Choice

By now, Uchiha Jing used class time entirely for resting.

Listening to the teacher's explanations from the podium improved the quality of his sleep, leaving him able to devote all his nighttime hours to training.

The Ninja Academy teachers could do nothing about it. After all, even though he slept every day, he still ranked first by a landslide in both academics and practical combat at the end of every term.

They had even taken the initiative to suggest applying for his early graduation, but Uchiha Jing was unwilling.

The little brats here were pleasant to talk to, the rations were tasty, and sleeping was comfortable. Why graduate?

Why become a Genin who had to catch cats and dogs, escort merchant caravans, and eat Ration Pills? What was the point?

Although relations between the various countries were still tense, the cause of the Third Shinobi World War had yet to appear.

That was the disappearance of the Third Kazekage.

Sasori's parents had been killed by Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, while carrying out a mission during the Third Kazekage's rule.

Considering that the Wind and Fire Countries had signed the Alliance Agreement, the Third Kazekage forbade Sasori from seeking revenge.

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

So Sasori redirected that hatred toward the Third Kazekage. No one knew how he had killed the Third Kazekage and turned him into a Human Puppet.

Afterward, Sunagakure could not find its Kazekage. As they searched and searched, they eventually started fighting Konohagakure.

Then the other Ninja Villages joined in one after another, beginning the most brutal Third Shinobi War.

Since the establishment of the village system, this was the first shinobi war in which all Five Great Shinobi Villages participated.

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

The Yellow Flash, the AB Combo, Scorching Release Pakura, Copy Ninja Kakashi... Countless powerful figures made their names in this war.

Ironically, the most famous Sharingan user of the Third Shinobi War was an outsider—Kakashi.

It seemed that toward the end of the war, Shisui had also grown into his own. That kid...

Hopefully, his education from childhood would change his saintly nature.

After school.

Kakashi, who had skipped class for an entire day, leaned against the entrance. When he saw Uchiha Jing approaching, he straightened up.

"Jing, my father wants to meet you. Please!" As he spoke, he bowed ninety degrees.

In the past, no matter how badly Uchiha Jing had beaten him, Kakashi had never been so humble.

The Medicinal Bath had been scheduled after Uchiha Jing's training, so there was enough time.

Hatake Residence.

A few lamps provided little light, leaving the inner hall somewhat gloomy.

Uchiha Jing walked in alone and saw the famous Konoha's White Fang.

His once-tall, sturdy body now seemed like a skeleton supporting a layer of flesh.

His white hair was withered, and his eyes held almost no light.

He was only around thirty, the prime of a shinobi's life, yet Hatake Sakumo was already filled with a decaying aura.

"You must be Jing-kun. Kakashi often mentions you." His voice was hoarse, as though completing a full sentence took great effort.

"Greetings, Hatake Jonin."

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

"Kakashi conveyed your words to me, Jing-kun. Your Sharingan has greater insight than any Uchiha I have ever seen."

"I truly cannot understand it. May I borrow your wisdom..."

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

Uchiha Jing frowned slightly. He was no good at psychological counseling either.

Then he would get straight to the point.

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

"...I have a rough idea."

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

"Danzo did it, and the Hokage did not stop him. That is the situation." Uchiha Jing stated the facts bluntly.

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

"Idealized image... What does that mean?"

"It means you cannot see his true appearance. From your perspective, the Third Hokage has always been a perfect, generous elder."

"Jing-kun's analogy is quite apt..."

"So... why was the Third Hokage unwilling to help me?"

"How could he help you? The information has already been made public. Was he supposed to say that comrades were more important than missions?"

"If he did that, would the Daimyo and nobles still commission missions? Who would trust Konohagakure anymore?"

"Say that missions are more important than comrades?"

"Then what about the Will of Fire he has always advocated, and cherishing one's comrades? How would the people in the village see him?"

"This was an unsolvable problem to begin with."

Hatake Sakumo fell silent.

Uchiha Jing spoke slowly. "The Third Hokage is human. And as long as someone is human, they will have selfish desires. He cannot overturn the foundation of his own position just for your sake."

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

"I never thought about becoming Fourth Hokage!" Hatake Sakumo's voice rose slightly.

"Whether you thought about it is unimportant. What matters is that you have the ability."

Uchiha Jing's cold gaze shattered the last trace of Hatake Sakumo's illusion.

"From their perspective, there was nothing wrong with acting this way. They probably never imagined that it would make you consider taking your own life."

"They wanted a stained blade, not a vessel that might become jade."

"Based on my guess, after this incident, they will move you from the light into the shadows and use you for things that cannot be seen."

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

Uchiha Jing pointed at himself and smiled. "Isn't it obvious? Use you to deal with the Uchiha."

"We Uchiha are the greatest destabilizing factor in their eyes."

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

"There is no why. As long as people gather together, there will inevitably be conflict."

"People can experience superiority only by subjugating their own kind."

"That is the poison known as power."

"...Despite being so much older than you, I am still nowhere near as perceptive as you when it comes to seeing through things..."

"That's normal. You never received an education."

"I also spent several years at the Ninja Academy..."

"That is not what we are talking about." Uchiha Jing waved impatiently. He had spoken too many lines today. It did not fit the aloof Uchiha persona.

"I will not say anything to encourage you. If you truly cannot bear it, taking your own life is indeed a good way to escape."

"Anyway, Kakashi lost his mother long ago. Losing his father too won't make much difference."

Uchiha Jing had said so much, but in the end, it was that last sentence that made the difference.

Could Kakashi, who was not yet a shinobi, really adapt to life without his father?

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

If Kakashi were already a shinobi, he could still comfort himself by believing that Kakashi could endure it...

He had not eaten for several days. He moved his body with difficulty and performed a dogeza before the seated Uchiha Jing.

"What should I do? Please, tell me."

Hatake Sakumo was a blade. Once he began thinking things through on his own, it was easy for him to enter a dead end.

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

The corners of Uchiha Jing's mouth lifted slightly.

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

"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 all four of their limbs is fine. If you still cannot vent your anger, you can kill one or two."

"At most, you will spend a few years in prison. With your achievements, they will not sentence you to death."

"I understand..." Hatake Sakumo pondered for a while, then raised his head and looked at Uchiha Jing.

"Jing-kun, it seems you have already chosen which side to stand on—the Uchiha or the village."

Uchiha Jing shook his head.

"It is not about which side I choose."

"It is about which side chooses me. That side will become the victor."