Minato Namikaze's Regret
Kakashi and Uchiha Obito were already on the verge of arguing again when Minato Namikaze intervened.
"That's enough," Minato said, voice firm.
Turning to Kakashi first, he continued, "Kakashi, I don't know how Chi Yu-sensei trained you, but while rules are important, they're not everything. A shinobi must know when to adapt."
He then turned his gaze toward Obito. "And you, Obito—don't give excuses. You wear goggles. Sand getting in your eyes is hardly believable. If you talk about willpower, show it—don't just say it."
Chi Yu stood off to the side in silence, but a faint smirk played at his lips, as if amused by the exchange.
Obito looked down, chastised.
Kakashi calmly dusted off his uniform and replied flatly, "Minato-sensei, as a shinobi, the rules are absolute. There is no room for improvisation. I was the team captain today. I ordered Obito to act as a decoy to draw the Iwagakure shinobi's attention. That's protocol. Disobedience puts the whole mission at risk."
He narrowed his eyes. "You speak of adaptation, Sensei, but if the mission fails, no one defends the ones who 'improvised.' They blame the one who deviated. That's the world we live in."
Minato's expression grew stern. "No. The most important thing for a shinobi… is teamwork."
Kakashi turned to Chi Yu. "Is that what you taught me, Chi Yu-sensei?"
Chi Yu gave a short nod. "Teamwork has its place, but let's not confuse teammates with friends or brothers. They're comrades—assets in a mission. If one falls behind or is in danger, sometimes abandoning them is necessary. Sometimes, they're the sacrifice that lets others complete the objective."
Minato's tone sharpened. "That's not how a Konoha shinobi should think! Teammates are comrades-in-arms—people you trust to watch your back. How can you talk about throwing them away like that?"
Chi Yu sneered. "Think hard before you argue with me, Namikaze. The thing Kakashi and I fear most is a so-called comrade who betrays you mid-mission. That's the reality."
Minato clenched his fists but said nothing further. He knew that changing Chi Yu's mind was futile.
And in that moment, a flicker of regret passed through him. Maybe… maybe he should have been the one to guide Kakashi from the start.
At least then… Kakashi might not have become so cold.
---
That night, after Chi Yu's group had moved out and made camp, the forest was quiet, with only the crackle of the fire and distant sounds of the night insects breaking the silence.
Obito found Minato sitting alone on a boulder beneath the moonlight. The silver glow reflected off the edges of the jonin's flak jacket.
"Sensei…" Obito sat beside him, the weight of the day still heavy on his shoulders.
Minato looked at him silently, allowing Obito to speak.
"I know teamwork is important," Obito said softly, "but... Kakashi's treated me like I'm useless since the Academy. I can't help feeling like I don't belong. I'm from the Uchiha Clan, supposedly full of elites—but I'm at the bottom."
Minato gave a small nod. "Kakashi is the son of Sakumo Hatake—the White Fang of the Leaf. His father was a man whose presence alone made the enemy tremble. Even the Sannin respected him."
He paused. "And Kakashi didn't just inherit talent. He also trained under Chi Yu—who, for all his… harshness, is exceptionally capable."
Obito looked up. "White Fang… I remember you mentioning him. Didn't Kakashi's father die in battle?"
Minato's expression turned somber. "Not exactly."
Obito tilted his head in confusion.
Minato sighed. "Maybe I shouldn't say this, but... you should know. You and Kakashi may argue, but you are teammates. And more than that—he sees you as something closer to a friend, even if he doesn't show it."
"Kakashi's father, Sakumo-san... took his own life."
Obito stiffened. "What?!"
"Five years ago, Sakumo led a high-level mission. During the operation, he was forced to make a choice: complete the mission, or save a comrade. He chose the latter—he saved the life of a teammate, but the mission failed."
Minato's voice darkened. "The village turned on him. The very people he saved blamed him. Disgraced and shunned, Sakumo couldn't bear the weight of it. Eventually… he took his own life."
Obito sat in stunned silence.
Minato continued. "That's why Kakashi is the way he is. The rules—the regulations—they're his armor. His shield against a world that betrayed the man he admired most. It's not that he wants to be cold. He's just afraid of what happens if he lets go."
Obito lowered his head. "I never knew…"
Minato nodded. "That's why I ask—try to understand him. Even just a little."
Then Minato's expression turned serious. "But there's something else that worries me: Chi Yu."
Obito frowned. "Chi Yu-sama? Why? He's strong. Even Kakashi respects him."
"I don't doubt his strength," Minato said, "but Obito, you're an Uchiha. Surely you've heard the rumors about him?"
Obito nodded hesitantly. "I've heard... things. Insults, mostly. I don't know what's true. But… it does seem like Chi Yu and you don't get along."
Minato looked away. "It's complicated. Things between us were worse in the past. Chi Yu's childhood… was rough."
He paused, then added quietly, "He came to Konoha at the age of five. He had Uchiha blood—but the clan never acknowledged him. He was treated like an outsider, even among his own people."
Obito gave a bitter chuckle. "That… sounds familiar."
Minato looked at him with a mix of sympathy and sadness.
Obito stared into the fire. "Sometimes, when I help villagers, they look at me like I'm strange. An Uchiha who helps others? I don't fit in—not in the clan, not even in the village."
Minato nodded. "You're not the only one who felt that way."
Obito looked at the moon overhead. "Maybe that's why I can't bring myself to give up on Kakashi… no matter how cold he is."
Minato smiled faintly. "Then you're already ahead of him, Obito. One day, I believe he'll see that."
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