Choice

These days, Uchiha Kagami used class time entirely to rest.

With the teacher lecturing up front, he slept better, leaving all his evenings free for training.

The Ninja Academy teachers could do nothing about it. Even though he slept every day, he still ranked first by an overwhelming margin in both academics and practical combat at the end of every term.

They had even approached Kagami Uchiha on their own initiative, offering to apply for his early graduation, but Kagami had refused.

The kids here spoke nicely, the boxed lunches were tasty, and it was a great place to sleep. Why graduate?

Why become a genin, catching cats and dogs, escorting merchant caravans, and having to eat Soldier Pills? What was the point?

Although relations between the nations were still tense, the cause of the Third Shinobi World War had yet to emerge.

That cause was the disappearance of the Third Kazekage.

During the Third Kazekage's administration, Sasori's parents had been killed while on a mission by Hatake Sakumo, the Konoha White Fang.

Since the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire had signed an alliance agreement, the Third Kazekage did not allow Sasori to take revenge.

Of course, it was also possible that the Third Kazekage knew Sasori was no match for the White Fang and did not trust him to act.

So Sasori redirected that hatred toward the Third Kazekage. Somehow, he killed the Third Kazekage and turned him into a Human Puppet.

Afterward, Sunagakure could not find their Kazekage. As they kept searching, they eventually started fighting Konoha.

Then the other ninja villages joined in one after another, and the cruelest Third Shinobi World War began.

It was the first ninja war since the establishment of the ninja village system in which all Five Great Ninja Villages participated.

It also cultivated future boss-level figures for the Fourth Shinobi World War, such as Uchiha Obito and Yakushi Kabuto.

The Yellow Flash, the AB Combo, Scorch Style Pakura, the Copy Ninja Kakashi... countless powerful figures made their names in that war as well.

It was rather amusing. The most famous Sharingan user of the Third Shinobi World War was actually Kakashi, an outsider.

It seemed that Shisui had also matured by the end of the war. That kid...

Hopefully, the education he received from childhood could change his saintly nature a little.

School was over.

Kakashi, who had skipped class all day, leaned against the entrance. When he saw Kagami Uchiha approaching, he straightened up.

"Kagami, my father wants to see you. Please!" As he spoke, he bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

Even when Kagami Uchiha had beaten him badly before, Kakashi had never humbled himself like this.

The Medicinal Bath was scheduled for after Kagami Uchiha's training, so there was enough time.

Hatake Residence.

The few lamps provided little light, leaving the inner hall somewhat dim.

Kagami Uchiha walked in alone and saw the Konoha White Fang, whose name was renowned throughout the ninja world.

His once-tall, muscular body now looked like little more than a skeleton covered in flesh.

His white hair was dry and withered, and there was barely any light left in his eyes.

He was only around thirty, the prime of a ninja's life, yet Hatake Sakumo was suffused with an air of decay.

"You must be Kagami-kun. Kakashi mentions you often." His voice was hoarse, as though even finishing a full sentence took all his strength.

"Hello, Jonin Hatake."

Kagami Uchiha did not like making conversation, so he waited for Hatake Sakumo to speak.

"Kakashi conveyed your words to me. Kagami-kun, your Sharingan possesses greater insight than that of any Uchiha I have ever seen."

"I truly cannot figure it out. Could I borrow some of your wisdom..."

"Tell me... what is the right thing to do?"

Kagami Uchiha frowned slightly. He was no good at counseling people, either.

Then he would get straight to the point.

"Jonin Hatake, do you know who leaked the details of this mission?"

"...I can roughly guess."

"It should have been the Hokage's advisor, Lord Danzo."

"Danzo did it, and the Hokage did not stop him. That is the situation." Kagami Uchiha laid out the facts directly.

"You want to kill yourself because your image of the Third Hokage has shattered, right?"

"Image... what does that mean?"

"It means you cannot see what he is truly like. From your perspective, the Third Hokage has always been a perfect, generous elder."

"Kagami-kun's metaphor is very apt..."

"Then... why was Lord Third unwilling to help me..."

"How could he help you? The news is already public. Should he say that comrades are more important than missions?"

"Would the Daimyo's and Nobles' missions still matter then? Who would trust Konoha after that?"

"Or should he say missions are more important than comrades?"

"Then what would become of the Will of Fire he has always advocated, of cherishing comrades? What would the people in the village think of him?"

"This was an unsolvable problem from the start."

Hatake Sakumo fell silent.

Kagami Uchiha slowly said, "The Third Hokage is human. As long as someone is human, they have selfish desires. He could not overturn the foundation of his beliefs for your sake."

"Besides, this incident was also a good thing for the Third Hokage's faction. After all, someone with a stain on his record is no longer qualified to compete for the position of Fourth Hokage."

"I never wanted to become the Fourth Hokage!" Hatake Sakumo raised his voice slightly.

"Whether you want it or not is unimportant. What matters is that you have the ability."

Kagami Uchiha's cold gaze shattered Hatake Sakumo's last shred of illusion.

"From their perspective, there was nothing wrong with acting this way. They probably never imagined that it would give you thoughts of suicide."

"They merely wanted a blade with a stain, not a vessel that might become a 'Jewel.'"

"If it were up to me, after this incident, they would move you from the light into the shadows and use you for some unsavory work."

"What... would they want me to do..."

Kagami Uchiha pointed at himself and smiled. "Isn't that easy to figure out? They would use you against the Uchiha."

"We Uchiha are the greatest source of instability in their eyes."

"Kagami-kun, we are all comrades from the same village. Why..."

"There is no why. Whenever people gather together, there will inevitably be conflict."

"Only by subjugating their own kind can people experience the thrill of feeling superior."

"That is the poison called power."

"...Despite being so much older than you, I see things far less clearly..."

"That is normal. You have not received an education."

"I attended the Ninja Academy for several years too..."

"We are not talking about the same thing." Kagami Uchiha waved a hand impatiently. He had said too many lines today; it did not fit the Uchiha's aloof persona.

"I will not try to persuade you otherwise. If you truly cannot bear it, suicide is indeed a good way to escape."

"Anyway, Kakashi lost his mother long ago. Losing a father too would not make much difference."

Kagami Uchiha had said so much, but in truth, it was that final sentence that played the decisive role.

Could Kakashi, who was not yet a ninja, truly adapt to life without his father...

Hatake Sakumo was a war orphan. Having had no parents from the time he could remember, he found it difficult to imagine the pain of losing one's parents.

If Kakashi had already been a ninja, he could at least have comforted himself by believing Kakashi could endure it...

He had not eaten for several days. With difficulty, he shifted his body and performed a Dogeza before the seated Kagami Uchiha.

"What should I do? Please tell me."

Hatake Sakumo was a blade. Once he was made to think for himself, it was easy for him to enter a dead end.

He was still used to finding someone he trusted and acting according to their instructions.

The corners of Kagami Uchiha's lips rose slightly.

"It is simple. No matter what decision you make, even if it is wrong, you must stick with it."

"Go beat up everyone who says you were wrong, and tell them that comrades are more important than missions!"

"If they refuse to accept it, beat them until they do. Breaking their limbs is fine. If you are still angry, you can kill one or two of them."

"At worst, you will spend a few years in prison. Given your merits, you will not be sentenced to death."

"I understand..." Hatake Sakumo pondered for a moment, then raised his head to look at Kagami Uchiha.

"Kagami-kun, it seems you have already chosen which side the Uchiha and the village should stand on."

Kagami Uchiha shook his head.

"It is not about which side I choose."

"It is about which side chooses me, so it can become the victor."