Rewind

“Do you think he tried to take his life?” Minato asked to Shisui and Itachi, kneeled in front of him and masks off.

“We don’t think so” Shisui started “it seemed more of a grounding response. When the kyuubi’s chakra flared, we used our sharingan to investigate. We got a glimpse of his mindscape and it looked like he was in a panic attack. The kyuubi’s attempt to calm him down were futile”

“My belief is that the isolation is catching up. He thinks he’s like Sakumo” Itachi chirped in.

“No wonder about that” Minato crossed his fingers together “for years he’d been completely busy in the mission but now he’s facing the world with an empty mind”

“If I may sir” Shisui asked permission to talk.

“Go ahead”

“I can say it’s not the first time he harmed himself. The kyuubi’s chakra showed up calmly at first and by what Itachi told me, the kyuubi warned him he couldn’t heal him up. Maybe he’s been there in the past but the healing abilities of the bijuu fixed his doings”

“I see” Minato sighed “but what was reported by Rin, he suppressed his chakra to the point of nearly killing himself. Right now he’s unable to use it until his chakra coils are back to normal. That’s why the nine tails was unable to use his chakra effectively. I’ll see what to do next. Thank you, take a rest for a few days. I’ll call you as soon as he’s out of the hospital”

“Thank you sir” the two uchiha’s vanished.

Obito was walking in the Uchiha compound with a turned off gaze. His posture giving out his bad mood.

“Obito-san” Itachi called out “aren’t you at the hospital?”

“I was kicked out. I might have yelled at some nurses and Rin kicked me out” Obito explained laughing nervously.

“I see” the younger nodded walking by his side as the two came to a stop in the park sitting down and just lost in their thoughts. They weren’t sure how much time passed but by the fact that Fugako passed by, it seemed a lot.

“Itachi, Obito” he walked in the park “I heard about Kakashi, I’m sorry Obito”. Obito nodded in aknowledgment and acceptance. It sounded like Kakashi was dead but in a way, the Kakashi he saw leaving the village was dead. “Come to dinner with us, Obito. It will help you distract a little” Fuagko offered. Obito didn’t need distractions, he needed to analyze his mistakes and how to go forward.

“Thank you sir but I think it’s best if I don’t get distacted”

“That’s not an offer, Obito” Fugako cleared. Well that sounded everything but a command.

Mikoto welcomed them like her usual but Obito could see her worries. The news flashed fast.

“Can you stop looking at me like I’m the one needing help?” Obito asked “the news surely fly fast” the bitter in his voice was high.

“You’re wrong, Obito. Every shinobi felt the bijuu’s chakra. Minato told us Kakashi’s doing but every shinobi was on high alert” Fugako walked past him driving that bitterness away.

“Let’s try to eat, Obito. Worrying like this won’t make things better” Mikoto gently patted his shoulder. But Obito wasn’t in the mood. He was supposed to have dinner with Rin but hunger seemed to vanish. The sight of Kakashi in Itachi’s lap was haunting him and the fact that Kakashi reached that point of harming himself was a sight he thought he’d never see, especially considering Sakumo’s fate.

“Obito?” Mikoto grabbed his attention, worry painted on her face.

“I’m sorry, Mikoto-san. I…am nit hungry” he told her putting his chopsticks down “I can’t stop thinking. Ever since Kakashi came back he’s been acting differently. I thought it was because he was scared to be attacked. I should have seen it, I should have expected something was off. I was so focused on showing the village and things that changed that I didn’t see his struggles”

Mikoto put her chopsticks down “Obito, you can’t blame yourself. You did what you thought was right. My guess is that, he’s not really scared of people around him but he’s feeling left out”

“But he’s not! I was doing everything to include him in daily activities! I’ve shown him a typing machine, Rin showed him machines for body scans and Hikari showed him the academy!” Obito protested.

“That’s what makes him feel left out” Fugako joined the conversation “These things are nothing to those that saw them when they were invented. But for someone that had been forced out and survived on his own, these things are just the proof everything moved without waiting for him. You and your friends found your callings and have surrounded yourself with new friends. For him it sounds like he’s the only one stuck somewhere in the further back” 

“Fugako’s right. For someone with the right mindset changes are good. They know the world will change regardless of what they do. But for Kakashi it’s different. He never chose this outcome. Everyone was choosing for him and he couldn’t do anything but accept it. It cannot be explained that easily. Kakashi isn’t someone that would ask for help or show his emotions. He had to adapt to the world in which he was alone”

“But he’t not anymore!” Obito snapped “Why can’t he see that?!”

“You can’t expect him to believe that. A month of friendship and presence can’t erase years of distrust and pain. People believe that their lying causes the person to trust less those that lied. That is not true. One lie from anyone can cause people to lose trust in everyone else, including the world itself. Someone hurt him so bad that he lost years of built trust and friendship. Obit, you can’t expect Kakashi to be happy to be back just because you all are” Mikoto smiled gently at him.

“So what do I do?” Obito asked clenching his fists.

“You let that anger go. Kakashi doesn’t need it. You let time pass and be there with him, make sure you’re not battling his battles but you’re there to fight with him. He doesn’t need your protection or willingless to fight for him, he needs to be sure ypou’re there when he fights alone. You don’t ask why but you make sure he gets up. It mioght take too much, it might take a little bit. But you’re there. That’s the cure. He’ll survive the days. You’ll see him float like a rabif ghost thought the weeks. You’ll hear him cry and wallow and lament and scratch his way back up through the months. But you be there. And then, one day, you’ll find him alone sat under the sun. That’s when you both realise you’re okay, you’re safe and still alive. The quesrion isn’t whether he will be okay or not, the question is what you’re williung to do. Are you sure you’re ready to support him no matter what?” 

“Of course!” Obito got up nearly offended by the question “I love him! I won’t lose him again!”

“That’s why your sharingan manifested” Fugako smiled “I don’t doubt you can help him. Being loved deeply by someone gives them strength. Loving someone so deeply gives you courage”

“That’s true. You have the courage needed to give himstrenght to fight his battles. As long as that bond exist, you’ll an unstoppable duo”

“You’re talking like he likes me” Obito sat down blushing.

“I thought it was obvious. The way he looks at you gives it away. Despite everything he’s looking at you like you can actually pull him to the shore. He’s like a cat toward you. He might not fully show it but he has a bond with you that cannot be broken. The fact that he came to save you despite being on the run, despite knowing he could be sensed by enemies. He saved your students but he was there for you. He came back because you asked him to. He knew people might have not accepted him but he followed you. In fact you two look like teenagers in love”

“We are not!” Obito suddenly started eating, making the family burst into a laugh.

Kakashi was dismissed a few days later. His chakra had finally came back and Kurama had managed to heal his wounds. But the scolding he got from all five bijuu was beyond the type pof scolding he received from his father when he was a kid. He didn’t expect the bijuu to be so parental. They were beyond pissed. But when he reached home sensing chakra inside, his guard went immediately up, his kunai in hand. Carefully he opened the door spiking his chakra immediately warning the person inside of his own presence.

“Kakashi! I was getting worried!” Obito peeked from the kitchen leaving the Hatake dumbfounded 

“Obito? What are you doing here?” he asked wary but lowering his kunai.

“Well, I am cooking lunch. Rin gave me your diet so I’m cooking”

“Since when?” Kakashi asked lowering his kunai and retrieving his chakra.

“Well I was living alone. I couldn’t eat Ichiraku ramen forever!” the Uchiha proudly claimed “go wash your hands. Here is ready”

Kakashi put his kunai away walking to the bathroom to clean his hands and face. 

“Why are there boxes around?” Kakashi asked walking back into the kitchen. Obito turned around but he nearky dropped the plates in his hands blushing at the sight of Kakshi’s face.

“Obito?” Kakashi snapped him out of his trance. When the Hatake became so attractive?

“I’m moving in with you” Obito put the plates down. Kakashi raised an eyebrow “Because I want to take care of you”

“I’m pretty sure I can take care of myself” Kakashi took his chopsticks “I don’t need help around”

“I’m not talking about taking care of your house, Kakashi” Obit looked at him dead serious “I’m here to take care of you. You’re struggling and I’m here to make sure you are well taken care of. So this way, next time you fall I’ll be here to support you. I’ll make sure you’re wounds are all healed up before you get back up”

Kakashi looked at him in surprise without uttering a word.

“I know you don’t need me to fight for you, not these battles you’re fighting right now. But ill be there to give you support”

“Obito” Kakashi whispered

“I didn’t know the Uchiha could be so romantic” Kurama laughed

“I’m pretty sure you’re wrong, Kurama. It’s not a declaration of love, friends do that” Kakashi turned around to face Kurama. Obito’s words were like a punch in the guts.

“Oh no. Kurama’s totally right” Obito nodded with a fierce determination “it is a declaration of love”

Kakashi’s face was everything Kurama and the others needed to burst into laughter.

The hatake looked at his plate. He didn’t expect that and while he loved Obito as well he didn’t want to give him false hope, he didn’t want to bury the Uchiha as well. Seemed Obito understood.

“Look Kakashi, I’m not going to force myself on your feelings. I know you’re struggles. I know you feel like you can’t trust anyone, not even yourself, I know you’re scared and in too much pain. I don’t want you to actually have feelings for me, I want first for you to understand your own feelings, work with them and get rid of all the pain you have inside. When that will be all settled down, you’ll find your own feelings for others. I just wanted to be honest with you so there won’t be any weird moments between us”

“I think you caused them right away” Kakashi looked at him “but you’re right. I know already my feelings toward you but…I’m nt ready to get into this. There are things I cannot promise you and I…” he stopped pondering about his words “I need to make sure I can acyally commit into this”

“That’s okay!” Obito smiled widely “I’ll be here regardless!”

“Thanks” Kakashi smiled in return taking a bit of the fish, freezing on the spot. Obito did the same. Not really wanting to upset Obito, Kakashi gulped the little piece of it.

“How did you do it?!” Obito asked “This is disgusting!”

“I mean…It can be…

“I mean…It can be…” Kakashi started before sighing “It is indeed”

“food pills?” Obito asked as Kakashi bursted into laughter. 

The piece turned into immediate tension when Kakashi flared his chakra turning to face the window. Shisui’s chakra flared in response. Look, everyone was still extremely weary of a jinchuuriki wielding five of them.

“Shisui!” Obito recognized the chakra waving to Kakashi to relax “Don’t worry, hes Shisui Uchiha. You didn’t meet him yet. We worked together with Itachi”

“Itachi?” Kakashi asked confused.

“Itachi is the firstborn of Fugako. He’s Sasuke’s older brother”

“I see” Kakashi retrieved his chakra “can I help you, shisui?” he asked 

“The Hokage summoned you two” Shisui retrieved his chakra as well “you might go there immediately”

“Thanks Shisui, we’re on the way”

“Captain…you shouldn’t use my name when I’m working” Shisui warned

“But Kakashi is a friend, he gets to know those around him” Obito pointed out watching Kakashi take a food pill and offer him one as well. Gladly accepted. Dinner seemed something they had to work on.