This Uchiha is way too Cautious

Chapter 86: Future Investments

When Kei used to play games, he often heard the saying, "It's not how well you play, but how well you position yourself."

At first, Kei thought this phrase was a bit extreme. After all, what good is positioning if you don't have the strength to back it up?

However, over time, Kei realized that the saying held a lot of truth. Whether you're a master or stuck in the bronze ranks, positioning truly mattered—essentially, it was a "game of luck."

Upon arriving in this world, luck became even more important because it directly affected Kei's life!

For example, on the battlefield, when an enemy ninja throws a kunai at you, and you can't dodge it, but just when it's about to hit, an ally or the enemy's teammate suddenly appears and saves you—those moments make all the difference. In any world, while skill is essential, luck is something you can't overlook. Otherwise, there would be so many talented people whose potential is never realized.

Kei had decent luck. Though he'd faced some terribly unlucky situations in the past, this time, his luck was on point!

From gathering intel on Uchiha Yuu to figuring out his mission routes, Kei barely spent any time or energy on it—he couldn't help but marvel at how fortunate he was.

Out of a desire for revenge, Kei had taken action against Uchiha Hiroki, only to discover that his supervising Jonin had once been teammates with Uchiha Yuu.

Intent on seeing what Uchiha Hiroki would do, Kei went to the Guard Division, only to find that, without any real reason, Uchiha Fugaku was actually willing to help him resolve some issues.

Kei knew that this was likely an attempt to maintain the peace within the family, but by chance, he had been left alone in the office, which led him to uncover the Guard Division's patrol routes.

Seeing this, Kei couldn't help but think, "It seems even fate itself wants Uchiha Yuu to die."

Uchiha Fugaku returned after about ten minutes, and during that time, Kei had already memorized the patrol routes.

When Fugaku entered again, Uchiha Yuu followed. It was clear he was upset, but he held his anger in check, likely after a "chat" with Fugaku that kept him in line.

"Kei-kun," Fugaku said, sitting back down at his desk. "Make sure to visit Hiroki when you have the chance."

"I'll apologize properly," Kei replied, bowing slightly. He didn't even glance at Uchiha Yuu. "It was my fault, and I'll reflect on my words and actions."

"Good," Fugaku waved his hand. "By the way, take this time to teach Itachi as well. Every time he tries to visit you, you're never around."

"I will," Kei nodded, then turned and left.

Kei wasn't expecting to have any free time, especially after saying he would reflect on his actions. According to the route and action plans, the next patrol by Uchiha Yuu would be in three days. Kei knew he needed to prepare well in these few days.

As a ninja, there's a lot to do once you've gathered enemy intelligence. The most basic task is to scout the area and choose the perfect ambush spot. Additionally, there are many things to prepare, like replenishing kunai, shuriken, and other tools.

A ninja is a warrior, and no warrior would go into battle without weapons, right?

Thinking about this, Kei decided to go out tomorrow and purchase some necessary ninja tools. He also planned to follow the route map and explore the area to find the best locations for himself.

In Kei's mind, the ideal ambush point didn't need to be overly concealed. Being too hidden would only raise suspicion. What mattered most was finding a place with little foot traffic.

"Kei-sama." Just as Kei was deep in thought, a voice interrupted him.

Turning around, Kei saw Uchiha Asahi standing there. "Asahi-san, no need for such formality. Is there something you need?"

"Kei-sama, there are some of your classmates waiting for you outside," Uchiha Asahi replied with his usual respectful demeanor, not acknowledging Kei's previous words.

"Classmates?" Kei blinked, pausing for a moment. He rubbed his chin and nodded. "I see, thank you for letting me know."

Uchiha Asahi bowed again before silently turning to leave.

Kei watched him go, feeling a bit perplexed. He had helped Asahi's child, but this level of respect seemed a bit overboard.

Could it be that Asahi was trying to make a "future investment" by sending his child to Kei?

Kei shrugged and walked outside. Soon, he spotted Kakashi, Guy, and others waiting for him.

"What's going on here?" Kei wondered aloud.

At first, Kei had expected that Kakashi might want to train with him, and he was fine with that. After all, he had already obtained the intelligence he needed, and training could still be beneficial.

Plus, he could discreetly use a shadow clone during training, sending it to buy more ninja tools or scout the area—preparing was always a good thing.

But now, it seemed like this group gathering was even better than training with just Kakashi. With so many people around, Kei felt it would be safer. However, he still wasn't sure why they were all gathered. If it was group training, it might get a bit tedious.

"Kei, here's the thing," Guy walked up to him directly. "We don't have any missions at the moment, and most of us are back, so Rin suggested we gather. What do you think?"

"A gathering?" Kei rubbed his chin, then nodded. "Sure, let's gather."

Kei hadn't expected this outcome, but he didn't mind at all—actually, he was quite pleased!

These people would become the pillars of Konoha in the future, and forming good relationships with them had always been one of Kei's plans, whether his ultimate goal succeeded or failed.

This was also part of his future investment.