Chapter 12: Relieving Negative Emotions
Land of Fire.
On a secluded road, Uchiha Gōenji led his squad toward Konoha.
The desire to return home seemed to pull them forward like an arrow in flight.
It certainly wasn't Gōenji's desire, though. It belonged to the shinobi following behind him.
With the exception of wandering loners like Gōenji, who had yet to become missing-nin, most people of Konoha had a deep attachment to their village. After spending years fighting on the front lines, the thought of returning home naturally filled them with excitement.
Their pace was remarkably fast.
Unfortunately, no matter how quickly they traveled, reaching Konoha in a single day was impossible. By nightfall, they had no choice but to stop and make camp.
"Finally, we're going home."
Uchiha Tekka stretched and sighed in relief.
"I wonder how everyone back home is doing."
Probably the same as always. Nothing should have changed.
Gōenji answered without much emotion. He didn't have any particularly deep ties to the Uchiha clan.
That said, he'd grown up in a society in his previous life where family ties and traditions ran deep. He understood the importance of belonging to a group. He simply didn't have any relatives left, so his connection to the clan was naturally weaker.
"Exactly," Tekka said proudly. "Even the Hyūga can't compare with our Uchiha clan."
In his eyes, the Uchiha were unquestionably the strongest clan in the shinobi world.
"Then keep that opinion to yourself."
Gōenji rolled his eyes.
"The Hyūga are our comrades too. Don't start comparing clans like that."
There was a Hyūga member in their squad. If someone overheard them, they could easily end up starting another fight.
Gōenji might be strong, but he wasn't a jōnin yet. His influence within the village was still limited.
Tekka frowned.
"You've changed. You weren't like this before. You even used to say that the Hyūga should be firmly controlled by the Uchiha."
"That's nonsense. We're not children anymore. Can't you weigh the advantages and disadvantages before letting your temper decide everything?"
Gōenji glanced at him.
"The Hyūga are our allies. They're also one of Konoha's strongest sensory clans. If the two clans worked together properly, who knew how much stronger Konoha could become against the other villages?"
"The question of which clan is stronger is an internal matter for Konoha. Don't let that interfere with our cooperation."
That was genuinely what Gōenji believed.
At this point, the Uchiha didn't hold many important positions within Konoha beyond the Police Force. The situation hadn't yet deteriorated to the point where the clan stood openly opposed to the village.
Still, Gōenji couldn't help thinking that the Uchiha and Hyūga working together could become a force comparable to the famous Ino–Shika–Chō alliance.
On the battlefield, their combined abilities might even surpass it.
Unfortunately...
Tekka looked even more confused.
"What kind of thinking is that? You're actually telling me not to compete with the Hyūga? Something must have happened to your brain during the war."
He understood perfectly well that the Uchiha and Hyūga could achieve more through cooperation. Everyone understood that, including the Hokage.
But from Tekka's perspective, the Uchiha couldn't simply stand alongside the other clans.
They had to stand above them.
He didn't care how much cooperation might benefit the clan. What he wanted was the title of the strongest clan.
"...Forget it. I'm not arguing about this."
Gōenji changed the subject.
"What are you planning to do when we get home? Eat something good? Visit the hot springs? Train?"
He knew how deeply ingrained the Uchiha's pride was.
The Hyūga weren't particularly different in that regard either. They were somewhat more restrained than the Uchiha, but their arrogance was hardly inferior.
Those were problems for the Hokage to worry about.
For now, Gōenji would rather talk about something less troublesome.
Tekka's expression suddenly became rather lecherous.
"I'm old enough now. I've heard there are some places in the western part of Konoha where grown men go to unwind."
He grinned.
"I'm definitely going to check one out when we get back."
"..."
Gōenji stared at him in silence.
I really shouldn't have asked.
This Uchiha's mind was full of questionable interests, yet the clan still considered itself superior to the Hyūga?
Compared with the Uchiha, the Hyūga almost seemed like aristocrats. Their clan rules were strict, their traditions rigid, and their conduct heavily regulated.
The Uchiha, on the other hand, were considerably more casual. Strength was what mattered most to them.
Sometimes, they looked less like an ancient noble clan and more like a family of upstarts who had suddenly acquired power.
As for the place Tekka was talking about...
Gōenji had no interest.
He had other plans.
The Uchiha clan's library.
And Konoha's own collection of books.
His extraordinary mind needed knowledge to grow.
Gōenji couldn't wait to get his hands on them.
The war was still raging. If he wasted his limited periods of rest instead of expanding his knowledge, he might not survive the next time he was sent to the front.
The more knowledge he accumulated, the more ninjutsu he could develop—and the better his chances of survival would become.
He understood what mattered most.
He hadn't even experienced everything the shinobi world had to offer or met all the characters he'd once admired.
He certainly wasn't ready to die.
Even without any of that, though, he simply didn't want to die.
And if he wanted to live, he had to become stronger.
Seeing Gōenji remain silent, Tekka leaned closer.
"You sure you don't want to come? We can go together. I'll pay."
There was an expectant look in his eyes.
Gōenji stared at him.
It was difficult to reconcile this man with the proud, dignified image he once associated with the Uchiha.
Apparently, people like Tekka were far more representative of the clan than the refined, gentlemanly Uchiha he'd imagined.
Gōenji also understood that the customs of this world were different from those of his previous life. Certain things he had considered taboo were far more commonplace here.
Even so, he had no interest.
"Forget it. We're still in the middle of a world war. Improving my strength is more important."
He rejected the invitation without hesitation.
Even if someone else was paying, he wouldn't go.
He had too much self-discipline to waste his precious time that way.
"Tch."
Tekka clicked his tongue.
"You're just pretending to be disciplined. I don't believe you won't change your mind eventually."
"If you weren't so young before, you probably would've gone already."
Gōenji ignored him.
Tekka hesitated for a moment before adding more seriously, "Besides, shinobi need their own ways to release all the negative emotions that build up during a war. It's one of the simplest ways to keep yourself from breaking."
He gave Gōenji a meaningful look.
"Are you sure you don't want something like that? If you develop psychological problems later, don't say I didn't warn you."
Gōenji shook his head.
"My hobbies are reading and training. That's enough for me."
That was what he had always been taught.
And he understood what Tekka meant.
In a war like this, if a shinobi had no way to release the emotions and pressure building inside them, they would eventually break down or even abandon the village.
It happened often enough.
Everyone had their own method of coping.
Might Guy buried himself in training. Kakashi escaped into his beloved Make-Out Paradise. Killer B expressed himself through rap. Jiraiya indulged in his own questionable hobbies. Orochimaru buried himself in research, while Tsunade found release through gambling.
Even the strongest shinobi had their own ways of dealing with the psychological burden of their lives.
Hashirama and Madara had been no different when they were young. Under the immense pressure of constant warfare, even they had found ridiculous ways to relax—skipping stones, competing over who could relieve themselves the farthest, and other childish contests.
It was strange.
But perhaps that was simply how people survived war.
Gōenji looked toward the campfire and quietly opened the book in his hands.
For him, there was no need to find another outlet.
He had plenty to do.
Read.
Train.
Study Fire Release.
Become stronger.
And survive.
That was enough.