Chapter 195 – They Performed Quite Well
It had already been a day since Uchiha Shin, the clan's Great Elder, sent Kei an invitation.
As Kei had said before, he initially had no intention of meeting the old man.
He could easily guess the purpose behind the invitation—recruitment, temptation, and threats.
If things went smoothly, they'd continue talking. If not, then Shin would surely try to eliminate him. Kei himself knew that, were their positions reversed, he'd make the same choice.
Which meant his trip could hardly end well.
And yet, as he had told Hyūga Ayaka, since the old man was so eager, Kei didn't mind personally escorting him on his way to the end.
Walking leisurely back to the Uchiha compound, Kei was soon stopped by a shinobi.
The man was respectful enough and, under his guidance, Kei arrived at Uchiha Shin's residence for the first time.
Looking at the frost-tipped bamboo grove surrounding the place, Kei couldn't help but admit—the old man had taste.
In his past life's memories, bamboo had always been highly praised. Kei himself enjoyed such an environment.
But no matter how pleasant the surroundings, it wouldn't soften his resolve. There was no room for mercy in struggles of this level.
As long as a person still lived, they held influence. Sparing an enemy's life to preach about kindness or righteousness was meaningless to Kei.
He didn't need to posture. What he wanted was to shatter beliefs—to break his enemies' faith in themselves.
Only those aligned with him had the right to keep their convictions. The rest? He had no use for them.
Unless they were someone like Fugaku, a Mangekyō wielder in his own right—otherwise, compromise wasn't even an option.
Taking a deep breath, Kei stepped before Shin's door.
After surrendering his ninjatō and several kunai, he was allowed inside.
The moment he entered, Kei sensed faint disturbances in the chakra around him.
It made him laugh.
They weren't even trying to conceal it—this was nothing but a show of force, a way of saying they could crush him at will.
Shaking his head, Kei lifted his gaze to the old man seated at the head of the room, surrounded by several others of similar age.
"Kei-kun, welcome." The elder smiled warmly as Kei entered.
"This is our first meeting, isn't it? A genius of the younger generation—I'm glad to finally see you. I even had tea prepared, just waiting for your arrival."
Kei didn't need to guess. This was undoubtedly Uchiha Shin, the clan's Great Elder.
His demeanor was kindly, almost enough to make one forget that he was once a fearsome warrior on the battlefield.
Time spared no one, true—but time could never blunt the sharp edge of ambition.
It only polished the exterior, leaving the inner self just as dangerous, if not more so.
Otherwise, Kei wouldn't be sensing such threatening chakra around the room.
Taking a seat without hesitation, Kei looked at Shin calmly.
"No need for tea. Tell me, Great Elder—what business do you have with me?"
There was no way he'd touch anything here. Some shinobi commanded respect with their charisma, but most, Kei knew, were just like himself—willing to use any means necessary to achieve their goals.
And Kei had no illusions that this man was some benevolent elder. Who knew what kind of "ingredients" might be in that tea? Kei certainly didn't have Tsunade's resistance to poison.
"…What a shame, Kei-kun."
Shin sighed. "It's a fine green tea, with tender bamboo shoots harvested from my very own grove. Not tasting it is truly a pity."
"Perhaps. But maybe I don't have the appetite today." Kei smirked faintly. "Besides, there'll be plenty of opportunities in the future."
"…Perhaps so. Then let's get down to business." Shin didn't rise to the bait. He could clearly hear Kei's undertone, but he didn't care.
Yes, Kei was strong. His eyes, terrifying.
But so what?
The shinobi stationed in the side chamber weren't ordinary guards. They weren't anything like the police force Kei commanded.
And Shin still held a trump card—a secret ace almost no one knew about.
If needed, he would use it. It all depended on Kei's attitude.
In fact, Shin chose to interpret Kei's presence as a kind of "submission." After all, Kei wasn't stupid.
"Your relationship with the clan head is quite good these days—good enough to make others envious," Shin said with a smile.
"But do you know what the situation inside the clan is really like?"
"The real situation?" Kei tilted his head, then chuckled.
"A hesitant clan head. A faction growing strong, intent on confronting Konoha. And another faction, weak yet stubborn, seeking reconciliation through peace."
"…Kei-kun truly is perceptive."
Shin's smile faded, his tone growing heavier. "Then you must also know there are six elders in total. And how many stand with us?
If the clan head makes an unwise decision—what do you think we'll do?"
"There are four of you here. I don't need to answer, do I?" Kei exhaled lightly.
"As for your options—you can't depose the clan head. But you can ignore him. There's precedent for that.
And, of course, you can target me. Isn't that right?"
Speaking with people like this meant endless circles of words and hidden meanings. Kei didn't enjoy it, but he had learned to play along.
Ironically, it almost felt less exhausting back when he first worked with Imai Kenta and Hyūga Ayaka—when none of them trusted each other, when every word dripped with sarcasm, and each secretly wished the others would just die.
Kei had survived far worse dangers than this. With the strength he wielded now, he truly had no reason to fear this old man.
"Excellent. Kei-kun, no wonder the clan head values you so highly." Uchiha Shin nodded approvingly.
"In fact, a talent like yours shouldn't be wasted in our clan's petty internal struggles. I have a proposal. Would you like to hear it?"
"Please, Great Elder." Kei inclined his head slightly. So, they were finally getting to the point.
"I don't know what the clan head has promised you," Shin said, his smile turning sharper, more predatory. "But I can guarantee—what we can offer will never be less."
He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.
"The matter of Uchiha Shuu… that was your doing, wasn't it? I can choose not to pursue it. In fact, I can even give you a far more interesting piece of information."
"Oh? Not pursuing Shuu? And some… interesting information?" Kei's expression twisted into something unreadable.
So, Shuu's death was exposed? Or… were they merely testing him?
Kei couldn't be sure. But whether it was a probe, or whether they had already decided it was him, made little difference.
That night, Shuu had chased after him and vanished. Before disappearing, he had even spoken with Kei at length.
Not being suspected would've been impossible. If not for Fugaku's suppression, an investigation would already have been underway.
But so what?
And as for Shin's so-called mercy—"not pursuing" meant nothing. Kei wasn't foolish enough to miss the implication.
Shin could always claim it was his personal stance, not that of the Great Elder, not that of the hardliners. A convenient shield of deniability.
Kei sighed inwardly. People like this were tedious.
"What is this information, then?" Kei asked, his voice tinged with boredom, though curiosity flickered in his eyes.
"Since you're interested, Kei-kun, I can reveal something in advance." Shin's smile deepened, and he leaned forward ever so slightly.
"Did you know? The three-tomoe Sharingan… is not the eye's limit."
With those words, he leaned back again, watching Kei closely.
For most Uchiha who had awakened three tomoe, such words were unthinkable.
After all, the leap in power granted by the third tomoe was staggering, almost absurd.
If even that wasn't the end—then what was?
What path lay beyond?
Shin's eyes gleamed as he studied Kei's face, expecting shock, disbelief, awe.
Instead, Kei sat there in utter calm, expression unreadable.
"You don't believe me, Kei-kun?" Shin frowned.
Kei remained silent for a long moment, then sighed quietly.
"No… you mean the Mangekyō Sharingan, don't you?"
"You—!" This time it was Shin's turn to stare in shock. "Fugaku told you? So the clan head truly does trust you!"
"This has nothing to do with trust, Great Elder."
Kei exhaled softly. "It's just that you know nothing. Oh, let me ask you—since you're convinced I was behind Shuu's disappearance, have you considered that I might also be responsible for Yuu's?"
As he spoke, Kei's lips curved into a faint, mocking smile.
Chakra surged around him, boiling with intensity. His eyes bled scarlet as the three tomoe spun to life.
"As for the Mangekyō Sharingan—I've already seen it. Twice." Kei's voice was cold, cutting.
"One pair belonged to Uchiha Yuu. The other, to Uchiha Shuu. They performed… quite well."
The words had barely left his mouth when a shadow flickered into existence at Kei's side.
A shinobi appeared, blade flashing down toward Kei's skull in a vicious arc—