Chapter 442 — This Is the Uchiha Way of Fighting
"Wasn't that a bit too ruthless?"
Watching the Fourth Raikage surrounded by medical-nin—his wounds being rapidly treated and stabilized—Minato spoke with a slight headache.
Yet there was no real reproach in his tone.
In truth, he didn't mind at all.
The Raikage had brought this upon himself. If he ended up severely injured again, he had no one to blame.
If anything—
Minato didn't mind seeing him suffer a little.
For a prisoner, the Raikage had shown none of the restraint expected of one.
Perhaps he didn't believe his defeat had anything to do with Konoha.
Or perhaps he was clinging to the dignity of a Kage—
after all, no Kage in history had ever been taken captive.
If not for his current condition, his confinement, and the nearly seven hundred Kumogakure prisoners held by Konoha—
there was no telling what he might have done.
---
"Not really ruthless," Kei said casually, arms crossed beside Ayaka, as if the scene meant nothing to him.
"Besides, he was already in bad shape."
"And honestly… he was just unlucky. I noticed the injury on his chest."
Minato tilted his head slightly.
His lips parted—
but in the end, he said nothing.
He had seen shameless people before.
But this?
This was on another level.
That chest wound—
wasn't it caused by you in the first place?
Of course Minato knew exactly what had happened.
Kei's Chidori had been aimed precisely at that existing injury—
and had torn it open again.
Normally, Chidori alone might not have pierced the Raikage's body.
His physique, combined with Lightning Release Chakra Mode, was monstrous.
But at the exact moment Kei struck—
the Raikage's lightning armor had faltered.
The dense, armor-like chakra had destabilized—
just for an instant.
That brief weakness—
was enough.
Enough for Chidori to pierce through and deal a decisive blow.
---
Minato rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
That sudden lapse in defense…
Most likely—
genjutsu.
Even someone like the Raikage, highly resistant to illusions, wouldn't be immune.
And Kei's genjutsu—
while rarely flashy—
was terrifyingly practical.
Paired with his combat style—
it was perfect.
---
"Morita, how is he?" Minato asked, turning to one of the medical-nin.
The man was effectively in charge here—an excellent and reliable medic, even if not personally loyal to Minato.
More importantly—
he followed orders.
"Lord Hokage, his condition isn't great, but it's stable," Morita replied quickly.
"There was already a wound on his chest—initially thought to be from a blade, but it appears more like a high-penetration thrust technique."
"Lord Kei reopened that wound. There was significant blood loss, but it's under control."
"Good," Minato nodded. "I'll leave it to you."
He glanced once more at the Raikage—
lying on the ground, staring at Kei with a complex expression—
before turning and walking away.
---
Kei met that gaze without concern.
Yes—
he had torn that wound open.
Twice.
So what?
The first time had been with the Raikage's own technique.
This time—
Chidori.
The two might seem similar—
but the differences were significant.
Kei understood that.
And the Raikage—
having experienced both—
would understand it even better.
Shaking his head, Kei lost interest.
He turned to Ayaka.
"Coming with us, or staying to help?"
"I'll go with you," Ayaka replied after a brief pause. "They don't really need me here."
But the way she looked at him—
was strange.
---
She had expected Kei to win.
After all, there had been precedent.
But last time—
he had relied on overwhelming power.
This time—
was different.
If the previous fight was domination through sheer force—
this one was a masterclass in technique and strategy.
Ayaka couldn't fully keep up with their speed—
but she had seen enough.
Kei had systematically exploited the Raikage's weakness—
forcing him onto the defensive.
At the critical moment—
he used genjutsu to destabilize his opponent's defense.
Then—
he targeted the pre-existing wound—
and ended the fight in a single strike.
Keeping up with the Raikage's speed alone was astonishing.
But to do so—
while identifying the perfect opening—
and finishing the battle cleanly—
was something else entirely.
Two completely different fighting styles.
Two completely different approaches.
And yet—
both terrifying.
"…So this is how he separates himself from that 'mysterious Uchiha'…"
Ayaka shook her head slightly.
Kei—
was frighteningly capable.
---
Without another word, she followed Kei and Minato.
The three of them disappeared into the forest—
heading back toward the village.
---
Only after they left—
did the Konoha shinobi finally let their emotions spill over.
They had witnessed it firsthand—
a battle beyond their imagination.
And Konoha—
had won decisively.
How could they not be excited?
The fight hadn't lasted long.
Nor had it been the earth-shattering spectacle they expected.
After all, reports from the front lines had already described the devastation when this same Raikage fought Uchiha Fugaku.
They knew exactly how terrifying that man was.
Even now—
injured and resealed—
his strength was undeniable.
And yet—
in that battle just now—
he had been completely suppressed.
From start to finish.
By one man.
Uchiha Kei.
And the moment the Raikage unleashed his destructive power—
the fight ended instantly.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
This—
was the true art of Uchiha combat.
That effortless composure—
that quiet, unhurried control over every moment—
yet never losing grasp of the flow of battle.
From beginning to end, Kei had only used the dark chakra construct—the Susanoo—once.
And even then, it hadn't been fully manifested.
Just enough to block the Raikage's attack—
then, in the same breath, he layered genjutsu with Chidori—
targeted a weakness—
and ended the fight instantly.
A battle like this…
Elegant.
Precise.
Controlled.
This was the image of the Uchiha that Konoha shinobi held in their minds.
---
"That's terrifying… Is this really the power of the Uchiha? The power of Uchiha Kei?"
"It's insane—this speed, this perception, that calm, effortless style… it's like watching art!"
"Captain Fugaku's style is explosive, overwhelming… but Head Kei's is so composed. And somehow—that feels even more dangerous."
"They're both monsters, honestly. But yeah… Head Kei feels worse. Don't forget what that mysterious Uchiha said—only Kei can make him want to fight."
"Hey… could you do that?"
The ANBU finally couldn't hold back anymore and turned to one of their Uchiha comrades.
The masked shinobi, codenamed Bird, shook his head with a wry smile.
"I couldn't."
"That's Lord Kei we're talking about. His fighting style has always been called art. I don't think anyone else in the clan could reach that level."
As he spoke, he unconsciously lifted his head—
recalling a distant memory.
A lone figure.
Effortlessly wiping out an entire squad.
Back then—
that person had only been thirteen.
---
Minato walked steadily back toward the village, deep in thought.
After a while, he slowed his pace.
It was obvious—he had been wanting to speak with Kei.
Earlier, there had been too many people around.
Now—
there were none.
Even though Konoha had heavily secured the forest, it was far too large to completely seal off.
Still—
this was private enough.
"Kei," Minato said, walking alongside him and Ayaka, "what you did just now was… a bit risky."
"You relied on the Sharingan to read his movements, but there's always a chance he might notice something. After all—his goal was to test you."
Kei shook his head lightly.
"Don't worry, Captain Minato. It was a little risky, sure—but it also clearly separates two completely different fighting styles."
"The Raikage may be sharp, but I don't think he can see through that."
"…I hope so."
Minato nodded.
Seeing Kei so confident, he chose not to press further.
He trusted him.
But still—
he felt Kei shouldn't have engaged the Raikage at all.
Not out of concern for the Raikage—
but because even the slightest slip could expose something.
Shinobi were perceptive.
And habits—
were hard to hide.
Still…
what was done was done.
As for the Raikage's life?
If he died—
then he died.
Konoha could simply announce he couldn't be saved—
and return Killer B to prevent further destabilization in Kumogakure.
Minato had no illusions about enemies.
He wasn't cruel—
but neither was he sentimental.
Sparing the Raikage had already been a calculated decision, weighing benefits against risks.
He would never pity an enemy.
---
"By the way, Kei—what do you think of Dodai?"
Minato shifted the topic.
Even now, Konoha and Kumogakure were still entangled in negotiations.
"That man—you captured him personally. What's your assessment?"
"Dodai…" Kei rubbed his chin.
"A kekkei genkai user. Sharp strategist. Tight-lipped. The Third Raikage rated him highly—probably on the same level as Minister Shikaku."
"Then we think alike," Minato nodded.
"Kumo has requested the release of three people: the Fourth Raikage, Killer B… and him."
Kei raised an eyebrow, then chuckled.
"So I caught a big fish."
He had known Dodai was important—
but not this important.
Originally, he had planned to leverage only the Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.
Now—
this changed things.
Even the man he had once interrogated in prison—
was a valuable asset.
For a moment, Kei was almost glad he hadn't killed him back then.
---
"Dodai?" Ayaka, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, unable to hide her surprise.
"That squad leader? If he's so important, why would Kumogakure send him out?"
"Because the mission mattered," Minato replied.
"And… likely due to internal factors within Kumo as well."
"I don't know the full details. But what matters is his value."
Minato looked at Kei.
"So—I'm handing him over to you."
"No problem," Kei nodded. "Has he said anything?"
"No," Minato sighed. "Just like you said—he's tough."
"Even under torture, he hasn't spoken. Genjutsu hasn't shaken him either."
He paused briefly, then added:
"If you want to try something—go ahead."
"Just… don't let him die."