Uchiha Kai taught with patience and precision.
For a prodigy like Itachi, one couldn't use shallow words. If his teacher glossed things over, he would only end up being deceived later by enemies.
More importantly, patience was essential.
Yes, he was a genius — but he was still a child. His mind wasn't yet mature enough.
To help him truly understand, things had to be broken down and explained step by step. Otherwise, Itachi simply wouldn't grasp the meaning.
But Kai had no choice.
If he wanted to stop this "filial son" from walking the same path as in the original timeline, he, as a teacher, could only talk more than he would have liked.
It couldn't be helped.
Fugaku might be good at fathering children, but when it comes to raising them? Utterly useless.
On the other hand, Uchiha Itachi was lost in thought.
His worldview had already cracked multiple times since meeting this teacher.
But this time—
Shattered completely.
What Kai said was utterly different from what the clan had always taught.
And yet, Itachi didn't deny him.
He knew his teacher's character — this man had no interest in lying about such matters.
The clan's old records were still there. Disorganized, yes, but if one took the time, much could be confirmed.
So deceiving him was pointless.
Hearing these revelations for the first time, Itachi abandoned his own questions for now and began to think.
He had to digest and fully understand all that he'd just learned.
Time passed slowly.
Kai didn't interrupt him, simply basking in the sunlight nearby.
Half an hour later, Itachi finally opened his eyes again, fixing a serious gaze on his teacher.
"Sensei, I've got it."
Kai nodded calmly. Not surprised at all — after all, this was Itachi, a prodigy. Half an hour to process all of it? Normal enough.
With a small twitch at the corner of his lips, Kai rubbed his brow.
"Good. Let's continue."
"From what I explained, you should now see both the benefits and harms of the Police Force."
"Now, let's talk about how Sarutobi Hiruzen grew wary of the Uchiha, and how, by exploiting their simplicity, he used the Police Force to isolate them from the rest of the village."
"The result—you see with your own eyes today. The Uchiha hold authority in Konoha, yet no other clan draws near. Even the civilians reject them."
"Normally, I wouldn't care. You know my situation—truth be told, I don't have deep ties to the clan."
"But your father is sly. First he gave me shares in the Uchiha merchant fleet, then he had you become my student."
"So here's the problem. I can't let the Uchiha be destroyed, otherwise my yearly dividends vanish."
"And then there's you. Once I accepted you as a disciple, well—people are creatures of feeling. How could I not care about you?"
"So, no choice. I took up the post of Police Chief. And wouldn't you know it—on my very first day, Hiruzen tested me."
"You've heard about the petty theft incident from your father, right?"
Itachi nodded.
Of course he had. As the clan head's son, many so-called "secrets" were everyday knowledge to him.
Kai shrugged.
"Exactly. The Hokage tested me by using the people's suffering. And I countered by using those same civilians against him."
"Even back when Tobirama Senju gave the Police Force to the Uchiha, the true intention was the same — to turn the civilians against us."
"That's the truth. The Hokage doesn't care about the people. The clans don't care. The Uchiha don't care. To us, civilians are disposable pawns."
"As long as it harms the enemy, nobody cares about their lives."
"You know me. I don't look down on common folk. I was raised among them. If possible, I'd rather treat them better."
"But I can't. If I hold back, the Hokage will crush me."
"So do you understand? This world isn't black and white. There's no pure justice or evil. It isn't about right or wrong."
"It's about positions. Winners and losers."
"History is written by the victors. If the Hokage triumphs, the Uchiha are condemned as evil. But if the Uchiha win, then the Hokage becomes the root of all evil, and Sarutobi Hiruzen's rule will be remembered as a dark age."
"That's my answer. I know the civilians are innocent."
"But I have no choice. If I don't act, the Uchiha will be wiped out. For the sake of the merchant fleet's profits, and for you, my dear disciple, I'll help your father. I have no choice."
Kai's tone was calm, neither trying to whitewash himself nor smear the Hokage.
Only a flat, bloody truth.
But to Itachi, it was a nuclear strike.
He was stunned.
The riddles that had troubled him for so long — the truth turned out to be this simple?
"Why?!" Itachi's voice trembled. "The world shouldn't be like this. Can't everyone just live in peace?"
Kai stayed silent.
He didn't comfort the boy, even as he writhed in pain.
Because this was Itachi's choice.
If he hadn't asked like a prodigy but instead behaved like a normal child, Kai would've let him enjoy a happy childhood.
But no. Itachi was too smart, and too naïve.
If Kai wanted to prevent him from walking the old path, he had to show him the truth—no matter how filthy and bloody it was.
After waiting for Itachi to calm, Kai spoke again.
"I don't want to shatter your hopes, but as your teacher, it's my duty to guide you. And the answer is: no. They can't."
"Reality is cruel. Resources in the shinobi world are finite."
"Would Konoha willingly hand over Land of Fire's fertile lands to the poor Wind or Water Countries? Would you hand Uchiha wealth to other clans?"
"No one would. And since resources are limited, every bite the Uchiha take is one less for someone else."
"Humans are no different from animals. Remember what I taught you?"
"Wolves eat sheep to survive. Sheep eat grass to survive. That's the law of the jungle: survival of the strong."
"And humans, in their struggle for resources, are bound by no limits."
"Months ago, on a mission, one incompetent member ruined everything. Do you know how my Nara friend resolved it?"
"We embezzled the supplies and pinned the blame on that fool."
"And do you know what he told me?"
"That every war is the time for clans to get rich. Supplies are stolen at the front, and when the enemy attacks, they burn the stockpiles themselves, then report to the village that the enemy destroyed it."
"The Hokage never investigates. Because the Sarutobi clan themselves are the worst offenders."
"So do you see? All clans are like this. Villages too. Even our enemies are the same."
"This is a world of competing filth."
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