October 31. Height of the Konoha clans' meeting.
Root of the Problem. Part III.
"... I have no Mangekyo Sharingan," Kakashi rasped, scorching Ichiro with his gaze, "and it wasn't there before! Only Three-Tomoe Sharingan. And that's it!
"You're mistaken, Kakashi-dono." The iryonin glanced at the clock, noting eight minutes passed, and still resolved to "cut" the truth live. "I'll explain, and importantly, demonstrate visually to all present where the error crept in! Hatake-dono, please show us your Sharingan." The white-haired shinobi boldly, without doubt, raised the Leaf armor plate—hitai-ate—and the clans' assembly beheld Three-Tomoe Sharingan. And as soon as it happened, the people were convinced (and all Uchiha grew upset at old Sarutobi's greed with his Konoha Shadow "Will of Fire"), of one working dojutsu—Sharingan, so ... the iryonin quickly took the matter in hand.
"Before us, at first glance," Ichiro began in a lecturing tone, "standard Three-Tomoe Sharingan! To confirm, we'll conduct a visual and primitive test. For the test subject—who wants to help and become it?" The iryonin scanned the assembly hall hopefully but met only "Talking Gazes" (Like you're an idiot ... you volunteered, so dance with the Kabuki tambourine yourself). "No volunteers? No problem ... then I'll be the test subject!" (He said almost joyfully.) "Kakashi-dono," Ichiro boldly addressed, "apply to me—Genjutsu: Sharingan: 'Illusion Technique: Copying Spinning Eye', at your discretion—A-rank difficulty. Any! And attack me with it continuously. Genjutsu only! With full power. Exactly one minute! Question: why exactly that time? Answer: Not to delay the assembly and overly tire 'your' eye!" Courteously, subtly, and with barely noticeable medical sarcasm, Ichiro noted, then offered. "Ready, Hatake-dono? Begin.
"Kakashi's eye socket Sharingan, on chakra surge to the eye, like neon—advertising gas entering the sign, brightly glowed scarlet, demonstrating to all the spin—on the second limbic-red pupil circle. Kakashi's three tomoe, for the hall's view, slowly, like a wall clock hand, and scorching Ichiro with his gaze, moved clockwise in dojutsu. Bombardment of the nominally hostile Byakugan.
"Esteemed assembly! As you see from the tomoe-pupil spin," Ichiro, under Sharingan Genjutsu attack, continued his lecture as if nothing happened, "Kakashi-dono has an absolutely healthy left eye dojutsu. Three-tomoe Sharingan is important! Please note and remember this fact! And remember that he can control it, albeit limitedly! Did you remember that? Good, moving on...
"While the iryonin lectured the assembly, many people were dumbfounded by this individual's nonchalance with the medical badge on his chest. Who voluntarily exposed himself to one of the strongest A-rank genjutsu. And now, as if nothing happened, hopped like a goat, explaining the matter's essence, under Hiashi's satisfied grin, and chewed it for the "grateful" public about Sharingan dojutsu life.
"No, many knew iryonin are—shall we say—people with special thinking, also (except "Know-It-All Shimura"), as many heard Byakugan grants genjutsu protection, but for the first time natively saw white eyes demonstration.
"Demonstration that meanwhile went—per wall clock—fifty-nine seconds...
"Kakashi-dono," Ichiro addressed, "please don't put on the hitai-ate yet! Test continues! Now, esteemed one, deactivate the Sharingan, turning it to a black eye! Then ... activate again! To Sharingan-three-tomoe!
"You're mocking!" Hatake croaked and glared darkly at Ichiro's eyes. "I can't do that," the silver-haired one pronounced separately. "Activate and deactivate Sharingan only Uchiha can...
"Exactly," interrupting Kakashi's phrase, "as you know, only Uchiha blood can do that! Only kekkei genkai—dojutsu can control it! Through the brain! In every manifestation! And now," Ichiro's voice grew solemnly grim. "Look here!" The Hyuga iryonin handed out Iryo Han cards. "It states! That Obito's Sharingan, at extraction moment, attention—was two-tomoe! Like your left eye! After his 'comrade's death'! Time since his 'demise'—a full year! And this is on your hands again, stated in Iryo Han-blank-archive! And especially important, stated twice! In Obito Sharingan adaptation active time interval. First time! Field hospital. And a year later. Second time! Archive has record too. By the way. With your personal signature.
"And now, Hatake-dono, a very important question! Extremely important! Tell the clans' assembly. Exactly when did Obito's Sharingan become three-tomoe? Time? Place? Fatal events? We need all details now—incredibly important!
"A year after Obito's death," Kakashi began darkly after pausing, "when Rin Nohara died in my arms, in Kirigakure.
"I think," Hiruzen Sarutobi interjected, "we shouldn't make Kakashi Hatake-dono dredge up such tragic memories. After all, it's the personal matter of Yondaime Hokage's team!
"Veto Word!" Fugaku softly but unyieldingly cut him off and nodded to the iryonin to continue.
"We've all lost someone and understand, regretting your loss, Hatake-dono!" Ichiro bowed to Kakashi and quickly continued. "So from your words, you developed the Sharingan to three tomoe independently? Did I understand you correctly?
"Yes." The white-haired shinobi nodded briefly in agreement.
"Impossible!" The iryonin stated categorically. "Your brain lacks the needed chakra for that! It doesn't form in you! Your thalamus physically can't—because it's smaller in proportional volume due to kekkei genkai genetics from birth! And as result, no unique hypothalamus! Brain, in our case, doesn't produce the critically needed hormone!
"Iryo Han analysis results state this directly! Since Konoha's founding, in the last fifty years no such case! Never! With anyone! Nor with anyone! And my iryoninjutsu research, which I conduct as practitioner, especially note, with native dojutsu, every day for ten years! Plus, Sharingan, with Uchiha Clan permission," I nodded to Fugaku, "I had to transplant many times! Second War. Third. And after. I documented it per protocol every time!" I pulled out reports and placed the thick stack in the table center.
"Do you understand, Kakashi-dono, that you can't elementary deactivate dojutsu but miraculously 'managed' to develop it to three tomoe? Without any chances? Against many Uchiha who couldn't do the like?" Hyuga turned and nodded at the witnesses. "Even here and now?
"I don't know. How that's possible." The sixteen-year-old white-haired one croaked. "I'm not scientist-geneticist. And not even iryonin.
"Shall we find out right now? Akane-san! Please look into my eyes and state your age, then activate two-tomoe Sharingan." The girl complied and announced she was nineteen and older than Kakashi (by a full three years).
"Excellent, Akane-san, thank you. And now," the iryonin turned to the man. "Takashi Uchiha-dono. Please repeat the same with your recently transplanted dojutsu.
"The process repeated and showed everyone that—regardless—native Sharingan or donor (with glaucoma or healthy), result for Uchiha is one. Positive! Eye took and worked. Standardly. Turned on and off when Uchiha-owner wanted.
"And so!" Sweeping the hall with his hand and stopping it on the 'object', Ichiro slowly, clearly, and distinctly asked. "Hatake-dono, are you still absolutely sure you developed Sharingan to Three Tomoe?
(Tick tock… tick tock... —the clock hand passed five seconds).
"Sure." Sakumo's son nodded with cold conviction. Then added very darkly. "Obito, to my regret—died. Before our eyes with Rin! So he can't be alive. And with all respect," Kakashi continued hoarsely, "you won't convince me otherwise!
"Fool with transplanted Sharingan." Ichiro clicked his tongue inwardly. "Stubborn fanatic, just like Minato, with blind faith in dead heroes, with 'Will of Fire'. Fine," the iryonin still resolved, "if arguments don't reach the light-haired one, then have to hit head-on, at sore spots of this very 'Will of Fire' patriots.
"Then, Hatake-dono, will you agree to an experiment? Five minutes!" The iryonin sighed heavily and bowed very low to Kakashi. "That time suffices. We with Hiroshi Akihiro, A-rank iryonin, will transplant to Takashi-dono your Sharingan. Then," quickly adding so Hiruzen wouldn't interrupt, "immediately return Obito's dojutsu to you!
"As compensation for inconvenience," Ichiro continued, "if I err," bowing to Hatake again, "I give you ... much! All I possess at the moment! Money, house, land, valuables, and ... even personal techniques! All, without remainder! If I err! And you have—Non-Mangekyo Sharingan! And don't misunderstand me.
"For Konoha's good," Ichiro's voice strengthened, "so this doesn't repeat with the village, please listen, accept my proposal, esteemed Kakashi-dono? Sincerely. Will be very grateful," sweeping the hall with his hand, "as Hatake Clan head, assembly, clarifying, albeit absolutely absurd at outsider glance, but in fact incredibly important! I'll say more—key, from iryonin view, by us, if you agree, refuting fact we can establish right here. In the assembly chamber!
"ANBU will check you covertly anyway. Later. But this way, all see now 'Why, where, what, and whence'... the jinchuriki Kyuubi no Yoko data leak was.
(And the clock continued working—changing the clans' assembly atmosphere with the second hand tick sound)...
"Aggressively." Fugaku nodded to Kakashi. "Controversial and desperate move! Refuse ... now, logically correct for you, Hatake-dono, but later, possibly, people will whisper behind back. Only possibly!
"Are you sure?" Hiashi mentally strengthened his voice. "Decided to ruin unique techniques and career? And for whom and what? Money, land? Uchiha clan jutsu? Or duty?
"This crosses morality boundaries and offends seriou..." Hiruzen Sarutobi began after a couple seconds, but was just a bit late.
"... I ...
"Agreed!" The young Hatake exhaled heavily, clearly recalling Sakumo. "For village good, as Konoha jonin, not ashamed to go for it! Second time already! But," the white-haired one looked at the fan kimono, "Obito's Sharingan, you must return! Fugaku-dono?
"Agreed. Permit. Iryonin to perform surgery.
"Proceed, Hyugo Ichiro, Hiroshi Akihiro-dono. For village, I, Kakashi Hatake, entrust myself to Konoha leadership hands! Here and now!
"Takashi-dono, will you help us?" Doctor Akihiro looked intently at the volunteer Uchiha jonin. And then...
Operation "Red Woodpecker" entered "Meat" phase.
***
Operation "Red Woodpecker". Power of All Dojutsu. Part 3.
"And so!" The iryonin woke the patient. "Takashi-dono! Please open your eyes. Slowly. Blink to adjust. Get used to light. Excellent. Now close eyes briefly and under closed lids, activate Sharingan in right eye!" The elder shifted Shosen Jutsu to the other socket. "Now left eye, please.
"Excellent!" The head iryonin nodded. "Dojutsu took successfully!
"Without negative consequences." Ichiro added.
"And now," the elder continued, "slowly open your eyes.
"Into the hall's view glowed two scarlet embers. Three-Tomoe Sharingan in both of Takashi Uchiha's sockets blazed like an advertising neon sign. Native and donor. The council hall dojutsu comparison presented itself.
"And differences were immediately visible. In Kakashi Hatake, it was a pale chakra-less Uchiha shadow. Like a faded red maple leaf. Detached and unable to grow further. Without Indra's direct blood. (Which reflected equal power degree in both patient eyes).
"Deactivate Sharingans," the iryonin requested, "and activate again. Again, please! Thank you, Takashi-dono.
"And now," Ichiro turned to the assembly, "attention please! With Obito's eye, esteemed Takashi-dono, for safety, turns gaze to southwest corner, and...
"Activates dojutsu further ... potentially to fourth eye development stage that was in recipient—Kakashi Hatake-dono! Right now," Hyuga activated his Byakugan, "Begin, Takashi Uchiha-dono!
"...
"Mangekyo Sharingan! Haaaa.
"Three tomoe pupils in the scarlet Samsara circle spun three times and swirled slowly, merging into triple spiral-shuriken!
"Obito's Sharingan blazed scarlet sun 'shuriken', in semidarkness pulsed like magnetar star—Kaleidoscope—Bloody Heavens! It shocked the entire hall with its sight. And forced all patriarchs and hawk opposition to accept this fact. (As did Uchiha impress and make Takashi-dono envy at the moment. And especially 'foreign blood'—Hatake Kakashi-dono).
"This is Mangekyo Sharingan! The clans' assembly whispered. Like Madara Uchiha's! Kyuubi no Yoko! Fox obeyed S-rank genjutsu. Unthinkable! Hatake hid dojutsu power!
"And now," Ichiro's voice stunned all, "Takashi-dono! While active, apply this eye's power! Right there, on the 'Pocket bonsai' plant!
"...
"From surging feelings and emotions, Uchiha, from hormone cocktail, himself reached for Mangekyo dojutsu power. Indra's Yin-chakra power began flowing into Obito's left eye, through brain, endorphin forcing dojutsu spin. Faster and faster."
And then... a vortex-spiral appeared! And the bonsai got sucked in. Along with the pot and part of the wall. (Into that vortex). As if they had never been there. After which, in the distortions of the space-spiral, an infinite field appeared, consisting of hundreds of thousands of visually enormous volumetric cubes.
"Kamui!" Takashi's lips whispered. After which, the vortex flickered and vanished.
***
"...Takashi-dono, please deactivate the technique," Hyuga Ichiro requested. "Your eye is bleeding. The chakra channels are literally burning. Soon, there may be Yin chakra depletion. And as a result—cerebral hemorrhage and stroke."
Reluctantly, but overcoming himself, Takashi deactivated the technique. And then the Mangekyo Sharingan itself. He brought his palm to his eye, examined his blood, and shifted his gaze to the doctor with the Byakugan activated in his eyes.
"Changes," Ichiro continued in a lecturing tone, "in dynamic and metabolic processes have already begun. Patient, your brain has suffered, at the micro level in the 'ischemic spectrum.'"
"What, pardon?" the retired jonin with the Sharingan asked.
"I'm saying that you just lost a tiny bit of visual acuity in your eye. Plus, negative changes in the brain. Which, if untreated, will result in a 'hemorrhagic stroke.'"
"Understood." The old jonin nodded and, for safety, fully deactivated the Sharingan.
"Fortunately, the consequences are reversible. Come to the Central Hospital tomorrow. Akihiro-dono and I will be there. And we'll help if needed."
"And now," the iryonin said, "Kakashi Hatake-dono, with Fugaku-dono's consent—a nod to the Uchiha patriarch—we will return the eye gifted to you by Obito. Ready? Then, let's begin."
As soon as the operation ended, and Kakashi regained the Sharingan, confirming it worked but the Mangekyo was still beyond his control—the iryonin turned to the clan council assembly, bowed to them, and then, with Hiashi's permission, delivered a brief, dry speech, a diagnostic summary.
"Esteemed assembly, as you see, the Mangekyo fact is evident! The 'Sharingan Common Field of Vision' effect is also proven. Impossible to activate and develop dojutsu without kekkei genkai—the Sharingan! Therefore, Obito's death is automatically refuted!" Ichiro emphasized the last word and turned to the "Woodpecker-Snitch" object.
"The comrade's body was not destroyed, Hatake-dono?"
"No."
"In that case, ladies and gentlemen. Let's be realistic! With a serious probability, our ninja was captured—by Kirigakure jonin!"
***
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