Chapter 206 – Report
Uchiha Kei's words left Hyūga Ayaka momentarily stunned.
Especially the "subject" he had suggested for her research—she felt as if rejecting it wasn't even an option.
Hyūga Hiashi… the head of the Hyūga clan himself!
If she could use him as a comparative sample, it would go a long way in proving whether Kei was truly telling her the truth or spinning a clever lie.
What Kei proposed was simple: help Ayaka ambush Hiashi.
From that encounter, they would obtain the materials she needed for her research.
Blood, flesh—anything from Hiashi's body would be enough. With those samples, Ayaka could conduct genetic comparisons to verify Kei's theory.
The plan was undeniably dangerous. But Kei seemed fully capable of pulling it off.
Hiashi wasn't a recluse—he left his home daily to handle clan affairs. And no one was better placed to track his movements than Uchiha Kei himself.
The Konoha Military Police weren't just the largest and strongest enforcement arm within the village; they were also, in many ways, an intelligence network.
Mapping Hiashi's routes, arranging for a secluded area, or discreetly dispersing bystanders—all of that fell perfectly within Kei's reach.
As for covering their tracks? That hardly required Kei's personal concern. His ties to both the Fourth Hokage and the Uchiha clan head were strong enough to shield him. With their support, he had no fear of exposure.
And if things ever turned sour? Kei was the Police Commander. He could easily drag a death-row inmate into the scheme, pin everything on the scapegoat, and walk away clean.
Ayaka inhaled deeply, conflicted yet tempted.
"…I understand. But this will take time. I'm not prepared yet.
"If we rush into this, your eye project will be jeopardized as well. If you push me to work before I'm ready, I fear my current level isn't enough to handle the procedures—and that could lead to disaster."
Though tempted, Ayaka was cautious. She knew her limits. Attempting the experiment too soon would only risk failure. Better to delay, study thoroughly, and strike when she had everything ready.
What worried her most was Kei himself. Would such a powerful, ambitious partner really be willing to wait? After all, the temptation of new eyes and greater power was not something many could resist.
"No problem," Kei said without surprise. "I don't want you botching this out of haste either. But remember this—you don't have much time.
"That pair of perfected eyes… I'm not the only one watching them."
"Uchiha Fugaku?" Ayaka guessed immediately. Her mind was sharp, and the answer clicked at once. "So how long do we have?"
"Eight months at most," Kei answered after a pause.
In truth, eight months was no arbitrary limit—that was when the Nine-Tails would attack. Kei's intention was to settle everything before the catastrophe struck.
Otherwise, he would be forced to rely on another's eyes to bridge the gap.
But he loathed that prospect. He wanted his own power, not to borrow another's legacy.
After all, he doubted he could ever wield a foreign Sharingan as effortlessly as Uchiha Madara, who could supposedly insert eyes and instantly access their powers.
Even Kakashi had spent years adapting to Obito's eye before he could properly harness its abilities. Look at Danzō—despite possessing Hashirama's cells and Shisui's eye, he had never managed to use Kotoamatsukami freely.
Talent mattered, yes. But Kei was convinced true mastery required a profound understanding of the Sharingan itself. Without that foundation, simply swapping eyes was meaningless—perhaps even a crippling liability.
Still, a new pair of eyes had its advantages. Even if they weren't fully adapted, they could grant him access to Susanoo's power without restraint.
"Eight months, huh? That's cutting it close." Ayaka frowned, then bit her lip and steeled herself. "Give me four. I'll find a way to make it work within four months!"
"…Very well. Do your best." Kei nodded, satisfied. If Ayaka truly managed to reach the minimum threshold in four months, many of his plans could advance ahead of schedule.
"Four months, then." Ayaka returned the nod. "After four months, I'll solve your problem. And—" her eyes sharpened, "I'll also deal with Hiashi, to prove I haven't been lying to you."
Kei inclined his head. "Good. And in return, you'll be able to use my experiment to test your own theories. After all, our clans are both born of eye techniques. There's much to compare… and much to learn from one another."
Ayaka agreed silently. That had been her thought as well. Kei's work could guide her own choices in the future.
At the same time, she needed Hiashi's "materials." With them, she could run horizontal comparisons against the strongest Hyūga of the main family—measure the true gap between her and the elite.
With Kei's assurances, she felt lighter, even motivated.
At first, she had believed Kei was forcing her into tedious research simply to push her down the path of a medical-nin, stripping away her front-line combat edge. After all, she knew some of Kei's darkest secrets. As the dominant partner, he had every reason to weaken her position.
But now she saw things more clearly. Kei was using her, yes, but he was also willing to pay his share to ensure her cooperation.
That realization reassured her. For her own sake—and for her future—Ayaka resolved to put her all into this partnership.
Kei was right. They were indeed the same kind of people. The only difference was that his talent and cunning had carried him further, earning him his current strength and position.
"I understand," Ayaka finally said. "In that case, I'll take my leave. I have no time to waste—there's still much I must study, much I need to make up for."
"Mm. And one more thing," Kei added. "From now on, you can come here directly. The equipment, the materials you need—they're all here. I'll make sure no one stops you."
"…But if you're coming here, you must make absolutely sure you aren't being followed—especially by members of your own Hyūga clan."
"I understand." Ayaka nodded. This arrangement was highly convenient for her, so of course she wouldn't refuse. Then she asked with a hint of curiosity, "But what about you? Hasn't your clan head turned against you because of my presence here?"
"He won't. In fact, he'll completely ignore your existence." Kei shook his head casually, as if it were nothing worth worrying about.
"In this entire laboratory, apart from you, everyone else is my subordinate. Strictly speaking, even you aren't one of them, but you're closer to me than they are."
Kei was being honest. He had no concern over Ayaka knowing such things. On the contrary, he suspected she had already sensed it herself.
The people here were obedient and respectful toward him, yes—but the distance between them was obvious. Anyone with half a brain could see it. Ayaka wasn't a fool, so it was only natural she'd realize something was off. After all, Kei had neither the time nor the desire to carefully cultivate loyalty from so many followers.
"I see," Ayaka sighed, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "So this partnership of mine has brought you quite a bit of convenience after all." She quickly grew serious again. "Understood. This place is far better than anywhere else. I'll be cautious—I have no desire to get myself killed."
"Good." Kei gave her a slight nod.
"Here's a suggestion: when gathering your materials, you don't need to focus solely on Hiashi. Your clan has plenty of main branch members. And if I recall correctly, you run those periodic testing events to evaluate every clan member's strength, don't you?"
"…Yes." Ayaka blinked, then immediately grasped his meaning. "I have to admit—that's a clever idea."
The Hyūga main family wasn't enormous, but it wasn't small either. Each member—main branch or branch family—could serve as excellent research material.
She didn't need to go to extreme lengths. In the sparring matches, all she had to do was strike hard enough to make someone cough blood. Collecting those blood samples afterward would give her all she needed.
The more sources she had, the more reliable her results would be. After all, experiments demanded vast amounts of data to ensure accuracy.
"As long as you recognize the value, that's enough." Kei nodded again. "By the way, before you leave, make sure you handle this report. There are things here I don't want anyone else knowing. Not even members of my own clan."
"No problem, Kei-kun." Ayaka smiled faintly, clutching the report in her hand. "I won't let it surface. No one will ever see it—anyone."