"Minato, you're looking at this too narrowly. If this were just an ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan, then of course, as you said, there would be quite a gap in value between the two."
"What, don't tell me Kakashi's Sharingan is your clan's legendary Mangekyō Sharingan?!"
Hearing Seiichi's words, Mitokado Homura couldn't help sneering.
You're actually right. That Sharingan really is a Mangekyō Sharingan, and it even comes with an exceptionally rare offensive Space-Time Ninjutsu!
Seiichi silently added that to himself.
"The value I'm talking about is the added value attached to this Sharingan.
Under the terms of the wager, as long as Kakashi wins,
this Sharingan will become the only Sharingan outside our clan to receive our public recognition in the thousand years since the Uchiha Clan's founding.
Kakashi will be able to use it openly anytime, anywhere, without worrying that we'll send people to hunt him down if we find out.
Viewed that way, its value is high enough, isn't it?"
Seiichi's words left everyone deep in thought.
Had any Sharingan ended up outside the clan?
Of course. After all these years, quite a few Sharingan must have ended up outside the clan. At the very least, Danzo had some.
But did Danzo dare bring them out and use them openly?
The answer was no!
So, viewed from this angle, the value of this Sharingan really wasn't as simple as Minato had suggested.
Compared with Hatake Style Swordsmanship and White Fang's training insights, it could just barely be considered on the same level.
After all, handing over a Sharingan meant a loss for the Uchiha.
Kakashi handing over Hatake Swordsmanship and his father's training insights meant sharing them.
Everyone looked at Kakashi. After all, he still had to agree.
"No!" Kakashi refused without a second thought. Those were the Hatake Clan's family treasures. He absolutely couldn't hand them over to an outsider.
The corners of Seiichi's mouth lifted slightly, as though he had expected this reaction from Kakashi all along. He said slowly, "In that case, there's no need for this duel. Just hand over the Sharingan."
"Wait!" Kakashi gritted his teeth. After a moment of silence, he closed his eyes and steeled himself. "Fine, I agree!"
"Very good. Then that's happily settled. Hmm, since you've just returned from the battlefield, I'll give you time to rest and get yourself ready.
Don't say I'm taking advantage of you. Three days should be fine, right?"
Seiichi looked at Kakashi and nodded.
"Then we'll settle this in three days, at the village's Chunin Ninja Exams arena. Bring what I need, and we'll decide the winner.
Everyone, I'll see you in three days!"
Seiichi rose and left with easy grace, leaving behind a reluctant Kakashi, a worried Minato, and the others.
Kakashi turned to Minato, determination filling his eyes.
"Sensei, I'll definitely win this duel."
Minato patted Kakashi's shoulder. "I believe in you, Kakashi. But remember, keeping yourself safe is more important than winning."
Over the next three days, Kakashi threw himself into training, determined to bring himself to peak condition.
At last, the day of the duel arrived.
Kakashi stood in the Chunin Ninja Exams arena with only one conviction in his heart-he had to win!
The price of losing was too high. He didn't dare even think about it!
Seiichi arrived as well, accompanied by several Uchiha.
"Fugaku and your elders didn't come?"
"Oh, they don't have time. There's a gathering today, and they're all busy grilling meat!"
Seiichi wasn't lying.
The Uchiha Clan had indeed prepared a grand bonfire festival in their clan grounds that day.
After all, there were still many clan members who hadn't awakened their Sharingan. Seiichi had opened up another new direction for their training, and that was worth celebrating together as a clan.
As for why they hadn't come,
Fugaku and several elders had actually wanted to watch at first.
But after the head elder said one thing, none of them wanted to come anymore.
The head elder's exact words were, "If Fugaku went to the Ninja Academy and fought those little kids one-on-one, which of you would want to watch?"
True enough, what the hell was interesting about a fight that would end with a single glance at the opponent?
It wasn't even worth the trip.
Seiichi's words made Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others keep glancing his way.
Do those old fellows have that much confidence in this brat?!
Seiichi jumped into the center of the arena, then walked over to stand opposite Kakashi.
Compared with Kakashi, who looked as though he were facing a formidable enemy, Seiichi seemed completely relaxed.
"I am the referee for this duel, Hyuga Hiashi.
Because the items involved in this duel are so valuable, Lord Hokage and the others have proposed that there be no restrictions on the rules. You may use any means to help yourselves win.
Seiichi Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, do either of you object?"
Seiichi and Kakashi both shook their heads, indicating they had no objections.
The suggestion to impose no restrictions had come from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
No one knew how strong Seiichi was, but everyone knew one thing clearly: Seiichi had never experienced a real battle.
So, for a young master from a prominent clan like Seiichi, who was sorely lacking in actual combat experience, imposing no restrictions was the greatest restriction of all.
It would give someone with extensive combat experience like Kakashi a better chance of winning.
Their only concern was whether Seiichi would notice and reject the proposal.
Now all was well. Seiichi hadn't noticed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others secretly rejoiced.
The scales of victory were now tipping toward Kakashi.
"Very good. Since neither side objects, those will be the rules.
One final reminder: you are both gifted young men of Konoha with promising futures. I hope you will both stop short of causing serious harm.
Now, I declare this duel officially begun!"
Hiashi stood on the raised platform, activated his Byakugan, and watched the two, ready to intervene at any moment.
Inside the arena, both moved the instant they heard Hiashi announce the start.
Kakashi and Seiichi each threw a smoke bomb onto the ground at the same time.
Smoke swirled throughout the arena.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing chorus of bird cries rang out through the smoke.
Even through the smoke, everyone could clearly see a particularly conspicuous blue-white ball of light shoot across the entire smoke-filled arena at incredible speed.
Then everyone heard, "Hey, little white-hair, over here!"
That was followed by a thud, the sound of a body hitting the ground.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's and Minato's hearts instantly lurched.
Little white-hair?!
Shit, this doesn't feel good.
Then, quite abruptly, a gust of wind blew out of the smoke, clearing it from the arena.
Only then did everyone see Seiichi standing beside Kakashi, his clothes perfectly neat, while Kakashi lay facedown on the ground, motionless.
Well, the winner had been decided!
Seeing Kakashi down and unable to get up, they had no idea how badly he was injured.
Minato hurried forward to check his student's injuries, only to discover that Kakashi had merely fallen unconscious under a genjutsu.
Apart from a few bumps and scrapes from falling, he had no other injuries.
He nodded to Seiichi, thanking him for holding back.
The baffling fight left everyone on the platform exchanging bewildered looks.
They hadn't seen a damn thing! And had even twenty seconds passed between Hiashi announcing the start and the end?
No wonder those old Uchiha geezers hadn't come. If they'd known it would be like this, they wouldn't have come either.
Before you continue