Uchiha's Root

Hearing Fugaku's words, Kenichi smiled. They offered some comfort, but more than that, they made him genuinely happy.

As they exchanged a few words, Kenichi's sense of unfamiliarity gradually faded. He felt as though he were talking with Fugaku in the dream again. It was a strange feeling, like they were comrades who had risked their lives together for years, and his trust in Fugaku kept growing.

That was the result of the deep hypnosis Fugaku had performed on him a few days earlier. It had created a great deal of affection and trust out of thin air. Otherwise, reaching this point would have taken quite some time.

"Thanks for saying that," Kenichi said after a moment's thought. "Fugaku, what do you think of the Uchiha clan's current situation? I hope you don't find the question too forward."

"Not at all. I'll be the clan head someday, after all. Helping our people do better and defending the Uchiha's honor are my responsibilities." Fugaku continued, "The Uchiha clan now controls the Security Force, which spares most of our people the risk of being injured or killed on missions.

"And our people enjoy this comfortable life. I think things are good as they are—far better, at least, than the days of the Warring States period, when death could come at any moment and no one knew what tomorrow would bring.

"But if the Uchiha grow too comfortable for too long, our decline won't be far off."

"That's true. Since joining the Security Force, I haven't fought an enemy to the death in two years. Only by keeping up my training have I managed to avoid losing my edge.

"It wasn't until the Land of Rain descended into chaos that things improved in the Security Force. The clan head increased patrols, and many