Chapter 378 – Scaring Oneself (Double Length Chapter)
"I have to say, Clan Head Hyūga is truly fascinating,"
Uchiha Kei said with a smile, his expression unusually calm and composed.
Yet Ayaka, who knew him well, immediately sensed that something was off.
For a brief moment, genuine concern flickered in her heart. She was honestly worried about what might happen if Kei suddenly decided to act.
There was no time for careful deliberation—almost instinctively, she made her choice.
Her Byakugan activated at once, sweeping the surroundings and assessing everyone nearby.
"There's no need to be so tense, Ayaka."
At that moment, Kei gently placed his hand over hers.
"I think Clan Head Hiashi is merely speculating. Just speculation—nothing worth overreacting to."
"It seems Captain Kei has completely won over the Hyūga clan's thorny rose."
Hiashi naturally understood the meaning behind Ayaka's actions, yet he forced a smile as he spoke.
But inside, how could he possibly feel comfortable?
A member of the Hyūga clan—choosing, without hesitation, to stand beside an Uchiha, and doing so openly in front of her own clan head.
Anyone would find that difficult to swallow.
Still, having never been on bad terms with Hizashi, Hiashi understood all too well why a branch family member would make such a choice.
The oppression and control exerted by the main house over the branch family—one only needed to look at his own brother to understand how cruel and suffocating it truly was.
Ayaka was also from the branch family. Hiashi could easily grasp the deeper reasons behind her decision.
Truthfully, he himself did not place much importance on the distinction between main and branch houses.
Unfortunately, the Hyūga clan was not ruled by his word alone.
At times, he even envied the Uchiha clan.
Those troublesome, meddlesome elders—either they were dead, or they no longer dared to speak out.
Rumor had it that Uchiha Kei had played no small role in that outcome.
Whatever he had done, no Uchiha dared to discuss it openly.
But Hiashi knew one thing for certain: a massive fire had once swept through the bamboo forest behind the Uchiha compound.
And that fire had officially marked the deaths of certain individuals.
Afterward, the Military Police were purged. Many were dismissed on the spot; others were thrown into prison by Kei himself—and had never been released.
"Clan Head Hiashi, I'd like to ask you something."
Just as Hiashi's thoughts wandered, Kei's voice pulled him back.
"If all of this really was my doing, what do you think you could do? Or rather—what would you do?"
"I would do nothing," Hiashi replied immediately, smiling calmly.
"Whether or not you were responsible, I would bury the truth deep in my heart.
"I spoke of these things only to express goodwill—and to warn you to be cautious.
"And if I truly intended to expose anything, I wouldn't have met you alone like this. I would have spoken to others."
"Then who would you tell?" Kei asked with a faint smile.
"The Third Hokage?"
"Why not the Fourth?" Hiashi countered.
Kei simply smiled back—offering no answer.
That silence alone made Hiashi understand far more than words ever could.
Though constrained by the elders within his clan, Hiashi had been sharpened by years of political pressure.
From Kei's reaction—his words, his demeanor—Hiashi read something unmistakable.
This attitude was, in itself, an admission.
Those events had been Kei's doing.
And more terrifying still—
The Fourth Hokage likely knew.
Because Kei's first instinct had been to mention the Third Hokage, not the Fourth.
The implication was subtle, but impossible to ignore.
Hiashi's thoughts raced.
If that was true, then Minato Namikaze had known from the beginning.
A deeply unsettling conclusion.
Then another detail resurfaced in his mind.
Yamanaka Masato.
According to Ayaka's mission reports, that sensory-team leader had been rescued by Kei from Iwagakure forces.
And on the night of the "mysterious incident," Kei and Minato had confronted him together.
Was it really impossible that Masato, under pressure—or out of gratitude—had chosen to remain silent?
"Captain Kei, I believe I understand now," Hiashi said, nodding solemnly.
"Please rest assured—within the Hyūga clan, only Ayaka and I will ever know of this."
"Know?"
Kei raised an eyebrow, his index finger once again tapping rhythmically against the table.
"Clan Head Hiashi, you're a sensible man. Some things shouldn't be imagined, guessed at, or spoken aloud."
"I understand," Hiashi said quickly, nodding.
"We have never discussed such matters."
Kei's demeanor bore no trace of friendliness—yet Hiashi felt no resentment.
He had come to confirm suspicions.
And he had received his answer.
Along with something far more unsettling.
Even if he were dissatisfied—what could he do?
On the night of the Nine-Tails incident, Kei had defeated an entire patrol unit—including Hiashi and Hizashi—using nothing but taijutsu, basic substitution, and body flicker techniques.
Frankly speaking, had Kei harbored malicious intent, none of them would have survived.
Hiashi's heart was still filled with questions.
Why had Kei attacked them that night?
Was it revenge—for Ayaka?
If it were truly that simple…
Then Hiashi would have thought less of him.
Suddenly, a realization struck him.
It seemed that this man had been impersonating—and deliberately framing—the mysterious figures who had attacked Konoha.
Recently, there had also been whispers spreading through certain circles—rumors concerning Uchiha Kei's Susanoo.
And on top of that, when Kirigakure was attacked, Uchiha Kei just so happened to be absent from Konoha.
Cold sweat began to bead down Hyūga Hiashi's back.
Those circulating rumors all pointed to one thing—the color of the Susanoo.
Uchiha Kei's Susanoo was black.
And then came the counterarguments: Susanoo colors might overlap, color alone wasn't definitive proof…
But even so—
Didn't this still point toward something deeply unsettling?
Didn't it suggest a terrifying possibility?
And then Hiashi thought of something even worse.
That masked man who had attacked them… had appeared on the very same night as the Nine-Tails incident.
Hiashi stopped himself from thinking any further.
Knowing too many secrets only ever led to one outcome—death.
Especially when those secrets belonged to someone as powerful, terrifying, and monstrous as Kei.
The secrets of such a person were things one must never speculate about, never guess at, and never speak aloud.
Taking a deep breath, Hiashi made a firm decision.
The people who attacked them were members of the mysterious organization that had assaulted Konoha.
The massive disturbance at the village's outskirts had been caused by monsters—nothing more.
He dared not think beyond that.
The web of implications was far too vast.
So vast that possessing such knowledge wasn't a bargaining chip—it was a death sentence.
Yes, he had revealed some of his conjectures to Uchiha Kei.
Partly as a gesture of goodwill.
Partly to draw closer.
And partly—if he was being honest—with the thought of using that information as leverage.
But now?
He didn't dare think about it at all.
Uchiha. Senju. The Fourth Hokage.
Those figures flashed through his mind, overlapping and intertwining.
Digging deeper would only bring disaster.
But one thing became crystal clear.
He had to choose a side.
And that side was not the Uchiha clan itself—
It was those who fully and unequivocally supported the Fourth Hokage, just as the Uchiha did.
Until now, his support for Minato had been cautious—reserved.
After all, many elders within the Hyūga clan still leaned toward the Third Hokage.
And Hiashi was sick to death of those so-called elders.
"Captain Kei," Hiashi spoke quickly, having reached his decision.
"For this operation, the Hyūga clan will cooperate fully—whether it is personnel within the Military Police or—"
"There's no need for that, Clan Head Hiashi."
Kei interrupted calmly, slightly puzzled by the speed of the man's change in attitude.
He hadn't realized just how far Hiashi's thoughts had spiraled.
Shaking his head, Kei continued evenly,
"The members of the Military Police are already elite. They are veterans who have seen the battlefield. That alone is what matters most to me."
"I see."
Hiashi's composure was admirable; he adjusted his mindset almost instantly.
"In that case, Captain Kei may freely deploy any Hyūga clan members within the Military Police. As long as you deem them suitable, they will participate in this mission."
That attitude left Kei momentarily confused.
He had been summoned here to discuss matters—likely to probe, to negotiate.
Hiashi had brought up sensitive topics on his own, clearly harboring ulterior motives.
Yet now, he avoided them entirely, his stance subtly but decisively altered.
Had he realized something? Or guessed too much?
Suddenly, Kei understood.
So that's it…
This guy scared himself.
"Then I thank you, Clan Head Hiashi. With the Hyūga clan's support, this mission will proceed far more smoothly."
Kei spoke without revealing anything, then added deliberately,
"By the way—are you aware of our mission to the Land of Grass, tracking Kirigakure operatives?"
"I know a little," Hiashi nodded. Of course he knew.
"That mission was extremely dangerous," Kei said with a faint smile.
"It was the first time I encountered members of that mysterious organization."
"This…" Hiashi froze—then understood immediately.
"It's all detailed clearly in my mission report. The Hokage has reviewed it as well. Funny how things turn out—back then, I couldn't kill them. Who would have thought they'd later attack Konoha?"
"I understand," Hiashi said quietly.
"So, Clan Head Hiashi," Kei concluded,
"Speculation and wild conjecture are poor investments—and even worse political tools. Don't frighten yourself over nothing.
"And lastly—thank you for your support."
Kei stood.
"Let's go, Ayaka."
---
At times, Kei couldn't help but admire certain people's logical reasoning.
Hyūga Hiashi, for instance.
With no direct intelligence, relying solely on observation, association, and inference, he had reconstructed an entire web of horrifying possibilities.
Perhaps that was the nature of Hyūga shinobi.
After all, reconnaissance specialists needed sharp logic and judgment.
How much Hiashi had actually deduced, Kei could only infer from his reactions.
But one thing was certain—
Hiashi had already concluded that the masked man who attacked him that night was Uchiha Kei himself.
The reasoning wasn't airtight, and Kei's outright denial would have sufficed legally.
Still, after careful consideration, Kei decided to give him just enough information.
His tone remained harsh—almost like a superior reprimanding a subordinate.
Yet in certain situations, such bluntness was itself a way of drawing closer.
Explaining matters personally carried weight—far deeper implications than outright reassurance.
Hiashi clearly understood this.
Though Kei's tone was far from friendly, the content of his words was enough to calm Hiashi's heart.
Truthfully, Hiashi envied Kei.
His audacity in the past.
His decisiveness in choosing sides.
His current authority.
But envy alone meant nothing.
Turning envy into momentum—into goals and concrete action—that was what truly mattered.
With Hiashi's promise secured, Hyūga Hizashi submitted his finalized list the very next morning.
Aside from a few Senju clan members, nearly all were Hyūga.
Every Hyūga within the Military Police was now available for selection—
Including Hizashi himself.
Curiously, Hyūga Ayaka's name was absent.
Clearly, certain misunderstandings had only deepened.
"…Maybe I really should've explained back then,"
Kei sighed softly, then dismissed the thought.
With such an abundance of "living radar" at his disposal, he immediately summoned the four squad captains and ordered them to coordinate team compositions.
He also issued one uncompromising command—absolute, non-negotiable.
"My requirements are simple," Kei stated coldly.
"Each team must possess strong breakthrough capability—Uchiha can handle that.
"And each must also have top-tier reconnaissance. Hyūga, Inuzuka, Aburame—choose the combinations yourselves. The final call is yours.
"This mission is dangerous. I want everyone who goes out to come back alive. Understood?"
"Yes, Captain!"
All four responded without hesitation.
In fact, they were the ones who most strongly approved of this directive.
Those being deployed were their direct subordinates—some even their clansmen.
With bonds that deep, how could they ever want their people to die on such missions?
With personnel finalized, everything else progressed smoothly.
To support the Military Police, Konoha began quietly scaling back its mission intake.
Shinobi already deployed couldn't be recalled.
But new missions were delayed—or outright shelved.
The Mission Department handled this discreetly.
With the Fourth Hokage's orders, Imai Kenta's cooperation, and Kei as the bridge, the process left no ripples.
Financially, the burden was heavy—but worth it.
Even the Third Hokage, despite his resentment toward Kei, had to admit—
Securing funds from the daimyo had been crucial.
Without it, Konoha would have faced catastrophe.
Ironically, even without Kei's pressure, Konoha could have endured.
Because during this time, the village had secretly sold long-stockpiled—but still viable—arms and supplies to the Kaguya clan.
Cash on delivery.
Paid in gold.
Transported smoothly.
Obito had ensured patrol gaps to allow shipments into the Land of Water.
Though the Mizukage's situation was unstable—having lost to an Uchiha and become a Three-Tails host—his authority hadn't collapsed.
With that influx of funds, Konoha's finances stabilized.
Even after reinvesting in new equipment and reserves, there was surplus.
After weeks of preparation, the selected teams achieved basic coordination.
Kei met them once—no speeches, no promises.
He simply explained what they would face.
They were clan shinobi. They already knew enough.
And even if Kei promised nothing, their clans certainly would.
With that done, all that remained was to wait.
Until—
A small snake delivered a message.
At first, Kei assumed it was Orochimaru.
After all, though Orochimaru had left Konoha, he still lingered within the Land of Fire.
Kei had already delivered Kimimaro's blood through summoned snakes, fulfilling the first phase of their deal.
Payment had been made. Now he awaited results.
But to his surprise, the message wasn't from Orochimaru.
It was from Yakushi Nonō—the woman who had vanished after a single meeting.
From her report, Kei quickly grasped her situation.
The Third Hokage remained cautious—focused mainly on whether Nonō and Yakushi Kabuto had defected.
According to Danzō's records, their bond should have weakened.
Yet they returned together.
Naturally, that drew scrutiny.
Fortunately, Nonō's experience and Kabuto's intelligence carried them through.
Their shared history allowed enough overlap to pass initial questioning.
Still, trust would not come easily.
Both remained silent after returning to Root.
"Impressive," Kei muttered, reading the report.
"Orochimaru even found a way to counter the Yamanaka mind techniques."
"And the Third Hokage's paranoia… letting Yamanaka Root members probe their own comrades' minds. Tch."
Root still had Yamanaka operatives—Danzō's legacy.
And the Third Hokage was using them thoroughly.
Just not wisely.
After reviewing everything, Kei burned the report.
It mentioned the Third Hokage's meeting with the Cloud ninja—now obsolete, since the matter had gone public.
Still, seeing events from another angle was enlightening.
More importantly—
Yakushi Nonō had become a dagger buried deep in the Third Hokage's heart.
"Alongside Uchiha Shisui, Yakushi Nonō, and Yakushi Kabuto…"
Kei stood by the window, gazing at the colossal statues on the mountain.
A cold smile crept across his face.
"I've planted three bombs inside you already."
"It's a shame—your recent choice surprised me. I even respect it."
"But in the end… positions decide everything."
"I'll be waiting for your move."