Uchiha Kai's return to Konoha didn't cause much turbulence—at least not officially.
The deeds of Kai and his teammates on the front lines in the Land of Grass had already spread like wildfire. Every Konoha shinobi who had participated in the war had heard of the "Uchiha kid" who led an operation behind enemy lines. And they weren't just rumors—what Kai and his team accomplished was nothing short of extraordinary.
Though their mission was classified, word had gotten out. With the war now stabilizing, most Konoha ninja understood that Kei's team had been tasked with a death mission—deep behind Iwa's lines to carry out high-risk sabotage and disruption.
Even under such peril, Kai and his team showed remarkable skill and leadership. They managed to rescue at least fifteen Konoha prisoners held by the enemy—a feat that demanded both tactical brilliance and courage.
When casualties struck the famed Namikaze Minato's squad, Kai stepped in as a substitute member and helped bring the mission to completion—one that would later be seen as the turning point of the Third Shinobi World War.
And that was only the beginning.
The achievements of Kai and the "three little devils," as some began to call them, were the stuff of battlefield legend. Because of Kai's decisive command, a squad of Konoha shinobi appeared behind enemy lines, launching a surprise assault that fractured Iwa's morale and weakened their front line.
Kai and his team didn't stop there. They even staged a bold raid on one of Iwagakure's forward defense lines and nearly wiped out the team of Loess—the son of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki. Though Minato ultimately arrived to secure their escape, the feat alone proved how formidable these young shinobi were.
By the end, only three members of Kai's team remained standing—but they completed the mission.
Minato Namikaze, now widely feared as "Konoha's Yellow Flash," defeated and captured Han, the Jinchūriki of the Five-Tails, dramatically accelerating the end of the war. Meanwhile, Kenta Imai—a civilian-born ninja with no clan backing—was the one who destroyed the Kannabi Bridge with a powerful explosion technique, severing Iwa's supply lines.
And Kai Uchiha? He went beyond expectations. He eliminated a demolition specialist of the Iwa blasting corps and fought off the infamous Ishizuhira squad—elite Jōnin backed by Iwa's tactical division. He killed all four of them in direct combat.
When Kai returned to Konoha, exhausted and barely able to stand, no one dared mock him. Too many Konoha shinobi had lost comrades to those same Iwa teams. The Demolition Force and Ishizuhira squad had spilled far too much Konoha blood—some of it from these soldiers' friends and family.
For many, Kai's actions felt like vengeance.
Kai's return wasn't just triumphant—it was cathartic. He had done what so many wished they could. His victory brought pride and gratitude, especially among the rank-and-file ninjas, who now saw Kai not as just another Uchiha, but as one of their own.
They'd done their part. Now it was time for Kai to rest.
Kai spent a few quiet days recovering on a stone cot in the medical facility. After weeks of combat and countless ration pills—plus a handful of Akimichi-enhanced recovery meds—his body was utterly drained. Even now, after days of rest, he knew he wasn't back to full strength. A full recovery would take another week, maybe more.
But that no longer mattered. The fighting was done. Kai would return to Konoha tomorrow.
The med-nin didn't want him walking around just yet, but Kai could be stubborn. He was under orders not to train or spar, only light movement—but even that couldn't stop him from stretching his legs a bit.
As he stepped outside the tented infirmary, many Konoha shinobi saluted or greeted him. Kai, as usual, remained stoic—but returned their smiles with polite nods. He wasn't one for small talk, but he understood the importance of acknowledgment.
A friendly smile and a small word of thanks went a long way—especially with the common ranks, mostly made up of civilian-born ninjas like Kenta. Their respect was earned in sweat and blood, not birthright. Kai, more than most, understood that.
As he walked, a familiar face caught his eye.
Masato Yamanaka.
The man was covered in bandages, looking like he'd barely made it out alive.
Kai had assumed Masato was dead—especially during the raid on Iwa's defenses. When Kai and his team faced off against Loess's squad, there had been no sign of reinforcement. Kai had used shadow clones and misdirection to cover their retreat, thinking all other decoy squads had perished.
Apparently, Masato wasn't among the dead—but he wasn't far from it either.
"Jōnin Yamanaka, it's been a while," Kai said as he approached.
"Ah, Kai-kun," Masato replied with a surprised grin. "I heard the stories—people say you wiped out the whole Ishizuhira team. That's insane!"
"I was just lucky," Kei answered modestly, showing no sign of pride.
The Ishizuhira squad had a fierce reputation. Each member was a Jōnin-level combatant, and their teamwork was precise—offense and defense in perfect sync. They'd haunted the Grass Country battlefield since the early days of the war.
But they were unlucky. Kai had already awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan. He'd eliminated them before they realized what hit them.
"You're not in great shape," Kai noted.
"Call me Masato, Kai-kun," he replied with a small chuckle. "Surrounded and outnumbered. Fractured ribs, broken arms, maybe a cracked femur—but I'm alive. Pity about the others…"
Kai fell silent.
The decoy teams… most of them didn't survive.
He remembered one Jōnin—Kosuke Jingshan. A veteran, full of fire. Probably one of the few who still believed in that idealistic "Will of Fire" to the very end. Kai didn't know whether the man regretted it—but it didn't matter.
What mattered was Kai made it back alive.
Even if others had died in his place, Kai didn't regret his decision. He had chosen to survive—and he had no illusions about the cost of that choice.
Whether those other shinobi had dreams of glory, peace, or simple survival, each of them had chosen their path.
Kai had chosen his.
And he would live with it.