"Shingen, you said it was only after this incident that you confirmed it. So when did you first discover it?"
"I was certain he wasn't Uchiha Madara, since their Mangekyō Sharingan patterns were different." Uchiha Shingen met his gaze with complete sincerity. "But this time, I found his trail in the Hidden Mist Village and confirmed that he was Obito."
"How did you confirm it?"
"I lied and told him his grandmother had made osmanthus cakes for me."
"..."
Namikaze Minato was certain now. It really was Obito!
As his teacher, how could he not know about Uchiha Obito's relationship with his grandmother?
His grandmother had been dead for years, and Shingen still brought up osmanthus cakes to him? It would have been stranger if he hadn't exploded!
He had never realized before that Uchiha Shingen had such a mischievous side.
"Then... Kakashi's eye..." Minato thought of that matter. He looked seriously at Uchiha Shingen before him. "Could it also be a Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"I'm afraid you'll need to personally confirm that with Hatake Kakashi." Uchiha Shingen said.
"The Uchiha Clan doesn't intend to demand its return?"
"Would you agree to that?" Uchiha Shingen countered. Seeing Namikaze Minato fall silent, he chuckled. "Lord Fourth, every Uchiha ninja who possesses the Sharingan has endured the pain of losing comrades. They would all respect Uchiha Obito's choice."
"And you as well, Shingen?"
"Lord Fourth, what I've lost is no less than anyone else."
Namikaze Minato studied Uchiha Shingen for a long time. In the young man's eyes, he saw it.
Something found in the eyes of many ninja: regret and unwillingness.
So he believed him. Or rather, he was willing to believe him.
The power Uchiha Shingen possessed was far too important to the current Leaf, and he was willing to take