Mickel Clark
What do Kakashi Hatake, one of the most loved characters in Naruto, and Danzo Shimura, one of the most hated characters, have in common? They were the only non-Uchihas with the Sharingan eye at their service. Although how they got it differed measurably.
But if Kakashi, the Copy Ninja, had the Sharingan eye, how did he get it? And perhaps most importantly, how did he ever activate the Mangekyou Sharingan?
Let’s find out.
Kakashi’s Journey to Mangekyou Sharingan
During the Third Great Ninja War, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin were in Minato Namikaze’s team. They were sent on a mission to cut off enemy supplies by destroying a bridge in the Grass Village known as the Kannabi Bridge.
Soon after entering the village, Minato received orders to deal with the Stone Village shinobi elsewhere. So, he asked Kakashi, who had newly been promoted to the Jounin level, to lead the other two to the bridge and complete the mission.
Iwagakure scouts launched a surprise attack on the three young shinobi and kidnapped Rin. Kakashi and Obito went after them to rescue their teammate. In the skirmish, Obito’s Sharingan developed to two tomoe, while Kakashi’s left eye was damaged beyond repair.
The cave where Rin was being held collapsed as they rescued her. Obito pushed the other two to safety and was crushed under the debris.
Because his right side was under the debris, he asked Rin to transfer his left Sharingan to Kakashi.
→ Did you know you can watch All seasons of Naruto Shippuden on Netflix?
How Did Kakashi Get Mangekyou Sharingan?
Now coming to how Kakashi’s Sharingan became a Mangekyou Sharingan.
Later on, Kakashi and Rin went on a mission to the Mist Village, where she was kidnapped by Madara and was made into the Jinchuriki of the Three-Tailed Beast. He did this so that once she returned to Konoha, Isobu would get free and wreak havoc.
But because she was loyal to Konoha, when Kakashi rescued her, she asked him to kill her so the Leaf Village would remain protected. Kakashi refused, saying this would mean breaking his promise to Obito to protect her. While they were fighting the Kirigakure shinobi, she committed suicide by stepping in the path of Kakashi’s Chidori, which was intended for a Kirigakure shinobi.
→ Read more to find out how Naruto became friends with Kurama
How Did Kakashi Unlock Mangekyou Sharingan?
What no one knew was that Obito was alive and was a witness to this scene. Seeing the girl he loved die right before his eyes, Obito awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan. Because one of his Sharingan eyes was with Kakashi, Kakashi also got the Mangekyou.
Why Didn’t Kakashi Use Mangekyou Sharingan?
Given that the Mangekyou Sharingan is the Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha clan, that means only a true Uchiha can use it efficiently.
When an Uchiha undergoes any traumatic experience, chakra flows to their eyes, and their Sharingan is awakened. Over time they learn to control it much better as they learn to control the flow of chakra.
This basically means that the Uchiha can turn it on and off whenever they want. But in a non-Uchiha, there is no such chakra control, and therefore their Sharingan will always be active.
Therefore, Kakashi keeps his Sharingan eye closed with a thick cloth over it so that he can preserve the chakra.
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Wrap Up
So, that is how Obito’s supposed death got Kakashi his Sharingan eye to replace the eye he lost to the Iwa-nin. He then went on to be the means of Rin’s suicide upon seeing that Obito awakened his Mangekyou Sharingan, and thus, so did Kakashi.
