The argument between Kakashi and Obito Uchiha was about to flare up again. Minato Namikaze cut them off before it could.
"Enough," he said, his voice firm. "Both of you."
He fixed Kakashi with a serious look. "Kakashi, I don't know what Qianyu taught you. Rules and regulations are important, yes. But they aren't everything. Sometimes, you need to adapt to the situation."
Then he turned to Obito. "And you. You're wearing goggles. How is sand getting in your eyes? If you're going to talk about self-control, then strengthen your mind, not just your words."
As Minato lectured them both, Qianyu listened in silence. A faint, mocking smile touched his lips.
Obito hung his head, saying nothing.
Kakashi brushed dust from his flak jacket. His gaze was flat, unreadable as it settled on Minato. "Lord Minato. For a shinobi, rules are everything. There is no 'adapting.' I was the team leader. I ordered Obito Uchiha to act as bait and charge those Rock ninja. He had to obey. Otherwise, he violates protocol."
His tone was icy, factual. "If you want to talk about adapting to situations, don't tell me. Go tell the people who make the rules. Because when a mission fails, they'll blame the 'adaptation.' They'll blame the person who broke protocol. And that person will be scorned by everyone. Isn't that right?"
Minato stared at Kakashi, his expression grave. "The most important thing for a shinobi is teamwork!"
Kakashi didn't even look at him. He turned his head slightly toward Qianyu. "Is that true, Sensei?"
Qianyu gave a single, slow nod. "Sure. Teamwork is important. But teammates aren't your friends. They aren't your brothers. They're just people you work with on a mission. So if a teammate is in danger, you abandon them. You can even use them as bait to cover an attack or a retreat." He met Minato's eyes, his smile cold. "That's the principle I've taught Kakashi from the very first day I took him onto a battlefield."
"That's wrong!" Minato's voice rose, tinged with anger. "Teammates are comrades. They are friends! They're the brothers you trust with your back! How can you talk about abandoning them? Using them as bait?!"
Qianyu's laugh was a short, sharp sound. "Think a little harder before you try to argue with me. Kakashi and I? What we fear most is a so-called 'teammate' stabbing us in the back."
Minato opened his mouth to retort, then stopped. He knew it was pointless. Trying to reason with Qianyu was like trying to reason with a stone wall.
A pang of regret hit him. Sharp and cold. I should have insisted on teaching Kakashi myself.
At least I wouldn't have let him become… this. Someone so cold.
After they evacuated the area, Qianyu's team found a spot to set up camp for the night.
Late. Quiet.
Obito found Minato sitting alone on a rock, staring up at the moon. He sat down beside him.
Minato glanced over.
"I know teamwork is important too," Obito mumbled, his voice thick with frustration. "I do. But… that guy Kakashi. He's looked at me like I'm an idiot since the Academy. I just… I can't help it." He kicked a small stone. "I'm from the Uchiha clan. The 'elite' clan. And I'm the dead-last. I admit it. Kakashi… he's amazing."
Minato sighed softly. "Kakashi is the son of the White Fang of Konoha, Sakumo Hatake. A shinobi so feared, even the Legendary Sannin paled in comparison. And after his father… he trained under Qianyu. Another genius. His entire childhood was spent alongside people like that." Minato's voice was gentle. "So it's normal he might see the rest of us as… lacking."
"White Fang…" Obito frowned. "Sensei mentioned him. Said Kakashi's father died in the line of duty. He told us to help Kakashi get past it. But Kakashi… he never talked about it. And whenever I brought it up, he'd just glare at me. Looked really angry."
Another, heavier sigh escaped Minato. "We were on missions back then. It's normal you didn't hear. Sakumo-sama… he was an incredible man. Someone Kakashi deeply respected. Until… that happened."
Obito's eyes narrowed. "That?"
"Maybe I shouldn't say this," Minato said slowly. "But you and Kakashi are friends. You should know." He looked at Obito. "Kakashi is different with you. He might complain, call you names. But with everyone else, he's ice. With you, he bickers. He might not say it, but in his heart, he considers you a friend."
Minato paused, gathering the words. "Kakashi's father… Sakumo-sama… He was slandered. And he took his own life."
Obito's eyes went wide. "What?"
"It was five years ago," Minato began, his voice low. "A classified mission. Sakumo-sama was the team leader, deep behind enemy lines. He faced a choice. Continue the mission… or save a comrade."
"According to village rules, abandoning a mission is unacceptable. But he chose to save his teammate. He aborted the mission. The fallout… the losses were immense. He was blamed by the village. By his comrades." Minato's jaw tightened. "In the end, even the teammate he saved… turned on him. Slandered him."
"The weight of it… the shame… It broke him. His mind, his spirit. Sakumo-sama… he performed seppuku. In his own home."
Minato looked at the moon, its light cold on his face. "After that, Kakashi couldn't stand anyone mentioning his father. His obsession with rules, with protocol… Most of it stems from that."
He turned back to Obito, his expression earnest. "Obito. Try to understand him. Even a little. Kakashi doesn't mean any harm."
"What truly worries me," Minato's voice dropped, turning grim, "is Kakashi's teacher. Qianyu."
Obito blinked, confused. "Qianyu-sama? Why?"
"You're an Uchiha," Minato said, his tone turning serious. "You must have heard some things about him."
Obito nodded slowly. "A little. But I'm not sure what's true. Most of it is… people cursing him." He hesitated. "What is he really like, sensei? Earlier… it seemed like you and him have some serious history."
"It's better now," Minato said, a wry twist to his mouth. "It used to be much worse." He took a breath. "Qianyu's childhood… 'Very bad' doesn't begin to cover it."
"I heard he came to Konoha when he was five. With Uchiha blood. But the clan… they never acknowledged him."
"And your clan's reputation in the village…" Minato trailed off, letting the implication hang. "I think you understand, Obito."
Obito gave a bitter, hollow laugh. Understand? Of course he did.
The Uchiha's reputation in Konoha was rock-bottom. He knew it better than anyone. Whenever he helped someone—carrying groceries, finding a lost cat—people looked at him like he was some rare, bizarre creature.
A helpful Uchiha. In the eyes of his own clan, he was a freak. An outlier who didn't belong.
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