Uchiha Kai didn't actually want to take such drastic action. After all, what if he had misjudged the situation and Uchiha Hiroki's stance had some merit?
Moreover, making such a scene in front of outsiders would undoubtedly reflect poorly on the clan. Internal disputes should be kept private, especially with the Uchiha clan already under increasing scrutiny from the village leadership.
Still, when Kai looked at Hiroki's smug expression, he couldn't help the surge of irritation that welled up within him. This man had opposed him at every turn, especially in the recent incident involving Kakashi. That conflict had disrupted Kai's carefully laid plans and nearly jeopardized the mission.
Ironically, Kai might have owed Hiroki a strange form of gratitude—if not for the chaos he stirred up, Kai wouldn't have had access to a viable test subject so quickly. But gratitude was a fleeting thought; every time Kai saw him, all he felt was resentment.
Though his reaction seemed impulsive, Kai had already weighed the consequences. His relationship with the hardliner faction within the Uchiha clan had deteriorated to a breaking point, and this incident would only widen the rift.
But that was part of his strategy.
The worse his relationship with the hardliners appeared now, the more plausible his innocence would seem if Uchiha Yu's secret operation succeeded. Suspicions might arise, but they wouldn't be strong enough to take action. His earlier outbursts would serve as a perfect smokescreen.
Kai wasn't without allies either—thanks to Orochimaru-sama, he had backup plans in place.
"Kai..." Fujiu Hangpei stood dumbfounded, as did several other Uchiha shinobi nearby. No one had expected Kai to lash out without warning.
In all fairness, Uchiha Hiroki wasn't exactly a villain—but neither was he innocent. He certainly hadn't expected Kai to attack him so directly and publicly.
As Hiroki writhed on the ground, clutching his side in pain, Kai shook his head in irritation. Then he turned to the others.
The Uchiha shinobi instinctively grew tense under Kai's gaze. Some even stepped back slightly, wary that they might be next.
"Relax. I'm not crazy," Kai said, spreading his hands disarmingly. "This was a personal matter. And besides, Fujiu Hangpei is my jonin instructor. He supported me on the battlefield—so I believe I have the right to speak up here, don't you?"
His words brought a noticeable ease to the group. Kai's tone was calm but firm, his logic difficult to argue with. His status in the clan—and the fact that he had returned from the battlefield with a fully awakened three-tomoe Sharingan—made him someone no ordinary clan member wanted to cross.
One of the shinobi nodded, stepping forward. "That's right, Lord Kai. The boy we detained is named Fujiu Hangtai. He violated public safety protocols and ignored multiple warnings."
"That's not true!" the boy suddenly shouted. "My brother just came back from the front lines. My mother and I went to see him, but these guys wouldn't let us through! He just returned from the battlefield—can't I even welcome him back?"
"Do you understand the consequences of what you did?" one of the Uchiha shouted angrily. "If we let you run in, how many others would follow? What if a stampede happened? Do you want the heroes to die under your 'passionate welcome' instead of on the battlefield?"
"I… I didn't think—" Hangtai stammered, caught off guard by the harsh rebuke.
Kai sighed as understanding dawned on him. It was a minor incident—blown out of proportion by poor communication and the Uchiha clan's typical arrogance.
It was a recurring flaw. The clan rarely bothered to explain itself, confident in its authority. But that pride only fueled the village's resentment.
"I see," Kai said, nodding. "You're not wrong to stop him, but sometimes it wouldn't hurt to explain things. These families are welcoming back heroes. Of course they're emotional."
"You're right, Lord Kai," the shinobi admitted, looking a bit ashamed. "We didn't handle it carefully enough."
Kai then turned to Hangtai. "Look, I get it. Your brother's a hero—you haven't seen him in a long time, and emotions run high. But rules are rules. If you ignore them, someone might get hurt. And you wouldn't want that, right?"
Hangtai opened his mouth to respond, but his brother, Hangpei, placed a hand on his shoulder and bowed slightly. "You're right, Kai. He was out of line. Thank you."
Kai nodded, dismissing the matter with a wave of his hand. He wasn't part of the Konoha Military Police Force, so technically, he had overstepped his role—but he didn't care.
What mattered was that others saw him as having the authority to act—and that he had personally corrected Uchiha Hiroki's arrogance.
Hangtai seemed to understand, too. The boy quieted down, following the Uchiha shinobi obediently. Hiroki, meanwhile, had to be carried off after the brutal kick Kai had delivered.
Kai didn't feel a shred of guilt.
He even found himself curious about Hangtai's background.
"Thanks again, Kai," Hangpei said, watching his younger brother disappear into the crowd. Though still visibly concerned, he was clearly grateful.
"It's fine. Just a minor issue," Kai said casually. Then, narrowing his eyes, he added, "Your brother looks about my age. Is he really your younger brother?"
Hangpei, who appeared to be in his thirties, looked awkward. He scratched the back of his head and avoided answering directly.
Kai didn't press. He had other things to deal with.
With a brief nod, he turned away. "Captain Hangpei, I'll take my leave. I'll do what I can to smooth things over for your brother—but no promises."
"Thanks, Kai," Hangpei replied. "You've changed a lot since we first met. The war... it's shaped you."
"Maybe," Kai said with a faint smile. "I suppose that's what growth is."
"It is," Hangpei agreed. "You're different from most of the Uchiha I've known."
"Oh? You've known others before?"
"Yeah. Otherwise, you wouldn't have ended up in my team. One of them was quite exceptional—Yuchi Uchiha."
"…"