Uchiha Fugaku could not refute Uchiha Kai's words. In a strict sense, he had already become complicit.
As he quietly sipped his tea, Fugaku found himself pondering—when had it come to this?
Since when did he begin tolerating Kai's blunt honesty? Since when did he allow someone to voice truths about the Konoha Police Force that no one else dared to say aloud?
Was it when Kai first awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan?
Fugaku wasn't certain. But what he was certain of… was that he had been persuaded. Persuaded not by Kai's power alone, but by the young man's keen insight and unclouded grasp of the village's political climate.
Power alone did not earn Fugaku's cooperation—plenty of Uchiha had power.
What truly moved him was Kai's political instinct and intelligence. A shinobi who relied solely on strength would never truly be considered strong. Without vision, they would eventually be manipulated—or destroyed—by forces beyond their understanding.
Yes, raw power could crush conspiracies. But only a sharp mind could detect those conspiracies in the first place. A weapon, no matter how powerful, was still a tool for someone else's will.
Without a word, Fugaku poured two cups of tea, handing one to Kai. "The arrangements are in place," he said calmly. "When do you intend to act?"
"This evening." Kai accepted the cup with due respect. "We may not succeed completely, but... we've all experienced similar emotional turbulence. I believe the provocation will be effective. His emotions are unstable—it's the best time."
Fugaku gave a small nod. He hoped it would work, but experience had taught him not to count on certainty when it came to the Mangekyō.
Unlocking those eyes was no simple matter.
Even with the three-tomoe Sharingan, awakening the Mangekyō required extraordinary trauma. Over the clan's history, some Uchiha had resorted to horrific means—killing loved ones, sacrificing kin—but most still failed. Worse, many went mad from the guilt. There was one dark chapter when such experiments were sanctioned in secret. The resulting backlash had all but torn the clan apart, and the elders had shut it down.
Fugaku himself loathed those methods. But this time… it was different.
This time, the target wasn't an innocent—it was someone who, in Kai's words, needed to be "removed."
Fugaku could see the logic. Kai wasn't recreating those failed experiments—he was simulating something. He was trying to reproduce a specific emotional trigger. Something similar to what Itachi and Shisui might have experienced.
That rationale, along with the target being a liability to the clan, led Fugaku to agree to this otherwise unthinkable plan.
He felt no guilt when it came to Uchiha Yūchi. The man was dangerous, unstable, and a liability. Better to use him for something meaningful than allow him to rot or cause further damage.
"Is this plan connected to Namikaze Minato?" Fugaku asked suddenly, eager to pivot from the darker topic.
Their alliance, after all, rested on one core ideal—preserving the Uchiha clan's future.
Without that, there would be no cooperation between them.
Kai spun his teacup gently between his hands. "We spoke at length," he said. "The result was… promising."
"Oh?" Fugaku's eyes lit up. "What did you tell him? And what did he say?"
Kai didn't mock his eagerness. He understood Fugaku's burden.
As clan head, Fugaku carried the impossible task of balancing loyalty to the village, protection of the clan, and survival in an era where the Uchiha were increasingly isolated.
Where Kai fought to survive in the shadows of politics and death, Fugaku fought against a slow erasure of the clan's influence.
Kai relayed the conversation with Minato in full. Fugaku listened intently, brows furrowed, occasionally nodding, occasionally scowling. But when he heard Minato had agreed to cooperate, his tense expression softened.
"You moved too fast, Kai."
Fugaku sighed once Kai finished. "Even if the outcome was good, revealing all your cards this early wasn't wise."
"I know," Kai said calmly, setting the cup down. "But what choice did I have? Do you really think Hiruzen Sarutobi will relinquish control so easily after Minato takes office?"
"You're saying… the Fourth Hokage will be a puppet?" Fugaku's face darkened.
He had to admit, it was plausible. Sarutobi had held power for decades. His influence extended deep—into the Council, Anbu, and village elders. People didn't surrender power willingly, especially not when they'd spent years building networks to hold onto it.
"Exactly," Kai replied. "Minato's strength is in his ideals. But that makes him vulnerable."
Fugaku nodded grimly. Minato lacked a clan backing. His only advantage was public popularity and his war record—but neither guaranteed real power.
"So," Kai said, "we help Minato secure his title—not just wear it."
"What's the plan?" Fugaku asked.
"First," Kai said, "how many civilian and minor clan contacts do you have?"
"Three minor clans. About fifty civilian jonin and chunin."
Fugaku gave a wry smile. "You know how people see us. Suddenly showing kindness? It raises suspicion."
The Uchiha's past made outreach difficult. Years of arrogance and abuse of power through the Konoha Police Force had burned too many bridges.
"You're right—it's too little," Kai said bluntly. "Let me take the lead."
"…Fine. I admit I've been too cautious."
"We need to reform the Police Force too," Kai added. "We need new blood—people loyal to Konoha, not just the clan."
"I understand. You'll be the spearhead—I'll support from behind."
Fugaku paused, then asked, "And after that?"
Kai exhaled. "Once Minato becomes Hokage, we help him build a real power base. That means drawing in minor clans, commoner shinobi—and later, the influential mid-tier families. The moment Minato commands loyalty from more than just the village bureaucracy, he can push back."
"That won't be enough," Fugaku said darkly. "You forget Anbu…"
"Have you heard about Kakashi?"
Kai's expression turned thoughtful. "He killed his friend to honor that friend's final wish. He's broken. But instead of healing, they're sending him to Anbu."
"Of course," Fugaku muttered. "More death numbs the pain. You're saying... he's the key?"
Kai smiled. "Minato's student. My friend. If he climbs Anbu ranks, we get eyes, influence, and protection."
"I see." Fugaku narrowed his eyes. "You want men I can spare. Ones loyal to us."
"Not just loyal to us," Kai said. "Loyal to our goals. To Konoha's survival, and the Uchiha's place in it."
Fugaku nodded. "Then they'll be yours—but only if they answer to me in public. Are we clear, Kai?"
Kai smirked. "Crystal."