I Fly by NeonZangetsu

Naruto & Shingeki no Kyojin Xover Rated: T, English, Romance & Adventure, Obito U.,
Mikasa A., Words: 10k+, Favs: 220, Follows: 276, Published: Oct 14, 2013 Updated: Dec
5, 2013
Chapter 1

"I get the succint feeling I'm not in Konoha anymore...

~?
Prologue
"Obito!"
The sound of his name brought Uchiha Obito back to consciousness. Just barely. His mind
hung by a thread, tethered only by the sound of his name being called. It would be so easy
to drift off now-to just let sleep take him and enfold him in its velvety embrace. He'd fought
well, hadn't he? Proved that he was worthy of the Uchiha name? Of course he had. He'd
done his best, given it his all. Everyone would be proud of him back in the village. His
parents, his clan, Minato, Kakashi, maybe even...
"Obito!"
Persistence paid off in the end, however, giving him the strength needed to fight off death's
grasp.
"Obito, don't you do this! Stay with me!"
Rin? The blackness in the corners of his vision seemed to recede as her pleasant voice,
piqued now in panic, pierced the fog in his mind.What am...where am I..nrrgh?!
The next thing the young Uchiha noticed was the excruciating, crushing pain in the right
half of his body. Oh, right. Now he remembered. he'd pushed Kakashi out of the way of a
falling boulder. That's why being awake hurt so damned much, caused him this pain. Ha!
Pain was a massive understatement. This wasagonypure and simples; terrible and
unbearable, filling every fiber of his being, threatening to end him at any moment. By some
miracle he could still feel his arm and leg on that side, his fingers and toes wriggling when
he tried to move them. He must've broken some ribs or worse...gods this hurt!
Gradually his sight resolved into more meaningful shapes, blurs and shadows morphing
into the face of his teammate. She was staring down at him, her eyes wide and filled with
tears. Why was she crying for him, he'd wondered? Weren't those tears wasted on someone
like him?

"Rin...
The young kunocihi started when he called
"Rin...you should -no, you have to run. Get away from here. Reinforcements must be on the
way." He coughed weakly, flecks of blood staining his lips from the effort. "You need to
escape. Take Kakashi and run. I can't get free."
He managed to turn his face enough to see the tears well up in her eyes.
"Go, Rin. Find Kakashi and leave me."
As if summoned by his words, sudden shock of white suddenly appeared in his peripherals,
flinging itself recklessly over the mound of boulders he was buried under.
"Rin! He's right, we need to leave now!" Kakashi's voice was frantic, a testament to how
much trouble they were in if the "cool genius" was starting to lose his composure. He
hastily grabbed Rin and tossed her over his shoulder before she could react, swiftly making
his way out of the rocky grave Obito lay in.
"Obito! No!"
"I'm sorry I couldn't get you a present for you promotion Kakashi. Maybe in the next life
huh?" That got a watery chuckle from the older boy.
"Yeah, maybe." And with that he disappeared over the edge of the pit and out of sight.
The sound of steel crashing against steel greeted Obito's ears almost immediately
afterwards. A wet gurgle resounded just outside his rocky tomb, punctuated by the sounds
of steel meeting steel.
"NO! NO! NO!" The reinforcements can't be here already! Desperate, he of tried to wiggle
out from under the immense weight of the rocks stacked on top of him but it's no use. Too
much. Too heavy. Too weak. Despite the clash of steel is silenced momentarily, only to be
replaced by a far more chilling sound. A thousand birds chirping, all at once. Then silence.
Not that. Anything but that. If there was noise then he could at least think about the
outcome of the battle. But if there was no sound, none at all then that must mean...
They're dead. He'd failed. They'd all failed. Failed to complete their mission but more than
that; failed to survive and make it back together. He could feel the darkness pressing down
around him, the sorrow threatening to break him entirely. His right eye, the one uncrushed
by the boulder, began to ache. Everything was blurring around him now; bending, warping,
twisting...
This time when the blackness came, he didn't fight it.

Obito's eyes fluttered open a small eternity later, seemingly of their own accord. The boy
almost wished they hadn't. He found himself staring not at the forest canopy of his demise
but rather a wooden ceiling indicitave of someone's home-his body laid out on a soft bed
and matress. Sparsely decorated furnishings hung about him, what little he could see
without raising his head. Was he dead? No. A jolt of pain down his spin shattered that
illusion. If he was dead, truly dead and gone, then he wouldn't be in so much pain. If he
were dead, his arm and leg wouldn't feel so...odd.
What in the world...?
A quick glance down the at himself confirmed that his right arm and leg were bound up in a
cast, the entire side of his body sheathed in bandages that had be at least several inches
thick. Ah. So that was why the right side of his body felt so off. Hissing in pain as he
became more and increasingly aware of his surroundings, every breath grinding the
shattered bones grinding together, he managed to sit himself upright enough to lean his
body weight back against the pillow and headboard. Everything hurt, his limbs, ribs, even
his eyes were sore! Someone must've treated his wounds, he realized.
But that meant he was alive. And if he was alive, then someone must've pried his body out
from under the boulder, which also meant they'd brought him here-wherever here was-also
meaning...
I'm about to meet them.
A heartbeat later his words proved prophetic.
"It's about time you showed some signs of life, you stubborn brat."
Obito squinted through eyes that felt filled with shards of glass to regard the one who had
spoken to him; to finally become aware of the dark-haired man standing at the foot of his
bed. He wasn't alone. He stood there surrounded by others. The lone constant among them
seemed to be the dark green cloak they woere, and their hardened gazes. But the darkhaired man stood out amongst them somehow-Obito couldn't put his finger on it, but there
was just something about him that suggested the aura of command.
"Who are...?"
"Levi." The dark-haired man answered. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, kid."
"You're...happy?!" Obito's deadpan was barely concealed. Well, he certainly didn't look it!
In fact, if one were to glance at Levi, they wouldn't have thought much of him at all. Short,
with straight black hair, sharp eyes and an almost perpetually disinterested expression
caused him to look as though he wasn't interested in anything or downright apathetic,
despite the contrary. He almost reminded Obito of Kakashi in a way; minus the silver hair,

though he'd never have said that aloud. Kakashi. Just the thought of his old teammate was
almost enough to bring tears back to his eyes. If his friend's scream had been anything to go
by then Kakashi was almost certainly dead, and Rin with him. As for himself he was here
in this place...where the hell was here anyway?
"Oi, Erwin." Levi grunted, not giving him any time to process those words, "Get the doc in
here. Kid's awake."
Obito started as the door swung open, admitting another individual.
Whereas Levi's appearance contrasted his demeanor, this commander proved the exact
opposite. Stoic and stern with short cropped blonde air and grey eyes, he radiated a nononsense aura, one of command and cold logic. And yet there was no hint of menace about
him as he approached the bed and knelt to face Obito. None whatsoever.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Considering I got crushed by a boulder?" Obito frowned. "Shitty." Ordinarily he wouldn't
have cursed at all, but suffice it to say losing his friends had made him more than a little
grouchy! To his disbelief, his deadpann didn't earn him a beating. Quite the contrary! A
slight smile quirked at the commander's visage, like a fine crack etching across a stone's
surface.
"Understandable."
"He's awake?!"
Begrudgingly, the Scouting Corps made way for a brown haired woman, wearing thick
glasses and the same brown, and white uniform as the other two men. Bodies shuffled aside
as she pushed forward to the center of the room, all but rushing the foot of the bed in her
haste to meet him.
"I see you're as lively as ever, Hanji-san." Erwin replied, unmoved by the exuberant
display.
"Of course commander!" Without pause or preamble she turned the full weight of her
goggled gaze upon Obito.
"Glad to see you up and about, boy." her hazel eyes practically twinkled with interest. "I
was afraid you weren't going to make it."
'Well, at least that makes two of us.' Obito though morosely before his thoughts drifted
back towards the unfortunate fate of his longtime friends. Rin...Kakashi...they were dead.
Gone. It all his fault; how was he going to tell Minato-sensei that they'd perished because of
him? How? The questioned welled up inside him like a pit, blotting out all else. Sensei
would hate him for this. Surely. All the same, there was nothing he could do to but mourn

their loss the only way he knew how. With tears. He felt his fists crumple around the edges
of his sheets until they drew blood, staining them crimson around the edges.
Damnit...
Abruptly the door swung open for what he sincerely hoped was the last time, admitting a
scholarly looking, bespectacled man with long dark hair. Obito was too bereft to lend the
fellow further description. Perhaps this was the doctor Levi-sand had spoken of. Perhaps
not. Regardless, he couldn't bear the thought of a stranger seeing his sorrow. Just who were
these people that had taken him in, anyway? None of them wore hitiate at all and yet, they
carried themselves like a collective unit. Mercenaries, then? If that was the case, then who
was this? Only one way to find out.
"And just who might you be, sir?" Obito swiftly scrubbed at his eyes, finding himself
asking the same question for must've been the upteenth time since he'd finally opened his
eyes. There were too many faces and names to remember here; more and more he found
himself ill at ease. Just who were all these people? What interest did they have in him?
More importantly, what did they want with him? Too many questions! Not enough
answers!
"Grisha Jaeger." the man replied with a kindly smile. "I'm a doctor; the one who tended
your wounds." He gestured at the crowded guest room. "This is my home."
"So?" Obito didn't waste any time asking the obvious; he'd never been one to beat around
the bush to begin with. "Am I," And here he did swallow, "Going to lose anything?"
The doctor sighed and adjusted his spectacles.
"Well, the good news is that your right arm and leg will be just fine. You'll have to wear a
cast for them, and you'll be bedridden for a few weeks. The bad news is that your muscles
have been severely damaged; they'll heal in time, but they'll never be as strong as they once
were on that side. Considering what happened to you, you're lucky to be alive at all." He
looked like he might've said more, had not that damned door opened for still a third time!
Obito was just about to protest the seemingly neverending flow of visitors when he heard
the newcomer speak.
"How's he doing, dear?" A woman's voice asked from around the bend.
"Better than expected, given the circumstances." Grisha replied.
"Great." Levi grumbled crossly to himself. "As if we didn't have enough people in here
already."
Obito craned his neck round in vain to search for the newcomer; the motion proved almost
impossible with his battered body. It wasn't until they'd nudged their way through the
throng of bodies that he was finally able to get a good long look at their facce. Once more,

the young Uchiha found himself jolted by an eerie sense of familiarity. Much to his
disbelief he found himself peering at a middle-aged woman, her heart-shaped visage
bearing dark eyes and framed by even darker hair, a sea of ebony locks cascading down her
back and dress. Was she an Uchiha, he wondered? No, that wasn't possible. Every single
one of his clan members always had a chronic case of the dreaded "stick up their ass"
disease. Honestly, the females were even worse!
Whereas this woman seemed positively placid.
"I thought you might be hungry." she pushed a plate of piping hot food into his lap.
Despite his wounds, Obito flushed.
"Th-Thank you, ma'am." he said, stunned by her generosity.
"Ara, aren't you polite?"
"Yes ma'am." Poor Obito; he was practically salivating as meal's warm aroma reached his
nose. "My parents raised me to always respect my elders."
Levi snorted, looking almost as if he were amused.
"So I'm your elder, huh?" Carla idly asked as she sat down on the edge of his bed. "I didn't
think I was that old."
"ErrUmm No ma'am?" Obito recounted lamely, embarrassment coloring his face.
"Relax young man. My wife was teasing." Grisha stated, humor coloring his voice. "Eren,
come in here and introduce yourself to our guest."
At Doctor Jeager's insistence, a little boy of about nine years old shuffled slowly into the
room, his green eyes warily flicking across the room. He appeared to have a reverential
attitude towards the members of the Scouting Legion in the room, every time he glanced
their direction his eyes lit up with barely concealed curiosity and delight. It was only when
he approached the bedside that he made eye contact with Obito. Upon realizing that he
wasn't one of the adults in the room he seemed to relax a bit, his brilliant green eyes filled
with curiosity.
"I'm Eren." he introduced himself without preamble, punctuated immediately thereafter by
a question. "What happened to your face?"
This time both Levi and Erwin let fly with amused snorts, Hanji smiled, Grisha looked
highly amused, while Carla looked affronted.
"Eren Jaeger! That's not something you ask in polite conversation!"

"But, Mom! It looks all squished Were you fighting Titans?!" Carla apparently decided
she'd heard enough of that talk as she grabbed Eren's arm and escorted him out of the room.
Erwin's expression changed to serious.
"That's something I'd like to ask you as well young man. We found you outside Maria lying
facedown in a field. Were you attacked by Titans?"
Obito took a few seconds to ponder the information before speaking.
"Two questions: who is Maria, and what the hell is a Titan?"
The shocked expressions he received in return were not comforting answers. Without
thinking, he activated his Sharigan, ignoring the gasps his newfound eyes earned him.
None. None of them had the slighest flow of chakra in their bodies; not even Erwin and
Levi. Everything suddenly made sense. No mention of shinobi. The lack of hitiate, no
chakra of any sort. This talk of Titans, and the strange way everyone was looking at him,
not to mention the primitive tending of his wounds. It all made sense now!
"Oh man." The young Uchiha gulped, feeling a bleak pit growing in his stomach. "I'm...
...not in the Elemental Nations anymore, am I?"

Chapter 2

"Hands offa her!"

~?
Family
"I can't believe it" Obito gazed over the top of Wall Maria at the naked lumbering figures
slowly moving through the trees beyond the wall. He'd been taken up here to get a look at
these so-called Titans and he had to admit, it was quite the look.
"Ugly bastards aren't they?" Levi intoned with his usual bored tone of voice.
"It's a lot to absorb all at once I imagine." Erwin Smith's authoritative voice broke Obito out
of his stupor. "They pushed our species to the brink of extinction. In over a hundred years
of fighting them we've never gained ground. We've always been on the retreat."
Obito stiffly swiveled to his right to see Erwin calmly approaching both hands clasped
behind his back.

"We need a game changer. We can't afford to keep losing. Every expedition beyond the
Walls has an unacceptable casualty rate." He glanced down at Obito sitting in the wheeled
chair-his arm and leg still bound up in a cast, the right side of his visage still badly bruised.
"Something's gotta give, and it won't be the Titans I'd wager." Levi casually assessed.
Erwin nodded in agreement before fixing Obito with a serious look.
"Do you represent a threat to humanity?"
Obito sighed before chuckling. "In my current state, I don't represent a threat to anything.
But to answer your question: no. I go out of my way to help those in need."
Erwin nodded bringing his hang up to his chin in a contemplative gesture.
"You're not from here." It wasn't a question. Obito was silent for a long moment; one could
see the pain etched into his face.
"How can you tell that, Commander?"
"Your eyes. You have the same eyes as the veterans in the Legion. You most certainly
aren't a typical thirteen year old." Erwin made no mention of the eerie way they'd changed
color back in the hut; he would have to watch him closely...this young man just might hold
the fate of humanity in his hands.
"What is it you think I'm capable of?" the boy asked.
"With power like that, and the determination to never give up...?"
"Anything."

THE YEAR 844, SHIGANSHINA

THREE AND A HALF WEEKS LATER
"655656657" It feels good to work out again. Stupid itchy casts. Stupid crutches.
Stupid bed rest for three and a half weeks. Sitting around doing nothing is irritating! Eren
even said I was gonna get fat that little jerk.
Obito's arms struggled to lift his body back up to the branch he was hanging from outside
the Jaeger household. Ever since he was released from Grisha's care, he began vigorous
exercise routines to get back in fighting shape. Pull ups, sit ups, pushups, running, tree
climbingAnything that could help him get back to normal after his injuries. Grisha's

prediction was right however, his right side seemed weaker than the left, even after all his
training.
The sun was cresting is apex position, casting its golden rays on the Jaeger house.My new
home he thought with pride. I can't believe the Jaeger's would just take me in like they did.
"Obito! It's almost time to leave with dad!" Eren's voice carried its way out the back door of
the house to the secluded yard where he was currently training.
"Be right there!" He called back to the younger boy. Obito and Eren hit it off almost
immediately after Grisha decided he could stay with them. He'd spend hours pestering
Obito to tell him stories of the outside world that he came from, until he gave in out of
sheer annoyance and sat him and his quick witted friend Armin down for a story or three.
The two younger boys soaked up any information they could find about life outside the
Wall. Obito shook his head as he recalled telling them about how most of the world was
salt water.
His reminiscing of the younger boys' antics ceased as he walked into the house through the
back door, only to be met by an impatient looking Carla Jaeger.
"I hope you plan on washing up before leaving. You're all dirty and sweaty from your
workout. No son of mine will go out in public in such a state!" Carla growled jabbing a
threatening finger into Obito's chest for emphasis.
Obito felt his heart swell at the mention of being adopted. He loved the Jaegers dearly for
all the things they've done for him.
" ErrOf course I was." Obito's poor attempt at a lie wasn't missed by Carla.
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "You'd better go change clothes and wash your face at
least. And hurry. Grisha's going to be home any minute."
Obito scampered to his room to change, incoherently mumbling his apologies to Carla who
chuckled and went back to the dishes.
Obito slipped of his sweaty shirt and caught sight of himself in the mirror. He'd changed
little since his arrival in Shiganshina. He'd grown taller, and his voice had deepened.
Approaching the mirror, his eyes shifted into the crimson Sharingan. Three tomoe glared
back at him. Sighing, he cupped his face with his hands. The now familiar sensation of his
Sharingan warping into the pinwheel shape of the Mangekyo Sharingan held his attention.
He'd heard the stories as a young man of how an Uchiha could acquire these eyes.
The eyes that demanded death.

"I'd take Kakashi and Rin over these any day." He declared as he walked out of his small
bedroom clothes changed, Uchiha crested jacket, and forehead protector in hand.

Sauntering down the path a few steps behind Grisha and Eren, Obito quickly reviewed the
purpose for the trip.
"We're going to visit a few friends for a yearly checkup out in the countryside. They have a
daughter about your age named Mikasa. Eren, make sure you're nice to her" Grisha
began before being interrupted by his youngest son.
"How come you're not telling Obito to be nice to her?!" Eren inquired with an agitated look
displayed on his face.
"Because unlike you, I happen to have manners." Obito teased gently as Eren quickly fired
back an insult at the older boy that quickly escalated into Obito holding Eren at arm's
length while he swung playfully at the air.
Grisha chuckled to himself before calling them back onto the task at hand as they walked
towards the Shiganshina inner gate and the countryside of Wall Maria beyond.
It started to rain almost immediately after they passed through the Shiganshina inner gate.
Grisha's' horse drawn cart was slowed by the muddy ruts in the road. Groaning as he
pushed and lifted from the back Obito was silently thankful for the rigorous workouts he
had been doing.
"We're gonna be really late." Obito gasped as he struggled to free the sunken wagon wheel.
Grisha nodded solemnly. "Hopefully they'll forgive us on account of the weather."
With one final grunt of effort Obito managed to haul the mired wheel out of the mud with a
gross squelch.
"There, now was can get back to it. Hop up!" Grisha commanded. Obito effortlessly slid his
way back into the wagon as the horses resumed pulling the cart and its cargo down the
sodden road.
"It's done! Look mom." Mikasa Ackerman excited exclaimed as she handed the product of
her sewing to her mother sitting to her left at the kitchen table. Mikasa and her mother had
been studiously working on embroidery for the past few hours, while he father across the
kitchen table peeling potatoes tunelessly whistling all the while.
Her mother took a moment to appraise her work before stating "It's wonderful Mikasa. I
knew you would do lovely work. This embroidery pattern has been in our family for
generations. When you have children of your own, pass it on to them too."

Mikasa's face became puzzled at her mothers' request.

"How do you get children?" Mikasa tentatively asked.
"You'd better ask your father." Her mother deflected amusedly.
Her father gave a start at the nature of the question, unease at the topic clearly showing on
his face while his wife quietly laughed at his predicament.
"Hey dad" Mikasa curiously started before her father nervously cut her off.
" Well your dad's not too sure either." He stammered. "But Doctor Jaeger and his sons
should be here soon. You should ask him."
As if on cue two short taps sounded against the door just a few feet to her fathers' right.
"Oh looks like they're here. He sighed with relief.
Two more taps sounded against the door, faster than the first.
"Coming!" Her dad called out as he walked over to answer the door.
"Doctor Jaeger, we were just talking abo" as he opened the door to face whomever
knocked.
Mikasa couldn't see who it was, but there were several pairs of legs.
A wet splattering sound brought her attention back to her father, as he clutched his middle
before falling to the floor unmoving as a red puddle formed under him.
Her mother eyes wide, screamed and rushed the attackers with a sharp pair of scissors in
hand.
"Mikasa run!" Her mother cried as she grappled with the first man through the door,
desperate to give her daughter time to escape.
Mikasa was rooted to the spot, eyes frantically scanning the scene before her. Scarcely able
to believe what she saw.
"Leggo you crazy bitch!" The first attacker roared as he brutally brought his axe down on
her mothers' neck. A fountain of vital fluid erupted from her wound as she fell. Twisting
her body around she made eye contact with her precious, lovely daughter and mouthed on
word.
"Run."

Broken from her stupor Mikasa made to turn and run before she caught sight of a fist
approaching out of the corner of her eye. She felt the stinging, bone jarring impact of the hit
in her jaw, before the edge of the table hit her face. A new scathing pain was felt on her
forehead as she slumped to the ground, her last thoughts of her parents as everything faded
to black.
Obito felt something was wrong the minute they pulled up to the small wooden cottage in a
secluded area of Wall Maria's farmland.
Hopping off the back of the wagon he and the two Jaegers sidled up to the front door,
which Grisha briskly knocked before adjusting his cloak to let off the raindrops.
"Shouldn't there be lights on inside?" Obito suspiciously remarked.
"YesSomething isn't right here." Grisha agreed, stepping back into the rain and taking
young Eren by the hand.
Obito crept closer to the door, resting his ear against the grained wood desperately listening
for signs of life.
His eyes widened in horror and the scent of blood caught in his nose. Wishing he hadn't left
his shuriken holster at home, the kunai knife he kept up his sleeve slid into his right hand
without a sound.
Grisha's eyes grew fearful as he saw the black blade appear in Obito's hand and his adopted
son slunk into the darkened house silently. Moments later he reappeared out the front door
and shook his head.
A very bad sign.
"It's clear inside. Don't let Eren see." Obito's casual request heightened Grisha's anxiety as
he told Eren to stay put and approached the structure.
The bodies of his friends greeted Grisha as he strode through the threshold. Gasping in
shock and sorrow he knelt to check for signs of life.
"Don't bother, I already checked. My best guess is they've been dead about an hour." Obito
concluded grimly, his face set in a deep frown.
"An hour' The same hour we were late.
As if he could read his mind, Obito placed a gentle hand on Grisha's shoulder.
"There's nothing we could have done Grisha. Don't blame yourself for this."
"We should alert the Garrison." Grisha asserted logically.

"You and Eren go ahead and do that. I'm going to investigate further. There's no sign of the
daughter you mentioned."
Grisha's head whipped around the room in shock, eyes sweeping the room for the missing
black haired nine year old.
"God, you're right. Where could she have gone?" Grisha pondered out loud.
"The real question is who took her." Grisha glanced at Obito, seeing the younger boy
scanning the room for evidence. His attention was drawn to a small splash of blood on the
floor, seemingly there without reason. Either she wounded them, or was wounded herself.
A few stray black hairs stuck to the blood. So it was her then. Damn.Small drops of blood
led unevenly towards the door and outside into the rain.
" There's a trail. I'm going to track them down and retrieve her. You take Eren go alert the
Garrison."
"I can't let you go after dangerous criminals by yourself. I won't." Grisha argued.
" I refuse to stand by and do nothing!" Obito's voice boomed out in the confines of the
small cabin, his fists angrily clenched at his sides. He stalked over to the table, slamming
his palms on the surface in frustration. His back turned
He sighed before saying: "I live by a saying. Those who abandon their responsibility are
trash. But those who abandon their friends are less trash."
Grisha's counter argument died on its way out of his mouth at this profound declaration.
Most of the time he forgot that this boy no, this young man was a warrior. He'd taken lives
before and would more than likely have to do so again. This wasn't the goofy fun loving
twelve year old boy they adopted. This was Obito Uchiha, proud Shinobi of the Village
Hidden in the Leaves. He'd seen and heard of his formidable abilities from Captain Levi,
and Commander Smith. This man before him was more capable than anyone he'd ever met,
or likely will meet.
"Fine. Go."
"But be careful."
Grisha saw his adopted son's eyes turn red before he turned and spoke.
"Old man, they won't know what hit 'em." With that, he darted out the door and into the
storm.
"It's cold."

This was Mikasa Ackerman's first thought as she woke to the hard floorboards and
chattering voices. Two of the three men responsible for her mother's murder and her father's
killing stood mere meters away, arguing over how much she would fetch once she reached
the slave market. And yet despite herself, despite knowing full well that her parents were
dead, she simply couldn't bring herself to move.
Mama...Papa...
The door creaked open, cutting off that thought.
"Excuse me...
She watched a young boy hobble inside on crutches, his hair darker than midnight. He was
older than her, perhaps thirteen years of age, but obviously Mikasa wanted to warn him; she
really did. But she just couldn't bring her voice to rise up out of her throat.
"You damn brat! What are you doing here?!"
""I just...I got lost in the forest...then I saw your hut...
"That won't do! Kids shouldn't be walking alone in the forest. There are scary wolves out
there! But don't worry. We'll take good care ofThe kunai sank into his flesh with a wet thud.
"Thanks, sir. I get it...
...so die already, you worthless shitrag!"
His body slumped to the floor in a heap, slowly bleeding out from the now gaping slit in his
chest. The crutches joined them seconds later.
"You're kidding me?!" his partner gasped.
The boy said nothing, he simply turned around and stalked back the way he'd come, the
door swinging shut after his baleful glare. It didn't stay that way for long. "Wait-you damn
brat!" Scarce had it closed behind him than the man flung it open and charged in after the
boy axe in hand. He didn't get very far, either. Mikasa watched in disbelief as a knife came
flying out of the darkness to land in the man's face, sinking into an eyeball with a sickening
pop and crackle of viscuous fluids.
There was a silence, punctuated by harsh, rapid breathing. She heard one word uttered
beyond the blackness of that archway.
"Die."

What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary; the boy made a motion and the
kidnapper flew; his back striking the far wall with a sickening thud.
"You fucking bastard!" The boy was already there, knife in hand, straddling him before he
could rise. "Who do you think you are?!" His kunai descended mercilessly, stabbing into
supple flesh time and time again. "You have no right...to do this to her! To anyone! Do you
hear me?! NO! RIGHT!" Time and time again he struck down, consumed by rage and
fury.
Mikasa lay there for what felt like an eternity, watching-admiring-his ruthless precision
until at long last, the boy peeled himself off the bleeding body of her would-be kidnapper.
He took a deep breath to steady himself and stood woodenly, not taking enough care. Idly,
she realized that his goggles had prevented any blood from getting into his eyes; that
must've been why he hadn't bashed an eyelash at getting blood on his face. She stared at
him for a moment, and he at her.
"Everything's going to be alright." he said. "Don't worry."
Despite the blood spattered across his face, she felt oddly reassured; more so when sliced
through her bonds with the knife and began to untie them.
"You're Mikasa, right? I'm Obito. "her savior introduced himself. "I'm the son of Doctor
Jaeger. I'm pretty sure you've met him a few times before. We came to visit you so that the
two of us could meet, but then...well, at least everything's alright now. I wish we could've
made it sooner. Here. You must be freezing in that nightgown." Mikasa was far too numb
to cry; perhaps later but not now. For now, she quietly accepted Obito's gift with gratitude,
her fingers fisting against the heavy blue fabric of his Uchiha jacket as he wrapped it
around her shoulders. It was warm, she realized. Quite warm, almost warm enough to wash
all her worries away and make her feel that everything was alright...
"There were three of them." she whispered.
"I know."
Mikasa saw Obito's eyes flash then; his black irises staining crimson as they became dyed
with chakra. His body seemed to move in slow motion. In that same instant the door swung
open, revealing the third and final kidnapper, eyes wide and disbelieving at the murder of
his comrades. His hand went for a weapon, but...too slow. Obito was already movingalready snatching up the knife, hands flying forward in a diving lunge that all but carried
him across the room and his weapon...
...straight into the throat of his enemy,
Snick.

The man gurgled and clutched at his slit throat-unable to believe his life was endingbleeding, spurting away between his fingers. Obito glared at him for a long, hard moment;
before he ripped the knife free. A vicious second slash sent the man's head rolling clear off
his shoulders, tumbling away to land in a dark and forgotten corner. Seconds later, his body
had joined it.
"You have to learn to fight sometimes." he told her. "That's how life is; if you lose, you did.
But if you win, you live.
Fight.
The word resounded somewhere in Mikasa's brain. Yes. Fight. She'd watched Obito-san
dismantled her kidnappers without so much as a second thought; ruthlessly dispatching
them like the swine they were. Obito had no way of knowing what he'd done, no way of
knowing that he'd just helped her attain perfect control of her mind and body.
She'd also started to cry; now that these men were dead, there was nothing left to hold back
her tears.
"O-Oi!"
Slender arms wrapped around her, almost before she knew it, Mikasa Ackerman had buried
her head into his shoulder and begun to cry. The Uchiha made no move to distance himself
from her; he simply held onto her and led the floodgates pour into his bloodied shirt. Once
again, he had no way of knowing the far-reaching repercussions of his actions that day, nor
what would happen
They stayed that way for a long time, until the Military Police finally found them.

Chapter 3

"Lets see you regenerate from this!"

~?
Expedition
Mikasa's tears were still flowing unimpeded by the time Grisha, Eren, and the Garrison's
police force finally arrived. Obito barely even noticed them. He was far too focused on the
distraught girl in his arms, holding her as she quietly sobbed, releasing all her pent up
emotions from the loss of her parents to her being kidnapped. It was...disgusting just how
cruel humanity could be, even in this day and age. Numbly he observed whilst them as they
secured the area, recovering the bodies of the slavers Obito had slaughtered. Their pale
faces amused him when they asked: "What did you do?"

His reply startled them even more.

"Only what I had to." They left him alone after that, securing a perimeter around the house.
He felt a tug on the front of his shirt as Mikasa left his embrace and wiped her eyes and
nose on the sleeve of the jacket he gave her.
"Excuse me sir." Her timid voice pained him. She'd been through so much in the past few
hours, she deserved some comfort.
"Obito, my name is Obito." He smiled tentatively, trying to lift her spirits and project a
calming and soothing presence. Not the violent, angry side he'd shown the poor little girl
when he killed those men.
She returned his smile with a small grin, something he considered a small victory.
"You're much too pretty to be frowning all the time." Her cheeks acquired a rosy tint at his
compliment.
She was about to reply when Grisha and Eren were let through the Military cordon
surrounding the house.
"Obito! Thank goodness you're unharmed!" Grisha's exclamation carried over to the ramp
leading to the house Obito and Mikasa were sitting in front of a crackling fire Obito had
started. They ceased running as they approached the duo sitting down.
"You found those guys? What happened? Did you kill them? Did you use those super cool
fighting moves?" Eren's excited questioning seemed to be putting Mikasa off she was
withdrawing, curling her face away from the newcomers into the safety of Obito's warm
shoulder.
He opened his mouth to answer when Grisha came to his rescue.
"Eren, we'll talk about this later." He directed his gaze to his adopted son. "I'm glad you
two are alright." He struggled with his next words. "The guard told me what happened. I'm
sorry it came down to the Obito."
"No worries old man. I'm only grateful I arrived in time to save her at least." Obito's gaze
drifted down to the younger girl still sniffling into his ruined shirt. She must have heard
him talking about her because she stopped crying and pulled away far enough to look him
in the eye, brushing her shoulder length black hair aside as she did.
Her hair parted to reveal a still bleeding gash across her forehead.
"You didn't say you were wounded." The worry was apparent in Grisha's voice as he
rummaged in his medic bag for a roller bandage.

Mikasa mumbled something in reply, but it was indecipherable as she tried to hide her face
in Obito's chest again.
"Now now, the good Doctor only wants to fix you up. He's a good man. You can trust
him."
At Obito's gentle insistence she reemerged and allowed Grisha to examine the wound on
her forehead.
"That's quite a fearsome wound young lady. Are you sure you're alright?" Concern radiated
off of Grisha Jaeger as he assed Mikasa Ackerman's physical condition. His gaze was
directed at the long gash spanning the length of her forehead. "I'm afraid it'll scar."
"You'll just have to grow your hair out to hide it." Eren piped up.
Mikasa's empty gaze regarded Eren for a moment before turning back to look at Grisha,
almost as if she hadn't heard him speak.
She's traumatized without a doubt. But she seems to trust Obito. I suppose that's only
natural.
"We'll put some disinfectant on it, then bind it with some bandages and you'll be right as
rain." The doctor busied himself pulling cloth wraps and a small jar out of his bag. He
finished treating her wound and bound her head in a bulky white wrapping.
"There, all done. Eren may be right; you could grow your hair out to hide the bandage and
the scar."
Obito sat quietly and observed the proceedings lost in thought. It did look like it would
leave a rather noticeable scar. He eyes widened as he thought of a brilliant idea. Reaching
back behind his own head he untied the Leaf Village headband. The soft cloth attached to
the dull metal plate bearing the symbol of his lost home stared up at him from his softly
clenched hand. This little piece of metal sewed into the fabric meant a lot to him. It was his
only connection to the memories of his lost comrades, his home he may never see again. He
sighed.
"Here, we'll cover it with this." He gently laid the forehead protector across the bulky white
bandage and tied it securely around her head. Tears gather in her eyes at the thoughtful
gesture.
"Jaeger Sensei, which way should I go to get home from here?" Grisha started at her
question. "I don't have anywhere to go home to."
Grisha favored her with a wide smile. "I thought you'd come home with us. You need to
rest, and I can keep an eye on you as your doctor." Eren whooped loudly into the night,

mind already racing with the exciting new prospect of a new playmate. Obito smiled wide
as girl deserves a good family like the Jaegers.
Mikasa didn't bother holding the tears back at Doctor Jaeger's declaration, and the excited
antics of the two boys as they celebrated.
Obito grabbed her hand and spoke three words that made her happy in spite of the events
today: "Let's go home."
Mikasa woke the smell of baking bread. Groggily she sat up in the small camp bed she
found herself in. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she froze, as she realized this wasn't her
house. Quickly scanning the room she found Doctor Jaeger slumped over in a chair at her
bedside sound asleep, an open book lay forgotten on his lap.
She stifled a yawn as she attempted to remove herself from under the covers silently
without waking him. She gingerly put her bare feet to the floor, taking note that she was
only wearing a thin nightgown. Another quick examination of the room revealed a small
pile of clothes she recognized as hers. Silently creeping across the room to where the
dresser sat, a loose floorboard gave a loud shriek giving her a start.
"Mhhhmmm, I see you're finally awake." Grisha mumbled sleepily; roused from his
slumber by the loose board. "The boys will be thrilled. I'll go inform my wife, you're
probably starving. Go ahead and get dressed."
At the mention of food her stomach gave a traitorous gurgle indicating its agreement. She
flushed with embarrassment, and nodded her acknowledgement of her hunger.
Grisha hummed with acceptance, closed his forgotten book with a snap and departed the
small bedroom.
She returned her attention to the pile of clothes the good Doctor apparently had retrieved
from her house. She spied one of her favorite white dresses amidst the pile of cloth, and her
breath caught in her throat as she saw what lay underneath.
Her savior's blue and orange jacket, with the red and white fan on the back lay underneath
cleaned and free of the bloodstains is carried last time she saw it. His trusty goggles lay
next to the pile, also cleaned of the filth. Her mind whirled as the previous night's events
came back to her. She had a new family, a new home. She couldn't help but smile as she
dressed, careful of her bandaged head and precious new headband.
"Ow shit!" Obito cursed as his concentration wavered and the paring knife he was cutting
sprouts with dug an angry little trench into his thumb.
"Watch your language young man, or your thumb will be the least of your worries." He
chuckled; Carla Jaeger's threats were serious business. She was standing at the sink in their
house next to him peeling sprouts for dinner.

"Yes ma'am." He was smiling as he replied, banter between himself and Carla Jaeger was
just a part of his daily life now. And he loved every second of it.
Before Carla could threaten him again, her beloved husband ambled downstairs, kissed his
wife on the cheek and announced:
"She's awake."
Carla clucked her assent. "Excellent, that poor girl slept almost a whole day."
Obito smiled at the news, he had grown worried when the younger girl hadn't awoken. He'd
held her hand the whole way home, even after she'd drifted to sleep leaned against him in
the back of the family wagon. Her slender hand felt good encompassed by his larger one.
He already felt protective of this girl he hadn't even known a full day yet. Odd.
He was brought out of his musing but the arrival of the aforementioned girl; she hesitantly
made her way down the stairs. Seeing the welcoming gesture Grisha made towards the
kitchen table already laden with food, she sat in the proffered spot. Instantly Carla was
shoving food in her direction, which was devoured in a flash by the slender girl.
Dinner that night at the Jaeger household was a grand affair. Alongside the new addition of
Mikasa, Eren convinced his shy blonde friend Armin to dine with them as well. Armin,
Obito observed was incredibly sharp for his age. Obito, Eren, and Mikasa had played a
game of riddles after the food and cleanup were taken care of after dinner. Armin won
almost every round. Pretending to be disgruntled, Obito wandered into the kitchen where
Grisha and Carla were sipping on hot mugs of coffee. Politely declining Grisha's offer for a
cup he sat down at the table next to Grisha.
"She seems to be adjusting well, all things considered." Grisha's tone was level but low,
most likely preventing eavesdropping children in the next room over.
Carla nodded her agreement before adding. "Yes she's doing well for her first day.
Hopefully she continues to open up."
"She's tougher than she looks, believe me. And she already is hitting it off with Eren and
Armin." Obito acknowledged. "I think-"
His statement was interrupted by a loud knock on the front door, followed by Eren's excited
holler of 'I'll get it'. The sound of the wooden door swinging open, and a woman's pleasant
voice drifted to the kitchen.
"Hello. Can I speak with Obito please?"
Eren's loud irritated voice followed shortly after. "Obito! You have a visitor or something."

With a sigh Obito pushed himself out of his seated position at the table. "I know you noisy
brat, I have ears that work." But despite those words, the gears of his mind were already
working, countless possibilties clicking down as the Uchiha rose from his chair.
I wonder who could be calling at this hour?
His curiosity was satisfied as he approached the door and spied Eren standing there arms
crossed tapping his foot obviously annoyed. Standing next to him was a relatively short
woman with red-ish hair and hazel eyes decked out in full military uniform. Obito wracked
his brains, trying to remember her name. He'd seen her with Captain Levi and his Squad
before. What was her name? Crap.
"You have me at a disadvantage Ms?" To his surprise she smiled warmly.
"Petra. Petra Ral at your service. I'm with Levi's squad in the Legion." She smiled again.
"Oh yeah." He replied lamely. Way to look like a jackass. "Anyway, what can I do for
you?"
"Commander Erwin sent me with a proposition for you. Can we speak with the Jaeger's
present as well? The Commander wanted their consent and approval."
"Certainly, they're just in the kitchen." What an odd request. Whatever this proposal is, it
must be serious.
Petra and Obito strode into the kitchen to find Carla and Grisha still in the same spot he left
them. They both greeted Petra and offered her a seat.
Obito opened up the dialogue. "So what is this proposal the Commander has for me?"
"The Commander is headed an expedition outside the Walls in three days and wishes for
you to come along."
Three gasps accompanied her statement. One from Carla, one from Mikasa, and one from
Eren.
Carla was the first to recover. "Absolutely not. It's too dangerous. Tell her Grisha."
Grisha sighed, taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes with both hands. "I don't see why
not darling. He's not a child." He replaced his glasses on his nose. "And I'm assuming
Erwin has an objective to accomplish, not just risking our adopted son's life?"
Petra nodded solemnly. "Our goal is to investigate the site you were discovered."
Now that got his attention.

"I'm in." Petra nodded again.

"No!" Mikasa's objection was louder than Carla's. "If you go you'll die!"
Obito directed his questioning gaze in her direction, as she slid into view around the door
frame. Tears already welling up in her eyes.
"Have you no faith in me?" He joked lightly. He'd fought in wars. A couple of lumbering
stupid monsters were no threat to him. Not that she knows that.
Her quiet footsteps, softly padding into the kitchen brought his attention back to her as she
wrapped him in the tightest hug her little arms could manage.
"I won't let you go." She whimpered between sobs. "You're the first friend I've ever had."
"I can't lose you too." She whispered, not loud enough for anyone but him to hear.
Wrapping his arms around her in return he gave her a brief friendly squeeze before holding
her at arm's length. Tears fell unopposed down her cheeks, tears he did his best to stopper
with a careful hand and his best smile.
"I promise I'll come back to you. And a man always keeps his promises."

"Spread out. Keep watch. Fire the colored flares if you sight the enemy." Commander
Erwin's authoritative voice carried over the troupe of two dozen men on horseback as they
rode south from the Gate outside of Wall Maria. The lone unmounted man among the
company had no trouble keeping pace with the men on horseback.
"Wahooo!" The Uchiha's delighted whoop carried far over the green fields of grass and
sparse fir tree ahead of them. "I forgot how good this felt!" His glee was written all over his
face as he playfully raced in and out of the formation of horsemen. Pushing his chakra into
his muscles made him faster than the horses, much to Levi's annoyance as the young man
raced by.
"Oi! Keep it down! We don't want to telegraph our presence." Levi intoned with his usual
and favorite tone of voice.
"Why Captain, if I didn't know better I'd say you were nervous! Afraid you won't be able to
perform? I heard they have pills for that problem these days. Nothing to be ashamed of."
The whole company joined in a good laugh at Levi's expense thanks to Obito little barb.
Levi just clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Red smoke! Enemy sighted!" one of the Scouts declared from Obito's right as he raced to
the head of the formation. Commander Erwin noted his appearance with a stiff nod.
"I'm assuming you wanna see what I got huh?" Obito questioned.
"Only if you're willing, yes. I'm sure the men would be interested too." Erwin replied.
"If that's the case I'll be back in a jiffy!" Obito declared with brazen confidence.
"Be careful! You've got a promise to keep!" Petra reminded him as his chakra enhanced
speed pulled him away from the horseback company and towards the red smoke round.
Cresting a small grass covered mound he was immediately greeted by a large pale hand, far
bigger than his own body. Rolling to the side to avoid the Titan's clumsy attempt to grab
him he raced up its outstretched arm, chakra once again aiding his speed and adhesion.
Drawing two black kunai blades out of his holster, he hopped into the air around shoulder
level with the Titan. Its stupid looking smile irritated him. These brain dead things drove
humanity to the brink of extinction?
The two black blades clenched in his fists in reverse grips buried themselves to the hilt in
the tender flesh of the sweet spot in the Titan's neck he was instructed to attack. With a
mighty grunt and heave a large chunk of steaming bloodied flesh tore its way from the now
dead and decomposing Titan.
Out of the corner of his eye, Obito spotted two more Titan's approaching in his blind spot
as he fell alongside the dead Titan. Quickly reaching into the pouch he carried on his belt
he threaded braided steel ninja wire through the ring of another kunai. Once the line was
secured to the blade, he threw it as hard as he could at the first approaching Titan's eye.
With a sick squish it embedded itself deep it the monster's right eye.
Roaring in pain, the Titan reached up with a meaty paw and clamped down on the blade
and line sticking out of its face.
With his line now secured by his unwitting helper/victim, he gave a simultaneous push off
the dead Titan's still falling corpse and a hearty tug on his cable.
Throw into a wide horizontal arc by the cable; he swung around till the cable was wrapped
neatly around the second Titan's neck. Landing aground, he anchored his feet with chakra
and yanked on the line hard. Both Titan's succumbed to his strength and bashed into each
other before falling into a collective heap on the ground.
Seeing his prey unable to stand due to the wire and tangle of limbs, his hands flew through
the familiar hand signs.
"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!" (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique)

The flames his clan were famous for erupted from him opened mouth bathing his two
hapless targets in a stream of flame almost thirty feet tall reducing them to ash in seconds.
One sweep of the battlefield with his Sharingan confirmed those were the only targets in
the area. Hands behind his head, he whistled as he walked towards the waiting company of
horsemen. The astonished looks of the small scouting party made him grin as he spoke.
"Let's see them regenerate that huh?"