Chapter 158: Night Meeting
Uchiha Jun's proposal was met by Uchiha Fugaku with neither warmth nor hostility. His reaction was as restrained as always—measured, diplomatic, and unreadable.
Though Fugaku and Uchiha Kei appeared to be close allies on the surface, both men knew the reality behind their relationship. The bond they shared was built not on trust or affection, but on a fragile balance of mutual interest.
Bridging the gap between them would take time—and a continuous effort to maintain that balance of power.
Fugaku couldn't quite decipher Kei's intentions. But strangely, he couldn't shake the feeling that Kei had already seen through him entirely.
Whether that was true or not, one thing was clear: while Fugaku worked to protect Kei, he was also keeping his guard up. He knew Kei was likely doing the same.
There was no point delving too deeply into the issue now. At this moment, Fugaku had more pressing concerns—he had to clean up Kei's mess.
Kei's recent actions wouldn't just ruffle feathers within the clan. Those outside the Uchiha, the ones who'd been watching them closely, would undoubtedly hear about it soon.
And so, Fugaku needed to act. He had to do what he could to smooth over the consequences. Whatever couldn't be concealed had to be spun into something more acceptable—more palatable.
Of course, Kei understood this as well. After all, he was the one who set things in motion.
"There's no such thing as a secret in this village," Kei mused silently, seated alone in his spacious office. "Especially not for the Uchiha, who are always under special scrutiny."
The higher-ups in Konoha might not dare to openly spy on prominent Uchiha figures—but others wouldn't be so cautious.
Kei could all but guarantee that Hiruzen Sarutobi and his circle had already caught wind of the incident.
"Funny… my promotion has made it harder for them to keep an eye on me. That's a nice side effect."
Kei leaned back in his chair, thoughtful. "After what just happened, I bet they're more interested in winning me over than trying to suppress me."
In the past, Kei had stayed under the radar, avoiding too much attention. But now, even if the higher-ups wanted to monitor him, they couldn't act as brazenly as before.
Most importantly, Kei's maneuvering had—intentionally or not—positioned him as "the enemy of their enemy."
He wasn't foolish. Every move he made was calculated with consequences in mind. While he sometimes took risks for greater gain, his default was always the safer path.
"Still, chances are they won't approach me directly," he murmured. "To them, I'm just Fugaku's mouthpiece."
Kei stood up. He didn't feel like lingering in his office anymore.
All the subordinates from his unit had been thrown into Konoha's prison under his own orders. And the other teams? They treated him like a ghost—or a demon.
Staying here was a waste of time. He might as well go somewhere useful.
Whether it was continuing his exploration of Susanoo or checking in on Uchiha Isamu, both options seemed worthwhile.
But before he could even reach the door—
Knock, knock.
The office door was struck again.
"You can come in. It's not locked," Kei called, tilting his head and sitting back down.
The door opened.
It was Kakashi.
"What brings you here?" Kei raised an eyebrow with a faint smile. "Didn't expect you, of all people—especially not here."
"My teacher sent me," Kakashi replied flatly. His voice was cold, like he'd stepped out of a freezer.
There was a chill in his tone that even someone like Kei found… unsettling.
Uchiha Kei looked into Kakashi's exposed Sharingan—cold, distant, and suffocating in its indifference—and shook his head.
"Do you really have to wear that expression even here?" Kei sighed. "Or is that all the emotional endurance you have? Honestly, Kakashi, that's disappointing."
"I..." Kakashi froze for a moment. A flicker of life lit up in his right eye, but it quickly dimmed. "Sorry... I…"
Kei could tell right away: Kakashi likely wouldn't forgive himself—perhaps ever.
After all, he had personally killed the friend he once swore to protect… and broke a promise to another. That kind of guilt would crush most people.
Maybe the cruelest thing in the world... is surviving—alone—while carrying unbearable guilt.
But Kakashi wasn't Itachi. He wasn't some lone lunatic bearing a world of pain.
"You still have friends, Kakashi," Kei stepped forward and stood before him. "Plenty of people care about you. So think—what does this attitude of yours mean to them?"
"I'm sorry… I… I…" Kakashi's body trembled slightly. He lowered his head and closed his eyes.
Kei stared at him, a little surprised. Was that… a sob in his voice?
He didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
Apologizing to me? What's the point? The people who truly care about you—your teacher, Guy… they're the ones you should be thinking about.
Still, Kei cared too. Maybe not as selflessly, but he did care.
"Pull yourself together, Kakashi." Kei gently patted him on the shoulder. "You need a distraction. You said Minato-sensei wants to meet me, right?"
"Yes. Minato-sensei wants to speak with you," Kakashi replied, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "But he asked that it be somewhere very quiet. His exact words."
"Understood." Kei nodded. "Just a heads-up—during our meeting, I'll recommend to Minato that you join the ANBU."
"Only in ANBU will you find the focus and discipline you need. It'll give you perspective—and maybe one day, you'll even help your teacher in return."
"I understand, Kei." Kakashi's voice had steadied. He nodded solemnly. "I trust you."
Seeing the clarity and sincerity in Kakashi's eyes, Kei felt… awkward. Rare, for someone like him.
He turned his head away to play it off, hiding the sigh that welled up in his chest.
Yes, Kei had approached Kakashi with a purpose. But he never intended to use or betray him.
And honestly, he couldn't bear seeing Kakashi like this.
"If you were a tall woman with long white hair, I might be enjoying this a bit more…"
After chatting for a bit longer, Kei escorted Kakashi out. He still had to inform Fugaku about the upcoming meeting.
This one was critical. As much as Kei would prefer to leave things between Fugaku and Minato, his presence was necessary to ensure it went smoothly.
He glanced at the kunai in his hand, then silently tucked it away.
Now, all that remained… was waiting.
---
Later that night, in a forest near Kei's private underground chamber—
Beneath the moonlit canopy, Uchiha Kei and Uchiha Fugaku stood side by side.
Both wore black cloaks that concealed their identities entirely, their faces hidden behind masks.
This meeting had to be a secret. They couldn't afford a single slip.
Time ticked by in silence, the two men as still as statues. Then, at the stroke of midnight—Minato Namikaze appeared.
"Sorry I'm late," Minato's voice was cool but apologetic. "I couldn't move until Kushina was asleep. I hope you'll understand."
"Minato, when did we become so formal?" Fugaku chuckled softly, removing his mask to reveal his face. "Kushina and Mikoto are friends. You and I go back as well. No need for distance."
"Good evening, Captain Minato," Kei added as he removed his own mask with a polite smile.
"Hello, Fugaku. Kei." Minato forced a slight smile. "If this were a personal meeting, I'd happily sit down for a long chat. But right now…"
He didn't finish the sentence—but the message was clear.
As friends, they could speak openly. But as representatives of their respective factions, they had to maintain boundaries.
Minato's eyes briefly flicked toward Kei.
After all, he was the one who brought their interests into alignment—and made this night's meeting possible.
Kei stood silently as the two spoke. His role tonight was minimal. He'd already laid the groundwork with Minato. This meeting was simply a follow-up—an expansion on those prior conversations.
As long as things stayed on course, Kei wouldn't intervene.
Ironically, the two men before him were among the most tragic figures in the world of shinobi.
As the fathers of two future saviors, both met premature ends.
Which of them had it worse? That was subjective.
Fugaku died by his son's hand—his entire clan destroyed. But at least he spent years alongside his son, enjoying the bond of family.
Minato, on the other hand, saw the future—but missed every moment when Naruto needed love the most.
In that sense, perhaps his loss was greater?
Kei shook his head with a sigh. The cruelty of this world never ceased to amaze him.
There are no fairy tales here. And even fairy tales… are often painted in shades of black.
"I may not be able to do much," Kei thought as he watched Fugaku and Minato grasp each other's hands in agreement, "but the ripple effects could be profound."
"At the very least, from this moment on, the Uchiha Clan—my Uchiha—has stepped onto a different path."
As for the future?
He didn't know. It might get better… or it might get worse.
But one thing was certain:
Doing nothing guarantees the worst outcome.