Chronicles: Kakashi Hatake

Chapter 2: life with obito

Eventually, Kakashi was assigned to join a team alongside Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara under Minato Namikaze's command. They were given a final test to earn their full genin status; take one of two bells from Minato. As Kakashi realised that meant at least one of the three would fail, the young ninja each began to fight by themselves. Quickly being overwhelmed by the sensei's much greater skill, Kakashi came to the conclusion that only together could they even hope to defeat Minato. Kakashi managed to get Rin and Obito to work together with him, ultimately allowing Kakashi to get one of the bells. Seeing the team succeeded in the true goal of the test — team-work — Kakashi and his classmates officially became Minato's students.[23] During his time as Minato's student, Kakashi and his fellow students became well-acquainted with Minato's wife, Kushina Uzumaki. Growing fond of the young trio, Kushina would regularly help with their training, most noticeably bringing them homemade food for them.[24] At age 6, Kakashi became a chūnin after facing and defeating Might Guy during the third stage of the Chūnin Exams.[25]

Soon after becoming a jōnin at age 12, Kakashi was assigned to lead his team-mates Obito and Rin on a mission that would benefit Konoha in the ongoing Third Shinobi World War. They were to destroy Kannabi Bridge, which was being used by Iwagakure forces to move into Kusagakure. This would also be Konoha's first huge offensive move in the war. On their way to the bridge, Rin was kidnapped by two Iwagakure ninja named Kakkō and Taiseki. Obito immediately suggested that they rescue her, but Kakashi disagreed on the basis that they needed to complete their mission, opting not to make the same mistake his father did in his mission.[26]

Kakashi Chidori
Kakashi using Chidori to engage his enemy.
Obito would not hear of it and stubbornly left to save Rin, but not before mentioning that he believed Kakashi's father, the White Fang, was a true hero. Shortly after parting ways, Kakashi reflected on Obito's words and Rin's prior kindness. He realised that his father was not wrong after all, which prompted him to join Obito in the rescue effort. Kakashi arrived in time to save Obito from Taiseki. Despite the two-to-one disadvantage, the more experienced Taiseki was able to attack and injure Kakashi, who took the blow that was intended for Obito, giving him a permanent scar while also ruining Kakashi's left eye to such an extent that Kakashi was left with only one good eye for the duration of the mission.[27]

Kakashi White Light Chakra Sabre
Kakashi saving Obito from Taiseki.
Obito's will to protect his comrades caused his Sharingan to awaken which in turn helped kill Taiseki. After finding Rin and defeating Kakkō with Obito's help, Kakashi freed Rin from the genjutsu before their opponent attempted to trap them in a cave-in. While trying to escape, Kakashi was hit by a rock, which he didn't notice because of his bandaged eye, causing him to fall. Obito pushed Kakashi out of the path of a huge falling boulder, getting himself crushed instead. This resulted in the right side of Obito's body being crushed beyond repair.

Knowing he was dying, Obito requested his Sharingan be a belated present to Kakashi and instructed Rin to implant his left Sharingan into Kakashi's lost eye. Rin complied, and as soon as the surgery was completed Kakashi used his new Sharingan to perfect his Chidori and kill Kakkō. He then returned to Obito to see if there was anything he could do for him, but alongside Rin was forced to leave him. With the help of Minato, they ultimately completed their mission, allowing them to mourn Obito's apparent death.[28]