CHAPTER 114

"Captain Minato?"

Uchiha Kai's expression darkened the moment he saw Minato Namikaze appear. His Mangekyō flickered once, then dimmed.

He understood instantly—Loess couldn't be killed. Not now.

Kai clenched his fists at the bitter thought. Loess—the son of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki. Killing him might not only spark retaliation but sabotage any hope of ceasefire. Kai knew better than most: Onoki wasn't like the Third Hokage. That man held grudges like boulders, and his temper could shatter alliances.

Minato had once had a chance to eliminate Loess before. He didn't.

Why did you hesitate then… and why show up now, just in time to stop me?

"It looks like I can't kill him, huh?" Kai muttered bitterly.

Loess, bleeding but conscious, tried to raise a hand toward his own throat.

Suicide?

With a swift kick, Kai sent his foot crashing into Loess's arm, knocking it aside and slamming his head back down. Not hard enough to kill—but enough to hurt.

Drawing his ninja blade slowly, Kai glanced toward Minato and sneered. "Let me guess. For the sake of negotiations? To avoid 'unnecessary' escalation?"

"…Yeah," Minato admitted sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "It's a tough spot. But I knew you'd understand the bigger picture, Kai-kun. I'm sorry."

Then, to Kai's surprise, Minato bent deeply at the waist in a full bow.

Uchiha Kai blinked. The Hokage's most celebrated protégé—bending to him?

A knot tightened in Kai's chest.

He hated Loess. The bastard had led assaults that cost Konoha dozens of lives. Kai wasn't performing—he meant to end him. But Minato's sudden arrival made that complicated.

He looked down at the unconscious Iwa-nin, scowling. After all this effort… just to let him walk?

"Just like that?" Kai exhaled sharply. "We let him go?"

"I'm asking you," Minato said again, still bowed. "Please, Kai-kun."

Kai closed his eyes. His chakra was still simmering, still raging. But slowly, he inhaled… then exhaled.

Killing Loess would make Kai infamous—and not in the way that helped. A hero of Kannabi Bridge killing the Tsuchikage's heir? Even with justification, the political fallout could be catastrophic. Konoha wouldn't thank him. They'd silence him.

Worse—he'd lose a golden opportunity.

Minato respected him. If Kai played this right, he could use this favor—turn it into leverage. Not just with Minato, but with Konoha's leadership. He could shape narratives. Earn political capital.

The battlefield was only one part of being a shinobi. The other was negotiation.

With a sigh, Kai sheathed his blade. Minato straightened up slightly when he heard the steel slide back into the scabbard.

"I won't kill him," Kai said quietly. "But I want a word with him. Alone."

"No problem," Minato said, his relief plain. "I'll wait over there."

"You're not worried I'll change my mind?"

"I trust you, Kai-kun," Minato smiled gently. "You're not like other shinobi. I know you'll make the right call. You're a hero of Konoha, after all."

Hero, huh?

Kai's face didn't change, but inwardly, he scoffed.

As Minato turned and walked away, Kai didn't bother checking whether the man was observing. If he was, he'd be ready with Flying Thunder God. But Kai had no intention of disobeying—at least, not in the obvious way.

Loess was still conscious. Tough bastard.

Kai knelt beside him, voice cold.

"Lucky you. Looks like someone wants you alive."

"Spare me your pity," Loess spat, blood pooling at the edge of his mouth. "You should've finished me. I'll kill you next time."

"Tch. You're more worried I'll expose you to your own people."

Loess froze.

Kai's hand shot forward, gripping the Iwa-nin's throat. His Mangekyō flared again, swirling with malevolent red light.

"You purged your own wounded to keep intel from leaking. You think they'll forgive that?"

Loess's eyes widened—just before they glassed over.

Kai cast the illusion quickly and precisely, manipulating Loess's memory. Not just about their talk—but the Mangekyō itself. When Loess woke, he'd remember only a haze. A scuffle, some insults, then darkness.

Just the way Kai wanted it.

His eyes faded back to black as he released his grip and stood up.

Behind him, Loess groaned weakly—still alive, but deeply confused.

Kai didn't look back.

Minato was leaning casually against a broken tree, arms folded, watching the ruin of the battlefield.

The terrain was unrecognizable. Trees uprooted, craters cracked open across the soil—just another casualty of chakra warfare.

"All done?" Minato asked, smiling again.

"Yeah." Kai exhaled. "I'm used to cleaning up after messes."

"You're not still upset I was late again, are you?" Minato scratched his head. "Last time… well, I did nearly get you killed."

Kai tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing—but his tone was light.

"Only nearly, Minato-senpai."

Minato winced, then laughed quietly. "Sorry again. Council meetings… They're endless lately."

He looked tired.

Kai didn't answer. He just walked forward, letting the moment hang in the silence.