Uchiha Douhuan calmly brewed tea.
Ever since he had taken his first life on the battlefield at the age of nine, he had lived six long years walking the razor's edge between life and death. Again and again he lost comrades and teammates, and from that pain was born the power that defined his clan's bloodline — the Mangekyō Sharingan.
But that gift came with a curse. The burden on his mind was heavy, and more than once he had felt himself drifting toward madness. Perhaps that was only natural. After all, what owner of such eyes could remain entirely sane?
To keep himself balanced, he had taken up the art of tea after the war ended. A small ritual, a fragile thread that tethered him to normalcy.
His home was silent, broken only by the soft clink of porcelain and the faint hiss of steam.
Across from him, Kakashi's patience had already worn thin. He had never been the sort of man to seek spiritual solace, and now he went straight to the point.
"The record you showed me earlier… what did it mean?"
Douhuan broke his silence, passing him a steaming cup of tea. His voice was calm.
"Have you met Grandma Miori?"
Kakashi's lone visible eye lingered on him before he gave a slow nod. "Yes."
"Visit her often," Douhuan said softly. "It hasn't been easy for her. The clan has offered support, but loneliness is the harshest punishment of all."
Kakashi's voice tightened, unable to hold back his frustration. "First tell me what was written in that record."
Douhuan gave a small, knowing smile. "See? You're angry again." His tone carried a teasing warmth as he set the kettle back on the fire.
Taking the chance, Kakashi tugged down his mask just far enough to drain the tea in a single gulp before sliding it back into place. The heat wrinkled his face, and Douhuan could only shake his head with quiet amusement.
Then his expression grew serious.
"What you saw in that record is the truth. The full investigation has only just begun, but from what I've heard from the elders… White Fang-senpai was a great ninja. His end should never have been like that."
Kakashi's eye narrowed. For him, those words were strange to hear — in Konoha, his father's name was still spoken with resentment, even contempt.
Sensing his turmoil, Douhuan leaned forward.
"No matter what the world thinks, the Uchiha clan holds White Fang-senpai in the highest respect. You know better than anyone: loyalty to comrades is something we value above all else."
Kakashi inhaled deeply, his voice softer this time. "Thank you." A weight he had carried alone for years felt, at last, a little lighter.
But Douhuan wasn't finished. He set his cup aside and spoke in a lower tone.
"Still, I believe there's more behind White Fang-senpai's death. I suspect Danzo's hand was in it."
The name made Kakashi fall silent. Politics and power struggles were things far removed from him — but Douhuan understood. To uncover this truth, he needed Kakashi.
He thought to himself: Kakashi doesn't even realize his own political weight. As the last disciple of the Hokage, he is a living symbol. If his father's name is cleared, the entire village will turn to him. And when that day comes… the Uchiha will rise alongside him.
Finally, Douhuan made his decision.
"Leave it to me. I'll continue digging into this matter."
Kakashi gave a small nod. "Thank you."
"There's no need for gratitude," Douhuan said, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Just remember this — a hero should never meet such an end."
Kakashi said nothing more. He simply turned toward the window.
As he was about to leave, Douhuan called out, "In a day or two, come to the Security Department and take custody of that Wood Release user. His interrogation is nearly done, and keeping him there any longer will only bring trouble."
Kakashi acknowledged with a nod before slipping into the night, vanishing into the shadows.
Douhuan remained by the window, his eyes gleaming with a quiet resolve.
Once White Fang's name is restored, his son — the Hokage's disciple — will stand at the very center of the village. And when that moment arrives, no one will ever be able to suppress the Uchiha again.
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