Chapter 35: Departure

"Is this... Chidori?"

As Kai leapt from tree to tree, he glanced at the so-called gift from Kakashi in his hand. It was common for ninjas to read and move simultaneously, as it was often necessary to analyze intelligence while on the move. Having spent so long on the battlefield, this was second nature to Kai.

What surprised him, however, was that Kakashi had given him the Chidori. Kai was at a loss for words. He lacked a decisive jutsu, something that could forcibly break through an enemy's defenses. His Mangekyō Sharingan was powerful, extremely so, but its high chakra consumption made it more of a last resort.

The Mangekyō's abilities were formidable but could only be considered auxiliary in his current situation. Moreover, it was a non-renewable resource; Kai didn't dare overuse it and risk blindness.

This was why he had picked up a sword from a fallen Iwa ninja. Although its material was similar to a kunai, Kai trusted its sharpness more. Another crucial reason was that a sword was much longer than a kunai. Previously, he had to engage closely with kunai, minimizing the risk of exposing his Sharingan.

Now that he could openly use his Sharingan, he wanted to ensure his safety further. Just as he decided to use swordsmanship, Kakashi handed over his notes on Chidori. Kai found this quite awkward.

"Couldn't you have given this to me earlier?" he thought. Now, it seemed he didn't have the time to learn this jutsu. He understood that Kakashi intended for him to learn it later, implying he should survive and return. It was a thoughtful gesture, but holding this scroll, Kai couldn't help but be tempted.

Taking a deep breath, Kai set aside those impractical thoughts and stored the scroll safely. He looked up at Minato. "Thank Kakashi for me."

"You should thank him yourself," Minato replied with a shake of his head. "Have some confidence. No matter what happens, I will bring you all back."

Hearing this, Kai felt a wave of relief. This was the assurance he had been waiting for. Kenta also raised an eyebrow but remained silent, displaying his usual harmless smile.

Why follow Minato? Apart from his incredible strength, it was because he could ensure their safe return to Konoha. Initially, Kai felt envious of Aya, but now he saw potential for honor upon his return.

While Kai had always considered honor trivial, his primary goal was survival, for which he had done many extreme things. But with his life more secure, he could start considering such things for his future.

If Kai became the sole "Hero of the Sharingan," his status in Konoha would naturally rise. Even if there were three Sharingan heroes, it wouldn't be bad. Of course, this would also attract more attention from Konoha's upper echelons.

But so what? The Third Hokage would soon be resigning in disgrace and dealing with Orochimaru's issues, while Danzo would seize the opportunity to pursue his Hokage ambitions. This transitional period meant any scrutiny on Kai would be limited. By the time they were done, Kai might have thoroughly researched his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Although the Fourth Hokage adopted Jiraiya's beliefs, having an Uchiha in his team, his premature death prevented him from consolidating power. If not for the Nine-Tails incident, the Uchiha clan's future might have taken a different direction. If Minato had survived...

Lost in thought, Kai was suddenly alerted by Minato raising his hand to signal a stop. He immediately became vigilant, cursing his carelessness. Standing next to a strong ally brought a sense of security, but it had led to distracting thoughts. Refocusing, he activated his Sharingan.

Although his chakra recovery was slow, Kai was battle-ready.

"There are several targets ahead," Minato said softly, after sensing with his hand on the ground. "Most have average chakra levels, but a few are stronger. I can't tell if they're shadow clones or real."

"It seems we're close to our target," Kai said, consulting a map. "Captain Minato, do you have any intel on our opponents?"

"Sorry, I don't. And call me Minato," Minato replied. "We're likely the first and only Konoha team to penetrate this far. We'll have to adapt on the fly."

"Understood," Kai said, taking a deep breath and drawing his sword. "In that case, let's start the battle. Kenta and I will clear the perimeter. The rest is up to you, Captain Minato. How does that sound?"

Minato nodded. Although Kai's approach seemed a bit presumptuous, it aligned with his own plan. The ones with stronger chakra were likely Jōnin, and Minato was more than capable of handling several Jōnin at once.

The ninjas with average chakra levels would be better dealt with by Kai's team. As old teammates, their coordination would be flawless. Minato couldn't have known how wrong his assumptions were. He readied his kunai, took a deep breath, and disappeared with his terrifying body flicker technique.

Kai and Kenta exchanged glances and quickly followed. They were now very close to completing their mission. All they needed to do was hasten its conclusion.

"You take the left, I'll take the right?" Kai suggested once Minato was gone.

"You're the captain, you decide," Kenta replied with a smile.

"Then let's go."

"Yes, Captain."

(Chapter End)