He had exchanged his life for theirs.
The price was crushed underneath a collapsed cavern, half of his body beyond repair. Forced to watch the only girl who ever meant anything to him, warm chocolate eyes glaze over with fought against tears. What was he going to do? He couldn't think of leaving this precious growing woman, who was too soft for such a hard life that consisted of blood and death, alone.
Another face appeared in his stilted half vision, silver hair dulled by the rocky debris that had fallen in their failed attempt to escape. Well, his failure. Or maybe he could count this as success; after all, he had failed in order to save the young grave face that was staring down at him. The expression was broken, the cold façade gone like his left eye.
What was Kakashi going to do? Now that he was obviously not going to be around to put him on the right track of shinobi life, where was he going to find another obnoxious rival like himself to deal with?
His best friend was more fragile, despite all his aloof genius; he was lost on the path of life and needed him to watch over him.
Ah, solution.
Surprising, he didn't feel the crushed part of his young body, it was the pulsing pain of the undamaged half that was making his eye tear relentless. A wet gurgling sound was vibrating his throat, a generous warning that it wouldn't be long. As if the numb feeling slowly stealing over his body wasn't enough.
"Rin.."
Precious pain was all that came when her sweet tender hand brushed his visible face, sweeping feather caresses down his cheek – ignoring the bloody drool that was seeping down from the side of his mouth – her full mouth wavered briefly before firming.
"Don't speak Obito, save your strength."
They all knew.
Suddenly he couldn't say goodbye to her, it was selfish but he couldn't. Even death couldn't make him brave enough for making that confession. He would rather take it to his extremely early grave because he loved her that much.
It was much easier confessing sins.
"Kakashi, I forget about..give present…" he heard his own discord and forcibly started over "I have a present for you now Kakashi, Rin…take my sharigan…"
Too much talking, too much need for oxygen, he let himself trail off with a pathetic wheeze. Soon, he thought, as the two exchange tear filled glances before Rin firmed her shoulders in preparation.
It didn't hurt, but he wasn't surprised, he had always known she was an amazing medic. Compassion in the yearning to heal other's pain was what made her Rin. Too bad he never really told her that.
The world was lost for a moment when she had finished removing his eye, everything had gone slack and he felt a tug towards something..different. It was tempting, so tempting, an silent promise of no more pain pulled at his consciousness but he rebelled. He had one more thing to say.
Keeping his useless eye lid closed, He dragged in one wheezier, wet breathe that only allowed a soft murmur.
"Kakashi, now I'll watch the world through your eye…..t-take..care of Rin..Kakashi…"
The tug was too much now, and with a tangible relief, Obito let go.