Seven-year-old Uchiha Itachi could only be described as adorable. His face was still a little childish, but he had already graduated from the Ninja Academy and witnessed the cruelty of war.
And after training under Uchiha Shisui, the Uchiha Clan's greatest prodigy, his strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Genin.
"Don't be nervous. Have a seat."
Uchiha Kazuhiko put on his glasses and, after steadying his breathing, settled into the role of a counselor.
He had been expecting Itachi's visit.
Although Itachi was still a child, he would grow up to be the mastermind behind the Uchiha Clan's extermination—a brother-obsessed lunatic who'd sacrifice his entire clan without a second thought. Kazuhiko had to handle him carefully.
When he'd watched the anime, he'd thought Itachi was pretty cool. By the end, he'd even felt a little moved.
But looking at Itachi from the Uchiha Clan's perspective gave him a very different impression.
This guy was a psycho!
Could anyone call wiping out his clan to save his little brother a human thing to do?
Or did the Uchiha he killed not count as people?
And it wasn't as if he'd only wiped out the ninja. He'd committed genocide against ordinary Uchiha who hadn't even awakened their Sharingan. That was pure beastly behavior.
So Kazuhiko's attitude toward Itachi was crystal clear:
This lunatic needed psychological treatment. Kazuhiko would have to influence his thinking, reform him from the inside out, brand him with the Uchiha's values, and stuff him full until he puffed up like a cream puff.
Of course, if he couldn't win him over, he'd have to destroy him!
"Have some tea. You're Uchiha Itachi, the one they call a 'Hokage-minded' Uchiha, right?"
Itachi accepted the teacup with both hands. Even after hearing Kazuhiko's praise, his expression didn't change. "That's only the Third Hokage's generous assessment of me. I still have a long way to go."
"Shisui told me there's something on your mind that you can't let go of. You can talk to me about it. He's very concerned about you."
Uchiha Kazuhiko sat across from Itachi and smiled at him.
Steam rose from the teacups on the table, blurring the view between them. Behind his black-rimmed glasses, chakra flowed in Kazuhiko's eyes.
Sharingan Genjutsu: Hypnotic Illusion, activate!
Judging by Itachi's behavior, there was no way a stranger could get him to open up just by talking. Even his own parents had struggled to understand what he was really thinking—and they'd died by his blade.
So if Kazuhiko wanted to change Itachi's mind, he had no choice but to use Genjutsu.
Itachi vaguely remembered talking with the doctor for a long time. Then the conversation ended, and he left the Clan Clinic.
Outside, Uchiha Shisui, whom Itachi regarded as an older brother, had been waiting for quite some time. With a smile, he hoisted Itachi onto his back and carried him into the familiar moonlit night.
"Something feels off..."
Although the Genjutsu had confused Itachi's senses, a ninja's instincts made him unconsciously notice something was wrong.
"You've been in a bad mood since you got back from that mission."
Before Itachi could think it over, "Shisui's" words caught his attention. The familiar voice put him inexplicably at ease, and for the moment he forgot his doubts, falling into the illusion Kazuhiko had woven.
Itachi himself had been gently settled into a recliner and drifted into a light sleep.
Imitating Shisui's tone, Kazuhiko began the conversation. "Tell me why you're unhappy. It's easier when you have someone to confide in."
"The Kumogakure ninja have no limits. They slaughter ordinary people and kill children... And we have to do the same. I don't understand. Why are we doing all this?"
"If you want to know the answer, you need to ask yourself: what's the true nature of this situation? What's its fundamental purpose? And why are you doing the same thing?"
"Why are we doing this...? Yeah. Why are we doing it...?"
Uchiha Kazuhiko watched Itachi. Beneath his eyelids, Itachi's eyes were moving rapidly—a sign of intense emotion. He could wake up at any moment.
Kazuhiko brought his hands together and began forming Hand Seals to strengthen the Genjutsu.
"Horse, Hare, Tiger, Ram, Snake, Dragon..."
Sharingan Genjutsu didn't normally require Hand Seals when used by the Uchiha, making it almost impossible to guard against on the battlefield. If there was a gap in skill between the two sides, it could easily end in an instant kill.
However, the Uchiha Clan had a "Exclusive Genjutsu Seal" to amplify Sharingan Genjutsu, strengthening its effects and allowing them to take on stronger opponents.
"Because of missions! Because of war!"
Itachi's eyes slowed as he muttered to himself:
"War makes people lose their humanity. Missions that must be completed turn ninja into killing machines..."
"Wrong! It's greed. That's the root of all evil."
Kazuhiko's voice rang with conviction as he forcefully drove home the idea he wanted to convey.
"Killing innocent people is only a side effect. Strip away the fog surrounding the war, and you'll see that Kumogakure covets the Land of Fire's fertile land—that's why they started a war. Konoha monopolizes all the high-paying missions, so other ninja villages start wars over that. And when a village sends ninja on a killing mission, it's because they want to crush their opponent completely and win."
"Greed is at work on every side. Wherever there are people, there's greed."
"Itachi, aren't your eyes searching for something you want, too?"
Itachi frowned slightly. "Greed... What do I want?"
"What are my eyes searching for?"
All at once, the chakra around Itachi went into disarray. He abruptly snapped awake and sat up, eyes wide as he stared blankly at Uchiha Kazuhiko, who was still holding his Hand Seals. Their eyes met.
After a moment of silence, Itachi understood. His voice was firm as he said:
"I want peace! Between nations, and between the Uchiha and Konoha! I want peace. I don't want to see any more innocent people die in front of me!"
It's a promise!
I hope you'll always remember what you said today.
"To think you could break free of an amplified Genjutsu. You really are a prodigy of the Uchiha Clan's new generation."
Kazuhiko wasn't embarrassed. He released the Hand Seals and calmly took a sip of tea. "That's an admirable ambition, but achieving what you've described won't be easy."
"Doctor," Itachi said solemnly, standing up and meeting Uchiha Kazuhiko's gaze.
"Thank you for helping me find the answer to my question, but I really didn't like your treatment method!"
Unconcealed disgust showed on Itachi's face. "If the psychological treatment you pioneered is just using someone the patient trusts to deceive them, then you don't deserve to call yourself a 'psychologist.'"
[Uchiha Itachi's favorability has plummeted to: Disgust (You toyed with him, and now you despise each other)]
[Uchiha Itachi's exclusive trait pool has unlocked]
[Genin trait draw chance +1]
So you're a weasel, huh?
You turn on me at the drop of a hat.
All I did was conjure up Uchiha Shisui to have a little chat with you. Was that really so bad?
No wonder you awakened the Mangekyo after Shisui died. Just wait. I'll use Genjutsu to make Danzo, the Third Hokage, Obito, the Sarutobi Clan, and everyone else who opposes the Uchiha kill Shisui over and over. Let's see if that gets you to awaken the Mangekyo, kid.
Besides, I'm not a psychologist in the first place. I only started doing this in the Naruto world because you Uchiha lunatics forced me into it!
Uchiha Kazuhiko ignored Itachi's expression, returned to his rocking chair, took out a form, and began recording Uchiha Itachi's psychological evaluation.
Mental illnesses among the Uchiha Clan had common traits. So even though their conversation had been brief, Kazuhiko could still write a complete Psychological Diagnosis Report for Itachi.
"It looks like this is as far as we can get with the initial counseling. You can take a look at the psychological assessment I've written for you in a moment. Then you can bring the report back when you come for a follow-up—"
Before Kazuhiko could finish, Itachi stood and headed for the door. "There's no need. We won't meet again."
[World line expanding...]
[Uchiha Itachi: Why would my older brother recommend someone like him? This so-called psychologist is just a fraud who uses Genjutsu to pry into other people's minds. What a waste of time.]
[World line expanded—]
[World Line One: You keep your word—that's your ninja way—and never see Itachi again for the rest of your lives. (Reward: Genin trait draw chance +1. You'll be on the list during the Uchiha Clan's massacre.)]
[World Line Two: A ninja is a ninja because they can endure what ordinary people cannot. Apologize and ask Itachi to stay, admitting that you were wrong. (Reward: Itachi's favorability recovers, Genin trait draw chances +N. On the night of the Uchiha Clan's massacre, Itachi will mercifully give you a quick death.)]
[World Line Three: Work hard to raise Itachi's favorability to neutral or higher. (Reward: Permanent Trait: Robust Physique—White/Green/Blue. On the night of the Uchiha Clan's massacre, you'll have a chance to wear down his Ninja Blade with your Robust Physique.)]
[Robust Physique: Slightly/moderately/significantly increases your physical strength, recovery, and chakra]
[Trait rewards will be granted according to your favorability level]
Before you continue