"This is…"
Hyuga Aya stared in disbelief at the corpse Uchiha Kai had unsealed from a scroll.
"Nohara Rin? Why her?"
"Of course it's her," Kai replied flatly, his arms crossed. "Who else did you expect—Uchiha Obito? Sorry, I don't have the time or patience to dig him out. I'd rather burn him to ashes."
Aya gave him a long, sharp look, then nodded with a sigh. "Typical of you, Kai-kun."
"I get what you're after now. But you actually managed to get your hands on something like this…" Her eyes scanned Rin's body carefully. "Is that… Isobu's chakra?"
"Correct," Kai said without emotion. "Aside from restoring her physical state, I want to see what useful applications the Three-Tails' chakra might have."
Rin Nohara's body had been kept sealed in one of Kai's specialized storage scrolls. Preserved by sealing techniques, she looked almost like she were asleep—peaceful, except for the fatal wound in her chest where Kakashi's Chidori had pierced her heart. Thanks to the nature of her jinchūriki status at the time of death, a considerable amount of tailed beast chakra still lingered in her.
"I'll leave the rest to you. Extract the chakra first—can you manage it?" Kai asked, already turning away.
"I'll try," Aya replied, beginning to undo Rin's flak jacket. "No promises on how stable the seal will be. You're not staying to supervise?"
Kai scoffed over his shoulder. "I'm not a pervert. And I'm not Obito." He walked toward the exit. "I've got more important things to do than stare at corpses."
Aya watched him leave, then shook her head with a faint smirk.
Kai stopped at the basement door, arms folded. Moments later, a shadow flickered into view—a man in a black Uchiha battle uniform appeared silently in front of him.
Kai recognized him immediately. "Uchiha Zong," he greeted coldly.
The man knelt. "Lord Kai. Why have you brought a Hyuga here? Even if she calls herself 'Aya of the Main Branch,' it's dangerous."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Are you questioning me?"
Zong didn't flinch. "I'm concerned for your safety—and the patriarch's. Medical ninjutsu or not, bringing her to a restricted location could jeopardize everything. If the patriarch disapproves—"
"Do you even know what kind of relationship I have with Uchiha Fugaku?" Kai cut him off.
Zong hesitated. He remembered what happened last time—when Hyuga Aya brought Hyuga Teru here and tensions nearly exploded. That time, Aya hadn't even activated her Byakugan or entered the lower levels. But she'd killed Hyuga Teru shortly after—perhaps that was what kept the Uchiha from retaliating.
Now, things were different. Kai had personally escorted her into the secure basement. Naturally, the loyalists weren't pleased.
"Please reconsider, Lord Kai," Zong pressed. His expression tightened. "You are a genius of the Uchiha clan, and highly valued by the patriarch. For the sake of our future, don't let emotions cloud judgment."
Kai stared at him, unimpressed. "So, you're here to threaten me?"
Zong's eyes turned red. The two tomoe in each eye began to spin slowly. "My Sharingan may not be as developed as yours, but if it's to preserve the honor of the patriarch, then yes—I will act."
A slow, unsettling smile crept onto Kai's face. He didn't move—just opened his eyes.
Three tomoe. Then… they spun faster. And faster. Until they joined, forming a sharp, rotating shuriken-like pattern.
Zong froze. His Sharingan stopped spinning.
"This is…" he whispered, horror dawning on his face. "The Mangekyō…?"
"So, you do know," Kai said calmly, stepping forward. His hand closed around Zong's neck, lifting him with little effort. "You realize everyone who's seen these eyes—aside from Fugaku—is dead?"
Zong's face paled. "Then… the patriarch has these eyes too?"
Kai didn't answer.
But Zong already understood. The rumors, the secrets, the battlefield where Kai survived alone while his entire unit died—everything made sense now.
"You… share the same eyes as the patriarch," he muttered. "No wonder…"
Kai's expression didn't change, but inwardly, he noted Zong's reaction. So Fugaku's trusted men know about his Mangekyō. Killing Zong now would only fracture their already delicate alliance.
"I could kill you," Kai said coldly. "But that would be… inefficient."
He released Zong, who landed and knelt once more, this time more humbly.
"I apologize, Lord Kai. My actions nearly jeopardized the alliance between you and the patriarch. For that, I offer my life. But if my death risks further division… I will withdraw myself instead."
Kai narrowed his eyes, then smirked. "I'm beginning to like your attitude. You understand the chain of command. Good. Go tell Fugaku everything that happened here—and let him decide what to do with it. But remember this: question me again, and there won't be a next time."
"Yes, Lord Kai." Zong stood, bowed once, and turned to leave.
"Wait," Kai called. "While you're at it, find me Uchiha Yu's manuscripts on chakra filtration and soul containment. I'll need them."
Zong didn't question it. He nodded and vanished.
Kai exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. Tools like Zong were useful—so long as they knew their place.
When he re-entered the lab, Aya was waiting with a smug smile.
"All done with the barking dogs?" she teased.
"You were listening?" Kai frowned.
"You brought me into your lab and expected me not to notice the Mangekyō flaring up outside?" She rolled her eyes. "Besides, it was hard to miss."
"You've been smiling more than usual lately," Kai muttered. "It doesn't suit you."
"Oh?" Aya tilted her head. "Do you prefer me stoic and cold?"
"At least then it feels honest. That fake smile… it's too far from how Kenta Imai smiles."
The smirk disappeared from Aya's face. She turned away, focusing back on the scroll.
He was right.