Zen departed for bed soon after, his waist length ponytail swishing behind him. For several moments the only sound was his footsteps.
Then, in a babying voice, "Yuki-kuuuun, give me some covers!"
Obito's ears twitched.
"Is he okay?" he asked, looking up at Kakashi.
"I doubt it."
Kakashi shrugged. "So, Obito. What did you think of my squad?"
A prickle ran up Obito's spine. "They're retarded," he huffed, hopping onto the couch and curling up discontentedly.
Then, considering the question seriously, he said a voice no louder than a murmur, "They remind me of us."
He winced at the pained expression Kakashi managed to convey with the limited part of his face visible. Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose, silent for a moment, then replied quietly, "I don't want them to fall apart like our team did. But their resemblance to us is very strong, yes."
They lapsed into a semi-awkward silence.
A thought occurred to Obito.
"Hey…hey, Kakashi, how're Ren and sensei doing?"
Ouch. He'd stepped on another landline.
Obito could see Kakashi's mind run, debating on how to tell him news that was obviously going to be unpleasant.
Kakashi seemed to decide on the abrupt approach by saying, "Sensei is dead. Ren's missing," and leaving it at that for Obito to comprehend.
Of course, Obito was shocked. The numb, vice-like grip on his heart stabbed harder than any kunai. And despite the Gobi's power, it was a wound even time might not heal.
Obito knew that had he been human, he would have begun to cry.
--
When I uploaded it, I noticed that my computer has the same problem one of my friend's has; part of the first line repeats itself. Neither one of us knows how to fix it. Sorry.