Nara Hiroshi's expression was utterly solemn.
Yes.
If a ruler treats his ministers as his own limbs, then the ministers will treat him as their own heart. But if a ruler treats his ministers as dirt and grass, the ministers will treat him as an enemy!
Though he had never heard this exact saying, the principle was universal.
So—
Even if the separation of the Ino–Shika–Chō branch families had indeed been a survival tactic, a choice born out of necessity for the three clans…
Now that he had chosen to side with the Uchiha, and Kai had placed such trust in him, of course he had to give his utmost in return.
But to plan effectively, he needed the truth.
That was why, during the banquet, when he noticed everyone showering Uchiha Kai with flattery—yet Kai's expression had been complex, strange, even faintly disdainful—he instantly realized something was wrong.
Why?
Kai was already strong enough. So why that reaction?
And precisely because of this—
He concluded that Kai's grand strategy, though logical on the surface, had major flaws when examined carefully.
In the ninja world, strength was supreme.
Why did few bother with elaborate schemes?
Why, despite all their intelligence, had the Nara Clan ended up in their current pitiful state?
The answer lay there.
This was a high-power world. At its core, strength decided everything.
Wisdom and strategy could only serve as embellishments.
So—
Even if Kai's plans succeeded, without overwhelming power to guard them, they might barely be sustained, but true authority would remain out of reach.
In fact, it might be easier to just become Hokage outright!
At first, Hiroshi thought Kai had simply overlooked this.
But when he caught that subtle flicker in Kai's eyes, he realized things were not so simple.
And that was why he had come here at midnight. He needed to know the real truth.
Otherwise—
How could he strategize without seeing the whole board?
"..."
Uchiha Kai froze, dumbfounded.
He never imagined that in that brief instant at the banquet, when he'd merely let his mind wander for a moment and his expression shifted ever so slightly—that Nara Hiroshi would catch it.
Damn it.
The Nara Clan really was terrifying!
But still—
Even though he could feel Hiroshi's sincerity, he had no intention of revealing the truth.
After a brief pause, Kai simply smiled and said:
"Hiroshi-kun, you're overthinking."
"At the banquet, I was just distracted by some other thoughts."
"There's nothing I'm hiding from you. Everything I needed to say, I already did. Just follow the route I laid out."
"Don't overthink it."
Yes.
No matter how clever the Nara were, their individual strength was too low.
On the chessboard of the true giants, he himself had little standing—let alone Nara Hiroshi.
Not to mention…
Who knew if those big players had tricks like the toads of Mount Myōboku?
Better to keep it low-key.
Unfortunately, Kai's evasive answer didn't fool Nara Hiroshi.
Unlike Nara Shikaku, who often appeared calm and indifferent, Hiroshi was different.
With ordinary allies, he was content to play the fool.
But with those he truly considered friends, his eyes could tolerate no sand.
In that sense, he was even more stubborn than the Uchiha.
So when he heard Kai's words, he shot back immediately:
"Kai-kun!"
"So you still don't trust me after all!"
"What you said earlier sounded convincing. At first, I almost let myself be fooled."
"But there's one fatal flaw—this world is built on strength."
"No matter how brilliant your schemes, without strength as the foundation, everything is a castle in the air."
"Otherwise, why would the Ino–Shika–Chō have fallen so low despite all their cleverness?"
"So, tell me the truth."
"If you trust me, then share it with me."
"Without knowing the full picture, I can't plan accurately. I've sincerely joined the Uchiha camp, and I truly want to strategize for us all."
"But if you don't trust me, then treat it as though I never asked tonight."
Nara Hiroshi's words hit like a hammer.
He gave Kai no chance to wiggle out, cornering him completely.
Clearly—
His stubborn streak had flared.
Since he had entrusted himself wholly to the Uchiha, he now saw this cause as his home.
And once he sensed something amiss, of course he demanded clarity.
If it were just a job, muddling along would suffice.
But if it was a true career—then he had to give everything.
Uchiha Kai felt a pounding headache.
How had he never noticed before that Nara Hiroshi was this stubborn?
What now?
If it were an enemy, he wouldn't hesitate to use every ruthless trick.
But this was a friend.
And he could feel that Hiroshi genuinely wanted to plan for him.
That made it harder.
Silence.
Frowning, Kai fell into deep thought.
On the other side, Hiroshi folded his arms and waited quietly, not pressing further.
Time ticked by.
After ten long minutes, Uchiha Kai finally sighed and looked at him seriously.
"Hiroshi-kun…"
"There are many things I can't say."
"What I can tell you is this: some truths are better left unknown. Knowing too much isn't a blessing."
"Leave everything to me!"
"Just follow the plan I laid out. That's all you need to focus on."
"And besides… even if you did know more, it would be useless."
Yes.
Even after all this, Kai still refused to reveal the truth.
But a small hint? That much he allowed.
Nara Hiroshi's brows furrowed.
Though Kai had said nothing outright, the implications were immense.
Knowing too much is dangerous.
And even if you did know, it wouldn't change anything.
This alone proved there was a colossal terror involved.
Even a Mangekyō wielder like Uchiha Kai was so wary, so evasive…
At that thought, Hiroshi spoke in a low, pressing voice:
"The enemy… is that strong?"
"So strong that even someone like you, Kai-kun, has no will to resist—only the thought of avoiding them?"
"Who is it?"
"The Three Sannin? No, they don't qualify."
"Even Hiruzen Sarutobi? He's not enough. The Third Raikage, A?"
"No… even he doesn't warrant such fear."
"Then who?"
"Kai-kun, even if you won't tell me the truth, at least drop me a hint."
"That much shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"I've already taken a step back here. With our friendship, you wouldn't refuse me even this much, would you?"
"I don't need the full truth. Just a hint!"
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