hated that." And nobody could punish you for messing up in practice the way Madara Uchiha could punish you for messing up in practice. Obito winced slightly, though the expression might have been hidden as he lifted his cup to drink.

[bunsofsteel]

She nods once, resting her chin in her palm again. "It can be," she agrees, eyes all but sparkling at the thread of conversation. "I fought a girl in my first Chuunin exams that wielded a fan." Her lips twist, just a bit, at the memory, but she dismisses it. "I'd like to see your techniques sometime, if you'd permit, Uchiha-san."

Again, her attention turns back to Itachi. Sakegari Longsword, huh...? "You too! I can't believe you have--" And then her eyes widen in recognition. If there was anyone who'd read about all the weapons she could find in the Konoha libraries, it was her. Her voice rises in excitement as she stares at him. "You have that and never let me see?!"

[youngesthokage]

He'd opened his mouth to say something, what was anyone's guess as her tone drew his startled eyes to her. Was that... a squeal of excitement? He'd never heard her actually use a tone like that before and didn't entirely know how to react.

"...It never occurred to me?"

[mooneye]

"Certainly." He smiled at the suggestion. "We'll spar some time, if you like. Maybe even the three of us, hm, Itachi?"

[bunsofsteel]

She just gives Obito a distracted nod, shifting in her chair to plant both hands on Itachi's thigh. "Where did you get it? I've got to see it. Do you have any idea how many people are looking for that thing?!"

[youngesthokage]

Itachi gave a little not to Obito without looking away from Tenten, utterly caught flatfooted by the verbal assault. "Of course Obito-nii, I'd love to see the changes."

Still, that hadn't bought him enough time and he had no idea how to answer her. "I've ah... it was when I was out of the village... and yes?"

[mooneye]

Obito sat back and simply watched the two of them, enjoying this. What an interesting home life the two--no, three--of them must have...

[bunsofsteel]

Her fingers trace gently over his inner thigh for a long moment before she pulls back, grin turning a little mischievous. "You'd better teach me to use it, too. I'll be expecting it." If Obito weren't there, she'd give him a teasing kiss, too, but, well, Itachi should be able to read that much from her expression as she glances back to Obito. Itachi would just have to wait~ They had company.

"I'd be happy to spar with you, Uchiha-san."

[youngesthokage]

He blinked at her a few mote times, somewhat dazed before her looking away drew his gaze back to Obito as well. "It's always interesting to spar with her."

[mooneye]

"I'm looking forward to it, then." And he was watching them in a kind of lazy and amused way that said that if they did want to smooch carry on he wouldn't mind it one little bit.

[bunsofsteel]

Unfortunately for their new companion, she wasn't much one for public displays of affection. Instead, she just rests her chin on her palm again with a shrug. "One of these days, I'll surpass you, Itachi-sama~"

[youngesthokage]

"You are more than welcome to aspire to just that. Sasuke does as well." It was a murmur and he quirked his lips. "However, I must point out that I train just as hard as you do. I do not like to feel idle and there is little else since arriving here than that."

He paused a beat, realizing the truth of it. "I've not had so much free time in... several years."

[mooneye]

"Yes, this place is... a good opportunity." Obito nodded. "Being completely uprooted. I mean, it makes you think--what now? What next?"

[bunsofsteel]

She just gives Itachi another look, humming quietly. It was true, how he trained, but she wouldn't give up. "Doesn't matter. I'll beat you some day. Him, too."

Her expression sobers at Obito's question, her fingers falling to the table as she starts to worry at a fingernail. "That? I don't know." And she doesn't like to think about it, either.

[youngesthokage]

He shook his head, hesitating a moment. "If it were more stable, perhaps, but now, here... There is no driving need to escape as in... there, but the sense of impermanence still has a hold. It will take some time before it really sticks that this is where the future -is- whatever one might wish to the contrary."

[mooneye]

"The future is, yes." Obito mulled that over. It was clear that the nature of this place excited him. "I guess we can't know what might happen here. It's not a normal place."

[bunsofsteel]

She doesn't answer immediately, fingers picking at her nails as she studies the table with more than a passing fascination. Talking about the future scared her more than she cared to admit -- after all, it was clear that whatever happiness she had here would vanish once she went home. Even if she could manage to keep her hold on Sasuke and bring him back, she'd never get Itachi, too.

Tenten wasn't sure what bothered her more -- that she wouldn't have those two once she went home, or that she didn't know if she even wanted to go back, anymore.

[youngesthokage]

He looked over to Tenten at her silence and one hand reached to run along her shoulder without him directly addressing her, eyes going to Obito. "No, it is not, but that is not all bad."

[mooneye]

Obito agreed, but raised and dropped one shoulder. There were goods as well as bads. "So far it--this place--has been very pleasant. For me."

[bunsofsteel]

She tilts her head to give Itachi a small smile, rolling her shoulder to help dislodge his hand as she reaches across with her other to take it, lowering them both to the table again. "It has good points and bad ones," she says finally, smile curving into a frown as she thinks of that Neji. "But overall, it's... nice."

A brief shake of her head, and she turns a smile back on the older Uchiha. "Do you know what you're going to do here yet, Uchiha-san?"

[youngesthokage]

He squeezed her fingers but let out a soft sigh of a breath. Very well, no assuring then. He looked back to Obito for his answer.

[mooneye]

"Do? Ah... I haven't thought about it." In truth he's been living like something of a cheerful hobo, since he got here. "What do you two do?"

[bunsofsteel]

Her face goes slightly pink as she coughs, squeezing Itachi's fingers again. "Train, mostly," she answers, lips curving into another smile as she glances toward Itachi. "Every now and then I'll head into town, pick up a few odd jobs like moving things for some extra money."

[youngesthokage]

"I haven't quite settled into any one thing myself. Mostly calligraphy for a few of the shops." He shook his head slightly. "I've mostly focused on using extra time training... and the like."