Chapter 255 – Preparation and Support
Walking along the road back home, Uchiha Kei couldn't help but let a faint smile creep across his face.
The information Namikaze Minato had shared with him was… truly interesting.
It concerned the formal rollout of the jōnin welfare system, as well as the exact time the special jōnin rank would be abolished.
The former was something already discussed at prior meetings—every jōnin had made their own calculations about it.
But the latter? Almost no one knew Minato planned to scrap the special jōnin rank, much less the precise date.
With this intelligence in hand, Kei could make preparations long before anyone else.
Accurate information—on the battlefield or in politics—was always the sharpest weapon.
Looks like I'll need to arrange for Uchiha Kawa and Uchiha Ryu to take their jōnin exams during this window, Kei thought as he quickened his pace. With the Police Force Commander as their guarantor, and Uchiha Asahi adjusting their mission records, it shouldn't be difficult to push them through.
He made straight for Uchiha Fugaku's residence rather than heading home.
Fugaku, having stepped down as Captain of the Police Force, was now almost a full-time husband. His wife Mikoto's pregnancy had advanced to the point where a medical-nin had been called into the house. Sasuke's birth was only days away.
"Kei." Fugaku stepped out as soon as he saw him. "Mikoto is resting. Let's talk outside."
"Mm." Kei nodded, smiling faintly. "So… how does it feel, about to be a father again?"
"Full of anticipation," Fugaku answered with a small smile. "Whenever a child is about to be born, there's always gratitude, excitement… It's hard to put into words. You'll understand one day yourself. But you're fourteen now, aren't you?"
Kei froze for half a beat before realizing what Fugaku was hinting at.
"Don't even think about arranging a marriage for me," Kei said dryly. "Someone like me? No girl would put up with me. And I'm only fourteen."
Fugaku gave a regretful nod. He had indeed been considering it. But if Kei himself rejected the idea outright, Fugaku wouldn't press it. Besides, Kei's character had been forged on the battlefield—his temperament and methods weren't something most girls could endure. Even for political marriages, finding someone suitable wouldn't be easy.
They strolled to the pond in Fugaku's garden. Kei stopped at the water's edge, watching the koi dart beneath the surface as the bamboo water-spout clacked rhythmically against the stone basin.
"Fourth Hokage shared some things with me," Kei said at last. "I think it's time we start preparing."
Fugaku's face grew serious. "What did you discuss?"
"He's taken back direct control of the Mission Center from the Third… and ANBU as well." Kei tossed a handful of fish feed into the pond. The once-calm koi broke into a frenzy, thrashing for scraps. Kei watched with a faintly amused smile.
"And in the administrative council, he's planning to remove some people and replace them. He asked if I had recommendations."
"And what did you tell him?" Fugaku asked gravely, his own gaze drifting to the rippling pond.
"That this is his opportunity," Kei replied, scattering another handful of feed. "He needs more than just our clan's support. He needs to cultivate loyal people of his own—people he can trust absolutely."
"True. The Fourth has seized much authority, but the circle of people he can truly rely on is… very small." Fugaku followed suit, tossing in some feed. The fish thrashed even more wildly.
"And sending more Uchiha into ANBU is enough. As for the administration, we don't need to push too hard—just build relationships with those who make it in. Besides, the Police Force will soon have a fourth division."
Fugaku blinked. "A fourth?"
"Yes. Minato agreed after only a moment's thought. Expanding the Police Division is not controversial—it strengthens the village's stability. Of course, he made one condition: regardless of whether I remain Captain or not, all reforms and codes of conduct will remain my responsibility." Kei smiled faintly. "Naturally, I agreed."
Fugaku nodded slowly. "So—tell me your plans for the Division."
"Simple." Kei gestured at the koi, which were now settling down again. "Expand its reach. Not just criminal cases or spies, but even neighborhood disputes, petty thefts… Everything internal will fall under the Police Division.
The shinobi army defends outward. Division secures inward."
Fugaku opened his mouth to speak but stopped. He glanced again at the pond, now returned to its tranquil state.
"Ambition," Kei said evenly, turning to meet his eyes. "Call it ambition, call it desire—it's all the same. Pretty words like 'dream' and 'ideal' are just ornaments. Without desire, without ambition, what drives us forward?"
Fugaku said nothing, only nodding. Harsh as Kei's words were, he couldn't deny the truth. His own dream—to integrate the Uchiha into the village, to give his clan a better life—was itself a kind of ambition. And Minato too was driven by such desires.
"…I understand," Fugaku said at last. "My ambition is simple: make the Uchiha prosper, and ensure our people live well within Konoha. That's the future I want."
"And you, Kei? What is your ambition?"
"Me?" Kei tilted his head slightly. "Just to survive."
Seeing Fugaku's surprise, he elaborated, "On the battlefield, I've seen too much death. If I can't even live… then what meaning do any dreams or ideals have?"
Fugaku studied him quietly, then nodded. "A simple, honest answer."
The conversation shifted back to policy. Kei leaned, dusting his hands after throwing the rest of the feed into the pond.
"You've heard about the new jōnin welfare system?"
"Yes, the council briefed us this morning," Fugaku confirmed.
"But Minato didn't mention the abolition of special jōnin, did he?" Kei asked, watching Fugaku closely.
Fugaku froze. "…It's confirmed?"
"Not publicly," Kei said with a small smile. "But he told me the exact timing. Which means—it's time for us to prepare certain people."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed in thought. He understood immediately. The abolition of special jōnin, combined with the empowerment of full jōnin, would create a new battlefield in Konoha politics. With foresight, the Uchiha could seize an early advantage.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the village…
Ayaka Hyūga stood in her family's courtyard, breathing heavily, sweat streaking down her face. She had been training all morning.
Last night's mission had been bloody. She hadn't stayed with Imai Kenta to clean up the corpses after Kei's attack—just verified who was dead and left. Danzo was truly gone. That was enough.
She had come home for the first time in weeks. It was far more comfortable here than the Police Division Barracks, and she allowed herself a brief respite.
"Ayaka." Her mother's voice broke her thoughts.
"Mother." Ayaka smiled faintly. "What is it?"
"Don't push yourself too hard. I heard your Police Division had another dangerous mission last night. Wasn't the training only supposed to last a month? It's been far longer."
Ayaka gave a wry smile. "Kei is reforming the Police Division. So we, his subordinates, have to endure. Last night was an emergency deployment, with no warning at all."
Her mother stroked her hair gently. "Then… respect your captain more, Ayaka. Whatever your past as teammates, now he is your superior."
Respect him? Ayaka nearly laughed aloud, the corner of her mouth twitching. But she swallowed it back and only nodded. "I understand."
"Good. The clan head just returned—he wants to see you."
"Hiashi-sama?" Ayaka frowned slightly, then sighed. "I'll go now."
It was the third time in as many months that Hyūga Hiashi had summoned her. After last night's chaos, she could already guess why.
She composed herself and walked toward the Hyūga clan head's residence. Soon, she was kneeling in his audience chamber.
"Clan head," she said respectfully. "What do you wish to discuss?"
"Sit, Ayaka." Hiashi nodded. When she had, he leaned forward.
"Tell me, in detail… about last night's mission. From the beginning."
"…And could you also tell me a little more about Uchiha Kei?"
Hiashi's tone was calm, but edged with a careful restraint. "I don't think that would violate any of your confidentiality rules, would it?"
"Yes, Clan Head." Ayaka bowed her head in acknowledgment.
She could immediately tell there was something unusual in his voice. If it were a direct order, he wouldn't have bothered to ask about "violating rules." Clearly, even Hiashi felt a certain wariness toward Kei—and by extension, toward the entire Uchiha.
Kei's status had risen sharply in the village, and their last meeting must have left Hiashi with a deep impression. After this most recent mission, no one could afford to underestimate him.
For Ayaka, Kei had become something of a protective charm. Yes, she was borrowing the Uchiha's shadow, but she was determined that one day, she would stand as the tiger herself.
"After Kei took over the Police Division," she began carefully, "he uncovered some irregularities in the former squad leaders' records. That's how he discovered the trail that led to this operation…"
She spoke slowly, recounting the events and Kei's involvement in the mission. Ayaka knew exactly what could be shared and what could not. Still, she took a few calculated risks—for instance, revealing Kei's plan to form a fourth division in the Police Division.
Hiashi listened without interruption. From her words, he pieced together an image of Kei: calm, intelligent, and brimming with ambition.
Yet there was a contradiction. The reports from Kei's time on the battlefield had painted him as clever, lucky enough to survive, but not overwhelmingly strong. The real transformation seemed to have begun only after his Sharingan awakened—and since then, he had grown colder, more ruthless.
"Is that all?" Hiashi asked at last, narrowing his eyes.
Ayaka nodded. "That's all, Clan Head. There are other things I cannot speak of—Uchiha Kei bound me by confidentiality, especially regarding matters between himself and the Fourth Hokage."
"Enough," Hiashi said firmly, but his expression revealed satisfaction. "What cannot be spoken need not be forced. But… maintain your current relationship with Uchiha Kei."
"Yes, Clan Head." Ayaka bowed again, though a faint smile touched her lips.
In truth, she knew very little—only that Kei had played a role in helping Namikaze Minato ascend to the Hokage's seat. But by hinting at such things, she tested Hiashi's boundaries and simultaneously elevated Kei's image in his eyes.
The higher Kei's shadow loomed, the safer she became beneath it.
"Lastly, I have a task for you." Hiashi's gaze sharpened. "Deliver a message to Uchiha Kei. And make it clear these are my words."
"Yes, Clan Head."
"Tell him: I wish for more Hyūga to join the Police Division. If possible, some in positions of responsibility. In exchange, when the time comes, where our interests do not conflict… I am willing to extend additional support to the Uchiha."