Chapter Text
Prologue:
Uchiha Obito is late. Very late. That much he acknowledges, but was it really his fault? There was always someone who needed help! A sweet old lady had asked for his help in carrying his groceries, so who was he to refuse? Rin always seemed to understand the reason for his tardiness, although Obito's other teammate, Bakashi, never did. Even today Obito Was greater by the wonderful words of,
"Obito you're late" he looked up at the silver haired Chunin, no. Hatake Kakashi had been promoted to a Jonin the very same day. How could he have forgotten? Especially after Rin and his classmates decided to get him gifts. "What time do you think we were supposed to meet? If you're a full-fledged Shinobi, you're not expected to follow the rules!" Bakashi berated him. Always with the rules!
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Since Kakashi had become jonin, Minato-sensei divided them into two teams. Sensei would be by himslef and intercept an Invasion by Iwa-nin while Kakashi had to lead Obito and Rin. The mission was simple, they had to blow up Kanabi Bridge. Even obito couldn't mess this up. On the topic of his promotion however, Obito didn't seem to happy.
"Remeber we talked about this the other day Obito" Rin said. "About getting Kakashi a gift!" Rin was nice. She was weak, however her place as medic was essential to the team. She could be clingy and over bearing at times but she was kind. Most of all, Rin Listend to him and didn't question his approach.
"Sorry I wasn't listening" His other teammate, Obito mumbled. Kakashi sent a quick glare in his direction. He never did listen. He was loud, obnoxious, never followed orders and always, always found a way to get on Kakashi's nerves. He was going to make this incredible difficult.
Sensei's gift was his custom made kunai with a hiraishin seal. It was odd but Kakashi was determined to make the best use of his gift.
"This is my gift!" Rin Chirped handing him a little gray box. It was a personalized med kit. It would certainly prove useful in battle.
Naturally, obito didn't get him anything. Kakashi didn't care ofcourse. Nothing obito could give him would be useful after all. Atleast that's what he told himself despite his dissapointment.
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Sometime after crossing the border and parting with Minato-Sensei, team Kakashi found themselves facing a projectile attack which Obito quickly neutralized with his Fire-ball jutsu. An Iwa-nin appeared before them and he and Kakashi traded blows. In the midst of their battle however, a second Shinobu revealed himslef behind the pair. He had Rin.
"Wait!" Kakashi called out, fear creeping into his chest, but it was too late. Rin was gone, and Obito gave chase.
"Obito, Don't go after them" He warned. The Uchiha turned around, anger in his eyes.
"What!?" He questioned. "Do you realize what you said!?" His teammate was livid. Obito and Rin had been friends since the academy and they always had a great relationship in team Mianto. Kakashi wanted to be their friend too, although it seemed that there was not space for him. This reaction was expected.
" Yeah.." Kakashi confirmed. As much as he hated it, the mission comes first. The mission always comes first. "The two if us will continue this mission"
"And Rin what about Rin!"
"Rin comes later" She had to. "The enemy wants to figure out what we're up to. They won't kill her right away." It was wrong necessary "And luckily, Rin is A medical ninja, so even if she ends up a prisoner of war, she'll probably be treated cordially on the condition that she treats the wounded on their side." He hated the words that came out of his mouth, but he continued. The mission comes first.
" The problem is if the enemy learns about our strategy. If they learn that information no doubt they'll increase the security on the bridge. That would make our mission more difficult"
"You're assuming Rin's safety under baseless assumptions" Obito argued. He was wrong ofcourse. "What if those guys just now are lackey's who don't give a damn. Right now saving Rin takes priority over the mission!" no, no it didn't. The mission comes first.
"A ninja.." Kakashi wasn't going to make the same mistake as him. "must sacrifice his comrades in order to carry out a mission." It was wrong, so wrong. "That's the rule. If we fail in this mission, the war may possibly be prolonged." He couldn't let that happen.
"That's simply an assumption!" Obito was shouting. He shouldn't do that in enemy territory. "You're going to sacrifice the life of a comrade who's been through life and death with you? When we were wounded, Rin saved our life! If it wasn't for her, we would be dead right now!"
"That was Rin's duty" Kakashi's voice was devoid of emotion. It was her duty. She did what she had to, now he had to complete his-
Obito's punch caught him off guard. His technique was sloppy but he did have physical strength . It hurt as Kakashi flew back a few feet.
"I don't like you after all!" It stung.
"I'm the captain, you will obey me." You acknowledged me as the captain "In order to keep the team together" What team? "One person gives orders" am I cut out to be that person? "that is why we have a rule that states the members must obey the captain" Minato sensei chose him as captain. He must have done it for a reason. "Obito you're not strong, That's why I was chosen as the captain of this team" Right sensei?
Obito came forward and pulled him up by his straps, he had been on the ground. Pathetic.
"Then why won't you try to save Rin?" The pain in Obito's voice was evident. Kakashi wanted to listen . "As captain you're strong, strong enough to save your comrades right!?"
"if you give into your emotions for even a moment and fail your mission you'll regret it later" Like he did when he lay on the floor. "That is why our code of conduct forbids any feelings" So that we don't end up like him. "You should know that" Obito pulled away grimacing.
"Rin..." He began. "Rin was concerned about your well being that's why she gave you the med-kit" She shouldn't have "She even sewed in a protective amulet inside!" He was shouting again, his hand found its way back to Kakashi's straps.
"The med kit and medical ninjutsu are superb items developed by Konoha in order to increase the success of our missions." Because the mission comes first. The mission always come first "But I told you yesterday didn't I? Getting something useless would only get in the way"
"Something useless?" Obito's voice was strained. Kakashi nodded.
"To carry out his mission, useful tools are essential to a ninja" Like the med-kit "Emotions are useless" Like yours right now. Obito was shaking with rage.
"Are you serious" Kakashi held his glare. "Do you really believe in that!?" why wouldn't I? Kakashi wanted to scream, but he didn't. Anger was unnecessary. But Kakashi couldn't help but think about him. About how he should have thought that aswell.
"Yeah I do." He had to.
"Forget it you and I have been like oil and water from the start" he finally let go and turned around. "I'm going to rescue rin!"
"You don't understand anything!" Kakashi raised his voice a bit as he called out to him. "Not about what happens to if you break the rules." like he did. Obito stopped.
"I belive that the white fang was a true hero." It hit him like a rock. Why? Why would obito say that? Did Minato snesei tell him the truth? "Sure in the world of ninja" Kakashi willed him to stop. He wanted to go up to him and tell him to stop. He wanted to tell him he was wrong. Kakashi wanted to tell Obito how his failure had affected him. How he had left Kakashi. But he didn't. Emotions were unnecessary "Those who break the rules and regulations are regarded as scum" Obito turned around to face him. "But those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum." Kakashi wanted to scream, to shout, to tell Obito he was wrong. Because that hadn't been the case with him. But he didn't. He couldn't.
Obito turned around and kept walking. Kakashi wanted to go with him. He wanted to follow. He wanted to tell him how he felt, that he wanted to save Rin but, the mission comes first, the mission always comes first.
Hatake Kakashi turned around and left. Obito could go save Rin if he wanted. But Kakashi would not abandon the mission. He left and this time, he never turned around. Because the mission comes first.
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