Early the next morning, Uchiha Kai completed a brief training session before making his way toward the designated gathering point.
In times of war, every shinobi is considered a vital resource. Even powerful clans like the Uchiha and Hyūga are required to contribute to the village's defense. However, the responsibilities are not equally distributed. For instance, the Hyūga Clan primarily sends branch members to the battlefield.
With the Caged Bird Seal protecting their Byakugan, the clan ensures that their dōjutsu does not fall into enemy hands. This strategy proved its worth when a Hyūga clan member was slain by Kirigakure shinobi, and his Byakugan was extracted.
The Uchiha Clan, being equally pragmatic, takes precautions as well. While they do send Sharingan-wielding members to fight, these shinobi are often deployed in "relatively safe" zones. Meanwhile, those who have not yet awakened the Sharingan are subject to direct orders from the village and are assigned wherever they are needed.
Uchiha Kai falls into the latter category. He has never revealed his Sharingan to anyone, a deliberate decision on his part. He prefers to remain unnoticed rather than risk being added to Konoha's "watchlist."
This strategy comes with both risks and rewards. The downside is that Uchiha Kai is placed in dangerous situations. However, the advantage is that his assigned Jōnin commander is a trusted Konoha loyalist rather than someone aligned with the Uchiha.
Take, for example, Uchiha Obito, widely regarded as a failure within the clan. Yet, he was fortunate enough to be placed under the tutelage of a rising star—Minato Namikaze.
Uchiha Kai and Obito belong to the same academy cohort, but Kai was not as lucky. His assigned Jōnin instructor, Fujii Kōhei, is neither famous nor affiliated with the renowned Ino-Shika-Chō trio. He is simply a dedicated shinobi loyal to the Hokage.
Interestingly, Fujii Kōhei was not Kai's original instructor. His first Jōnin sensei perished heroically on a mission while covering the team's retreat.
As for his teammates, they are an unconventional mix. There is no Might Guy, Kurenai Yūhi, Asuma Sarutobi, or Genma Shiranui among them. Instead, his team consists of two individuals:
First, Imai Kenta, a civilian-born shinobi with exceptional taijutsu prowess. He is both physically capable and highly intelligent—one of the few who have survived the war since its outbreak.
The second is Hyūga Aya, a member of the Hyūga branch family. True to her name, she is clever and strategic, a woman with a sharp mind and a knack for manipulation.
Uchiha Kai maintains a neutral relationship with his teammates. They are neither close nor openly hostile. Their grouping is the result of constant team reorganizations due to battlefield losses. Over time, they have completed numerous missions together, during which Kai became increasingly aware of their cunning and hidden agendas.
War brings immense casualties, and even among the Uchiha, many have perished. The same applies to his teammates. It is only through a combination of skill and sheer survival instincts that the three of them have endured.
"Why are you so slow? Is this typical of the Uchiha?" Hyūga Aya's sharp voice cut through the morning air as Kai arrived at the rendezvous point. She was already waiting, arms crossed and brows furrowed. "We have a mission."
"A mission?" Uchiha Kai replied nonchalantly. His gaze swept the area, and a small frown formed. "Where is Fujii Kōhei? Why are there only three of us?"
Imai Kenta, who had been polishing his kunai, glanced up. "The captain left for the front lines half an hour ago with the other Jōnin. Iwagakure's offensive is intense. We have a separate assignment."
The Battle of Kikyo Pass had been devastating. Konoha had barely finished repelling Suna's forces before Iwa launched a fresh assault, giving the village no time to recover.
The cost of war was steep—while Konoha had inflicted heavy casualties on its enemies, it had suffered significant losses in return. Now, Iwagakure was attempting to capitalize on Konoha's weakened state.
At the same time, the Land of Lightning was making its own moves against Iwa, creating a complex, multi-front conflict. Officially, Minato Namikaze's squad had destroyed the Kannabi Bridge, severing Iwa's supply lines. However, Uchiha Kai suspected that Iwagakure's struggle was due not only to logistical issues but also to the fact that they were being pressed from multiple directions.
"What's our mission?" Kai asked. "And who's leading the team?"
"It's you," Hyūga Aya stated flatly, though dissatisfaction flickered in her tone. "Our task is to support Minato Namikaze's team and ensure they complete their objective."
During wartime, shinobi operated under a strict, militarized structure, often far more disciplined than in peacetime.
Hyūga Aya's words made Kai's stomach tighten. This was a diversion mission.
They had been given no details about Minato's objective—only that they were to "cover" his team. That meant Kenta and Aya were walking into this blind. But Kai wasn't.
He knew exactly what Minato's team was assigned to do.
They were going to destroy the Kannabi Bridge.
Which meant that he, Kenta, and Aya were nothing more than bait.
In the original timeline, Kakashi and his squad had faced minimal resistance during their infiltration. But why? Wouldn't such a critical strategic point be heavily guarded?
It was obvious: someone had drawn enemy forces away, making Kakashi's mission feasible.
And that someone was likely a squad like theirs.
Kai felt an ominous chill settle over him. He recalled that Obito had been taken by Madara Uchiha as a direct result of this mission. That meant Madara had a hidden stronghold somewhere near the Kannabi Bridge.
Refusing this assignment was not an option. In times of war, desertion was punishable by death—often a fate worse than dying in battle.
"How many other teams are involved?" Kai asked after a moment of thought. "How far do we need to go?"
"There are six other squads supporting this mission," Aya answered promptly. "As for our depth of engagement, we haven't been given specifics. Our role is to lure out enemy forces and keep them occupied."
What a thankless job.
Kai gritted his teeth but quickly regained his composure. The presence of six other squads meant they weren't the only ones being thrown into the fire. While survival depended largely on luck, Kai, who had always concealed his true capabilities, believed he had a chance.
He just had to be careful.
"Let's move out," he commanded, his tone firm.
With that, he led the way, dashing toward their objective. Imai Kenta and Hyūga Aya followed closely behind.
As they neared the village gates, they spotted another squad preparing to depart.
Minato Namikaze's team.
Kai's gaze lingered on the group, his mind racing. This was the moment history was set in motion.
Would he survive it?