c37: Rejection of Mental Internal Friction
"All right, it's getting late. Everyone should head back."
With that, Uchiha Shisui returned to his senses. He stepped forward and gave Uchiha Gen a light pat on the shoulder.
Gen retracted his kunai and strode forward, the crowd of Uchiha instinctively parting for him as he passed. Their previous arrogance had dissolved into silent awe.
Shisui walked over to Osamu, whispering a few words of consolation, but the latter remained unresponsive. Without another word, Shisui caught up with Gen.
As the two walked off, most of the gathered Uchiha dispersed. A smaller group, still curious, clustered around Osamu, bombarding him with questions.
But Uchiha Osamu had yet to recover from the crushing blow to his pride. His mind was still reeling from the humiliation of being defeated so cleanly in front of his peers. He brushed past his clanmates coldly, ignoring their questions, and left in silence.
"Gen, that was the first time I've seen your full strength," said Shisui with a light smile. "It was… impressive."
Shisui's nature had always been sincere and open-hearted. He wasn't the jealous type; instead, he praised Gen genuinely.
"The elders call us the 'Twin Stars of Uchiha.' I guess I'd better make sure I don't fall behind," Gen replied with a faint smile.
Gen had indeed used a powerful genjutsu technique just now Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes which he had adapted to his own two-tomoe Sharingan. But the cost was steep. That single illusion had drained nearly a third of his chakra reserve.
If he had turned that same technique on ordinary opponents, it could have ensnared three jōnin-level enemies simultaneously and rendered them helpless.
"Still," Shisui added after a pause, "if your Sharingan ever evolves to the three-tomoe stage, I might be the one who ends up holding you back."
He forced a laugh, but his expression dimmed slightly.
"But… honestly, I hope your Sharingan doesn't evolve anytime soon. Because that would mean you'd have to endure unforgettable pain."
As he spoke, Shisui raised his right hand and touched the area around his eye sockets. Whatever he recalled in that moment brought a fleeting shadow to his face.
"Some people call our Uchiha eyes the 'Cursed Eyes.' It's not an empty saying…"
"Every stage of evolution requires loss. Real loss. Every time they advance, someone you love… someone irreplaceable… dies."
Gen looked away, silent for a long moment.
"Tch," he finally scoffed. "That's just what people say when they're bitter."
"Pain isn't exclusive to the Uchiha. Do you think the other clans don't suffer loss? That their comrades, their loved ones don't die?"
"They grieve. They rage. But they can't transform pain into strength the way we can."
"And even when they survive, all they can do is train endlessly and hope to catch up."
Gen's voice wasn't arrogant just resolute.
"But we Uchiha are different we inherit the will of the fallen, transform grief and rage into power on the battlefield, avenge our dead comrades, protect the living, and claw our way out of death's grasp!"
Uchiha Gen spoke with scorn, his voice low but brimming with conviction.
Throughout the ninja world, countless people either envy, covet, or outright fear the power of the Uchiha. The Sharingan is not just a tool—it is a legacy, a burden, and a weapon that shapes destiny itself.
Unlike the Byakugan, which, while powerful, can be controlled by non-Hyuga if obtained, the Sharingan is far more domineering and self-consuming.
Even someone as prodigious as Kakashi Hatake, hailed as Konoha's genius since the Third Shinobi War, was visibly weakened after receiving a single transplanted Sharingan. His stamina dropped sharply, and prolonged battles became increasingly dangerous.
If Kakashi had transplanted two Sharingan, he likely would've collapsed after casting a single large-scale jutsu.
The Sharingan unable to be deactivated by non-Uchiha—drained his chakra continuously. For most ninja, it would be more of a liability than a gift.
For the average shinobi, wielding the Sharingan is not empowerment—it's a burden.
As Shisui listened, recalling his own experience with the evolution of his eyes, his expression shifted subtly. Gen's words resonated.
Shisui had awakened and evolved his three-tomoe Sharingan after witnessing the death of comrades in battle. Each time, the agony had been real and scarring but in the aftermath, he'd used the power to protect others, to change fate, and to achieve victory.
"Gen, your way of thinking is always so unorthodox... and insightful."
"Let me give you something," Gen said calmly. "My personal motto. It keeps me sane."
"What motto?" Shisui leaned in with interest. Gen, for all his eccentricity, was undeniably brilliant.
"Simple: Think through everything. If you can blame others, don't blame yourself."
"…What?"
Shisui stared at Gen, dumbfounded. That was definitely not the kind of answer he had expected.
Gen stopped walking and turned, a rare seriousness in his eyes. "Shisui, you've awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. You must have felt the change. The influence it exerts on your emotions and thoughts?"
"Yeah," Shisui admitted. "But I've gotten used to it… for now."
The Uchiha clan is known for their profound emotional capacity. They feel love more deeply than others—and in loss, they feel grief more acutely. That is the seed of the Sharingan's power.
The influence of the standard Sharingan can be managed, but the Mangekyō Sharingan—awakened through unbearable emotional trauma is far more dangerous.
In the canon, every Mangekyō user is emotionally extreme. Whether it's Sasuke, Madara, or Itachi, all of them took actions that others could never comprehend.
Chakra is a balance of spiritual energy and physical stamina. Strong will directly enhances chakra. And the will is intimately tied to the soul.
That's why Uchiha with extreme convictions can wield terrifying power but also descend into madness.
"Your ability to adapt shows you have strong self-control," Gen said. "But what about the others? Those who can't hold it together?"
"When you lose someone important… then combine that with the strain of the Sharingan… and have no self-discipline? You spiral. Fast."
"My motto isn't about shirking responsibility. It's about avoiding internal collapse. Don't overthink. Don't spiral. Blame the world if you must. Blame the enemy. Blame circumstance."
"If you can't even do that, blame the terrain, the weather, the gods, even the rock on the roadside just don't blame yourself."
"Having someone or something to vent to reduces the chances of losing control."
In Gen's eyes, Uchiha Itachi had suffered from severe mental self-conflict. From childhood, he had been burdened with impossible expectations and internalized guilt for every tragedy. In the end, his mental strain consumed him.
Shisui furrowed his brow, pondering Gen's logic. "That… does make some sense. But isn't it too easy to become irresponsible that way?"
"I'm not saying abandon accountability," Gen said, waving his hand. "I'm talking about a psychological pressure release valve. Most people have no way to process their trauma."
"If you only have one outlet for emotion and that path is blocked… it's only a matter of time before you explode."
"I get it now. It's like building a safety valve for the heart."
"Exactly. And I'm telling you from experience—it works. I'm more stable. I laugh more. I enjoy life now."
"I'll give it a shot," Shisui nodded sincerely.
"Mhm."
"By the way, Gen… what does 'non-stick pot' mean?"
"'Pot' is slang for responsibility. 'Non-stick pot' means nothing sticks to you. You avoid emotional self-blame."
"Got it."
"Anyway, enough talk. I've said my piece. Let's go pay respects to the clan head, then eat and rest."
"Sounds good."
The two walked side by side. After a short while, they arrived at the heart of the Uchiha encampment, where a large ceremonial tent stood out among the others.
Two Uchiha guards stood at the entrance. After recording their names, the pair entered the makeshift mourning hall. Inside, a jōnin stood night watch over the body of the deceased clan leader.
This would be the final night the body rested in the camp. By tradition, Uchiha shinobi would escort the body to Konoha the following day for a full funeral.
Unlike common ninja who were cremated immediately after death, high-ranking clan members were granted the rare privilege of a formal return and interment one of the few honors afforded to the founding clans.
As they knelt to pay their respects, Shisui's tears welled up. He remembered the kindness and mentorship the clan leader had shown him, and grief overtook him.
Gen, who had little personal interaction with the clan leader, remained composed. Still, out of respect and habit he managed a convincing display of solemnity.
After the ceremony, they intended to eat and rest. But before they could relax, a summons from the elder council interrupted them. They had no choice but to go.
Mental exhaustion left unchecked—leads to collapse. Depression and suicide have become increasingly common, even in our world. That's why rejecting internal friction matters. Stop comparing. Stop spiraling. Live your life. Laugh. Be well.
Like Gen.
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