Kai Uchiha was completely backed into a corner.
This damned mission and this damned Loess—he had been forced into a position where there was simply no other choice.
Now, did Uchiha Kai really believe those "decoys" would still make a difference? Did he really think this bait-and-switch would end well?
It was a delusion. Kai didn't even know if the captives they'd rescued were still alive.
If he, Kenta, and the others made it back, but the decoys died—especially after Minato Namikaze submitted his report—then things wouldn't look good for them. Not at all.
This mission was critical to Konoha. The upper brass were relying on its success to gain leverage in negotiations with Iwagakure.
They were banking on it to end the deadlock with Iwa before Kumogakure made its next move.
Ending the war—or at least gaining a stronger position in peace talks—depended on this.
It made sense, from a political standpoint.
But if Kai returned with a failed mission?
Then there was only one path left for him: carve a slash through his Konoha forehead protector... and vanish into the shadows of the Land of Rain.
Not to join those Akatsuki lunatics, of course. Kai had no interest in their twisted dreams of "universal love" and "world peace."
He was just a normal person—a realist.
His dreams were small, grounded, and practical.
But even so, he had to start considering an exit strategy.
He wasn't going to die here. Not for this.
Minato-sensei's support wouldn't arrive for a while. Kai had to choose: flee, or hold out a little longer. And thanks to Loess's relentless pursuit, he was starting to lose patience.
Wasn't this whole thing because he killed one of Loess's comrades?
Fine, then.
Let's see how insane you get when I kill the last one.
Kai had made his decision.
He still had one trump card left. A technique he'd only recently awakened.
And now, with Loess barreling toward him, it was time to use it.
Kai dodged another Earth Release attack and began retreating—deliberately shifting toward the last remaining Iwa-nin.
Loess seemed wary. Kai had just killed one of his friends minutes ago, and it was clear the Iwa-nin commander wasn't going to underestimate him again.
But Kai played his role well.
He feigned clumsiness, staggering as though frightened of getting too close to the other Iwa-nin.
His expression, his movement—all screamed inexperience and desperation.
Loess lowered his guard slightly.
From what he'd seen, this Uchiha didn't even use genjutsu—though that might have been due to Loess always avoiding eye contact, just as he'd been taught. As the son of the Third Tsuchikage, he'd grown up hearing terrifying stories about the Uchiha's eyes.
As for taijutsu?
Kai wasn't bad, but he was just a kid—thirteen at most.
Loess figured he didn't have the stamina for any high-level jutsu either.
But just then, Kai stopped retreating.
He took a deep breath… and lowered his head.
Loess narrowed his eyes. Was the boy giving up? No. Something wasn't right.
Uchiha always had tricks. But tricks meant nothing in the face of overwhelming force.
Yet, in the next instant, Loess's instinct screamed at him.
Kai raised his head—and in his eyes, the tomoe spun violently, fusing together into a new pattern.
A three-pointed, triangular diamond shimmered in both pupils—the unmistakable sign of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Chakra surged through Kai's body like a dam breaking.
It rushed toward his eyes, flooding them with power—power Kei could barely contain.
He winced. The chakra drain was brutal.
If not for the sheer force of will pushing him forward, he might've collapsed right then.
"I barely have chakra left," Kai thought grimly. "At thirteen, how the hell can I keep this up?"
And yet, he could feel it—the dormant power surging to life in his eyes.
Silent and still, like deep, unmoving waters—until disturbed.
Then, it would erupt like wildfire.
So this… was pupil power.
Loess was closing in. No time left.
Kai released everything. His chakra surged outward as his skin paled.
"Retrospect of Time!"
Kai didn't dare use the stronger version—Stay of Time—not knowing its full cost. Even this felt like too much.
His knees nearly buckled. He wasn't done living yet. Not now.
Gripping Minato-sensei's special kunai, Kai ducked under Loess's strike and slashed at his neck.
Clang!
The kunai sparked against something unnaturally hard. Stone-hard.
Loess's body was coated in Earth-style chakra.
Still, Kai saw a faint line of red. He'd drawn blood.
With one final burst of energy, he leapt toward the last remaining Iwa-nin.
His Mangekyō still active, both targets were caught within the influence of his technique.
His chakra was nearly gone. His vision blurred. His eyes throbbed.
But he pushed on.
The Iwa-nin turned—too late.
To Kai, his movements were slow, sluggish… like a snail in a rainstorm.
Kai's kunai found its mark.
This time, it wasn't like slicing stone.
It was flesh. It was clean.
The Iwa-nin's eyes locked with his—wide with disbelief… and fear.