CHAPTER 104

Not long after the mission from the Third Hokage was issued, two elite squads quietly departed from Konoha.

They had received the orders early, allowing them ample time to prepare—no one had to rush back for forgotten supplies.

Their deployment was deliberately silent. Both teams were known for handling high-stakes operations, and this mission—possibly linked to the final phase of the Third Shinobi World War—was no exception.

Uchiha Kai's team was infamous in its own right, once jokingly referred to as a "cannon fodder legend" that had survived against all odds.

But even their reputation was eclipsed by that of Namikaze Minato's squad. The Yellow Flash's fearsome exploits—particularly the capture of the Five-Tails' jinchūriki—had sent shockwaves across the ninja world.

In comparison, their assigned commander, Fujiu Hanghei, seemed relatively ordinary. Despite being technically in charge of Kei's team, he had little influence over their current mission.

Hyuga Aya, a young heiress of the Hyuga Clan, appeared to follow his orders, but even she knew the real authority now lay with Minato Namikaze.

Recognizing this, Fujiu wisely ceded operational control to Minato.

It took the combined team of seven shinobi three days to reach the Land of Grass once more. The country was still lush and green, but their return stirred complicated feelings.

Each of them had left something behind here—comrades, battles, trauma.

For Uchiha Kai, the memories ran especially deep. It was here that he had undergone a pivotal transformation—awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan.

But they didn't have time to reminisce. Their objective now was to regroup with Konoha's main forces and support ongoing peace talks.

Uchiha Kai followed Minato and the others silently, his thoughts already far ahead. This mission served a dual purpose: yes, he was here under official orders, but it also aligned with a personal agenda.

One of his plans concerned his future in Konoha—whether he would stay or sever ties entirely. The other plan was far more dangerous: it involved his eyes.

"I've already captured Uchiha Yuchi," Kai mused as he moved swiftly through the treetops, "but I don't have time to deal with him right now. The next phase comes first."

Uchiha Yu and Uchiha Osamu were key to his theory. If his hypothesis about the Mangekyō Sharingan was right, the Eternal Mangekyō could only be unlocked by combining two differently inclined ocular forces.

Only when these forces intermingled would the eyes gain permanence—no blindness, no decay—and retain their original abilities.

Triggering a Mangekyō was no easy feat, and Kai couldn't afford to wait. If Yu and Osamu didn't awaken theirs before the Nine-Tails incident, his window would close.

And there was another piece of the puzzle—something left behind by Uchiha Madara: White Zetsu.

White Zetsu's cells, created from Hashirama Senju's DNA and enhanced by Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's legacy, offered unparalleled compatibility with chakra.

Kai recalled how Madara, after his Edo Tensei revival, casually severed White Zetsu's arm to replace his own. But Madara had long possessed Hashirama's cells—Kai didn't. Still, the idea lingered.

Obito had used Zetsu's cells to stabilize his Mangekyō for years without blindness. If Kai could obtain them—and a skilled medic for the transplant—he might achieve the same.

"Orochimaru helped Danzo with his Sharingan arm," Kai reflected. "He'll defect from Konoha within a year. Maybe there's still time to extract something..."

But he checked himself. Gaining access to Orochimaru's resources meant moving under Hiruzen Sarutobi's radar. And locating White Zetsu wouldn't be easy either.

Madara's hideout was still a mystery. Kai had considered tailing Obito, but the presence of Zetsu—and the enigmatic Black Zetsu—complicated things. They were far from ordinary opponents.

Still, the key might lie with Kakashi. "Obito found him within minutes during the Kannabi Bridge incident," Kai thought. "He must've been nearby. If I retrace that route, I might locate Madara's base."

Kai's gaze darkened.

Madara had planned everything, including his own death. He'd created Black Zetsu thinking it was his will, unaware it was a manifestation of Kaguya's.

But if Kai found the hideout now, the only likely defender would be Obito.

Obito was dangerous—his Kamui space made him almost untouchable. But Kai had his own Mangekyō, and if he could catch Obito during materialization, he could strike.

It would cost a lot of chakra and risk blindness, but it was a gamble he was willing to take.

"That damn bastard is hard to kill," Kai muttered. "Survived being stabbed in the heart by Raikiri, survived being vaporized by Truth-Seeking Orbs...

If he hadn't lost his way, he could've been the protagonist."