Chapter 47: I Am Uchiha Kagami
The next day, the strange rainstorm became the hottest topic in Konoha.
Many villagers had never seen a mirage before, and the sight of a burning city reflected in the sky was enough to stir rumors throughout the village. The older elders, however, simply scolded the younger generation for overreacting, claiming it was nothing more than an ordinary summer squall.
Yet when asked what exactly that dark and gloomy rain had been, their answers turned vague. Still, the elders' words carried weight. Soon, the incident was brushed aside as a mere illusion—an exaggerated phenomenon born from the imagination of the masses. Some even insisted it was a divine omen, the gods threatening to destroy Konoha. Those people were, of course, ridiculed.
"If the gods truly wished to destroy Konoha," others said, "why did they vanish after that single flash of lightning? Doesn't that mean the gods favor our village?"
Among the clans, silence ruled. Those with keen eyes—whether the Byakugan or Sharingan—spoke nothing of what they had seen. The Uchiha in particular became uncharacteristically quiet, avoiding unnecessary conflict as if sensing an unspoken warning.
In this strange calm, the Third Hokage reviewed a thick stack of documents. After reading for a while, he nodded and turned toward the man standing before his desk, whose gentle smile exuded quiet confidence.
"Sosuke," said Sarutobi, "your plan is impressive. But tell me, is your invention stable enough to implement?"
"The current progress of the fusion experiment isn't ideal," Aizen replied softly. "The number of compatible subjects is limited. I don't recommend mass production, Hokage-sama. For now, small-scale testing is the only viable approach."
His tone was calm, his voice rich and steady, the kind that drew trust without effort.
"The main issue," he continued, "is internal interference. Human error and emotional instability hinder the process. If I were to explain the reasons outright, it would influence the subjects and ruin the results. That's the dilemma I face."
"I see," the Third Hokage said after a moment of thought. "You've done well, Sosuke. Thank you for your dedication."
Aizen bowed slightly.
"Everything I do is for Konoha, Hokage-sama. I have always believed in your guidance."
The acting advisor of Konoha, Aizen Sosuke, adjusted his glasses, his expression calm and composed.
"If not for your teachings and wisdom," he said, "I might still be lost in doubt. It's thanks to you that Konoha is now ready to take its next great step."
Sarutobi sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Perhaps. But Konoha has been preparing for war for too long, and this… accident has delayed our plans. I may have to rely on you again, Sosuke."
"It's my honor to serve the village," Aizen replied. "Even if I'm misunderstood, my resolve will not waver. After all, isn't that the burden every Hokage carries?"
The Third Hokage nodded. "That's enough for now. Be careful not to draw too much attention next time."
Outside, the rain continued to fall softly, veiling the village in silver mist. Sarutobi watched as Aizen bowed, turned, and quietly closed the office door behind him.
The room felt emptier once he was gone.
Through the window, the Hokage's weary eyes followed a faint silhouette—a man in a white haori helping shopkeepers close their stalls under the drizzle.
The village that had once been torn apart by chaos now seemed at peace. The conflict zones had stabilized, the disputes between factions quieted.
"That's enough… isn't it?" Sarutobi murmured, taking a slow drag from his pipe. He exhaled a thin stream of smoke that blurred the image outside the glass.
He never noticed the second figure—one that looked eerily similar to Aizen—slipping silently into an alley, swallowed by the shadows.
Meanwhile, in a dark corner unseen by any Konoha shinobi, something stirred.
A faint consciousness began to awaken.
(I am… Captain of the Sixth Division, Uchiha Kagami.)
The fragmented will gathered its scattered memories, piecing together fragments of light and shadow. Chakra, jutsu, faces—it all came flooding back.
As his name echoed within his own mind, the being realized what it truly was.
(I'm Uchiha Kagami. A ninja of Konoha.)
The thought crystallized, anchoring his fading spirit.
(Aizen Sosuke… is my enemy. He's been controlling Konoha from the shadows. Even after I became a Shinigami and awakened Bankai… I still wasn't strong enough.)
(My current state… it's because I failed to merge my Bankai and Sharingan. The fusion split apart midway, leaving me incomplete… broken…)
(I must find a way to unify them. Without it… I can't defeat him. I can't defeat Aizen…)
The sensation was like rising from the depths of deep water—his awareness bursting back to the surface.
Uchiha Kagami's eyes snapped open.
He found himself sitting upright in a chair, the faint scent of ink and paper filling the air.
Before him, seated at a desk and writing with effortless grace, was a man in a pure white haori.
Startled by Kagami's sudden movement, the man turned his head, his expression calm and smiling.
Aizen Sosuke looked up from his notes, his voice gentle.
"Oh, you're finally awake, Kagami-kun."
The man pushed up his glasses, his voice calm and almost gentle as he looked at Uchiha Kagami.
"When you were testing your Bankai alongside the enhanced Sharingan, your energy became unstable. I had to seal you into unconsciousness temporarily. I've made a few adjustments to your condition, so you should be fine now. How do you feel?"
"…Fine."
"That's good to hear," Aizen said with his usual composed smile. "There's a great deal waiting for you to do next."
He handed Kagami a few thick handwritten documents. The faint scent of ink still lingered on them.
"First, I'd like you to read these papers carefully and reference them in your work. I'm expecting excellent results from you. Also," he added casually, "a number of unusual wooden puppets were discovered underground, monitoring Konoha's perimeter. If that interests you, you can investigate them whenever you wish."
"…Who are you?"
Aizen chuckled lightly, feigning mild surprise.
"You've been asleep so long your memory's scattered? That's unlike you, Kagami-kun."
Pushing his glasses again, he looked at Kagami with a tone that mixed sympathy and mockery.
"I'm Aizen Sosuke—your commanding officer. Please take care of me from now on, Kagami-kun. I look forward to your performance. Your colleagues are waiting outside. You should reacquaint yourself with them."
"That won't be necessary."
Perhaps he still hadn't fully recovered, but the moment he heard the name Aizen Sosuke, Kagami's expression froze. He rose abruptly, cold eyes narrowing.
"Kato Dan, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Hatake Sakumo, and the others… they're outside, right? Not to mention the other captains. You've gathered quite the number of people willing to turn a blind eye to your existence."
"What a misunderstanding," Aizen replied, smiling faintly. "I've never hidden myself from anyone. I've said that from the beginning."
"Oh?" Kagami's tone was laced with derision.
Scoffing, he picked up his white haori from the back of the chair, slipped it on, and strode toward the door.
But as soon as he opened it, he froze.
Standing in the hallway were the very shinobi he had named—Tsunade, Kato Dan, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo. They all turned to him in stunned silence.
The looks on their faces weren't those of comrades greeting a returning friend. It was more like they were staring at something uncanny… something that shouldn't exist.
Tsunade's face went pale. Orochimaru's expression hardened, unreadable. Kato Dan's usual calm turned grim. It looked less like a reunion and more like they were attending Kagami's funeral.
The oppressive air made Kagami frown slightly. He glanced around, finding nothing unusual, then spoke in confusion.
"What's wrong? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
"…Why."
No one answered.
Only Hatake Sakumo sighed—a quiet, weary sound—and vanished in an instant flicker of the Body Flicker Technique.
His disappearance was like a signal.
The others exchanged silent glances, then departed one by one, fading down the corridor without a word.
Kagami stood alone, confusion clouding his mind.
(What's going on?) he thought. (I only failed in merging my Bankai and Sharingan. It was a setback, sure, but not something this shocking…)
He clenched his fists.
"Why are they looking at me like that?" he muttered. "Is it because I'm Uchiha? Or because I'm the only one still openly opposing Aizen?"
He shook his head. "No… that can't be it. Maybe they overheard what I said after my Bankai failed. Maybe they think I've lost it…"
His gaze darkened with thought.
(But I'm still a ninja of Konoha. I can't be swayed by the narrow pride of the Uchiha clan. I must find a path where both Konoha and the Uchiha can coexist. I'll make Konoha stand at the top of the world again…)
He took a slow breath, steadying his thoughts.
(But first… I need to perfect the fusion between the Sharingan and my Bankai. That comes before anything else.)
(As for those strange wooden puppets, I can investigate them later. Aizen is deeply rooted within Konoha—too deep to remove quickly. If I act recklessly, I'll only expose myself. For now, I'll play along… gain his trust… and strike when the time is right.)
Walking down the empty corridor, Kagami's mind turned cold and calculating. The rain outside had stopped, leaving only silence in the air.
(An enemy who grows arrogant while letting me grow stronger… will eventually fall to the power of the Uchiha.)
He stopped in front of a large steel door, his expression hardening.
"I hate to admit it," he said softly to himself, "but I am still Captain of the Sixth Division—Uchiha Kagami. And I still hold power."
With that, he pushed open the laboratory door, his eyes gleaming with new determination.
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