Watching Might Guy run upside-down in circles around Konoha again, Uchiha Kai couldn't help but feel a mix of envy and disbelief. That man's energy and monstrous physical prowess were simply absurd.
Kai had never prioritized physical conditioning. His reasoning was simple: he never planned to rely on his body on the battlefield. Even after returning from the front lines, he still hadn't started wearing weighted gear or doing the kind of training Guy specialized in.
But this guy—Guy—was terrifying.
Kai wasn't sure how the man had performed in real combat, but just looking at him now, it was clear he was carrying a heavy amount of weight, possibly similar to what Rock Lee would one day train with. Just the thought made Kai break into a cold sweat. The guy was running laps around Konoha—on his hands, no less.
"This guy's a lunatic," Kai muttered under his breath. "No wonder he can kick boulders to dust. It doesn't even feel unfair anymore that he used to beat me up when we were kids…"
He rubbed his cheek out of habit—no pain, of course, but the memory of being knocked flat by Guy was vivid enough.
Shaking his head quickly to clear his thoughts, Uchiha Kai continued his walk toward the mission hall. Konoha was home to plenty of strong shinobi from his generation, and Kai was familiar with most of them.
Back when he was still considered weak, Kai had certainly entertained the idea of clinging to the "powerhouses" of his generation. Not that anyone could blame him—everyone wanted a chance to survive the chaos of war. But ironically, fate had propelled him into the role of a "hero." He doubted anyone had seen that coming—not even himself.
Kai stroked his chin in thought. His graduating class had produced many notable names. Uchiha Obito—before the Kannabi Bridge incident—was among them. There was also Kakashi Hatake, already a legend in the making. Other familiar names included Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, Might Guy, and even Anko Mitarashi.
Just a year or two younger were Iruka Umino, Genma Shiranui, Ebisu, and Mitarashi Anko. Thinking about it now, Kai realized that most of the mid- to high-ranking ninja who would one day support Konoha were products of this wartime generation.
"The network of comrades from this generation runs deep."
Kai thought silently to himself. "I should probably keep closer ties with them. Whether my plans succeed or fail, these people will matter. If I end up on the run, they're the most likely ones sent to hunt me. If I have a good rapport with them, maybe things won't escalate unnecessarily."
Lost in thought, Kai arrived at the mission hall.
The place was bustling. Several familiar faces were around—shinobi who, like him, had only recently returned from the battlefield.
Despite Konoha's backing by the Land of Fire's Daimyō, the village couldn't survive on subsidies alone. Without developing a strong economy or internal sustainability, no true prosperity could last. That's why mission commissions—and the taxes levied on village industries—remained Konoha's economic lifeline.
Of course, this wasn't unique to Konoha. All shinobi villages relied on missions to generate revenue. The more high-rank missions a village secured, the richer and more influential it became. Kai often wondered if the great nations' conflicts weren't only about territory—but also about posturing for dominance over the global mission market.
Kai found an empty seat and sat down, pretending to wait for an assignment. But his real goal was information—he wanted to listen, observe, and hear if anyone was talking about the Uchiha.
What annoyed him, though, was that no one was talking. Worse, they were greeting him.
Kai smiled and exchanged pleasantries out of politeness, turning down several offers to team up on missions. After a while, it hit him.
"I'm such an idiot."
He sighed inwardly. Of course no one would speak freely about the Uchiha while he was around—he was wearing full Uchiha attire, complete with the unmistakable fan symbol on his back.
The Uchiha were still responsible for the Konoha Military Police Force. Even if their reputation among the general population was mixed, few dared to speak against them publicly—especially not in front of an actual Uchiha.
Kai sighed, rising from his seat and casually strolling out after a brief glance at the mission board, feigning disappointment.
"Back in the day, people used to talk all kinds of trash right to my face," he thought. "Now that I've returned as a war hero? Not a chance."
Even if some shinobi held grudges against the Uchiha, they wouldn't risk confrontation with Kai. They knew better. And in some ways, that was more frustrating than open hostility.
"Guess I'll have to swing by the Police Department," Kai muttered. He turned toward the outskirts of the village.
Though the Uchiha compound was still somewhat central, the Police Force and detention facilities were further out. After the Nine-Tails incident, the village leadership—under Hiruzen Sarutobi—had relocated the Uchiha to the village's edge. The move had stoked resentment within the clan, fueling both the hardliners and driving away the few remaining moderates.
The outcome of that slow burn was inevitable.
As Kai walked, he suddenly noticed a commotion ahead—familiar faces were involved.
One side consisted of a Uchiha law enforcement team, led by none other than Uchiha Hiroki—a man Kai found difficult to tolerate. On the other side were two civilians: a young boy, around fourteen or fifteen, restrained and looking defiant, and a second man—Fujiu Hangpei.
Kai recognized him immediately.
Fujiu Hangpei was a jōnin, cheerful but sharp, and staunchly loyal to the Hokage. Kai had worked with him before, and while Hangpei had helped him plenty, Kai had always found his loyalty to the Third Hokage... complicated.
Frowning slightly, Kai approached.
"Fujiu-san," Kai called, "It's been a while."
"Kai?" Hangpei blinked in surprise, clearly in the middle of a heated argument with Hiroki. "Yeah—it has."
"What's going on here?" Kai asked, eyes sliding over to Hiroki.
"This doesn't concern you, Uchiha Kai," Hiroki snapped, scowling. "You're not part of the Police Force. I suggest you—"
He didn't get to finish.
Kai's foot sank into Hiroki's gut before the man could utter another word.