[closed]

[morningpeacock]

Who: Gai and Obito
When: 26th of October
Where: Konoha, Gai's apartment
What: After the debrief, Obito comes to talk to Gai.



Gai had headed out after that debriefing to train, spending the entire day in the training fields until he dragged himself home for dinner and a shower. There was nothing in the mission that had been all that taxing physically, but he was exhausted emotionally and a good training session with plenty of self-challenges had always helped with mental and emotional clarity, or at the very least, distraction.

He just wished Lee hadn't been away on a mission. He needed someone to talk to, someone to smile at him today. Not even the girl at the take-out place had.

A shower later and he was seated at his dining table, eating the takeout with one hand and lifting a dumbbell with the other. He had to train harder. By itself, the dumbbell wasn't a significant challenge, but he could certainly use some work with the chopsticks in his less-dominant hand. Coordination, multitasking, dexterity. Every skill was worth pushing further.

Comments

[thebestuchiha]

"Are you even aware of the insult you give everyone in it past and present in your view?" It was a murmur, low and stern.

[morningpeacock]

"I admire the people. I do not admire the organization. What a ninja does is already covert. But the nature of ANBU is...difficult. And the things it inspires in and asks of its people is worrisome. I understand its purpose for you and your need to defend it, but I do not like it."

[thebestuchiha]

"Like I told you in the office Gai. That mask could not make you ANBU. ANBU is creating oneself, without expectation of anything but to be ANBU, to be the protectors and whatever else the village needs so that others don't need to be dirtied by it. Do you understand?"

[morningpeacock]

"I understand, but I do not think they all 'created themselves.' Neji may have made a choice, but do you think they all have? Because I think the village created Kakashi to be an ANBU. The village, and its requirements of him during the war and its expectations of him. I do not know Yamato's story, but I think he is too far in and indoctrinated to know anything else. I think they do it because they know nothing else and so it is therefore their 'choice' to go with what they have been created to do."

[thebestuchiha]

"No Gai." His tone was stern, and he gave him a hard look, clearly displeased. "You do not understand how one becomes ANBU at all. A person can't get into ANBU without taking the steps that lead them to becoming one. Don't cast aspirations on something just because you don't understand it. You won't understand it, and that's why you don't belong there. That doesn't mean you have any cause to insult good people just because it's outside your worldview."

[morningpeacock]

And there was the rift, the one that had kept him locked out of part of Kakashi's life was now closing a door between him and Obito. And it hurt. He wouldn't understand, he couldn't understand, and he would never fit in. No one would talk to him about it, and so he would never, could never, even try. Being part of the mission hardly could have done much when the whole situation was problematic to begin with.

"I spoke out of turn. I understand. Please send them my apologies."

[thebestuchiha]

"You can apologize yourself. To Yamato especially. He's the most adamant defender of ANBU you will ever find, and spitting on ANBU to him is like you've personally insulted him and everything he believes in." He let out a soft sigh. "He's one of my most important subordinates."

He shook his head once. "And more personally, he's part of a rather small circle of friends I've got. Though he'd fight down anyone knowing that given how seriously he takes security."

[morningpeacock]

Why was it always Yamato? Gai tried so hard to not take it as a personal insult but Yamato was Neji's senpai, the one Kakashi chose to vent his frustrations to, now Obito was defending him as a friend and important subordinates. Maybe Kakashi and Obito should both be dating Yamato instead.

He hated being jealous. It was unyouthful and disgraceful. Unfair to all involved and frustratingly hard to shake off.

"Yes, sir. I meant no offense to you, either. I am sorry if it was taken as such."

[thebestuchiha]

"Yeah, well, I don't just shove people in ANBU to destroy them you know, even if that's what you seem to think it is." He pressed his lips together, then drew in a deep breath before letting it out carefully.

[morningpeacock]

"I know you do not. I never said you did so. It is an institution."

[thebestuchiha]

"And every person there is there on my behalf." It was a simple, quiet statement, and he met and held his gaze.

[morningpeacock]

"It was not created by you." Gai held his gaze. "But yes, I understand. Is there anything else, sir?"

[thebestuchiha]

He lifted his chin. "We can move on to personal points."

[morningpeacock]

He took a deep breath. "Oh, right."

[thebestuchiha]

"If you'd gotten yourself killed with this stunt I never would have forgiven you." It was a blunt statement, without any real change of tone.

[morningpeacock]

"I know, and I am sorry, Obito. You have every right to feel that way. It was a decision in the moment and I am glad that neither you, nor Kakashi, nor Neji, have to live with those consequences of my mistake."

[thebestuchiha]

"Yay? I seriously hope this hasn't ratcheted up Tenzou's resistance another notch or I'm going to break something. Seriously Gai, I've been working on that man for over two years." He shifted, leaning over to snag one of Gai's hands and tugging. "But not as important as you doing something Kakashi level of stupid m'kay? I wanted to go over my desk and punch you into the damn wall this morning."

[morningpeacock]

He raised a brow. Working on him how? What exactly was Yamato and Obito's relationship anyway? No, the jealousy could go away already, please.

Gai smiled a small, soft smile, leaning forward with the tug and giving Obito's hand a squeeze. "A punch would have been easier than facing the Hokage's disappointment in words. And if you still feel inclined, aim for the exterior wall, please? My neighbors will not enjoy having their walls come down, and Yamato will not enjoy having to rebuild them."

[thebestuchiha]

"Yes well, he'll be rebuilding half the damn village in the next two weeks and he deserves it for being a little shit." He narrowed his eyes with that mutter and took a deep breath. "But he's almost as stubborn as I am so that's that. And no, I'm not punching you. You're not getting off that easy. You're just as much at fault as the other two idiots. And don't think Neji is getting off easy either, that boy is going to be on my personal guard rotation for the next couple weeks."

[morningpeacock]

Gai would never tell, but it was amusing the way Obito spoke about them now, even though he was upset. Kind of cute, Gai thought fondly, and so different from his Hokage attitude. "Be kind to Neji on guard duty. He embarrasses very easily." He raised Obito's hand to his lips. "And I love you, Obito. I do not want off easy. I just want to make sure you know how sorry I would have been to never be able to tell you so again."

[thebestuchiha]

"Yes, well, I'm furious at you especially. You're supposed to be the one I could count on to keep Kakashi from doing dangerous stupid shit, and failing that, to tell me, not to put yourself at risk." He scowled at him, but he didn't take his hand back.

[morningpeacock]

"I know. I should have come to tell you directly." Except that felt like tattling. And he would never tattle on his Rival. Gai would have to revise that policy. "Especially since I know how much it means to you, both as Hokage and as his friend. What can I do to make it up to you?"

[thebestuchiha]

"Make nice with Tenzou and mean it. He's in the middle of this and it'll stress Kakashi out pretty badly if he catches on two of his people are at each other's throats. And he's going to be too him to be able to manage you both at once so that leaves me to do it and I really can't get in the middle of that because of my project there."

[morningpeacock]

"I will. I promise." Even if that meant eating humble pie. For Obito (and Kakashi, but especially Obito) he would. "But...Your project?"

[thebestuchiha]

"I've only just managed to pry Tenzou from full time ANBU duties for the first time since I met him. I'm determined to get him disengaged to the point he understands why I'm doing it before letting him try to go back in if he still wishes to."