Mangekyo Patterns, The Disbelieving Fourth Hokage and His Wife, Kakashi's Choice.

Watching Kakashi die right before her eyes, Kushina turned her head away, unable to bear the sight, her face deathly pale.

Minato Namikaze's expression turned abruptly cold: "Sasuke!"

"You said you were only taking back the Sharingan!?"

"Why did you have to kill Kakashi?"

In the projection, Sasuke, sensing that the Third Hokage and the Anbu were about to emerge from the underground secret chamber, made a shushing gesture. As his physical body slipped underground, he focused his mind and pulled Kakashi's corpse into the Soul Space.

"Kakashi..."

Looking at Kakashi's body, Minato and Kushina wore expressions of profound grief.

They truly could not understand why Sasuke had to kill him!

Even if he had to kill him, he could have done it in secret, so why did he force them to watch such a cruel scene?

And why bring Kakashi's body in here?

Was it some twisted sense of humor?

But soon, they noticed that Kakashi's Sharingan had changed due to his death. Upon seeing the pattern clearly, their expressions shifted: "This... how can this be!"

Seeing this, Sasuke said with a playful tone: "It seems... the pattern of this Mangekyo has stirred up some memories for you?"

Minato stared intently at Kakashi's left eye, his mind recalling the right eye of the Masked Man from back then. Comparing the two, he still couldn't bring himself to believe it: "It's impossible... he was supposed to be dead..."

But in this world, could there really be so many coincidences?

"Who knows..." Sasuke shrugged, walked straight to Kakashi's corpse, and knelt down. Forming his index and middle fingers into a claw, he deftly gouged out the left eye.

After placing the Mangekyo into a vial filled with a special solution, Sasuke nodded in satisfaction.

Kushina snapped back to reality, turning her head sharply, her lips trembling: "Sasuke, is it really... Obito?"

She simply could not believe that the kind-hearted Obito would do such a thing!

"Let's set that question aside for now." Without answering, Sasuke gestured toward the corpse on the ground, saying with deep implication: "Shouldn't you be more concerned about whether Kakashi is alive or dead?"

Alive or dead? Wasn't he already dead?... Kushina looked on, bewildered.

Minato, however, felt a stir in his heart. Recalling the olive branches Sasuke had offered several times, he narrowed his eyes: "You can resurrect Kakashi?"

Sasuke smiled: "That depends on whether you can get him to cooperate."

"You want me to persuade him?"

"That's right."

Minato's gaze flickered as if he were weighing his options. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke: "I can't guarantee I'll succeed, but once you get what you want, you must resurrect Kakashi and give me the answers I need."

"Agreed." Sasuke nodded: "But I won't give you much time."

Hearing this, Minato let out a sigh of relief: "I understand."

He knew that although Sasuke's methods were despicable, he would always keep his word once he gave it.

At least, that had been the case until now.

Cell No. 4.

"Where is this?"

"Didn't I die?"

Seeing himself locked in a cold, dark prison, Kakashi felt a sense of mental disorientation.

After all, logically speaking... people shouldn't be locked up after they die.

Suddenly!

A voice rang out: "Kakashi, you are indeed dead..."

This voice is... Kakashi's pupils constricted!

He looked sharply toward the source of the voice, and then, a familiar figure came into view. He said in disbelief: "Minato-sensei?"

"It's me." Minato nodded, looking him up and down, and smiled: "You've grown up, and you've become mature."

"What is going on!? Minato-sensei!" Kakashi rushed to the cell door, gripping the iron bars tightly, his tone urgent: "Why am I locked in here? And you, what are you doing here..."

Minato shook his head and said: "Kakashi, I know you have many questions, but I cannot answer them."

"All I can tell you is that someone took an interest in your abilities, and that is why they killed you."

"But you still have a chance to be resurrected... though I am not certain about it."

"Regardless, the prerequisite is that you must grant your ability to him."

"If you don't want to die like this, you can try to take the gamble."

"It's just that your Sharingan..."

Kakashi looked stunned.

What did he mean, someone took an interest in his abilities?

Something about how as long as he gave it to him, there was a possibility of resurrection.

And then, the final Sharingan...

"Minato-sensei, what exactly do you mean? Why can't I understand a word of this?"

Minato shook his head, then said, "Make your choice."

A choice?... Kakashi instinctively frowned, his thoughts racing.

If the current situation isn't an illusion, then Minato-sensei's soul is clearly being imprisoned by the mastermind behind the scenes, who must have also taken a liking to Sensei's abilities.

Judging by the conditions for resurrection, Sensei must not have handed over his abilities yet, which is why the authenticity of the resurrection cannot be confirmed.

But if he hasn't handed them over, why would he appear to act as a lobbyist?

That's it!

I can't deduce much information from just a few words from Sensei, but I only need to figure out if Sensei came to lobby me... voluntarily or under duress!

Thinking of this, Kakashi spoke up: "Minato-sensei, did you come here of your own free will?"

"That's right." Understanding what Kakashi meant, Minato nodded, then added, "But you don't need to care about my opinion; everything requires you to make your own choice. After all, I cannot be certain whether you can truly be resurrected."

Voluntary... Kakashi's heart stirred.

In other words, Sensei hopes I can trade for a chance at resurrection, but he isn't sure about it, which is why he's letting me choose for myself.

Immediately after, he asked in confusion, "My strength is mediocre, and the other party has the power to kill me in an instant. Why would they have their eyes on me?"

Seeing that Sasuke did not seem to be in a hurry, Minato took a deep look at Kakashi's left eye and said, "Your Sharingan is a Mangekyo Sharingan..."

Mangekyo Sharingan?... Kakashi was stunned.

He didn't know what a Mangekyo was at this moment, but he could still judge from his teacher's words that this was an evolution or some kind of mutation of the Sharingan.

Immediately, the image of those eyes with the special pattern he had faced before being killed surfaced in his mind...

Could that also be a Mangekyo?

In other words, could the mastermind be an Uchiha?

He desperately wanted to ask Minato-sensei, but from his vague attitude, it was clear that their every move was being monitored.

Suddenly, Kakashi realized something else, and he said in a dejected tone, "Sensei, do you mean that even if I am resurrected, my Sharingan will be taken away by them, right?"

Minato was silent.

He understood that this eye held special significance for Kakashi.

It might even be more important than his own life...

Sighing helplessly, Minato said, "Obito might still be alive..."

!!! What?!

Kakashi's pupils constricted violently!

How could this be possible!

Seeing this, Minato shook his head: "I can't be sure either. Alright, there isn't much time left. Kakashi, make your choice."

Kakashi closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He wanted to suppress his chaotic thoughts, hoping to calm down and make a judgment.

But his brain felt as if it had been frozen; his mind was filled with nothing but... Obito is still alive...

After a moment of silence, he opened his eyes: "How should I believe that you are truly Minato-sensei?"

Once Minato revealed several secrets that only the two of them knew, Kakashi, no longer having any doubts, showed a firm expression: "Sensei, I don't want to die like this. I want to..."

Minato smiled and nodded: "I understand, Kakashi."

"Then how should I..."

"Just recite it in your heart."

Recite it in my heart?... Kakashi nodded and focused his intent.

Ding!

Do you wish to bestow all your abilities upon the Lord of Souls?

Lord of Souls...

The strength to kill him in an instant, the soul of someone as powerful as his teacher being toyed with at will, and this method of seizing abilities...

Possessing such great power, what exactly is the other party's goal?

Kakashi dared not imagine.

Of course, he didn't want to care about any of that!

Right now, he only wanted to confirm... whether Obito is really still alive!

If he is!

Why hasn't he come back?

What exactly was he doing right now?

What was his goal in hiding the truth that he was still alive?

Obito, if you are truly alive, then I will definitely find you...

With this thought, his expression turned resolute as he silently recited: Yes!

Immediately.

Ding!

Congratulations to the host for obtaining Mangekyo Sharingan x1, Hatake Kenjutsu, Yin, Yang, Wind, Fire, Water, Lightning, and Earth chakra nature transformations, the ninjutsu Lightning Blade... and all of Kakashi's other abilities!