"Cheers to Obito's successful eye awakening!"
Three large cups of freshly squeezed fruit juice clinked together in a crisp sound. The private room was filled with a warm, cheerful atmosphere.
"Ahhh~"
Obito drained his cup in one go, letting out a satisfied sigh as he wiped his mouth. "This is the taste of victory!"
Lin tilted her head curiously and looked around the room. "But why did we rent a private room? Wouldn't it be better—and cheaper—if we just sat in the main hall?"
Kakashi, sitting calmly across the table, picked up a piece of grilled meat and gently placed it into Lin's bowl. "Because this room has a soundproofing barrier."
"Thank you~" Lin blushed slightly as she looked down at her bowl, her face tinged with pink.
Seeing this, Obito immediately picked up another pair of tongs and reached toward the grill. "Hey! If Kakashi can do it, so can I!" He grabbed a half-cooked piece of meat and dropped it into Lin's bowl with an eager grin.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "The meat's not even done yet."
Lin quickly reached over and confiscated the tongs from both of them. "Alright, alright! Both of you stop fighting. I'll do the grilling. Now Kakashi, go on—what's with the soundproofing?"
The grill sizzled as fat from the pork belly dripped onto the charcoal. The aroma of well-marinated meat wafted through the room, mouthwatering and irresistible.
"We'll eat first," Kakashi said, avoiding the question. "I'll tell you once everyone's full."
Obito pouted but quickly shifted his focus to the feast before him. Lin also turned her attention to the grill, diligently flipping the meat.
The three chatted and laughed between bites. At Lin's playful urging, Obito even sang a few off-key songs. Though he lacked any actual skill, his performance was full of passion and energy. Kakashi couldn't help but roll his eyes, but Lin clapped enthusiastically and cheered him on. The joy in the room was infectious, and for a while, everything felt light and carefree.
Obito's face turned red—not just from the juice but from the excitement of performing. He sang louder, more confidently, soaking in the warm encouragement from Lin.
About forty minutes later, after seeing that Lin and Obito had both eaten their fill, Kakashi's expression turned serious. He formed a few quick hand seals.
"Ninja Art: Soundproof Wall."
A transparent, hemispherical barrier formed around them, invisible to the untrained eye but unmistakably there. It encased the trio, blocking out all outside sound.
Obito blinked. "Eh? What's with the barrier?"
Kakashi ignored the question. "Obito, let me ask you something. What's your dream?"
Obito sat up straighter, caught off guard. "My dream? That's easy! I want to become Hokage, of course! Why do you ask all of a sudden?"
Kakashi turned to Lin. "And what about you, Lin? What's your dream?"
Lin was equally surprised. "Me?" She paused, then smiled softly. "My dream is really simple. I just want to see you and Obito achieve your goals. And more than anything... I hope we'll never have to experience war again."
Kakashi looked at her in silence.
Lin, your dream is the most complicated of all.
"What about you, Kakashi?" Lin asked, her eyes shining with curiosity. "What's your dream?"
Obito leaned in, also eager to hear the answer.
Kakashi thought for a moment. "My dream? I just want to live an ordinary life. I'd like to become a regular ninja, settle down with a gentle and lovely wife—someone like Lin—and live in peace."
"Huh?"
Lin's face turned crimson as she lowered her head, visibly flustered.
Obito's mouth opened wide. "Ka–Kakashi, you—"
But Kakashi didn't let him finish. His tone shifted again, becoming firm. "Obito, Lin... I have something very important to tell you. It's so serious that if word of this gets out—especially to certain higher-ups in the village—things could get dangerous."
Both Lin and Obito straightened up, their smiles replaced by solemn expressions.
"You're scaring me a little," Lin said, frowning. "But if it's that important, go ahead. We'll keep your secret."
Obito nodded. "Yeah. You can trust us."
Kakashi looked Obito in the eyes. "Obito, how much do you know about the Uchiha clan?"
Obito blinked. "Huh? Isn't it obvious? I am from the Uchiha clan. Why would you ask that?"
Kakashi didn't react. "Then do you know the true limit of the Sharingan?"
Obito puffed out his chest. "Of course. The Sharingan has three tomoe. Any clan member who awakens all three tomoe will definitely reach Jōnin-level strength. That's why the Uchiha are the strongest clan in the village!"
Kakashi shook his head. "You're not wrong... but that's only part of the story. The real power of the Uchiha goes beyond the three tomoe. There's something above it—something far more powerful."
"Above three tomoe?" Obito's voice cracked a little. "What could that be?"
"Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Ma–Mangekyō?" Obito echoed, stunned. He'd never heard the term before.
Kakashi nodded. "Yes. What I'm about to tell you is classified information—one of the village's most tightly guarded secrets. Once you hear it, you must keep it to yourselves."
Lin and Obito nodded gravely.
"The Uchiha clan is known for its powerful dojutsu, but that power comes at a cost. The clan's bloodline gives you extremely sensitive and intense emotions. This makes you more prone to forming deep emotional bonds."
"Which also means," Kakashi continued, "when those bonds are broken—when you suffer loss or betrayal—the trauma can awaken your Sharingan through intense negative emotions."
Obito frowned. "Wait... so the Sharingan is awakened by pain?"
Kakashi nodded. "Exactly. And here lies the problem: the more consumed an Uchiha is by hatred and grief, the stronger the Sharingan becomes. If that hatred deepens enough, it can evolve into the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"But why haven't I heard of it from the clan?" Obito asked, visibly confused.
"Because it's a forbidden topic," Kakashi explained. "This leads us back to the village's origins."
"In the past, there were no Hidden Villages—just warring clans. The two most powerful were the Uchiha and the Senju, eternal enemies. But from those two clans, two extraordinary individuals emerged—Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama."
"They met as children and became close friends, sharing a dream of peace. When they became adults, they set aside their feud and built the very village we live in now—Konoha."
"Wait... Uchiha Madara?" Obito muttered. "That name sounds familiar…"
Kakashi continued, "Madara was once the head of the Uchiha clan and one of the few who ever awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. During the war between the Uchiha and the Senju, he lost many of his loved ones—his father, and several brothers. Eventually, only one brother, Izuna, remained."
"But even Izuna was killed—by Hashirama's younger brother, Tobirama, who would later become the Second Hokage."
Lin gasped softly, and Obito's jaw dropped.
"Before his death, Izuna gave his Mangekyō eyes to Madara so he could protect the Uchiha. That's how Madara unlocked the final form of the Sharingan—the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
Kakashi paused to take a sip of water before continuing.
"The Mangekyō grants powerful abilities, but it has a major flaw. Each time the user activates its techniques, their eyesight deteriorates. Eventually, they go blind."
Obito swallowed hard. "Then what's the point of unlocking it if you're going to go blind?"
"There's one way to overcome the drawback," Kakashi said. "If another Uchiha with Mangekyō is related to you by blood, you can transplant their eyes into your own body. Doing so will restore your vision—and grant you an evolved form of the Mangekyō with no risk of blindness."
"That version is called the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. It's the most powerful form of the Uchiha's dojutsu, and its abilities are nearly unmatched."
The room fell into silence.
Obito and Lin both stared at Kakashi, stunned.
After a long pause, Obito finally spoke. "So… if this is true, then the Uchiha's strength isn't just pride—it's also tragedy."
Kakashi nodded. "Exactly. Great power always comes at a price. And for the Uchiha, that price is often unbearable."
Lin hugged her arms, suddenly feeling a chill.
Obito lowered his head. "Why would the village hide something this important? Isn't it better to prepare the clan than to bury the truth?"
"Because," Kakashi said quietly, "knowledge of this power can lead to dangerous choices. Desperate people might push others into tragedy just to awaken it. That's a risk the village can't afford."
Obito clenched his fists. "That's awful…"
Kakashi looked at them both. "I told you this because I trust you. What you do with this knowledge is up to you—but remember, power fueled by pain can easily consume you."
Lin nodded slowly. "Thank you, Kakashi. We'll keep your secret. And more than that... we'll be careful."
Obito looked up, eyes burning with a mix of confusion, anger, and determination.
Mangekyō Sharingan...
The name burned itself into his heart.
And thus, a heavy truth settled over the trio. The meat on the grill continued to sizzle, but none of them reached for it.
A different kind of fire now burned in the room.