As Benimaru spoke, Gennosuke began to follow his train of thought.
"Are you saying that the nobles used you to oppose us? But that doesn't make sense. We Uchiha could give you more than they can."
Gennosuke rejected Benimaru's explanation.
But Benimaru hadn't been trying to tell Gennosuke what he wanted to hear.
People really could only take in what they wished to hear.
Gennosuke wanted to hear why he had failed, while Benimaru wanted to talk about how meeting Gennosuke had changed him, and the ideals those changes had inspired.
"Lord Gennosuke, look. This is the difference between us. You're a noble, and I'm poor. We'll always think differently!"
"What difference?" Gennosuke asked, confused.
"No matter what happens, you always have a choice, while we don't. You can afford to make mistakes. I'm sure that even after all this, you'll still be fine. But we can't afford to make a single mistake. Even misjudging your clan's situation has already brought ruin upon us!"
Benimaru's helpless, mocking laugh laid bare his pain. But no amount of pain could stop Gennosuke from pressing him.
"Benimaru, what are you trying to say?"
With a pained smile, Benimaru continued.
"My lord, what I'm saying is that there's a difference between poor people like us and nobles like you. I want you to understand that we were never meant to be together."
"Enough!" Gennosuke roared, enraged. Benimaru had just rejected all of his efforts over the past few months. Gennosuke had nearly lost control and run him through with his sword.
Benimaru didn't care. He only wanted Gennosuke to hear what he had to say.
"My lord, do you know? When disaster threatens, nobles have enough wealth to scatter and flee. Their fortunes aren't bound to the land beneath their feet."
Benimaru even took