Chapter 70: The Uchiha Way of Battle
After the clan meeting ended, Uchiha Kei returned to his usual daily routine.
However, things had changed a bit. Thanks to Ryoko Uchiha's "promotion"—which was really just idle gossip among the clan's housewives—news of Kei attending the clan meeting spread like wildfire throughout the entire Uchiha clan.
Now, whenever Kei went out to train with Kakashi, he would be watched and whispered about. Though the onlookers were all friendly, Kei couldn't help but feel awkward, like a monkey in a zoo.
What made him even more speechless was how many of the younger kids were now suffering from what could only be described as parental pressure.
He imagined the conversations happening in many households:
"Look at Kei from Aunt Ryoko's family! So young and already such an outstanding ninja—he even attends clan meetings! You should be more like him."
Kei had suddenly become that kid—the model child from someone else's family. And to be honest, he wasn't thrilled about it. The last thing he wanted was a bunch of impressionable kids idolizing him.
"If they really try to be like me, should I start watching my back for little traitors trying to stab me one day?"
Kei was very aware of who he was. If these kids picked up on his "good traits," Konoha would be doomed.
Still, if corrupting the next generation could bring down the Four Pillars of Konoha... maybe that wasn't such a bad idea?
Of course, he was just joking—kind of. So far, only Imai Kenta and Hyuga Ayaka seemed to truly resemble him in mindset.
Aside from those kids, Kei also noticed that a certain group of Uchiha adults had started actively trying to get close to him.
These were some of the more influential figures within the clan—frequent visitors to his home. Their visits completely stunned Keisuke and Ryoko, but also filled them with pride. Their son had clearly reached a level beyond their imagination.
Kei, on the other hand, frowned at the sudden attention. He wasn't interested in forming alliances, especially not with people who completely misunderstood his stance.
Opposing Uchiha Shuu and the hardliners had always been part of Kei's long-term strategy. That didn't mean he supported the "dove faction."
To Kei, the so-called Uchiha doves were just as bad—if not worse—than the hawks.
Uchiha Shisui, that naive idiot, was proof enough. And Uchiha Itachi? He took that ideology to an extreme by literally murdering his entire family in the name of peace.
Compared to Kei—a supposed outsider—even Itachi was more ruthless.
If the hawks were egotistical maniacs, the doves were brainwashed lunatics and backstabbers in the making.
They produced two Mangekyō Sharingan users, and both turned out disastrously:
One got brainwashed by the Third Hokage and ultimately committed suicide, not because he found a solution, but because he gave up.
The other butchered his own clan, sparing only his beloved little brother, completely disregarding anyone else's life.
If not for Kei's grander plan, these guys would've been at the top of his personal hit list.
So even though he hated dealing with them, Kei still kept up polite appearances when they visited.
He'd act this way even with Uchiha Shuu. After all, he managed to keep his composure around the Third Hokage—one of the main culprits behind the clan's downfall—so this was nothing.
Still, dealing with them was mentally exhausting. So more and more, Kei chose to spend his time training with Kakashi.
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Clang!
Deep in the forest where they usually trained, the sound of blades and kunai clashing rang out.
Two figures darted between the trees, engaged in fierce combat. But the battle didn't last long.
Soon enough, a silver-haired ninja in a mask was knocked flat on the ground—Kakashi.
Uchiha Kei stood nearby, curiously examining the short ninja blade in his hand.
Kakashi had given him the blade earlier that day, something Kei hadn't expected at all.
"You didn't hold back at all," Kakashi said, rubbing his stomach where he'd been kicked. "Something bothering you lately?"
"Plenty. But nothing serious." Kei shrugged. "And that was me going easy on you. On the battlefield, no one's that gentle."
He gave a wry smile, then looked at the blade. "What's the deal with this sword? I thought you were joking last time."
"Do I look like the joking type?" Kakashi shook his head. "My father used this kind of metal for his blade. Since I don't plan on using swords anymore…"
"Your father was a hero." Kei interrupted before Kakashi could finish. "Even if his blade broke, why not repair it? Stand on the shoulders of giants. You should be forging your own path. Besides, do you think Obito would want to see you like this?"
Kei had always wondered: Kakashi was an excellent swordsman—so why had he abandoned that path?
He initially thought it was because the blade couldn't be repaired. Chakra-conductive metal was rare, after all. But Kakashi clearly still had some of that material—he'd just handed Kei a blade made from it.
So what was the real reason?
After some thought, Kei realized the answer was both sad and ridiculous: Obito.
In Kakashi's mind, Obito had died because of him. Now carrying Obito's eye, he felt obligated to use it to the fullest, to honor his fallen friend.
But Obito hadn't died. In the future, he'd witness Kakashi kill Rin and then go completely dark.
In a way, Kakashi had chosen the wrong path entirely.
His future fighting style became more and more like an Uchiha's—using ninjutsu to probe, then following up with Sharingan-assisted Chidori for the kill.
But for real Uchiha, using the Sharingan wasn't so taxing.
Kakashi, however, had a foreign eye—one that drained chakra endlessly. He kept forcing himself to fight in the "Uchiha way," and Kei couldn't help but see this as a deep-rooted issue in Kakashi's mindset.
"Obito wouldn't want me to be like this… Stand on the shoulders of giants…" Kakashi murmured.
Then he fell silent.
Watching him, Kei shook his head. He had said everything he needed to say.
Now, it was up to Kakashi to figure out what to do next.