Chapter 101: Still Underestimated You
In the original story, Uchiha Fugaku used this exact method, but after Kakashi murmured a few words at the cemetery, all his efforts were in vain.
Even more tragic was that, as a hidden "dove" faction member, he was forced to agree to the "hawk" faction's coup at the most helpless moment.
Of course, in the end, whether it was because he suddenly acted like a typical crazy Uchiha or realized the situation and wanted to preserve his son's bloodline, the Uchiha clan ultimately met its end by his hand.
Uchiha Kei didn't want to leave Konoha. He had already made up his mind on that—whether for safety reasons or because of his familiarity with the storyline, staying in Konoha was the best option.
And to avoid the Uchiha clan's destruction and to live comfortably, he even crafted a plan.
If Uchiha Fugaku truly followed through with his plan, then Kei could already say his own plan had failed in advance.
Besides, after everything that happened with Uchiha Isamu, Kei had come to realize something—he probably couldn't continue being a lone wolf.
This world is strange. No matter how strong someone is, they always have a team or subordinates. Being a lone wolf is tough in this world.
Even someone as strong as Madara, the ultimate lone wolf, had plenty of people working under him. That entire army of White Zetsu was essentially his natural subordinates.
Even the scientist Orochimaru had Kabuto helping him, and countless others that Kei probably didn't even know by name.
Kei needed influence. He needed people who would work for him, people who could handle areas he wasn't good at. The Uchiha clan was the perfect resource for that!
Would he let someone else ruin this fertile ground? No way!
That's why Kei had to take action. He couldn't let Fugaku continue with his nonsense—even if he was still the clan head.
And besides, Kei currently had the upper hand. If it really came to a fight, it would probably be Fugaku who would worry.
After all, Fugaku's abilities had already been exposed, while Kei's remained completely hidden. It's the ones in the shadows that are most terrifying.
"If you keep going like this, the Uchiha clan will soon fall into crisis. The conflict between the clan and the village will only grow. Even a small spark can ignite the powder keg. I'm not pessimistic, but if this continues, the clan is in danger. And I won't let myself get dragged into that mess."
Kei snorted coldly. "Also, why are you so sure the next Hokage will follow the Second Hokage's ideology?"
"Are you saying you want to run for Hokage?" Fugaku stared at Kei, his eyes filled with a trace of disappointment.
"No, you're not qualified." Kei shook his head. "Or rather, as long as the Third Hokage and his group are alive, the Uchiha clan won't get that chance."
"Then what is Kei-kun thinking?" Fugaku took a deep breath. "Do you think they'll just hand over power to someone outside their circle and dissolve their own alliance of interests?"
Fugaku saw things clearly. The political circle is just a collection of interest groups.
The Third Hokage inherited the Second's ideology, so everything he did had to stay within a certain range. If he crossed that line, he'd face disaster.
In fact, the Third Hokage did cross that line in his later years. The Second never forced major clans to hand over members to join Root, but Danzo did exactly that!
So when Orochimaru attacked during the Chunin Exams and trapped the Third Hokage, almost no major clan ninja showed up to counterattack.
Once the Third was dead, they all suddenly came out of the woodwork and easily cleaned up the Sand and Sound ninja invaders.
The most typical example was the Hyuga clan. Hiashi was in the arena at first, but after exchanging a few words with Neji, he vanished. When he reappeared, the Third was already dead.
Right now, the Third wasn't indulging Danzo quite that much. Though he was getting old, he still had enough energy to keep things in check.
So Fugaku believed he wouldn't make a mistake. To uphold the Second's ideology, he would definitely pick someone from within their inner circle.
That way, they could keep the ideology going and maintain the political alliance.
"No, they won't." Kei laughed. "But what if the person they picked from within their circle had a different vision?"
"You mean... Jiraiya?" Fugaku frowned, then sighed. "Jiraiya would be a good choice, but he's too naive. Besides, I've heard he never wanted to become Hokage. And the village voting doesn't seem to favor him either."
"Right, Jiraiya is a good candidate. But like you said, he's not interested in the role." Kei nodded. "But don't forget—he has a student."
"Minato Namikaze?" Fugaku frowned even harder.
This had to be a joke.
The Third's own students didn't get to be Hokage. Now some young guy in his twenties, the grand-student of the Third, was going to make it?
Fugaku shook his head. Kei was being ridiculous. Not even Jiraiya could pull that off, let alone Minato!
After all, the village's leadership had already made their choice—they wanted to give the Hokage position to Orochimaru!
Even though the public vote and the jonin trust vote hadn't been held yet, Orochimaru had the most support.
"Yes, Minato Namikaze."
Kei nodded again. He could see Fugaku's disbelief but didn't mind. He said directly, "You've heard the rumors recently, haven't you?"
"You mean the human experimentation?" Fugaku thought for a moment. "Even so, what does it matter? Gossip alone won't shake the Third's decision. There's no evidence that Orochimaru actually did it."
"True, there's no proof." A cold smile appeared on Kei's face. "But isn't his recent disgrace already the talk of the village? Don't you think someone is stirring the pot behind the scenes?"
"You mean—" Fugaku wasn't stupid. He realized there was something fishy going on. He just hadn't paid much attention at first.
He had no plans to run for Hokage himself, so he avoided such troublesome matters and didn't even follow the news closely.
After all, in his mind, the next Hokage would only be one of a few people.
But now that Kei brought this up, could it mean that someone not on the "official list" was trying to compete for the position?
Or maybe—there was already a crack in the Third Hokage's inner circle?
Thinking about this, Fugaku let out a long sigh.
He had really underestimated this kid...
Chapter 102: Clearing the Obstacles (New book, please add to your collection and give a recommendation~)
Uchiha Fugaku had lost count of how many times he'd sighed with emotion. Every time he interacted with Uchiha Kei, he realized that he had underestimated the boy once again.
Whether it was in terms of strength or intelligence, he had completely misjudged this thirteen or fourteen-year-old!
Kei's exact strength remained unknown, but Fugaku had no desire to go up against him—because Kei had the Mangekyō Sharingan!
With those eyes, even a Kage would hesitate to say they could defeat Kei easily, regardless of his age.
That's the fearsome power and allure of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
And when it came to intelligence—combat IQ, strategic IQ, or political acumen—Kei had demonstrated a unique insight and an astonishing level of ability.
Fugaku now knew this kid wasn't someone he could control. Looking back at their conversation by the small pond, his earlier thoughts felt downright laughable.
Still, Fugaku adapted quickly. If he couldn't control him, then he would cooperate. After all, it's always better to have a good chess partner when you're drinking tea and watching fish.
"Is it Danzo?" Fugaku sighed and then quickly changed his tone. "The one behind the scenes? Oh, Danzo is…"
"I know who he is, Clan Leader," Uchiha Kei interrupted, sensing that Fugaku was about to give a long-winded explanation. "On the battlefield, my former captain got plenty of information out of enemy Jōnin during interrogations. Danzo's name came up a lot."
"Yes, he's known as Konoha's 'Darkness,'" Fugaku nodded. "And if someone's manipulating things from behind the scenes, it's likely him. He's always dreamed of becoming Hokage—and he has the strength and resources to pull it off."
Fugaku wasn't foolish—on the contrary, he was extremely perceptive. Kei had barely said a word and Fugaku had already pieced things together.
Orochimaru was basically the Hokage-in-waiting, but now, just when it mattered most, all this scandal was surfacing—and public opinion was blowing up.
Konoha had tried to suppress it—Hiruzen had even given some subtle orders—but it was no use.
If there wasn't someone powerful pushing from behind the scenes, Fugaku wouldn't believe it for a second.
If Danzo were to take the position, he probably wouldn't even pass the Jōnin trust vote. And even if he did, Hiruzen wouldn't let it happen.
Fugaku understood clearly—not just him, but most of the major clans in Konoha didn't like this so-called "Darkness of the Leaf."
Kei himself also suspected Danzo. Even though Danzo had been supporting Orochimaru, his ultimate goal had always been to become Hokage himself.
As for why he shifted support later on—probably because the Rain Country incident left his forces heavily damaged.
"If that's the case, then things are getting interesting," Fugaku mused. "Orochimaru is being dragged down, Tsunade has left the village, and Jiraiya refuses to inherit the title. That leaves only two possibilities—"
"Pick a young puppet, or continue clinging to the Hokage seat himself."
Kei finished the sentence with a sinister grin. "But considering Konoha's current losses, and Hiruzen's age, he may finally be forced to make a choice. And his choice…"
Fugaku fell silent. Clearly, he'd realized what might happen.
Still, nothing was set in stone yet. If Hiruzen decided to stay on no matter what, then all their speculation would be meaningless.
It wasn't likely, but it could happen. Fugaku figured he should prepare just in case.
"We always need the best and worst-case plans."
Fugaku now treated Kei as an equal—someone like himself. Although still a little cautious, he directly said, "Should we apply some pressure?"
"No need," Kei replied calmly. "Instead of wasting time with pressure, we should focus on getting close to the future Fourth Hokage and positioning ourselves as allies. Then we help boost his image."
"There are many ways to gain influence in Konoha. Becoming Hokage isn't the only one."
That was true. You didn't need to be the leader to wield real power. Often, those behind the scenes were the ones shaping everything—and that was a better, safer option for a clan.
Kei had seen too many examples of this in his previous life abroad. If done properly, it wasn't difficult, and it might even be safer.
Fugaku was clearly intrigued. The Uchiha clan had always wanted influence over Konoha.
"I understand, Kei," Fugaku nodded. "That's a very constructive idea. But both of us will need to act—Minato is close to you, and his wife has a good relationship with mine."
"Of course," Kei nodded. "I'll find time to meet with him."
"By the way, Kei—you mentioned gaining influence through other means. What methods did you mean?" Fugaku asked.
"It's simple. Form an interest-based alliance," Kei said calmly. "There are many ways—through business, through politics. And we have a wide range of potential partners—lesser clans, even civilian shinobi. Once this alliance is formed, it'll be a powerful group. Even if Hiruzen remains Hokage, he won't dare act recklessly."
Indeed, once an interest group grows large enough and has enough support, no one can ignore it—no matter how powerful they are.
Kei was very clear. He had practically pointed the way forward: small clans and civilian shinobi.
The major clans were already aligned with the Hokage. The Uchiha had almost no shot there. Still, it wouldn't hurt to try.
But the real target would be those lesser clans and civilians.
It was ironic, really—Hiruzen had always claimed to support small clans and civilian shinobi. But in truth, the major clans still dominated.
Only a few small clans had managed to rise up and benefit from Konoha's power structure.
"How do we actually go about this?" Fugaku asked seriously.
"Fund them."
Kei gave a slight smile. "Provide support to the ones you usually look down on. Invite them into business ventures. Give them benefits that help raise their status. Earn their trust and loyalty. And hey, aren't the Dove faction members good at that sort of thing? Let them handle it. But before all that…"
"Good idea. It really is," Fugaku sighed. "But before all that…"
"We need to clear the obstacles—like those hardliners."
Chapter 103: A Compromised Cooperation
Trying to do things according to Uchiha Kai's plan, the biggest obstacle was clearly the so-called hardliners.
Their prideful nature made them look down on everyone outside the Uchiha clan — even the Hyuga clan wasn't an exception.
Uchiha Fugaku didn't even need to think to know that if this decision faced opposition, the loudest voices would definitely come from that group.
Even if he was the one to bring it up, it wouldn't help. Now he seemed to understand why Uchiha Kai had taken such a ruthless approach.
Still, what Fugaku couldn't understand was why Kai didn't just kill Uchiha Isamu directly. Why leave him there to be tortured, risking discovery?
"Because… my eyes," Uchiha Kai said frankly, knowing this wasn't something he could keep secret. "I think you can feel the special power in them too, right? But after using that power, it doesn't recover. So…"
"You want to do experiments? For your eyes?" Fugaku frowned deeply, clearly not expecting this line of thought from Kai. "On your own people? Kai, not everyone is that stubborn. And your conditions…"
Fugaku now suspected that Kai had discovered some kind of secret—especially about the current state of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
He knew the Mangekyō couldn't be restored. But he didn't have the same cruelty or audacity that this guy did.
Yet in the end, Fugaku had no choice but to accept. What else could he do? Fight to the death against the clan's rare Mangekyō user?
He didn't even believe Kai had the ability to run experiments in the first place.
Just look at this place—it was like a dog's den. No proper equipment, nothing that resembled a lab. How was he going to pull it off?
Besides, the clan elders had tried this before. They had once attempted to restore the Mangekyō, the source of the clan's former glory.
But in the end, they left behind no results—only their corpses. That alone was proof of failure.
"Clan leader, the best way to break the hardliners isn't through a massacre. It's by taking out their leadership and absorbing the lower ranks," said Uchiha Kai, shaking his head, knowing Fugaku misunderstood.
"As for their so-called leaders, just think of it as recycling trash. My targets are only two people. I'll handle the equipment issue myself."
"I'll arrange the people and equipment," Fugaku interrupted, seemingly making up his mind.
"In your eyes, I've probably never been a proper clan leader. You don't really trust me. And I don't dare trust you either. But we're the only two Mangekyō holders in the clan. So I've decided to cooperate with you. I want to see if your method will work. It's too hard for Konoha and Uchiha to reunite peacefully. I have to make a choice."
Fugaku took a deep breath. He'd been shocked enough for one night.
"According to your prediction, Konoha will eventually try to eliminate the threat. So I've decided to believe you—just once. Rather than wait for them to strike first, I'll start by purging the danger from within."
"I just hope this works."
Uchiha Kai silently watched Fugaku. He was a little surprised. Was this really the same indecisive Fugaku he remembered?
He actually had the guts to go this far?
Kai frowned slightly. He began to understand what Fugaku meant.
Unlike Shisui, who openly revealed his eye techniques, Kai had never said a word about his own abilities.
This secrecy made Fugaku feel unsure. Especially because part of Kai's power had already been exposed. Knowing some information is a huge advantage over knowing nothing.
Plus, Fugaku genuinely didn't want to fight Kai. Two Mangekyō holders could accomplish much—if they weren't enemies.
Otherwise, like in Uchiha history, those who clashed ended up dead or crippled. Even the survivors lost an eye—thanks to Izanagi and Izanami.
So, Fugaku chose to compromise after seeing Kai's Mangekyō and hearing his plan.
Otherwise, given his personality, he would've taken everyone down with him—just like in the original story.
"Pleasure working with you, Clan Leader." Kai smiled. "I'll handle the hunting. You do the convincing."
"Try not to go overboard," Fugaku nodded with difficulty, eyes shut. "They are still elites."
"My only targets are Uchiha Isamu and Uchiha Osamu," Kai said calmly. "Whether the experiment succeeds or not, I only need those two. But if you can't handle the rest…"
Two brothers? Fugaku seemed to realize something but didn't speak immediately. He waited until Kai finished before responding.
"Then you won't need to do anything," Fugaku said directly. "I'll take care of it myself. And I want to be involved in your experiment. In exchange, I'll issue you a new appointment. You can recruit those who want to follow you. But on one condition…"
He took a deep breath, then declared firmly: "You must not divide the Uchiha. You must not disrupt the village's peace. If you break this promise—even if it costs my life—I will kill you!"
Kai stared calmly at Fugaku, who had already activated his Mangekyō again, just to show how serious he was.
Kai wasn't about to back down either. He activated his own Mangekyō, partly to defend against a surprise attack.
Fugaku's conditions weren't too harsh—in fact, they were very generous. Even his threat came with conditions.
And truthfully, Kai had no such rebellious intentions. If everything went well, his plan would naturally work out.
If it failed, he could retreat. He wanted a "fertile field," yes—but he valued his life more.
Besides, whether he succeeded or not, he wasn't too worried about Fugaku's threats. Killing him wouldn't be easy.
Still, Fugaku wouldn't risk everything unless it was truly necessary. That's why this "cooperation" even happened.
"Don't worry, Clan Leader." Kai smiled. "If I really wanted to rebel, I wouldn't have told you all this. I want the Uchiha to rise. I have no desire to leave Konoha."
"I understand, Kai," Fugaku nodded. "For the sake of Uchiha. And for the sake of Konoha."
After that, he turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Kai finally let out a breath of relief.
He never expected that just leaving a single kunai would draw Fugaku out. It was dangerous—too dangerous. He would have to be more careful in the future.
But unexpectedly, this mishap gave him an incredible gain.
Maybe his relationship with Fugaku had become more distant. He could feel that cold detachment.
But so what?
He got what he wanted. And whatever came next—he didn't care.
After all, this was a compromised cooperation.
Sure! Here's the English translation of Chapter 104 in a simplified, male-oriented, short-sentence style with consistent and logical flow, as you prefer:
Chapter 104: A New Mission
(New book, please add to your collection and recommend it~)
The next day, Uchiha Fugaku's new appointment was announced.
Uchiha Kei had been wondering what kind of position he'd get.
The result surprised him.
He was appointed to take Uchiha Isamu's position.
Not just that—he was promoted to Vice-Captain of the Uchiha Police Force.
This was the position the hardliners had always wanted.
But Fugaku didn't even discuss it with them.
He made the decision on his own.
And gave the role to someone who had always clashed with the hardliners.
This was a clear signal.
A dangerous one.
It showed Fugaku might be taking a political stance of his own.
But Kei didn't care about all that.
He knew this job would come with many problems.
He wasn't expecting to actually get much work done anyway.
To him, this promotion was just Fugaku keeping his promise.
Now Kei could form his own team.
He could kick out anyone left over from Isamu's old group.
Don't think he'd hesitate.
Others might worry about the consequences.
But not him.
This was the perfect excuse to remove disobedient people.
And to avoid doing actual police work.
Fugaku had already agreed to his reform plan.
More changes were coming.
Kei could take it easy for now.
Uchiha Ryoko and Uchiha Keisuke were both thrilled.
Kei's new rank meant a lot—
The Police Force was the most powerful group in the clan.
But Kei looked too calm.
They didn't know whether to celebrate or not.
After the messenger left, Kei thought for a bit.
Then decided to visit Uchiha Fugaku.
That guy had clearly shown interest in Kei's experiments.
Maybe he was starting to figure things out.
Kei didn't want to accept him as a partner.
But since Fugaku was the one providing manpower, resources, and support,
Kei had to play along for now.
"But I need backup plans," Kei thought as he walked.
"If this guy gets greedy once we make progress, I'll have to deal with him."
He didn't trust Fugaku.
And Fugaku didn't fully trust him either.
Kei's awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan had created cracks between them.
Whether those cracks could be repaired depended on the future.
So, Kei would keep working on the research.
But he wouldn't share his real theories.
Even if he found answers, he'd keep them hidden.
"I need people I can trust..."
That was a headache.
But Kei decided not to worry for now.
He had time.
And now, with the Vice-Captain title,
he could try recruiting his own people.
Even if the clan followed Fugaku,
Kei could bring in outsiders, right?
Fugaku probably understood that the Police Force needed serious reforms.
Removing people meant new ones had to be brought in.
To strengthen ties with the village and gain favor with smaller clans,
outsiders were bound to enter the Police Force.
That was Kei's chance.
As he reached Fugaku's house, he saw something funny.
A bunch of clan members were sitting quietly outside the door.
Including Uchiha Shu.
They looked at Kei with cold eyes.
Some even showed faint killing intent.
"Quite the crowd, clan head."
Kei followed the servant into the room and sat down, amused.
"Looks like your policies aren't popular."
"Change always hurts," Fugaku replied calmly.
"But I need time to manage it."
"Of course," Kei nodded.
"No rush. The lab's not fully set up yet anyway."
"You should be careful now," Fugaku warned.
"The Orochimaru incident is escalating.
The village's ANBU is investigating.
They're looking into both the rumors and Orochimaru himself."
That fast? That serious?
Kei frowned.
Looks like Hiruzen was serious this time.
Fugaku's warning wasn't wrong.
But Kei was still annoyed.
He'd finally caught his test subject—
Only to get interrupted.
"By the way, Kei." Fugaku interrupted his thoughts.
"Someone else might take the fall for capturing Uchiha Isamu."
"Orochimaru, huh?" Kei wasn't surprised.
"I struck while the chaos was rising.
My plan wasn't just about him,
but also those behind the scenes.
Both he and Danzo might take the blame.
"It'll also help the man I'm supporting."
That was always part of his plan.
Capture someone he hated.
Use them for experiments.
Frame Orochimaru and Danzo.
And boost Minato's reputation.
A win on all fronts.
"I see," Fugaku nodded slowly.
"By the way, the Third Hokage wants to send ninja back to Grass Country.
Negotiations are almost done.
But Mist Ninja have been spotted there.
You might have to investigate.
What do you think?"
"Mist ninja, huh?" Kei frowned, then nodded.
Looks like things were moving forward.
He sighed.
He wanted to break Isamu mentally before anything else.
Now it looked like he wouldn't get the chance.
Good thing he had finalized the deal with Fugaku earlier.
If not, Isamu might already be dead when he got back.
Chapter 105: Gathering
Although he felt helpless, Uchiha Kei couldn't change the plan in his mind, so he still decided to go to the Land of Grass.
This decision made Uchiha Fugaku a bit surprised, but soon he seemed to realize something and simply nodded.
In his view, Uchiha Kei might be trying to set an example. He was now the vice captain of the Konoha Police Force, a rather high position. His actions could easily be seen as conveying a message.
Whether it was to people within the clan, the higher-ups of Konoha, or even to ordinary shinobi and civilians, this was a positive and encouraging signal.
Besides, Uchiha Kei had the Mangekyō Sharingan, and with his extremely cautious personality, Fugaku felt it was nearly impossible for him to be taken down on the battlefield.
Not to mention, Minato Namikaze also seemed to be participating this time. That meant Kei would have a chance to interact with him—wasn't that exactly Kei's intention?
Truth be told, the things Fugaku imagined and said out loud even startled Kei himself. He hadn't thought there were so many hidden meanings to his decision to go to the Land of Grass.
"Then I'll trouble you with Uchiha Isamu, Clan Head," Kei didn't forget this matter. "Please make sure not to expose yourself before I return."
"Don't worry. He's still there, and I've already covered his eyes and connected him to nutrient fluids," Fugaku responded calmly, clearly experienced. "The people guarding him are the most trustworthy I have. They won't say anything, and they haven't seen anything."
With Fugaku's assurance, Kei could finally breathe a little easier. Although he remained cautious and on guard around him, Kei believed Fugaku wouldn't act recklessly.
Everyone knew Kei was cold toward his own family, so threatening his family was the stupidest choice.
If someone did act against them, who knew what Kei might do if he went crazy? A person without any emotional bonds was the hardest to handle.
Even if it was all an act!
There wasn't much time between the announcement from the Third Hokage and the actual departure, so Kei took one day to rest before reporting to the Hokage's office.
When he arrived, he discovered he was the last one to show up.
Although the Third Hokage hadn't arrived yet and the office door was still closed, he was indeed the latest.
Hyūga Aya, Imai Kenta, and his former Jōnin instructor Fukuhiko Kōhei were already waiting by the door. Besides them, Minato Namikaze, Kakashi, and Rin Nohara were also standing there.
Kei found it a bit odd that Fukuhiko was here, since he himself was already a Jōnin and had experience successfully leading a team—one could even say perfectly executing missions.
But then he realized the mission involving the Mist Ninja might be troublesome. The more people, the better.
Of course, there might be another reason too. Kei was now the newly appointed vice captain of the Police Force, but a civilian Jōnin was going to be the team leader. That could carry a lot of implications.
Such as demonstrating the Hokage's authority, or highlighting the value placed on civilian shinobi.
"Kei, you're here?" Fukuhiko didn't think about any of those twists. When he saw Kei, he smiled and greeted him. "By the way, thank you. My little brother has returned home."
"Oh? Really? Congratulations, Captain Fuku," Kei smiled and nodded. Though he felt a little awkward—he had completely forgotten about it. It was probably Uchiha Fugaku who had handled it.
"Kei-kun, long time no see," Minato Namikaze also smiled and greeted him. "Congratulations, I heard you took over Uchiha Isamu's role in the Police Force and got promoted to vice captain."
"Thanks, but you know me. I'm not into stuff like that. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here now," Kei shrugged, looking like he didn't care at all.
But inside, he sighed. It seemed the village's attention to the Uchiha clan was still significant.
It was probably still limited to big-picture shifts for now. It hadn't reached the stage of planting spies and other covert actions yet.
But even that was enough to warrant caution. Fugaku's prudence made sense—who knew what would happen if he started buying weird equipment in bulk?
"Yo, you're recovering well, huh?"
After casually greeting Fukuhiko and Minato, Kei nodded toward Kakashi and Rin, then returned to his team.
Looking at the cold-faced Hyūga Aya and the still-fake-smiling Imai Kenta beside her, Kei suddenly turned to Aya and smiled as he softly spoke.
"Thanks to Kei-kun's blessing, I'm recovering well," Aya replied calmly, glancing at him. "I haven't had the chance to congratulate you yet. Not only did you awaken the Sharingan, your status in the clan has also risen. Truly something to celebrate. But to take on this mission despite your high rank... you must really love the village, huh?"
Kei maintained a smile as he looked at her. People from noble clans were almost all like this. Even if she wished never to see Kei again, she had to maintain proper manners in front of outsiders.
Still, her sarcastic undertone was no less than Kei's. Of course, that was because Fukuhiko was here and participating in the mission.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have said such things. After all, antagonizing someone stronger than yourself wasn't smart.
Even though she had already deeply offended him, a bit less friction meant a bit more safety. Unless she truly lost her mind, she wouldn't recklessly go down a path of no return.
Kei understood her thinking, and he also couldn't really do anything to her with Fukuhiko present—he was basically a human shield.
And Kei suspected that his recent success had been a huge blow to her. After all, they had once been "the same type of person," but now everything had changed.
"Thanks. Serving the village is normal, right?" Kei smiled. "And no one forced me to come—I just missed my two subordinates, that's all."
"Sorry, Kei-kun. With Captain Fuku here, I'm afraid you won't be leading the team," Aya still sounded calm. But if she had any choice, she wouldn't be here at all.
Just as Kei was about to respond, he suddenly noticed the Third Hokage walking toward them, and immediately shut his mouth wisely.
The Third Hokage looked tired, but still carried a strong presence.
He nodded to Fukuhiko and Minato, then rested his eyes on Kei for a long moment.
Soon, he looked away without saying anything, opened the office door, and Kei and the others followed their respective captains inside.
"Let's keep this short, everyone," the Third Hokage sat at his desk and casually placed a file on it. "The negotiations have reached a critical stage, but according to intel from the front lines, some Mist ninja have been spotted moving around in the Land of Grass. To prevent them from sabotaging the talks, I've already dispatched a few teams. But now it seems the Iwa ninja are starting to stir."
He paused, folded his hands in front of his face, and continued in a low tone, "I've decided to send both your teams together. You've worked together before. Once you arrive in the Land of Grass, investigate the Mist ninja's movements and determine their intentions. This mission is important—understood?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Minato and Fukuhiko immediately bowed their heads and responded.
"This mission is urgent. Prepare yourselves and set out at once. Dismissed."
"Yes!"
Got it! Here's the English translation of Chapter 106:
Chapter 106: Two Plans (Please add to your library and give a recommendation~)
Not long after the Third Hokage issued the mission, both teams departed from Konoha together.
They had already received the notice and prepared in advance, so there was no need to waste time returning to gather supplies after the mission was assigned.
Their departure was silent. The mission was important, and both squads were well-known.
Uchiha Kei's team needed no introduction — calling them a "legend among cannon fodder" wouldn't be an exaggeration.
As for Namikaze Minato's squad, they were even more terrifying. Especially after Minato captured the Five-Tails jinchūriki, shocking the entire ninja world.
In contrast, Fujuhira Kohei, who was originally supposed to be the captain of Uchiha Kei's team, seemed rather ordinary.
After all, he hadn't taken part in the same mission as Uchiha Kei and the others.
Fortunately, Minato's presence kept things from getting too awkward, and Hyūga Aya — a girl from the Hyūga clan — seemed to follow his commands well.
But Kohei wasn't stupid. He knew he probably couldn't lead his own squad properly, so he handed full command over to Namikaze Minato.
The seven of them spent three days traveling before arriving again in the Land of Grass.
Looking at this still-lush and green land, the seven of them couldn't help but fall into a brief daze.
Every one of them had left behind deep memories here. Some of their comrades, friends, and teammates had stayed here forever.
Uchiha Kei, especially, felt a surge of emotion. This was where he experienced a major turning point — where he awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Still, there wasn't much time for sentiment. There would be plenty of time later for memories and reflection. Right now, their top priority was to locate the main force.
They had a mission to carry out. Especially at this crucial moment in the peace talks, nothing could go wrong.
Uchiha Kei calmly followed Minato and the others, but his thoughts had long drifted elsewhere. He was thinking about his next steps — how to execute the plans he had long prepared.
That's right. Uchiha Kei didn't actually need to return to the Land of Grass. But for the sake of his own plans, he had to.
Uchiha Kei had two plans. One was about whether or not he'd stay in Konoha in the future — a long-term plan that was already in motion.
The other one, however, concerned his eyes — and it was even more important. Maybe even more important than the future of the Uchiha clan or whether he stayed in Konoha.
"I've already captured Uchiha Isamu," Uchiha Kei thought as he jumped through the branches. "But I didn't have time to deal with him. So I'll focus on the second plan first."
Uchiha Isamu and Uchiha Osamu — two brothers — were Kei's key test subjects. Their eye evolution was critical to verifying Kei's theory.
Kei's guess was: to gain the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, you needed two types of differently-aligned powers to fuse.
Only when these opposing powers merged would the eyes stop going blind, while retaining the original Mangekyō abilities.
He believed he was right. But forcing someone to awaken a Mangekyō wasn't easy. And Kei didn't have time to wait.
If the Nine-Tails incident came and neither of the brothers had awakened their Mangekyō, Kei's second plan would be in serious trouble.
Before that happened, he needed to find another key element — something left behind by Madara Uchiha.
White Zetsu.
White Zetsu's cells came from Hashirama Senju, and they were enhanced with the remnants of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's power. Physically, they might be the best match in the entire Naruto world.
Just think — after Madara was resurrected, he didn't have eyes and got injured. What did he do? He simply chopped off White Zetsu's arm and attached it to himself — and it worked!
Kei didn't believe it was that simple. It was likely because Madara already had Hashirama's cells in his body.
But that didn't stop Kei from wanting to find and use them.
Obito Uchiha survived and used his Mangekyō for over a decade thanks to White Zetsu cells, without any signs of going blind.
If Kei could get a sample, and someone skilled helped with the transplant, he believed he could achieve the same effect.
And if he couldn't find anyone to help? He'd grit his teeth and do it himself. If Obito could do it, why couldn't he?
"Still, it'd be best to find someone to assist," Kei thought to himself. "Orochimaru probably already helped Danzo with a transplant by now. And he'll likely leave Konoha in about a year. Maybe I can grab some of his research."
Kei's thoughts started to wander. But he quickly came back to reality and scolded himself for being unrealistic.
Even if he wanted something from Orochimaru, he had to be careful of the Third Hokage. And besides, he didn't even have White Zetsu yet.
He didn't know where Madara's hideout was. Even if he wanted to follow Obito, White Zetsu and Black Zetsu were freakishly good at sensing — not easy to track.
"But the key is Kakashi," Kei thought. "Obito and White Zetsu found Kakashi in just a few minutes. That means the hideout isn't far from there. Even if Kakashi was already attacked, I can still search near the spot."
At that thought, Kei's eyes grew sharp.
After this whole event, Madara chose to die. And then he stupidly created something he thought was just a manifestation of his will — Black Zetsu.
But Black Zetsu's combat power wasn't that great. Which meant, if Kei found Madara's hideout, he'd only have to deal with Obito Uchiha.
Obito was tricky. Kamui let him warp any part of his body into another dimension, even his whole body.
But Kei also had the Mangekyō. If he struck at the moment of impact and used his eye technique, he could catch Obito off guard.
The only issue was the chakra cost. Kamui burned a lot of chakra, and Obito had a massive boost after fusing with White Zetsu cells. Kei would struggle to keep up.
"And worst of all, that bastard's like a cockroach," Kei sighed. "Gets his heart pierced by Chidori and still keeps going. Gets hit by Truth-Seeking Orbs and still gives a whole speech. If he didn't go down the wrong path, he'd be the real protagonist."
Sure! Here's the English translation of Chapter 107:
Chapter 107: Be Careful of the Iwa-nin
After arriving at the Konoha camp, Uchiha Kei and the others found a spot to rest. Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze and Kohei Fujuhira went to receive the latest briefing.
Kakashi and Rin sat silently off to the side, both visibly downcast. They had no desire to speak.
Uchiha Kei and the others understood why. In the Land of Grass, Kakashi and Rin had lost their close friend and teammate. That kind of pain wasn't easy to overcome.
After all, they weren't like Uchiha Kei, Hyūga Aya, or Imai Kenta — three people so cold and indifferent that they had almost become numb to such loss.
Uchiha Kei didn't approach Kakashi or try to speak with him. Instead, his gaze turned to Imai Kenta.
That guy still wore the same fake smile as always, but something about him had changed. His aura felt deeper, more hidden — something Kei found interesting.
What was he hiding? How strong was he, really? Uchiha Kei couldn't quite figure it out.
As for Hyūga Aya, she had clearly been working hard lately. Kei had some knowledge of the Hyūga clan, and he was curious just how far her Gentle Fist technique had come.
The Hyūga were an odd bunch. In the genin, chunin, and even jōnin ranks, they held great advantages. But when it came to higher-level combat, they tended to fall short.
Even their strongest member, Hyūga Hiashi, probably had limited power in the grand scheme of things. But if someone awakened the Tenseigan, even a weak ninja could leap to near-Six Paths level.
"A typical case of either being completely average or absurdly strong," Kei mused.
He thought the Hyūga clan had some potential. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, they were mostly just background players. In fact, among the twelve main young ninjas, the only one who died was from the Hyūga clan.
But later on, an almost inexperienced Ōtsutsuki Toneri awakened the Tenseigan and nearly defeated Naruto Uzumaki — a battle-hardened shinobi. That was a perfect example.
Shaking his head, Uchiha Kei decided he wasn't too interested in the clan's history. The conflict between the main family and branch family had nothing to do with him.
"Gather up."
While Kei was lost in thought, Minato Namikaze and Kohei Fujuhira appeared in front of them.
The five of them immediately stood up, each with a calm or serious look on their faces.
Minato didn't waste time. He pulled out a map and laid it flat on the table. Then he used a pen to draw several circles on it.
"According to intel, Mist-nin have been sighted in these areas," Minato said, pointing to the marked circles. "There's no clear pattern or purpose. They've attacked some of our scouting squads. Our mission is to find them and figure out what they're after."
"Yes, sir," the group responded immediately.
"One more thing," Minato added with a sigh. "I may not be able to accompany you for the entire mission. Jiraiya-sensei said the peace talks are stalling. He needs me to attend the negotiations. He's already reported this to the Hokage. So, Captain Fujuhira will lead this search mission."
Minato not coming along?
Among the five of them, only Uchiha Kei seemed unsurprised. The other four frowned slightly but didn't ask questions. As trained ninja during wartime, they knew better.
Their job was to follow orders and complete the mission. Everything else was above their pay grade.
Still, Minato could read their doubts. So, he decided to explain it himself.
The situation was simple: Iwa-nin seemed open to ending the war respectfully, but the talks had reached a stalemate.
To be honest, the conditions proposed by the Third Hokage were extremely lenient — to the point of betraying the efforts of Konoha's warriors.
But the Third Hokage had no choice. Konoha had fought battles with all four great villages. They were physically and mentally exhausted.
If Iwa-nin stubbornly refused peace and launched a dual-front attack, it could completely collapse Konoha. And that would make the Third Hokage a failure in the eyes of the village.
He wasn't like Uchiha Kei — he had no idea what the Iwa-nin were really planning or how wary the Tsuchikage was of Minato Namikaze.
So he couldn't afford to take risks. He preferred to sacrifice some benefits for the sake of peace.
Even though Iwa-nin were considering surrender, they didn't want to lose too much. That's why things had reached a deadlock.
Minato, as a war hero, would carry enough influence to potentially shift the talks. Nara Shikaku, who was handling the negotiations, believed Minato's presence would pressure the Iwa-nin.
And Shikaku was smart. He knew Jiraiya was tired of the current situation and wanted out. So he asked Jiraiya to convince Minato to stay and join the talks.
As for the mission Minato was originally in charge of — he trusted Uchiha Kei and the others could handle it. Plus, Minato had the Flying Thunder God technique.
"So, I'll give each of you a special kunai," Minato said, handing out six marked kunai to the team. "Kakashi, Kei — you already know how to use these. If something urgent happens, channel chakra through them. I'll come as quickly as I can."
"We understand," Kei and the others replied.
Jiraiya pulling Minato away was unavoidable. As the highest-ranking commander on the battlefield, he had full authority to assign ninja as he saw fit.
And since the procedures were followed — with a report to the Hokage — all that remained was Minato's consent.
Obviously, Minato couldn't say no to his teacher. Even though he'd rather stick with the original mission, he had no choice.
"But before you head out," Minato said after everyone had stashed their kunai, lowering his voice slightly, "I have to warn you: Even though negotiations are ongoing, if you run into Iwa-nin — don't hold back."
"Huh?" The five of them were surprised for a moment, but they quickly nodded.
"This isn't about revenge," Minato added, afraid they might misunderstand. "There are some Iwa-nin who don't want peace. They're actively hunting Konoha ninja. We can't retaliate by killing all Iwa-nin, but if you're attacked — defend yourselves. Be alert, and don't trust them. Understood?"
"Yes, Captain Minato!"