I Am Kagami Uchiha

The next day, discussion of that strange rainstorm had already stirred up quite a commotion in Konoha.

After all, many people had never seen a mirage in their lives. Only the older generation scolded the startled young and middle-aged folk, saying they had seen plenty of them and that it was merely a common sultry rain.

Yet whenever anyone asked what a sultry rain actually was, they changed the subject. Still, the elders could not be wrong. That hazy world seemed to have been rewritten in the public memory as an extraordinarily exaggerated mirage. Some even swore it was a sign that the gods intended to destroy Konoha, only to be laughed at by everyone.

If the gods truly wanted to destroy Konoha, then why had everything completely vanished after that dazzling lightning? Did that not prove the gods favored Konoha even more?

Those great clans and people with sharp eyes said nothing either. The Uchiha Clan had become especially quiet, ordering everyone not to cause trouble lately.

Amid this strange atmosphere, the Third Hokage nodded as he looked over the document in his hands, then turned to the smiling man before him.

"Sosuke, your plan is very good, but have those inventions of yours stabilized yet?"

"At present, the fusion progress is far from optimistic, and the candidates are extremely limited. I do not recommend expanding it, Third Hokage. For now, I can only conduct small-scale tests. There is no way to scale it up."

The man, whose calm smile carried a strangely reassuring strength, spoke softly. His deep, magnetic voice made one trust his words completely.

"More importantly, I must set examples and regulate many matters myself. Much of the interference comes from within, preventing the experiments from progressing. But if I state the reasons directly, I will not be able to obtain the best data, so I am in quite a difficult position."

"I see... You have worked hard."

"Everything is for Konoha, Third Hokage. I have always trusted your judgment."

Sosuke Aizen, Konoha's acting Advisor and a man who held considerable power, adjusted his glasses and respectfully bowed to the Third Hokage.

"If not for your guidance and cultivation, I would likely still be lost and uneasy. Konoha would not have been able to take its most crucial step forward."

"I know. But Konoha has prepared for this war for far too long, only for such an accident to occur. I may have to trouble you for some time longer, Sosuke."

"Not at all. It is my honor to devote myself to Konoha. No matter how many people misunderstand my true intentions, I will not waver or become lost. Because, Third Hokage, are you not the same?"

"...Mm. Then let us leave it at that. Be more mindful of the impact in the future."

Looking at the gloomy sky where a light drizzle fell, the Third Hokage nodded gravely and waved Aizen away.

The man who looked like a pale moon respectfully saluted the Third Hokage, then silently stepped backward from where he stood and quietly closed the office door.

Facing the room that seemed somewhat empty after Aizen departed, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, let out a long sigh and looked wearily out the window. Through the drizzle, the figure in a White Haori helping others close their shops appeared and disappeared from sight.

Not only that, the areas that had once been marked by fierce conflict had also calmed down after mediators and buffer zones were established.

"This should be enough, right?"

The Third Hokage quietly watched that Haori, slowly took a puff from his pipe, and exhaled a wisp of smoke.

Yet the Third Hokage did not notice that amid the torrential rain, a figure similar to Aizen's had silently slipped into an alley and vanished straight into the shadows.

At the same time, in a dark corner beyond the awareness of Konoha's Ninja, a certain consciousness slowly began to stir once more.

I am... the captain of the Sixth Division, Kagami Uchiha.

That consciousness gradually gathered its shattered memories and began projecting its own impressions and will into them.

A succession of past experiences and daily life reappeared in his mind. Familiar Chakra and various ninjutsu emerged within his impressions.

As his name surfaced, that consciousness finally understood his identity. He was Konoha's Ninja, Kagami Uchiha.

I am Kagami Uchiha, that's right. A Ninja of Konoha.

The consciousness pondered, allowing more knowledge and memories to merge into his mind.

Sosuke Aizen is my enemy. That man has been secretly controlling everything in Konoha. Even though I have already become a Shinigami and possess Bankai, it still feels like my strength is insufficient...

I became like this because a major error occurred while fusing Bankai with the power of the Sharingan. The separate fusion could not be completed, which is why I was severely injured here.

I should... I should figure out the path of fusion. Otherwise, I cannot defeat him... I absolutely cannot defeat him...

As though slowly rising from deep beneath the water, a feeling of breaking free suddenly made Kagami Uchiha open his eyes.

Then he discovered that he was sitting in a chair, directly facing someone wearing a Pure White Haori and writing something.

Perhaps because Kagami Uchiha's movements upon waking had been too great, the person stirred slightly, then turned his head to look at Kagami Uchiha. A gentle smile filled with goodwill appeared on his face.

"Oh, you are finally awake, Kagami."

The man adjusted his glasses and asked Kagami Uchiha warmly,

"You became too reckless while testing Bankai and the upgraded version of the Sharingan, so I sealed you away and you fell unconscious. I stepped in and adjusted your condition a little, so there should not be any problems now. How do you feel?"

"I'm... fine..."

"That is good. There are still many things I need you to do next."

The familiar-looking figure smiled before him and handed over several thick handwritten documents.

"First, I hope you will carefully read and refer to these papers. I have high expectations for your performance, after all. Also, some strange wooden dolls were discovered underground monitoring Konoha. If you are interested, you can investigate them. Any time you wish."

"You are...?"

"Did you sleep so long that even your memories became confused? That is unlike you, Kagami."

The man adjusted his glasses and looked somewhat helplessly at the dazed Kagami Uchiha, speaking in a low voice.

"I am Sosuke Aizen, your superior. I look forward to working with you, Kagami. I have great expectations for your performance. Your colleagues are outside. If you do not mind, you can get acquainted with them again."

"There is no need."

Perhaps because he had only just awakened, the moment Kagami Uchiha heard the name Sosuke Aizen, his entire body jolted. He stood up with a cold expression.

"Dan Katō, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Hatake Sakumo, those few, right? And there are several captains among them as well. After all, there are as many Ninja as you want who turn a blind eye to your existence."

"That is truly a mistaken understanding. I said from the very beginning that I had never hidden."

"Heh."

Disdainful of Sosuke Aizen's lies, Kagami Uchiha picked up the Haori draped over the back of his chair, put it on, and pushed open the door.

The moment he opened it, he saw the Ninja whose names he had just listed standing outside.

Seeing Kagami Uchiha, who seemed unchanged in any way, these Ninja—who in Kagami Uchiha's eyes were cowardly, or perhaps simply lacked courage—revealed shocked expressions.

Rather than looking as though they had seen a colleague, they looked as though they had witnessed something unbelievable. Even their ongoing conversation seemed to have been paused, and everyone stared at Kagami Uchiha in astonishment.

Who knew what they had been discussing just now? The instant Tsunade saw Kagami Uchiha, her face went deathly pale, while Orochimaru and Dan Katō became incomparably grave and solemn. Rather than looking like they had been discussing something, they looked as though they had been arranging Kagami Uchiha's funeral.

This bizarre atmosphere made Kagami Uchiha instinctively look around. Only after confirming there was nothing there did he ask with a baffled expression,

"What happened? Is something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"...Sigh."

There was no answer. Only Hatake Sakumo shook his head with a weathered look and sighed, then vanished into the corridor in the blink of an eye. Who knew where he had run off to using Instant Step?

As if that were a signal, the other Ninja also looked at Kagami Uchiha, sighed with subtle expressions, and departed one after another using Instant Step. Kagami Uchiha was left completely confused, with no idea what his colleagues were doing.

Had he not merely failed while experimenting with Bankai and the Sharingan? What was so surprising about that? Though the failure had been somewhat disastrous.

Why is everyone looking at me so strangely?

Is it because of the Uchiha after all? Or because I am the only one truly opposed to Aizen? Did they hear the wild words I said after Bankai?

Still, I am a Ninja of Konoha. I must cast aside the Uchiha Clan's narrow-minded ideas. I must find a path for Konoha and the Uchiha to coexist. I must make Konoha stand at the pinnacle of the world once again...

But before that, he should first study the fusion of the Sharingan's power and Bankai.

As for those strange white dolls, he could go take a look after completing his research. Aizen's roots in Konoha ran deep; he could not uproot him overnight. It would be better to use this method to gain his trust.

Looking at the empty corridor, Kagami Uchiha turned such thoughts over in his mind as he walked deeper into the experimental base. As he recalled, Aizen had several experimental areas available for their use, so there was no reason not to use them.

An arrogant enemy capable of increasing his strength would sooner or later suffer backlash from the Uchiha Clan's power.

Though I do not wish to admit it, I am still Kagami Uchiha, captain of the Sixth Division. I have strength.

Kagami Uchiha pushed open the laboratory door, his heart filled with confidence.

Behind Kagami Uchiha, Aizen's figure slowly dissipated like foam. Meanwhile, the man seated in the study and writing adjusted his glasses, looked at the rice paper before him, and spoke quietly.

"Precious experimental material must always be recycled. One or two mistakes can be forgiven. There will be no problem as long as it is washed clean and cultivated again... I am truly looking forward to your next performance, Kagami."