Chapter 183 – The First Strike
While Uchiha Fugaku was dealing with Uchiha Yan, Uchiha Kei had already led Uchiha Shuu deep into the forest behind the clan grounds.
There was one thing Kei hadn't lied about—patrols did indeed pass through this area tonight.
The patrol leader was Imai Kenta, and accompanying him were Uchiha Asahi and his son.
Imai Kenta was a shrewd man. He had long heard rumors about Kei's experiments, but he was smart enough never to ask questions, never to investigate—acting as though nothing had ever happened.
That kind of man, Kei could trust to some degree. In the Police Force, Kenta was competent and reliable.
As for Asahi and his son, they were Kei's unwavering loyalists.
Ever since Kei had helped Uchiha Kawa awaken his Sharingan, the two of them had become the sort who asked no questions—only "how high?" when Kei told them to jump.
The only regret was Kawa's weakness. Even with a Sharingan, he had nowhere to temper his skills. The war was over—a blessing for the village, but for those hungry for growth, it was also a loss.
"Lord Kei."
Asahi and Kawa immediately knelt when they saw him. Only Imai Kenta stood smiling blandly, harmless on the surface.
"Stand." Kei nodded, then turned his gaze to Kenta. "What's the situation?"
"Captain, everything's ready." Kenta's tone was formal, businesslike. "The moment you arrive, we move out. But this man here…"
"Don't bother with him. Just a nuisance."
Kei's expression turned cold. "If anything happens tonight, don't waste time protecting him. Let him die."
With that, Kei walked straight into the forest, making a quick series of hand signals as he moved.
Shuu recognized them instantly. They were battlefield signs: split up, search separately, maintain contact.
It made Shuu chuckle to himself. Clearly, Kei was trying to use this as an excuse to get rid of him.
But he had fought in wars himself. Did Kei really think such crude tricks would fool him?
Suspicion burned high, but after a moment's thought Shuu decided to follow.
True, being near Kei was dangerous—this snake of a man set every instinct on edge. Yet something told him there was value in staying close, and he had prepared well.
If Kei tried to strike, others would be ready to intervene. And even if they didn't, Shuu did not believe himself weaker than this man.
Still, caution was everything. The reckless were the first to die.
In truth, Shuu almost hoped Kei would make a move.
It would be the perfect chance to weaken Fugaku.
But that was a secondary prize. What Shuu truly cared about was finding his younger brother. His political ambitions mattered, but they paled in comparison to family.
Quietly, he followed Kei deeper into the woods. Soon, unease began to gnaw at him.
Kei was too familiar with the terrain. And worse—Shuu noticed something Kei had deliberately ignored.
Clear signs of recent activity. Tracks, disturbances.
Shuu refused to believe Kei, with all his battlefield experience, could have overlooked them. No—Kei was hiding something.
A dangerous light entered Shuu's eyes, though he restrained himself.
This man knew things. He had allies. Better to wait, to uncover the truth—who Kei was connected to, and what he was plotting.
Their silent march ended at the entrance to Kei's underground laboratory.
Though Shuu's anger simmered, he stayed composed. Kei noted this with some satisfaction.
"At least you've been cooperative, Shuu-kun," Kei finally said as they entered. "You've saved me a lot of trouble."
"Curious to learn more? Or is it that you came so brazenly because you already prepared countermeasures?"
"You're the reckless one here, Kei-kun." Shuu's breath came heavier. His eyes bled into crimson.
"So it was you who 'entertained' my brother. How laughable that we suspected Orochimaru all this time. No… it was you from the start, wasn't it?"
"That's right." Kei admitted without hesitation. "And I wasn't the only one."
"The clan head as well…" Shuu's fists clenched tight. Rage surged behind his calm mask. "He must have guided us deliberately, didn't he?"
Kei only chuckled and led the way deeper inside. Guessing the truth was meaningless. And Kei knew Shuu wouldn't dare act—not until he saw his brother.
At last they reached the lab's inner chamber. Kei pushed open the door, and Shuu rushed past him in a blur.
Inside, submerged in a life-support capsule, floated Uchiha Isamu.
For all his composure, Shuu's fury erupted.
"Uchiha Kei!" He turned, eyes blazing like blood. "I demand an explanation!"
"An explanation?" Kei stopped a short distance away, calmly resting his hand on his sword.
"Why don't you guess? You came here without fear, which means you had a plan. Uchiha Yan? No—surely you wouldn't put all your eggs in one basket. There must be someone else."
"I said—I want an explanation!"
Shuu's chakra surged violently, his Sharingan spinning as though it might bleed.
Kei activated his own Sharingan, studying him with interest. The chakra growth was rapid, but… not enough. Not close to the threshold Kei sought.
Disappointing.
He'll need a final push. Corner him completely, and then… break him.
For now, crippling him would suffice.
"The explanation," Kei's voice grew cold, "is that you were in my way. And your brother? A brainless fool. He's not dead yet—but close enough. Look at him. A cripple, clinging to life in that pod. Believe me, Shuu—you'll soon end up the same."
"Then I'll kill you here and take him back myself!"
Murderous intent rolled off Shuu as he drew a kunai.
"You were right about one thing," he hissed. "I did send Yan to alert the Grand Elder. But I knew something was wrong, so I sent others as well.
"Tell me, Kei—do you think Fugaku will save you now?"
With that, Shuu charged, kunai flashing.
Kei's blade sang free in the same instant, glowing with crackling blue chakra.
Their shadows clashed violently in the dark of the Uchiha clan's forest.
Meanwhile, another figure slipped silently through the night—heading straight for the Grand Elder's residence.
His name was Uchiha Akira, a comrade who had once fought alongside Uchiha Shuu.
The only difference was—his current allegiance did not lie with the hardliners.
Everything about him—his speech, behavior, and social circles—aligned perfectly with the moderates.
It was clear what he truly was: a spy, a piece hidden deep within enemy ranks. Only in the most critical of moments would his role be revealed.
For some time now, Uchiha Akira had been funneling the elders information about the moderates' intentions, one of the key reasons why the hardliners had consistently maintained the upper hand within the clan.
Today, he had been activated because of something Shuu had said. Shuu himself had even instructed him to report back.
Akira did not refuse. Shuu had always been exceedingly cautious in his actions, and if this time it involved Uchiha Isamu, then surely the elder had to be informed.
"I wonder how Uchiha Yan is doing right now…"
While hurrying covertly toward the elder's residence, Akira muttered inwardly, "If nothing's wrong on that end, my job here becomes a whole lot easier. Information work really doesn't suit me."
He sighed softly and pushed forward, but suddenly—an ominous chill ran down his spine.
He froze instantly, instincts flaring, and leapt back just in time to see a kunai bury itself into the ground where he would have stepped next!
Akira's face paled. Who in the world would dare ambush him here, in the middle of clan territory?
Lifting his gaze, he spotted a shadow perched atop a tree not far away. Those scarlet eyes glowed under the moonlight—eyes that marked someone dangerous.
"You… who are you?" Akira demanded, his brow furrowed. "Why block my path?"
"Because," the figure answered lightly, leaping down from the tree, "I can't allow you to move forward."
Bathed in silver moonlight, Akira finally saw the attacker's face clearly—Uchiha Jun.
"You?" Akira's expression hardened. "I never imagined you were hiding so deeply. You awakened the Sharingan, yet you never once revealed it… nor even stepped foot into a clan meeting."
"Because I never needed to," Jun replied with a faint smile. "Now then, Akira… it's time you made your stance clear."
Akira gave no reply. Instead, he drew a kunai from his pouch and dropped into a guarded stance.
It was obvious he had no intention of yielding. Or perhaps… he simply didn't believe he could lose to a woman.
He knew exactly whose shadow stood behind this woman, but that didn't matter. At this moment, he had to show his resolve.
"What a pity, Uchiha Akira." Jun sighed, almost regretful. "I truly didn't wish for this. But since you've made your choice…"
"Come, then!"
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