Kakashi stood there staring after Tobi's mask was shattered and Obito's scarred features were revealed. How could Obito of all people done this? Why would he do this? Why would Obito who had loved Konoha and its inhabitants...?

Oh gods...

He'd gone to the candy store because Obito was late for their mission, and this was the first place he'd thought to look for the boy he didn't want to wait another minute for. Obito and the elderly man who owned and ran the small confectioner's came out of the back room. Obito's jacket was dirty and improperly fastened as it often was, and the boy looked rather sweaty as if he'd just recently had a long workout. The old man handed Obito a sizable bag of hard candy that had been sitting out on the counter.

"You can come back and stock my shelves anytime boy." the old man said with a smile as he put his hand on Obito's shoulder.

It probably could have been regarded as innocent if that had been the only incident...

He'd once again gone looking for Obito after he'd entirely failed to show for that day's training. As Obito came out of Orochimaru's house, the Sannin handed the boy a small cage that contained a pair of white mice.

"What's this?" Obito asked.

"Your reward for being such a...cooperative child." Orochimaru replied with a creepy smile as he put his hand on the boy's shoulder.

And, he'd been too wrapped up in his own issues to realize what had been happening back then, much less do anything about it. Because he hadn't helped the boy who had been willing to give his life to save him despite how poorly he'd treated him, this had happened...

Obito waited.

The look of shock that had been on Kakashi's face when he realized who he was made the pain of being Rasenganed in the face and the loss of his mask almost worth it. The shock turned to horror, and still he waited. Any second now, Kakashi would demand to know why he was doing this, and any second now he'd shove Kakashi's crime back in his face, Kakashi - who didn't deserve to be in the world he and Madara were creating - would know why he deserved to die, and would die knowing as he avenged Rin.

"I'm sorry Obito." Kakashi said when he finally found the words to speak. "I'm so sorry that I was so wrapped up in my own issues that I didn't even notice what was happening to you."

Well, that was...unexpected.

"If I'd known those men were molesting you..."

"Wait, WHAT?!"