The damp morning air hung over the Naka River.
Shisui and Itachi lay side by side in the soft grass. They had just finished their morning training, their chests rising and falling slightly as sweat trickled down their temples.
"Yesterday, you asked me why I call Doctor Kazuhiko 'Big Brother Kazuhiko,'" Shisui said suddenly, gazing up at the clear blue sky.
"It's because he invited me to have a dream."
Itachi turned his head. "What kind of dream?"
"A dream called 'What If.'" Shisui smiled, his gaze lingering on the white clouds drifting across the sky.
"That's what Big Brother Kazuhiko calls his genjutsu."
He paused, his voice softening as if he were lost in memory. "It was also a dream that let me 'see' the truth."
The sunlight began to grow harsh.
Shisui squinted, recalling the first time he had walked into that "Psychology Clinic"—
It had been a morning just like this, sunlight slanting through the window and falling on the young man dozing in a recliner.
Back then, he had held an investigation report on Kazuhiko and assumed the man was nothing more than a swindler taking advantage of the clan.
"Doctor Kazuhiko?"
Shisui glanced around the simple office before fixing his gaze on the man. "The Psychology Clinic is supposedly able to help the Uchiha 'treat psychological disorders'?"
Kazuhiko opened his eyes. Seeing the animal mask that marked Shisui as a member of Konoha's Anbu, he smiled.
"The genius Shisui. What a rare guest. Have a seat."
"No, thanks. I'm only here to make sure—" Shisui remained polite, but his tone was distant.
"That you aren't deceiving the clan."
"Deceiving them?" Kazuhiko stood and pushed up his glasses. "What am I deceiving them about? Money? Ninjutsu?"
"Hope." Shisui stared straight at him. "You give hope to those who can't awaken their eyes, claiming you can help them awaken the Sharingan. But the Sharingan is a power of the bloodline, not..."
"Not something psychological treatment can fix?" Kazuhiko interrupted. "Don't forget, Shisui. How did you awaken your Sharingan?"
Shisui's pupils contracted.
"You witnessed the death of a comrade and experienced unbearable pain, right?"
Kazuhiko's voice was calm. "So you know the prerequisite for awakening the Sharingan is emotion. The Uchiha have to feel intense pain, anger, love, hatred..."
"Emotion is the key. All I'm doing is helping the clan find the 'key' they need."
Shisui fell silent.
This theory... completely matched his own experience.
"Besides," Kazuhiko said, getting to his feet and walking to the window, "you should know better than I do—the Uchiha's problem has never been their inability to awaken their eyes."
"Then what is it?"
Kazuhiko turned around, his gaze sharp as a blade. "It's that even after awakening their eyes, they can't protect the people they want to protect. They can't undo tragedies that have already happened."
Shisui clenched his fists.
Kazuhiko stepped closer, his voice softening. "You want to protect Itachi and preserve peace between the Uchiha and Konoha, right? But you can't accomplish either of those things."
"...What do you mean?"
"Let me show you," Kazuhiko said, chakra suddenly swirling in his eyes. "A dream called 'What If.'"
Kazuhiko paid no attention to Deep Blue's hint about Itachi. He focused on listening to Shota and thinking about how to make the genjutsu's story truly impactful.
It was no surprise that Itachi's attitude toward him had changed.
After all, Shisui called him "Big Brother Kazuhiko." As far as Kazuhiko was concerned, Itachi was just a little brother's little brother.
Without his connection to Shisui, Kazuhiko wouldn't have recklessly used genjutsu to speak with Itachi.
"Your father really is admirable! He shed blood for Konoha, was wounded at Kannabi Bridge, and earned the Fourth Hokage's gratitude. He's a true war hero!"
[Uchiha Shota's favorability toward you has increased]
A bit of flattery was all it took to raise someone's favorability. The Uchiha really were an easygoing bunch.
By this point in the conversation, Kazuhiko was already quite confident he could help Shota awaken his eyes without harm. But if he wanted to systematically reap favorability, he still needed to make a few preparations.
After all, the Sharingan represented power, and power was the foundation of the Hokage's world.
By helping Shota master that power, Kazuhiko was certain to win over a considerable number of clan members.
For example, Shota's father, the captain of the security force; the hawkish elder who actively promoted an arms race; and Fugaku, the clan head who wanted to strengthen the Uchiha...
These people were all at least Jonin.
And Fugaku might even be Kage Level, with a Mangekyo Sharingan.
"What about your mother? I don't hear you mention her much. Behind every successful man is a woman who supports him in silence. I'm sure your mother is an admirable person too!"
[...Favorability increased]
[Uchiha Shota's favorability toward you has increased to: Bond (You trust each other and might even become lifelong friends)]
[Chunin Trait Draw Chance +1]
[Uchiha Itachi's favorability toward you has increased to: Disdain (Mock him, and he'll despise you)]
[Genin Trait Draw Chance +1]
Kazuhiko was a little surprised, but not because Shota's favorability had reached the Bond level.
It was the first time he'd seen his draw chances increase even when someone's favorability was going up and down!
Amazing. That was really nice!
He'd gained another way to farm trait draws.
Once he became Hokage, if he gave disobedient shinobi a slap on the wrist and then a piece of candy, those draw chances would shoot through the roof!
During the rest of their conversation, Shota's favorability stopped increasing, but Itachi's skyrocketed.
[Uchiha Itachi's favorability toward you has increased to: Distant]
[Genin Trait Draw Chance +1]
[...]
[Uchiha Itachi's favorability toward you has increased to: Neutral]
[Genin Trait Draw Chance +1]
[Claim reward for completing the mission: Robust Physique · White]
[No]
It was way too soon. No dog would want a white trait!
No rush. Let's give it some time.
At the same time, Shisui was giving it his all, acting as Kazuhiko's mouthpiece and pouring his ideas into Itachi's mind.
"In that dream, the Uchiha aren't enemies of Konoha, and Konoha doesn't impose all kinds of policies against the Uchiha Clan...
"We aren't branded as dangerous, but are part of Konoha. We're one family."
Itachi longed for the dream Shisui described too, but... "Could a dream like that really come true?"
Shisui turned to Itachi, his expression more resolute than ever. "It has to."
For the sake of every Uchiha, that dream had to come true.
Because besides that "What If" dream, he had also seen the "Future" dream Kazuhiko had shown him—
A future for Konoha with no Uchiha.
"Big Brother Kazuhiko said that in a family, no one should rank above or below another, no one should be treated as more or less valuable. No one deserves to be excluded or discriminated against."
"We can't keep silent, and we can't keep hiding in the clan compound, enduring it. We have to step forward openly, fight for fairness, build unity, and uphold justice."
"We have to tell everyone: the Uchiha love Konoha just as much and cherish peace. Otherwise, our ancestors wouldn't have stayed in Konoha..."
Itachi's eyes shone.
The question that had troubled him for so long—
The conflict between the village and the clan—seemed to crack open at that moment.
That psychologist named Kazuhiko was already eighteen, yet still only a Genin. But his ideas...
They were so powerful.
Before you continue