Adamantine

by Elenyafinwe

Kabuto had actually wanted to use Mito and Kushina for his own purposes thanks to Edo Tensei. Unfortunately, after summoning the two seal masters, he is prevented from doing so because Itachi and Sasuke interrupt him. Mito seizes the opportunity to break out of Edo Tensei and take on the Jūbi together with Kushina, much to the astonishment of their two husbands.

6. Epilogue: Kakashi

Epilogue: Kakashi

Kakashi still felt a shiver down his spine when he saw Madara, seal or not. The chakra this man possessed was still tremendous. He was glad when he finally left. What he now faced, however, was hardly better.

Obito still wasn't looking at him. So Kakashi pulled out the headband he had brought for him and handed it to him.

"If you want," he said. "Figured you might not want everyone staring at your face."

Now Obito did look at him, but still said nothing. Then he glanced at the headband in Kakashi's hand.

"You have a place in the village. If that is what you wish." Just in case that wasn't clear.

Finally, Obito did reach for the headband and tied it around his head. He tugged the fabric so that it covered his vacant eyesocket.

"I know about Rin," Obito said quietly. "I know that you hadn't meant to kill her, but that she had thrown herself in your path."

"I ..." Kakashi searched for the right words, but finally gave up. "Apologising would probably do no good. But I always brought her her favourite flowers."

"I ... know," Obito admitted hesitantly.

"I don't know if we could be friends again. But if we stopped hating each other, that would be quite a lot, I think."

"Could you please just shut up, Bakashi?"

Kakashi shut up.

"I guess I messed up pretty badly too," Obito finally said when the silence became uncomfortable. "It's true, I owe it to Madara that I'm alive now. But I chose to follow him then instead of returning to the village. That was my decision, and I could have chosen differently. But I didn't. I don't know how to make it up to him."

Kakashi stirred uneasily. "A court will decide about you and Sasuke," he informed Obito. "But you've been given a second chance, and you can take it."

The corners of Obito's mouth twitched. "I don't think I'll be Hokage now."

"There are many other options," Kakashi said, now much more relaxed. "And if you want your eye back, I'll be happy to give it to you."

Obito was silent for a moment. "No, keep it. It was a gift, you know that. Together, the Sharingan has always been strongest."

Kakashi couldn't describe how light he felt all of a sudden. He smiled. "You're right."