CHAPTER 100

Uchiha Fugaku wasn't often one to show emotion—but when it came to Uchiha Kai, he always found himself caught off guard. Each time they spoke, Fugaku realized anew that he had underestimated the boy.

Whether in terms of strength or intellect, Kai far surpassed expectations for a 13-year-old. His true combat capabilities remained a mystery, but one fact alone was enough to deter even a seasoned shinobi from acting rashly: Uchiha Kai had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Fugaku, who also possessed the Mangekyō but kept it hidden from the public and most of the clan, knew very well what these eyes meant. Even a seasoned Jonin—no, even an ANBU captain—would hesitate before challenging someone with that power. That was the true weight of the Mangekyō Sharingan—not just its abilities, but the sheer deterrence it carried.

And yet, Kai's intelligence was perhaps even more dangerous than his eyes. Whether it was in tactical decision-making, long-term strategy, or political insight, he consistently displayed a frightening depth of understanding. Fugaku, who prided himself on foresight and control, was beginning to suspect that Kai was a variable he could no longer contain.

He thought back to the conversation they once had beside the koi pond. Back then, he had spoken with the air of an elder imparting wisdom to a subordinate. Now, that memory felt almost laughable.

But Fugaku was not a fool. His mindset shifted quickly. If he could not control Kai… he would cooperate with him. Sitting once more by that same pond, sipping tea and watching the fish, he mused that all they needed now was a chessboard between them.

"…Danzo, huh?" Fugaku muttered under his breath. Then he shook his head, his tone sharpening. "Is he the one stirring up trouble? Danzo Shimura…"

"I know who he is, Fugaku-sama," Kai interjected before Fugaku could elaborate. "Back on the battlefield, my former captain interrogated enemy Jōnin. Many of them mentioned him as the shadow behind Konoha's darker operations."

"Then it's almost certainly him," Fugaku nodded. "He's always harbored ambitions for the Hokage seat. He has the resources, the influence, and the ruthlessness."

Fugaku wasn't blind to the situation. Orochimaru had been the front-runner to succeed Hiruzen, but scandal had struck at the worst possible moment. And now public opinion had turned decisively against him.

Despite the Third Hokage's efforts to soften the fallout, the outcry could no longer be contained. Fugaku knew better than to think this was a natural turn of events. Someone—someone powerful—had to be fanning the flames from behind the scenes.

If Danzo tried to take the Hokage seat now, he would likely fail a vote of confidence from the Jonin Council. Even if he succeeded, Hiruzen might still block it. But if things dragged on… Fugaku feared that even Hiruzen's resolve might crumble under pressure.

The truth was, very few clans in the village trusted Danzo. His reputation as the head of Root and his history of unethical experimentation, manipulation, and backroom politics had alienated most of Konoha's shinobi elite.

Kai seemed to reach a similar conclusion. "Danzo may have supported Orochimaru at first, but after the events in the Land of Rain, Root took heavy losses. I think he's aiming to step in himself now that Orochimaru's name is tainted."

Fugaku nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting… Orochimaru's scandal might have been orchestrated by Danzo. Tsunade has already left the village, and Jiraiya has refused the position. That leaves only two possibilities—"

"—Find a young, controllable Hokage," Kai finished, "or keep the Third in power until he collapses."

"Exactly." Fugaku sighed, watching the ripples in the pond. "But if Hiruzen insists on staying in power, we may lose the last chance to shape Konoha's future. We'll need to prepare for every scenario."

"There's no need to stir up tension," Kai said calmly. "Instead of applying pressure, we should align ourselves with the likely successor—and help shape the conditions for his rise."

Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "You mean Namikaze Minato."

"He's competent, charismatic, and widely respected after the war," Kai affirmed. "He also has a good relationship with me—and with Kushina. If we approach him early, and make ourselves indispensable, we won't need the Hokage title to gain influence."

Fugaku tapped his fingers against the ceramic cup, intrigued. "So you're saying... we don't need power through authority. We can gain it through influence."

"Exactly," Kai said. "In politics, especially behind the scenes, influence often outweighs titles. Form an alliance of shared interests—across clans, civilians, and smaller ninja families. A coalition like that would be too large to ignore, even for the Hokage."

Fugaku's eyes lit up with understanding. The Uchiha had long been isolated, distrusted by the village despite their power. But if they became the center of a wider alliance… things could change.

"The smaller clans and civilian shinobi," he said slowly. "They're the key."

"Precisely," Kai replied. "The Third has tried to improve their standing, but in practice, the big clans still dominate. If we step in and provide real support—economic, political, or logistical—we can win their loyalty. Even without the Hokage seat, we'd be a force no one can dismiss."

Fugaku nodded, thoroughly impressed. "I see. This is a bold but realistic plan. But what about resistance?"

"We deal with it," Kai said coldly. "Before we build anything, we remove the hardliners—the ones who'd sabotage this from the inside."

Fugaku gave a rare, grim smile. "For once, I'm glad to have someone in the clan who thinks like I do."