Tea Ninja (2)

Chapter 5: Uchiha Shin

"Father, your perspective is far too one-sided!"

Five-year-old Uchiha Shin, in order to capture Uchiha Tajima's interest, to strike a blow at Uchiha Madara, and to seize the initiative...

He had no choice but to adopt a strategy of feigning weakness to strike later.

That was why Uchiha Shin had loudly refuted Uchiha Tajima's views on how to end the war.

His eldest brother actually dared to contradict their father right to his face...

Watching Uchiha Shin stand tall and earnestly refute Uchiha Tajima's remarks, both Madara and Izuna were shocked.

After all, in the eyes of Madara and Izuna, their father, Uchiha Tajima, was not only the head of their household but also the patriarch of the Uchiha clan, and most importantly, a powerful ninja.

For the people of the Warring States period in the world of Naruto, the weak obeyed the strong, sons obeyed their fathers, and clansmen obeyed their patriarchs. From the age of myths to the present, for thousands of years, these ironclad rules had never been broken.

Yet today...

Uchiha Shin, as a son, had actually refuted Uchiha Tajima, his father.

Uchiha Shin, as a clansman, had actually refuted Uchiha Tajima, his patriarch.

Uchiha Shin, as the weak, had actually refuted Uchiha Tajima, the strong.

Madara and Izuna were shocked to the point of bewilderment; how could their eldest brother possess such spirit and such courage?

At this moment, an inexplicable emotion, an inexplicable feeling, began to sprout within their hearts...

Madara and Izuna wanted to grasp this newly sprouted feeling and emotion, and they wanted to fully understand what exactly this inexplicable sensation was.

"Seeing you so certain, and so full of conviction..."

"Then, my son, in light of your excellent performance at the training grounds today, and the improved ninjutsu you selflessly contributed to the clan..."

"I will make an exception today and listen to your thoughts."

"Furthermore, this is a conversation between men."

"You should understand that today is merely a special case."

"After all, the weak have no right to speak; you should understand that, right!"

Upon hearing Uchiha Shin's rebuttal, Uchiha Tajima did not get angry as one might expect. Instead, he sat up straight, preparing to listen to Uchiha Shin's answer in earnest.

Uchiha Shin understood the meaning behind Uchiha Tajima's words.

Uchiha Tajima's meaning was simple: today, because of your outstanding performance, I am granting you a chance for an equal dialogue.

Otherwise, as the weak, as a son, and as a clansman, you would only have the duty to lower your head and obey; where would you get the right to ask so many whys?

Uchiha Shin nodded knowingly, then continued, "For some time now, I have been pondering a question..."

"How exactly does war come to be?"

"After all, only by understanding the most fundamental cause of war can we find the essential way to end it."

Given the limitations of land, resources, and population, it was inevitable that the ninja clans of the Warring States period would erupt into war for the sake of survival and development.

Thinking of this, Uchiha Shin continued.

"It wasn't until yesterday that I finally understood this problem."

"The most fundamental reason for war is, in fact, the struggle for resources, land, and population..."

"Compared to the vast population of this world, the total number of ninjas is negligible."

"Therefore, if a ninja clan wants to become powerful, it must possess a large number of ninjas."

"And to produce a large number of ninjas, one must necessarily have an absolutely massive population base."

"And to support such a massive population base, the amount of resources and land required must be truly enormous!"

"Therefore, the most fundamental reason for war is, in fact, resources, land, and population."

"As for why there are enemies?"

"If I want something and you won't give it, or if I say something and you won't listen, then what?"

"We fight!"

"That is how enemies are created..."

"As for hatred, it is merely a byproduct of that."

"However, for our Uchiha clan to survive and develop, how much do we need?"

"If others won't willingly give it to us, must we then annihilate them all?"

"If we were to do that, how many enemies would our Uchiha clan have?"

"With the strength of our Uchiha clan alone, could we possibly wipe them all out?"

"Although our Uchiha clan is one of the top-tier powerful clans in the Land of Fire..."

"But many ants can kill an elephant, and a fierce tiger fears a pack of wolves!"

"That which is too rigid is easily broken..."

"Our Uchiha clan will destroy itself sooner or later."

"If we do not possess absolute power, then we must never adopt the attitude of 'those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish'."

"At this stage, if we want to end the war, we must make as many friends for our Uchiha clan as possible..."

"Only by seeking common ground while reserving differences can we unite the other ninja clans willing to gather around our Uchiha clan."

"Only then can we strike our enemies from all sides, thereby ending this long war more quickly."

"You must know that the average life expectancy for an adult is less than thirty, and six-year-old children have to head to the battlefield for the sake of the clan."

"The immense hatred sparked by so many children dying young is the true culprit behind why this world is so twisted!"

"The world shouldn't be like this, Father!"

"Shouldn't children be able to grow up happily?"

"Better to be a dog in times of peace than a human in times of chaos!"

"Therefore, only by severing the distortion points of this world can we usher in true peace and truly end the war!"

Speaking to this point, Uchiha Shin's emotions suddenly became agitated.

That's right, compared to the peaceful and happy life of his previous life, this era was simply trash.

Therefore, only those who are in the midst of war will desperately yearn for peace.

Just like those in hell will look up and gaze toward the light.

Haha, I truly did not misjudge him...

Hearing his eldest son elaborate in detail on the root causes of war and the methods to end it, Uchiha Tajima felt truly gratified in his old heart.

He really did not expect that his eldest son, Uchiha Shin, who was only five years old this year, would have such a profound understanding of war and peace.

There were even certain principles that he, as the clan head, had never thought of before...

It seems that his eldest son, Uchiha Shin, far surpasses Madara, Izuna, and the vast majority of his peers, not only in ninja talent and strength but also in his capacity and perspective on the big picture.

For Uchiha Tajima, as the clan head, this was definitely good news.

The more outstanding Uchiha Shin is, the more it means that in the future, under Uchiha Shin's leadership, the Uchiha clan will become increasingly powerful; even reaching the pinnacle of the ninja world is not an impossible feat.

"Shin, you brat, you have truly given me one surprise after another today!"

Uchiha Tajima said with a hearty laugh.

"However, I hope you keep in mind what you said today, and use it as your ninja way to walk forward..."

"I will be right behind you, watching over you closely!"

Speaking to this point, Uchiha Tajima's tone suddenly became serious.

Uchiha Shin was secretly happy in his heart; he knew that the position of the future Uchiha clan head basically had nothing to do with Madara and Izuna anymore. Unless he, Uchiha Shin, met with an accident, he would be the future head of the Uchiha clan.

Hahahaha...

"Is this Big Brother's ideal, Big Brother's ninja way?"

Madara and Izuna were already shocked to the point of numbness.

Whether it was strength, or ideals and the ninja way, compared to Big Brother Uchiha Shin...

Madara and Izuna looked at each other.

We really are trash!

This thought appeared in both of their minds almost simultaneously.

And at this moment, they finally understood what that inexplicable emotion and feeling that had just sprouted in their hearts really was.

That's right, it was envy—naked, raw envy.

Envy that Big Brother Uchiha Shin had such powerful strength at five years old.

Envy that Big Brother Uchiha Shin had such a great ideal and ninja way at five years old.

Sigh, why is the gap between people so huge?

Clearly, they are all the father's children, clearly, they are all Uchiha...

Madara and Izuna were bitter.