After a long silence, Kakashi finally spoke, "A great ninja, but an incompetent father." With that, he fell silent again.
Kai looked at Kakashi for a while before suddenly smiling. "It seems these past few years have taught you a lot."
Turning away, Kai brushed the fallen leaves off Sakumo Hatake's gravestone and continued, "You might think Sakumo-sensei was an unfit father, but that's between you two. I can't interfere. All I know is that in his final moments, Sakumo-sensei entrusted me to look after you."
Kakashi raised his head, surprised, and stared at Kai. Kai went on, "As a ninja of the Hatake clan, your left eye was implanted with the Sharingan—a considerable burden for you. But it's your bond, just like how you abandoned the Hatake clan's kenjutsu and chose to rely on ninjutsu instead. Even though you're Sakumo-sensei's child, your choices are yours alone. I have no right to interfere, nor will I."
Kai paused for a moment, then pulled a scroll from his pocket and tossed it to Kakashi. "This is the Hatake clan's secret technique—the Lightning Body Technique. Sakumo-sensei entrusted it to me, and now I return it to you. I hope it proves useful."
Without another word, Kai turned and left, leaving Kakashi clutching the scroll tightly, his expression complex, lost in thought.
Several months passed quickly.
The Third Shinobi World War had come to a complete end, ushering in a period of peace. During such times, powerful shinobi like Kai were rarely assigned missions.
Kai enjoyed the leisure, spending his days either chatting with Minato at the Hokage's office or playing with little Anko at home. Occasionally, he would discuss life and dreams with Kurenai. Life was nothing short of blissful.
However, with the birth of Shikaku Nara's child a few days ago, Kai knew the day of the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha was drawing near.
Sure enough, just a couple of days later, one morning, Minato came to the Mitarashi residence.
"Minato, is there something you need?" Kai asked.
Minato scratched his head awkwardly. "Kai, I need your help with something. Kushina is about to give birth. As you know, she's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and during childbirth, her seal is at its weakest. I'm worried something might go wrong, so I'd like you to act as a guard."
"Of course, no problem," Kai replied with a smile.
Hearing Kai's response, Minato was overjoyed. "That's great! With your help, nothing can possibly go wrong." Minato was well aware of Kai's strength; in the current shinobi world, there was no one who could rival him.
After giving Anko a few instructions, Kai followed Minato out. After all, with his Kagura Mind's Eye encompassing all of Konoha, even if the Nine-Tails attacked, he could reach Anko in an instant. He wasn't overly concerned.
Following Minato, Kai arrived at a room filled with sealing techniques. The empty room contained only a single bed, about two meters long and one meter wide, placed in the center.
The Third Hokage was also present. Upon seeing Kai arrive, Hiruzen Sarutobi greeted him with a smile. "Kai, long time no see. You've been back in the village for a while, yet you haven't come to visit this old man."
Seeing no trace of resentment in Hiruzen's eyes, Kai was somewhat surprised but didn't dwell on it. He smiled and replied, "Good day, Third Hokage." Since Hiruzen had retired from the position of Hokage, he could no longer be addressed as the Hokage.
"Although we've prepared for every contingency, I'm still worried something might happen. That's why I had Minato call you here," Hiruzen explained.
Hearing Hiruzen's words, Kai's mouth twitched. Is this old man a jinx or what?
Night fell, and the time for Kushina's delivery drew closer. Hiruzen's wife, Biwako Sarutobi, personally oversaw the delivery, while Kai, Minato, and Hiruzen waited outside.
Watching Minato pacing back and forth, Hiruzen couldn't help but chuckle. "Minato, don't worry. It'll be over soon."
"Yes, Third Hokage. I'm just a bit nervous," Minato replied, his brows furrowed, clearly anxious.
Suddenly, Biwako's voice rang out from inside the room, "Minato! Hiruzen!"
The three men's faces changed drastically. Minato immediately used the Flying Thunder God Technique to enter the delivery room, with Kai following closely behind.
Inside stood a figure clad in a black robe adorned with red clouds, his face obscured by a swirling mask. The single visible eye was a Mangekyo Sharingan, spinning like a windmill.
Others might not recognize him, but Kai knew exactly who this was—Uchiha Obito!
"Who are you?" Minato demanded, holding his Flying Thunder God kunai as he glared at Obito.
"Who am I?" Obito chuckled. "I am Uchiha Madara!"
"Madara!" "Uchiha Madara!"
The names struck a chord with both Hiruzen and Minato. They were well-acquainted with the legendary figure who, alongside Hashirama Senju, had brought an end to the chaotic era. The mere mention of his name was enough to instill fear.
"Uchiha Madara? Don't make me laugh. That old geezer probably couldn't even sustain his life with the Gedo Statue anymore," Kai sneered, his eyes mocking as he stared at Obito. "And you? You're nothing more than a dead man walking from the Uchiha clan—a coward too afraid to even reveal his name. A mere clown."
"You… You know who I am!" Obito's voice was filled with shock and suspicion.
"Not only do I know who you are, but today, I'm going to kill you!" Kai's voice was cold and brimming with murderous intent. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
In the next moment, Kai vanished from his spot, reappearing in front of Obito. A Rasenshuriken in his hand was aimed directly at Obito's chest.
Boom!
Half the room was obliterated by the force of the Rasenshuriken, but Obito managed to escape unscathed, using Kamui to evade the attack at the last moment.
"Kamui, huh? Truly a troublesome technique," Kai muttered, slightly frustrated. Against such an absurd ocular jutsu, only someone like Konan, who could casually wield explosive tags, might stand a chance.
"You even know about Kamui!"
Obito's expression turned to one of shock, but soon it darkened. "Mitarashi Kai, your opponent today isn't me."
"Hmm?"
Before Kai could question him, a deafening sound echoed.
Turning toward the source, Kai saw a figure with orange hair, black rods embedded in his face, and clad in the same red cloud-patterned black robe.
It was none other than Pain's Six Paths.
Standing at the forefront was Deva Path—Yahiko!
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