Uchiha Kai had truly stumbled upon something unexpected.
He never thought that his squad leader, a jōnin with barely any known clan affiliations, would actually know Uchiha Yu.
That revelation made Kai think fast.
If they were teammates, could Fujiu Hangpei know more about Uchiha Yu than he lets on?
With that thought, Kai suddenly slowed his pace. He turned and gave Fujiu Hangpei a probing look.
"So you know him?" Kai asked, his tone casual but edged with curiosity. "The one I fought earlier — he's close with Uchiha Yu. And Yu has a decent standing within the clan, especially among those in the Konoha Military Police Force."
Fujiu Hangpei let out a quiet, somewhat bitter laugh. "If knowing him mattered, I would've said something. But... it wouldn't change anything."
Kai nodded slightly, hiding the satisfaction he felt.
Looks like I was right — their relationship isn't exactly tight.
Maybe they only worked together during the war — sharing a trench or charging the front lines. Or maybe they were officially on the same team at some point. Either way, their connection seemed weak.
A guy like Uchiha Yu, no matter how hot-tempered, still carried the pride of their clan. The Uchiha name wasn't something easily forgotten.
"So, you don't like him much either?" Kai said, feigning casual interest. "He rubs people the wrong way, even inside the clan."
Hangpei scratched the back of his head, visibly uncomfortable. "It's not that simple. He's strong — really strong. If it weren't for him, I probably wouldn't have survived long enough to become your guide."
There it is. Kai hid a smirk.
He'd baited Hangpei on purpose, saying just enough to spark his memories. If they'd been through real life-or-death missions together, Hangpei would definitely have some stories. Stories Kai could use.
"Oh?" Kai tilted his head, folding his arms. "Then I'm curious. What makes him so dangerous? I've heard stories… something about overwhelming power. Why does he hold so much sway in the clan?"
Hangpei sighed, not needing much more prompting. "He's the real deal. Yu Uchiha has a younger brother too — Osamu. Both of them served on the front during the war in the Land of Hot Water. I was on a team with Yu for a time..."
As if it were a pattern in the shinobi world, once a ninja started reminiscing, they couldn't help but spill everything.
Kai listened patiently. Thankfully, Hangpei was detailed, walking through battles, tactics, and even personal observations. Though it was all from Hangpei's point of view, the information was valuable.
By the time they arrived at the edge of the Uchiha district, the story had concluded.
"…That's pretty much it," Hangpei said, giving a small smile. "I know I looked down on back then, and he didn't hide how he felt about me. But I owe him my life."
"That's war," Kai replied, voice quiet. "Everyone's just trying to survive." He looked ahead. "Captain Hangpei, this is my stop. Thanks for walking with me."
"Of course, Kai," Hangpei said, then added, "My brother..."
"Don't worry." Kai gave him a confident nod. "I'll find a way. I won't let him suffer."
"…Thanks. I'd like to hear your side of the story next time."
"Definitely."
As Hangpei walked off, Kai's expression shifted — the polite facade fading. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
So Uchiha Yu…
From Hangpei's memories, it was clear Yu had gone through multiple battles with him — and one in particular stood out.
It was a fight against a Cloud ninja who could use Storm Release (Ranton) — a rare Kekkei Genkai that combined lightning and water chakra into devastating ranged attacks. That enemy had insane physical strength and terrifying chakra control.
Hangpei nearly died in that encounter.
But Uchiha Yu stood his ground, activating his Sharingan and countering with precise illusions and large-scale Fire Release. He overwhelmed the enemy with raw power and skill — and ultimately won.
From that description, Kai estimated Yu's level — easily an elite jōnin. Skilled in genjutsu, taijutsu, and ninjutsu. And most notably, his Fire Release was no joke. Hangpei claimed Yu's jutsu could scorch half a forest with a single blast.
Combined with a highly trained Sharingan, that made him a nightmare on the battlefield.
But even then, Kai wasn't intimidated. He knew firsthand that absolute power was the only thing that could truly defeat an Uchiha. Even Itachi — when he massacred the clan — had Konoha's backing and Obito's assistance. And above all, he possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.
That was true domination.
And Kai… was no less equipped. At 13 or 14 years old, like Itachi, he too possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.
In a straight fight, Yu wouldn't expect such power from him. That gave Kai an advantage — surprise and ocular superiority. If it came to it, he was ready.
Still…
"I can't get cocky," he muttered, halting before his front gate. "If things go south… use the Mangekyō. No hesitation."
He hated wasting chakra — especially from the Mangekyō's limited pool. But in a life-or-death situation, hesitation would kill faster than any jutsu.
He exhaled and looked toward the night sky.
"Only when there's no other choice…"