"I can grant you this request—after all, you've paid quite the price," said Uchiha Fugaku, his gaze sharp as he studied Uchiha Kai across the dimly lit room.
Kai didn't respond immediately. His expression was unreadable, the three tomoe of his Sharingan slowly spinning. Fugaku remained firm, his voice calm but probing.
"So? What do you want?"
There was a brief silence. Fugaku could already sense the calculation in the younger man's eyes. Uchiha Kai had proven himself—on the battlefield, in intelligence operations, and more recently, in political maneuvering. His influence was rising not only among their clan but within Konoha itself.
Kai had every reason to demand something substantial. And if granting it meant stabilizing his ambitions, especially concerning the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, it was a cost Fugaku was willing to consider.
They both knew the price of overusing their Mangekyōs. Fugaku had only begun to grasp its power, and Kai... his abilities already bordered on dangerous. Both understood the inevitable blindness that came with prolonged use, and both knew that solutions came at heavy cost.
"The Konoha Military Police Force," Kai finally said.
Fugaku narrowed his eyes. "You want the Security Department?"
Kai nodded. "You want internal threats neutralized. I need legitimate authority. My current unit is already outperforming expectations. You've seen the reform work—I've earned the right."
It was a bold move, but not unexpected. The Police Force was the public face of the Uchiha's power within Konoha. But over the years, it had also become a source of resentment, both inside and outside the clan. Fugaku had considered dismantling or rebranding it altogether.
But under Kai's leadership, one squad had begun turning things around—efficiency, discipline, even a touch of public goodwill. Kai's influence was dangerous, but undeniably effective.
"You've got big ambitions," Fugaku muttered, almost to himself. He had once thought of Kai as merely another brilliant but reckless youth. But now, he saw something more—someone who might rival his own influence within the clan.
Still, there was no logical reason to refuse. Letting the Police Force rot in his own hands would be a political disaster. But if Kai could turn it around...
"Very well," Fugaku said at last. "When the Fourth Hokage formally assumes power, the position is yours. Head of the Konoha Military Police Force—congratulations, Kai-kun."
Kai gave a curt nod. "You won't regret it. After all, I'm doing this for the clan too."
Fugaku snorted. "Don't pretend to care that much. You care about yourself first and foremost."
"True," Kai replied without hesitation. "But my name is still Uchiha. Outsiders won't see the difference. And right now, we're tied together. Sink or swim."
Fugaku said nothing. If Kai truly wanted to walk away, few could stop him. But with everything he had invested—and the power he sought—it seemed unlikely.
Fugaku recalled what Uchiha Jun had once told him: "If you want to keep him, tie him down with purpose, not chains."
Kai wasn't done. His expression turned more serious, more calculating.
"That covers politics. Now let's talk about the real problem: the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
Fugaku's fingers twitched. "I've been considering that," he said slowly. "Perhaps… we can prevent its emergence altogether."
Kai raised an eyebrow.
"If both of us possess Mangekyōs, but never exchange bloodline pairs, the evolution becomes impossible." Fugaku's voice was even. "No fusion, no eternal eye. That solves our... rivalry."
Kai frowned. That was a terrible solution from a power-seeking perspective. It was, however, very effective in maintaining peace.
He had no doubt Fugaku wasn't seeking a lucky escape—he was trying to contain a volatile situation with cold logic. But Kai had already gone too far. He had clashed with Obito. He had drawn the attention of forces beyond Konoha.
"That works for you," Kai said sharply. "But I need those eyes. I need to understand them. Even if I don't use them, I need to break their secret. I need to see what Madara saw."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed. "You're not just chasing power. You're chasing knowledge."
"Exactly." Kai's voice dropped lower. "And if necessary, I'll destroy the Eternal Eye—after I learn what it is."
Fugaku didn't know whether to feel alarmed or impressed. He had long suspected Kai was hiding deeper motivations. Now he was sure.
He didn't know what secrets Kai had uncovered—or how. But he sensed that this wasn't just about eyes. It was about legacy. About rewriting fate itself.
"Alright." Fugaku's voice was grave. "You can attempt the fusion. But I have a condition."
Kai inclined his head.
"You have one year. I won't interfere in your experiments. You don't need to share the data. But when one year passes, the eyes are mine."
A smirk spread across Kai's face. "That's very generous of you, Fugaku-san. But are you sure? What if I destroy them—or worse, decide I want to keep them permanently?"
Fugaku said nothing. He understood the risk. But he also knew this was the only way forward.
Kai, for all his ambitions, was a realist too. A year was more than enough time—enough for Aya Hyūga to refine her medical ninjutsu, enough for Kai to find or coerce additional talent, enough even to intercept Orochimaru if needed.
Besides, borrowed eyes would never offer true peace of mind. He needed to understand the technique. To make it his own. To prepare—for Obito, for the world, for himself.
And deep down, both men knew: the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan might be the key to everything... or the door to ruin.