Konoha Gate.
Just as Uchiha Kai was preparing to leave, a slightly hoarse voice suddenly appeared by his ear.
"Kai-kun, is that child Uchiha Obito?"
Orochimaru wasn't interested in Uchiha Kai himself, but in the things Uchiha Kai knew.
He was curious if Uchiha Kai could truly see... the future and the past.
Understanding that Orochimaru held no malice towards him, Uchiha Kai quickly regained his composure and did not deny it.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru. That is the Uchiha Obito I spoke of."
"He looks like just an ordinary Uchiha clansman. Does he have what I want?"
Orochimaru was puzzled. Uchiha Obito looked too ordinary.
One could even say he was mediocre, foolish.
But his personality was somewhat similar to a friend of his, Jiraiya.
And he hated that kind of foolish person.
Uchiha Kai did not refute Orochimaru's doubts and went along with his words.
"Indeed. Who would have thought that a seemingly unremarkable Uchiha child could stir up such great waves in the future?"
If Uchiha Obito's identity hadn't been exposed in the end, who would have known that a once-unremarkable ninja would bring such great changes to the ninja world?
Hearing this, Orochimaru became even more interested.
"Since you put it that way, Kai-kun, I'm starting to look forward to it."
"I hope it can add a little spice to my dull life."
Uchiha Kai turned to look at Orochimaru but didn't respond.
"Lord Orochimaru, aren't you planning to follow them?"
"If you miss this, you'll miss a lot of interesting things."
Orochimaru did not state his position.
Since he was interested, Orochimaru naturally wouldn't miss it. It was just that he wasn't in a hurry right now.
"Oh, right. Kai-kun, would you like to go out with me?"
"Although you can 'see,' don't you want to witness it with your own eyes?"
As Orochimaru spoke, a glint flashed in his eyes, carrying a peculiar gaze.
Seeing Orochimaru's reaction, the corner of Uchiha Kai's mouth twitched slightly.
Snakes... are truly a suspicious species.
But on the other hand, if Orochimaru had truly believed him completely, Uchiha Kai would have found it strange.
Uchiha Kai didn't mind leaving Konoha.
"If Lord Orochimaru can help me leave Konoha, I would be eternally grateful."
Orochimaru smiled upon hearing this, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Uchiha Kai didn't ask either.
Everything was understood without words.
Before long, a transfer order appeared before Uchiha Kai.
[Uchiha Kai is hereby transferred from the Konoha Military Police Force to become Lord Orochimaru's personal guard.]
Hiruzen Sarutobi was a bit suspicious when he learned that Orochimaru wanted Uchiha Kai, but he didn't block the transfer.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had not told Orochimaru about his decision to change the next Hokage.
But Orochimaru was not a fool. Not mentioning it didn't mean he didn't know.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know what Orochimaru thought about this matter. In any case, he had always felt that he owed Orochimaru, so he naturally agreed to such a trivial request.
And so, Uchiha Kai quickly became Orochimaru's personal guard.
Uchiha Kai didn't expect Orochimaru to act so quickly.
However, the day before Uchiha Kai and Orochimaru were scheduled to depart, an unexpected person appeared at Uchiha Kai's home.
'Sister Mikoto?'
Uchiha Kai was a bit surprised to see the sudden figure at the door and almost instinctively spoke.
"Sister Mikoto... why are you here?"
Uchiha Mikoto's face was a little flustered. Without exchanging pleasantries with Uchiha Kai, she asked directly.
"Kai, you've become Lord Orochimaru's subordinate?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Kai was even more confused.
"Sister Mikoto, Lord Orochimaru is one of the legendary Sannin and the Hokage's disciple. I... being able to become Lord Orochimaru's disciple... shouldn't you be happy for me?"
Who would have thought that Uchiha Mikoto would become even more anxious after hearing this?
"Kai, how can you become Lord Orochimaru's subordinate? Don't you know how intense the war is right now? As a key figure in Konoha, Lord Orochimaru will definitely be on the front lines. At that time, as his subordinate, won't you also have to face danger?"
"Little..."
"No, I have to find a way to get you back to the Konoha Military Police Force!"
Seeing Uchiha Mikoto, whose tone was filled with concern, even if Uchiha Kai were a fool, he would have understood by now that Uchiha Mikoto had not forgotten him.
Instantly, memories of the past flooded his mind. Connecting the dots, things that Uchiha Kai hadn't understood before suddenly became clear.
'No wonder I was able to remain a nobody in the Konoha Military Police Force.'
'No wonder I wasn't sent to the front lines even when the Third War was so intense and grueling.'
'So... it was all Sister Mikoto's help in secret.'
Uchiha Kai hadn't seen Uchiha Mikoto since she got married and thought she had forgotten him.
He never expected that although he hadn't seen her, her concern had never left his side.
Now that he had become Orochimaru's subordinate, Uchiha Mikoto had come to find him regardless of everything.
At this moment, Uchiha Kai felt a warmth in his heart.
Before transmigrating, no one paid any attention to him.
After transmigrating and becoming an orphan, Uchiha Kai originally thought that no one in this world would care about him either.
Uchiha Mikoto's appearance was like a ray of sunlight in the darkness, making him feel the pulse of his heartbeat for the first time.
At the same time, for some reason, Uchiha Kai thought of Kushina.
Although Kushina always cried and cursed at him, Uchiha Kai also absurdly felt Kushina's worry for him.
It was very similar to the look in Sister Mikoto's eyes right now.
Although the beginning of this concern was not glorious, it did make Uchiha Kai feel that someone cared about him.
Uchiha Kai even suspected that perhaps this was another reason why Uchiha Fugaku hated him.
Feeling the concern from Uchiha Mikoto in front of him, Uchiha Kai slowly lowered his head, a hard-to-read glint flashing in his eyes.
'Uchiha... Fugaku...'
At this moment, no one knew what Uchiha Kai was thinking...