The Tea Ninja

The Tea Ninja()

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

Five-year-old Tea Ninja Uchiha Shin wanted to catch Uchiha Tajima's interest, strike a blow against Uchiha Madara, and, above all, seize the initiative...

So he had no choice but to start by criticizing his father's position before making his case.

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

His big brother had actually dared to openly contradict their father...

Seeing Uchiha Shin stand up straight and earnestly refute Uchiha Tajima's words, Madara and Izuna were both stunned.

After all, to Madara and Izuna, their father, Uchiha Tajima, was not only the head of their household, but also the leader of the Uchiha Clan. Most importantly, he was a powerful ninja.

In the Warring States Period of Naruto, the weak obeyed the strong, sons obeyed their fathers, and clan members obeyed their clan leaders. For thousands of years, from the Mythic Era to the present, these ironclad rules had never been broken.

And yet now...

Uchiha Shin, a son, had actually contradicted Uchiha Tajima, his father.

Uchiha Shin, a clan member, had actually contradicted Uchiha Tajima, his clan leader.

Uchiha Shin, a weakling, had actually contradicted Uchiha Tajima, the strong.

Madara and Izuna were so stunned they could barely think. How could their big brother have such nerve, such courage?

A strange emotion, an unfamiliar feeling, began to take root inside them...

Madara and Izuna wanted to grasp this strange feeling and emotion. They also wanted to understand what it was, once and for all.

"You speak with such conviction and certainty..."

"Then, my son, in light of your outstanding performance on the training ground today, and your selfless contribution of an improved ninjutsu to the clan..."

"I'll make an exception today and hear you out."

"And this is a conversation between one man and another."

"You should understand that this is only an exception."

"After all, the weak have no say. You understand that, don't you?"

Hearing Uchiha Shin challenge him, Uchiha Tajima did not get angry, as he might have been expected to. Instead, he sat up straight, ready to listen to Uchiha Shin's answer in earnest.

Uchiha Shin understood what Uchiha Tajima meant.

The message was simple: because of his impressive performance, he was being granted the chance to speak as an equal. Otherwise, as a weakling, a son, and a clan member, all he could do was bow his head and obey. He had no business asking so many questions.

Uchiha Shin nodded in understanding, then continued, "I've been thinking about a question lately..."

"How do wars begin?"

"Only by understanding the root cause of war can we find a fundamental way to end it."

In the Warring States Period of Naruto, with land, resources, and population all limited, war among the ninja clans was inevitable if they wanted to survive and grow.

With that in mind, Uchiha Shin continued.

It wasn't until yesterday that he finally figured it out.

"The root cause of war is the struggle over resources, land, and population..."

"Compared with this world's enormous population, the total number of ninja is negligible."

"So if a ninja clan wants to grow strong, it needs a great many ninja."

"And to produce a great many ninja, it needs an enormous population."

"And just how much land and how many resources would it take to feed such a vast population!"

"So the root cause of war is really resources, land, and population."

"Then why do enemies exist?"

"If I want something and you won't give it to me, and you won't listen to reason, what can I do?"

"Fight!"

"That's how enemies are made..."

"Hatred is merely a consequence of that."

"But how much does our Uchiha Clan need to survive and thrive?"

"Others aren't going to hand it over willingly. Does that mean we should wipe them all out?"

"If we do that, we'll have countless enemies."

"Can the Uchiha Clan's strength alone wipe them all out?"

"Even though our Uchiha Clan is one of the strongest ninja clans in the Land of Fire..."

"Many ants can bring down an elephant, and even a tiger fears a pack of wolves!"

"An overly rigid thing is easily broken..."

"Our Uchiha Clan will end up destroying itself sooner or later."

"Without overwhelming power, we absolutely must not make it 'obey me and prosper, oppose me and perish.'"

"At this stage, if we want to end the war, we need to make more and more friends for the Uchiha Clan..."

"Only by accepting our differences and uniting the other ninja clans willing to stand with us can we strike at our enemies from every direction and bring this long war to an end sooner."

"Remember, adults live less than thirty years on average, and six-year-old children have to go to battle for their clans."

"The deep hatred caused by so many children dying young is the true root of this world's distortion!"

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

"Shouldn't children be allowed to grow up happy?"

"Better a dog in times of peace than a person in times of chaos!"

"So only by cutting out what has warped this world can we bring true peace and truly end the war!"

As he spoke, Uchiha Shin's emotions suddenly surged.

That was right. Compared with the peaceful, happy life of his previous world, this era was utter trash.

Only those living through war could truly yearn for peace.

Just as only those trapped in hell would raise their eyes to seek the light.

Haha, I knew I was right about him...

Hearing his eldest son lay out in detail the root causes of war and how to end it, Uchiha Tajima felt deeply gratified.

He had never imagined that his eldest son, Uchiha Shin, only five years old, would understand war and peace so deeply.

He had even failed to consider some of the points his son had raised, despite being the clan leader...

It seemed that his eldest son, Uchiha Shin, surpassed Madara, Izuna, and most children his age in ninja talent and strength, as well as in character and overall perspective.

For Uchiha Tajima, as clan leader, this was undeniably good news.

The more exceptional Uchiha Shin was, the stronger the Uchiha Clan would become under his leadership. It wasn't impossible that he might one day rule the Ninja World.

"Shin, you little rascal! You've surprised me again and again today!"

Uchiha Tajima laughed heartily.

"But I hope you'll remember what you said today and make it your ninja way, following it to the end..."

"I'll be watching over you from behind."

As he said this, Uchiha Tajima's voice suddenly grew serious.

Uchiha Shin was secretly delighted. He knew that the future leadership of the Uchiha Clan would no longer be Madara's or Izuna's to claim. Unless something happened to him, Uchiha Shin, he would be the clan's future leader.

Hahahaha...

"Is that big brother's ideal? His ninja way?"

Madara and Izuna were already numb with shock.

Whether it was strength, ideals, or ninja way, compared with their big brother, Uchiha Shin...

Madara and Izuna exchanged a glance.

We really are pathetic!

The same thought surfaced in both their minds.

And now, at last, they understood what that strange feeling that had begun to grow inside them really was.

That was right. It was envy—blatant, naked envy.

They envied their big brother, Uchiha Shin, for being so powerful at just five years old.

They envied their big brother, Uchiha Shin, for having such a great ideal and ninja way at just five years old.

Sigh, how could the gap between people be so huge?

They were both their father's children. They were both Uchiha...

Madara and Izuna felt a pang of envy.