Cautious Eyes: An Uchiha's Path

"Is everyone here?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed over the gathering shinobi with a cold expression.

One name remained absent from the crowd — Minato Namikaze.

That alone spoke volumes. If the Fourth Hokage wasn't present, then he must be dealing with something critical.

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly.

He turned his head just enough to glance at the man standing beside him — Danzō Shimura.

Danzō, sensing Sarutobi's gaze, gave a slight nod and closed his eyes, arms folded behind his back.

That subtle gesture was enough for Hiruzen. He felt reassured. For now.

Despite the tension twisting inside him, Hiruzen turned his full attention to the raging inferno before them.

The blazing flames cast wild shadows over his aging features. His expression remained unreadable, but his eyes — sharp and cold — reflected the truth.

His presence alone was enough to keep the rest of the shinobi at bay. No one dared take command in front of the former Hokage.

Even though he had stepped down, Hiruzen was still the Sandaime — especially with figures like Danzō beside him.

Not even the Uchiha — Uchiha Tomiyama, former head of the Konoha Military Police — took initiative, despite the area falling under his jurisdiction.

The only one showing visible concern was Jiraiya.

The fire was spreading rapidly, and without a coordinated effort, it would soon reach the village outskirts. Even he didn't dare rush into it blindly.

"Sensei," Jiraiya finally asked, unable to stand idle any longer, "shouldn't we start putting out the fire?"

He frowned. Through the waves of heat, he could feel faint traces of chakra erupting deep within the burning forest.

Where was Minato? Why hadn't he arrived yet?

And what about Kushina? A sudden pang of worry struck him — but he shook it off. He knew how the fire started. This wasn't the work of an enemy.

Besides, his student — Minato trusted that Uchiha boy, Kai, more than most.

If Minato trusted Kai Uchiha, then Jiraiya was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt — for now.

Still, with Minato missing, only Hiruzen could take charge.

But the old Hokage remained silent, watching the fire as if it were a stage play.

"Let's wait," Hiruzen finally said, voice firm yet composed. "The Fourth Hokage will be here soon. This is his responsibility now."

Jiraiya frowned. He didn't like it — but couldn't refute it.

What was happening inside the forest?

He cursed himself for not pursuing the situation earlier. He'd hesitated, and by the time the fire had grown out of control, it had been too late.

Just then, Jiraiya's eyes widened.

He wasn't alone. Every shinobi around him — Hiruzen included — turned their heads in unison.

They could all feel it.

A massive surge of chakra erupted from within the blaze — sinister, heavy, overwhelming. A chakra signature so intense it made the skin crawl.

Jiraiya and Hiruzen recognized it instantly.

Mangekyō Sharingan.

Their minds reeled. Orochimaru had awakened the Mangekyō?

No. That wasn't possible.

Before they could process the implications, another chakra surged forth — far more terrifying. Colder. More suffocating.

Then the ground shook violently.

The sheer force of it sent a wave of panic through the assembled shinobi.

"What… is that!?" one chūnin gasped.

The chakra of the Mangekyō was already terrifying — but this was something else entirely.

And then — silence.

The monstrous chakra vanished.

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, realization dawning.

"Everyone, follow my command!" he shouted. "Anyone capable of Water Release — begin extinguishing the fire immediately!"

Far across the village, in the Yamanaka clan compound, Yamanaka Masato's face paled.

"That chakra again… It's the same as before. This time, I won't let you escape…"

Deep in the forest...

"Cough… cough…"

Orochimaru staggered, his pale body slick with fluids, breath ragged.

But the manic glint in his snake-like eyes hadn't dulled — if anything, it burned brighter.

Before him stood Uchiha Kai. His Susanoo shimmered faintly around him, skeletal and towering — but intact.

Kai looked calm, breathing evenly. He had expended chakra — but not critically.

After all, the chakra required for Susanoo wasn't simply his own. It drew from the subconscious wellspring of his Mangekyō Sharingan — from his spiritual energy itself.

Still, sustaining Susanoo was no small feat.

It required precise chakra control and a resilient body — neither of which Kai lacked, but…

The larger his Susanoo grew, the more it amplified his weaknesses.

Kai wasn't a brute-force ninja. His strengths lay in speed, assassination, and chakra precision — not raw power.

Maintaining a massive construct like Susanoo strained that balance.

He could feel it — the delicate tension between his chakra and his Yin Release manipulation starting to fray.

In truth, his current Susanoo was powerful, but not invincible.

He remembered how Danzo Shimura — of all people — had once managed to cut through Sasuke's partial Susanoo with Wind Release.

Susanoo's early stages had vulnerabilities.

"Still room for improvement," Kai thought silently. "The next stage will offer better armor… maybe even partial mobility."

He glanced at Orochimaru.

This man — unpredictable and obsessed — was an essential piece of his plan.

And judging by Orochimaru's state, the Sannin wasn't faring well. His last jutsu — that serpentine body-shedding technique — had taxed his chakra reserves heavily.

Kai stepped forward. "Let me warn you, Orochimaru. Meddling with unfamiliar power will get you killed."

"But it's fascinating, isn't it?" Orochimaru grinned, licking his lips. "Minister Kai, I must say… your defense seems rather flawed."

"You mean the lower body?" Kai was unfazed. "Yes. Early-stage Susanoo has its weaknesses. But you didn't think I was unprepared, did you?"

Kai's eyes gleamed dangerously. The Susanoo lifted its blade again, chakra flaring black as ink.

But then he paused.

The fire was dying down.

Others were coming.

Keai sighed. The fight was over.

The Susanoo shimmered and vanished, leaving only Kai behind.

He looked at Orochimaru, voice flat. "Looks like our little match drew too much attention."

"I wouldn't want to interrupt Minister Kai's… leisure," Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "But truly — that power. The Uchiha legacy is terrifying."

Kai's gaze hardened. "Some things don't belong to you. Don't delude yourself."

He shook his head, suddenly amused. "I'm starting to sound like Itachi."

Then, quieter: "If you plan to leave the village… now's your chance. You can wait for Sarutobi and the others… or you can let me kill you here."

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. The firelight reflected dimly in his golden pupils.

He turned, preparing to vanish into the woods.

But Kai called after him.

"Have you really decided? This will crush your teacher."

Orochimaru paused.

"He's not the same Hiruzen I once respected," he murmured. "Power… control… Konoha has become my cage. I'd rather break free."

He looked toward the darkened edge of the forest.

Then, he turned back to Kai, smirking.

"To thank you for showing me such exquisite power… I've left you a little gift. Farewell."

He began to leave.

"Wait," Kai said coldly. "Are you interested in the Sharingan?"

Orochimaru stopped.

His grin returned.

"Of course. But isn't that the very thing you warned me never to dream of, Minister Kai?"