"Captain Kai."
"Sir."
Less than three minutes after Uchiha Asahi left, Uchihagawa and Imai Kenta arrived at Uchiha Kai's office to report in.
Both were fast—but their expressions were very different.
Uchiha gawa stood respectfully and calmly, much like his father. He had already buried the matter of Uchiha Osamu in the past. His loyalty belonged solely to Uchiha Kai, and he never asked unnecessary questions.
Imai Kenta, however, was more complex. The boy's face was difficult to read. Kai could guess what he might be thinking, but he wasn't overly concerned.
Kenta's ambiguous origins remained unspoken. Kai had long suspected there was more to the boy's background, but since Kenta never brought it up, Kai never pushed. For now, his "civilian-born" status had its uses—one of the reasons Kai had chosen to work with him in the first place.
And Kenta was clever. Kai appreciated that.
"I called you both here early because there's something we need to discuss," Kai began without preamble. "What I'm about to tell you isn't to be shared—not yet."
"Understood, Captain," both Uchiha gawa and Kenta said in unison.
"Good," Kai nodded.
"I may be stepping down as squad leader by spring. I've decided to hand the position over to you, Kenta."
"Me?" Kenta blinked in surprise, his expression twisting with doubt. "Captain… you're not promoting me just to step aside, are you?"
Kenta was no fool. He knew how the Uchiha operated. The idea of placing a "civilian" in charge of a unit traditionally run by the clan could be political suicide—especially for someone like Kai, who had already drawn the attention of both allies and enemies within the clan.
He also knew how close Kai was to Uchihagawa. If Kai truly wanted someone loyal, why not pass leadership to him?
"Is he planning to start a war within the clan?" The thought chilled Kenta, and sweat gathered at the back of his neck.
"Don't tell me I'm just bait… to draw fire away from him?"
He wouldn't put it past Kai.
Kenta was no saint. His own record in the war was as bloody as Kai's. You didn't survive this long without learning a few tricks.
And Uchiha Kai? Kai was a schemer—cold, sharp, always two steps ahead.
This was the man who had helped shape a new political order in Konoha, quietly pulling strings to back a new Hokage. Kenta had no illusions about how far Kai would go.
"I'm not playing games," Kai said simply, as if reading Kenta's mind. "You're my vice-captain. You already understand how this unit works better than anyone. With you in charge, it'll thrive."
He turned to Uchihagawa.
"You'll serve as Kenta's second during this period. Learn everything you can."
Kenta narrowed his eyes.
"Learning? So you've got other plans in motion."
Kai smiled.
"Exactly. Once spring comes, Kenta will officially take over my current division. Uchihagawa will either join Uchiha Tsubasa or Uchiha Chiya as their second-in-command. By then, things should've stabilized—but I doubt we can wait that long to act."
"I see…" Kenta said slowly. He understood now—at least part of it.
Kai wasn't just stepping aside. He was reorganizing everything—shifting people into key roles before a storm hit.
Whatever Kai was preparing for, it wasn't a minor skirmish.
"He's planning to fight the elders," Kenta realized.
Or worse—he was preparing for a future where the clan itself might be split.
But at least Kai had staggered the timing—he wouldn't be around to drag Kenta down if things exploded.
Kenta sighed.
"If Uchihagawa's next, then it's only a matter of time before Kai becomes head of the entire Konoha Police Force, huh?"
Kai turned back to Uchiha gawa.
"Chuan."
"Captain Kai," Uchiha gawa answered calmly, his expression unreadable.
"Your next assignment is important. Watch how Kenta runs the unit. Learn how to handle clan-born and civilian shinobi alike. You don't have much time—once the situation is clear, you'll be stepping up. Can you handle it?"
Uchiha gawa dropped to one knee.
"Yes, Captain Kai! Thank you for your trust—I won't let you down."
Kai nodded, satisfied. Uchihagawa might seem mechanical, but his discipline and loyalty were useful.
Kai wasn't sure if he could call himself a true leader yet—but he was heading in that direction.
And he would never let his strength—or his influence—slip.
Standing, he placed a hand on each man's shoulder.
Two lieutenants, in position. One final piece remained…
Uchiha Clan Grounds
In the heart of the Uchiha compound, a secluded area of dense bamboo stood tall near the clan's central estate.
It was here that the great elder, Uchiha Shin, resided.
Perhaps it was age, or the gradual erosion of feeling brought by his overuse of the Sharingan—but Shin had grown to prefer the tranquility of bamboo to the romantic bloom of cherry blossoms.
At the center of the grove stood a small pavilion. Uchiha Shin sat within, surrounded by the second, fifth, and sixth elders—all men of similar age and rank.
Veterans of a dozen battles, and unrepentant hawks.
They believed in Uchiha supremacy. That the clan's decline was the fault of Konoha and its weak alliances. That the lions of Uchiha had been forced to grovel like mutts.
"Any word on the boy—Xiu?" the Second Elder asked, sipping tea.
There were six elders in total, but four were staunch hawks. That alone made the Uchiha's internal politics dangerously lopsided.
The doves—those who favored diplomacy—were all but extinct. The clan's unity was a facade, one step from fracture.
The tragedy was clear: the strongest voices in the Hokage's lawbooks were often the weakest in the clan's eyes. Uchiha Shisui. Uchiha Itachi. Lonely ideals, quickly drowned.
Uchiha was still just one clan.
Konoha—Konoha was everything else.
"No news yet," Shin replied, voice low. "But I suspect Orochimaru is involved."
He tapped his fingers on the table.
"From what we've gathered, the night Xiu vanished, he was seen leaving with a letter… from Uchiha Kai. Uchiha Yan and Uchiha Akira also disappeared that night."
"You suspect Kai orchestrated it?" the Sixth Elder asked.
"He's aligned with the clan head," the Fifth added cautiously. "And the clan head has been openly opposing us lately—especially in the Police Force."
"To think… that indecisive puppet of a patriarch would grow a spine," Shin murmured, turning his teacup thoughtfully in his hands.
"But growth isn't always good. Not if it leads in the wrong direction."
The three elders fell silent. They knew what Shin meant.
They couldn't depose a clan head. That violated long-standing traditions—even Madara hadn't succeeded in forcing the clan to follow him. But they could refuse his commands.
History had proven that even a patriarch could be abandoned.
"We'll follow your lead, Elder Shin," the three elders said solemnly.
"Good," Shin nodded, smiling faintly.
"But before we move... I want to speak with Uchiha Kai."
"You think he'll listen?"
"Maybe. I've heard of his potential. If he joins us, I'll overlook his support for Yuchi and Osamu... I'll let the past go. But if he refuses"
Shin didn't finish his sentence.
A masked ANBU-like figure stepped out silently from the bamboo behind him, waiting.