Chapter 258 – Conditions
"The hot springs were… actually pretty nice," Uchiha Kei said as he and Kenta Imai walked down the street toward the Police Force headquarters.
He couldn't help but sigh contentedly.
For all its simplicity, soaking in hot water had a way of loosening every pore in his body—releasing both fatigue and tension.
Still, he found it a little funny that, just as he was leaving, he'd bumped into Kakashi and Guy.
Those two had looked at him and Kenta like they'd seen a ghost.
He didn't think much of it, though.
Probably just didn't expect him of all people to show up at a hot spring.
"Yeah, it was relaxing," Kenta admitted. "So, where to now? Back to HQ?"
"Actually," Kei said, stopping mid-step with a faint smile, "there's somewhere else I'd like to take you. We need to have a proper talk."
During their soak, Kei had already pried into Kenta's situation with the Senju clan.
And once he had the full picture, he hadn't pressed further.
Instead, he'd spent that time quietly thinking—calculating.
How to use this? How to profit from it?
Because truthfully, Kei wanted Kenta to keep working with him.
The Senju bloodline fascinated him, especially now that he knew how fractured and desperate the clan had become.
He'd already come up with a plan while in the bath.
To raise the stakes, he'd bring Kenta into his core underground laboratory.
It wasn't like Kenta didn't know of its existence—he'd probably sensed its chakra waves during Kei's battle with Uchiha Shu.
Now was the perfect time. He could bring Kenta there, have Hyūga Ayaka present, and kill two birds with one stone:
show off his true power and reinforce Ayaka's trust in him.
"You mean… that hidden lab of yours?" Kenta asked, his brows furrowing.
"So you did notice it back then," Kei replied calmly. "Good. Let's go."
And with that, he led the way.
Kenta hesitated for a moment, then clenched his jaw and followed.
He knew this was a risk—but he'd already stepped too deep to back out now.
His conversation with Senju Shōma, the elder of his clan, had left him shaken.
That cold, dismissive look—the quiet disapproval—had driven home a painful truth: the old generation would never see his way.
And now, his only chance at real influence might lie with the very man walking in front of him.
---
The two passed through the outer Uchiha compound and slipped into the wooded hills beyond.
As they approached the hidden entrance, Kenta's sensory instincts flared.
There were seals everywhere—dozens of them, layered like webs—but oddly, none were particularly strong.
The guards were few, too.
He frowned. Too few.
Was it deliberate?
Less presence meant less attention… but still, for a site this important?
Before he could question it aloud, the guards who sensed them turned away the instant they recognized Kei.
No one dared interfere.
That alone told Kenta everything he needed to know about Uchiha Kei's authority here.
---
When they finally entered the underground complex, Hyūga Ayaka looked up from her desk, visibly surprised.
"You brought him here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Did you two finally settle your differences?"
"Not exactly," Kei said, pulling up a chair. "But I think we can… help him."
"Should I leave?" she asked politely, though she was already tidying up Orochimaru's research notes.
"No," Kei said, waving a hand. "You know enough already. A little more won't hurt."
Kenta frowned but said nothing. Ayaka just shrugged and sat down again—
partly curious what this "deal" of Kei's was going to be.
After all, she'd only ever cared about the scientific side of his work. Politics weren't her concern.
"Well," Kenta muttered dryly, "didn't think you'd trust this crazy woman that much."
"You want influence," Kei interrupted with a smirk. "You're tired of being forced into things you never agreed to.
You want your effort to matter—not be dismissed as worthless. Am I wrong?"
Kenta fell silent.
He'd studied Kei's personality for over a year—methodically.
But he'd underestimated him. Kei had dissected his character just as easily.
Kei had seen plenty of people like him before—in both this world and the last.
The ambitious ones who wanted recognition, not power for its own sake.
"You're right," Kenta finally said, voice steady.
"I've been taught since childhood that reviving the Senju is my duty… and that the Third Hokage's power structure is our enemy.
But I've found a better way—and I know what you're capable of, Kei.
I don't want to waste my effort—or end up on your bad side."
"So you want deeper cooperation," Kei said with a thin smile. "Fine.
Tell me your offer. If I like it, I'll personally pay your family elder a visit."
"I'll also provide a roster for recruits to your Fourth Division," Kenta cut in quickly.
"And… I can give you the Second Hokage's complete Sharingan research notes.
Along with Senju clan jutsu—records of his experiments on the First Hokage's cells."
Kei paused, genuinely intrigued.
Not that it shocked him that Tobirama had experimented on Hashirama's cells—brother or not, that sounded like him.
But for Kenta to offer those notes so readily… was bold.
Too bold.
It was like handing a wolf the keys to your sheepfold.
Still, Kei knew this wasn't naïveté—it was strategy.
Kenta was gambling for something far greater.
"Ambitious," Kei chuckled. "You're putting a lot on the table.
You must be expecting quite the payout in return."
"Confidence depends on your partner," Kenta replied coolly. "And you're worth the bet."
"Go on, then," Kei said. "Let's hear the rest."
Kenta took a breath.
"Our founder, Hashirama Senju, once shook hands with Uchiha Madara to build Konoha.
I don't hold hatred toward your clan.
If we regain our honor, the Senju will stand beside the Uchiha—so long as it doesn't threaten our own survival.
A new alliance, built on respect. What do you say?"
Kei stared at him for a long moment.
It sounded grand. Noble, even.
But both he and Ayaka knew better.
Inside, they shared the same silent thought: what a beautifully worded lie.
An alliance? The Senju were a shadow of what they once were.
Their techniques? Mostly Water and Earth release—nothing a Fire- and Lightning-based Uchiha could use.
As for "standing beside" the Uchiha… that depended entirely on convenience.
"Nice speech," Kei said, smiling thinly. "But all I'm really hearing is that the only thing of value you have… is the research notes."
"That's just the opening offer," Kenta said firmly. "There's one more condition."
"I'm listening," Kei said, leaning back in his chair.
Kenta took a deep breath.
"I want to join your experiment."
The air in the room froze.
Ayaka blinked. Kei's expression darkened.
"Don't push your luck, Kenta," Kei said coldly.
The audacity of it almost made him laugh.
Sure, they were experimenting with the First Hokage's cells—but those samples had nothing to do with Kenta's clan directly.
They were taken from Obito, not Hashirama.
If Kenta wanted to reclaim Senju "heritage," he should try his luck against Obito or Madara themselves.
"Hear me out first," Kenta said quickly. "Then decide."
"Fine. Talk."
Kenta straightened, his tone turning serious.
"Tell me, Kei—what do you really know about the First Hokage?"
"Hashirama Senju?" Kei mused. "Wood Release, obviously.
What, you planning to offer that as part of the deal? Sorry, I'm not interested.
You should've included it to begin with."
Kenta shook his head.
"You misunderstand. The First had another ability—one just as powerful as Wood Release."
Kei's eyes narrowed.
Then realization struck.
"…Sage Mode."
Bingo.
There were few techniques in history that could rival Wood Release.
And Sage Mode—the true Senju secret—was one of them.
It enhanced perception, chakra control, and raw strength to a godlike degree.
It was perfectly compatible with Wood Release, with tailed beast chakra… even with Susanoo itself.
No wonder the First had been unstoppable.
And now, Kenta Imai was offering that as a bargaining chip.
Kei couldn't deny it—his heart stirred.
He'd long wanted to explore Sage energy. Orochimaru's cursed seals had been his original route—a synthetic Sage Mode of sorts.
But a genuine path, one that came from Hashirama's line? That was another level entirely.
If the data was complete, it could give him all the insight he needed—
to learn it himself, or at least to replicate its power.
Kei looked up slowly, meeting Kenta's steady gaze.
This man really was playing for keeps.
The Sage Arts of Hashirama Senju… he thought.
The Slug Sennin's legacy… the Shikkotsu Forest.
One of the Three Great Sage realms—mysterious, nearly mythical.
And unlike Mount Myōboku or Ryūchi Cave, its transformation side effects were minimal.
No grotesque scales.
No animal mutations.
Just raw, natural power.
Kei's lips curved into a faint, calculating smile.
Now that… was an offer worth considering.
Uchiha Kei thought for a long moment before speaking.
"Something that important—can you even get it? And how do you know the records are complete?"
Kenta Imai's lips curled into a faint, confident smile.
"I wouldn't have brought it up if I couldn't. If I want those records, I can take them anytime."
"As for their integrity—you don't need to worry about that. I wouldn't risk my life making a bluff like this, would I?"
Kei studied him silently, then nodded.
Kenta wasn't the type to gamble with his own life.
If he were, he wouldn't be here negotiating—he'd be following Senju Shōma's lead like an obedient pawn.
So, he was offering the First Hokage's Sage Arts research—in exchange for joining Kei's experiment.
It was a costly trade for Kei.
Agreeing meant not only accepting Kenta into the lab but also giving weight to the earlier conditions he'd proposed.
Kei didn't like losing ground in a deal.
But the value of what Kenta offered made refusal almost impossible.
After another long pause, Kei exhaled softly, as if coming to a decision.
"Fine," he said at last. "But I have one condition."
Kenta's heart eased for a second—then immediately tightened again.
That tone. That smile.
He knew what was coming.
Kei never agreed to anything without making sure the scales tipped in his favor.
"What condition?" Kenta asked cautiously.
Kei turned his gaze toward Ayaka.
"You'll have to convince her yourself. And even if she agrees, all experimental data will be shared—completely."
That was Kei's baseline requirement.
Convincing Ayaka wouldn't be difficult.
She was more curious than cautious when it came to scientific progress.
And having Kenta participate wasn't without benefit.
Even without special eyes, his presence could provide unique comparative data—especially given Kei's ongoing cellular experiments.
At least this way, the information flow would be open and controlled.
Kenta mulled it over, then nodded decisively.
"Alright. Even if I refused, you'd find a way to get the data anyway. I'm not stupid, Kei. I know which side to stand on."
"However," he added, "regarding the Wood Release materials—"
"I don't need the hand seals or formation techniques," Kei cut him off flatly. "But I do want* every piece* of research related to Wood Release."
Kenta's mouth twitched.
"You Uchihas never miss an angle, do you?" He sighed. "Fine. I'll share part of it. But don't push too far, Kei.
You know what I'm after—and I know exactly what you're thinking.
We're allies, not rivals."
He rose to his feet, face set with rare seriousness.
His eyes moved from Kei's subtly amused expression to Ayaka's disinterested one.
Then, after a deep breath, he spoke with quiet resolve:
"Everything I've said, I mean sincerely.
Our ancestor, Hashirama Senju, once clasped hands with the Uchiha to build Konoha.
I'm his descendant—of a new generation. I hold no hatred toward your clan.
So let's do the same. Let's build something new, together.
What do you say, Kei?"
For a long moment, Kei said nothing.
Then, with a faint smile, he stepped forward and extended his hand.
"Very well. Let's make it official."
Their hands met—firm, deliberate.
"Though," Kei added with a teasing glint in his eye, "I'm not sure what to call you now.
Should I say Senju Kenta… or stick with Imai Kenta?"
The faintest smirk crossed Kenta's lips.
Either way, the pact had been sealed.