Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I'm not profiting from this. I did edit this time, but I might've missed some stuff. If there are any mistakes, please tell me.
This part was getting really long. I thought about posting it anyway, but decided to cut it in half. Hope you enjoy. Or not, idk. Thanks for looking.
This was difficult to write. So if anything is weird, confusing, or doesn't make sense, please tell me.
Part 9: Were you also sad?
Graduation came quickly. Too quickly, Kakashi thought. Academy students were children, but war would not wait for them to grow up. That was how it was.
Kakashi was not looking forward to it.
"Isn't it cool how we ended up on the same team?" Obito grinned, adjusting his headband, not used to its weight. It was heavier than he thought.
"I suppose it is," Kakashi agreed.
"Maybe our skill sets are compatible," Rin added. At that moment, a sunny man entered the room.
"Hatake Kakashi, Nohara Rin, Uchiha Obito. Are we all ready?" It was Namikaze Minato.
Nothing much seemed to have changed. They assumed their team roles like fish to water. Very naturally. Obito fit in just as well (maybe better) despite all the differences between the two versions Kakashi knew of.
During their team introductions, Kakashi found out a glaring difference. Obito's dream and goal were not to become the Hokage.
"So, Obito, what's your dream?" Minato asked his last member. The boy smiled.
"It's a secret," he proclaimed.
"You won't tell us?" Rin asked with puppy eyes. She knew that wouldn't work, but it didn't hurt to try.
"Nope!"
"Not even a little bit?" she persisted. And Obito relented, not unhappily.
"Well," he dragged out, "it has something to do with Ichi-san. But! That's all I'm going to say." Then, as an afterthought, "For now."
"Heh, that's fine. You'll tell us when the time comes, right?" Minato indulged the boy.
"Yup!"
It was all the same. Nothing had changed. They met up to train and do missions, say goodbye and repeat.
All the same. But Kakashi had forgotten. His soft spot for Obito let him get away with a lot. Minato certainly wouldn't.
"Obito, stop," Minato's voice rang, loud and clear. All three of his students paused and looked up.
"Sensei?" Obito was confused, as were the other two. Obito didn't do anything wrong, did he?
"Obito, you shouldn't hold back. It's important to be open and honest about your skills with your teammates," said their teacher. Ah. Kakashi had let that slide. Minato would not.
"What do you mean?" Obito feigned ignorance, however lacking the usual playful undertone in his voice.
"I'm sure you know what I mean. You're purposely underperforming. That can be dangerous, especially out on the field."
A frown crossed Obito's face, but he stayed silent. He looked like he wanted to say something, but couldn't find the right words.
"Obito?" Minato prompted.
"...Fine. I'll do better." Obito admitted defeat.
After that encounter, life still flowed seamlessly. In fact, it flowed a little better. Then Team Minato took another mission.
It was supposed to be a simple D-rank mission. Help out at one of the agricultural lands. And of course, something goes wrong.
"Hatake-san, Ririn-chan, wanna play a game?" Obito suggested playing a game, as usual.
"Sure," Rin accepted.
"What kind of game?" Kakashi was wary.
"Let's see who can-" Obito began but was cut off by their client's son.
"Ninjas sure must have it nice, playing games during war," he said. He was quietly watching them work the past half hour, but now he had things to say.
Obito, a bit miffed, answered, "We're still working. What's your problem?"
"Problem? I'll tell you my problem," said the son, gearing up for his monologue. "Ninjas are a waste of space and money. This war? It's a ninja war! And who do you think is paying for it? Us! The civilians! And what do we get in return? A death toll and crippled ninjas coming back to sit around and waste more of our money. So much of our resources are going to take care of you ninjas. If ninjas are so dedicated to protecting this place and its people, then they should stay out there and die fighting!"
All four members of Team Minato were silent. They didn't really know how to react. Actually, three members of Team Minato didn't. Obito did.
"HAH! You think we're playing? Well, you're right. We are playing, but we still get shit done. What about you, civilian? Your hands are still soft, and your skin looks like it's never seen the sun. I heard this farm is going down the shithole, because the children splurge on useless commodities and never-"
"Obito," Minato hissed, and Obito promptly shut up.
The son was red in the face, spluttering nonsense and excuses. He ended up stomping away.
The rest of the mission, they did not speak much. Obito did not play any games, only finishing his work with heavy swings and rough kicks.
Team Minato was dismissed for the day. Minato attempted to speak with Obito, but the boy's mouth was shut and he did not want to listen to his superior. Thankfully, Kakashi gave a meaningful glance toward their teacher, trying to convey with his eyes that he will talk to Obito instead. For that, Minato was grateful.
"Obito, you feeling alright?" Kakashi asked. Obito seemed to barely acknowledge him, aggressively kicking a pebble in their path.
"Just amazing," the child grit out eventually.
"Hey. I'm down for some ramen. Come with me."
"We just ate."
"I'm still hungry."
"You're going to get fat."
"I'm not. Don't worry about me. I'll look this good even thirty years later."
"In your dreams!" Obito was getting into the mood of bantering. That was good enough.
Kakashi took him to Ichiraku Ramen. Obviously. They sat side by side, waiting for their orders.
"So?" Obito began.
"So?" Kakashi parroted.
"What do you want me to say?" Of course, Obito knew Kakashi's objective. He was by no means dull minded.
"What's bothering you?"
"You're the genius. Figure it out." Obito scowled.
"It's the client's son."
"Yup, you got it."
"Tell me more."
"You're so nosey, Hatake-san. Did Namikaze-sensei put you up to this?"
"Not really. Talk to me. You're my friend, and I'll listen."
"Okay. I'll talk to you… About the process of noodle making!" Aaaghghhhh, Obito, you shitstain.
"Thanks for treating me, Hatake-san! Next meal will be on me." Obito was in a much lighter mood at least. Kakashi's wallet was also much lighter.
The two boys walked the dark streets of Konoha. Even though it was night, the streets were lively, just not as crowded as during the day.
"I don't agree with what he said," Obito spoke up, referring to the client's son earlier that day.
"Well, he did sort of slander the entire ninja population," Kakashi answered.
"But I can understand where he's coming from."
"What do you mean?"
"This is a ninja war, but everyone gets involved. Maybe calling it a ninja war is a misnomer."
"Perhaps."
"Add in clan politics, civilian councils, and other complicated things like that. No one's safe from politics, ew. And even if Konoha comes up as the victor, people will find more things to be unhappy about and fight over."
"I never pegged you as a pessimist."
"I'm only stating the fact."
"..."
"Anyway, this isn't really what you want to hear, is it?"
Kakashi shrugged, "Whatever you want to say, I want to hear it."
"You are such a strange person, Hatake-san."
"Right back at you."
"Well, thank you for walking me back home. Again," Obito said lightly. "Am I your lover or something?"
"No," Kakashi deadpanned. Obito chuckled before turning to enter the Uchiha compound, then paused and faced his friend. Kakashi peered at him with open curiosity.
"I was really angry, ya know. At what that guy said about the ninjas coming home. That they should die on the front. That the injured are wastes of money and space. But I'm not as angry anymore." Obito gave a nod and retired for the night with a quiet 'good night.'
'Ah. That Ichiro guy is a veteran,' Kakashi thought before heading toward his own home.
