Thought Education Class

"Fine, if you want to apologize, then apologize."

"But if I don't accept it, how will you respond, sir?"

Shisui Uchiha: "..."

Seeing Shisui's stunned expression, Uchiha Gen was secretly amused. He smiled and said, "Alright, I was just joking with you. Of course I accept it."

"Now let me tell you about Senior Minato, Kakashi, and Rin. I might not be completely right, so just take it as a reference."

"I understand. Thank you."

Shisui Uchiha nodded heavily. As a ninja, one had to possess the ability to analyze intelligence and judge whether it was true or false.

Uchiha Gen then shared some of his views on the three of them, most of which were words of praise.

Naturally, he could not speak badly of his former teammates under such circumstances.

After listening, Shisui Uchiha formed a rough impression of the three, and he could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The young clan leader had high hopes for this matter, and it would also be a great benefit to the Uchiha Clan. He might become a Hokage's disciple like his grandfather, Kagami Uchiha. He absolutely could not mess this up.

"By the way, Shisui, how is the situation on the Hidden Mist Battlefield?"

Shisui Uchiha came back to his senses and shook his head. "The frontline has suffered considerable losses. Before I returned, it was still at a stalemate."

"I also don't understand why Lord Hokage only sent a small force instead of dispatching a large army as reinforcements..."

It was most likely to weaken the power of Konoha's major clans. Still, they probably would not go too far. A large force should be sent as reinforcements before long.

Although Konoha's military strength was currently weak, it could still assemble a large army if it truly wanted to mobilize one.

In fact, there was no need to send a large army. Konoha's top-tier combatants, leading some elite ninja, would be enough to end the war.

That was what he thought, but Uchiha Gen said, "The higher-ups probably have considerations we don't know about. We should trust Lord Hokage."

"You're right, Gen."

"Our position isn't high enough, so it's easy for us to overlook things and make the wrong decisions."

"Lord Hokage and the others stand high enough and have more information to aid their judgment, so they can consider matters more thoroughly."

Uchiha Gen: "???"

I only said that casually, and you've already started brainwashing yourself?

If this continued, this guy would definitely be led around by Danzo and the others in the future, unable to tell east from west, and end up comprehending a twisted Will of Fire.

No, he had to take this chance to slip in some of his own ideas for Shisui, so he would not be so easily deceived.

"Shisui, are you saying that the higher-ups are guaranteed to consider everything thoroughly?" Uchiha Gen asked with an incredulous expression.

"Not exactly. As long as they are human, they will make mistakes to some degree. What I mean is that they can consider things more thoroughly than we can."

Phew... He hasn't completely fallen into it yet. There's still hope.

"If the higher-ups had to sacrifice the interests of certain people in order to consider everything thoroughly, such as the interests of the Uchiha Clan, what would you think?"

Shisui Uchiha paused at those words, a thoughtful look appearing on his face. Then he said, "If the sacrifice is not great, then for Konoha's sake, I think it would be worth it. What do you think?"

Uchiha Gen smiled. "What do I think..."

"I think the very idea of sacrificing the interests of some people is not thorough in itself. But if the sacrifice is small, then for Konoha's sake, it isn't unacceptable."

Shisui Uchiha smiled at those words. Their thoughts were generally still the same.

"The premise is that it is for Konoha, not for the Konoha higher-ups."

Shisui Uchiha's body trembled slightly as he looked at Uchiha Gen in shock...

"Shisui, you need to understand one concept: the Konoha higher-ups are not entirely the same as Konoha."

"Therefore, the interests of the Konoha higher-ups are not entirely the same as Konoha's interests."

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Shisui Uchiha nodded as if he understood, then shook his head again.

"For example, a clan produces talents one after another and prospers greatly. But these talents are unruly, and the most outstanding among them have already begun to threaten the positions of the clan head and elders."

"If the clan continues developing, it will become even more prosperous. But at the same time, the clan head and elders will gradually be replaced by the younger generation."

"At that point, the interests of the clan's higher-ups have come into conflict with the interests of the clan itself."

"When faced with such a situation, those with little desire for power will step down and yield their positions to the worthy. But what about the opposite kind of people?"

Shisui Uchiha's expression turned solemn. "They would suppress or even eliminate them, preserving their own power and status even at the cost of cutting off the clan's promising future."

"Exactly. This applies to clans, villages, and nations alike."

"So, do you understand what I said earlier now?"

Shisui Uchiha said solemnly, "I understand."

"Then what would you choose?"

"Let me first tell you what I would choose."

"For the sake of the collective, I can sacrifice a certain amount of my own interests. But for the sake of the collective's higher-ups, I will not allow my interests to suffer even the slightest loss."

"Because when the higher-ups of a collective do not consider the collective's interests and only consider their own, they have already betrayed the collective. They are traitors to it."

Shisui Uchiha carefully considered Uchiha Gen's words. Only after a while did he say, "You're right, Gen. I too would only sacrifice my own interests, even my life, for the collective."

Uchiha Gen smiled, then continued, "Shisui, you surely know about the Will of Fire, right?"

"Of course. It was the first lesson at the Ninja Academy, and it is emphasized every year."

"The exact wording is: Wherever the leaves of Konoha dance, fire lives on. The fire's light will continue to illuminate the village and cause new leaves to sprout."

"Its meaning is: The young are the hope of the future, and the older generation must trust and protect them. The sacrifices of the older generation are not meaningless. They inspire the young and allow them to become the pillars who bear the future."

"Its extended meaning is: For Konoha's sake, we should not fear sacrifice. Sacrifice is to protect Konoha, our families, and the villagers. Those who sacrifice are Konoha's heroes, and people should take them as examples!"

Shisui spoke smoothly and in one breath, without the slightest pause.

"Do you think that is right?" Uchiha Gen asked seriously.

"I think it is right."

Normally, Shisui would have answered without the slightest hesitation, but this time he paused briefly before answering.

"I think it is right too."

Shisui inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, his understanding had not been shattered again...

"The Will of Fire means that individual interests should be sacrificed for collective interests, right?"

Shisui nodded.

"Then, Shisui, do you know the specific relationship between individual interests and collective interests?"

Shisui thought seriously for a while before answering, "Are they mutually dependent?"

"Yes. Shisui, you really are smart."

Shisui smiled embarrassedly at that.

"Generally speaking, individual interests and collective interests are fundamentally aligned."

"For example, when the village prospers, it becomes easier for individuals to do well too. You understand that, right?"

"I understand, but why do you say 'easier' instead of 'certain'?"

"Because sometimes collective interests must be harmed for individual interests to be preserved or even grow greater, like in the example I gave earlier."

Shisui nodded, indicating that he understood.

"When individual interests and collective interests come into conflict, then in the long run and from the larger perspective, collective interests should indeed take priority."

"In other words, individual interests should make sacrifices, but..."

Uchiha Gen emphasized, "But such sacrifices have limits. Individual interests cannot be sacrificed without limit, otherwise that would be putting the cart before the horse."

"A collective that sacrifices individual interests without limit has already headed toward darkness."

"Shisui, do you know the original purpose behind the founding of Konoha?"

Shisui shook his head. He had not yet had the time to study, search through, or contemplate history.

"I looked through the clan's records and asked the older generation. I learned that Konoha was founded so children would no longer have to go to war, and for the sake of peace."

"If one day, certain people, in order to seize greater benefits, used high-sounding excuses to force children onto the battlefield..."

"Wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?"

"Yes!" Shisui Uchiha said decisively, his eyes shining brightly.

"Um... Gen, do you have some issue with the Konoha higher-ups? Why do I keep feeling like you're hinting at something?" Shisui Uchiha asked as he scratched his head.

"I have no issue with Lord Hokage," Uchiha Gen said against his true feelings.

"I have an issue with the man known as the Darkness of the Shinobi World."

"I'm sure you know something about Root's existence and methods, Shisui."

"It is only because the Uchiha are strong and our clan head is forceful enough that we can remain in the Uchiha Clan. Otherwise, whether geniuses like us could still be here now would be hard to say..."

Shisui Uchiha suddenly understood. "So that's how it is. Root really is not a good place."

"Alright, that's enough for today."

"Then I'll take my leave first. I'll come find you again when I have the chance. You really know a lot."

"You're welcome anytime. I'll see you out."

"Alright, thank you."

The two left the living room. Uchiha Gen watched Shisui, whose face was full of thought, depart as thoughts churned in his mind.

After this lesson in ideological education, Shisui should not be so easily blinded by lofty ideals anymore, right?

He would observe him in the future. If he changed, then fine. If not, he would learn a trick from Danzo—but take it one step further, with a double-handed scoop!

Uchiha Gen turned and returned indoors to train, entertain himself, and sleep.

The next day passed peacefully. Uchiha Gen trained and lived according to his usual routine.

The third day was the same.

It was not until the fourth day that Anko delivered the message that Orochimaru wanted to see him. Uchiha Gen returned home to wash up, then headed for the agreed location.

The author's depth is only so-so. If anything seems unreasonable, just read it for fun and don't take it too seriously. Suggestions are welcome, but please do not make personal attacks.