When Kakashi first received Obito's Sharingan, he had undeniably benefited from it.
With that eye, he perfected his newly created technique—Chidori.
With Chidori and the Sharingan's dynamic vision, he secured his place among jōnin and earned the right to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with veteran elites.
But as time passed, the cost became impossible to ignore.
Most of his chakra was constantly drained to sustain the Sharingan—an eye he couldn't even deactivate. His stamina declined. His growth slowed. Even his physical development stagnated.
This was one reason why the Uchiha, despite being a great dōjutsu clan like the Hyūga, didn't need something like the Caged Bird Seal to protect their eyes.
An ordinary person couldn't afford the chakra cost of a Sharingan.
A true genius wouldn't trade their own potential for an eye that only offered limited improvement.
That was why the ninja world had produced a "Byakugan Hunter" like Ao—but never a "Sharingan Hunter."
Kakashi had long realized the eye was limiting him.
But he had never once considered removing it.
Because it was Obito's dying gift.
Because it was his way of remembering him.
Now, however—
If Obito was alive…
And the eye was meant to be returned—
Then Kakashi had no attachment left.
As for Chidori without the Sharingan…
He hadn't figured that out yet.
But he trusted his talent. Losing one technique wouldn't end him.
"There's one more thing," Kakashi said, calmer now. "Can you tell me who that mysterious person targeting Obito was?"
Rin also looked at Jin expectantly.
She had been curious for a long time. But Jin had always avoided the topic.
Now that the man was dead—
Maybe he would finally speak.
Jin was silent for a moment.
Then he said it plainly.
"It was… Uchiha Madara."
"!!!"
Kakashi and Rin both froze.
Even decades later, the name carried weight.
The name of the "Asura of the Ninja World."
They had grown up hearing stories of the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju.
And if Hashirama represented overwhelming light—
Madara represented overwhelming terror.
But Kakashi quickly shook his head.
"That's impossible! Madara died at the hands of the First Hokage! There's no way he survived until now!"
"Nothing's impossible," Jin replied evenly. "Did you forget the technique I used to save Rin?"
Kakashi stiffened.
Izanagi.
If that was possible—
Then Madara surviving wasn't unthinkable.
Still, it was hard to swallow.
Rin, however, accepted it faster.
"If it was Madara… then it makes sense why you were so cautious, Jin-sensei."
In her mind, only someone like Madara could have forced Jin to act so carefully.
Jin nodded slightly.
"Madara was terrifying enough. And after fighting the First Hokage, he awakened even greater power."
"Back then, even I couldn't guarantee victory against him. Telling you would've only created unnecessary fear."
"Besides, Madara had an extremely secretive intelligence network. I didn't even tell Minato about this."
Jin's strength hadn't appeared overnight.
Years ago—even with Madara old and dying—Jin had not been certain he could win.
"Anyway," Jin concluded, "no matter how he survived, he's dead now. That chapter is closed."
Kakashi exhaled slowly.
He had been clinging to the question.
But Jin was right.
It no longer mattered.
"So," Kakashi asked, "do you want the eye now?"
"Not yet," Jin said. "Before that, I want to know what you plan to do after losing it."
"Madara may be gone—but a new storm is rising."
"If you stay stagnant, Minato and I are going to have a serious headache."
"A new storm?" Kakashi frowned. "You showed up out of nowhere. How am I supposed to have a life plan ready?"
Jin chuckled.
"I can offer two directions."
"First—Chidori doesn't have to remain a pure thrust technique. You can deepen and expand it."
"Second…"
"It's time you picked up your clan's blade techniques again."
Kakashi's expression darkened instantly.
The first suggestion was fine.
The second—
Hit a wound he had never healed.
Obito and Rin's "deaths" were his deepest scars.
But before them—
There had been his father.
Sakumo Hatake.
The White Fang.
His father's suicide had been Kakashi's first fracture.
The event that reshaped his values. His personality. His entire life.
After the White Fang's blade broke—
Kakashi had all but abandoned the Hatake clan's swordsmanship.
Partly because Chidori gave him a powerful offensive option.
But more truthfully—
Because of guilt.
Because of shame.
Because the blade reminded him of failure.
Yet the irony was brutal.
Chidori had been created to replicate a flawless, unstoppable White Fang blade.
And the Hatake sword style was the perfect system to unleash its full potential.
Without his emotional burden—
He never would have thrown away gold to clutch gravel.
Jin looked at him calmly.
"The strongest part of you isn't that eye."
"It never was."
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