The Benefits of Identity, Seisui's Thoughts

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the Crystal Ball, watching Seisui with eyes full of admiration.

In his view, Seisui was nothing like a narrow-minded, arrogant traditional Uchiha. His words and actions shone brightly with the Will of Fire.

He had healed Might Guy and encouraged him. Even though Seisui could have crushed him with ninjutsu, he chose to fight mainly with taijutsu, speaking words of encouragement to his classmate and ending with a positive vow to become "Lifelong Rivals."

As for Rin Nohara, while Hiruzen felt Seisui's actions were a bit deliberately ambiguous, he was happy to see it and saw no problem.

Love was the strongest bond to tether a ninja's heart, often representing the founding of a family...

Hiruzen wished every Uchiha would take an interest in Konoha ninjas outside the clan. If so, he wouldn't have to worry. After a few generations, the Uchiha would naturally merge with Konoha.

But what moved him most was what Seisui said to Obito Uchiha: "Don't let emotions and power blind your eyes. A ninja's clear and rational heart is the most precious treasure."

Combined with Seisui's fighting style, which resembled Tobirama Senju's in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, and his clear understanding of the Uchiha Clan...

It gave Hiruzen a strange sense of déjà vu, as if the Youth Tobirama Senju had been reborn in Konoha, only reincarnated into the Uchiha Clan...

Hiruzen shook his head violently, tossing that blasphemous thought from his mind. Remembering his teacher's stern, cold gaze, he instinctively felt a chill on his neck.

"If my teacher knew what I was just thinking, I'd be in for a harsh scolding when I see him in the afterlife..."

Hiruzen chuckled, shook his head, and muttered a joke to himself. He picked up the report on Seisui delivered by Anbu and read it intently, his expression growing more and more intrigued.

After finishing, he pondered for a moment, then slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. "Kagami, so Seisui Uchiha is your descendant? If that's the case, then things are different."

"No wonder Seisui loves the Will of Fire so much, even imitating my teacher's fighting style. The root is here. Now everything makes sense. He's a good kid with the right foundation..."

"Since you passed away, the relationship between the village and the Uchiha has grown more tense. As your old teammate, I failed to look after your descendant. Please forgive me, Kagami..."

For a moment, the Hokage of Konoha, now past fifty, closed his eyes as a flood of chaotic thoughts filled his mind.

Childhood friends, youthful teammates, a friend's descendant, the tangled conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha...

After a long while, Hiruzen slowly opened his eyes and muttered to himself, "I still need to talk to this little one in person before making any plans."

"What happened today will soon reach the Uchiha Clan. Let's see how they react first. A seven- or eight-year-old Double Tomoe genius, and Seisui, this Youth who resembles my teacher so much..."

"Such a wealth of talent. The Uchiha Clan, with their enviable gifts."

Recalling Seisui's words, Hiruzen slowly smiled. "Right, the little brat Seisui said he's looking forward to the Will of Fire interpretation exam. Then this time, I'll personally set the questions and grade the papers. Let's see how he does."

Hiruzen rose leisurely and headed for the Ninja Academy, planning to spend half a day there as an exam proctor.

He didn't even realize it himself...

After seeing Seisui's identity as "Kagami Uchiha's descendant" and his performance, Hiruzen's address for Seisui had shifted from the initial "Seisui Uchiha" to the affectionate "little brat Seisui," subconsciously treating him as "one of his own."

That was the benefit of identity. People with backing, even in a world of supernatural power like the Hokage's, had more opportunities than ordinary folk...

But risk often walked hand in hand with opportunity.

#

"Brother, what are you going to do from now on..."

After the practical exam officially ended, Shisui and Seisui walked home together. Frowning with worry, Shisui said, "Your deeds will spread through all of Konoha soon..."

"An Uchiha who resembles the Second Hokage and loves the Will of Fire—that's too sensational. From now on, both the Uchiha Clan and Konoha's higher-ups will have their eyes on you."

"You understand, right, brother? Given the Uchiha Clan's current attitude toward Konoha, the clan will definitely resist your actions. They'll send people to suppress you. And the village's higher-ups might not accept you either."

Shisui's expression grew more serious, even a hint of melancholy in his eyes.

Seisui glanced at Shisui in surprise and laughed.

Compared to the original timeline's Obito Uchiha, who wanted to destroy the world and force everyone to start over, or Itachi Uchiha, who slaughtered his own kin, his little brother Shisui, though also abstract, at least had some bottom line.

His original timeline's last words went like this: "I'm tired of missions. This way, the Uchiha Clan has no future. I don't want to go on like this either. Let me rest."

Overall, after seeing the gap in combat power between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha, and being ambushed by Shimura Danzō, he lost hope in the Will of Fire and grew weary of life.

It could be called cowardice, but no matter what, Shisui in the original timeline was beloved by his clan and never turned his blade against the Uchiha.

What was even more interesting was that when Seisui stepped up and walked the path Shisui had originally tried, with even greater momentum...

Six-year-old Shisui seemed wiser than his fifteen-year-old self, seeing through the hypocrisy of Konoha and the Uchiha higher-ups with clear insight, deeply worried for his brother Seisui.

Maybe that was the Uchiha way...

When things happened to themselves, their thinking often went to extremes. But if it happened to a brother, their minds would race with crystal clarity.

Seisui pulled Shisui over, grinning as he tucked him under his sturdy arm. "And you know that? A mere six-year-old brat, and you were thinking of doing something so risky before?"

"Relax. My Will of Fire is flawless. My identity is as Kagami Uchiha's descendant. My specialty is the Second Hokage's Water Release. I even publicly stated the relationship between the Sharingan and emotions..."

"The village's higher-ups will be watching this match. My persona is perfect. You don't need to worry about me."

"As for the clan, I'll handle it. Uchiha ninjas only recognize fists. And as it happens, I'm very good at dealing with them..."

Seisui pinched Shisui's flushed cheeks, his gaze deep.

He didn't care about the Uchiha Clan or Konoha. He only believed in his own strength.

With the Otsutsuki Clan lurking beyond the heavens, gains and losses of a single city or territory would look laughable from the future.

But what Seisui could guarantee was this.

On this journey, the ninjas who walked alongside him—Seisui would at least give them a better life than in the original timeline...

As for ninjas who bore him ill will, Seisui would wring every last bit of value from them, turning their ashes into fuel for future peace...

Woke up late...

Woke up a little after seven, figured I'd sleep a bit more...

Then I opened my eyes, and it was almost ten...

I might've fallen under Seisui's genjutsu (shrug)... There's still another chapter coming, but it'll be a little late...