Chapter 24

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"Nani!?"

Kakashi looked up at Toki with confusion. "News of Obito?"

Toki raised his hand and said calmly, "Uchiha Obito is not dead."

Kakashi's eyes widened. "Really?"

Toki smirked slightly, seeing how easily Kakashi was tempted by any news of his friend.

"Whether you agree to return the Sharingan or not, we Uchiha could force it if we wanted to. But in recognition of your service to Konoha, we don't want to make this difficult for you. However, the Sharingan is of great importance to the Uchiha clan. You understand that, don't you?"

Kakashi touched his left eye, his expression complicated. After a moment of silence, he nodded. "Since Obito is still alive, I will return the Sharingan."

"Good. In that case, let's head to the hospital and get it done. We've already prepared a replacement eye for you, so your vision won't be affected."

Kakashi looked at Toki in surprise. "Are we really doing this now?"

Toki shrugged, his tone casual. "It's a minor procedure, what's the delay? Don't you want to hear more about Obito as soon as possible?"

After a brief hesitation, Kakashi nodded firmly.

They headed to the hospital immediately. With arrangements already in place, and before Hiruzen Sarutobi could react, Kakashi's Sharingan was swiftly replaced with a regular eye.

Toki observed the Sharingan resting in the petri dish, a flicker of excitement crossing his face. This eye held the potential for Kamui—one of the most powerful abilities in the series. With this eye in his possession, Uchiha Obito would no longer be a threat to the Uchiha clan.

Suddenly, the door to the ward burst open with a loud bang.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, flanked by members of the ANBU, stormed in, his face twisted with anger.

His eyes locked onto the Sharingan in Toki's hand, and he moved to snatch it. But two Uchiha guards immediately blocked his path, their kunai clashing with the weapons of the ANBU.

"Hand over the Sharingan!" Hiruzen demanded, his voice thunderous. He glared at Toki. This Sharingan was crucial to his old methods of controlling Naruto!

Toki calmly placed the Sharingan into his robes, then laughed. "Patriarch Sarutobi, do you really want to go through with this? Are you sure you want to publicly rob the Uchiha clan of its bloodline? Are you aiming to start a civil war?"

Hiruzen, furious, shouted, "Kakashi is the Fourth Hokage's disciple, my own student. How dare you take action against him!"

Toki raised an eyebrow. "Who took action against him? I simply reclaimed the Sharingan, the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit. Each clan has the right to recover their own kekkei genkai. Do you really need me to remind you of that?"

Hiruzen retorted, "Obito willingly gave Kakashi that eye, and Uchiha Fugaku approved it!"

Toki sneered. "Obito was a mere genin. What right did he have to give away the Uchiha clan's Sharingan?"

"What!?" Kakashi, who was still adjusting to his new eye, looked at Toki in shock.

Toki continued, undeterred. "The eye has been reclaimed. I have no reason to lie to you. On the battlefield of the Hidden Mist, Obito saw you kill Rin with his own eyes. That's why he defected, and now, he's likely organizing a mercenary group to exact revenge on Konoha."

"If you wish to find Uchiha Obito, you can apply to join the Ministry of Defense. You might have a chance to encounter him there."

Though Kakashi had lost his Sharingan, Toki saw the potential for him to regain the strength of his father, the White Fang of Konoha, if he could cultivate his natural talents without relying on the eye. Kakashi was a valuable asset, and if he could be recruited, he would be a powerful ally.

Toki turned his gaze back to Hiruzen and sneered. "Fugaku agreed? Since when is he the Uchiha clan's patriarch? I am the patriarch, and I say the Sharingan belongs to the Uchiha. Furthermore, I recall that Uchiha Kagami's Sharingan went missing. I hope, Patriarch Sarutobi, you won't let me find out where those eyes ended up."

Hiruzen's face paled, a flicker of fear flashing across his eyes. Could it be that Toki had discovered the truth about Danzo's eye?

But Toki's expression remained impassive, merely watching Hiruzen with cold detachment.

The Third Hokage felt a tight knot in his chest as he let out an angry huff, shouting, "Toki, you will regret this!"

Toki laughed lightly. "Heh, I am the Uchiha patriarch."

Hiruzen felt a pang of familiarity at those words but couldn't place why. Defeated for now, he turned and stormed out of the ward, his ANBU following behind.

Toki watched him leave, muttering under his breath, "What a sore loser."

Sitting in his hospital bed, Kakashi stared out the window in disappointment before finally turning to Toki.

"I want to join the Ministry of Defense!"

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