Kakashi noticed, but he decided not to say anything. If Sensei wanted to mention it, he would. And as long as it didn't hamper their mission, there was no need to bring it up.

Rin noticed, too. She took Sensei aside and discussed the issue with him quietly. It was apparent he didn't really want to talk about it, but as team medic, it was Rin's responsibility to take care of such matters. And as a medic and a ninja, she knew all there was to know about discretion and confidentiality.

Obito noticed... something. At least he noticed that their squad leader didn't seem exactly himself.

"Hey, Sensei," Obito asked, "how come you're so crabby?"

Rin blushed a color almost as red as the clan marks on her cheeks.

Kakashi bit his lip under his mask to stop the snicker that threatened to burst out.

Their sensei looked even more uncomfortable and annoyed. He glared a silent 'Keep your bratty mouths shut,' at Rin, whom he knew knew, and Kakashi, whom he assumed knew. Then he turned his glittering cobalt gaze on Obito. Evaluating. Did he know? Was it one of the Uchiha boy's obnoxious comments turned on himself rather than his teammate? Or was it just a surprisingly, almost presciently apt way of phrasing his question?

"It's personal," he finally said, with an unmistakable finality. There would be no further discussion on this matter. Not with his students, anyway. A discussion with his sensei, who had arranged the fateful assignation with the infested 'date' - that was another matter...

END

1 of a series of 4 shorts on the subject of Yondaime and Illness, done for Bite the Hand That Feeds, who had been ill, by myself, Winter of Our Discontent, Hey Diddle Diddle, and Bitter Eloquence.

If you don't get it, you're probably too young, but look up the definition of crabs in the dictionary.

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