Chapter 409 – A Strange Meeting
Kei walked toward the Hokage Tower, feeling somewhat irritated.
He genuinely didn't understand how he had once again offended the woman walking behind him.
All he had done was ask Ayaka to enter Sage Mode so he could take a look.
On one hand, he wanted to compare it with the Sage Modes he remembered.
On the other, he wanted to assess how far she had progressed at her current stage.
After all—
He himself had reached ninety percent fusion.
According to his plan, once he reached ninety-nine percent—
He would draw upon Ayaka's senjutsu chakra to push through the final barrier.
What would happen after that?
He didn't know.
Because that step would already diverge completely from Uchiha Madara's path.
Madara awakened the Rinnegan first—
Then later absorbed Senju Hashirama's senjutsu chakra.
Kei intended to reverse the order.
He would use senjutsu chakra to complete the final fusion of the Eternal Mangekyō.
On paper, the difference seemed minor.
In practice—
The sequence was completely altered.
Still, Kei believed that once complete, he would not be inferior to Madara at the Eternal Mangekyō stage when he battled Hashirama.
Stronger?
He wouldn't dare claim that.
When combatants stand on equal footing, what determines victory are fundamentals—
Intelligence gathering.
Battle experience.
Mastery of one's abilities.
Just like adults fighting other adults—
At that level, details decide everything.
Adults versus children, however—
That's another story entirely.
---
"If I integrate senjutsu during the Eternal Mangekyō fusion phase…"
Kei pondered as he walked.
"That essentially means I've preemptively completed the two stages Madara walked through after achieving the Eternal Mangekyō."
The exact outcome remained uncertain.
But in terms of displayed combat power—
It should not be weak.
Still, he could no longer avoid thinking about the future.
The final ten percent would not stall forever.
Once reached—
The power difference would be marginal.
It was time to consider what lay beyond.
---
The Rinnegan.
To Kei, it had always felt… underwhelming.
In pure combat expression, it didn't seem as explosively powerful as the Tenseigan.
At times, it even gave him the impression of being a support-type eye.
But regardless of its specialization—
Its existence stood on equal footing with the Tenseigan.
And Kei firmly believed something else:
No matter the eye—
Each possessed its own brilliance.
Only through complete mastery—
And full understanding of one's own abilities—
Could their true potential be unleashed.
Otherwise—
Even a hand of unbeatable cards could be squandered.
Just like Ōtsutsuki Toneri.
Just like Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
Overwhelming advantages—
Played disastrously.
Defeated before fully displaying their strength.
Kei would never allow that to happen to himself.
From the very beginning, he had devoted himself to mastering his abilities.
Even without abundant real combat, he constantly tested, refined, and experimented.
So far—
His control remained excellent.
As for the Rinnegan's development—
That was another matter entirely.
Because awakening it required more than just the fusion of Yin and Yang.
It required—
Indra's chakra.
And Asura's chakra.
Kei even suspected that Madara's awakening had required something more—
Something unattainable for most.
Death.
Madara had been struck down by Hashirama.
And only on the brink of death did his eyes awaken.
Was that coincidence?
Or necessity?
Madara had faced death countless times in his life.
But at the Valley of the End—
He had truly died.
Even if it was part of his scheme—
He had experienced death.
That fact could not be disputed.
Which left Kei with an unsettling thought:
Did the Rinnegan demand a trial of life and death?
If so—
What then?
Indra and Asura's chakra were not a concern.
The current reincarnations were practically within arm's reach.
With his relationship to Namikaze Minato, young Uzumaki Naruto was growing right under his watch.
Obtaining Asura's chakra would pose little risk.
As for Uchiha Sasuke—
Kei had practically named the boy himself.
Though his relationship with Fugaku had its tensions—
Those had long since faded beneath clan development, rising power, and Kei's own overwhelming strength.
If Kei wanted Sasuke's chakra—
A simple request would suffice.
The necessary components were already in place.
At the appropriate time, he would extract the chakra—
Merge the wills—
And complete the final ignition.
Yet—
"When will those two actually awaken Indra and Asura's chakra?"
Kei sighed quietly.
"And what exactly constitutes this 'life-and-death' experience? That's the real headache."
Kei valued his life deeply.
His Mangekyō had awakened only at death's door.
If someone asked him to deliberately walk into death again—
He would refuse without hesitation.
He had no desire to die.
Never had.
He shook his head slightly.
Then glanced back at Ayaka, who was still walking behind him with a cold expression.
He wisely chose not to say anything further.
Kei lifted his head and looked at the Hokage Tower, now just ahead.
Whatever doubts lingered in his mind, he knew—
There were more important matters waiting.
---
Today wasn't meant to be special.
And yet—
Because of a single summons, every clan head in Konoha, every department head, and every jōnin currently stationed in the village for rotation or reinforcement felt something was… off.
All of them had been called to the Hokage Tower.
Over a hundred people.
That number alone was enough to signal gravity.
But no one knew what was about to happen.
---
When Kei arrived downstairs, more than a dozen Uchiha clan members were waiting for him.
All were jōnin.
Fully qualified—whether by strength or mission record.
Under normal circumstances, they would have followed Uchiha Fugaku to the battlefield.
After all, thanks to Fugaku's and Kei's early preparations, the Uchiha now possessed one of the largest numbers of jōnin among Konoha's clans.
Naturally, Fugaku had prioritized deploying their own people.
And yet—
These particular jōnin had been left behind.
It frustrated them.
But none dared object.
After all—
Kei himself, who stood nearly equal to Fugaku within the clan hierarchy, remained in Konoha as well.
Out of roughly thirty Uchiha jōnin, most had already been dispatched.
Those left behind assumed they had other responsibilities—
Such as assisting the Police Force head.
"Kei-sama."
They immediately gathered around him upon his arrival.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Kei nodded lightly.
Then he turned toward Ayaka.
"So? Still angry? Are you coming with me—or going to find Hyūga Hiashi?"
"I belong to the Police Force," Ayaka replied coldly. "I'll follow you."
Whether she was still annoyed—or simply reserved in public—was unclear.
Kei nodded.
Though a Hyūga by blood, Ayaka's official post lay within the Police Force.
She was a jōnin under his protection.
Her operational freedom was substantial.
Hiashi would not interfere.
Whether that would remain true after today—
That was another matter.
"Understood."
Kei looked back at the Uchiha jōnin standing respectfully before him and smiled faintly.
"Let's go. I'd rather not be the last to arrive."
"Yes, Kei-sama."
They followed him into the Hokage Tower.
Admittedly, the sight was peculiar—
A Hyūga walking within an Uchiha formation.
It looked out of place.
But when they considered Kei and Ayaka's relationship—
They wisely kept silent.
Privately, some had grumbled.
Why was one of the clan's most powerful and influential figures involved with a Hyūga?
And not just any Hyūga—
A branch family member.
But those complaints never surfaced publicly.
They were jōnin, after all.
Not fools.
They knew the internal shifts within the Uchiha.
And more importantly—
Even Clan Head Fugaku had made no serious objection.
Aside from muttering once,
"Are Uchiha girls really worse than Hyūga ones?"
He had said nothing further.
That silence spoke volumes.
---
Upon entering the conference chamber, Kei found it already filled.
Clan heads and department heads occupied the seats, arranged by rank and authority from front to back.
The remaining jōnin stood behind them, unsure whether they were even permitted to sit.
None understood why they had been summoned.
So they waited.
Then—
"Kei, over here."
Kei turned and saw Kakashi and Imai Kenta seated near the front.
Their positions were appropriate—
Acting ANBU Commander.
Acting Mission Department Head.
Both departments were critical to Konoha.
Especially the ANBU.
Technically speaking, Kei's Police Force might not outrank theirs—
But after years of development, its influence was no less.
Perhaps greater.
"Find your seats," Kei told the Uchiha jōnin quietly.
"Ayaka, with me. And listen carefully."
"Yes, Kei-sama."
He lowered his voice.
"The outcome of today's meeting… Fugaku and I already know."
His tone dropped further.
"And this was jointly directed by me, the clan head, and the Fourth Hokage."
The Uchiha jōnin exchanged brief glances—
Then nodded.
"We understand."
They didn't know what required coordination between Kei, Fugaku, and Minato.
But they were disciplined.
They would learn soon enough.
What puzzled them more was—
Why tell them in advance?
Wasn't Kei's stance alone enough to represent the clan?
What role could they possibly play?
Kei simply waved dismissively and moved toward Kakashi and Kenta with Ayaka.
Around the room, clan heads whispered among themselves.
heads exchanged uneasy looks.
On the central platform, Nara Shikaku prepared for proceedings—
Even he appeared uncertain.
Kei allowed himself a faint smile.
Today's meeting—
Would exceed their expectations.
And perhaps—
The entire shinobi world's as well.
---