Uchiha Jin's tone was solemn.
Young Kakashi was practically the embodiment of recklessness.
Compared to him, even Naruto Uzumaki would have to admit defeat. If Uchiha Jin told him what he knew now, that kid would dare charge into the Hokage's Office and make a scene.
Even taking a step back, staying out of trouble wouldn't work!
Kakashi was far too young and completely lacking in guile. He couldn't keep anything bottled up inside.
If he happened to run into Sarutobi Hiruzen or Danzo and a trace of anger or killing intent showed in his eyes, then certain death would await Kakashi.
"You're going too far!"
Kakashi felt extremely aggrieved at those words. He puffed out his cheeks and said, "I handed all of my father's belongings over to you, and you only tell me that I can't say anything?"
"There's nothing I can do. You're too immature." Uchiha Jin shrugged. "You still need to grow."
Kakashi could only fall silent.
He wasn't stupid. He could sense that the other man was doing this for his own good. So even though he felt terribly frustrated, he ultimately had no choice but to accept it.
"Fine."
"Since Dad chose to trust you, I'll trust you one more time."
Kakashi let out a soft sigh and stopped asking questions.
In the original work.
Hatake Sakumo had committed suicide without discussing it with Kakashi. Now, however, the appearance of this butterfly of his had caused a deviation before Hatake Sakumo's suicide, which made Kakashi realize that there was something wrong with his father's death.
After pondering for a moment, he spoke again. "There's one thing I can't understand. Ninja Clans all have industries of their own, so why would they still embezzle funds?"
Lin Mo froze.
He hadn't expected Kakashi to be curious about something like this. Still, after thinking for a moment, he began to speak.
"The reason is very simple!"
"First of all, this world is deeply twisted. Although Ninja Clans have their own industries, their management abilities are mediocre."
"The most lucrative monopolies belong to the Daimyo. The next tier of profitable businesses belongs to the nobility, followed by the wealthy merchants supported by the nobles. As for the Ninja Clans, they can only pick up a few scraps."
"Shinobi are weapons!"
"The Daimyo and the nobles would never allow the shinobi to become too wealthy. Otherwise, if the shinobi had both power and financial independence, what purpose would the Daimyo and nobles still serve?"
"The Daimyo control the finances, while Konoha controls the military."
"If a Ninja Clan dared to involve itself too deeply in finance, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire would immediately contact the other four nations and gather the power of the entire Shinobi World to destroy Konoha."
"It was precisely this fragile ecosystem that created the delicate balance between the Daimyo and the Kage of each country."
"None of the Five Great Shinobi Villages dared break it lightly!"
"So although Ninja Clans could own a few industries, Konoha's finances still relied primarily on funding from the Daimyo."
"That was the true bulk of the village's income. As for the missions the village undertook, they were merely a supplement to its finances. And because the Daimyo's annual funding was limited, the various Ninja Clans naturally had to abandon all shame in fighting over those limited resources."
"Otherwise, if the other Ninja Clans became too strong while your own became too weak, your clan would soon decline!"
"Therefore, they had no choice but to compete!"
Uchiha Jin didn't mind explaining more about this sort of thing.
The reason was simple!
Kakashi had been exposed to the Will of Fire from a young age. Only by exposing him to more political maneuvering could he develop the right values.
Therefore, he taught Kakashi nearly everything about the Shinobi World's bizarre and fragile political ecosystem, breaking it down piece by piece.
"So this is the truth."
Kakashi fell deep in thought, his entire body sinking into contemplation.
The education he had received before was very simple. The Daimyo were merely people of noble blood, and the shinobi of each village naturally had to serve them.
Only now, after hearing Lin Mo's explanation, did he truly see the truth!
Although the Five Great Shinobi Villages were constantly at war, the Daimyo of the various countries were secretly united. Whenever the Kage of a village tried to break free of their control, the Daimyo of the Five Great Nations would join forces to issue missions targeting that village. No matter how powerful Konoha was, it couldn't withstand an attack by the other four villages at once.
The other Shinobi Villages were much the same!
It was precisely this fragile balance that had created the awkward relationship between the Daimyo and the Kage.
"All right, Kakashi."
"You're still too young. The filthy business of political maneuvering isn't something you can involve yourself in yet."
"Focus on your training and become stronger as soon as possible."
"The Third Shinobi World War is coming. We need to figure out how to survive first. Only then will we be qualified to think about political maneuvering."
Uchiha Jin narrowed his eyes slightly.
Because of Hatake Sakumo's legacy, he and Kakashi had become allies. Naturally, he should also give Kakashi some time to prepare himself mentally.
"What?"
Kakashi's entire body trembled slightly at those words.
Although Konoha and Sunagakure had been experiencing some friction, he had never imagined that a Shinobi World War could happen.
But at the same time.
Through his conversation with Uchiha Jin that day, he had vaguely understood why his father had wanted him to trust Uchiha Jin.
He had truly witnessed Uchiha Jin's abilities.
So.
Even though Uchiha Jin hadn't explained anything, he still instinctively chose to believe him. "I see. I understand."
"I'll use this time to become stronger as quickly as possible!"
Uchiha Jin nodded.
Immediately afterward.
He carefully instructed Kakashi again, telling him not to reveal their true relationship and to remain cautious from then on. He told him to focus on training and not concern himself with anything else. Only after that did he unhurriedly take his leave and return to the Uchiha Clan Compound.
Kakashi's eyes were shadowed.
He watched Uchiha Jin's departing back. Once he could no longer see him, the viciousness within Kakashi erupted instantly.
He wasn't stupid!
Although Uchiha Jin hadn't said anything about his father, after learning about the village's hidden filth and the sordid dealings between the Daimyo and the Hokage, he still vaguely understood that his father's suicide was most likely related to that very corruption within the village.
Moreover, he had thought of something else: the village's mission system.
A-rank Missions had to be kept secret, and no one was allowed to ask about them freely.
His father had been carrying out an S-rank Mission before his suicide. Even if it had failed, no one should have learned of it. So why had news of his father's failed mission spread throughout Konoha so quickly?
"Hmph!"
"I'll find out sooner or later!"
"Jin was right. Everything comes down to strength!"
Kakashi's tone was cold.
He vanished in a flash and returned home. Instead of resting, he ran straight to the small training ground in the backyard and immediately began training like a madman.
Meanwhile.
After Uchiha Jin returned home, he didn't begin training right away. Instead, he started studying Hatake Sakumo's legacy.
The more he read, the more shocked he became!
Among the more than sixty people he could trust completely, nearly twenty were jōnin. They came from virtually every major Ninja Clan, and several of them were even commanders responsible for guarding the borders.
"That's truly—excessive!"
"No wonder Hatake Sakumo had to kill himself. He was still able to leave behind such a legacy even after his death."
"If Hatake Sakumo were still alive, would Sarutobi Hiruzen be able to sleep peacefully?"
Before you continue