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13 - The One Where She Finally Understands

Adorable fanart that doesn't really have anything to do with the chapter, but I thought it showed good friendship, which does relate to the chapter. Thank you.

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Naruto was awoken from her peaceful sleeping by talking coming from her father atop the rock that they had camped out next to. She decided not to alert them she was awake, just listen. Though, since she had decided to sleep facing away from everyone else, she couldn't turn around and see who was up there with him.

"Kakashi is the son of the genius ninja, Sakumo Hatake, feared as the 'White Fang' of the Leaf. Even the legendary names of the Leaf's Three Great Ninja paled before his father's. His childhood years were spent under the shadow of such a genius So I guess it can't be helped if, at times, he finds you lacking." Minato explained to whoever was up there with him. Judging by how he was talking, it probably wasn't Kakashi he was talking to.

"White Fang? That's right I've heard of him too. He's the hero who died protecting the village. Kakashi never said a word about that." She knew who it was now that he had spoken. Obito was sitting on the rock with Minato as he told the details of their teammate's life.

"He was a great man Someone respected by everyone in the village, and naturally, by Kakashi himself. That is, until that incident. Perhaps, I shouldn't be telling you something like this But since you're on the same team as Kakashi, I want you to know." Naruto could almost see the look of hesitation on his face as he spoke. She knew he didn't like talking about other people unless absolutely necessary, so this must be important.

"What happened?"

"Kakashi's father, Sakumo, took his own life after being slandered."

She heard the gasp that escaped her teammate's mouth as he absorbed the information. She knew exactly how he felt. She could barely keep in the audible exhibit of shock as she laid on the ground.

"Five years ago, he was the leader of an extremely difficult mission and infiltrated enemy territory. He was forced to make a choice. The mission or his comrades' lives. Of course, according to the rules of the village, completing the mission was the right thing to do. However, in order to save his comrades, he suspended the mission. That resulted in grave losses to the Land of Fire and the village, and he was blamed for it. What's more, the very comrades he saved also criticized him. The whole ordeal took its toll on Sakumo's health, physically and mentally. And finally, he took his life. From then on, Kakashi never uttered a word about his father, and he strictly began to adhere to every rule and regulation."

He paused shortly, and she couldn't tell if it was just to take a breath or because of some other reason, but he continued soon after.

"Obito Try to understand, even if it's just a little. Kakashi means well."

Obito let out a simple grunt of affirmation before she heard him scurrying down the rock. She quickly made sure her eyes were closed and she looked like she had been asleep the whole time before she was actually stolen away by a dreamless sleep.

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"It's healing very nicely, but make sure you don't overexert yourself and reopen the wound," Rin told Kakashi as she checked his wound as if telling him that would stop him from doing it anyway. He had taken off his mask so Rin could look at the injury, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't get a good look at his face.

"Yeah," He mumbled, not really paying attention to what she was saying. Too distracted with his own thoughts.

After everyone had packed up all their belongings, Kakashi deciding it was best if Minato took his gift for now since he wasn't even allowed to open it yet. It made Naruto a little sad that he was willing to just leave her gift with someone else, but she understood that in the end, he made the smarter choice.

As they reached the border Minato stopped them.

"We'll be splitting up here. Good luck to you all, and be careful. We're in enemy territory now. Scatter." They all jumped into the trees, their sensei going in the opposite direction they were to head in.

The team quickly made their way through the tall bamboo chutes, stopping every once in a while to take a breather and sometimes refill on water from the nearby stream.

As they went to cross a larger portion of the stream-turned-river, Naruto felt a faint chakra signature she didn't recognize. Before she could warn her team they were being attacked by an unknown figure, invisible to the eyes.

"We're taking this one." A voice called out as Rin was lifted up and carried away.

Obito began chasing after the men, only to be stopped in his tracks by Kakashi.

"Don't go after them, Obito. We still have a mission to complete." He ordered, shocking both the remaining members of his team. Naruto knew he had been pretty heartless and stubborn, but this was too far.

"Do you even know what you're saying right now?" She practically yelled at him.

"Yeah, what about Rin? What happens to Rin?" Obito copied her tone, hoping they could convince him to go with them to get her.

"Rin comes after the mission. They just want to know what we're doing here. They won't kill her right away. Also, Rin is a medical ninja. Even if she ends up a prisoner of war she won't be treated too bad as long as she treats their wounded." He explained to them as if that would convince them to leave their friend behind, possibly, to be killed, despite what Kakashi said.

"But-" Kakashi cut Obito off before he could continue.

"If they get that information they will most definitely beef up security around the bridge, making our mission that much more difficult." He added. Naruto hated how logical he sounded at the moment, but not for a moment did the thought of abandoning Rin ever cross her mind.

"You're assuming Rin's safety under baseless assumptions! What if those guys just now are lackeys who don't give a damn? Right now, saving Rin takes priority over the mission." Obito stated, matter-of-factly.

"As a ninja, you must always be prepared to sacrifice teammates for the greater good of the mission. That is the rule." Kakashi argued.

Naruto's head began to spin as she listened to them argue. She had no idea what to do. Minato or Rin always handled arguments before she had to step in and attempt to stop them. She tried to remember what they had done but drew a blank. She remembered how Sakura had always hit him and Sasuke when they fought during the war, and how Kakashi would always just awkwardly try to stop them by timidly asking them to be quiet. She was pulled out of her thoughts by Obito who was speaking in a voice she had never heard from him before.

"I'm going to rescue Rin! You don't understand anything! Not about what happens if you break the rules I believe that the White Fang was a true hero Sure in the world of ninja, those who break the rules and regulations are regarded as scum But those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum! I'm gonna be trash anyway, so I choose to break the rules." Naruto froze when she heard him say that sentence. The sentence she didn't think she would ever hear again. She knew then just why Kakashi had drilled that lesson into their heads the first time they met up as a team. "And if that doesn't make me a true ninja Then I'll crush this so-called 'ninja'."

Obito jumped into the tall bamboo before turning around.

"Are you coming with me or staying with him, Naruto?"

Before she could even think about what she was doing, she sent Kakashi an apologetic glance.

"I have to. She's my friend, and she's yours too. You should come, but even if you don't we will get Rin back, safe and sound. Okay?" She tried to sound cheerful as if this was all part of some well thought out plan, rather than a coup. Without thinking, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek before heading out with Obito, leaving behind a flustered Kakashi. Though he would never admit it.

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Word Count: 1433

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