Uchiha Itachi was lost in thought.
He felt his worldview, though it had shattered several times since meeting his teacher, had this time, been completely fragmented!
This was entirely different from what he had been taught within his clan before!
However, he didn't deny it.
He understood his teacher's nature; he had no interest in lying about such matters.
There were old records within the clan.
Although they might seem messy and complex due to no one organizing them, if one truly calmed down, many things could be found.
So, there was no need to deceive him.
Therefore, receiving this information for the first time, he immediately set aside his own questions and began to quietly ponder.
He needed to fully comprehend all the information he had heard.
Time slowly passed.
Uchiha Jin didn't disturb him, simply sitting beside him, basking in the sun.
Approximately half an hour later, Itachi reopened his eyes, then looked at Jin with a serious expression.
"Teacher, I'm ready!"
Uchiha Jin nodded.
He didn't show much surprise; after all, Itachi was a genius, understanding things in half an hour.
Hmm, perfectly normal!
His mouth twitched slightly for a moment before he rubbed his brow and spoke.
"Alright, let's continue!"
"Through my explanation just now, I believe you can understand the pros and cons of the Police Force."
"Next, let's talk about how Sarutobi Hiruzen, after taking power, became increasingly wary of the Uchiha, and, relying on the Uchiha's simple-mindedness, used the Police Force as a core to completely disconnect the Uchiha from the Village."
"Ultimately, it became the situation you see today."
"Throughout Konoha Village, although the Uchiha held great power, no Ninja Clan was close to them, and even the common people resisted the Uchiha."
"Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be interested in meddling."
"After all, you know my situation, Teacher. To put it bluntly, I don't have much affection for the clan."
"But your father is cunning!"
"First, he gave me shares in the Uchiha Trading Company's dividends, and then he had you become my disciple."
"So, here's the problem."
"I can't let the Uchiha fall, or my annual dividends will be gone."
"Secondly, there's you."
"Since I've taken you as a disciple, and humans are emotional beings, how could I truly not care about you?"
"So, I had no choice!"
"I accepted the position of Police Chief, but who would have thought that on my very first day, I would be tested by Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
"You must have heard your father talk about the inside story of the thief incident, right?"
At Uchiha Jin's question, Itachi couldn't help but nod.
He had, of course, heard about it.
After all, his father was the clan head, and many things that might be considered secrets to outsiders were daily occurrences for him as the clan head's son.
Uchiha Jin shrugged upon hearing this.
"So, that's how it is."
"The Hokage tested me by harming the interests of the common people, and I, in turn, used the common people to counter Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen."
"Even Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, decided to hand over the Police Force to the Uchiha hoping to use the common people against the Uchiha!"
"This is the truth!"
"The Hokage doesn't care about the common people, the Ninja Clans don't care about the common people, and the Uchiha don't care either."
"To us, the common people are expendable pawns."
"As long as it can strike at an opponent, no one cares about their lives or deaths."
"You know me!"
"Actually, I don't look down on the common people; in fact, I was raised by common people. If there was any possibility, I would also hope to be good to them."
"However, I can't!"
"If I act with restraint, I can only be killed by the Hokage."
"So, do you understand?"
"This world isn't black and white, and there's no such thing as justice and evil; this matter isn't even about right or wrong."
"There are only different stances!"
"There is only, the winner takes all!"
"History is written by the victors. If the Hokage wins, the Uchiha will be defined as evil."
"Conversely, if the Uchiha win, then the Hokage will become the source of evil."
"And the years Sarutobi Hiruzen served as Hokage will be characterized as Konoha's evil era of rule."
"This is my answer to you. I know the common people are innocent."
"But, there's no other way."
"If I don't act, the Uchiha will eventually be wiped out."
"For the dividends from the Uchiha Trading Company, and for you, my dear disciple, I can only help your father out."
"I had no choice!"
Uchiha Jin's tone was faint.
He didn't whitewash himself, nor did he blacken the Hokage.
There was only calmness.
But it was precisely this brutal truth that struck Itachi like a nuclear bomb.
Yes.
He was completely stunned.
The truth behind something he had pondered for so long, yet couldn't grasp, was actually this simple?
"This, why?" Itachi asked, looking somewhat pained: "The world shouldn't be like this."
"Can't everyone just live in peace?"
Uchiha Jin remained silent.
Looking at the pained Itachi, he didn't try to comfort him.
Because this was his choice!
If he hadn't asked, and had acted like a normal child, then Jin would certainly have wanted him to grow up happily.
But, he couldn't.
He was too much of a genius, and too naive.
To prevent Itachi from going down the old path, he could only tell him the truth.
Even if this truth was full of stench and blood.
He was silent for a moment.
Once Itachi gradually became calm, he continued to speak.
"Although I don't want to discourage you, as your teacher, it is my duty to impart knowledge and resolve doubts."
"I can only tell you, no!"
"Reality is that cruel; resources in the entire Shinobi World are limited."
"Would Konoha willingly give the fertile Land of Fire to the impoverished Land of Wind or Land of Water for free?"
"Would you willingly give the Uchiha's wealth to other Ninja Clans for free?"