"Uchiha..." Jiraiya repeated.
That surname always made people sensitive.
Amid the hazy mist, his expression became rather subtle.
Orochimaru had many subordinates, especially during wartime, when personnel were a mixed bag. Having an Uchiha among them was nothing strange.
But teaching him Hidden Shadow Snake Hands was somewhat unexpected.
Although the Senju and Uchiha had reconciled, generations of blood feud were not so easily diluted. The First had been magnanimous and righteous; for the village's stability, he had repeatedly yielded ground and had the Senju Clan voluntarily withdraw from the conflict. As a result, their bloodline was now scattered everywhere, and the clan had withered away.
The Second, who inherited the position of Hokage, had always guarded against the Uchiha, restraining and exploiting them at the same time.
By the time of Konoha's current leadership, they had largely continued the Second's policies. Things still looked acceptable on the surface, but the prejudice in their hearts had long taken deep root.
Such ideas had influenced later generations to varying degrees.
Tsunade went without saying. Having been influenced by what he saw and heard, Jiraiya's impression of the Uchiha was hardly a good one.
Only Orochimaru...
Seemed somewhat out of place.
Jiraiya frowned and looked the boy before him up and down, like a teacher examining a newly transferred student.
Setting aside their positions and identities, he admired Akashi greatly.
When the two had spoken frankly with each other, which clan he belonged to had seemed unimportant.
Wasn't the foremost principle of the peace he pursued "mutual understanding"?
The Uchiha needed understanding too.
In an era where people could truly understand one another, how could there be prejudices like "evil Uchiha"? Perhaps Orochimaru was trying to do just that?
After giving it some thought, he suddenly saw the light.
Akashi watched the