Be My Teacher

After parting ways with Hatake Harukaze, Uchiha Yuan headed toward the outskirts of the Hatake Clan Land.

As he passed Kakashi's residence, he saw Hatake Sakumo's soul again.

The other man stood before the main gate, staring directly at him.

This was the second time Uchiha Yuan had seen Hatake Sakumo's soul in two months. Moreover, judging by Hatake Sakumo's gaze, Uchiha Yuan was certain that he was looking right at him.

Uchiha Yuan continued forward calmly and composedly, pretending not to see Hatake Sakumo's soul as he reached the gate of Kakashi's residence.

Just then, a short blade somehow appeared in Hatake Sakumo's hand, and a flash of cold light slashed at Uchiha Yuan like lightning.

Faced with this sudden attack, Uchiha Yuan swiftly leaped aside, then could not help revealing a bitter smile.

He had fallen for it.

The instant he leaped away, the cold flash that had nearly struck him suddenly dissipated.

It was an illusion, completely devoid of any power.

Uchiha Yuan landed and looked toward the gate of Kakashi's residence, feeling both helpless and puzzled.

Hatake Sakumo studied Uchiha Yuan and said, "Uchiha boy, you really can see me."

Uchiha Yuan sighed softly, then smiled. "Uchiha Yuan greets White Fang.

May I ask how you noticed? Whether just now or the last time I saw you, I do not believe I revealed any flaw in my expression."

Hatake Sakumo smiled approvingly. "Perhaps others truly would not have noticed, but Uchiha boy, never underestimate a jonin who has fought on battlefields for many years.

The moment you saw me, although the fluctuations in your emotions were immediately restrained and vanished, my eyes still caught them."

"As expected of the Konoha White Fang. What sharp powers of observation. This junior admires you. But may I ask why you stopped me?"

At those words, Hatake Sakumo gave Uchiha Yuan a deep look. Then a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and an awe-inspiring killing intent descended upon Uchiha Yuan.

In an instant, Uchiha Yuan felt as though everything around him had become incomparably cold.

This was the terrifying killing intent forged by an expert through years of slaughter on the battlefield. It struck directly at the mind, like a mountain pressing down upon one's head, like a bone-piercing wind invading the body.

An ordinary person facing such killing intent would probably have wet himself already, or even fainted.

Yet there was no retreat or fear in Uchiha Yuan's eyes. He met Hatake Sakumo's gaze directly and asked, "Senior, what do you mean by this?"

Hatake Sakumo said coldly, "Uchiha boy, I heard everything you said to Harukaze. You are misleading him!"

Uchiha Yuan frowned and said seriously, "I cannot agree with that, Senior. Everything I said was the truth."

The two stared at one another. After a stretch of silence, Hatake Sakumo asked, "What do you want to do?"

Uchiha Yuan said, "Just as I told Harukaze, I want to break the darkness of the village."

"You want to betray the village!"

The killing intent abruptly grew even stronger, as though countless sharp swords had enveloped Uchiha Yuan.

Yet upon hearing this, Uchiha Yuan laughed.

Then he said, "Senior, I cannot accept your accusation. Since you heard the conversation between Harukaze and me, you should understand my views."

"The village belongs to everyone. The village higher-ups led by the Third Hokage cannot represent the village."

Hatake Sakumo said coldly, "Your Uchiha Clan has always been dissatisfied with the village. I cannot trust your words."

"Why can't you trust them? Is the Uchiha Clan not part of the village? Or do you mean the Uchiha Clan does not love Konoha?"

"The Uchiha are a clan filled with ambition, a clan with evil in their hearts."

Uchiha Yuan looked at Hatake Sakumo with some disappointment. "I never expected even you, Senior, to have your vision obscured by prejudice."

"That line of reasoning seems to have come from Senju Tobirama's mouth, doesn't it? What is he supposed to be!

In my eyes, he was merely a despicable man who relied on his elder brother's prestige to become the village's Second Hokage. What right did he have to judge the Uchiha Clan?"

"I can even say that Senju Tobirama was the source of the village's darkness. Did the Third Hokage and the others not come under his influence through his teachings and example? You can see Senju Tobirama's shadow in all of them."

Hatake Sakumo frowned. "How can a child like you have such extreme ideas? How could the Second Hokage be the despicable man you describe?"

"Because I think independently. I do not let admiration and reputation blind my eyes."

Uchiha Yuan said calmly.

"In my view, Senju Tobirama targeted the Uchiha Clan not because of the claim that the Uchiha were an evil clan, but simply because the Uchiha were powerful.

Because throughout the entire ninja world, only the Uchiha Clan could contend with the Senju Clan."

"White Fang, if the one who had betrayed the village and left back then had been First Hokage Senju Hashirama rather than Uchiha Madara, do you think the Senju Clan would have followed the First Hokage and left as well?"

Hearing Uchiha Yuan's words, Hatake Sakumo's expression froze. No one had likely ever considered this question, but now that he thought about it, he found himself unable to answer immediately.

The killing intent enveloping Uchiha Yuan gradually faded. After a period of silence, Hatake Sakumo sighed. "The Senju Clan might have followed the First Hokage and left."

At those words, Uchiha Yuan smiled.

"But for the sake of peace, the Uchiha Clan abandoned their clan leader, Uchiha Madara, and chose the village. The Uchiha loved the village too.

You must understand, the Uchiha abandoned Uchiha Madara!"

By then, Hatake Sakumo's killing intent had completely dissipated. He said, "Your ambition is dangerous, but your ideal is beautiful."

"One thing you said was right: the village belongs to everyone. You have convinced me on that point. Perhaps the village truly does need to change."

Uchiha Yuan's expression turned solemn. "Thank you for your understanding, Senior."

"Actually, I simply do not want a tragedy like yours to happen again. I believe you know what the village higher-ups think of the Uchiha Clan.

In my view, the Uchiha Clan's situation in the village may be even worse than yours was back then. The only difference is that the clan's strength deters the village higher-ups, forcing them to suppress and target them only in secret."

"This is a hidden crisis for the Uchiha Clan, and also a crisis for the village. The conflict between the clan and the village will one day erupt. I do not want to see the day the clan and village come into conflict."

Hatake Sakumo looked at Uchiha Yuan with a trace of appreciation in his eyes. "I understand. But I hope you will not put Harukaze in danger."

With that, Hatake Sakumo turned and prepared to leave.

At that moment, Uchiha Yuan called out to stop him. "Senior, I have a request that I hope you can grant."

"I am now merely a deceased soul lingering in the living world. I cannot interfere with the living world at all. I am afraid I cannot fulfill your request."

"No, Senior. As long as you agree, you can fulfill it."

With that, Uchiha Yuan bowed deeply to Hatake Sakumo. "Senior, I would like to ask you to be my teacher and guide my training."

Hearing Uchiha Yuan's words, Hatake Sakumo could not help showing surprise. He had not expected Uchiha Yuan to make such a request.

He frowned slightly and stared at Uchiha Yuan in silence for a long time.

Uchiha Yuan maintained his bowing posture. After several minutes, Hatake Sakumo's voice came.

"Rise. I accept your request."

Uchiha Yuan immediately beamed with delight. "Greetings, Teacher."

Hatake Sakumo looked at Uchiha Yuan and thought, Perhaps I can take this opportunity to observe this child carefully.