Kakashi's left eye was wrapped in bandages.
Shimizu Uchiha had helped him treat it again, and soon there would be no lingering side effects. The only issue was that Shimizu had to expend chakra to suppress this Sharingan, which drained a significant amount of energy. But Obito had been crushed by a boulder to save him, and Kakashi couldn't bring himself to discard the final gift his friend had given him.
It was a piece of Obito's true heart.
Only now did Kakashi truly understand what bonds and comrades meant.
But it was too late—he could no longer build that bond with Obito.
"It's safe in the village. The Konoha Police Force is patrolling everywhere," Nohara Rin said, taking a few steps forward, trying to enter Kakashi's home.
Kakashi blocked her path and said, "Rin, it's late. Your parents will worry."
He had no intention of letting her inside right now. Shimizu had given him a few books to pass the time and ease the pain, but those books turned out to be… adult novels. Kakashi had gotten engrossed in them upon returning home and hadn't tidied them up. If Rin went in, she'd see everything.
"Y-Yeah…" Rin forced a smile, a pang of grievance in her heart. She only wanted to stay for a bit, but Kakashi was acting as if he was guarding against something.
"Obito entrusted you to me," Kakashi continued. "No matter what, I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Really?" Rin's heart skipped a beat at his words, a warmth spreading through her body.
"Kakashi, I—"
"Rin… Obito liked you. He really, really cared about you," Kakashi interrupted, a flash of pain in his eyes. He knew what Obito had left unsaid in his final moments—a confession to Rin.
Kakashi faltered for a moment, then said firmly, "So I won't betray the trust Obito placed in me."
Rin froze, tears welling up and threatening to spill over. Kakashi was willing to honor Obito's dying wish, but this was about their happiness. How could it be resolved in such a way? From the beginning, it was Kakashi she had liked. That's why she had done so much for him, spending months researching and improving medical kits—a reflection of her purest feelings.
"Then, Kakashi… what about my feelings?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I'm a scumbag who once left you to die," Kakashi said, shaking his head. He summoned a shadow clone. "Let my clone escort you home."
Kakashi opened the door, and the shadow clone stepped outside.
"No… it's fine," Rin said, realizing Kakashi's resolve. She turned and walked into the darkness, her silhouette fading into the shadows as if it were an illusion.
Poof.
The shadow clone dispersed.
Kakashi stood in place, staring into the night for a long time before finally closing the door. He walked into his dimly lit bedroom. The room was pitch black, but Kakashi knew its layout so well that the lack of light didn't hinder him. He didn't want to turn on the lamp—he just wanted to lie in the darkness, as if it could conceal his turmoil.
Obito's death was his fault. If he hadn't abandoned Rin, if he hadn't argued with Obito, he wouldn't have been blindsided by the falling rocks. With Obito's Sharingan, he could have easily escaped and started anew with Rin. Kakashi was the one who deserved to be lying in that cold crevice.
What Obito gave him wasn't just a Sharingan—it was a second chance at life.
"I'm a sinner," Kakashi said bitterly, his voice echoing in the empty room.
Half an hour later, in the Uchiha compound.
The lights in Shimizu Uchiha's home blazed brightly, the living room illuminated as if waiting for someone. Sure enough, a knock came at the door. It was only half-closed, and the visitor quickly noticed, stepping inside.
"Rin, have you been crying?" Shimizu asked, feigning surprise as he offered her a cup of hot tea, his eyes glinting with interest.
Rin knelt silently at the low table, saying nothing. Shimizu didn't press her. He propped his chin on one hand, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop. Rin had grown even more captivating—a delicate heart, a gracefully curved figure. As she knelt, her beautifully shaped legs were visible, neither too slender like twigs nor overly plump, but perfectly proportioned. Her tear-streaked face, with its breathtaking beauty, evoked pity.
"About Kakashi… is there anything you can do?" Rin finally asked. Shimizu had always solved her problems, and she had unconsciously come to see him as someone capable of anything.
"Of course," Shimizu replied, taking a sip of tea. At this distance, he could almost catch the faint fragrance of Rin's presence.
"You're… not lying to me?" Rin asked, skeptical. She had come to Shimizu with hope, but his casual confidence made her doubt.
"Have I ever lied to you? Have I ever failed to keep a promise?" Shimizu said with a light chuckle.
Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen himself had spoken to Shimizu, making it clear he intended to protect Kakashi—hence Kakashi's assignment to the Anbu. Rin, unaware of this, was too worried about Kakashi to think clearly.
In the original story, how Kakashi's Sharingan was preserved was vague. But the fact that no one outside the Uchiha Clan, aside from Kakashi, openly possessed a transplanted Sharingan spoke volumes about the clan's stance. Only Fugaku had shown a weak attitude, stammering when Itachi questioned him about it—a detail from the original story.
But if Itachi could ask such a question, so could other clan members. The Sharingan was the Uchiha's exclusive treasure. If a precedent was set, allowing others to "hot-swap" it like a tool, the Uchiha would face relentless attacks from greedy enemies during missions. The Hyuga Clan had even created the Caged Bird Seal to deter outsiders from coveting their Byakugan. The fact that Ao of Kirigakure obtained a Byakugan was a rare exception.
"Then… what do I need to do to get you to help Kakashi?" Rin asked, lifting her gaze to meet Shimizu's.
"You know exactly what I want, don't you?" Shimizu said with a faint smile.
First and foremost, he wanted Rin's loyalty. Her talent in medical ninjutsu was remarkable. And secondly…
"Does Kakashi know you're doing this?" Rin asked, gripping the hem of her skirt so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Shimizu nearly laughed. "Whether he knows or not, what does it matter? We're friends, aren't we? Besides, I've been good to Kakashi. I helped him through his lowest moments, even if my intentions weren't entirely pure. I've shared plenty of insights on Lightning Release with him."
Shimizu hadn't betrayed Kakashi so far. The only blemish was secretly studying the Hatake Clan's kenjutsu, which Kakashi knew about and didn't mind. Later, Shimizu had even given Kakashi pointers in return.
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