Chapter 330 – The Shadow That Follows
"Captain, these are the interrogation reports from the ANBU—along with the statements we extracted ourselves."
In Kei Uchiha's office, Fukuhiko Kōta stood respectfully at the side, presenting two folders. Kei leafed through them with a detached, almost bored expression.
There wasn't much information inside—
but what was there painted a clear picture.
And that picture made Kei quietly impressed.
These Mist-nin… their mouths are ridiculously tight.
No matter the method—genjutsu, torture, psychological breaks—
they refused to speak.
Their willpower was absurdly strong, their discipline impeccable.
Before handing them over to the Yamanaka clan, the amount of intel extracted from them was—
essentially zero.
Even the veteran interrogators of the Police Force and the ANBU could do nothing but admit defeat.
Now all they could do was wait for the Yamanaka to rip the truth from their minds—
while ensuring the prisoners didn't kill themselves beforehand.
Kei finally closed the folder and exhaled lightly.
"Impressive. These Mist shinobi are really something."
Then he waved the matter away.
"Forget it—we'll wait for the Yamanaka's final reports. By the way… why are you here giving me the update today?"
"Because the four squad captains are all out on a joint operation," Kōta replied.
"They discovered a large number of hidden explosive tags throughout the village."
He frowned slightly. "Sir, wasn't this already submitted as a written report?"
"…Ah."
Kei glanced at the stack of unopened paperwork beside him.
Documents he clearly hadn't bothered to read.
"Right. The explosive tags. I remember now."
He nodded calmly.
"Tell them to stay sharp. I trust they can handle it."
But inwardly, Kei frowned.
Hidden explosive tags scattered throughout Konoha—
it was the kind of thing that should never be possible.
And yet… the situation felt strangely familiar.
After thinking for a moment, he remembered.
Right—this happened in the original timeline too.
Except back then it was Neji who discovered it, and the crisis passed without issue.
Now, the same plotline had resurfaced more than a decade early—
and it would become one of the Police Force's "glory missions."
Kei wasn't particularly worried.
Uchiha Kawa, Uchiha Ryu, and Hyūga Hizashi—all battle-hardened shinobi—
were more than capable of handling something like this.
There might be some commotion, sure.
They weren't gentle when they worked.
But planting explosives inside the village was unforgivable.
In Kei's eyes, there was no place for mercy in such cases.
"And of course," Kei continued,
"this will be reported to the Fourth Hokage. But what I expect from you all is an action report that won't disappoint me. Understand?"
"Yes, Captain!" Kōta stood straighter and answered firmly.
"Good. I'm sure you'll do well."
Kei gave him a faint smile, then stood up from his chair.
"You've been with me since the day I took over the Police Force. How has it been for you so far?"
"Everything has been excellent, Captain," Kōta answered without hesitation.
Fukuhiko Kōta had indeed been following Kei since the days when Kei was merely a vice-captain, in charge of a single squad. Kei had pulled him into the Police Force back then—
largely for the same reason he had recruited Imai Kenta:
they were civilian-born shinobi, free from clan politics.
But so much time had passed. Kei no longer cared about such distinctions.
Under his leadership, the Police Force's internal composition had stabilized.
Yes, the upper ranks were still dominated by clan-born shinobi with prestigious bloodlines—
but the overall structure had become essentially half clan, half civilian.
Kei suddenly glanced at him.
"Tell me, does it bother you?
Following me for so long, yet never being promoted to squad captain?"
Kōta did not hesitate.
"…At first, yes. I really did feel that way."
He lifted his head, honest and solemn.
"But now, I no longer think like that. I understand my own shortcomings.
My brother spoke with me too.
I finally know what I need to do."
There was no pretense in his voice.
He was speaking his heart.
Back then, his dissatisfaction had been real. Kei had recruited only four people at the start:
Uchiha Kawa and his father, Imai Kenta… and Kōta himself.
When Kei finally became Captain of the Police Force, Kawa and Kenta each received command of a squad.
Kōta did not object to that.
Uchiha Kawa's talent and loyalty were obvious—he practically worshipped Kei.
A leader would naturally promote someone like that.
As for Imai Kenta, it made perfect sense: he had once served under Kōta's older brother, Fukuhiko Kōhei, and Kei had been his teammate through life-and-death missions.
Promoting him was a favor among survivors—
and Kenta was believed to be a civilian-born ninja.
Except… Kōta later learned that Kenta's "civilian identity" was a complete farce.
When Kenta reclaimed his true status and left the Police Force,
Kōta had briefly wondered—
"Is it finally my turn?"
But Kei hadn't chosen him.
Instead, he promoted Uchiha Ryu—the former vice-captain of the Third Squad.
Then came the formation of the Fourth Squad.
Kōta, assigned as vice-captain of the Third Squad, thought this might finally be his chance.
He understood perfectly well why he was placed under a squad leader who wasn't aligned with Kei—
it was a balancing act inside the Police Force.
But when the Fourth Squad was flooded with Hyūga shinobi,
he realized the truth:
The Fourth Squad's captain would almost certainly be a Hyūga.
The disappointment had been overwhelming.
His brother, Fukuhiko Kōhei—fully recovered and back to leading missions—noticed his frustration and sat down to talk to him.
That conversation changed everything.
Instead of comforting words, Kōhei simply told him:
"Compare yourself honestly with the existing squad captains."
Kōta had been stunned.
But he trusted his brother more than anyone.
So he compared.
One situation after another.
One decision after another.
And the truth hit him like a hammer:
He wasn't ready. Not even close.
Not only was his strength lacking—
his judgment, his leadership, and even the way he processed information were far too simplistic.
He realized that many decisions made by his superiors were things he could barely understand, even in hindsight.
If he were Kei Uchiha, he wouldn't promote himself either.
Even the seemingly straightforward Uchiha Kawa—
under Kei's guidance—showed a degree of organizational skill and leadership far beyond anything Kōta could currently match.
Kei raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Is that so? And what's your plan now?"
Kōta smiled faintly.
"I still remember what you told me the first time we met, Captain—
'Watch closely. Learn properly.'
I need to do exactly that.
I've been a vice-captain longer than most.
I've had more chances to see how things work from the inside.
Maybe I'm not the smartest,
but if I keep learning, keep observing…
I believe I can reach the level I'm aiming for."
Kei chuckled.
"Looks like Captain Kōhei has helped me more than I realized."
"Of course. My brother has always been exceptional."
Kōta's face filled with pride.
"Oh—Captain, my brother… he's always been proud of you.
I can't help being a little jealous."
Kei blinked, touching his chin thoughtfully.
Kōhei… proud of him?
It had been a long time since he last saw the only jōnin instructor who survived serving as his commanding officer.
But Kei brushed the thought aside.
It was getting late.
He stood, patted Kōta on the shoulder, and said quietly:
"Keep working hard.
Truth is—you're the one your brother is proud of.
Back when we were on missions together, he talked about you constantly.
Don't let him down."
Kōta bowed deeply.
"Yes, Captain. I'll give it everything I've got."
Kei nodded and left the office, heading into the evening streets.
It wasn't quite time to get off work, so the roads were mostly empty.
Kei leaving early was nothing unusual, and no one dared complain.
As long as the village remained peaceful, no one questioned his habits.
But a few minutes later—
Kei's expression suddenly darkened.
Someone was following him.