Kakashi picked up the flashlight beside him, walked to the backyard of the Hatake residence, and entered the ancestral hall of the Hatake clan.
This was the heart of the Hatake household, a place where the clan's most guarded secrets were kept.
Under the dim light, four ancestral tablets rested on the shrine. The last one belonged to Kakashi's father, Sakumo Hatake—renowned as Konoha's White Fang, a man whose legacy even the Sannin could not disregard.
It was often said that Kakashi's father, teacher, and students were all legendary figures in their own right.
Adjacent to the ancestral hall was the Hatake clan's ninjutsu archive.
Kakashi bowed respectfully before his father's tablet, then moved toward a section of the wall. He crouched down, forming a series of hand seals before whispering, "Release!"
A concealed passage opened in the previously smooth floor, revealing a dark abyss below.
Kakashi remained unfazed. According to his inherited memories, this was the Hatake clan's restricted area.
Without hesitation, he jumped down. Moments later, he landed softly on solid ground.
Turning on his flashlight, he illuminated rows of shelves lined with hundreds of scrolls.
"This is quite the collection. The Hatake clan may not be numerous, but their legacy is rich. If only they had more members, they could have become one of Konoha's strongest clans."
The Hatake clan's position in Konoha had always been somewhat awkward. After the Second Shinobi War, their numbers dwindled, often reduced to a single heir per generation. Yet, despite their small size, the clan had produced formidable shinobi. Even the Hyūga and Uchiha held the Hatake name in regard, knowing better than to underestimate them.
However, with White Fang's untimely demise and Kakashi still in his youth, their reputation had significantly diminished.
Scanning the scrolls, he noted that most contained elemental ninjutsu, with an emphasis on Lightning Release techniques.
After all, the Hatake bloodline was naturally attuned to lightning chakra.
Among the various techniques, he also spotted the standard Three Basic Jutsu—common to all Konoha shinobi.
In a secluded corner, several scrolls stood apart from the rest. Kakashi instinctively reached for them, his gaze settling on the label: "Hatake Kenjutsu."
Kenjutsu—the very art that made White Fang feared. Despite training primarily in ninjutsu since childhood, Kakashi had once dabbled in swordsmanship.
His father's style wasn't simply physical combat but akin to the Raikage's techniques—incorporating chakra to enhance cutting power. After all, it wasn't just the White Fang's blade that made him feared, but the lethal technique behind it.
In the shinobi world, raw power alone wasn't enough to change destiny.
Kakashi flipped through the scrolls, his heart heavy with emotion. He had read them before, yet after receiving the Sharingan, he abandoned his swordsmanship training.
The reason was simple—Hatake-style kenjutsu required immense chakra reserves to unleash its full potential. To master it completely, one needed an abundance of chakra, much like the Raikage.
However, ever since obtaining the Sharingan, his chakra had been severely drained. The dojutsu not only consumed chakra constantly but also stunted his natural growth. At a time when his chakra should have been rapidly developing, the Sharingan's presence impeded it.
Kakashi clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He had to seal the Sharingan—not as a rejection, but to free himself from its limitations.
It had been nearly two years since he received Obito's eye. While he had mastered the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, the Mangekyō was a different matter. Though he awakened it when witnessing Rin's death, his mental resilience was insufficient to utilize it fully. This realization had dawned upon him when his new memories merged.
His soul was still undergoing fusion. Once fully integrated, his spiritual energy would increase significantly, allowing him to wield the Mangekyō more effectively. However, its infamous side effects remained a concern, making it a last resort for now.
In essence, the Sharingan was a valuable weapon, but overreliance on it was dangerous. Sealing it would allow him to grow stronger naturally. Once he reached a certain level, he could wield it without hindrance.
Deep down, Kakashi pondered the evolution of the Sharingan.
The Mangekyō was powerful, yet flawed—it drained vision over time, forcing its wielder to use it sparingly.
The solution? The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
To attain it, one needed the Mangekyō of a blood relative—parents or siblings—melding their ocular power into new eyes.
In part, this process was tied to Yin Release—the power of the mind.
The Sharingan was inherently a Yin-based dojutsu, and strong spiritual energy could prolong the Mangekyō's longevity.
Kakashi's natural reserves were insufficient, but with his soul fusion, his mental strength far exceeded that of ordinary shinobi.
Moreover, unlike the Uchiha, he only possessed one Sharingan, reducing the burden on his chakra.
Thus, if he could achieve perfect synchronization between his chakra and mental energy, he might extend the eye's lifespan—even without evolving it to the Eternal Mangekyō.
Of course, this was easier said than done and would require careful experimentation.
The most surefire method remained acquiring a blood relative's Sharingan, but with Obito gone, that was impossible.
Without the Eternal Mangekyō, relying on Kamui would be problematic.
The Senju cells could help—after all, Hashirama's cells had been known to counteract the Mangekyō's drawbacks. But as a loyal Konoha shinobi, Kakashi couldn't simply steal the First Hokage's DNA. Such an act would be treasonous, and he wasn't willing to take that risk—at least not until he had absolute strength.
Perhaps Sage Mode could be an alternative. The power within Hashirama's cells stemmed from his unique life force, closely tied to Sage Energy.
While possessing a Sage Body didn't automatically grant Sage Mode, there was a connection between the two.
If he could integrate Sage Chakra with the Sharingan, it might lead to an unprecedented evolution.
Kakashi wasn't sure if this was possible, but it was certainly worth investigating.
Even if it failed, mastering Sage Mode would still be a significant boost to his abilities.
As for where to learn it, the three great summoning realms were the best options.
Regardless of whether it was Sage Mode or the Sharingan, an immense chakra reserve was required.
Thus, his top priority remained increasing his chakra.
As for the Rinnegan—Kakashi had little insight.
The only confirmed method of awakening it involved merging Indra and Asura's chakra, ultimately gaining the Six Paths' power.
In short, achieving the Rinnegan depended on obtaining the Eternal Mangekyō and the Six Paths' chakra.
Kakashi exhaled deeply. Though he had only just begun this journey, his thoughts on the Sharingan had already evolved significantly. For now, it was more of a liability than an asset. But once he reached the necessary level, its true value would shine.
After all, the ability to copy ninjutsu was useful, but in the grand scheme of battle, it was not enough to determine victory.