CHAPTER 168

"Uchiha Kai?"

Imai Kenta narrowed his eyes as he watched the lone figure stepping silently into the clearing of the remote training ground.

"Why are you here? Who told you about this place?"

Kenta scowled. Just as he'd been thinking about this troublesome Uchiha, he appeared out of nowhere. More importantly, Kenta was sure he'd never mentioned where he lived—let alone this old, secluded training ground.

Did he find me through the Konoha Military Police?

"It was Tomohisa Hangbei who mentioned it," Kai replied calmly, his arms crossed.

"As a member of the Police Force, I'm expected to know the village inside and out. It's not that strange that I found this place, is it?"

"…Captain Tomohisa, huh," Kenta muttered, then offered a small, almost sarcastic smile. "So, what brings you here, Captain Kai?"

"You already know."

Kai ignored Kenta's attempt at levity. His eyes moved toward a shattered training post nearby, and a faint smirk curved his lips.

"Not bad for a Water Release. To be able to pull off something like this without a natural water source nearby… I clearly underestimated you. A 'civilian' shinobi with that kind of chakra control? Seems like you've been hiding more than a few things, Kenta."

Kenta's smile faded.

He had kept his proficiency with elemental ninjutsu hidden for a reason. But now, Kai—of all people—had seen through it. And he wasn't the type to overlook things like this.

Damn it. My timing couldn't have been worse.

He'd just finished training and hadn't even had time to clean up the signs of Water Release use.

"It's boring to train alone," Kai said suddenly, turning back to Kenta. "So let's spar."

"…A spar?" Kenta's eyes narrowed. "You don't seem like someone who just came here to train."

"You wound me," Kai smiled, though his eyes were anything but warm. "Don't think so darkly of me. I'm just trying to understand the skills of my possible future vice-captain. So do take this seriously… Kenta-kun."

Before Kenta could respond, Kai had already drawn the ninjatō from his hip. Blue chakra surged along the blade as he vanished in a flicker.

His first strike came without hesitation—aimed directly at Kenta's throat.

There was no restraint. This wasn't a spar. It was an assassination attempt.

He's serious!

But Kenta had expected something like this. His own blade was already unsheathed, clashing against Kai's with a high-pitched metallic ring that echoed through the deserted field.

The ground beneath them cracked from the force of their chakra-infused blows.

Kai's Sharingan spun to life, his crimson irises locking onto Kenta's every movement. With a sudden twist of his blade, he aimed once more for Kenta's neck—this time from a more unpredictable angle.

But Kenta was no pushover. He ducked low, sidestepped, and exploded with speed, moving so fast that even Kai's Sharingan struggled to keep up for a split second.

He's even faster than before... Has he been holding back all this time?

The clash of blades intensified, sparks flying as the two engaged in a deadly dance. Kai moved with precision and lethal elegance, while Kenta weaved through strikes like a phantom, sharp and elusive.

Soon, it was no longer just taijutsu.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!"

Kai hurled a kunai to mislead before forming rapid hand seals, unleashing a roaring flame.

"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"

Kenta dropped into a crouch and slammed his palms to the ground. A thick wall of earth rose to block the flames.

Earth Style too? Kai's eyes narrowed. Water and Earth Release? This kid definitely isn't a normal civilian.

He vanished again, body flickering behind the wall—only to find no one there. The crouched figure was a shadow clone.

When did he—?!

Scanning the area, Kai's Sharingan caught a flicker of chakra underground—just in time to react. He stabbed his blade into the ground where the surge originated—only for a second chakra signature to erupt behind him.

Damn! Sharingan can't see through solid objects. That clone was just a decoy—he's using the weakness of my dojutsu!

"Tricky bastard!" Kai growled.

Suddenly, a roaring water dragon surged toward him.

Kai slashed it apart with his chakra-imbued blade, dispersing the jutsu just as he yanked his hand free of the soil. But before he could fully recover, the water at his feet surged upward.

"Water Style: Water Prison!"

The sphere of water enclosed around Kai, sealing his movements. Kenta emerged nearby, one hand extended in control.

"You got careless, Captain. Or maybe you just underestimated me."

But just as he spoke, smoke erupted from inside the prison—poof!

Shadow clone? No—

Before he could complete the thought, another water dragon surged toward the real Kai—who now stood further away, dark chakra swirling ominously around him.

That chakra... what is that—?!

A skeletal arm cloaked in black chakra burst forth from Kai's side and punched the oncoming dragon, shattering it completely.

Kenta froze for a brief second, eyes widening.

But he quickly masked his reaction and said nothing.

Kai, meanwhile, silently assessed his opponent. He understands how to counter the Sharingan—using Earth Release to obscure my vision, shadow clones for misdirection, and Water Release for suppression. Every step was calculated.

He's not some average genin. Not even an average chunin. Who the hell is he really?

He sheathed his blade slowly, his eyes still glowing red.

"Kenta-kun," he said coldly, "who are you really? You knew how to bait the Sharingan. You're skilled in both Earth and Water Release, and your execution isn't amateurish."

"You're sharp, Kai-kun," Kenta replied with a sigh. "Yes, I have some understanding of the Sharingan. It's due to my clan's historical records. But as for who I am—"

He looked down briefly, then up with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Does anyone not have secrets, Kai-kun?"

Kai stared at him in silence. That answer, evasive as it was, struck home.

He's hiding something big. Water and Earth Release… speed like that… and a strategy that plays around dojutsu weaknesses. He's like a second Tobirama.

Could he be Senju? Or maybe… the last of a destroyed clan?

"…Fair point," Kai finally said, his tone softening slightly. "As shinobi, we all have secrets. Sorry for pressing too hard."

"…It's fine, Captain," Kenta muttered, though he sounded far from comfortable.

He was just trying to dissect me ten minutes ago. Now he's playing nice? What the hell is this guy thinking?

Kai gave a slight nod, then asked, almost casually:

"So, Kenta-kun… have you thought about it?"

Kenta blinked. "Thought about what?"

"My offer. To join my team, as vice-captain."

"…You're still recruiting me? After trying to decapitate me?"

"You survived. That's already part of the job requirement."

Kenta stared at him for a long time. Then, finally:

"…You're insane."