Orochimaru practically wished he could move into Kyoichi's house. Even if it meant squatting in the courtyard, at least he'd be able to observe Nagato up close, to see exactly what was going on.
Unfortunately…
His willingness didn't mean Kyoichi shared it.
Three women lived in that house—what would it look like if this guy loitered around the yard?
What, was he trying to cosplay Jiraiya?
Nagato had already sensed Orochimaru's presence, but he didn't pay it much mind. Just as Kyoichi had said, in Konoha the people with the greatest authority now were Tsunade and Kyoichi. If anyone was going to make a move against him, it would be from them.
And yet…
Neither showed the slightest intention of doing so.
Tsunade had returned that afternoon. She'd met Nagato, exchanged a few words of greeting, and that was it. Even after dinner, she made no effort to start a deeper conversation.
She could tell Nagato was on guard.
As for Kyoichi—Tsunade didn't pry into his matters either. He'd been busy these last few days.
Even though Konoha had conducted quite a bit of research on the White Zetsu, so far only Kyoichi had the ability to anticipate their movements in advance.
Before Nagato arrived, it wasn't such a pressing concern.
But now…
With this troublesome figure brought into Konoha, Kyoichi had to devote all his attention to strengthening the defenses—for Nagato's sake, and for the village's.
Still…
By the next day, someone came knocking at his door—someone other than Tsunade.
Uchiha Inabi.
By now, Inabi was a member of the Anbu, serving as a bridge between Konoha and the Uchiha. For most people, such a position would be unbearably awkward. But with Shisui helping mediate and advising from the middle, Inabi's standing among the younger Uchiha remained solid.
Ordinarily, he wouldn't come to Kyoichi directly, preferring to pass questions through Shisui. But this time, he contacted Kyoichi via Anbu channels.
"Kyoichi-sama…"
"Something happened within your clan?"
Kyoichi rubbed his temples. His chakra reserves were low from recent exertions, and he really wasn't in the mood for conflict. If the Uchiha insisted on self-destructing now, he'd have no choice but to let someone else handle it.
"Uh… not exactly. Or, I suppose, you could say yes."
Inabi scratched at his head. With the mask covering his face, his expression was unreadable.
But under Kyoichi's gaze, he immediately straightened and said:
"My apologies for disturbing you over a trivial matter. But… the truth is, among the Uchiha, though there's been no open unrest, anxiety is spreading. If it continues, I fear something will happen sooner or later."
"What's Shisui's view?"
"He says now isn't the time to speak out. That we should bide our time and wait for events to unfold—that you would have a way. That's what he told me."
Inabi reported honestly.
His time in the Anbu had changed his opinion of Kyoichi greatly, to the point of growing sincere respect. Though he never said it outright, the occasional rewards he received spoke for themselves.
Kyoichi replied:
"The danger facing the Uchiha right now doesn't come from the village. It's from outside. You've seen those rogue ninja, haven't you?"
"Yes… forgive me, I didn't wait for your permission before—"
"It's fine. Putting you in Anbu was because I trust your judgment and ability. You're exactly the bridge we need between the Uchiha and the village, someone who can keep communication steady."
Kyoichi waved the matter off.
In truth, Inabi had only gotten access to those rogue Uchiha because of his orders. Without Kyoichi's word, he'd never have even set foot inside that prison, let alone spoken with the prisoners.
"Their eyes were taken. But the way they were tortured… I suspect it was to refine the quality of the Sharingan. This probably ties into secrets of your clan. As outsiders, we can't know for sure."
"The quality… of the Sharingan…"
Inabi searched his mind for scraps of clan lore. But his standing, while strong among the younger generation, didn't extend to the clan's innermost secrets. Anything about the evolution of the Sharingan, or the Mangekyō, was kept tightly guarded.
Which was why Kyoichi didn't ask.
Inabi knew no more than he did—and if he asked, he'd gain nothing but unconfirmed rumors. Better to leave it unspoken.
Still, since Inoka had broached the topic, Kyoichi didn't mind planting a seed.
"I see. Thank you for your guidance. This information… may I share it with the clan?"
"Of course."
Kyoichi nodded.
Inabi bowed deeply in gratitude.
This was another reason he respected Kyoichi: unlike the Second Hokage, Kyoichi's approach balanced stick and carrot with measured restraint. He didn't simply crush and then offer crumbs.
And the benefits he gave weren't just empty promises—they were visible, tangible.
Take the academy issue, for example.
Yes, Uchiha children still had to attend the Ninja Academy. But once there, they were treated no differently than any other students. And in team placements, the distribution was carefully balanced.
They may have lost control of the Police Force—but their influence in Konoha was rising in other ways. Many Uchiha jōnin now served as squad leaders on missions, and some had even been assigned as teachers for top academy students.
Equal treatment.
For the Uchiha, that was no small thing.
Though some within the clan still objected, Inabi had always dismissed those voices with scorn.
After receiving Kyoichi's approval, he took his leave.
Back at the clan compound, Inabi went straight to Fugaku.
Though Fugaku hesitated often, he was still the clan head—and no one else could take that role now. Replacing him would only deepen instability and unrest.
Inabi relayed what he had learned.
Though he altered the framing slightly.
Rather than saying it came from Kyoichi, he claimed to have picked up fragments of intelligence through his own covert efforts. And he didn't reveal everything. He only mentioned that the captured Uchiha had been subjected to some kind of experimentation, that many had lost at least one eye—some, even both.
As for the speculation about "higher-quality Sharingan," he kept that to himself.
He finished, then hesitated before asking:
"Clan Head… what do you think the enemy is after? Could it be Konoha itself?"
"Unlikely."
Fugaku shook his head.
By now, he had realized that the Uchiha and the faction Kyoichi represented had no real room left for open confrontation. If they wanted to move against the clan, they wouldn't need such roundabout means.
He thought for a long moment, mind turning to the clan's deeper secrets.
Could it be… someone was trying to force the birth of a Mangekyō Sharingan?
At last he said to Inoka:
"I understand. You don't need to take further risks with Anbu intelligence. I'll speak with Kanda Kyoichi directly. Right now, the threat doesn't come from within, but from outside. We should stand united."
"Yes, sir!"
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