Chapter 182 – Ruthless
"Kei-kun, where did you get this letter?"
It took Uchiha Shuu considerable effort to regain his composure. Only after a deep breath did he ask slowly.
The letter revealed much. For one, Uchiha Yuu claimed he had been imprisoned. He also hinted at who might have been responsible—and revealed that he had already lost an eye.
The paper itself was deeply creased, weathered, and speckled with dirt. It looked as though it had gone through hardship before reaching Shuu's hands.
"It was discovered by one of my subordinates, Uchiha Kawa," Kei said casually, spreading his hands.
"I personally scouted the area but found nothing. Since he is your brother, I thought you should be the one to see it."
His explanation was perfectly reasonable. After all, Kei and Shuu were not on good terms—quite the opposite. That Kei had handed this letter over at all could be seen as respect for the clan, and as part of his duty as deputy head of the Police Force.
Shuu's gaze bored into Kei's eyes, searching for the faintest trace of deceit. But Kei's expression remained still as an ancient well, utterly devoid of ripples.
"…I understand."
Shuu sighed. "Thank you, Kei-kun. Whatever our personal relationship, I owe you gratitude for telling me this."
"No need," Kei shook his head, then tilted it slightly. "I'll be on my way. There's a patrol tonight I must personally oversee. Things have been… unsettled lately."
"Oh?" Shuu raised an eyebrow, curiosity tinged with suspicion. "What kind of patrol requires even the deputy head to act in person?"
"The patrol area happens to cover the place where your brother's letter was found," Kei replied evenly.
"So I can't afford to skip it. If someone else were to vanish, I'd be held responsible—especially if it were one of my own men."
With a casual wave, Kei turned and left.
Shuu stood frozen, his heart restless. The timing, the location, the circumstances—everything was far too coincidental. How could he not be suspicious?
He had never trusted Kei. The man hid ambitions so sharp they were frightening. And yet… this was about his only brother, the one he cherished most. With new clues in hand, he could not afford to let them slip away.
Even so, deep down Shuu still believed Kei might be the prime suspect behind Yuu's disappearance. But he had no proof—and truthfully, he doubted Kei possessed such ability.
Grinding his teeth, Shuu beckoned discreetly to a comrade in the distance.
When the man approached, Shuu lowered his voice: "Once I leave, have our men tail me. Stay hidden. And bring weapons."
"Yes, Lord Shuu." The Uchiha ninja hesitated briefly, then bowed with resolve.
"One more thing," Shuu continued after a pause. "Inform the Elder. Tell him Kei is a venomous snake. Something about this feels wrong.
If my instincts are correct… I'll need the Elder to intervene and get me out."
"Lord Shuu…" The subordinate looked stunned. To him, Kei was nothing more than a lucky upstart. But loyalty outweighed opinion, so he bowed again. "I understand. I'll inform the Elder."
Shuu nodded. With a subtle hand signal, he indicated his hidden formation, then set off after Kei.
He had prepared his safety net. If Kei truly was the mastermind, his hidden forces could strike down the snake in one blow. If not—and they still encountered danger—those men could intervene and at least ensure Shuu's escape.
Of course, the best outcome was no trouble at all. Nobody wished to walk into chaos willingly.
"Uchiha Shuu? Why are you following me?"
Kei turned his head, feigning mild puzzlement at Shuu's presence. Inwardly, however, his mind was perfectly calm.
He was no master manipulator, but he understood one truth well enough: the Uchiha's love—especially between brothers—was profound, hidden, and absolute.
Kei himself had no siblings, so he could not truly grasp that bond. But he could exploit it.
When he first broke Yuu, his real target had been Uchiha Shuu—to use him as the trigger for his brother's eyes.
But the drugs Fugaku had provided proved astonishing—worthy of the Uchiha elders' cruel experiments.
They heightened mental sensitivity to the very core of the soul. Yuu never grew numb; he felt everything, raw and sharp.
And with such unbearable sensitivity, just one "tool" was enough to shatter him completely.
A pity the drug was scarce. Even its formula had long since been lost.
Uchiha Kei wasn't even sure if that kind of drug still existed. He hadn't had the time to track down Uchiha Sō, so he had no idea what the current situation was.
"Kei-kun, it's dangerous to go alone. And besides, we're talking about my brother here."
Uchiha Shuu gave a faint smile. "I want to examine the scene for myself. If something happens, my presence might be useful—especially if trouble arises."
"The village is at peace now. Unless someone like you stirs up trouble, nothing should happen." Kei frowned. "You'd better head back. I don't need your help."
"Sorry, Kei-kun, but you don't have the authority to command me." Shuu shook his head. His smile turned sharper. "Besides… who knows? One day, we might even end up colleagues."
Kei stopped in his tracks and looked at him in silence. Of course he knew what Shuu was hinting at.
The Grand Elder's faction had been openly pushing for Shuu to return to the Police Force, using the excuse of 'inheriting his brother's will, fulfilling his brother's last wish'.
After all, Uchiha Yuu had long coveted the Deputy head's seat. Shuu's words carried obvious implications.
Though they knew reclaiming it right now was impossible, seizing Kei's squad captain position and forcing Kei to remain only a nominal deputy head was entirely within the realm of possibility.
"Hmph. Dream on. Delusions like that need treatment." Kei shook his head. "You'd better watch yourself—don't end up vanishing like your brother."
"No need for your concern, Kei-kun. I can protect myself."
Though anger simmered within Shuu, he kept his expression calm. "Let's go together, Kei-kun. Who knows? We might even end up helping each other."
"Suit yourself. But be ready—if something happens, I won't be saving you."
"Kei-kun, always so honest." Shuu smirked.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Yan was hurrying toward the Grand Elder's residence, carrying out the task Shuu had given him. Although puzzled, he didn't hesitate.
Yan was a close friend of the Shuu–Yuu brothers, bound by shared beliefs. Like them, he believed the Uchiha clan's position in Konoha was far weaker than it should have been.
His time on the battlefield had awakened his Sharingan, and with that came recognition from the Grand Elder. Though still only a two-tomoe wielder, Yan was already considered one of the clan's elites—just slightly behind Shuu in standing.
As he walked, a middle-aged man suddenly appeared in his path. Yan froze. His steps halted, and he immediately bowed respectfully.
"Clan Leader." Yan's voice was soft, deferential. "What instructions do you have for me?"
The man was none other than Uchiha Fugaku. Yan didn't believe for a moment that Fugaku's appearance here was a coincidence. This was a narrow path leading only to the Grand Elder's residence. Clearly, the clan head had been waiting for him.
"Yan, I do indeed have something to discuss with you." Fugaku sighed, gazing at the young man before him. "Come with me. We need to talk."
"Clan Leader…" Yan frowned. After a moment's hesitation, he gritted his teeth.
"Forgive me, but I have urgent matters to attend to. Allow me ten minutes. I will come to your home afterward to apologize properly."
"Ah." Fugaku sighed again. "You're heading to the Grand Elder, aren't you?"
Yan lowered his head. He said nothing, but his silence was already an answer. Fugaku's eyes dimmed with disappointment, and he shook his head once more.
He had always known his support within the clan was weak—hence why the Grand Elder could oppose him so openly.
Once, Fugaku had thought it best to simply respect the contributions of the old guard, letting things be until time eventually solved the problem.
But things had changed.
Ever since his discussions with Kei and their cooperation, Fugaku had begun to see things differently. His mindset had hardened, his methods sharpened. Perhaps it was because he now understood where his future lay—or perhaps because he knew his time was limited.
Politics was war by another name. And Fugaku knew full well he was already embroiled in such a war.
A war where it's either them or me. A war where failure would drag the entire clan into the abyss.
He took a deep breath, his gaze toward Yan turning dangerously cold.
"This isn't negotiation. I'm not here to persuade you."
"Uchiha Yan… you will make your choice here and now. Otherwise…"
Fugaku's eyes flared scarlet, the three tomoe of his Sharingan spinning slowly into life.
"…otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."