If this mess hadn't landed on their doorstep, they would even have thought Seiichi had shown them plenty of courtesy by not getting physical right away.
But now that it concerned them, they felt Seiichi was far too difficult to reason with. The bastard simply wouldn't budge.
"This is Obito's Sharingan. He had the right to decide what to do with it, and he personally gave it to me. I didn't forcibly dig it out of one of your Uchiha clansmen.
"So I'm only informing you, not asking you to-mmph, mmph, mmph..."
At Kakashi's words, both Hiruzen Sarutobi's and Minato's hearts sank.
Minato hurriedly clamped a hand over Kakashi's mouth.
Minato felt Kakashi was so consumed by anger that he wasn't thinking straight anymore.
Neither Minato nor Kakashi had originally wanted to keep it because it was the Sharingan, renowned throughout the Shinobi World.
They had only wanted to keep it because it was a memento Obito had left behind. Even if it had been an ordinary eye, Kakashi would have treasured it.
But now Kakashi's words changed the way everyone present looked at him.
They already disagreed. Wasn't saying that just adding fuel to the fire?
It came as no surprise to anyone.
Although Kakashi hadn't finished, anyone with half a brain knew what he meant.
It also made Seiichi's and Yuri's expressions turn cold.
"Enough nonsense. Hand it over!"
Seiichi waved to Yuri, who took out a small bottle filled with saline solution and placed it on the table.
Holy shit, they came prepared.
The moment everyone saw the bottle, they knew how this would end.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato also knew Kakashi wouldn't be able to keep this Sharingan.
Kakashi struggled free of Minato's hand and roared at Seiichi.
"Uchiha Seiichi, why are you forcing me?!"
Feeling a little tired, Seiichi pulled out a chair and sat down, crossed his legs, folded his arms, then looked at the furious Kakashi.
"You're asking me why? I'd like to ask you why. You're forcibly holding on to the Kekkei Genkai that forms the foundation of our clan, something we never allow outside the clan, and refusing to return it. Yet you have the nerve to ask me why? I'm baffled too. How could you even ask that?"
"Obito gave it to me!"
"In case you accuse me of deceiving you, the Hyuga clan head happens to be here. Ask him whether members of their Main Family have the right to decide where their Byakugan goes. Giving it away, as you put it."
Kakashi looked at Hyuga Hiashi expectantly.
Everyone else wanted to cover their faces.
"If such a clansman really appeared in our clan, I would find a new owner who would cherish his Byakugan more."
Hyuga Hiashi hadn't answered directly, but his meaning was obvious.
Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long sigh, stepped forward, and patted Kakashi on the shoulder. "Let it go. In a few days, I'll have Konoha Hospital find another eye to implant for you. It won't affect your strength.
"Given the circumstances, I'm sure that if Obito knew in the afterlife, he wouldn't blame you for losing his Sharingan."
(Future Obito: Stop spewing that fucking spiraling, twisted bullshit. My eye being with Kakashi and being with Uchiha Seiichi are two completely different things, worlds apart.
"The difficulty of getting it back shot straight from bending down to pick it up to not being able to retrieve it at all.
"Goddammit, I haven't even gotten to pilot a Gundam yet!!!
"Seiichi: Well, you won't get the chance in this life. Try earlier in the next one!")
"I will never give up just like this! Uchiha Seiichi, I challenge you to a duel. Although I'm a few years older than you, we can just about count as peers.
"As the Uchiha's Young Clan Leader, a supergenius famous throughout Konoha and even the entire Land of Fire, surely you won't refuse a challenge from a peer.
"If I win, you must promise that your Uchiha Clan will never pursue the matter of this Sharingan again."
Seiichi smiled playfully. "Leaving aside why I should agree to a duel just because you proposed one,
"you haven't said what happens if you lose."
"If I lose, I'll give up the Sharingan."
"Heh heh..."
Someone behind them couldn't hold back a laugh.
Seiichi couldn't hold back his laughter either.
"You really do 'know how to do business.' You're betting against me with something that already belongs to me. If you lose, you lose nothing. If you win, you make a killing.
"Not only would you get the Sharingan without any trouble, you could also climb over me to make a name for yourself. Doesn't taking all those advantages weigh on your conscience?"
Seiichi's words made Kakashi blush a little, though his mask hid it. He genuinely hadn't thought of any of that.
"Then what do you want to bet?"
"Hold on. I don't think I've agreed to bet with you yet."
"You... you... you... you..."
Kakashi pointed at Seiichi, trembling all over with rage.
"All right, don't say I'm 'picking on someone younger.' I'll take your bet."
"Young Clan Leader!" Yuri nervously tugged at the hem of Seiichi's clothes.
Kakashi was also a renowned genius in Konoha, and he was several years older than Seiichi.
Seiichi would be at far too much of a disadvantage in a fight.
But apart from Yuri, everyone's eyes lit up.
Here was a chance to test the depths of Seiichi, the Uchiha's "genius" Young Clan Leader, without paying any price themselves.
Apart from Minato Namikaze, who might have been somewhat worried about his student, everyone present, including Hiruzen Sarutobi, was naturally delighted.
Seiichi turned and smiled at Yuri, then patted the hand tugging at his clothes, signaling her to relax and enjoy the show.
Seiichi turned back and looked at Kakashi.
His right hand rested on the table, his index finger tapping against it.
The conference room fell silent, with only the thump, thump, thump... of Seiichi's finger against the table.
The sound wasn't loud, yet every tap seemed to strike Kakashi's heart.
Beads of sweat appeared on Kakashi's forehead.
"How about this? You don't have anything else that interests me, and I'm not short of money. That leaves just one thing."
After a long silence, Seiichi finally spoke.
Yuri didn't quite understand. What was the Young Clan Leader asking for? Why did Kakashi look ready to eat someone alive?
"Kakashi, I can agree to settle this wager with a duel.
"But I get to specify your stake.
"Your family's complete Hatake Style Swordsmanship, including the full training insights of your father, Hatake Sakumo, 'Konoha's White Fang.'"
"Young Clan Leader Seiichi, isn't that going a little too far?
"The value of a Three-Tomoe Sharingan cannot possibly compare with Senior White Fang's training insights, let alone with the Hatake Clan's swordsmanship added in."
Before Kakashi could speak, Minato could no longer hold himself back.
The man once known as "Konoha's White Fang" had dominated the battlefields of the Shinobi World with his masterful Hatake Swordsmanship.
Especially during the Second Shinobi World War.
That gleaming blade had left Sunagakure's forces crying for their parents and utterly routed.
Even Sasori's parents had died at his hands.
This had caused Sasori, that handsome red-haired boy, to lose those he loved overnight.
It was precisely that loss of love that had set the little redhead on an entirely different path.
(Obito: Holy shit, this damned overwhelming sense of déjà vu! What the hell are you barking about?! Are you dissing me?! Ah, my Rin! Know pain! Almighty Push!!!
"Nagato, holding the script with a bewildered expression, pointed to a line and shouted at Obito, who had lost all reason and was flailing his fists wildly: Hey, clown boy, Tuzige, snap out of it! You fucking mixed up your lines, you know that?! Those are my lines, and you even stole my fucking coolest one!!!")
It had also led Sasori to indirectly fire the opening shot announcing the Third Shinobi World War, which had ended only recently.
Every shinobi village acknowledged his strength.
His swordsmanship training insights were therefore truly, truly precious.
They were far beyond what a mere Three-Tomoe Sharingan could compare with.
Before you continue