Konoha, Loyal Orange!

The Uchiha Clan Compound, East District.

Kazuhiko arrived at Shota's home as agreed, carrying some fruit he had brought from home.

"Big Brother Kazuhiko!"

Shota rushed out of the house at once, greeting him excitedly and ushering him into the courtyard.

"Father, Mother, Doctor Kazuhiko is here!"

Kazuhiko stepped into the courtyard and saw that a wooden mat had already been laid out in the yard. Tea things sat on the table, and a faint aroma of tea filled the air.

A stern-faced, middle-aged Uchiha sat in the seat of honor. He and Shota looked seven parts alike.

But their temperaments were entirely different. The man had a commanding presence, and his gaze scrutinized Kazuhiko.

"As expected of Eri and Hideki's son. You really are a fine young man. Don't be shy—sit."

Yuta smiled.

"I read your psychological analysis of Shota. It was spot-on. If you ask me, you should join our Police Force!"

Yuta's startling remark left Kazuhiko at a loss.

He had mentally prepared himself for skepticism and discrimination during this home visit.

Putting himself in their shoes, if a Genin had told him he could help him awaken his Sharingan through medical treatment, Kazuhiko wouldn't have believed him for anything.

So he'd expected to be looked down on first, then impress them and win their favor.

But Yuta wasn't following Kazuhiko's script at all. This was a little beyond what he'd anticipated.

"You know, Doctor, our Police Force's main duty is to arrest civilians and ninjas who commit crimes and make them confess and face justice. So your psychological medicine should be used to break down criminals' psychological defenses."

Yuta met Kazuhiko's eyes, utterly sincere.

"And joining the Police Force would let you take your psychology to the next level. Those vicious criminals have their own thought processes. Their minds are completely different—they're abnormal, and you have to distinguish them from ordinary people's..."

"What Captain Yuta means is that it could be called Criminal Psychology."

"Ah, right, right, right! Criminal Psychology. As the founder of Psychological Medicine, you've come up with such a fitting term!"

[Uchiha Yuta's favorability toward you has increased to: Friendly]

[Uchiha Yuta's independent trait card pool has been unlocked]

[Jonin trait draw opportunity +1]

Kazuhiko honestly hadn't expected his Psychological Medicine to be recognized in this way.

What a pleasant surprise!

Yuta extended an invitation to Kazuhiko:

"The Uchiha Military Police Force is where you belong. Join us!"

What the heck, "where you belong"? I don't want to be wandering around for a thousand years.

Besides, the Police Force was full of thankless jobs, and you had to work outdoors in the wind and sun. The Psychology Clinic was much more comfortable.

Most importantly, to earn favorability, Kazuhiko had to feed a bone to every dog he passed, just in case it was a Ninja Dog.

The Police Force?

Whoever wanted to could go.

Kazuhiko smiled and politely declined:

"I think I'll pass on the Police Force. If I joined with my level of skill, people would say I was a nepotism hire who'd gotten in through connections."

Members of the Police Force had to be Chunin at minimum, and most were outstanding Uchiha who had awakened their Sharingan.

Yuta had no response to Kazuhiko's reasoning.

For the Uchiha, joining the Police Force was an honor.

That honor could not be defiled.

Yuta looked a little disappointed, but quickly accepted it and continued speaking at length:

"Your diagnosis of Shota got one thing exactly right. The root of the conflict between our Uchiha Clan and Konoha is really a matter of the system. It's all that naturally evil Senju Old Ghost's fault!"

Kazuhiko: ...

He looked at the big tree outside the courtyard. The surveillance lens mounted on it was clearly reflecting the sunlight.

People could be rendered speechless by sheer audacity.

He was really saying that right in front of the cameras?

The camera monitoring him was practically shoved in his face, and this was how he referred to our "great Second Hokage"?

"How did Konoha come to be? The Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan made peace and founded it together. We Uchiha... What was it you said to Shota?"

As he spoke, Yuta folded his arms and thought for a moment before continuing:

"That line of yours was especially good: We Uchiha shed blood for Konoha, were wounded at Kannabi Bridge, and rendered great service to generations of Hokage—we're heroes of Konoha! And all because of the Nine-Tails' rampage..."

With a bang, Yuta slammed his fist against the wooden mat, his indignation rising.

"They treated the Uchiha—the heroes of Konoha—like this over an accusation with no proof? Making heroes bleed and then breaking their hearts! How could Konoha's sky be so dark?"

"Konoha started going downhill under the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju! Danzo, his lackey, has absolutely no shame! He installed surveillance cameras outside every Uchiha's home and even sent Root ninjas to investigate and track the Uchiha leadership. Is there any justice? Any law at all?"

Kazuhiko wiped away nonexistent sweat.

There was no doubt about it: Uchiha Yuta was a pure-blooded Uchiha.

"And that Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, that Monkey! As Hokage, he can't identify the real culprit, won't get anything done, and never takes action. I think he should be impeached and stripped of the Hokage Position immediately!"

Kazuhiko was numb.

Although Yuta made a lot of sense, still...

You can say whatever you want, but I don't want to hear it!

Big brother! Could you please say a little less?

He was screaming internally and didn't dare agree or respond.

The man was an Uchiha Jonin who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and enjoyed freedom of speech.

But I'm just a weak, pitiful, helpless medical Genin!

My parents are counting on me to support them in their old age, and my cats are waiting to be fed.

If Danzo and the Third Hokage saw today's surveillance footage, would they take their anger out on me, a middle-aged Genin?

Would they make it so that, on the way to a mission, I stepped out of the village with my right foot first, took eight Kunai in the back, got a fungal infection in my brain that caused both eyes to die, and ended up killing myself beneath Kage Rock?

Danzo was absolutely capable of doing something like that!

Kazuhiko steeled himself and decided to offer a few words to smooth things over and show his loyalty:

"Captain Yuta, we can't blame everything on outside circumstances and other people. Our Uchiha ancestors did have some traitors who undermined unity."

[Uchiha Yuta's favorability toward you has decreased]

"And the Hokage have all accomplished great things in battle and made outstanding contributions to Konoha's prosperity and stability. We can't just fixate on their minor mistakes and condemn them for those alone, while denying all the sacrifices and efforts they made for peace in the Shinobi World..."

[Uchiha Yuta's favorability toward you has decreased significantly]

Go ahead and drop, then. You can drop all you like; I'll still get my trait draw opportunity.

Kazuhiko pretended not to notice Yuta's expression, as if he'd just eaten shit. He looked toward Kage Rock, seeming lost in reminiscence.

"The First and our ancestor joined forces to end the era of chaos and establish Konoha. The Second Hokage founded the Ninja Academy and forged alliances, laying the groundwork for Konoha's peace and prosperity. The Third Hokage worked tirelessly, keeping Konoha standing strong and dominant in the Shinobi World despite being attacked from all sides. And the Fourth Hokage fought to the death without retreating, giving his life heroically for Konoha's safety. It's heartbreaking."

[Uchiha Yuta's favorability toward you has decreased significantly to: Neutral]

[Jonin trait draw opportunity +1]

"It was thanks to them that our Uchiha and Konoha could pass from one generation to the next, keeping our legacy alive."

[...Favorability decreased]

"As the founders of Konoha, we should have a sense of ownership. Suffering a little unfairness is nothing."

[...Favorability increased]

"After all, no Uchiha has ever been inferior to anyone! Plenty of Uchiha have inherited the Will of Fire and aspire to become Hokage!"

[...Favorability increased significantly]

"Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will burn on. The light of the fire will illuminate the village, and new leaves will sprout. The Hokage is the fire, burning himself to light up the village. We Uchiha and the Konoha Ninja are the new shoots who inherit the Will of Fire."

[...Favorability decreased significantly]

"When the light of the fire kisses the earth, when the cold wind sweeps through the woods, when war takes those we love, our hearts still beat in time for Konoha!"

"I've always believed that one day, an Uchiha ninja will earn everyone's recognition and become Hokage!"

[...Favorability increased]

Kazuhiko finished speaking and stole a discreet glance at the surveillance camera.

Third Hokage, Danzo, did you hear that?

Konoha, loyal orange!