Kakashi was ready for a final stand.
Qianyu and Minato Namikaze arrived.
Qianyu saw it—the Sharingan in Kakashi's left eye. He sighed inwardly.
Even though Kakashi was now more than twice as strong as he was in the original timeline, destiny had played out the same without his interference. Kakashi's eye was injured, replaced by Obito Uchiha's Sharingan.
For a moment, Qianyu thought the change might mean that eye would go to someone else—like that Takei Katsuhiko. But no. Without him stepping in, the future stubbornly refused to bend.
Sumashi, the Iwa nin whose shoulder Qianyu still gripped, began to tremble violently. "B-Blood-Eyed Asura… The Yellow Flash… You're supposed to be on the front lines!"
"Yeah, we were," Qianyu said flatly. "But those fifty Iwa nin you had there? Too weak. Didn't even last long enough to be fun." His fingers tightened. "So now, it's your turn."
A sharp crack. Sumashi's neck snapped.
Then—movement. Blurs of motion. Steel flashed. Bodies fell.
In under a minute, the clearing was silent. Qianyu stood before Kakashi.
Kakashi bowed his head. "I'm sorry, Qianyu-sensei…"
"Sorry for what?"
Kakashi pressed a hand over his left eye, his voice low and trembling. "I… was too weak."
"Then get stronger." Qianyu's tone was matter-of-fact, a teacher stating the obvious. "Know you're weak? Train harder. Kakashi, remember this: your actions are never about living up to others. Ask yourself—did you live up to you?"
Kakashi took a deep, shuddering breath. "Qianyu-sensei. I need to find Takei Katsuhiko. Bring him back."
Qianyu frowned. "Takei Katsuhiko? Who's—" He paused. "Oh. Right. Minato's guy."
Names of the unimportant never stuck.
Kakashi's hands clenched tight. "Yes. Him. He's the reason Obito got crushed. I told him to go apologize. And he—he said he never forced Obito to save him." Kakashi's whole body shook with the memory. "He begged for help. He begged. And then he—"
He saw his father, Sakumo. That subordinate pleading for rescue. Sakumo saving him. And the betrayal that followed.
Qianyu placed a hand on Kakashi's head. "Your chakra's nearly gone. Focus on rebuilding it. That eye you transplanted won't close. It'll drain you constantly. A permanent burden." His grip was firm, grounding. "I'll bring that Takei Katsuhiko to you. Stay here."
He vanished.
Kakashi slumped to the ground. Behind his eyelids, only Obito's final moments played on repeat.
Nearby, Minato listened as Rin recounted everything. He let out a weary sigh. "This is going to be trouble."
Qianyu found him quickly. Observation Haki made it trivial.
Takei Katsuhiko felt the blood freeze in his veins the moment he saw Qianyu. He knew exactly how deep his crimes ran. Leaking intel. Getting a comrade killed. Falling into the Blood-Eyed Asura's hands? There was no good end.
He had no chance to run, to plead, to even breathe.
Qianyu appeared before him. No words. Just a boot snapping toward his head.
THUD.
Darkness.
Qianyu returned, dumping the unconscious form at Kakashi's feet. The impact jolted Takei awake. He stared up, terror sealing his throat shut. Qianyu. Kakashi. His doom, made flesh.
Before Qianyu could speak, a yellow flash. Minato stood between them. "Qianyu. He is my subordinate. His disposition is my responsibility."
Qianyu didn't even glance his way, his eyes on Kakashi. "You're the team leader, Kakashi. He leaked intel. He got your teammate killed. Do with him as you see fit. Even if that means killing him. It's within your rights."
Minato's brow furrowed. "Qianyu! I will give Kakashi a full accounting for this!"
Qianyu tilted his head to look at Minato, his gaze cold. "Oh? You were the one who made Kakashi captain. That gives him authority over his team. You are overstepping."
Takei found his voice, tears streaming. "Minato-sensei! I was wrong! I admit it! Please, don't let them kill me! Please!"
Seeing he'd get nowhere with Qianyu, Minato turned to Kakashi, his expression earnest. "Kakashi—"
Kakashi stood up. His face was a mask, his single visible eye dull. "When the cave collapsed, this man begged us for help. I refused. The situation was too critical; saving him would have cost us our own chance. But Obito said he doesn't abandon comrades. He went anyway."
The words came out flat, each one a heavy stone dropped into silence.
"He freed him. Tried to pull him to safety. And this man?" Kakashi's voice gained an edge. "He shoved Obito to the ground. Ran for his own life. Later, Obito threw me to safety. Let the rocks crush him instead. I asked Obito… why? Why save someone like that? He could have gotten away if not for being pushed."
Kakashi took a step forward, his stare pinning Takei to the dirt. "You know what Obito said? He said he didn't regret it. Because he was a comrade." He finally looked at Minato. "Minato-sensei. Tell me. Is this a comrade?"
Minato's eyes flicked to the sobbing man at his feet, his expression conflicted.
Takei clutched at Minato's pants leg. "I was just scared! It wasn't on purpose! Minato-sensei, I'll accept any punishment! Any!"
"Kakashi," Minato said, his voice heavy. "Hand him over to me. I will ensure he faces the strictest judgment the rules allow."
Kakashi's next words were quiet, deadly. "You know, Minato? At first, I just wanted him to apologize to Obito. That might have been enough. I wasn't going to kill him. But then he told Obito it wasn't his fault. Said Obito chose to save him. That he never forced his hand." Kakashi's hands balled into fists. "He says it wasn't on purpose? He's right. It's worse. It's who he is. Selfish to the core. The kind who stabs his comrades in the back when it counts. Obito died for him. What a waste."
He took another step, his shadow falling over Minato. "You say you'll give him the strictest punishment. Tell me, Minato-sensei. Will that punishment be death?"
Minato's frown deepened.
Takei Katsuhiko's tears stopped. He stared at Kakashi, disbelief and raw horror dawning on his face.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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