Only his preparedness saved him from the blow. Three mokuton walls forced their way between them, slowing Kakashi's momentum enough for Yamato to break away and flicker right; coming around behind the Jounin's back and striking hard with the block forming in his hands.

Yamato rolled away with the force of the hit and back up to his feet, panting for breath.

"There was no other way! I couldn't go to you, I was a reminder of everything you wanted to forget and everyone else was dead! So I found out on my own and stayed away, just like you wanted!"

That message had been loud and clear. Yamato hadn't been what Kakashi had been looking for to comfort him and the thought of being a grim spectre of that mission, the thought of going to his Senpai and then being rejected or ignored, had been too much to bear.