After handing over all the tasks that needed to be delegated to Aya Hyuga, Uchiha Kai finally allowed himself to relax.
Moments like these were rare—Kai was constantly burdened with responsibilities, both within the clan and outside of it. But with the recent completion of the Konoha Police Force's restructuring, he'd gained a brief reprieve.
Uchiha Gawa's team had fared slightly better during the reorganization. He had received a discreet warning from Kai ahead of time, which allowed him to prepare accordingly.
Uchiha Jun, on the other hand, wasn't as lucky. She had been strategically placed by Uchiha Fugaku himself, meaning she received no such courtesy or protection.
To make things worse, Kai had offloaded the most grueling and politically sensitive task—his so-called "experimental project"—onto her. It was clearly a test.
If she performed well, she'd remain a player in this high-stakes game. If she failed, she'd be discarded.
This was the gamble Jun had chosen when she attempted to align herself with Kai, hoping to forge a closer connection and gain influence.
But now she realized that Kai saw her merely as a tool—a bargaining chip in his quiet power struggle with Fugaku.
Fortunately for her, Jun was determined to prove herself. Otherwise, Kai's demands alone would have driven most people away.
Now, she was consumed daily with evaluating clan members for potential recruitment and also working to initiate discreet contact with other families in the village.
Whether or not her efforts were bearing fruit didn't concern Kai. He wasn't interested in her process—only the final results.
"The personnel under Uchiha Gawa are nearly in place, and several squads have already begun joint drills," Kai thought. "Everything is proceeding smoothly for now. I wonder how Minato Namikaze is doing…"
Since their meeting the previous year, neither Kai nor Fugaku had taken the initiative to reach out to Minato. The Fourth Hokage, meanwhile, was avoiding close contact with any clan—including his own former teammates—for the time being.
It was understandable. Minato had only recently succeeded Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the latter's influence still lingered in Konoha.
Minato couldn't afford to appear too close to any one faction—not yet.
"Even if he tries to stay neutral now," Kai mused, "eventually he'll realize he's bound by the same village hierarchy. He might think he's in control—but he's still just a tool of the system."
Kai shook his head. "No point worrying about that now," he said to himself. "I have other matters to handle."
Minato might eventually reach out—perhaps to Jiraiya, or if not him, then to Kai. But with Jiraiya out of the village, Kai would likely be his only real option.
"I just need to wait. He'll come when he needs help."
For now, Kai had a more immediate priority: finding a talented medic-nin apprentice.
He didn't need many—just one would suffice, someone capable and reliable.
Aya Hyuga was excellent, both in talent and temperament, but Kai preferred to have contingency plans.
If their partnership ever soured—or worse, if she died—he'd need someone to take over her responsibilities seamlessly.
Besides, an extra hand never hurt.
With that in mind, Kai decided to visit the Konoha Orphanage.
While its current status was unclear, the orphanage had a reputation for producing talented shinobi.
In the future, the orphanage would be overseen by Yakushi Kabuto, a genius with both tactical brilliance and deep psychological scars.
Back then, the facility had been managed by Nonō Yakushi, once a top field operative in the Foundation. Even without knowing her current involvement, Kai expected the orphanage to house a few diamonds in the rough.
Innate talent defined potential—but character and will determined how far one could push that potential.
Kai didn't just want bloodline or chakra prowess. He wanted someone with resilience, loyalty, and conviction.
"Kabuto lost himself," Kai thought, "but that man still became the architect of a war. You can't achieve that without willpower."
With this in mind, Kai set off for the orphanage.
But just as he stepped out of the Uchiha compound, he spotted someone waiting quietly near the gates—Hatake Kakashi.
"Huh?" Kai blinked. "Kakashi?"
He walked over, smirking slightly.
"Long time no see, Kakashi. Don't you have a mission today?"
Kakashi's voice was quiet, cold. "Minato-sensei gave me a week off. I didn't know what to do with myself, so I thought I'd find you."
"That so?" Kei nodded. "How's Anbu treating you?"
Kakashi shrugged. "It's the same. I numb myself with missions."
Then, with a bitter laugh: "I'm sorry. I've let you and Sensei down. I—"
Kai pursed his lips. He had anticipated this. Kakashi wasn't someone who let go of grief easily.
In Kei's memory, Kakashi's life had been a succession of traumas and transformations.
The first came with the death of his father, Sakumo Hatake.
The White Fang's suicide caused Kakashi to question everything—his ideals, his father's teachings, and even the meaning of honor.
That made him cold, mission-obsessed. Not even Rin Nohara, who clearly cared for him, could break through his shell.
Then came Obito Uchiha, his teammate and foil—idealistic, compassionate, and recklessly brave.
Their personalities clashed like fire and ice, much like Sasuke and Naruto in the next generation.
Yet Obito had a profound effect on Kakashi. He reminded him of what it meant to care for others.
Obito's famous words rang in his mind even now:
"Those who break the rules are scum... but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."
And:
"I think your father was a hero."
Those words had shattered Kakashi's rigid worldview.
They drove him to break protocol and attempt to rescue Rin—setting in motion the events that would change everything.
But Rin died anyway. And worse, it was Kakashi who killed her—with his own hand.
The trauma of that event broke him. He became hollow, robotic—driven by guilt.
Later, Minato's death added another crack to his spirit.
But it also lit a spark. Watching his teacher die to protect the village helped Kakashi rediscover purpose.
He began to see that both Obito and Rin had sacrificed themselves for Konoha, for peace.
Eventually, with the help of others—and especially through mentoring Team 7—Kakashi slowly began to live again.
But even now, Kai saw the shadow of Obito in him. Kakashi was still living not for himself, but for the memory of others.
Kai found this dangerous. He didn't want the Anbu Commander he groomed to be someone else's shadow or successor.
"I'm afraid I'll have to intervene," Kai thought grimly.
"I understand," Kai said aloud. "You still haven't escaped the darkness."
Kakashi lowered his head. "You don't understand, Kai. I can't even draw my blade anymore. Every time I do… I see Rin's blood on it. I—"
"Shut up," Kai said coldly, cutting him off. "Come with me. I have something to show you."