Let This World Burn

Before Dan could answer.

Itachi continued speaking to himself:

"When I was eight years old, my companion Tenma was killed by the Masked Man, which caused me to awaken my Sharingan.

After my father learned of this, he didn't care about my feelings at all. He just happily congratulated me while feeding his fish, saying I had truly become a member of the Uchiha.

Later, I realized that for the Uchiha, dead companions or relatives were sacrifices that had to be offered to obtain the power of the Sharingan.

Many clan members sacrificed the lives of those they cherished, and used that moment of spiritual pain to stimulate their awakening.

Whoever could endure this pain was a person of 'caliber.'

This is the secret of our Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, our so-called 'pride.'"

His words revealed his disgust and mockery towards the Uchiha.

"So that's how it is."

Dan echoed, but his heart held a different view.

Because he hadn't experienced the pain of losing a loved one. Instead, he had awakened his Sharingan during a fitness training session when he made a significant breakthrough and felt immense joy.

A happy awakening.

However, if he said this, his nephew probably wouldn't believe him.

Itachi suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on Dan, and asked:

"Uncle, you also moved out on your own because you rejected the Uchiha Clan's so-called pride and honor, didn't you?"

He wanted to know his uncle's true inner thoughts, whether he, like him, was also disappointed and disgusted by the atmosphere within the Uchiha clan.

However, to Itachi's disappointment.

"No, I just wanted some peace and quiet. I didn't think that much about it," Dan replied.

Upon hearing this, Itachi lowered his head.

The two continued walking.

After a while, Itachi spoke again, posing a new question to Dan:

"Uncle, in Konohagakure now, both the higher-ups and ordinary civilians deeply dislike the Uchiha. Are we truly an inherently evil clan as the Second Hokage said?"

"Where did you hear that?"

Dan asked back. Before Itachi could speak, he shrugged indifferently, "Why bother with what others say? Even if we are inherently evil, we just need to accept our truest selves."

Dan never cared about what others thought.

Even if the entire Ninja World cursed him, he wouldn't be dejected. He'd eat and drink as usual, unaffected. Similarly, even if the entire Ninja World praised him, he wouldn't feel anything, remaining as he always was, true to himself.

This is what is called Defining the Inner and Outer, distinguishing between honor and disgrace, and then One Can Attain Inner Freedom and Ease.

It's the Philosophy of Daoism from a Past Life.

Itachi was greatly surprised by Dan's words, his brows furrowed:

"Uncle, your realm is too high, I can't understand it."

Upon hearing this, Dan placed a large hand on his nephew's head:

"You're still young, it's normal that you can't understand. Also, stop thinking like an adult all the time. Some things don't require your worry."

Some things?

Itachi's interest was piqued. Was his uncle referring to the relationship between the clan and the village?

He understood the implied meaning behind Dan's words and quickly pressed on:

"Uncle, what do you think will become of the relationship between the Uchiha and the village? Can reconciliation be achieved in the end?"

Dan glanced at his nephew again, shook his head, and stated decisively: "Impossible."

"Why?"

"Ever since the Fourth Hokage's death and the Third Hokage's reinstatement, the day the Uchiha were driven to the Village Outskirts by the Konoha high command, the rift between the two sides became irreparable. It will only grow wider until it completely breaks.

In these past few years, the higher-ups have exhausted all their methods, determined to suppress the Uchiha. Under such high pressure, the Uchiha will sooner or later be forced to rebel and embark on the path of a Coup d'état."

Dan calmly uttered his judgment (spoiler).

A Coup d'état?

Itachi was horrified.

Because Shisui had also told him that if the clan's hawks gained the upper hand, the worst-case scenario would be a Coup d'état.

Unknowingly.

The Uncle and Nephew duo walked along the mountain path in a large loop, finally arriving above the Hokage Rock. Beneath their feet lay the majestic and imposing head sculptures of past Hokages, lined up in a row.

At this moment, the sun was setting, and a warm breeze gently blew. A vast expanse of brilliant Fire Clouds dyed half the distant sky red.

Gazing from here, the buildings of Konohagakure spread out in a fan shape, a magnificent panorama unfolding before their eyes.

On the streets below, shops lined the way, with people coming and going, showcasing the liveliness and prosperity.

However.

The Uchiha Clan Compound, located in the upper right corner of the fan-shaped area, appeared remote and deserted, out of place with the rest of Konohagakure.

As if a group of outsiders.

A gust of wind blew, gently ruffling the hair and clothes of the uncle and nephew.

At this moment, Itachi, after much deliberation, finally asked Dan the last question:

"Uncle, if one day the Uchiha decide to launch a coup d'état, which side will you stand on, the clan... or the village?"

Dan didn't answer immediately, but instead asked back, "And you?"

"I... I don't know."

Itachi looked confused.

In fact, when he, as an Uchiha, said he didn't know, it already indicated that he wouldn't stand with the clan, but rather leaned towards Konoha.

In Itachi's heart, the clan members had long been trapped in narrow, ethnocentric thinking.

His guide was Uchiha Shisui, and what he followed was the true Will of Fire that Shisui represented.

Hearing Itachi's answer, Dan was not surprised.

Although he had decided to "personally correct" his nephew, changing long-formed thoughts wasn't something that could be achieved with just a beating.

It would take several beatings.

However, today, Dan didn't plan to beat his nephew.

"Me?"

Under Itachi's expectant gaze, he uttered two words, his gaze drifting into the distance, pausing for a moment.

Dan's thoughts had not changed.

In his opinion.

Konohagakure was a terrifying organization, just like those bizarre small countries in his past life; its destruction would be no loss.

The Uchiha Clan was also no good, a prime example of arrogance leading to self-destruction.

However.

If, as in the Original Work, Konoha destroyed the Uchiha without paying any price, using Itachi and Obito, that would be too uninteresting.

For a transmigrator.

Watching the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall, like watching a movie I've already seen, what's the point?

What Dan wanted to see was a fierce war between the Uchiha and the Konoha high command, a fair duel.

In this grand play.

Dan had no intention of being the protagonist, but he didn't mind being the behind-the-scenes screenwriter, personally destroying the Konoha high command's conspiracy to ensure that the Uchiha and Konoha would go at each other 100%.

Fight.

Fight until both sides are mutually destroyed, or even wiped out completely, leaving a vast expanse of pure emptiness, all prosperity vanishing into smoke.

Then, this world would fall silent.

Thinking of this.

Dan revealed a half-smile, and said to Itachi:

"I don't care about the Uchiha Clan or Konoha. But I sincerely hope both sides will fight fiercely. That scene will surely be spectacular, don't you think?"

Thinking of that scene, Dan couldn't help but look forward to it, and a long-lost... pleasure arose in his heart.

It was exactly the same as when he first awakened his Sharingan.

Perhaps, when that day truly comes, he might be able to awaken his Mangekyo with this pleasure.

Itachi's expression froze.

His uncle's answer was completely unexpected, leaving him stunned for a moment.

"Wh-why?" Itachi asked, regaining his senses.

"Because your uncle and I..."

Dan rubbed Itachi's head with his large hand, his lips slowly curling into a brilliant smile, "just want to see this world burn."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Swish.

Dan's eyes suddenly turned into the shape of Three-Tomoe.

Even though it was also Three-Tomoe, Dan's Sharingan was even more crimson than Itachi's. Deep within his seemingly calm pupils, hid a madness that no one had ever known.

"..."

Itachi trembled, staring blankly at Dan's eyes.

In the reflection of his uncle's pupils, Itachi saw the entire Konohagakure seemingly engulfed in blood-red flames.

Konoha under the Setting Sun was beautiful and peaceful, yet it looked like a fragile Scroll Painting, which, once ignited, would burn fiercely until it turned to Ashes.

At this moment, Itachi finally saw clearly his uncle's abyss-like dark Inner Heart.

Uchiha Dan was an out-and-out Madman.