Night fell.
After settling everything, Uchiha Kai and Fugaku took their leave, smiling as they headed home.
Naturally, Kai was in high spirits.
After tonight's events, the Uchiha were now a single, unyielding iron slab.
All those harboring disloyalty had been swept away.
From here on, he could command like moving an arm or a leg—no more worries about knives in the back at critical moments.
And as for the ones he'd kicked out?
Well, they weren't useless. Thanks to Shisui, they were now leeching off the Sarutobi clan.
Yes—perfect.
When he pushed open the door to his home, his eyes shifted toward a shadowy grove to the left.
"Brother Minato!"
"You've been watching long enough, haven't you?"
"Come in for some tea."
Kai's voice was calm, but it carried straight into the trees.
Indeed—few in this world could escape the detection of his Observation Haki.
Not even White Zetsu, let alone Namikaze Minato.
Minato's Transformation Jutsu was impressive, masking even his breathing…
but it didn't matter.
Observation Haki wasn't ninjutsu. It was an ever-present awareness of the world around him.
The moment Minato shifted position, Kai had noticed.
Still—he hadn't cared.
After all, Minato wasn't his enemy.
At Kai's invitation, Minato didn't bother hiding anymore. He stepped out openly, golden hair catching the light, his warm smile as disarming as ever.
"Sorry, Kai-kun," Minato said with a grin. "Everyone's worried about the Uchiha, but with the Hokage involved, I couldn't show myself openly."
"But I have to say—your detection skills are incredible.
I thought I'd hidden myself well, yet you saw right through me."
Kai only shook his head.
There was no way to explain Observation Haki—an ability gifted by his system, unteachable and unlearnable.
So, after brushing it off casually, he led Minato into the house.
He personally brewed tea for them both. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Kai downed his cup in one gulp, warmth spreading through his body as he relaxed.
Minato, meanwhile, stared into his cup, brows furrowed.
This tea… it felt familiar.
Wait—
Wasn't this the tea set and leaves from Hiruzen Sarutobi's own home?
Of course. As a core figure in the Hokage's faction, and Jiraiya's student, Minato had often visited his Sensei's residence.
But why were they here, in Kai's house?
"Kai-kun, this tea…" Minato asked in confusion.
Kai's eyes were calm. He already knew the question before it was finished. With a casual wave, he spoke.
"You guessed right, Brother Minato."
"I swiped this straight from Lord Hokage's home.
That night when the Police Force sought to amend the law, Hiruzen tried to rally all the clans to wipe out the Uchiha.
Fugaku and I were prepared for a mutual destruction scenario—
to dismantle our defenses entirely, sending our Jounin to infiltrate every clan.
If the village struck, we'd target their elders, their children, their prodigies.
At the time, I myself was hidden among the Sarutobi.
Frankly, I was ready to slaughter the entire clan and defect from Konoha altogether.
But in the end… Hiruzen lost his nerve.
So, as I left, I helped myself to his tea set and left."
"Don't worry—he knows."
Kai didn't bother to hide the truth.
But Minato froze in shock.
He truly hadn't known. Back then he'd been on the front lines—no one had told him.
"Unbelievable…" Minato sighed. "We're all from the same village, and yet…"
"Forget it. No point dwelling on such bitter things.
But what about you and Shisui?
The whole affair today didn't sit right with me.
Shisui's not the type to seize power, let alone spark open conflict.
Can you shed some light?"
Minato asked plainly.
Yes—
In the past, he might have taken issue with the Uchiha nearly clashing with the village.
But after seeing the rot within Konoha's politics, he no longer cared to meddle.
Instead, he was curious.
Kai, catching the shift in Minato's tone, understood instantly.
So—Minato Namikaze, the future Fourth Hokage, truly was changing.
Realizing this, Kai didn't conceal anything.
He laid out his true purpose, and Minato was stunned.
"This… Can that really work?" Minato asked. "Shikaku Nara isn't deceiving you?"
Kai nodded.
Of course he understood the risk. But it didn't matter.
With a shake of his head, he chuckled.
"Brother Minato, this is still an open scheme.
Even if they see through it—so what?
Hiruzen still has to bleed money to support those Uchiha.
In the eyes of the clans, Shisui defected to him.
If Hiruzen doesn't pay up—if he treats them as mere cannon fodder—who else would dare throw in with him?"
"Even if he just wants to reassure the other clans, he has no choice but to shoulder the loss."
Minato gave a wry smile.
Yes—he finally grasped the brilliance of this "ally."
Unlike Hiruzen, Kai's every move was a flawless trap.
Even when you saw the pit ahead, you had no choice but to jump in.
What else could you do?
With a weary sigh, Minato was about to reply—
BOOM!
The whole house shook violently.
Kai and Minato exchanged a sharp glance, their expressions instantly hardening.
Without hesitation, they rushed outside.
And there—on the village's horizon—
four crimson tails lashed in the air.
Ninjutsu lit the night. Konoha was in chaos.
"Kushina!" Minato's face tightened. "Has Danzo made his move?"
"Kai-kun, forgive me—
I have to go!"
In a single flash, Minato vanished, Flying Thunder God whisking him away.
"…Flying Thunder God, huh," Kai muttered. "What a convenient technique."
"Four crimson tails… looks like Kushina's lost it.
Minato mentioned Danzo—likely over Nohara Rin."
"How amusing. Danzo, you've outdone yourself!"
"I was just wondering how to make Minato break with the Hokage's faction once and for all.
And here you are, handing me the perfect opportunity.
If I didn't know better, I'd think you were my man."
"At this rate, I almost can't bear to kill you!"
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