Thinking that, he didn't waste any more words.
He dug out an Uchiha family signal flare and handed it straight into Hyuga Aya's hand.
A lot went unsaid, but the meaning was crystal clear.
Hyuga Aya — he had his eye on her.
If the Hyuga clan didn't stir up trouble, fine. But if they tried anything, he would make the Hyuga clan feel, with absolute clarity, what Uchiha Kai's methods were.
They would be ten thousand times more ruthless than Hiruzen Sarutobi's petty tricks!
Nara Kazama of course relaxed.
Seeing the Uchiha flare Kai handed to Hyuga Aya, he immediately understood Kai's intent.
Yes.
For most people, a family signal flare isn't something you casually hand over to an outsider.
They were comrades, and their relations were decent enough, but Uchiha Kai was an old hand who thought in pragmatic terms.
So the very fact he—the "eight-one-seven" type—was willing to take out and give a clan flare already spoke volumes about his intentions.
But that was a good thing.
For any power bloc, heirs and successors were important. Uchiha Kai was already so powerful, yet he didn't even have a single woman by his side. That was a genuine headache for him; if they could properly match him with Aya, that would be beneficial.
As for the Hyuga clan?
Heh.
It wasn't that Nara Kazama looked down on them—rather, the clan was just cowardly to the extreme, the polar opposite of the Uchiha.
For all Uchiha arrogance, the Hyuga were that meek.
Even if Uchiha Kai had no way to immediately deal with a Caged Bird Curse Seal like them, in the end it didn't matter. Once he removed Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Hokage faction and truly took control of the village, the Hyuga would be cowed like dogs.
"Aya, take this," Nara Kazama said.
"This is Kai-kun's sentiment — consider it a talisman of his protection."
"You know how the Hyuga behave. Kai-kun now holds full control of the Uchiha. He's already gained the Aburame and Inuzuka clans, and I'll pull some of the Ino-Shika-Cho in as well."
"Little Hyuga clan? They won't dare offend Kai-kun!"
Kazama said it bluntly with a smile, which made Hyuga Aya flush instantly.
Still, she didn't refuse. She took the signal flare directly.
"Don't worry, I understand," she said softly. "If things really can't be salvaged, I will use the flare."
"Kai-kun, thank you."
She knew exactly what that flare represented — and yet she accepted it without hesitation. That alone made her stance perfectly clear.
Some things didn't need to be voiced.
Her action drew a faint smile from Kazama and Kai.
After settling the matter with Hyuga Aya, Uchiha Kai and Nara Kazama moved on to business.
Yes—he was a very practical man.
Until he'd completely eliminated his enemies and made his environment secure, he didn't have the headspace for romance. No women in his heart, sword draws true.
On the contrary, having attachments early would only weigh on his mind and cloud his judgment.
Think about it—who with grand ambitions would waste their thoughts on lovesickness? He was only twelve; there would be time in the future. Right now the top priority was to utterly sweep away the enemies blocking his path.
"Kai-kun, rest assured," Nara Kazama declared. "I've basically got a handle on what's been happening inside the Uchiha lately. Once I return home I'll start secretly contacting the blades of the clan — I'll get them to join your side!"
He had schemed for so long for exactly this day. He'd been itching to see Nara Shikaku's panicked face.
At the thought, the corner of Kazama's mouth twisted into a grim smile.
Uchiha Kai's mouth twitched.
He couldn't quite understand it. What great humiliation had the Nara clan's leader suffered to have accumulated such raw hatred? It was almost incomprehensible!
Still—that was a good thing.
The Uchiha cause was growing. Besides the old allies like the Aburame and Inuzuka, lately a steady stream of smaller shinobi families and civilian ninja had joined. If they could also pull in some Ino-Shika-Cho, then at minimum they could stand toe-to-toe with Hiruzen Sarutobi's faction.
Especially considering the recent Jounin meeting, where Hiruzen seemed a bit at odds with Danzo and the three elders — and given Sarutobi Shinnosuke's death…
Damn it!
Could Shinnosuke have been killed by Danzo?
In previous lives people had debated Shinnosuke's death endlessly with no conclusion. But now, considering what happened that day, he felt he was grasping the truth…
But again, that was a good thing!
From this perspective, the Uchiha alliance looked stable.
After chatting a while longer, Uchiha Kai spoke up again.
"All right, everyone. It's getting late — let's stop for tonight."
"Report back when you go. I don't think it'll be long before we meet again."
"Especially you, Aya!"
"Be careful, don't cause trouble for me. If anything feels off, trigger the flare immediately. With the power I hold now, the Hyuga won't be able to make waves."
Uchiha Kai exuded domineering confidence.
With the power he now commanded it might still be a bit hard to kill the entire Hokage faction outright, but the pitiful Hyuga clan? He already didn't bother watching them. Even if he moved, Hiruzen wouldn't dare strike back.
That was the fact.
Before Kai rose, Root and Anbu had treated the Uchiha territory like their own backyard—dark sentries everywhere, no respect. But now?
Within ten kilometers of the Uchiha lands, not a single Root or Anbu operative dared to come close. Because under Uchiha Kai's leadership, the Uchiha really would kill anyone who dared.
You couldn't deny it — dominant young men had a different aura about them.
At least, Hyuga Aya felt a warmth in her chest when she heard Kai's words. Her cheeks blushed, but she still nodded earnestly. "Okay, I understand."
"Good," Uchiha Kai nodded.
He then turned to Nara Kazama, his tone suddenly serious.
"Kazama, take care of yourself."
"Shikaku Nara is not easy to deal with. Do not let him notice anything wrong."
"Move fast. If you sense anything off, abandon everything and come to the Uchiha immediately."
"If you make it to us, I guarantee no one will dare touch you."
Nara Kazama inclined his head solemnly.
He knew well that what he was doing was akin to digging up Ino-Shika-Cho's ancestral grave. If he was discovered, he was finished.
He drew a deep breath and smiled as he bowed out.
"Kai-kun, don't worry. I'm not someone easy to be messed with. Farewell."
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