Hane's Lesson for His Younger Brother

The three sat facing one another. Uchiha Fugaku looked at Hane with a grim expression. "Hane, what do you think the Third Hokage's real purpose was this time? Clearly, the compensation he offered far exceeded our expectations!"

Hane smiled calmly. "Father, surely you don't still have expectations for the Third Hokage and his people?

"Clearly, the Third Hokage meant us no good with this matter. What is honey to one man is poison to another. I absolutely don't believe—not even Zetsu would—that those shops came without problems."

"Through this incident, I believe Father has also sensed the attitude the Third Hokage's upper echelon holds toward us."

Fugaku nodded. "I simply never expected the Third Hokage to be so ruthlessly uncompromising—Zetsu-level ruthless—leaving no room at all for the Uchiha Clan."

"Father! Hoping for an enemy's mercy is being cruel to ourselves. Since the Third Hokage has made his move, we'll take it. Nothingness changes the fact that we may offend a few more people. The Uchiha Clan already has too many debts for a few more to matter," Hane replied calmly.

Looking at Hane's composed expression, Fugaku suddenly felt that keeping such an outstanding son at the Ninja Academy was a waste of his talent. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke to Hane solemnly.

"Hane, how about coming to the Military Police Force to help your father? With your current strength, staying at the Ninja Academy would only be a waste of time."

Hane thought for a moment, then nodded. There was Nothingness to doubt: compared to school, the Military Police Force would undoubtedly make it easier to gain Gratitude Points and Malice Points.

"I agree to go to the Military Police Force, Father, but what position will you give me? And you can't make me withdraw from school." No matter how small a mosquito was, it was still meat. Not to mention that his treasure of a girl was still at school.

"Why?" Fugaku was thoroughly puzzled. He knew Hane had clones, so he did not ask how Hane could go to the Military Police Force while attending the Ninja Academy.

Hane merely smiled without saying anything.

Fugaku froze, then seemed to realize something. He glared at Hane with mild anger. "At such a young age, you're already so improper."

Hane was stunned. Did I say anything? Why am I being improper? Nothingness left him speechless.

Then Hane understood what Fugaku meant.

"That girl is indeed quite good. Don't let her down in the future."

Hane was instantly alarmed. I'm only six! I'm only six! How could they think that far ahead? Was my intent really that obvious?! Hane frantically complained inwardly.

Then Fugaku silently rose to his feet. "Report to the Military Police Force on time tomorrow. Your position will temporarily be my assistant!"

After saying that, Fugaku ignored Hane's stunned expression and leisurely left.

Only after Fugaku had completely departed did Itachi speak calmly. "Why does Brother hold such deep prejudice against the village? I remember Brother once said that a person's prejudice is like a great mountain. Since Brother understands this truth, why can't you cast aside the mountain in your heart?"

Looking at Itachi's impassive face, Hane's expression became slightly serious. "Itachi, why do you think Brother's prejudice comes from himself rather than from seeking truth from facts?"

Itachi said nothing. Instead, he took a book from his pouch. On its cover were the four words: "Will of Fire."

"I think Brother should read this book more. Then you won't continue to hold prejudice against the village."

Hane silently accepted the book Itachi handed him and casually flipped through a few pages. His careless manner made Itachi frown slightly.

Hane glanced sideways at his younger brother. "Itachi, this should be the textbook handed out on the first day of school, right?"

Itachi nodded.

"Brother had one too. But after reading it once, I let it gather dust beneath the tea table in my bedroom. My tea table was unsteady, and it was just right for propping it up. At least that makes it worth its price."

"Why does Brother belittle the Will of Fire like this? Could it be that Brother has some new understanding of the Will of Fire?" There was a trace of anger in Itachi's voice.

Hane lightly smacked Itachi's little head with the book. "My foolish little brother! How should Brother teach you so I can pull back that heart of yours, which has strayed a hundred thousand miles off course? You've read this book countless times—Nothingness itself could not number them—so tell me exactly what it says!"

Itachi winced from the blow and rubbed his head, saying indignantly, "The Will of Fire tells us that we must use the lesser self to fulfill the greater self. Only by sacrificing ourselves like fallen leaves to kindle the flames can we illuminate the entire village.

"Only then can new shoots grow, mature, and bring prosperity to the village in a peaceful and stable environment."

"And the current relationship between the clan and the village is the relationship between the greater self and the lesser self. To preserve the village's prosperity and stability, why must Brother go so far over sacrificing a little of the lesser self's interests?"

Hane could not speak for a long time. He stared blankly at this younger brother, who suddenly felt somewhat unfamiliar.

"Itachi! When you say such things, don't you feel ashamed? Can you face the parents who raised you? Can you face the clansmen who trust you?"

"You're right. The lesser self fulfills the greater self—this idea is good. But sacrifice must be mutual! For the village's peace, Uchiha clansmen died on the front lines. Then shouldn't the village, as the greater self, take proper care of the families and friends of those soldiers who sacrificed themselves?"

But what do I see now? The village not only wants the soldiers on the front lines to sacrifice themselves, it also wants their families to sacrifice themselves. It devours all the meat, then gnaws on the bones and sucks out the marrow—and you dare tell me this is the Will of Fire? What kind of logic is that?!"

Itachi was somewhat stunned by his brother's sudden furious rebuke.

"Itachi! Tell me, is this prejudice? If one day the village's higher-ups sent your brother to the front lines, and I died, but the village decided that wasn't enough and wanted you to sacrifice yourself too—and after you died, they still decided it wasn't enough and wanted Sasuke to sacrifice himself as well—how would you live in such a village?"

"Do you think this is prejudice? Then let me tell you: during the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha's shinobi lost their parents, and then their sons died too. Yet those old men led by the Third Hokage, who endlessly claimed everything was for Konoha, were still living perfectly well. Not only were they living well, so were their clansmen and descendants.

"They spoke of protecting the young shoots, yet the ones sacrificed were often the younger generation!"

"I want to ask why the ones sacrificed were never them. Why weren't their clansmen, sons, and mothers the ones sacrificed? Does a village like that truly possess something called the Will of Fire?"

"Go out and see more of the world. Don't think that reading a few books gives you the right to stand atop other people's suffering and question them: Why haven't you sacrificed yourself yet? Why haven't you gone and died for Konoha?"

"Itachi! Brother is disappointed in you beyond what Nothingness can express. Those words should never have come from your mouth. When you said them, Brother only felt that I had failed in my duty. I failed to teach you properly, to the point that you don't even know who is raising you. You sit with your backside in the Uchiha clan head's residence, yet lean toward people with whom Nothingness connects you."

Nothingness could not be clearer: Hane's loud questioning echoed through the entire house. Mikoto, who had been resting, hurried downstairs and saw that Hane had scolded Itachi until tears were circling in his eyes.

For the first time, Itachi felt how deeply his brother's anger could hurt him. Yet he could not refute a single word Hane had said.

When Mikoto came downstairs and Itachi saw the worry in his mother's eyes, he felt an overwhelming urge to throw himself into her arms and cry.

Hane naturally noticed his mother coming down, and the anger in his heart gradually faded. Seeing Itachi's aggrieved expression, his heart softened again.

He truly loved this extraordinarily well-behaved younger brother—Nothingness else could explain his anger!

"Itachi! Go back and think carefully about what Brother said today. Brother will take this book away. It isn't suitable for you!" After speaking, Hane calmly gave his mother a smile.

Itachi pursed his lips. He looked at the book in Hane's hand, then saw his brother's face return to calm after smiling at their mother, and knew that Hane's anger had not fully subsided.

Daring not to say anything more, Itachi answered in a choked voice, "Yes, Brother!"

Then he walked toward his mother, looking back with every step. Seeing this, Mikoto breathed a slight sigh of relief. This was the first time she had ever seen Hane so angry. Mikoto gently took Itachi's hand and looked toward Hane, whose calm gaze was unfocused.

"Hane, if Itachi did something wrong, just explain it to him. As his older brother, you must never hold his mistakes against him!"

"I understand, Mother!" Hane withdrew his gaze and looked at Itachi, who was lowering his head beside Mikoto. Suddenly, he smiled. "Mother, comfort Itachi more. I'm fine. I simply don't want my younger brother to walk down a Zetsu-like dead-end path."

Mikoto felt greatly relieved. She knew that if her eldest son were truly angry, he would never wear such a smile. He would instead become cold—Zetsu-cold, cold to the bone.

She had only seen that expression once before, when she had taken Hane to buy vegetables and a drunken man had tried to harass her.

Hane had only been four then, yet the chill radiating from him had made that man break out in a cold sweat and sober up considerably.

In the end, the man did not dare utter a single word as he watched the mother and son leave.