Obito, the Traitor

"Wh-what!?"

Kakashi raised his head in astonishment, looking at Toki.

"News about Obito? But isn't Obito..."

Toki casually replied, hands behind his back,

"Uchiha Obito is alive."

Kakashi suddenly became excited,

"Really? Did you rescue him? Where is he now? Can I see him?"

Toki smirked, knowing Kakashi couldn't resist the temptation of seeing his best friend.

"Whether you agree to return the Sharingan or not depends on you. Although we Uchiha could enforce it, considering your contributions to Konoha, we won't make it difficult for you. However, the Sharingan is crucial for our Uchiha clan. You should understand, right?"

Kakashi, with a complicated expression, touched his left eye. Then he nodded firmly,

"Since Obito is alive, I naturally agree to return the Sharingan."

"That's good. Let's arrange it at the hospital. We've prepared replacement eyeballs for you, which won't affect your vision."

Kakashi looked surprised,

"Is there a rush?"

Toki nonchalantly replied,

"It's just a minor surgery. Why delay? Don't you want to know about Obito as soon as possible?"

After a brief hesitation, Kakashi nodded resolutely.

Soon, they hurried to the hospital. With the guards' arrangement, they swiftly replaced Kakashi's eye with a normal one before Hiruzen Sarutobi could react.

Toki's eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked at the Sharingan in the culture dish. This was one of the most powerful tools in the entire Naruto universe.

The Mangekyo Sharingan!

With this eye, Uchiha Obito would no longer pose a threat to the Uchiha clan.

"Uchiha Toki!"

The door slammed open, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, accompanied by ANBU, entered the room with a grim expression.

He glanced at the Sharingan in Toki's hand, his hand reaching out as if to snatch it.

But two Uchiha guards swiftly blocked it, aiming their weapons at Hiruzen's arm.

Clang!

The Uchiha guard clashed with the ANBU's weapon.

"Hand over the Sharingan!"

Hiruzen demanded, his face turning grim. This was his insurance key to control Naruto!

Toki calmly tucked the Sharingan into his pocket, sneering,

"Hokage, are you sure about what you just said? What does this mean? Are you openly trying to provoke a civil war by snatching the Uchiha clan's Sharingan?"

Hiruzen glared at Toki angrily,

"Kakashi is the Fourth's disciple, like my grandson. How dare you lay a hand on him?"

Toki retorted,

"Who laid a hand on him? I just reclaimed the Sharingan belonging to the Uchiha clan. Each ninja clan's kekkei genkai and secret techniques should be reclaimed by their respective clans. Do I need to teach you that?"

The Third Hokage argued,

"His eyes were voluntarily given by Obito, and Fugaku clan head also agreed!"

Toki scoffed,

"As a mere Genin, does Obito have the authority to promise Kakashi the Sharingan? Moreover, the current Obito has already betrayed us."

Kakashi exclaimed,

"What!?"

Shocked by this revelation, Kakashi stared at Toki.

"What did you just say!?"

Toki sighed at Kakashi's astonishment, marveling at how far the ninja world's technology had advanced. It was as easy as plugging in a USB to replace an eye.

Toki calmly told the bewildered Kakashi,

"The eyes have been reclaimed. I have no reason to lie to you. Obito saw you kill Rin with his own eyes on the battlefield in Kirigakure. That's why he defected. He's probably preparing to form a mercenary organization to retaliate against Konoha.

If you want to find Uchiha Obito, you can apply to join our defense department. You might have a chance to meet him then."

Though Kakashi's strength might have diminished after losing the Sharingan, without the burden of the Mangekyo Sharingan, his innate talent as a member of the Hatake clan could shine through. With proper development, he could at least reach the level of a Jonin. It was worth recruiting him.

Toki looked at Hiruzen and sneered,

"Fugaku Uchiha agreed. What concern is it of ours, the Uchiha clan? Am I not the clan head? The Sharingan is the Uchiha clan's kekkei genkai and will not be passed on. Also, I remember the Sharingan of Uchiha Kagami seems to have been lost. I hope the Hokage won't let me find out where those eyes are."

Hiruzen's face changed slightly, puzzled and suspicious of Toki's knowledge about Kagami Uchiha's Sharingan. However, Toki's expression remained indifferent as he continued to gaze at Hiruzen.

Hiruzen felt a chill in his heart, wondering where he had heard that line before. But realizing he couldn't gain any advantage now, he could only shake his head and leave the room.

Toki rolled his eyes, muttering,

"Coward."

Sitting desolately on the hospital bed, Kakashi suddenly spoke up to Toki,

"I want to join the defense department!"