After several days, Uchiha Kai finally returned to Konoha with the wounded. As he stood before the familiar gates of the village, his gaze drifted up to the towering Hokage Rock, where the faces of the First, Second, and Third Hokage looked down over the village. An overwhelming wave of emotion surged in his chest.
Finally… I made it back. Alive.
He wasn't the only one feeling that way. The injured Konoha shinobi who had returned with him shared similar emotions—relief, exhaustion, and that quiet, unshakable desire that had kept them moving on the battlefield.
The will to live wasn't something unique to Uchiha Kai. It was a silent, shared wish among every shinobi who had marched onto the front lines. While such desires were often discouraged as distractions in combat, they were deeply human—and impossible to ignore once the danger had passed.
Perhaps because they weren't considered part of a victorious unit, there was no welcoming party at the gate. Not that Kai cared. He was about to part ways with Masato Yamanaka and head back to the Uchiha compound when a small group of Uchiha-clad shinobi approached him.
He recognized several of them. Although he wasn't close to any of them, he knew their faces. They were different—not just in status, but in role. These were the Uchiha deemed "worthy of training," the ones assigned to protect the clan elders or stationed within the Konoha Military Police Force.
In other words, they were the archetypal Uchiha: loyal to the clan's inner circle, proud of their bloodline, and often dismissive of those on the margins like Kai—especially a young Uchiha who hadn't even awakened his Sharingan until recently.
But now, things were different. Word from the front lines had spread—Uchiha Kai had awakened the Sharingan. Not just any Sharingan, but the fully evolved three-tomoe form.
"It looks like you've been recognized by the clan," Masato Yamanaka said with a grin as he noticed the Uchiha approaching. "Then I'll get out of your way. Thanks for getting me back here in one piece."
"You've said that enough times on the way here, Masato," Kai replied with a tired smile. "Go rest. Your injuries are a lot worse than mine."
"Yeah, yeah. Next time we meet, I'll be asking you to cover me against a jōnin or two," Masato joked, waving as he turned to leave.
Kai's smile lingered only until Masato disappeared into the village. Despite being a comrade, Masato was still a child of the Yamanaka clan—a part of a respected and long-standing shinobi family. He didn't know if Masato was related to Inoichi Yamanaka, but he had no doubt that someone like Masato had a future. It was worth building a relationship with him—but there was no point keeping up the smile now.
Besides, the annoying ones had arrived.
Kai had no respect for these clan loyalists, the ones who clung to their status and positions under the elders, safe from the front lines. Every major clan had its internal politics—the Hyuga were infamous for their division between main and branch families. Even Hyuga Hiashi had once been manipulated by the clan elders, though the true burden had come from the Third Hokage's diplomacy.
The Uchiha were no different. The clan was split into factions—elders, the Military Police, and the shinobi like Kai and Fugaku who went to war. If Fugaku had stayed behind to train Itachi, it may have been a calculated move, possibly related to maintaining control over the Police Force. But that power, which isolated the Uchiha from the rest of the village, had also begun to corrupt them—and deepen the rift between clan and village.
"Uchiha Kai, welcome back," said a female voice with a rehearsed smile. It was Jun Uchiha, a well-known figure in the clan—beautiful, skilled, and popular.
"Ah, hello," Kai replied, his voice neutral and expression unreadable.
Jun didn't seem fazed by his lack of enthusiasm. "Welcome back, and congratulations on your achievements at the front. We've received word that you've awakened the Sharingan… so naturally, we came to see for ourselves."
Kai merely nodded, but inside, he was sneering.
Of course. They came for the eyes.
In this clan, nothing mattered more than the Sharingan. Possessing it meant power. And even if they didn't say it aloud, the stronger members of the clan could sense it—Kai was now someone worth recruiting.
But before they extended a hand, they needed confirmation. The reports had claimed that Kai awakened a three-tomoe Sharingan—a feat practically unheard of on a first awakening.
Kai knew the truth. His eyes weren't born of destiny like Obito's. If he could've hidden one or two tomoe to mislead them, he would've. But his Sharingan didn't allow that kind of subtlety.
So, let them see.
He closed his eyes for a moment—and when he opened them, they glowed crimson. Three tomoe spun slowly in each pupil. The standard, completed form of the Sharingan.
The expressions of the Uchiha shinobi shifted subtly—some awe, some envy, and more than a little jealousy. They tried to hide it, but Kai saw it all. His inner smirk deepened.
How many of them have even reached this level?
And this wasn't even his limit.
Jun's expression grew more composed, though her smile became even brighter. "Kai-kun truly is a genius of the Uchiha clan. I'm sure both the patriarch and the elders will be thrilled. A prodigy like you can only bring honor to the clan."
"A genius?" Kai repeated calmly. "If I were truly a genius, I wouldn't be this tired. And right now, I'm in no mood for idle talk. If you have something to say, make it quick."
"A little arrogance suits a genius," Jun said, still smiling. "We're just here to welcome you home."