Uchiha Kai and Namikaze Minato had been chatting for a while, and Kai could tell that Minato remained as warm and approachable as ever. That sincerity made Kai feel genuinely pleased. Despite knowing Minato would die less than a year into his tenure as Hokage, Kai hoped that during that short window, he could still benefit from his leadership and support.
Still, Kai couldn't help but think about the future. After all, waking up in this world as a member of the Uchiha clan came with consequences he never chose, and now he had to navigate Konoha's dangerous political terrain.
Danzo and the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi—were far from saints. Both men were deeply manipulative, though they expressed it in different ways. Danzo wore his ruthlessness openly, always declaring, "Everything I do is for the sake of Konoha," while Hiruzen masked his actions behind a facade of compassion and tolerance. But the major clans of Konoha knew better. They were keenly aware of the hidden rot behind the Hokage's smile.
Still, one couldn't deny that these two men had maintained order in the village for a long time. Yet, as they grew older, the cracks began to show. Konoha, once a proud and radiant tree, had started to decay from within—and power, as always, was the perfect catalyst for that rot.
They weren't entirely opposed in ideology, but they did differ in approach. Still, on key issues—like consolidating authority—they were perfectly aligned. After the Fourth Hokage's death, it was Hiruzen who quickly reclaimed the title without reopening the election. That alone proved how tightly he clung to power.
To him, perhaps, he was the only one truly fit to lead.
As for Danzo, though he schemed relentlessly, he never advanced beyond acting Hokage. The village council and the Jōnin vote of confidence were critical factors—and Danzo had never fully gained their trust. Still, his influence ran deep. His grip over Root and his infiltration of the Anbu made his goals clear. Root operated in the shadows, and Anbu was the Hokage's most elite and secretive unit—tasked with assassination, intelligence, and protection. That someone other than the Hokage wielded such influence over them was a dangerous sign.
Minato, of course, knew none of what Keai was contemplating. Smiling, he stood and said, "Take a good rest. You'll be heading back soon—your team as well. Thanks to you, the tide of this war has finally turned."
Kai gave a faint nod as Minato turned to leave. Watching him go, Kai couldn't help but wish him luck.
There was no question about Namikaze Minato's power. Kai still remembered the aftermath of the battle against the Four-Tails. The sky had been filled with colossal Rasengans, each crashing down like divine judgment. The explosions shook the earth, and the Five-Tails' howls echoed in the distance. That overwhelming display had ended the battle decisively.
Kai had been stunned. At that moment, he realized just how lucky he was to be alive.
No wonder Uchiha Obito had been utterly defeated when he attacked Konoha. Even with his Mangekyō Sharingan and Kamui, Obito had been no match for Minato. But Kai couldn't help thinking—if he had Obito's level of strength, he might stand a real chance against the Fourth Hokage.
"You'd use Flying Thunder God, and I'd activate Retrospect of Time the moment you emerged... then twist your neck before you even moved."
That was Kai's plan. He wasn't sure what the backlash on his eyes would be, but at least it gave him a possible way to win. It was a slim chance—but a chance nonetheless.
Stretching out on his stone bed, Kai finally let his thoughts drift—until another realization struck him: he may have underestimated Imai Kenta.
Though Kai had always acknowledged Kenta's strength, he now recognized he hadn't fully appreciated the guy. The Iwa-nin guarding the bridge couldn't have been ordinary shinobi—but Kenta returned alive, chakra drained and bruised, but successful.
That meant Kenta had taken out the hidden Iwa-nin on his own and completed the mission. No small feat.
"Compared to that, Aya Hyūga fell a little short."
Kai rubbed his chin. Then he froze, a sudden thought striking him.
"Wait... did she intentionally let herself be injured?"
At the time, Kakashi had been critically wounded. As a medical-nin and teammate, Rin Nohara would naturally prioritize him. Aya, knowing this, might have chosen to get herself injured to avoid further confrontation—or worse, to avoid Kai.
Kai had once pitied her for getting hurt. But thinking back now, he realized Aya wasn't someone who would be easily defeated by a single Iwa Jōnin. She was Hyūga—a member of a prestigious clan. And she hated him.
Kai understood that. It wasn't just a matter of bloodline rivalry between Uchiha and Hyūga—it was deeper. They were too similar. They both walked the fine line between duty and pride.
Aya didn't respect Kai. She saw him as unworthy of leadership. From her perspective, his strength didn't match his rank. And maybe, before unlocking his Sharingan, she was right.
But everything changed when Kai awakened the Sharingan.
If Aya deliberately injured herself to avoid Kai's wrath or the mission's dangers—especially after slighting him—then her actions made a twisted kind of sense.
"That woman..." Kai sighed, somewhat exasperated. Was she really forcing him to consider killing a teammate within Konoha?
Of course not. Kai wasn't that kind of shinobi. And despite her attitude, Aya's defensive abilities and insight made her more useful alive.
She was already on her way back to the village—with Kakashi. She probably didn't expect that Kai and Kenta would also return so soon.
"I'm looking forward to seeing her again." Kai thought, a malicious grin forming on his lips. "I really underestimated both of you—Aya Hyūga and Kenta Imai. But I'll remember this."