"Don't mention it. The hot spring was pretty relaxing."
Uchiha Kai and Imai Kenta walked side by side toward the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters, both of them visibly at ease after their soak.
Kai couldn't deny it—hot springs were truly something special. He felt like every pore in his body had opened up, tension melting away with the steam. Still, something lingered in his mind: when they left, they happened to bump into Kakashi and Might Guy.
The looks those two gave him and Kenta—it was as if they'd seen ghosts.
Kai didn't dwell on it, though. They probably never expected to see him at a hot spring in the first place.
"It was nice," Kenta nodded. "So, are we heading back to the Military Police now?"
"Actually…" Uchiha Kai stopped walking. A faint, unreadable smile touched his lips. "I thought I'd show you something. We need to have a proper talk."
While soaking earlier, Kai had been mulling over Kenta's recent behavior—and more importantly, his background. Learning about Kenta's family situation had given Kai plenty to think about. Now, his plan was set.
He needed to secure Kenta's cooperation. The boy might claim to be just a "civilian ninja," but his blood belonged to the Senju. And that piqued Kai's interest deeply.
Especially now, knowing the state of the modern Senju—fragmented, disgraced, and politically sidelined. A dangerous opportunity, perhaps, but one worth exploiting.
Kai's plan was simple: take Kenta to his most secret place—his underground laboratory.
Kenta likely sensed its existence already during their confrontation with Uchiha Xiu. As a sensory-type ninja, it would've been impossible for him to ignore the chakra ripples during that skirmish.
Bringing him now would serve several purposes: strengthen trust, show Aya Hyuga his confidence in her, and reaffirm his dominance in the power structure of his growing circle.
A multi-purpose play. The best kind.
"To your… underground base?" Kenta blinked, realization dawning.
"So you did sense it last time," Kai said without surprise. "Let's go. There's a lot we need to discuss."
Without another word, Kai led Kenta away. The Senju hesitated—then clenched his jaw and followed. He knew this was no longer something he could walk away from.
Truthfully, by approaching Kai today, Kenta had put himself in a position of vulnerability. He didn't like it—but he had plans of his own.
His recent meeting with Senju Shoma—elder of the dwindling Senju clan—had left him bitter. The older man's passive coldness, his refusal to change or adapt, had been a slap in the face.
Kai had probably guessed all that already. Kenta had spent over a year on the same team as him. If there was one thing Kai understood, it was people—especially the kind who didn't fit in, the kind like him.
And now, the kind like Kenta.
They moved silently toward the Uchiha compound. Kenta didn't say a word. He stayed alert, noting the security changes along the forest path behind the estate.
Sealing barriers had increased, but curiously, the number of guards had thinned out.
Too few guards for such a sensitive place... Is that intentional? To avoid drawing attention? he wondered.
They weren't stopped. A few Uchiha patrols passed them but said nothing. Clearly, Uchiha Kai held absolute authority here.
When they descended into the underground complex and entered the lab, Aya Hyuga was already inside.
She looked up, surprised.
"Him?" Her eyes narrowed. "You resolved things already?"
"Not exactly," Kai replied as he found a seat. "But we're heading in that direction. We might be able to help him."
"Do you want me to leave?" Aya asked, already tidying up the scattered research notes—documents bearing Orochimaru's seal.
"No need," Kai said calmly. "You already know more than most. A bit more won't matter."
Aya didn't press. She sat back down. She was curious—especially about anything her collaborator hadn't told her.
Kenta, watching this casual exchange, raised an eyebrow.
"You actually trust this madwoman… I mean, woman?" he muttered. "I suppose you've already figured out what I want."
"You want a seat at the table," Kai said, his smile sharp. "You're tired of working hard just to be ignored. You're tired of being told you're not enough."
He was reading Kenta like a book—because he'd been that book before.
"You want power and influence in your clan," Kai continued. "Not as a legacy, but as something earned."
Kenta didn't deny it. "Exactly."
"I was raised with the slogan 'revitalize the Senju clan' drilled into me," Kenta said. "And told that the Third Hokage's faction was the enemy."
"But I have better ideas now. And I know how dangerous you are, Uchiha Kai."
He raised his gaze to meet Kai's directly.
"I'm not here to be your enemy. So here's what I offer."
He spoke quickly now—clearly practiced.
"I'll provide you with a list of potential recruits for your fourth team. I'll also deliver the Second Hokage's personal research on the Sharingan… as well as his early experiments on the cells of the First Hokage."
Aya and Kai exchanged glances.
Kai leaned back, intrigued. "That's a heavy offer. Are you serious?"
"Absolutely," Kenta said. "And I'm not done."
He took a breath. "Once the Senju name is restored, I'll align our interests with yours—wherever possible. Our ancestors built Konoha together. Maybe we can again."
There was silence.
Aya blinked once, slowly. Then she looked away, unimpressed.
Kai, too, seemed unmoved.
"That's a fancy speech," he said finally. "But most of what you're offering is just fluff."
"The list? Negotiable. The alliance? Worthless until you have a clan to speak for. The jutsu scrolls? Water and Earth Release? I'm Uchiha—I specialize in Fire and Lightning."
"But the research on the Sharingan... that is valuable."
Kenta's face remained calm. "That's just the starting point. If we're doing this, it has to be deep cooperation."
Kai folded his arms. "What else can you give me?"
Kenta's eyes narrowed. "I want in on your experiment."
The lab fell silent.
Kai frowned. "Don't push it, Kenta. This isn't a game."
"I'm not pushing anything," Kenta said. "Hear me out first."
Kai said nothing. Kenta went on.
"I wonder how much you know about the First Hokage."
Kai blinked. "Wood Release? Are you offering that?"
"No. Something else. Something just as powerful."
Kai's eyes widened slightly. "Senjutsu."
"Exactly." Kenta nodded. "The Shodaime didn't just rely on Wood Release. His Sage Mode—slug-based, from the Shikkotsu Forest—was key to his power. And I can get that training. I can get that knowledge."
Kai looked at him sharply. "That's a big claim."
"I wouldn't offer it if I couldn't back it up," Kenta said. "If you want access to that knowledge, I'm your only shot."
Kai leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Sage Mode… could work with Wood Release, with Sharingan, even with Susanoo…"
It was a tempting idea.
"You'd really give me access to it?" Kai asked. "Just like that?"
"I want a stake in this project," Kenta said. "And in exchange, I'll give you full access to what I have on Senjutsu. You'll finally have a complete picture of how the Shodaime did it."
Kai sat back, deep in thought.
It was risky. But also, perhaps, the only chance he'd get.
After a pause, he nodded.
"Alright. But there's a condition."
"Of course." Kenta straightened. "What is it?"
"You need to convince Aya yourself," Kai said, nodding toward her. "And your research—all of it—gets shared with us completely."
Kenta smiled. "That's fair. And honestly, even if I said no… I know you'd find a way to get it anyway."
He paused. "But about the Wood Release…"
"I don't need the hand signs," Kai interrupted. "Just the data."
Kenta gave a bitter laugh. "Fine. I'll give you a portion. But don't get greedy, Kai. You know my goals. And I know yours."
He stood now, his face serious.
"My ancestors shook hands with yours to build this village. I have no hatred for the Uchiha. We can do it again."
He extended a hand.
"What do you say, Uchiha Kai?"
Kai stood as well. He looked at that hand for a long moment.
Then he took it.
"Glad to be working with you," he said. "But tell me—should I call you Imai Kenta, or Senju Kenta?"