Hearing Shisui's words, Uchiha Kai's expression grew darker and darker.
Good grief!
Could it be that Nara Shikaku was here specifically because of him?
Aside from that possibility, Kai couldn't think of another.
After all, the Hidden Blood Mist Village front wasn't all that important.
Konoha's real concern was the Land of Rain.
Hidden Cloud Village and Hidden Stone Village were the strongest after Konoha; Hidden Blood Mist Village was only slightly stronger than Hidden Sand Village. This war was just their attempt to snatch a bargain.
But Nara Shikaku… he was Konoha's chief strategist.
Why wouldn't he honestly go to the Rain front, and instead appear here at the Mist front?
Nothing major had even happened here!
Kai's gaze flickered, his eyes unreadable as his mind spun at full speed.
But it was no use.
There wasn't enough intel to analyze anything.
Forget it then.
Whatever came, he'd just take it head-on. If Shikaku thought he could manipulate him with just a few little weaknesses, he was sorely mistaken.
"Kai, what are you thinking about?" Shisui asked curiously.
Kai gave a wry smile. "Me, a regular shinobi, suddenly joining your so-called elite squad? Honestly, the pressure's huge."
Shisui rolled his eyes at that.
He didn't know Kai's full strength, but one thing he was sure of—
it definitely wasn't weak.
Otherwise,
Kai would never have survived up until now.
"Enough. There's no need for that kind of talk.
You're smarter than I am, so I don't need to lecture you.
No one can hide their true self forever—because no one on the battlefield is an idiot."
Kai nodded.
Of course he understood.
He only wished that moment of exposure could be delayed a little longer.
But now it seems… difficult.
Even without seeing Hiruzen, he knew the old man's eyes must already be on him. After all, out of the entire cannon-fodder army, only a handful of them had survived.
Meanwhile, in a larger tent, Nara Kazama entered respectfully.
"Clan Leader!"
Sitting at a desk covered with reports, Nara Shikaku put his papers down, then smiled warmly.
"Oh, it's Kazama.
Sit, sit. No need for formality between uncle and nephew.
A few days without seeing you, and you've already gained some manly presence.
It seems the battlefield truly tempers people!"
Shikaku stood, personally poured Kazama a cup of tea, and gestured for him to sit at the guest table.
His tone was gentle, almost familial, showing no trace of hierarchy.
Kazama, naturally, was moved.
The two chatted casually for a while.
Shikaku asked after his health, reminisced about their families' close ties, and only after the atmosphere was comfortable did he turn the conversation to business.
"By the way, how do you feel about the teammates I arranged for you?
I didn't deceive you, did I?"
Kazama kept his face calm.
Truthfully, he hadn't expected to see this "beloved uncle" here on the Mist front.
He hadn't been mentally prepared at all.
But—so be it.
He knew that while he might not be Shikaku's equal in raw intellect, letting his uncle pry secrets out of him?
Heh. Not a chance.
After a pause for thought, he answered slowly:
"Uchiha Kai, is it?
Indeed, he's a good teammate. With his ability, he's more than qualified for an A-squad level unit.
I honestly can't figure out what's going on in that guy's head.
A strange Uchiha."
Kazama was already acting.
He openly labeled Kai as odd, displayed his confusion, and even "let slip" a detail or two about Kai's strength.
But in reality—
such leaks didn't matter.
Since Shikaku had already placed him here, it meant he already suspected as much.
Saying it or not made no difference.
Most importantly,
this trivial information diverted attention from his true secret—
that he had already allied with Uchiha Kai.
"I see," Shikaku said evenly, then smiled. "So Uchiha Kai is strong, hm?"
Kazama nodded.
"Yes. Very strong.
Basic substitution and clone techniques aside, he's proficient in Fire Style, but what truly sets him apart is taijutsu.
We lasted three days against the Mist's main encampment partly thanks to our clan's Shadow techniques, which let us probe the enemy's deceptions.
But the other reason was Uchiha Kai.
Escaping Mist's encirclements again and again—it was entirely due to his taijutsu. Many times, he literally carried us out, outrunning their pursuit."
Good. More intel slipped out.
But Kazama had no choice.
Their squad's survival was already suspicious; without a credible explanation, it would only draw lethal suspicion.
So he let some information go.
Besides, abilities already exposed in battle weren't worth hiding. Kai likely wouldn't care.
"And beyond that?" Shikaku pressed.
"Have you figured out Uchiha Kai's true goal?
Why is he hiding his strength?"
At last, the real question.
This was Shikaku's true concern.
He was nearly certain—those three dead Uchiha had been killed by Kai's hand.
Clan politics didn't interest him.
What he cared about most was that Hidden Cloud Village corpse.
As head of the Jounin and with control over Konoha's Intelligence Division, Shikaku had already confirmed: that the body suddenly appearing outside the Forest of Death belonged to the very Hidden Cloud Village shinobi who vanished two years ago—during the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki abduction attempt.
So why?
What had happened that day?
This involved Hidden Cloud Village, and it involved the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki.
He had to know.
That was why he'd placed Kazama in Kai's squad.
For one, all other Nara were already in A-squads; forcing another into an odd team would draw suspicion.
As for Kazama, though Shikaku didn't fully trust him, he was confident he could keep him in check. This was only a small matter, after all.
And with Kazama's perception, he should be able to get results.
Unfortunately for him—
On earlier questions, Kazama could answer truthfully.
But on this one? He wouldn't say a word.
Because this touched on the greatest secret he shared with Uchiha Kai.
Kazama shook his head slightly.
"I don't know.
The squad Kai and I were in—let's be blunt—it was just a cannon-fodder unit.
You know better than anyone what those are like.
No bonds form in such squads, no time for coordinated missions.
In such conditions, talk of trust is nonsense.
So aside from missions, Kai and I barely spoke.
But if I had to guess, I'd say Kai has no faith in the Uchiha clan.
That alone explains why he hides his strength."
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