"Cheers to Obito's successful eye opening!"
Three large cups of freshly squeezed juice clinked together, and the private room was filled with cheerful energy.
"Ah~"
Obito downed his drink in big gulps, letting out a loud sigh of satisfaction.
"But why did we have to get a private room?" Rin tilted her head, clearly puzzled. "Wouldn't the main dining area be cheaper?"
"Because this room has a soundproof barrier," Kakashi replied matter-of-factly as he placed grilled meat slices into Rin's bowl like a perfect gentleman—who also happened to have a hidden agenda.
"Thank you~" Rin blushed slightly as she looked at the steaming meat in her bowl.
Obito, not to be outdone, grabbed the tongs and shoved some raw slices onto her plate too.
"Hey, hey, the meat's still raw! Unless your dream is salmonella, sit down."
"Alright, alright, both of you put those down," Rin sighed, snatching the tongs back like a referee breaking up a fight. "I'll do the grilling. Kakashi, go on—why the soundproofing?"
The pork belly began to sizzle, fat dripping onto the charcoal below, filling the room with a rich, mouthwatering aroma.
"Eat first. I'll tell you when you're full and emotionally vulnerable."
Kakashi's lips curved into a sly smile, but he gave nothing away. Obito pouted but soon got distracted by the meat.
The three of them quickly returned to their usual banter. Rin persuaded Obito to sing, and sing he did—loudly, off-key, and with the full passion of a tone-deaf romantic. Kakashi rolled his eyes so hard they nearly got stuck.
Still, Rin clapped along happily, hyping up Obito's solo like it was some grand performance.
By the time they'd eaten their fill, about forty minutes had passed. Kakashi calmly formed a few hand seals.
"Ninjutsu: Soundproof Wall."
A transparent hemispherical barrier shimmered into place, visible only to the caster.
Obito and Rin blinked at the dome forming around them. Before they could speak, Kakashi got to the point.
"Obito, what's your dream?"
Obito, surprised, raised a brow. "To become the Hokage, of course. Why ask that out of nowhere?"
"What about Rin's dream?"
Kakashi turned his gaze to her.
"Huh? Mine?" Rin blinked. "It's simple, really. I just want you and Obito to achieve your dreams… and for there to never be another war."
Kakashi was quiet for a moment, staring at her hopeful smile.
Rin, your dream is the most complicated one of all.
"Kakashi, what about you?" Rin asked, curious.
Obito leaned forward too, waiting for the answer.
"My dream? Oh, very simple." Kakashi put on a mock-thoughtful expression. "I want to be a regular ninja, marry a kind and lovely wife like Rin, and live a quiet, drama-free life."
"Huh?"
Rin immediately turned red, ducking her head in embarrassment.
"Kakashi, you—"
"Hold that thought." Kakashi cut in before Obito could protest. His tone turned serious. "Obito. Rin. I have something important to tell you."
"So important that if the higher-ups heard about this, things could get... messy."
Rin and Obito exchanged glances and nodded.
"We'll keep it secret. Promise."
Kakashi nodded. "Obito, what do you know about the Uchiha clan?"
Obito blinked. "I am Uchiha, remember? Pretty sure I know a thing or two."
Kakashi continued like he hadn't heard that. "And Sharingan—what's the limit of its power?"
"The three tomoe," Obito said confidently. "That's the highest form. Anyone who gets all three becomes Jōnin-level for sure. That's why the Uchiha are one of the most powerful clans in Konoha."
"Well… not exactly."
Obito blinked. "Come again?"
"The three tomoe is impressive, sure. But it's not what made the Uchiha legendary."
"There's a higher form—Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Man…gekyō?" Obito echoed, lost.
"Yep. Fancy name, right? It's not widely known. In fact, it's kind of a classified secret—like 'if-you-tell-anyone-you-die' classified."
Rin and Obito immediately sat up straighter.
"The Uchiha are emotionally intense. That's not an insult, that's biology. The stronger the emotional bond, the stronger the Sharingan."
"And here's the kicker—when an Uchiha suffers a devastating loss, like the death of a loved one, it can trigger the next evolution."
"Mangekyō Sharingan," Kakashi said slowly. "A power born of trauma."
He let the silence hang for a beat.
Obito was stunned. "Why haven't I heard this before? No one in the clan ever mentioned it."
"Because it's tied to a history the village would rather forget."
Kakashi leaned back slightly, his eyes darkening with thought.
"Long ago, before the villages existed, clans fought for survival. The two strongest were the Uchiha and the Senju."
"Then came two prodigies—Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama."
"They met as children. Became friends. As adults, they defied their clans and built a new system together."
"They founded Konohagakure."
"Madara?" Obito muttered, caught off guard by the name.
"Yes, the Uchiha clan leader and co-founder of the village. And now? Total taboo."
Kakashi's tone was casual, but there was weight behind it.
"In the wars, Madara lost many loved ones—father, brothers... only one sibling remained: Izuna. They both awakened Mangekyō."
"But when Izuna died—killed by Hashirama's brother, Tobirama—Madara took his brother's eyes. With them, he awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
Kakashi paused and sipped his drink.
"The Mangekyō is powerful, but not without cost. Each time you use it, your eyesight gets worse. Eventually, blindness sets in."
"But if two blood-related Uchiha awaken Mangekyō, one can transplant the other's eyes, achieving the Eternal Mangekyō. No blindness. No limits."
Obito sat speechless, trying to process it all.
"So... the Uchiha get stronger through pain?"
"Exactly. The price of power is grief. Beautiful, isn't it?" Kakashi said with dry sarcasm. "Emotionally traumatize a teenager and boom—god-level eyes."
Rin frowned. "That's… horrible."
"Yep. Welcome to ninja life—where emotional breakdowns come with a power-up."
Obito lowered his head, his fists clenched.
"This is why I had to tell you," Kakashi continued, softer this time. "You deserve to know what's tied to your bloodline."
Rin looked between the two boys. "But why tell us now?"
Kakashi leaned forward, voice low.
"Because soon… we'll need all the power we can get."