Uchiha Hikaru suddenly cut off Obito's dramatic speech and started mocking him.
"If I remember correctly, there's a bloodline ninjutsu in the Land of Grass called Dragon Life Reincarnation. It can revive someone at the cost of the user's life."
"With your Mangekyō Sharingan's ability to manipulate perception through genjutsu, wouldn't it be easy to control someone into using it to bring Rin back?"
"Instead of doing all this, trying to reshape the shinobi world… why not just bring Rin back and live in peace with her somewhere secluded?"
"Could it be that you're the one who actually liked Rin? Kakashi, what do you think? You were on the same team with them—you should know, right?"
Now the pressure was squarely on Kakashi.
He had just regained his composure, but Uchiha Hikaru's sudden question left him stunned.
Kakashi lowered his head and avoided Hikaru's gaze.
"…I'm not sure."
"Rin was always gentle and kind, with the same warmth as Minato-sensei…"
"I don't know if Rin liked Obito or not."
His voice wavered. He glanced at Obito.
But the truth was—how could Kakashi, a Jonin at twelve, not have noticed Rin's feelings?
Rin had always liked him.
But back then, Kakashi was entirely consumed by his obsession with duty. Romance had no place in his world. Only after Obito's supposed death did he begin to recognize Rin's affection—and slowly, they grew closer. Their relationship blossomed… but it was short-lived. Rin ultimately chose to die for Konoha, and she did so by Kakashi's own hand.
That grief—losing a teammate and the girl he loved—had buried Kakashi for years. Every time he looked at his right hand, all he saw was blood.
And now, with Hikaru raising that painful question, Kakashi had no idea how to respond. Obito clearly didn't know about Kakashi and Rin being together after his disappearance. If he said it now, wouldn't that drive Obito over the edge?
Uchiha Hikaru listened to Kakashi's evasive reply and muttered inwardly:
Seriously, Kakashi… You spend all day reading smutty novels, and you expect me to believe you never realized Rin liked you?
Just say something nice and crush Obito already.
Hikaru sighed. He'd have to rely on his own legendary charisma to finish the job.
Just as he prepared to speak, Obito beat him to it.
"Uchiha Hikaru! What the hell do you know about Rin!? What gives you the right to judge my relationship with her!?"
"Kakashi! You used to look down on your comrades, but now you pretend to have changed!"
"I'm not like you! I could always feel Rin's eyes on me! Even when I was late, you never believed me—but Rin did!"
"She always smiled at me—warmly. She believed in me. She comforted me when I was down. If she didn't like me, why would she care about me like that?!"
"The one Rin loved… was me!"
Obito's voice cracked with emotion. He genuinely believed it. He wanted to believe it.
But Kakashi looked at Obito's spiraling emotions and knew—if he stayed silent, it would be as if Rin's feelings for him had never existed. Would that make him the third party in her life?
After listening, Uchiha Hikaru thought to himself, Yep, there it is. Textbook delusion. The classic "she must like me" speech.
Time to bring in the life mentor.
He rolled up his sleeves, ready to break Obito's spirit with pure verbal warfare—
"Obito, I'm sorry," Kakashi said suddenly, his voice hoarse. "But Rin liked me."
Hikaru froze mid-motion, eyes wide.
Did Kakashi just steal his line?!
His jaw dropped.
His expression could only be described as "eyes as wide as dinner plates."
"What did you just say!?" Obito screamed, his voice cracking with disbelief. "Kakashi! That's impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Uchiha Hikaru slowly unrolled his sleeves and leaned against the wall, defeated.
Of course, Hikaru didn't know what the rest of us did—that Rin and Kakashi had indeed gotten together after Obito's disappearance.
That wasn't in the original canon. So all Hikaru saw was two men unknowingly quarreling over a dead woman's affections.
Kakashi's face grew serious. He raised his head and met Obito's eyes.
"Obito… I take back what I said earlier. I'm sorry for lying to you."
Obito's face lit up with a smug smirk.
"Hah! I didn't expect you, Kakashi, to become a liar… But it's pointless! I know Rin better than anyone!"
But Kakashi's expression remained solemn.
"No, Obito. I always knew. Rin… liked me."
"In the past, I refused to face her feelings. I avoided them."
"But after the Kannabi Bridge… after you changed me—I started to face the truth. You asked me to protect Rin."
"And I did. I tried. She and I… we grew closer. We were together."
"I'm sorry, Obito. I still couldn't save her."
"I—"
"Shut up!!!"
Obito's chakra exploded in a violent surge, and the artificial cells in his body burst through the skin, tearing the fabric on his right shoulder.
"You… Kakashi… you bastard. You were a liar before, and now you're just a disgusting hypocrite."
His eyes radiated fury, and the killing intent around him became suffocating.
He glared at Kakashi as if looking at a stranger. His original intention had been to convince Kakashi to join him in creating the Infinite Tsukuyomi. But now? This Kakashi wasn't worthy.
Blinded by rage, Obito considered fleeing—he couldn't win, not with Uchiha Hikaru still blocking space-time.
Kakashi remained silent, even as Obito vented. He knew Obito wouldn't listen to reason. He never had. But at least… he'd spoken the truth.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Hikaru leaned against the wall with arms crossed, pleased with Kakashi's performance.
Well played. Now it's my turn again.
He cleared his throat.
"So that's how it is, Kakashi. I always did think it was strange that Rin might like Obito. But now that you've explained it, it makes perfect sense."
"I mean, let's be real—back then, you were stronger and better looking. Obito wore those stupid goggles all the time."
Hikaru turned to Obito, who was trembling with rage.
"Obito, even you admitted Kakashi was cooler and more talented than you. Isn't it natural for Rin to like him?"
"As her teammate, you should've supported her choice instead of acting like some lovesick puppy."
"Oh, I get it now… You were afraid."
"You didn't dare revive Rin because you were scared she'd choose Kakashi."
"You couldn't handle that, could you?"
He tilted his head and smirked.
"Uchiha Obito, broken-hearted and broken-spirited. You've got that 'mysterious edgy rival' energy going for you."
"Uchiha Obito's mental defense has shattered. Hashirama Cell activity has increased. Pupil power +10%."
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