The clearing in the forest is no longer what it was two months ago. The ground is covered with criss-cross scratches, and the trunks of several thick trees have left marks of varying depths, like knives and axes. This place has become a tacit arena of fighting between two geniuses.
Bang!
The crisp chiming sound of gold and iron exploded again, sparks flying everywhere.
The two figures Senju Chen and Shisui Uchiha separated as soon as they touched each other. They flew backwards and landed steadily on branches more than ten meters apart, facing each other from a distance.
Shisui's breathing was a little quick. His eyes, which opened Sharingan, were locked on the small figure opposite. There was no trace of contempt in his eyes, only the solemnity of meeting an opponent.
Two months of sparring gave him a new, even subversive understanding of the word "genius".
The Senju Chen in front of him was like a bottomless abyss. Every time, when he thought he had seen the opponent's limit, the next time they fought, the opponent would always come up with more cunning, cruel, and incredible moves to deal with it.
The fighting instinct that exists purely for killing seems to be something engraved in the soul and cannot be explained by common sense.
"Huh..." Senju Chen exhaled a long breath, his chest rising and falling slightly. He shook the numb wooden knife, but there was a hearty smile on his face, which was the joy of meeting his opponent in chess.
Shisui is his best whetstone. Sharingan's insight forces him to completely digest and absorb Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship experience from mere "memory" and "imitation", and turn it into something of his own.
"Let's take a rest." Shisui jumped down from the tree trunk and relieved Sharingan. The blood in his eyes faded and he returned to his usual gentleness.
"Yeah." Senju Chen also jumped down, sat down on the ground, picked up the water bottle and drank a few gulps.
There was a brief silence in the forest, only the gentle breeze rustling through the treetops.
"Shisui..." Senju Chen suddenly spoke. He had already complied with Shisui Uchiha's request and no longer called him brother.
"Huh?" Shisui turned his head and looked at him.
"Why do we... must fight?" Senju Chen raised his head and looked at him with a clear and somewhat confused look unique to children, "Or... why do ninjas fight?"
This question, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, caused ripples in Shisui's heart.
He was stunned.
He opened his mouth and thought of the answers he had heard since childhood. To protect the village, to Will of Fire, to protect important people...
"Because... there are things that need to be protected." After a long time, Shisui replied, "In order to protect Konoha's 'home', we need strength."
"Home?" Senju Chen tilted his head, the confusion on his face deepened, "But, weren't Uchiha Clan and us, Senju Clan, enemies before? Why can we become members of the same 'home' now?"
"That's because Master First Hokage and ancestor Madara Uchiha have the same ideals, so they established Konoha and ended the chaos of the Warring States Period." Shisui replied subconsciously, with a tone of respect for his ancestors.
"Really..." Senju Chen lowered his head and muttered quietly, as if talking to himself, "But, I heard from the elders in the clan that Uchiha people are very arrogant and look down on others... My classmates in school don't seem to dare to play with the Uchiha Clan people."
Shisui's mouth stiffened slightly.
Senju Chen seemed not to notice, and continued to speak in that childlike and innocent tone, "Shisui, you are the first Uchiha I know. I think you are a very nice person, and you are not arrogant at all. Why do people have that impression? Is it because... we were enemies before?"
This series of questions, like precise scalpels, cut through the disguise called "peace" that Shisui had been deliberately avoiding, revealing the undercurrent of reality underneath.
The estrangement between the family and the village, the awed and alienated eyes of the villagers, the sense of isolation that the tribesmen say they cannot integrate into...
It's not that he doesn't know these things, it's just that he chose to believe in "Will of Fire", believing that as long as he works hard enough and is strong enough, he can one day become a bridge connecting his family and the village.
But now, these cruel realities were laid before him in the most innocent and innocent way by a five-year-old child.
"... No." Shisui's voice was a little hoarse. He rubbed Senju Chen's hair and forced a forced smile, "Those are all misunderstandings. One day, everyone will understand. We are all Konoha's ninjas and the successors of Will of Fire."
"Will of Fire..." Senju Chen raised his face, his eyes flashing with curiosity, "What exactly is it? Is it like fire, burning all enemies?"
"No!" Shisui retorted immediately, with an unprecedented serious tone, "Will of Fire, it is protection! It is sacrifice! It is the spirit of trusting your companions and protecting the village with love!"
Seeing the unquestionable determination in Shisui's eyes, Senju Chen let out a chuckle from the bottom of his heart.
Innocent Shisui, you don't know the ending between you and Uchiha Clan. What you believe in now will make you feel helpless and commit suicide in the future.
"Shisui, do you know Uncle Sakumo? He also wanted to protect the village and his companions, but everyone did not agree with him. In the end, Uncle Sakumo committed suicide. Do you think he did something wrong?"
Shisui was stunned by Senju Chen's words. He knew about Hatake Sakumo and also knew that Senju Chen stood up and spoke for Hatake Sakumo on the playground at that time. This was also the reason why he had a good impression of Senju Chen.
Although he also agrees that the mission of the family and the village takes priority, he does not reject the idea that Hatake Sakumo is a hero. He and other people have different opinions. Everyone is arguing about his saving his companions and giving up the mission.
But he felt that he saved his companions, shouldered all the charges alone, and exchanged his own life for the lives of others. Even if others did not recognize it, he was the hero in his heart.
He felt that if he were put in Hatake Sakumo's position, maybe he would do the same thing.
"I think Hatake Sakumo is a hero. He sacrificed himself in exchange for the lives of his companions. Isn't this what Will of Fire is?" Shisui Uchiha said firmly.
Such an answer is indeed very Shisui. In the original plot, you committed suicide. Could it be that you were influenced by Hatake Sakumo? Senju Chen curled his lips and asked.
"However, even if Uncle Sakumo is dead, no one has changed much about him and this matter. Those who scolded Uncle Sakumo still continue to scold him. Even the companions he rescued do not understand him. Moreover, Kakashi has lost his father. Is it really right for him to do this?"
"You said that if he lived, wouldn't he be able to save more people? Why did he have to die?"
Shisui was speechless when asked, and didn't know how to answer Senju Chen.
"This... I don't know either..."
Poor Shisui Uchiha was just a child who was only one or two years older than Senju Chen at this time. He was stunned by Senju Chen's soul torture and direct questions, and fell into a state of confusion.
But the seeds have already been sown.
Seeds of doubt, seeds of thinking.
He doesn't need to get the answer now, he just needs to let these questions take root and sprout in Shisui Uchiha's heart.
One day, when the cruelty of reality and the glory of ideals collide violently, this seed will grow into a towering tree that can shake his whole world.
Looking at Shisui Uchiha who was confused by his own question, Senju Chen felt extremely happy.
Sure enough, we should start thinking from childhood. From now on, if I have nothing to do, I will instill some thoughts into Shisui that only by living can we change the world, and that even if we die, we can't change it.
Maybe it can change this tragic ending.