A figure appeared above Hokage Rock in an instant. Silver-white hair swayed gently in the evening breeze, and the newcomer's landing carried a clear sense of urgency.
He dropped to one knee without raising his head, forehead lowered, eyes fixed on the patterns in the rock surface. His breathing was rapid and uneven.
"Senior Tianyi—Clan Head Fugaku—I... I..."
Tianyi raised a hand to interrupt him. His gaze remained on the lights gradually flickering on throughout Konoha below, his voice calm, as though he had expected this moment all along.
"Kakashi, I know why you've come."
He paused, his pace of speech unchanged. "But just because he's your close friend, I'm supposed to spare his life?"
"You think too highly of yourself, Kakashi."
Kakashi remained kneeling where he was, not rising. He lowered his head even further, nearly touching the rock.
His lips trembled slightly. He bit down hard on his lower lip, so hard that blood seeped from the corner of his mouth and slowly dripped down his chin, forming a small dark stain on the grayish-white rock.
Tianyi withdrew his gaze from the distant village.
He turned his head and glanced at Kakashi, a complicated emotion in his eyes. Shaking his head, he thought to himself.
So this is... a bond? But killing Obito now would be letting him off too easily. It would also leave a knot in Kakashi's heart.
He turned around and stared at Kakashi.
"I can spare his life for now. However, you will repay the crimes he committed, Kakashi."
Heh. You killed my people. I can't let you die that easily. You still haven't properly caught up with Rin.
Kakashi abruptly raised his head. The light in his eyes flared brightly in that instant, and the hope that had been extinguished was rekindled.
"Thank