Imai Kenta was a sharp and observant young man.
Even if he deeply distrusted the Uchiha—let alone someone as secretive and unpredictable as Kai Uchiha—he knew better than to act recklessly on the front lines of war.
He had no choice. With no way to withdraw from active duty, the only option left was compromise.
After returning home, he spent the night poring through old scrolls and war records left behind by his ancestors. What he read only deepened his unease.
There was no doubt in his mind now—Kai Uchiha possessed a forbidden power, and he was hiding it.
"Someone like you... keeping that kind of power secret until the last moment... Are you planning to get us all killed?" Kenta muttered bitterly.
He misunderstood Kai, clearly—but such misunderstandings, born of wartime distrust and clan rivalries, were difficult to dispel.
Still, Kenta wasn't foolish. The next morning, rather than stir trouble, he reported directly to the Konoha Military Police Force, as instructed.
True to his word, Kai Uchiha honored their prior agreement.
"You'll serve as vice-captain of my squad," Kai stated without pretense. "We're collaborators, nothing more. You lead alongside me, and I want you to understand that clearly."
Kenta raised an eyebrow. "Collaborators? You think I share your ideals?"
"I don't know your true intentions," Kai replied. "But I can guess. You have your grievances with the current leadership—probably something passed down from your family."
Kenta's gaze turned cold. "Digging around for information about my background won't help. You won't get anything from me. And don't bother trying genjutsu."
Kai gave a faint smile. "If I was going to use genjutsu, I would've done it yesterday."
"Then let's leave it at that. When I have something to say, I'll say it."
Kai nodded. "Fair enough. I've arranged a squad for you. Civilians—some with combat experience, some fresh. You'll train and lead them. There will also be a few Uchiha veterans in the group. If I'm unavailable, they'll report to you."
Kenta accepted the assignment without hesitation. "Alright. I gave my word, and I'll do it right."
He paused, then added with a trace of irony, "You're trying to clean up the Uchiha's image in the village. Integrate the clan into Konoha's fabric. But isn't that a little late? I've heard the Third Hokage doesn't trust you."
Kai tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly. He wasn't offended—in fact, there was a strange satisfaction in Kenta's bluntness.
In a twisted way, it was still cooperation—even if begrudgingly. And that meant Kenta had skin in the game too.
"I can't reveal everything," Kai said quietly. "Not yet. But our goals align more than you think. At least for now."
"I understand, Captain," Kenta replied, stressing the word. "I'll wait for results. For now, I'll get to work."
After Kenta left, Kai leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.
"An Uchiha. A potential Senju descendant. And Aya Hyuga from the Hyuga clan..." he mused.
"If handled right, we could unite the strengths of all three major clans…"
But then he scoffed at himself. "No. That's wishful thinking. Political alliances among noble clans are double-edged swords. The more powerful they become, the more dangerous they are in the eyes of Hokage."
He had no desire to end up like those who supported the rise of the Fourth Hokage—only to be betrayed by the very system they empowered.
What he really needed was to win over the marginalized: the small clans, the civilians, the disenfranchised.
"Power doesn't lie in lineage anymore. It lies in numbers, in influence. If we give the civilians a voice, a stake, we'll have the leverage to stand equal with the great clans..."
Kai's eyes gleamed.
"The Hokage system needs checks. If the Uchiha can rally enough support from outside the elite... even the Hokage will have to listen."
Still, the future was uncertain. Especially with the Fourth Hokage—Minato Namikaze—still alive.
Originally, Kai had anticipated his death in the Nine-Tails attack. But if Minato survived and continued to reign, that would shift everything.
Kai Uchiha didn't intend to serve anyone.
He would use alliances, bargains, whatever tools he needed to strengthen the Uchiha—on his terms.
He had taken an event everyone assumed was inevitable and turned it into leverage.
If others believed the future depended on him, they'd follow.
What he truly wanted wasn't simply power.
It was an obedient Uchiha clan.
And right now, with the Third Hokage still in control, he had the cover he needed. Fugaku bore the clan's burdens publicly—Kai maneuvered from the shadows.
But that wouldn't last forever. One day, the Third would be gone, and Kai would have to face Konoha's true power structure head-on.
When that day came, he'd be ready.
At the Uchiha clan's council chamber, the Great Elder sat calmly as two senior captains of the Military Police stood before him.
"How are your injuries?" asked the elder.
Uchiha Tsubasa and Uchiha Tomoya bowed deeply.
"We're recovering well, Great Elder."
They had been hospitalized for days after losing a confrontation with Kai Uchiha. Their first stop upon release was here—to account for their failure.
The elder gave a small nod. "You're both important to the clan. With your Sharingan at three tomoe, your survival is paramount. Understood?"
"Yes, Great Elder."
But beneath their formal responses, both men were still bitter.
They had heard disturbing rumors while in the hospital: Kai Uchiha was promoting outsiders—even civilian-born ninjas—into the force.
It was unthinkable.
Losing to Kai had stung, but his political moves now threatened the very foundation of the Military Police's hardline faction.
Still, they admitted one thing: the boy was strong.
"What is his true level?" the elder asked.
Tsubasa opened his mouth, but it was Tomoya who spoke first.
"He's extremely capable, Great Elder. His battlefield instincts are refined. His movement is precise, and he handles enemy subordinates without hesitation. His resistance to genjutsu is remarkable—we both failed to trap him."
The elder nodded.
He already knew much of this—but it was important for the captains to recognize it themselves.
Kai Uchiha was a piece in the clan's great internal game—perhaps a dangerous one. He had shaken the balance of power within the Police Force.
But to the elder, he was still a pawn.
One placed on the board by Uchiha Fugaku to stir the waters. A pawn with strength, yes—but still just a boy.
And in the elder's long game of clan supremacy, such pawns were meant to be sacrificed.