War didn't slow down.
It never truly did.
Days blurred into patrols, skirmishes, sudden ambushes, and long stretches of tense waiting beneath the relentless desert sun.
For Uchiha Kaen, the battlefield became both trial and training ground.
His routine settled quickly:
Morning physical conditioning before deployment.
Observation Haki range drills during patrol.
Controlled combat engagement during skirmishes.
Mental discipline exercises at night.
Each battle sharpened him.
Each victory added system points steadily.
Not celebrated.
Just noted.
Another step toward future strength.
Kagami led differently than Sakumo.
Where Sakumo emphasized efficiency, Kagami emphasized balance:
"Strength isn't just force," he told the team once.
"It's judgment. Timing. Emotional control."
Kaen respected that.
Because it matched his own instincts.
Then came the ambush.
A Sunagakure elite squad — more experienced than previous encounters — struck during a sandstorm.
Visibility dropped instantly.
Wind screamed across dunes.
Perfect environment for genjutsu specialists.
That's when Kagami's Mangekyō Sharingan appeared.
Not dramatically.
Just necessity.
Red patterns shifting in his eyes.
Presence intensifying.
The effect was immediate.
Enemy formation faltered.
Movements slowed.
Expressions turned disoriented.
Powerful genjutsu — precise, not reckless.
Battle ended quickly after that.
Minimal casualties on their side.
Efficient.
Professional.
Kaen watched carefully.
Not surprised.
He'd suspected Kagami possessed deeper capabilities.
Still…
Seeing it confirmed carried weight.
Mangekyō Sharingan wasn't trivial.
It shaped political perception inside and outside the clan.
Kagami deactivated it quickly afterward.
No discussion.
No explanation.
Just professionalism.
Kaen respected that discretion.
But someone else noticed too.
Not present physically.
Watching from shadows.
Danzo's intelligence network operated quietly even during war.
Observers embedded in logistics units.
Informants among scouts.
Occasional battlefield watchers.
One such observer witnessed Kagami's Mangekyō activation.
Report delivered promptly.
Inside Konoha, Danzo read it with interest.
Not shock.
Anticipation.
"Another Mangekyō user," he murmured.
Tone thoughtful.
Calculating.
Not openly hostile.
Yet.
Because to Danzo, rare abilities equaled strategic assets.
Or potential threats.
Sometimes both simultaneously.
Meanwhile, back in the desert…
Kaen continued training harder.
System points rising steadily now:
Battles.
Victories.
Endurance.
Still far from Ultra Instinct requirement.
But progress undeniable.
Hitomi improved alongside him.
Rasengan control sharper.
Battle awareness stronger.
Emotional stability impressive under pressure.
Kaen felt quiet pride in that.
Not romantic alone.
Partnership.
Kagami occasionally sparred privately with Kaen.
Not testing dominance.
Refining control.
Mentorship without ego.
Those sessions accelerated Kaen's tactical maturity significantly.
One evening, after another successful patrol, Kagami said quietly:
"War reveals people."
Pause.
"You're handling it well."
Kaen replied simply:
"I prepared for chaos early."
Kagami nodded knowingly.
War orphan upbringing often forged resilience.
That night, Observation Haki picked up something faint.
Not immediate threat.
Just distant attention.
Calculated.
Persistent.
Kaen didn't know it yet…
But Danzo's curiosity was turning toward both Kagami and him.
And curiosity from Danzo rarely remained passive.
Still, Kaen stayed calm.
Training continued.
Battles continued.
Points accumulated.
Identity stabilized.
Storms came and went across the desert.
But within Kaen…
Focus remained steady.
Because war, politics, clan expectations — all temporary.
Strength and clarity endured longer.
And Kaen intended to keep both.