Kai ignored them and left the village swiftly without even saying a word.
It wasn't that Uchiha Kai bore any resentment toward Minato Namikaze, Kakashi Hatake, or the others. On the contrary, he respected them. However, this mission weighed heavily on him, making it impossible to feel at ease.
Imai Kenta and Hyūga Aya felt the same. After exchanging brief glances with the four they were leaving behind, they quickly followed Kai Uchiha and disappeared into the forest.
To divert Iwagakure's attention, separating from Minato's team was the only viable strategy. Otherwise, Kai's squad would only hinder the mission's success.
They sprinted out of Konohagakure, their movements swift and precise, disappearing into the vast forest. The sun filtered through the dense canopy, casting scattered shadows on the ground.
Through the interplay of light and shadow, three small figures flickered across the treetops, moving so fast they left behind faint afterimages. Even the keenest birds in the forest failed to detect their presence.
Before setting out, Uchiha Kai had devised a strategy: reach the mission site as quickly as possible and conceal themselves.
Having a Hyūga in the squad gave them a significant advantage. With the Byakugan's unparalleled perception, they could detect enemy movements in advance and make informed decisions.
However, Kai knew all too well how dangerous this mission was. He had no choice but to accept it, yet he wasn't willing to die. He needed an alternative plan.
After three grueling days, the team finally crossed the border into Kusagakure. Yet, under Kai's leadership, they did not immediately regroup with the main force.
This decision puzzled Imai Kenta and Hyūga Aya, but as wartime shinobi, they followed orders without question.
"Let's rest for a while," Kai announced after leading them into a secluded forest within Kusagakure. He sat down, focusing on recovery.
They needed to be at their peak, ready to respond to any potential threats.
"Byakugan, activate!"
Hyūga Aya didn't need any prompting. She immediately activated her dōjutsu, scanning the surroundings with meticulous care. Given their current situation, she couldn't afford to be careless.
"No threats nearby," she reported softly, deactivating her Byakugan.
Kai nodded. "Now that we've entered the Land of Grass, we're approaching the mission's target area. It's time to decide—do you want to survive or not?"
Both Imai Kenta and Hyūga Aya froze at his blunt question. They hadn't expected him to be so direct.
After exchanging wary glances, they wisely chose silence.
Any ninja who had graduated from the academy and survived the battlefield wasn't a fool.
Both understood the true nature of their assignment: they were mere pawns, sent to stall and disrupt Iwagakure's forces.
In reality, there were ways to stay alive. The safest method was to linger along the Fire Country–Grass Country border, engaging in minor skirmishes while avoiding the front lines until the war ended. Both of them knew this.
However, voicing such a strategy was unthinkable.
This was the reality of politics.
Kai's bluntness left them no room for ambiguity. If they admitted their reluctance to engage in a direct confrontation, they would be sealing their own fate.
Uchiha Kai smirked knowingly as he observed their hesitation. How could he not see through their thoughts?
Throughout the journey, countless ideas had crossed his mind—none viable.
Kenta and Aya might be able to stay in the borderlands until the war's end, but as their captain, Kai couldn't afford to take that route.
If he did, his return to Konoha would spell disaster. He'd be branded a coward, accused of insubordination, or worse—charged with "neglecting battlefield duties."
Even though he knew that Iwagakure's forces wouldn't hold out much longer regardless of his actions, the Konoha leadership needed a narrative of heroism.
And to craft that narrative, they needed scapegoats—expendable ninjas who could be labeled as traitors or failures.
Konoha's higher-ups were adept at shifting blame, ensuring that someone took the fall for their strategic losses. Whether it was framing an individual as a coward or glorifying a fallen comrade's sacrifice, they always manipulated the story.
The Uchiha Clan, already at odds with the village's leadership, made for an easy target.
Kai had no intention of playing into their hands. Nor would he allow his teammates to unwittingly do so.
Regardless of what they personally believed, he needed to eliminate any illusions they might have about their situation.
"You two sure are taking your time answering a simple question," Kai said, leaning against a tree. His fingers subtly reached for his kunai pouch, ready for the worst.
Deep down, he hoped they would reveal their true thoughts. Given his current strength, he was confident he could take one of them down if necessary and escape.
He doubted they would dare act against him, but caution was paramount.
After a tense silence, Imai Kenta and Hyūga Aya exchanged a meaningful look. Finally, Aya gritted her teeth and spoke.
"Captain, you already know what this mission entails, don't you?"
"Of course I do," Kai replied, his smirk unwavering. "That's why I'm asking for your opinion."
"We'll complete our mission," Imai Kenta said with a deceptively innocent smile. "But I believe we should be careful and use our Byakugan to its fullest advantage."
"Oh? Now that's a smart approach," Kai replied, relaxing his grip on his kunai.
As expected, they wouldn't openly betray Konoha. That was far riskier than merely manipulating their orders to survive.
Besides, they knew Kai was no ordinary shinobi.
The three of them had survived countless missions while other teammates had perished. That alone spoke volumes about their individual capabilities.
Now, however, they faced a different problem: they had encountered someone just as ruthless and survival-driven as themselves.
It was a game of wits, where each of them silently measured the others' resolve.
"Very well," Kai said. "We'll find the optimal position and proceed accordingly."
He smirked, eyes gleaming with calculation. "Kenta-kun, since we have the Byakugan, let's make good use of it. We'll scout ahead and let Aya take the lead in reconnaissance."
"No problem," Aya replied. "But what then?"
"We'll find an isolated target and strike. There are other squads in the field anyway," Kai said nonchalantly.
The unspoken truth was clear: they would do just enough to appear effective without endangering themselves needlessly.
Their survival would depend on how well they played their cards in the brutal game of war.