Eat Faithful Oranges or Green Garlic (Part 1)

Since he had decided to take Sasuke as his disciple, Uchiha Toko naturally intended to teach him properly.

Uchiha Toko had carefully considered his choice of Confucian classics as Sasuke's introductory reading. First, Sasuke was not yet seven years old. Coupled with the precedent of his older brother always thinking up all sorts of strange ideas from a young age, it was especially important to first establish a relatively simple moral framework and let the boy understand which qualities were good and which were unacceptable. In other words, he needed to build up Sasuke's outward face first.

Then, when Sasuke discovered that this set of ideas was insufficient to explain the world before his eyes, he would naturally fall into confusion. That would be the time to teach him the real things and fill that outward face with substance.

In this era, the relationship between master and disciple was in no way inferior to that of biological father and son. Since he had taken Sasuke as his disciple, Sasuke would be qualified to inherit Uchiha Toko's political resources in the future. Naturally, Uchiha Toko would not train Sasuke into a cynic who spouted nothing but empty classical phrases.

After Sasuke left, Uchiha Toko also went out with Swift Lightning at his waist.

Not long afterward, within the Aburame Clan Territory, Aburame Shibi, the clan head of this generation, received information returned by the reconnaissance insects stationed around the clan grounds. Learning that Uchiha Toko was heading toward their territory, he immediately treated the matter as a grave threat and hurriedly summoned the clan's jonin.

The Aburame Clan Territory was even more remote than the area the Uchiha Clan had moved to after the Nine-Tails Incident. With Swift Lightning hanging at his waist, Uchiha Toko walked at an unhurried pace along a small path without even streetlamps, one that could only barely be made out by moonlight.

The faint Chakra fluctuations in the surrounding bushes naturally could not escape Uchiha Toko's eyes, but he paid them little mind.

Before long, Uchiha Toko arrived at the entrance to the Aburame Clan Territory. Looking toward a genin guard wearing the Aburame family's signature sunglasses, he spoke warmly. "Please go inside and announce that Uchiha Toko has come to visit."

"Yes, please wait a moment." The genin guarding the clan gates nodded, then turned and entered the clan territory.

Uchiha Toko waited patiently. Before long, Aburame Shibi personally arrived to receive him, accompanied by two jonin from the clan.

"I have kept Clan Head Uchiha waiting. Please forgive me." After stepping outside, Aburame Shibi cupped his hands in greeting.

"Clan Head Aburame need not say that. Coming so late at night, I should be the one apologizing for the disturbance." Uchiha Toko smiled. "Besides, Clan Head Aburame need not be so formal. Today, I have come only in a personal capacity."

"Clan Head Douhuan, please." Aburame Shibi extended a hand in invitation.

After following them into the Aburame Clan Territory, Uchiha Toko arrived at the reception room and looked it over. It was clear that the Aburame Clan's circumstances had indeed not been very good in recent years. Even this reception room, the clan's public face, appeared somewhat plain.

"Our clan is humble and cannot compare to the Uchiha Clan. Please forgive the poor showing, Clan Head Douhuan," Aburame Shibi said.

Once they were seated, Aburame Shibi gestured for a maid to serve tea. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he finally asked, "May I ask what brings Clan Head Douhuan here so late at night?"

"Clan Head Aburame, at the Third Hokage's request, our Military Police Force has been thoroughly investigating the traitor Shimura Danzō and his criminal organization. Recently, we have made a breakthrough." Uchiha Toko said, "However, Shimura Danzō, this tumor within the village, has operated for many years. His influence runs deep and is tangled throughout the village. During the investigation, it was inevitable that some ninja clans within the village would be implicated. Out of concern for the village's current stability, the Third Hokage repeatedly instructed the Military Police Force to exercise the utmost caution in dealing with such matters." Uchiha Toko said, "That is why I have come here."

At the mention of business, Aburame Shibi's expression grew solemn as well.

He let out a long sigh and said helplessly, "Is this because of Ryoma? Danzo took him to Root when he was very young. After that, our clan lost contact with him."

"I understand." Uchiha Toko nodded. "The Uchiha Clan had also heard of how Shimura Danzō forcibly recruited talented ninja from the village through coercive means."

"It is good that Clan Head Douhuan understands." Hearing Uchiha Toko's words, Aburame Shibi relaxed slightly.

"But..." Uchiha Toko shifted his tone, and Aburame Shibi's heart rose to his throat again.

"Aburame Ryoma's status in Root was not low. Conservatively speaking, he should have been the organization's second- or third-ranking leader, subordinate only to Danzo. Furthermore, according to the Military Police Force's investigation, he played an extremely critical role in the criminal activities Shimura Danzō planned and carried out. During the arrest, he violently resisted capture and attempted to destroy Root's Evidence of Crimes. That adds another charge to his crimes."

"This..." Cold sweat beaded on Aburame Shibi's forehead. After a long while, he continued, "Our Aburame Clan knew nothing of what Ryoma had done. I ask that Clan Head Douhuan judge this fairly."

"From the standpoint of a ninja clan, I completely understand Clan Head Aburame." Uchiha Toko slowly lifted the tea before him. After taking a sip, he said, "After all, who could guarantee that their own clan would not produce a few fools who did not know what was good for them? Especially when Aburame Ryoma was taken away as a child by that inherently wicked old ghost Danzo and brainwashed into his present state."

"However..." Uchiha Toko set down his teacup and looked directly at Aburame Shibi. "My understanding is useless. The Aburame Clan must make the village understand."

"What do you mean, Clan Head Douhuan?" Aburame Shibi asked, somewhat confused.

"Clan Head Aburame should know what most of the village's residents are like." Uchiha Toko took out a document and placed it before Aburame Shibi.

The moment Aburame Shibi picked up the document and looked at it, his pupils contracted behind his sunglasses.

The document listed Aburame Ryoma's Evidence of Crimes in Root one by one, including but not limited to assisting Danzo in assassinating ninja from the same village and kidnapping children from bloodline-limit clans.

Once this evidence was made public, Konoha's residents would not care about the details. They would only blame the Aburame Clan. As the head of a moderately sized ninja clan, Aburame Shibi knew the village residents' nature all too well. Even the White Fang, who had once shaken the Ninja World, had been driven to suicide by public opinion within the village. Could their tiny Aburame Clan withstand it?

"Clan Head Douhuan, what should the Aburame Clan do? Please instruct us plainly," Aburame Shibi said.

"Clan Head Aburame, have I not already said so? Personally, I believe in the Aburame Clan's innocence." Uchiha Toko chuckled. "However, if you want the village to believe it as well, the Aburame Clan must show its attitude."