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It wasn't strange for the Uchiha clan to arrange external marriages.
After all, the Uchiha had no restrictions on the clan head marrying outside the clan, nor did they forbid their clansmen from marrying outsiders. They only paid closer attention to the marriages of particularly talented children.
In contrast, the Hyūga clan was far stricter. Forget about the main family's daughters marrying outside—even branch family members faced immense difficulties.
Who would have thought that the Hyūga's near-fanatic clan rules would be broken?
No wonder Kazuki had been fixated on retrieving the Byakugan taken by Kirigakure. Turns out, he wanted to establish good relations with the Hyūga clan.
But fostering ties with the Hyūga was secondary. If Kazuki could bring back the Byakugan that had fallen into Kirigakure's hands, his prestige in Konoha would skyrocket.
He could proudly declare to everyone:
What others dare not say, Uchiha Kazuki dares to.
What others dare not do, Uchiha Kazuki dares to.
What others cannot retrieve, Uchiha Kazuki can still bring back!!!
The Hyūga clan couldn't do it. The Third Hokage couldn't do it. Even Tsunade couldn't do it.
But Kazuki could!
Bringing up the Hyūga connection was merely to give Yagura a reasonable way to back down. After all, he was Kirigakure's Mizukage—his dignity had to be preserved. Otherwise, he'd rather risk breaking off cooperation than hand over the Byakugan.
"Konoha must also compensate Kirigakure."
If the Byakugan wasn't returned, this matter couldn't proceed. In that case, Yagura would become an object of scorn and targeting.
Yagura didn't want Kirigakure to be isolated, nor was he willing to take risks.
If the Akatsuki really attacked Kirigakure, and the other villages refused to help because of this incident, the Mist Village would be in serious trouble.
At that point, who knew how many accusations would be thrown at Yagura?
Faced with the choice between temporary dissatisfaction and perpetual trouble, Yagura knew what to do.
"Agreed."
A little compensation was nothing. After all, Ōnoki, A, and Rasa wouldn't offer Kirigakure much either. Konoha just had to follow suit.
Yagura wanted a way out, so Kazuki gave it to him.
He wanted to save face, so Kazuki granted him that dignity.
Now, are you satisfied?
"Mmm."
With formal compensation secured and his pride intact, Yagura no longer had any grounds for refusal. His expression gradually eased.
"In that case, let's begin discussions on how to handle Obito's Sharingan. As for the Byakugan, I'll have someone deliver it directly. It'll be in your hands within two days."
As for how the village would react, Yagura couldn't care less at this point.
Even if the backlash was significant, so what? He was Kirigakure's Mizukage!!!
Once he returned with compensation from the other four villages and the respect Konoha had shown him, who would dare oppose him?
Did they really think his blade wasn't sharp enough?
Despite Yagura's childlike face and short stature, he was a ruthless and cunning leader.
During the Third Mizukage's reign, he had been the regime's blade, with countless lives taken by his hand. Even after becoming Mizukage, the blood on his hands only grew.
Just look at the nearly exterminated Hōzuki and Yuki clans—proof of how sharp Yagura's blade truly was.
"Agreed."
Since all four villages were offering Kirigakure some compensation, no one could complain.
The compensation was just a formality anyway. Kirigakure wouldn't dare demand too much, and the other villages wouldn't offer anything substantial.
As long as appearances were maintained, the rest didn't matter.
Kazuki gestured to Shikaku, who nodded and patted Kakashi's shoulder before leading him to the medical division.
"Kakashi, the Advisor is doing this for the village's sake. I hope you understand. Keeping this Sharingan will only bring endless trouble to you and the village. You've seen Obito's transformation. He's no longer the naive Uchiha Obito of the past. Now, he's an enemy of the village—the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails' attack, the one responsible for the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife."
Some guidance was necessary, and this critical task fell to Shikaku.
"I know. I'm willing to cooperate."
Even if Obito's identity hadn't been confirmed today, Kakashi would have complied if the village demanded the removal of his Sharingan.
Now that Obito's crimes were exposed—along with the truth about his father's death—Kakashi had no reservations left. He obediently agreed.
As Kakashi lay on the operating table, Shikaku relayed Kazuki's promise:
"The Advisor asked me to tell you that after the Sharingan is removed, he'll arrange for a compatible eye to be cultivated for you—one grown from your own cells, perfectly suited to your body."
"Mm."
Kakashi said nothing more, quietly waiting for the procedure to begin.
Soon, the Sharingan was extracted and delivered to the command center.
Aside from Kazuki and a few trusted subordinates, almost no one knew that Obito's Sharingan had already been replaced.
Though the technology in the shinobi world was unconventional, cultivating a compatible eye from Kakashi's cells wasn't too difficult. Many could do it—though the most skilled was undoubtedly Orochimaru, whom Kazuki had previously manipulated.
Now, how to handle this Sharingan?
Since it belonged to Konoha, and Kazuki represented both Konoha and the Uchiha clan as an elder, the others looked to him for input.
But Kazuki already had an answer.
"I believe this Sharingan is tied to the peace of the shinobi world and the security of the Five Great Villages. Thus, it must be dealt with strictly. To prevent Uchiha Obito from reclaiming it, I propose sealing it and hiding it in a secure location. To ensure fairness, I suggest each of the Five Great Villages apply their own sealing techniques to it."
Each village would take turns sealing it before stashing it away. That way, no one could complain.
The key was to give the other villages a sense of involvement—the rest didn't matter.
After all, this wasn't even Obito's real Sharingan.
The ideal outcome? Another village taking the heavily sealed "Sharingan" away.
Imagine Obito going through hell to retrieve it, breaking layer after layer of seals—only to find out it wasn't his.
The look on his face would be priceless.
He'd probably be so furious his face would twist in rage.
"Then where should the Sharingan be hidden?"