Chapter 49: I Don't Regret It
Uchiha Kei's return to Konoha didn't cause much of a stir—at least not officially. But on the front lines of the Land of Grass , his name had already spread like wildfire. Every Konoha shinobi who had participated in the war had heard of this remarkable young prodigy.
Although their mission had initially been classified, with the war now nearing its end, many Konoha shinobi came to learn the truth: Kei and his squad had been sent deep behind enemy lines on what was essentially a suicide mission.
Yet, against all odds, these three young genin had pulled off the impossible. They had demonstrated incredible intellect and skill, rescuing at least fifteen Konoha prisoners in the process.
When casualties struck Namikaze Minato's squad, Kei and his team stepped in as temporary replacements—contributing directly to a mission that helped bring the war to its conclusion.
And that wasn't all. Their accomplishments were nothing short of astonishing.
Thanks to Kei's tactical decisions, Konoha forces suddenly appeared behind enemy lines, disrupting the morale of the Iwagakure troops and weakening their front lines. Then, the trio launched a surprise assault on an enemy outpost and nearly wiped out the squad led by the Tsuchikage's son, Kitsuchi.
Although Minato eventually stepped in to assist, the sheer fact that these young genin held their own against such formidable foes spoke volumes about their strength.
Even when their numbers dwindled to just three, Kei and his team still completed their mission.
Minato defeated and captured the Five-Tails' jinchūriki, accelerating the end of the war. Imai Kenta, a civilian-born ninja, destroyed the Kannabi Bridge. And Kei—well, he went even further.
He eliminated a key member of Iwagakure's Explosion corps, Gari, and when surrounded by the Ishimizu Hiiragi Clan's squad during their retreat, Kei managed to kill all four of them singlehandedly.
By the time Minato brought him back, Kei was completely exhausted, unable to even stand.
But no one dared mock him.
Those Iwa-nin he killed had left deep scars on many Konoha shinobi—some of whom had lost close friends and comrades to their hands. Kei's actions were seen as justice, as vengeance. Gratitude and awe filled the hearts of those around him.
To many, Kei's return was cause for celebration. After all he had done at the front, it was time someone else took over. He had more than earned his rest.
In truth, most regular shinobi were still admirable and sincere. Konoha's rot was mostly confined to its innermost layers—the outer shell still looked bright and beautiful.
And that, Kei thought to himself, is exactly what makes it so dangerous.
After a few days of forced rest on the stone bed in the medical tent, Kei was finally able to get up and walk around. Half a month of constant fighting, countless soldier pills, and even medicine from the Akimichi clan had pushed his body to its limit.
Even now, after days of rest, he hadn't fully recovered. He estimated it would take another week of proper recovery to return to his peak condition.
But it didn't matter anymore. He wouldn't be returning to the battlefield. He was heading back to Konoha tomorrow.
The medics didn't want him moving around too much, but Kei was tired of lying down. He was allowed to stretch his legs within the base—training and combat were strictly off-limits.
As he walked through the camp, countless Konoha shinobi greeted him warmly. Kei responded with polite smiles, even if he wasn't particularly moved.
Even if he didn't care much for these interactions, he understood the value of responding kindly to those who showed goodwill. A simple smile could create a sense of acknowledgment, which would make future cooperation much easier.
Most of these shinobi were civilians—simple and honest. Gaining their favor was definitely worthwhile.
"Hm?" Kei suddenly spotted a familiar face: Yamanaka Masato.
Masato was out of his combat gear, his body heavily bandaged. It was clear he had been severely injured.
Kei had assumed Masato had died during the assault. After all, when his team broke through the enemy line and faced Kitsuchi's unit, there was no sign of support from Masato's group—they had to use shadow clones to distract the enemy themselves.
But it looked like Masato had survived… though just barely.
"Captain Yamanaka. Long time no see," Kei greeted as he approached.
"Oh, Kei-kun!" Masato blinked in surprise, but quickly smiled when he recognized him. "You did great. I heard you even took out the Ishimizu Hiiragi squad—amazing work!"
"You flatter me." Kei shook his head humbly, showing no hint of arrogance.
The Ishimizu Hiiragi squad was infamous on the battlefield, known for their brutal efficiency and seamless teamwork. Each of them was a capable jōnin. They had survived this war from the very beginning.
Unfortunately for them, they ran into Kei—who had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan—and were taken by surprise. Had it not been for Kei's sudden strike, they might not have fallen so easily.
"Captain Yamanaka, I mean… Masato, what happened to you?" Kei changed the subject, not wanting to linger on the topic of the Ishimizu Hiiragi squad. He hadn't had the time to dispose of their bodies, and their wounds were likely suspicious.
"Oh, I got surrounded," Masato said casually, glancing at his bandages. "Broke a few ribs, some fractures in my arms and legs—but I made it back alive. Can't say the same for the rest of the squad…"
Kei fell silent.
It seemed all the decoy teams had been wiped out in the Land of Grass.
He still remembered that jōnin—Kageshima Kousuke—so passionate about the Will of Fire. Kei wondered if the man regretted it in the end.
Not that it mattered. Whether others regretted it or not, Kei knew he had made the right choice.
Even with all those jōnin and chūnin, only one man made it back alive—and severely wounded at that. If Kei had stayed behind, his fate would likely have been the same—or worse. He might have been buried in some nameless forest by now.
"I might've let others die in my place," Kei thought, "but I don't regret it."
"Everyone has their own dreams in life. I just chose mine."