Since it had become clear that the three generations of Hokage leadership—Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and the rest of the Konoha Council—had little time or willingness to focus on the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Kai found himself spending more time at his secluded training base outside the village.
Still, Kai didn't dare grow complacent. Even as he conducted research and documented his Mangekyō Sharingan, he always left a shadow clone stationed in the surrounding forest.
The clone served multiple purposes: it acted as a decoy for any surveillance—real or imagined—and could also mislead any accidental passersby. More importantly, it allowed him to train more efficiently. The utility of shadow clones in training had been proven definitively by Naruto Uzumaki years later, but even now, Kai recognized the advantage.
Unfortunately, Kai didn't have the massive chakra reserves of an Uzumaki. Otherwise, he would've fully adopted Naruto's training method. Still, he made progress. Bit by bit, he gathered data and studied the unique traits of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
However, he had to pause his research earlier than expected. News from the frontlines had begun to flood back into the village. Reports of Namikaze Minato's overwhelming victories—many achieved without shedding blood—spread through Konoha like snowflakes in a storm.
Iwagakure, already shaken by the death of the Third Raikage and the collapse of the Kannabi Bridge, began to falter. With their supply lines cut by Minato and Jiraiya's relentless offensives, Iwa's morale was in shambles.
Though a few diehard Iwa-nin still sought to sabotage the peace process—one group even attempted to assassinate Shikaku Nara during negotiations—the tide had clearly turned. Most Iwa citizens no longer had the will to continue a war fought far from home, especially in the treacherous terrain of the Land of Grass.
As a result, Konoha's forces began to withdraw. Other than those stationed to secure the region and protect the ongoing diplomatic talks, most shinobi had already returned to the village.
It was hard to believe that, just a month ago, they were locked in deadly combat. And now, thanks to the destruction of the Kannabi Bridge and Minato Namikaze's rapid assaults, the war was nearing its end.
Of course, while Uchiha Kai had earned recognition for his contributions during the campaign, it was Minato who received the lion's share of the credit. Every victory was spoken of as being "under the leadership of Minato Namikaze."
His brilliance on the battlefield, his teleportation jutsu, and his reputation as the "Yellow Flash of Konoha" had become legendary—even among enemy forces, who were rumored to have orders to flee on sight if they encountered him.
Minato returned to the village a hero. He no longer needed to remain on the front lines. Kai had heard whispers that the Third Hokage had already begun peace negotiations with Sunagakure, and that the next step was to send the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to finalize a treaty with Iwagakure.
Upon learning this, Kai couldn't help but shake his head.
To negotiate so soon—even after a clear victory—felt uncharacteristic of a triumphant power. It suggested fear, or perhaps exhaustion. Hiruzen must have believed that Konoha could not afford to continue the war, regardless of the tactical advantage.
After all, Konoha had paid a steep price. Countless young shinobi—many from civilian families—had perished. Perhaps Hiruzen sought to avoid further bloodshed, even if it meant offering surprisingly generous terms to a defeated enemy.
Kai wasn't surprised. This wasn't the first time Konoha had sacrificed the interests of a few to serve the many. The fate of the Hyūga clan years later would echo the same theme—giving up a part to preserve the whole. Sometimes, that "part" was a clan. Other times, it was just expendable shinobi.
And whether those "overall interests" truly reflected the will of the village, or merely the preferences of the elders in power, was a question worth contemplating.
Still, such politics meant little to Kai at the moment. He was absorbed in studying the Mangekyō Sharingan, recording data on its effects: increased perception, enhanced reflexes, greater control over genjutsu and ninjutsu. Not just the unique jutsu it granted, but the raw improvements to a shinobi's base abilities.
Sadly, his research was once again interrupted—this time by the funeral.
The Third Hokage had declared a major memorial service to honor the fallen. War always demanded sacrifices, and the cost was often numbing.
Shinobi were trained to be killers, machines of war. They ignored death—of others, and eventually, of themselves. But when someone close to them died, the numbness cracked. It was then they remembered they were still human.
The memorial was a way to channel that grief. A symbol that even emotionless warriors still had "feelings" worth acknowledging.
It was also, undeniably, a political statement. Whether it was a genuine tribute or a way for Konoha's leaders to acknowledge the sacrifices made on their behalf, it served its purpose.
Kai hadn't planned to attend, but as a jōnin of the village and a war veteran, he had little choice. He stood beside Uchiha Fugaku, clad in a formal black kimono that felt stifling and unnatural. He preferred his combat uniform.
All around him were fellow jōnin, clan leaders, and honored civilians. He saw Kakashi Hatake, quiet as ever, and Minato Namikaze, whose presence drew whispers even now.
Kai stood in the second row among the Uchiha, gazing at the stone etched with the names of the dead. The sheer number made even him feel cold.
There was no rain, yet the air was heavy and grey—like the hearts of the civilian-born shinobi present.
No one spoke. No one wept. Silence reigned.
Everyone knew that, after today, the names would be forgotten. Their stories would become unspoken memories. All that would remain were the characters carved in stone—symbols of meaning and loss, and yet, meaningless in the face of time.
"Patriarch," a voice whispered near Kai. "I heard the Third Hokage might resign… Someone suggested you be nominated as the Fourth Hokage…"
"Don't speak of such things here," Fugaku replied, eyes still closed.
"Then what about Kakashi?" the voice continued. "He's not one of us, but he has a Sharingan…"
"If you say that again, I'll shut you up myself."
Uchiha Kai's voice cut through the hush. His eyes had turned scarlet, the three tomoe of his Sharingan spinning slowly.