Kenta Imai's words caught Uchiha Kai off guard, but he chose not to respond.
Everyone bore their own burdens—and the ambitions born from such burdens often forged terrifying resolve. Uchiha Kai was no exception. Everything he did was rooted in self-preservation, a desire to survive the future—one he foresaw clearly, yet found impossible to predict in its cruelty.
To achieve that, Kai had crossed many lines.
He might've seemed cold and calculating, even selfish. But from the moment he arrived in this war-torn world, Kai knew he couldn't afford to be "generous." Especially not on the battlefield, where death lurked in every shadow. It was there, under the weight of mortality, that his Mangekyō Sharingan had awakened—not from hatred, but from an overwhelming fear of death.
Aya Hyuga had her own path. In contrast to Kai and Kenta, she was perhaps the purest among them. Despite her harsh and often merciless methods, her goal was simple: freedom.
Freedom—so vague in meaning, yet priceless in value.
Kai remembered an old quote: "Life is precious, love is more so, but for the sake of freedom, both can be given up."
Aya's actions seemed to embody that ideal. Didn't they?
Kenta Imai, meanwhile, remained a mystery. From his tone, Kai suspected that Kenta was struggling with some kind of familial responsibility—perhaps something as burdensome as restoring a lost legacy. While Kai wasn't sure how much truth there was to the rumor of Kenta's distant Senju lineage, one thing was clear: Kenta wasn't the type to abandon a mission, even one forced upon him. So long as it didn't threaten his life, he would find a way to complete it.
Whether it was in the chaos of war or the politics of the Konoha Police Force, Kenta was reliable. But tonight, there was a trace of reluctance in his demeanor—likely stemming from a decision he made that conflicted with the expectations of his clan's elders.
"You have the authority to speak freely now," Kenta had said to Kai earlier. It was an interesting statement. Kai didn't know what the current state of "Senju education" was like—if any of that legacy still remained—but he could sense that Kenta didn't care much for him… and yet disliked the village leadership even more.
The regime of the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi—had weakened Konoha's structure. With the Senju all but gone, perhaps the resentment that once targeted the Uchiha was now redirected toward the aging leadership. Maybe Kenta's cooperation wasn't because he trusted Kai, but because he distrusted Hiruzen's administration more.
"If that's the case," Kai thought to himself with a crooked smile, "then things are about to get very interesting."
Both Aya and Kenta noticed the sly smirk on his face, but neither questioned it. His smile was bright and calm—but everything about it, under the pale moonlight, felt eerily unnatural.
Instead, their attention turned toward the dense forest ahead.
Aya had first noticed this place while covertly observing Jiraiya. Though she hadn't seen any ANBU guarding it, she'd once seen Jiraiya stand silently before the trees for several minutes before vanishing without a word.
She wasn't certain of its importance, but when Kai expressed a desire to investigate, she had no grounds to stop him.
After working with Kai for so long, she knew he always moved with intent. He never acted without a plan.
As they reached the outskirts of the forest's restricted zone, Aya and Kenta were surprised to find several members of the Konoha Security Department already assembled there.
What caught Kenta's eye even more—some of them were his own subordinates.
He stayed quiet, realizing what this meant: Kai had acted without informing him.
But considering Kenta hadn't officially reported for duty that day, perhaps Kai was merely preparing for the worst-case scenario.
As Kai stepped forward, the assembled shinobi immediately knelt.
Their deference was absolute—this wasn't just out of formality. They genuinely respected their direct superior.
"Liuying," Kai addressed one of them, "do you have what I asked for?"
Uchiha Liuying—recently promoted to vice-captain of the Third Division—rose and handed Kai a document.
"Yes, Minister. This is the authorization signed by the Fourth Hokage."
Minato Namikaze's seal shimmered faintly on the scroll.
Liuying continued, "The Hokage also agreed to dispatch an ANBU unit for support. He added that his former master may also be present."
"Jiraiya…" Kai muttered, thoughtfully.
That confirmed it. This forest wasn't just suspicious—it was a target. Kai had already suspected Jiraiya's presence here was more than coincidence. He had even sent Aya and Kenta to track him in the past. With Minato's authorization in hand, the final piece had clicked into place.
Kai turned to another officer. "What about the clan's attitude, Chuan?"
Uchiha Chuan, a senior member and Liuying's recommender, answered without delay: "The Patriarch understands. He said he intends to invite the Hyuga Patriarch for a private meeting—just the two of them."
Aya blinked in surprise. Even she hadn't anticipated that move.
"That's bound to make things even more interesting," Kai said with a grin.
It didn't matter if Orochimaru had moved his experiments—after the last incident, that was likely. What mattered now was escalation. If they created enough disruption to force the hands of all the village's major players—especially the old guard—Kai's objective would be complete.
"I just hope I'm not too late this time," Kai murmured, brushing his fingers against the special kunai Minato had given him.
With a sharp breath, he turned serious.
"Inform all units: surround the forest. Kenta Imai, Aya Hyuga—you're with me."
"Yes, Minister!" they replied in unison.
Kai led the charge into the forest. They made no effort to conceal themselves. With official clearance from the Hokage, they had nothing to hide.
Aya activated her Byakugan mid-stride.
"Captain, I see him. Jiraiya… he's nearby."
"Then we're in the right place," Kai said coolly. "If a fight breaks out with Orochimaru, having one of the Sannin nearby isn't a bad thing. At least we'll have someone to watch our backs."
"You really think we'll find anything?" Kenta asked in a low voice. "Or do you think Lord Hokage will?"
Kai chuckled. "The title of 'Captain' still brings back memories. But no—we don't need to find anything specific. We just need to shine enough light in the dark. The rats will scatter, and we'll see what's hidden in the nest."
As they ventured deeper into the forest, a faint clearing came into view.
And standing at the mouth of a cave, waiting for them… was Orochimaru.
His face was pale and sallow as ever, lips curled in a serpentine grin.
"Well, well. The head of the Police Force, his squad leader, and… a Hyuga heiress?"
His tongue flicked out, as if tasting their presence.
"How amusing. I never expected to see you again," he said, eyes briefly resting on Kai and Kenta.
Kai's Mangekyō Sharingan flared to life, glowing red.
"We've come to visit, Lord Orochimaru," Kai said evenly. "We didn't finish our last conversation before you fled. So this time, let's talk—properly."
Orochimaru's grin widened.
"Still so bold. But I'm curious… You survived our last encounter. Yet you didn't turn to the Yamanaka to report what you saw? Afraid of what might be uncovered about your own clan?"
"Does it matter?" Kai replied coldly. "This time, we have the Fourth Hokage's permission. We're not here to interrogate—we're here to observe. And maybe… to see your lab."
"A visit and a conversation, is it?" Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with dangerous amusement.
"Well then… let's begin."
With a flick of his wrist, several massive serpents slithered out from behind him, hissing and coiling around the cave entrance.
Aya and Kenta tensed, readying themselves.
The real battle… was about to begin.