Obito Uchiha told Kakashi that he didn't regret saving Katsuhiko Koseki.
Kakashi slumped helplessly to the ground, tears slipping from his eyes. "Why… why don't you understand? Some people aren't comrades! They'll only get you killed! You could've just saved Rin… Why did you have to risk everything?"
A faint smile tugged at Obito's lips. "Enough, Kakashi. Come to think of it, I almost forgot—only I haven't given you a gift for becoming a jonin yet. What should I give you? I've thought carefully about this… and now I know. Don't worry, it's not anything unnecessary. I'll give you my Sharingan."
Kakashi stared blankly at Obito.
Smiling, Obito continued, "No matter what others in the village say, you're an outstanding jonin. This is my belief. Accept it… Rin, use your medical ninjutsu to transplant my Sharingan along with the optic nerve into Kakashi's left eye."
Feeling Obito's strong determination, Rin said to Kakashi, "Kakashi, come over here. We'll start right away!"
Still hesitating, Kakashi received further persuasion from Obito: "I… am going to die, but I can become your eyes—to see what happens afterward…"
Kakashi's gaze gradually turned resolute as he accepted the transplantation surgery.
…
Taiseki sat beside a tree not far outside the cave, resting while drinking water. Leaning against the tree trunk opposite him was Katsuhiko Koseki, tightly bound.
Suddenly…
An explosive sound came from the direction of the cave as Kakashi stood atop a rock.
Fireglow looked at Kakashi. "Ugh, still breathing after all that, huh? But kids are just kids, after all. What's a ninja crying about? Come on, crybaby! Let's finish this!"
Kakashi opened his left eye, revealing the crimson Double Tomoe Sharingan.
Fireglow looked on in shock at Kakashi's Sharingan.
Kakashi glared coldly at Fireglow.
Fireglow grew serious, sensing that Kakashi's aura had completely changed from before.
Obito whispered, "Kakashi… Rin, I entrust them both to you…"
"Alright…"
Kakashi drew his short blade, glaring sharply at Fireglow.
[Thunder Breathing, First Form: Lightning Flash]
Kakashi rapidly closed in on Fireglow, slashing toward his neck.
Fireglow crossed his twin blades in a downward slash, cutting Kakashi's short blade clean in half.
Yet Kakashi remained unshaken, his icy gaze fixed firmly on Fireglow.
Raising his hand, Kakashi formed Chidori and charged forward.
Swinging his dual swords at Kakashi as well, Fireglow rushed in.
As Fireglow's blades neared Kakashi, the latter observed and predicted the attack trajectory using his Sharingan, ducking down sharply to evade the slashes. The Chidori pierced straight through Fireglow's chest.
Kakashi looked upon Fireglow's corpse, expression unmoved.
But when his gaze landed on the bound Katsuhiko Koseki, hatred flared in Kakashi's eyes.
Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of Katsuhiko Koseki. He grabbed Koseki by the collar and snarled, "Why?! Obito risked his life to save you! Why did you push him away?!"
Katsuhiko Koseki was too afraid to meet Kakashi's gaze. Bowing his head, he stammered, "I-I didn't want to either… I was just too scared at that moment…"
Kakashi slashed through the ropes binding Katsuhiko Koseki with a broken blade, seized him by the collar, and dragged him toward Obito's location. "You bastard, apologize to Obito right now!"
Kakashi brought Katsuhiko Koseki before Obito Uchiha. "Obito, I've brought this bastard here! Apologize to Obito now!"
Looking at Obito, whose half body lay trapped beneath rubble with blood seeping from the cracks in the rocks, Katsuhiko Koseki was overcome with terror.
"No! It's not my fault! He chose to save me on his own! I never forced him to do it…" He kept repeating, "It's nothing to do with me! Nothing to do with me!" while scrambling backward on all fours.
At those words, Kakashi's anger flared into cold, murderous rage. He punched Katsuhiko Koseki hard across the face. "Didn't you beg for help just moments ago?!" he roared furiously. "Damn beast, I'll kill you!"
Kakashi gathered Chidori in his right hand, preparing to end Katsuhiko Koseki's life.
"Don't… Kakashi…"
Obito Uchiha's voice snapped Kakashi back to his senses.
"Don't waste your anger on someone like him, Kakashi. Take Rin and leave quickly."
After loosening his grip on Katsuhiko Koseki's clothing, Kakashi let go completely, and Koseki fled once again.
"The enemy reinforcements… they're here."
Obito Uchiha shook off Rin Nohara's hand that had been holding onto him tightly. "Alright… Hurry and go!"
Kakashi extended his hand toward Rin Nohara. "Rin!"
Rin Nohara looked at Obito Uchiha with great reluctance.
At that moment, Rock Ninja reinforcements arrived.
[Earth Release: Split Earth Turnaround!]
Multiple Rock Ninja concentrated chakra into their palms and then slammed them against the ground, causing massive fissures to tear open the earth.
Kakashi anxiously shouted, "Rin, quickly grab hold of me!"
Obito Uchiha also called out, "Rin!"
Wiping tears from her eyes, Rin Nohara grabbed Kakashi's hand.
Kakashi pulled Rin out of the attack range.
As she watched Obito become buried beneath falling debris, Rin cried out his name in grief.
As he sensed Rin and Kakashi depart, Obito Uchiha was consumed by deep regret.
Just when things finally improved between me and Kakashi… In the end, I still couldn't confess my feelings to Rin…
I feel slightly regretful now—if I hadn't saved Katsuhiko Koseki, maybe all of us could have been together.
Seems like Kakashi wasn't entirely wrong. Not everyone who fights beside you qualifies as a true comrade…
Though Kakashi carried Rin Nohara while escaping, they were soon surrounded by Rock Ninja.
Panting heavily, Kakashi struggled with his unceasingly active Sharingan eye, which continuously drained his chakra reserves. His chakra was nearly depleted.
Taking a deep breath, Kakashi said firmly, "Rin, I'll hold these guys off. You escape while you can!"
"Rin Nohara was reluctant to leave. 'But...'
Kakashi cut her off. 'Obito entrusted this to me—I'll protect you, no matter the cost! Rin, Obito truly cared for you. More than anything, he wanted to keep you safe.'
Rin's eyes burned with resolve. 'Then Kakashi, I am too—'
Kakashi interrupted her again. 'Rin, although I don't regret saving you, I do regret saving Katsuhiko Koseki. You are someone Obito was willing to sacrifice his life for. So...'
Kakashi gathered Chidori once more. 'You must live! Go now, Rin!'
Sumashi, the leader of the Rock Ninja team, sneered at them. 'Oh? How moving. Still full of fight after all this? Sneaking behind enemy lines—impressive, really.'
'As their teacher, I know this all too well. Now tell me, what are you planning to do to my students?'
Chinya flashed in behind Sumashi, while Minato Namikaze appeared behind Kakashi and Rin.
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