Obito and Shisui

Yuki seemed to see right through what Obito was thinking.

Her large eyes curved with amusement as she teased him.

"Little guy, call me Big Sister Yuki, and I might give you a discount."

But to her surprise,

Obito remained perfectly calm, unmoved.

"Discount or no discount, I don't care."

"Right now, I just want to know why your name sounds so lovely, Big Sister Yuki."

Yuki: "..."

All right, she had given this kid too much credit.

To be fair,

Obito really did have some thoughts about Yuki's name.

The character for "princess" was usually reserved for women of high status.

Wasn't that name a bit grand for the owner of a pharmacy?

He didn't dare say it aloud, though.

He still wanted that discount...

Yuki smiled and asked,

"What medicine are you here for this time, little guy?"

Obito answered without hesitation.

"The same medicine as last time, but double the amount!"

Yuki's rosy lips parted slightly.

Her features were usually so mature and alluring, but now she looked almost adorably stunned.

After a long moment,

she came to her senses and asked in an odd tone,

"You used up all the medicine I gave you last time?"

Obito nodded as if it were obvious.

He had no idea why she was asking.

Yuki fell silent, then ventured,

"Your teacher is... still alive, right?"

Obito was completely baffled.

"Uh... why wouldn't he be?"

Only then did Yuki breathe a sigh of relief and pat her full chest.

"I'll get your medicine... But you mustn't use it carelessly. Something could go seriously wrong!"

Obito looked as though he understood perfectly.

"Don't worry, Big Sister Yuki. I know what you mean."

Before long,

Yuki came back carrying two bags of medicine.

She set them on the table and looked at Obito.

"Little guy, the shop's quiet right now. Why not stay and chat with me for a while?"

Obito pointed at the Forehead Protector on his head.

"Big Sister Yuki, I'm a distinguished ninja. Every minute of my time is worth tens of thousands of ryo."

"How could I possibly have time to sit around chatting?"

Yuki tapped the table with a slender finger and said casually,

"Thirty percent off."

Obito pulled a small stool over from beside the counter and promptly sat down next to her.

"Big Sister Yuki, what would you like to talk about?"

A mocking smile flickered across Yuki's lips.

"My esteemed ninja, how did you suddenly find time to chat with a humble woman like me?"

Obito gave her an awkward but polite smile.

That's enough, woman. Let it go.

If you weren't gorgeous, with a great figure to match,

do you think Earth Boy would care about a little money like that?

"Oh, right, kid. What's your name?"

"I'm Obito Uchiha."

More than a month later.

At Obito's home.

Grandmother's puzzled voice came from the kitchen.

"Obito, where did all the fruit wine I made go?"

Obito hurried into the kitchen and said sheepishly,

"Grandmother, I gave it all to my teacher."

Grandmother's voice suddenly rose three octaves.

"You gave away all that wine?"

Obito nodded guiltily.

"Well, the wine you make is just so good."

"My teacher loved it after one taste, so I've been taking him a jar whenever I get the chance."

Grandmother sounded a little helpless.

"Well... all right, then."

The fruit wine she made wasn't worth much anyway.

If her grandson's teacher liked it, there was no harm in giving him more. She could always make another batch.

"Your Uncle Chuan is bringing little Shisui over for lunch today," she said with a sigh.

"I was going to send your uncle home with two jars after lunch so he could try it, but you went and..."

Grandmother sounded as though she was scolding Obito, but her eyes were full of affection.

Seeing his guilty look, she rubbed her grandson's head.

"There now, don't look so down. I'm not blaming you."

"Today's little Shisui's birthday. Did you get him a present?"

Obito nodded.

"Of course, Grandmother. How could I forget my younger cousin's birthday?"

Grandmother patted Obito's head again.

"All right, go play for a while. I need to start making lunch."

Obito grinned.

"I'm not doing anything right now. Why don't I stay and help you?"

Grandmother smiled with satisfaction and said no more.

At noon.

Uchiha Chuan brought Shisui to the old house.

The whole family sat down together for a hearty lunch.

After the meal,

Chuan helped his mother clear the dishes.

The two youngsters settled in a room and began to chat.

Obito took out a Ninja Tool pouch and handed it to Shisui.

"Happy birthday, little Shisui. This is the present I got you."

"Thank you, Big Brother Obito."

Shisui happily accepted the pouch.

He opened it

and found all sorts of finely crafted Ninja Tools inside. It had practically everything he could need.

Obito grinned.

"Well? Do you like it?"

Shisui nodded repeatedly.

"I do."

Good, Obito thought.

After buying medicine for Minato-sensei, he had spent all the money he had left on this gift.

He couldn't help it. Shisui was his little brother, after all.

Spoiling their little brothers was practically written into every Uchiha's DNA.

Shisui put the Ninja Tool pouch away, then asked curiously,

"By the way, Big Brother Obito, I've always wanted to ask you something. What's it like being a full-fledged ninja?"

I spend pretty much every day doing odd jobs, Obito thought.

I've only taken on one or two real missions... What am I supposed to tell him?

But telling his younger cousin the truth would be a little embarrassing.

After giving it some thought, Obito clasped his hands behind his back and spoke with deliberate gravity.

"Some of it involves village secrets, so there are things I can't tell you."

"But there's one thing I want you to remember."

He had set the mood perfectly.

Shisui met his cousin's solemn gaze and nodded eagerly.

What was his cousin going to tell him?

Obito silently counted to thirty before finally speaking.

"With great power comes great responsibility."

"That's what I wanted to tell you."

Shisui tilted his little head and pondered Obito's words.

The more he thought about them, the more profound they seemed.

His cousin grew considerably in his estimation.

After lunch,

Chuan left with Shisui.

On the way, Shisui asked thoughtfully,

"Father, what kind of person do you think Big Brother Obito is?"

Chuan rubbed Shisui's head and smiled.

"Your cousin? He has the greatest talent I've ever seen..."

...But that boy's personality can really leave you speechless!

Chuan thought better of saying that last part aloud.

"Oh."

Shisui nodded to show he understood.