Uchiha Itachi was drenched in sweat.
After hearing everything Kai had just revealed, the world before his eyes no longer looked the same.
How… How could it be like this?
Using civilians as pawns, striking at one another.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage himself, lining his pockets with the village's funds?
It was all so far from what he had imagined that he could hardly accept it.
And yet—
He was clever enough to see that Kai wasn't lying.
Interests, resources…
As Kai had said, the resources of the shinobi world were limited.
If you eat one more mouthful, I get one less.
And so, for the sake of their own interests, scheming and bloodshed were inevitable.
Itachi understood.
But accepting it was another matter.
"Itachi, do you know why?" Kai spoke again.
"This is also why, even though all the clans know the Hokage's faction is targeting the Uchiha, none of them will lend us a hand."
"Do you think they don't understand the Hokage's true designs?"
"They know."
"The Hokage wants every clan except their own allies destroyed. They wiped out the Senju, watched as the Uzumaki perished, and now they move against us Uchiha. Next will be the Hyuga. Then the Ino–Shika–Chō, the Inuzuka, the Aburame…"
"Then why can't they unite?"
"Because the Uchiha are too out of step with them."
"The other clans conspire together, embezzling the village's resources. And the Uchiha? Still clinging to Warring States ideals, believing strength alone is supreme, too arrogant to stoop to such petty theft."
"Can you imagine what would happen if the Uchiha found out about the clans' corruption?"
"Heh. Chaos. Absolute chaos."
"That's why no one will help us. In a world of black, a clan that insists on remaining white is treated as a mistake in itself."
Itachi had no answer.
Silence was all he had left.
In truth, Kai's words were numbing him now. His head drooped, eyes vacant, his thoughts impossible to read even for Kai.
But that was fine.
The boy trusted him enough. Time to digest things was necessary.
If Itachi veered astray later, Kai could always steer him back.
Time trickled past.
Ten minutes later, Itachi finally raised his head.
"Sensei, this isn't right!"
"Maybe everyone else does it, but I can't accept it. I… I have to change it!"
"Maybe you'll think it's childish, but this is my dream."
His voice was firm.
He had found his conviction.
He didn't know if he could succeed, but he wanted to try.
Because this world was sick.
And this way of living was wrong.
Kai's lips curled into a smile.
He patted Itachi's head gently, chuckling.
"You're an interesting kid."
"You think your teacher can't tell right from wrong? Your dream is a good one. I support it."
"But remember this: the future may be bright, but the road is treacherous."
"Until you're strong enough to defy everything, never expose your heart. That would only make you a target for all."
"Blend in with the dust. Hide yourself. Grow as strong as you can, and learn as much about your enemies as possible."
"Know yourself and know the enemy, only then can you win a hundred battles."
"These ideals of yours—outside this door, you tell no one. Understood?"
Itachi nodded eagerly, happiness flashing across his face.
His teacher hadn't dismissed his dream. Instead, he'd supported it and even given him a way to protect it.
With such a teacher, he was truly fortunate.
What he didn't know was—
In Kai's eyes, this was already a perfect outcome.
If Itachi one day became a reformer, it would still be far better than being duped by Sarutobi Hiruzen's "Will of Fire" into butchering his entire clan.
This was already far, far better.
Just then, Uchiha Tekka burst in, his face grim.
No greetings, no pleasantries. He spoke at once:
"My lord! Just now, Anbu joined the Police Force. They said the Hokage has received authorization from Nara Shikaku's letter as acting Jounin Commander. He's called for a full Jounin Council in two hours."
"All Uchiha Jounin without missions are required to attend."
After speaking, Tekka bowed respectfully and waited silently for Kai's instructions.
Kai's brows furrowed slightly. His mind churned.
A Jounin Council?
Interesting.
He hardly needed to think that Hiruzen had found a counterstroke.
Otherwise, at such a time, he wouldn't be calling this meeting.
But this quickly?
Has Sarutobi's political instinct become so sharp?
There was no answer.
Still, clearly the Hokage had spotted a crack in the wall.
But what angle would he use?
Even as he tried to imagine it from Hiruzen's point of view, Kai came up blank.
Forget it.
Whatever the plan was, he'd see soon enough.
"Well, well. Interesting." Kai chuckled.
"I didn't expect our dear Hokage to be this capable. To find a countermeasure so fast—now I'm curious."
"Go inform the clan head, and summon the Jounin. We'll go together."
Tekka nodded briskly, wasting no time as he hurried from Kai's courtyard.
Watching him go, Itachi couldn't help asking:
"Sensei… is this trouble?"
Kai only laughed.
Ruffling the boy's hair, he spoke with unshakable confidence:
"Trouble? Hardly. Sarutobi Hiruzen? I don't even consider him worth worrying about."
"At worst, we lose. So what? It's not like the Uchiha can't afford to lose."
"The village isn't ready for an all-out war with us. So even if we stumble, they can't press too hard."
"And that's the worst-case scenario. Honestly, I don't believe I'll lose to Sarutobi Hiruzen at all."
"So relax. There's nothing to worry about."
To read 250+ Advance chapters, head over to Patreon:
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554