Obsession and extremism

The ideas of "building a bridge" or "becoming another kind of fire" carried the boldness and vision unique to youth.

Sosuke Uchiha remained silent for a long time before finally shaking his head.

That shake of his head held far too much helplessness.

"It's difficult, little Genya. As difficult as reaching the heavens."

At last, he exposed a festering wound the clan had refused to face.

"Do you know that the awakening of our Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, hailed as the source of our power, is often accompanied by a violent emotional shock?"

"Love, hatred, pain, regret pushed to their extremes... This power grants us insight and strength, yet it is also a double-edged sword, leaving indelible scars on many hearts."

He chose his words carefully, speaking honestly while still preserving some measure of the clan's dignity.

"That is why those in the clan who awaken the Sharingan tend to become... more obsessive, to varying degrees. Their emotions grow more intense, and their views can easily veer toward extremes."

"This is not their fault. It is the curse of power and fate. With that mindset so widespread, unifying our thinking and reaching a consensus is already extraordinarily difficult."

He brought up the clan leader.

"Clan Leader Fugaku... His strength is unfathomable, and he cares deeply for the clan. There is no question of that."

"But his temperament... He is more cautious. He weighs matters repeatedly, striving for balance."

"At a time like this, when decisive action is needed, perhaps even painful sacrifices, that caution can sometimes seem... indecisive."

"He tries to reconcile the factions, but their voices often sweep him along, making it difficult for him to speak with a single, forceful voice that can guide the entire clan."

"The factions within the clan may appear to revolve around jonin like us, but in truth, they are tangled together, each with its own agenda."

"The hardliners want blood for blood, even if it means mutual destruction. The conservatives only want a precarious peace, hoping compromise will buy survival. More are simply lost, drifting with the current... Our strength is scattered, and our hearts are divided."

Sosuke summed it up.

"With troubles within and without, and everyone unsettled, how could it possibly be easy to unite our resolve, build the bridge you speak of, or become a fire that lights the abyss?"

"What we lack is not merely a method, but a central figure whom most people can trust and willingly follow, as well as... the opportunity and strength to break this deadlock."

As he listened to his father's analysis, as objective as he could make it yet still tactfully phrased, Genya took it in.

But the picture in Genya's mind was entirely different.

Obsessive? Extreme? This went far beyond 'to varying degrees' or 'a little problematic'!

He mercilessly mocked the mad Uchiha figures from the original story in his mind.

Obito Uchiha had started the Fourth Shinobi World War for Rin, and Uchiha Itachi had slaughtered his clan for "peace."

Sasuke Uchiha had spent most of the first half of his life trapped in a cycle of hatred and seeking revenge against his older brother.

Even Shisui, who seemed relatively normal, possessed Kotoamatsukami, an ocular technique born from eyes that reflected his soul. Was that not another form of obsessively idealistic extremism?

Father, you just can't bear to strip away the last veil covering the Uchiha Clan's shame...

But he knew he could not say that outright.

His father still felt a deep affection for the clan and a strong sense of responsibility toward it.

Genya did not challenge his father's description of the clan members' temperaments. Instead, he continued along the same line.

"Father, I may not be able to provide the opportunity and strength you speak of just yet."

"But I believe that precisely because the clan has so many conflicting voices, and the clan leader struggles to make a decision, we may need some... different perspectives all the more. Even one from a child, not yet completely bound by established positions."

His gaze was open and clear.

"Father, you often say that true strength comes from a clear understanding of the situation. Right now, I only understand the clan's predicament through your accounts and the few things I've picked up. It's like watching a fire from across the river. That isn't enough."

He paused, then revealed his ultimate aim, his voice firm.

"Father, please take me to the next clan meeting."

At those words, Sosuke Uchiha's pupils contracted. He leaned forward, his gaze locking onto his son like a hawk's.

Bring a six-year-old child to a clan meeting, when the atmosphere was growing more tense and the arguments more heated by the day?

That was simply unheard of!

Clan meetings were no child's play. The atmosphere was oppressive, the words fierce, and sometimes there were even hints of blades being drawn...

"Nonsense!"

He nearly blurted out the rebuke on instinct, but forced it to a halt at the tip of his tongue.

For he saw no childish curiosity or mischief in Genya's eyes, only a will surging beneath a deep ocean, impossible to dismiss.

He remembered the thunderous Taijutsu in the courtyard that morning, and the depth and composure his son now displayed while discussing the clan's fate.

This was no ordinary child.

This was a child blessed with astonishing talent and a precocious mind, who had already begun turning his gaze toward the very heart of the storm engulfing the clan... Genya Uchiha.

Take him? The risks were enormous.

He might be frightened by the fierce arguments. Exposure to darkness too early might twist his character. Worse still, an unguarded child's remark or an unusual display might draw unnecessary attention, or even hostility.

But refuse to take him?

Looking into his son's eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything, Sosuke suddenly felt that shutting him out might be the greatest waste of his talent and intellect, and the greatest injustice to him.

A long silence followed.

Outside the door, Izumi's palms were already sweating with anxiety.

She worried that her husband's refusal would hurt their son, but worried even more that his agreement would drag the boy into a dangerous maelstrom.

At last, Sosuke Uchiha drew a deep breath.

"At the clan meeting, many conflicting views will be voiced. The language may be fierce, and there may even be... What you see and hear may go far beyond your imagination. It may reveal a side of the Uchiha you never wished to see."

Sosuke spoke.

"You must remember that you are only attending alongside your father as an observer. You must not speak without permission or show your emotions. You need only watch, only listen, only... think. Can you do that?"

This was already an indirect agreement, bound by strict conditions.

Genya's heart settled. His expression turned solemn, and he nodded.

"Yes, father. I understand. I won't cause you any trouble... Nor will I... speak rashly."

Hearing his son's promise, Sosuke Uchiha's expression softened a little.

"Good. I'll make arrangements for the next meeting. Remember what you said today, Genya. Perhaps... you really can bring something different."

Father and son met each other's eyes. No more words were needed.

And so, an agreement that crossed the boundaries of age and convention was reached.