Kakashi was deeply traumatized after what happened with Rin. It was a scar that even another Uchiha couldn't heal. The burden of coping was Kakashi's alone to bear.
Minato Namikaze understood this clearly—some wounds couldn't be fixed through orders or support alone. That's why he didn't ask Uchiha Kai to intervene. Instead, he planned to speak with Kakashi himself when the time was right.
Uchiha Kai didn't mind. They were due to return to Konoha in a day, and today, he wasn't planning to do much. He wanted rest—and more importantly, he finally had a chance to go through the book he recovered from what remained of Madara Uchiha's old hideout.
He still felt a bit guilty about torching the place. He hadn't wanted to risk destroying anything valuable buried in the soil—Madara's base had likely been rigged or protected. Kai had been cautious the entire time, carefully retrieving what he could. But now, back in camp, he could finally relax.
"Even if I scorched some Zetsu clones," he reasoned, "as long as the Gedo Statue remains buried elsewhere, Obito won't come looking for me over a few losses."
He chuckled at the thought. "Still, that base must've been a treasure trove. I wonder how many weapons or artifacts Obito had stashed."
As Kai approached his tent, he found himself deep in thought. "Obito really was fortunate," he muttered. "Even if Madara manipulated him, he still inherited Madara's teachings... That old man—Madara Uchiha—the strongest of our clan. His mastery over the Sharingan, his insight into the Uchiha evolution... unmatched."
Though Madara had long died—at least physically—his influence remained, passed down through Black Zetsu's deception and through Obito's actions.
"The guy stirred up the entire shinobi world from the shadows," Kai mused. He was a little envious, admittedly. But working with Madara? Never. Kai had his own path, and he would never place a bomb like that in his own heart.
"Besides," he thought, "I already know enough about the Sharingan's progression. There's always another way to advance."
Still, one thing irked him—the question of Indra's chakra. "That... that seems to be the key to awakening the Rinnegan," he admitted with a grimace. "But what am I thinking? I haven't even unlocked the Eternal Mangekyō yet."
He sighed. Though he had recently defeated Loess and forced him to retreat, Kai knew the truth. Loess hadn't inherited Onoki's Kekkei Tōta, and Obito, at the time, was still green—barely mastering his Mangekyō.
"Defeating those two isn't some major achievement," Kai admitted inwardly. "I'm strong now, yes... but far from ready for what's coming."
Letting the thought pass, he entered camp, nodding politely to fellow Konoha ninja as he made his way toward the tents. On the frontlines, accommodations were crude—most lived in tents or caves. Some earth-style users managed to build makeshift shelters, but not his team. They kept things simple.
Inside his squad's large shared tent, he found Aya Hyuga and Kenta Imai seated inside. Being a team, they shared quarters—divided into small partitions for privacy. It was crude, but serviceable.
"Not resting?" Kai glanced at the two before heading toward his corner partition. "By the way, did you finish disposing of the Mist-nin bodies from yesterday?"
Though they'd recently opened up to each other more, habits died hard. Their relationship remained functional at best—less about friendship and more about survival. When around others, they played the role of a unified squad. Alone, they retreated into old boundaries.
"Cleaned up," Aya replied, her tone dry. "Captain gave the order. You think we'd disobey?"
"Good. It's better that way," Kai said without turning around. "If those two came back looking for you, things would've gotten ugly."
He was, of course, referring to Ao and Terumi Mei. The former's Byakugan made him a dangerous sensor, while the latter—future Mizukage—wielded both Lava and Boil Release. A formidable pair. Ao would one day see through Danzo's schemes. Mei would go on to battle even Sasuke Uchiha and live.
Kai pulled back his curtain when Kenta suddenly asked, "Captain... what was the result of the negotiation? Minato-sensei mentioned you provided intel that forced Iwa to the table. That wasn't an official mission, right?"
"Curious, are you?" Kai turned and smirked at Kenta.
There was always something about Kenta. Sharp, adaptable... Kai had quietly investigated him, especially once his family gained political ground. If Kenta had been Root or part of the Elders' faction, he wouldn't be in a squad like this.
"Just wondering," Kenta replied, scratching his head. "It's good news for all of us, right?"
Kai tilted his head. "And you, Aya? Same thoughts?"
"Pointless," Aya muttered, standing by her partition door. She didn't enter, just observed Kai, eyes sharp. She, too, was curious. Kai was powerful, cunning—and yet, in her weakest moment, he had spared her. Why?
She couldn't figure him out.
"It's simple," Kai finally said, brushing his hair back. "When we were ambushed by Loess, he locked onto me... and did nothing. He stood there and let me wipe out his whole team."
"What?" Aya and Kenta blinked in unison.
Aya caught on quickly. "You're saying... he wanted Konoha to kill off the hardliners in his squad? Because Iwa was pushing for peace negotiations?"
Kai nodded slightly. "He's Onoki's son. He must've gotten wind of it."
"Damn it..." Aya frowned. "I didn't realize at the time. But how did you survive his pursuit?"
Kai didn't answer. He only gave them a mysterious grin and vanished behind his curtain.
He wasn't tired despite the night-long skirmishes. What mattered now was the old book he'd retrieved from Madara's hideout.
He sat down and carefully turned the first yellowed page.
His face twisted.
"What the hell is this? Madara Uchiha's... diary?"