Chapter 312 – The Gift
Leaving the Hokage's office, Uchiha Kei exhaled softly.
For the first time since returning from the Land of Water, he could finally breathe without the weight of strategy pressing on his chest.
Now the question was:
Should he go home and rest… or check in at the lab?
On one hand, he had earned a break — no one could deny that.
On the other, he was genuinely curious.
He wanted to assess the current progress of his chakra fusion experiments, and verify that Kimimaro's new living arrangements were proceeding as planned.
As for visiting the Police Force?
Absolutely not.
It wasn't that he lacked the energy — he simply had no interest in paperwork or patrol reports right now.
The department could run itself.
He'd spent years building a structure that could operate efficiently without his presence.
Four specialized divisions, each run by capable commanders.
They didn't need him hovering.
A few days of "personal leave" wouldn't hurt anyone.
---
But just as Kei stepped into the corridor, he unexpectedly ran into Nara Shikaku.
The ever-calm strategist was walking briskly toward the Hokage's office, a stack of documents in hand.
For a brief moment, their eyes met — and Shikaku's normally composed face froze in genuine surprise.
That alone was worth seeing.
Kei's lips curved slightly.
Ah… so he knows where I've been.
The man's reaction gave it away instantly.
Considering the vast distance between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water — and the even greater gap between Konoha and Kirigakure — his sudden reappearance here must have startled the Nara tactician.
Still, Shikaku recovered quickly.
His mind, as always, was fast to adapt.
Within seconds, the confusion in his expression was replaced with a knowing smirk.
---
"Captain Kei," Shikaku greeted pleasantly. "Well, this is a surprise. Didn't expect to see you back so soon."
"Ah, Shikaku," Kei returned the smile with equal composure. "The Hokage summoned me back personally. But as of now, I'm officially on leave."
So that's it, Shikaku realized.
No wonder he was back so fast.
The Hokage must have used Flying Thunder God to bring him home.
Kei always carried one of Minato's marked kunai for emergency extraction — a privilege not granted to many.
That Minato himself had traveled across the sea, all the way to the Land of Water, just to retrieve Kei…
It said everything about the bond between them.
That kind of trust — and access — was something even a man like Shikaku couldn't help but envy.
And naturally, his curiosity flared.
Just how successful had Kei's mission in Kirigakure been?
He knew the basics — success was clear enough.
But how it had been achieved, and to what extent, that was what intrigued him.
If he could learn that, he could begin formulating strategic plans to take advantage of the Mist's weakened state.
---
"You're on your way to see the Hokage, I assume?" Kei asked casually, interrupting Shikaku's thoughts.
"Yes," Shikaku nodded, straightening his papers.
"Then I won't keep you." Kei inclined his head politely and turned to leave —
—but Shikaku spoke again, voice light but deliberate.
"Captain Kei," he said, "if you're free sometime soon, perhaps we should… meet properly. Talk."
Kei paused, then smiled knowingly.
"A meeting?" he repeated, his tone playfully thoughtful.
"I see. Yes… I suppose there are indeed a few things we should discuss, Shikaku."
Shikaku smiled faintly in return. "Then I'll look forward to hearing from you."
He gave a small nod of respect and continued toward the Hokage's office.
---
Kei watched his back disappear around the corner.
A faint glint of amusement crossed his eyes.
So… the Nara clan is making their move.
It was subtle, but unmistakable — a quiet gesture of alliance.
Whether it was Shikaku extending the olive branch or simply acknowledging one offered to him, the result was the same:
The Nara clan was signaling its loyalty to Minato's faction — and, by extension, to Kei himself.
That was significant.
He'd noticed hints of their cooperation before — Shikaku had advised Minato more than once and sent several Nara members to serve under Kei in the Police Force.
But that had only been professional collaboration, not true political alignment.
Now, it seemed, they were ready to commit.
And that was something Kei could work with.
After all, the Nara were more than just strategists — they were the quiet backbone of Konoha's bureaucratic and tactical infrastructure.
Having them fully on Minato's side…
meant stability.
And stability was the foundation Kei needed for everything yet to come.
He smirked faintly, hands sliding into his pockets as he turned toward the village streets.
So that's how it is, Shikaku…
You're choosing your side — and you're smart enough to choose the winning one.
Although Nara Shikaku had always been diligent and dependable, there had long been a sense of distance in the way he operated — a cautious neutrality, neither too close nor too distant from any faction.
But now… something had changed.
Kei couldn't quite tell why.
Maybe Shikaku had finally decided that Minato Namikaze was truly capable of leading Konoha.
Or perhaps, he simply believed in Minato's strength.
Either way, Kei wasn't complaining.
He gave a quiet chuckle as he walked down the Hokage building's steps, the afternoon sun washing over his face.
Whatever his reason, it's good for me.
Supporting Minato's rise, keeping him alive, and stabilizing his rule — that had always been part of Kei's long-term strategy.
Their interests were now intertwined.
If more people rallied behind Minato's leadership, that meant Kei's position became even safer.
He adjusted his collar slightly, glancing toward the direction of the village center.
Maybe I should bring that kid, Imai Kenta, along next time, he thought idly.
His father's in charge of the Mission Department — getting him close to the Nara clan could be… useful.
---
In truth, among all the people in Konoha, the only two who might someday become Kei's genuine friends were Ayaka Hyūga and Imai Kenta.
Though "friends" was perhaps too generous a word.
Their relationship, for now, was still built on mutual benefit — shared interests, aligned objectives.
Maybe, in time, those bonds would deepen into something more sincere.
But right now, it was all about strategy.
And strategy demanded reciprocity.
If he wanted allies, he had to make sure they had something to gain from standing beside him.
Helping the Senju line regain influence by supporting Kenta's rise in the Mission Department?
That was one investment Kei didn't mind making.
After all, if the Senju ever regained a foothold in Konoha's bureaucracy, it would directly benefit his own future plans.
With that thought, Kei made up his mind.
He'd stop by the underground laboratory first.
If Kenta happened to be there, he'd tell him about Shikaku's subtle offer.
If not — well, he could always talk to Ayaka, and check in on Kimimaro, who should have been brought in for monitoring.
He was also curious to see what progress Ayaka had made lately with her ongoing research — her theories on chakra structure had intrigued even him.
Besides, he needed to share the results of his discussion with the Hokage.
So, with an easy stride, he turned down the forest path leading toward the Uchiha compound's hidden facility.
The air in Konoha felt different — lighter, warmer.
Compared to the oppressive mist and perpetual tension of Kirigakure, this village was… alive.
Kei wasn't a man who needed sunshine to survive, but even he had to admit — the constant shadow of the Mist Village had been exhausting.
Humans, by nature, were drawn to light.
Even those born in darkness.
He had adapted to this world of secrets, manipulation, and quiet ruthlessness, but that didn't mean he preferred it.
Being able to walk in daylight — even if it wasn't truly his — still felt better than drowning in endless fog.
---
As he passed through the village streets, ninja and civilians alike greeted him warmly.
"Uchiha-sama!"
"Good afternoon, Captain Kei!"
He smiled in return, polite and approachable.
The mask he'd crafted for himself — the kind, gentle leader — had to be maintained at all times.
He knew exactly how the people of Konoha viewed him:
A man with power, ambition, and influence — but one who still treated others with warmth and restraint.
He might have once stood beside Danzō in council meetings, but his methods were worlds apart.
Danzō inspired fear.
Kei inspired trust.
And that distinction was everything.
To rule from the shadows, one had to appear bathed in light.
Eventually, he reached the Uchiha forest behind the clan district.
The trees were as thick and vibrant as ever, but Kei's trained eye immediately caught something new — the perimeter defenses had been tightened.
Fresh traps, enhanced barriers, improved surveillance.
So Fugaku had been busy while he was gone.
It made sense.
With Kei away, Fugaku had likely taken the time to reorganize and fortify their assets.
The underground facility itself might no longer be of use to Fugaku — after all, his Eternal Mangekyō had already stabilized —
but for Kei, the lab remained essential.
There were still experiments to conduct, theories to test, and secrets to uncover.
Fugaku didn't need to know all the details.
All he needed to do was maintain the infrastructure — and that, at least, he had done well.
---
Kei slipped past the guards without a word and descended into the depths of the hidden lab.
The air below was cool and still, the usual hum of equipment replaced by silence.
But he could sense chakra faintly flickering from one of the inner chambers.
Someone was inside.
He smiled. "Seems my intuition's still sharp."
Pushing open the familiar metal door, he stepped in — and there she was.
Ayaka Hyūga, head bent over her notes, pale eyes gleaming softly in the dim light.
And beside her, on one of the medical tables, lay Kimimaro, still unconscious.
So she had been working through the night.
Kei raised an eyebrow.
That explained why the kid had slept straight through an entire day — whatever she and Kenta had done must have been intense.
Ayaka looked up, tilting her head slightly when she saw him.
"Well, isn't this a surprise," she said dryly. "I didn't expect you here so soon."
"I had a feeling you'd be down here," Kei replied, walking closer with a faint smile. "And, as usual, I was right."
Ayaka exhaled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"After bringing him back, I didn't want to waste any time. If the clan leader hadn't called me for a meeting yesterday, I'd probably have slept here."
"No need to push yourself," Kei said, taking a seat beside her. "Everything has its time. The answers will come — one way or another."
"Easy for you to say," Ayaka muttered, eyes still on her notes.
"You and Kenta already have functioning results. I'm still compiling baseline data. My starting point is practically zero, and—"
"You're worried you won't keep up," Kei interrupted gently.
Her silence was answer enough.
Kei smiled faintly, then his tone softened into something more deliberate — quieter, but edged with intent.
"In that case," he said, "I've prepared something for you. A… contingency plan, let's call it."
Ayaka's pale eyes flicked toward him, curious. "Oh? What sort of contingency?"
Kei smirked.
"A small gift," he said, his voice calm but low.
"Something only you can use."
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