𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑪𝒀𝑶𝑵 𝑶𝑩𝑳𝑰𝑽𝑰𝑶𝑵 •𝒃𝒙𝒃•

Academy Days ~ Age 10, Graduation

AN: This is what I imagine Aizen looks like, the pic is obviously edited and I did my best for it to seem as natural as possible.
The art doesn't belong to me and I don't know who the original artist is.
All credit goes to them, whoever they may be.

The day had come.

He was about to graduate.

He was about to become a shinobi.

Really... How was he supposed to feel about that?

_

"Aizen," he heard his brother call out to him, "Come here for a moment." Albeit begrudgingly, Aizen stood up and walked up to the taller man.

Minato was standing still, waiting for him to come, "What is it?" Aizen asked, stopping in front of him.

"You're graduating today." The blond stated.

"Yeah." Aizen wondered where he was going with that.

"What do you think about me inviting Kushina over to dinner?" That was... weird. Minato never asked him if Kushina was allowed to come, so why now? Why was he asking him now? "I realised things aren't... like before, between you and I... I know I've been overbearing and that I haven't been giving you your space," Oh... So that's what it was about, "I really want to make things right between us... For us to be like before," Aizen averted his eyes, finding the floor a lot more interesting, "I don't want to do things without asking you first. Kushina is somewhat overly-energetic, not that I mind, but I don't want you to get overwhelmed... You're not feeling too well, I know that, and I'm worried."

"Yeah... Yeah, invite her," he hid his clenched hand behind himself, "Her cheerfulness brings my mood up." He was telling the truth about that. Her personality was an opposite of Minato's, maybe that's why the two of them fit in so well. Yet... Her personality was even further away from Aizen's own and the boy knew that himself. Still, she always brought a smile to his face.

And that was what he needed most right now...

A smile.

"Are you su-!" Minato cut himself off, hurriedly placing his hands over his lips, "Yeah... Okay, I'll do just that... Dinner will probably already be done when you come home."

"Okay," Aizen replied, planning to turn around, before he changed his mind, "Thank you, nii-san." He didn't stay long enough to see Minato's expression shift as he sharply inhaled.

Things were slowly getting better... Maybe, just maybe, they could go back to how they were before.

_

Surprisingly, as soon as Aizen opened the front door, he was met with Obito.

"Aizen!" With a loud exclaim, the dark-haired boy surged forward and wrapped his arms around him, "Why were you crying? Why didn't you come back to class? Why did Kakashi go after you?" He asked the questions in a moments time and Aizen gently pushed him away.

"One question at a time, please," Obito smiled apologetically, "I'll explain everything on the way to the academy." With that, he walked past the boy and heard his footsteps thud behind him.

_

He did his best at trying to explain what had happened the day before and Obito was carefully listening to his every word.

"I didn't realise you were feeling that way... Truly a great friend I am, right?" Obito laughed, but there was no humour in his voice.

"It's not your fault... I didn't expect you to understand the way I feel, when even I can't do that," That had sounded a lot harsher when said out loud, Aizen noted, "Wait, I didn't mean it in a bad way." He hurriedly tried to explain himself, but was met with an understanding look.