Everyone was stunned.
No one had expected Uchiha Kai's past to be so miserable.
Especially Itachi and Obito.
As fellow Uchiha, they knew very well the kind of treatment a clansman should have received.
"What the… what was the clan even doing?" Obito couldn't help but grumble.
Yes—
Even he couldn't stand hearing about Kai's suffering.
Itachi stayed silent.
Though he too felt angry, this was clan business. And as the clan leader's son, it wasn't his place to comment carelessly.
Namikaze Minato furrowed his brow.
But—
He didn't speak up either. Like Itachi, he chose silence.
He did feel some sympathy for Kai's hardships, but honestly, there were many in Konoha who had it worse.
As someone born a commoner himself, he had seen real tragedy.
Besides—
This was an internal Uchiha matter. As someone aligned with the Hokage's office, it wasn't appropriate for him to say too much.
Otherwise, he risked stoking tensions between the Uchiha and the village—and that would be disastrous.
With that thought, he gave a light laugh.
"Ayame, you're overthinking it.
Kai-kun doesn't need our sympathy. He's a Mangekyo wielder now, already a high-ranking elder of the Uchiha.
The hardships of his childhood have become the fuel that made him strong.
Of course, I'd be glad to be his friend.
So don't worry—leave it to me."
Minato spoke solemnly.
And it was true. Kai didn't need anyone's pity—because he was already a powerhouse.
Still—
Minato genuinely didn't mind befriending him. The reason was simple:
Unlike other Uchiha, Kai lacked the clan's usual flaw—arrogance and pride.
Even after rising so high, he still mingled with commoners like Ayame and Teuchi, even helping them with chores.
That behavior left Minato with a very favorable impression.
As someone who aspired to become Hokage, he also wanted harmony between the village and the Uchiha.
…
Following Minato's words, Nohara Rin immediately voiced her support, clearly eager to be Kai's friend.
She was kind by nature.
Hearing about Kai's past, her heart had softened at once.
"Ayame-nee, I'd like to be friends with Kai-kun too!" Rin raised her hand eagerly.
"Well, if Rin says so…" Obito paused for a moment, then slapped his chest. "Then the great Obito will reluctantly agree to be Kai's friend too!"
Kakashi's mouth twitched.
With teammates like these, he honestly didn't know what to say.
"What about you, Kakashi?" Ayame asked.
Kakashi: "…"
He was dumbfounded.
Why was this being thrown onto him?
His mind went blank—he didn't know what to say.
He had never been good at expressing his emotions, and after his father's suicide, he had grown even more withdrawn and extreme.
Though Minato's guidance and his bonds with Rin and Obito had softened him somewhat, still—
He couldn't muster much enthusiasm for befriending Kai.
Sure, he had once misunderstood him, and Kai clearly had it rougher than himself.
But to openly call him "friend" like Rin and Obito did?
No way.
It felt far too childish.
"Kakashi, you should make more friends," Minato said with a smile. "Trust your sensei—you can't go wrong."
"…I…" Kakashi hesitated, but finally nodded. "Fine. I understand."
Ayame beamed at that.
The group continued chatting and laughing, until about ten minutes later, Kai walked over with their food.
"Your ramen is ready—please enjoy."
His face was calm.
Truthfully, he was curious about Namikaze Minato—the father of the story's protagonist.
But—
As someone who just wanted to slack off and live lazily, he wasn't keen on getting involved with major plot characters.
So after setting down the bowls, he turned to leave.
"Wait, Kai." Ayame caught his sleeve, speaking brightly. "These are the new friends I found for you!
This is Jounin Namikaze Minato, and these are Rin, Kakashi, and Obito…
Honestly, Kai, no wonder I call you out—you're already this old, and you don't have a single friend.
Your life really has been a failure.
But don't worry.
You've got me. I'll fix it for you.
Now, greet your new friends."
Kai froze, as if struck by lightning.
What the hell?
Ayame actually thought he was lonely and needed her to find him friends?
But seriously—
Who the hell introduces friends like this?
And besides—he didn't need them!
He was someone who would either defect or clash with the Hokage one day. What use were friends?
Bonds? To him, they were dead weight.
Worst of all—even if he did need introductions…
Why these people?
Why Minato's team, of all people?
They were main plot characters!
And the main characters meant trouble.
The members of Team Minato especially—each one was a walking bundle of plot disasters.
They were exactly the kind of people he wanted to avoid at all costs.
But now?
His head throbbed.
What was he supposed to do?
As he was thinking, Minato spoke first.
"Hello, Kai-kun.
I'm Namikaze Minato. I heard about you long ago on the battlefield—
How you singlehandedly wiped out the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, ending the Mist front completely.
It's an honor to be your friend."
Following Minato, Rin and Obito also spoke up eagerly.
Even Kakashi, for everyone else's sake, offered a greeting.
Kai's lips twitched.
He was reluctant to the extreme, but they had already extended the olive branch—what could he do?
Besides, he understood—
Ayame meant well. He had to accept her kindness.
"…You flatter me.
It was really thanks to Shisui and the entire squad—without their help, I couldn't have succeeded.
It's a pleasure to meet you all."
He smiled faintly.
Since there was no way to refuse, he had no choice but to go along.
Polite and composed, he chatted with them briefly.
Though he rarely made friends, his memories of his previous life remained.
So when it came to conversation, he was smooth and practiced.
In no time at all, everyone grew familiar with him.
Minato, in particular, was very satisfied.
Kai had none of the usual Uchiha arrogance—instead, he was humble and easygoing.
Honestly—he didn't seem like an Uchiha at all.
A friend like this was one Minato was more than happy to have.
Through just a short exchange, Minato lowered his guard completely, smiling as he launched into relaxed conversation with Kai.
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