The ninja blade slid out of Uchiha Chiya's shoulder, blood gushing from the wound and soaking into the stone tiles beneath him.
The chakra that had once crackled like thunder slowly faded into a calm, pale blue as the blood on the steel edge evaporated.
Uchiha Tsubasa clutched his slashed chest, crumpled on the floor. Beside him, Chiya lay groaning, barely conscious.
Their faces were twisted in fury and disbelief.
Standing tall before them, Uchiha Kai sheathed his sword with a measured calmness. His Mangekyō Sharingan faded back to the standard three-tomoe form, spinning slowly in his scarlet eyes.
They're probably cursing my deceit and their own carelessness, Kai thought coldly.
Feigning being trapped in a genjutsu, Kai had struck the moment their guards dropped. In that split-second, he cast a secondary genjutsu on Chiya and pierced his shoulder with precision.
The attack was so swift that even other Uchiha with active Sharingan couldn't follow what had happened.
But the outcome was obvious—two sub-commanders of the Konoha Military Police Force had been decisively defeated.
A suffocating silence followed. Even Uchiha Asahi and his son, who had previously worn proud expressions, didn't dare speak.
Kai's eyes swept across the gathered squad members. "Looks like I won't be paying any visits to the elders with you after all."
He turned his gaze to the subordinates of Tsubasa and Chiya. They immediately averted their eyes or lowered their heads, unable to meet Kai's intense gaze—cold and unyielding, like the eyes of a predator.
They could feel the power emanating from him. The clarity of his Sharingan. The precision of his strikes. The ruthlessness in his decisions.
Kai's tone softened, but only on the surface. "Now then. I have one question for everyone present."
He took a step forward, and his voice—almost friendly—echoed in the still courtyard.
"The decision I made just now—who agrees, and who opposes it?"
No one answered. Not a whisper.
They weren't just stunned—they were frightened. Uchiha Kai was no ordinary genin or chūnin. He was something else.
A silence this heavy could only mean surrender.
"…Very good."
Kai nodded, then glanced back down at the fallen officers. "Take these two to the hospital. The rest of their squads? Throw them into the Konoha Detention Center. Charge them with insubordination."
The Uchiha ninja hesitated—barely. Then murmurs of "Yes…" spread faintly through the group.
Kai didn't move.
"…I said, did you hear my order?"
That chill in his voice—like winter frost settling on their skin—made them snap upright.
"Yes, Captain Kai!!"
Kai's eyes narrowed with approval. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the inner hall of the Uchiha Police HQ.
He knew now—none of them would dare cross him again.
What he'd done today was harsh. Some might call it excessive.
And yet… Fugaku hadn't shown up. Likely sipping tea with the clan elders, as usual.
Kai didn't care. In fact, he was certain this was the only path forward.
No one yet knew what his relationship with Fugaku truly was. And before the elders tried to bind him with politics, he would set the tone: he was not to be questioned.
The Uchiha only respected strength. Even Sasuke, years later, would not heed Naruto's words until beaten bloody. Even Madara only cooperated with Hashirama after being bested in battle.
That was the Uchiha way.
Let them talk. Let them glare. But in the end, they would listen.
"They're all lunatics," Kai muttered as he stepped into his office, rolling his shoulder with a slight wince. "But they're my lunatics now."
In the OfficeUchiha Asahi and his son Chuan entered quietly, followed by Fujiu Hangtai. Their demeanor was changed—respectful, even cautious.
Kai waved off the formality. "Enough of that. Chuan—how many Uchiha have we fought beside on the front lines?"
"On the front?" Chuan blinked, thinking. "Do you mean others like me?"
"Like us," Kai clarified. "Don't forget—I was born to the main clan, but I'm still just a boy who bled on the battlefield."
"…Yes, Lord Kai." Chuan's voice firmed. "We have a few. Not many. But enough to form a proper unit."
Kai nodded. "Good. Start gathering them. We'll rebuild my team from scratch—with people who've proven themselves."
He looked sharply at Hangtai.
"As for the rest—I'm counting on you. Civilian-born or not, I want half of my squad drawn from your ranks."
Hangtai stiffened. "You… want half the squad to be civilians? Can that even—"
"You're wondering if it's possible, aren't you?"
Kai leaned back, eyes steady. "You just need to find them. I'll handle the rest. You saw how I handled today's issue."
Hangtai hesitated… then sighed. "Yes, sir."
Elsewhere: Clan Elder's ResidenceInside a shadowy room, the chief elder of the Uchiha clan set down his teacup, his expression unreadable.
"So... that brat Kai injured both Tsubasa and Chiya… and locked up their entire squads?"
He turned to Fugaku, who stood calmly at the edge of the room.
"You've trained him well, Fugaku. But this stunt? It was reckless. Childish."
Fugaku bowed slightly. "Thank you for your hospitality, Elder. I'll be taking my leave."
As he walked out into the warm sunlight, a figure stepped beside him—Uchiha Jun.
"Lord Kei subdued every officer in his detachment and charged them with insubordination. Tsubasa and Chiya are still in the hospital."
Fugaku paused… then smiled. "He really is something else."
"Patriarch," Jun said seriously, "we should keep an eye on him. Talent like his… should be protected."
Fugaku nodded slowly. "Yes. That's exactly what I intend to do."