Shisui and the others exchanged puzzled glances.
Might Duy?!
That was a name they knew well. They had talked about him long ago.
A man who appeared to be a mere Genin, yet in truth wielded terrifying power—capable of erupting into Kage-level strength in an instant.
And now this Uchiha Kai fellow… had quietly brought him over to their side?
Everyone wanted to comment, but no one said a word.
Even though Kai had mentioned that Minato was now considered an ally, nobody could say for sure what that meant in practice.
So in matters like this, it was better to let Kai take the lead.
"Alright, I get it.
Oh right, Minato-niisan, about the intel I submitted on Hidden Stone—does that count as a mission accomplished?
What did Nara Shikaku say?"
Kai asked casually, but there was weight behind his tone.
Indeed, this matter was no small thing.
It was tied to his deal with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
If he had risked so much, only for Hiruzen to later deny it—maybe even take back the reward he had already granted—then Kai would have to go back and have a very serious conversation with him.
Minato could only shake his head helplessly.
"Kai-kun, you really do worry too much.
Rest easy. Hidden Stone already dispatched a delegation last night. They should be arriving in Konoha as we speak, to negotiate the peace treaty.
Slaughtering three thousand of Hidden Stone's elite in a single battle—that news has already spread across the entire village.
As the greatest contributor to that victory, no one would dare erase your merits."
But Kai only sneered inwardly.
Dare not? Heh.
Hiruzen might put the village's big picture first.
But Danzo? He feared nothing.
Of course, there was no need to say that out loud.
Kai simply shook his head and dropped the matter.
"Let's hope so." Kai spoke faintly.
"The Hidden Stone front is most likely about to conclude.
So what's our next step—head back now, or wait for the main forces to return together?"
"We should return," Minato replied at once.
"The village didn't give exact orders, but the battle is already over.
Besides, neither of us are part of the frontline combat roster—we were only here as reinforcements.
I'll escort Kakashi and the others back first, then I'll come fetch you."
Kai nodded.
After bidding farewell to his squadmates—who still had to await orders from the front camp—he waited.
About five minutes later, Minato returned.
"Kai-kun, let's go."
"Right."
Without hesitation, Kai agreed.
In the eyes of their comrades, Minato placed a hand on Kai and Might Duy's shoulders.
In the blink of an eye, all three vanished.
Shisui shrugged.
"Well, that's the end of the war."
"Tell me about it," Kazama groaned. "I thought I was going to die from exhaustion."
Hyuga Aya nodded slightly, but just as she opened her mouth, Aburame Ryoma interjected.
"Hey—what about me? I wasn't part of the frontline roster either!"
Shisui: "…"
Kazama: "…"
Aya: "…"
The three froze, then all clutched their foreheads in unison.
Good grief.
They'd forgotten Aburame Ryoma again.
But honestly—his sense of presence was just that low.
Meanwhile, back in Konoha.
Though Kai felt like he might have overlooked something, he quickly shook the thought aside.
Trivial details weren't worth his time.
What mattered now was arranging a place for Might Duy.
So after parting ways with Minato, Kai took Duy straight to his home.
Stepping into the familiar courtyard, he felt a rush of warmth despite his short absence.
Yes.
Even without family—this was still his home.
He brought Duy inside, brewed two cups of tea, and handed one over.
"Duy-senpai, this is from the Hokage's private stash. I went through quite a bit of trouble to get my hands on it.
Today's your lucky day!"
Kai grinned.
Indeed, this had become something of his trademark. Whoever he invited over, he would always boast about his rare teas.
All the better when it came from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Drinking the enemy's tea made it taste all the sweeter.
He savored a sip, letting the rich fragrance relax him.
Across from him, Might Duy sat stiff and awkward, an embarrassed smile on his face.
Even now, he couldn't understand why such an influential figure had sought him out.
Simple-minded and from a humble background, Duy knew nothing of clan politics or backroom schemes.
The Uchiha might have a poor reputation—but to him, they were still one of Konoha's noble houses.
The kind of people a lowly commoner like him would never even dare to approach.
And the boy before him—Uchiha Kai—though just twelve years old, was still a scion of that clan.
He dared not show the slightest disrespect.
"Um, sir," Duy asked timidly.
"Why have you called for me?
If there's a mission, please don't hesitate to command me!"
That was the difference between him and his son, Might Guy.
Guy, too, had been underestimated when he was young.
But his circle of friends had been extraordinary—Kakashi, Obito, Rin, Ebisu, Sarutobi Asuma, Genma, Kurenai, Hayate…
Kakashi was a genius, heir to Sakumo Hatake's connections, and destined to be the Sixth Hokage.
Obito had been a cheat-code in human form.
Asuma was the Hokage's son.
Others went on to join the Fourth Hokage's personal guard.
Even the "weakest" of the bunch, Ebisu, became a special Jounin.
On top of that, Guy's taijutsu talent was unmatched. He showcased his strength time and again, rose to Jounin, became a team leader, and later trained prodigies like Tenten, Neji, and Lee.
Guy had both strength and connections.
Despite his common birth, he was never truly inferior.
But Duy… was different.
Though he shouted about youth and passion, he lived at the very bottom.
A lifetime as a Genin, never earning much, spending everything he had on Guy's training.
His own body, malnourished and riddled with hidden injuries.
The one time he erupted—slaying four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—brought him nothing.
At best, it ensured no one dared look down on his son, the next heir to the Eight Gates.
But Duy himself? Forgotten.
Now, with the Seven Swordsmen dead by Kai's hand, Duy was still alive—
yet still invisible, still unvalued.
In truth… beneath all his cries of youth, Might Duy carried a deep, gnawing insecurity.
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