Kakashi watched Obito walking like a zombie around the rubble of his vegetables, his eyes dark, his small shovel in his hand. A big storm had just passed over them and had stolen many belongings from them and the neighbors. As a result, his and Obito's vegetable garden had been swept away with the gusts of wind. Plants were uprooted and vegetables scattered. Obito knelt in front of his tomato plant and stood there staring at it. Kakashi not liking to see him like this tried to cheer him up.
"Don't worry Obito, we're going to replant everything and it will be even more beautiful than before. » Obito didn't answer and continued to stare at his tomatoes. Kakashi seeing that it didn't make him react tried otherwise.
"At least the cucumbers are still intact, we can pick them in a few days. Maybe make a soup. »
"Don't act like everything is fine. » Obito replied harshly. He stood up and spread his arms, pointing to the whole piece of land. "Nothing is right here. All our labor has once again been destroyed. I even wonder why we persisted so much in doing it when it was doomed to fail. »
" So here we are. ». he says. "The storm destroyed the vegetable garden, but it preferred to disappear by the hand of a being it loved. Anything you say won't change anything. » He turned to Kakashi and pointed at him accusingly. "You are an impostor Kakashi. You failed in your mission to cover it before the storm arrives. It should never have been destroyed. Didn't I tell you to do it yesterday in case the storm passes over us? »
"You also said that it was just a precaution because the weather forecast announced that the storm would pass further north. » Obito looked up at the sky and glared at the remaining storm clouds.
"Yes you're right, I'm also at fault but it's the weather that is really responsible for this drama Kakashi. Weather services, TV channels and the storm. It is in this system and this world made of errors of forecast that I completely lost hope! So it's over, I'm done. I abandon this cursed vegetable garden which each time does not manage to last more than a month. The weather channel is useless, we will never be safe from another gust of wind that will uproot the plants. Let's leave that behind and move on. The fourth attempt was the last. »
Kakashi hearing this intervened.
" You can't be serious Obito? The therapist however hammered it, the most painful thing is not having anyone to show your vegetable garden to. You yourself said that those who use pesticides are trash, but those who abandon their vegetable garden for lack of patience are worse than trash. These are your words that I taught Naruto when he was still a young gardener. The Obito I know would have a much better understanding of weather risks and forecast errors. I'm sure if you listened to more than one news channel at a time you could... »
" Look around you ! » Obito cut in, bending down to his fallen tomatoes and taking one in his hand, one side being crushed.
"I have nothing left to replace the tomatoes Kakashi! Stores are out of stock! No more seeds! So I repeat to you, it is useless to pretend that everything is fine! See that gaping hole? » He said pointing to the tomato. "It's nothing but a door to nothingness. For a long time I only felt pain inside when my vegetable garden was destroyed but now I understand that it is a dead end, so I decide to get rid of it, to stop gardening! You too are suffering, aren't you?! » He said raising his voice. "I saw you suffer in front of your lettuce's grave, in front of mine. » Kakashi looked down at the green leaves he loved so much, scattered and mixed in the dirt. He so wanted to make a tomato salad out of it. Such a waste.
"Kakashi, it's over now, you don't need to garden anymore. Organic products are just in the vegetable departments. As well as the private producers who can sell us and who have much better gardens than us. Order whatever you want, everything will be possible with these new stores. This hole in your heart can be filled immediately. »
"But will it fill the hole in your heart Obito?" Kakashi replied taking the garden shovel from his hand and putting it in front of his face.
"Gardening has always been your dream. You promised Rin that you would become the greatest botanist in all of Konoha. And now you want to give up? What happened to the young boy who spent his time weeding in Grandma's garden? Where did he go? »
"This world killed him. »
"Bullshit. » Kakashi abruptly cut in approaching his face. "Look me in the face and tell me you don't want to garden anymore. »
Obito remained emotionless looking at him but didn't answer.
" So ? » Kakashi pressed, demanding an answer.
"Stand back, you are encroaching on my personal space. »
" So ? » Kakashi moved even closer waiting for his answer.
"It's harassment. »
" So ?! »
Instead of answering Obito walked past Kakashi and headed for his car.
" Where are you going ? » Kakashi asked, glaring at him.
" At the stores. I want chicken tonight. »
For Kakashi that was an answer to his question. And it was an answer that broke his heart. Obito fled the vegetables and went to hide behind the meat. He watched Obito open his car door and turn to him, staring blankly.
"Do you want me to buy something in particular?"
Kakashi looked at this stranger who was addressing his friend's appearance. He looked at the cloudy sky and morbid thoughts invaded him.
"If you find instant ramen take some. Minato and Kushina will drop off Naruto tomorrow. You know he only eats that. »
Obito nodded then without a word closed the door and started the car before leaving.
Kakashi turned back to the vegetable garden and looked at the rubble of their hard work. This storm had not only destroyed the garden but also the gardener.
He then proceeded to pick up the few vegetables still intact and thought how disappointed Rin would be with them.