The Shifting Tide of Battle

Kazan took his time treating the wounded, deliberately slowing down to give them a chance to talk to one another.

Once someone broke the ice, the others followed.

Most of the conversations were between the Uchiha and the other Konoha Ninja.

Some were restrained, some friendly, and some less than pleasant.

The Uchiha were a strange bunch...

Many were stubborn as mules. Treat them gently and they would listen; push them, and they would dig in their heels.

"Kazan, is there anything I can do to help?" Obito asked eagerly.

He felt everything deeply. Before his descent into darkness, his personality had been much like Naruto's.

Others in the village had given him the cold shoulder before. He had been angry and hurt, but by the next morning, he would have forgotten all about it.

But now...

Watching everyone get along, or at least try to, warmed his heart. He wanted to pitch in somehow.

"Go grill me some fish. I'm starving."

"...I'm on it!"

It wasn't the kind of help Obito had hoped to offer, but he still dashed off to catch fish and grill them.

Jing Uchiha stood where he was like a guard, silent again as he tried to look impressive.

"What are you standing around for? Do you know Medical Ninjutsu? Go with him."

"...All right."

Jing Uchiha had no choice. He turned and ran after Obito to catch fish for Kazan.

They worked quickly.

Before long, they had caught dozens. They lit some branches with Fire Release Ninjutsu, skewered the cleaned fish, and set them over the flames.

Neither of them said much as they worked.

After a while, Obito finally spoke up.

"It'd be great if things could always be like today. Heh..."

He was simple and innocent.

Jing Uchiha wasn't. He could see