"To kill an enemy at the age of four or five!"
Shisui was incredibly surprised. Even though he was considered the clan's top genius, he didn't see blood until he graduated from the Academy at eight and completed his first mission.
Tetsuka chuckled, "Yes, Itachi didn't even flinch when he killed the enemy. Maybe that's what a real genius looks like, just like you."
Shisui quickly dismissed the comparison.
When he first saw blood, he had a strong sense of discomfort and it took him several days to adjust to his role as a ninja.
However, he believed that Itachi must have felt something, perhaps confusion, just like he had.
After noting Itachi's name, Shisui planned to find some time to talk to this young clan member. Maybe they could understand each other and become confidants.
At that moment, Uchiha Itachi also seemed to notice Shisui and looked in his direction.
The two exchanged glances and then looked away as if nothing had happened.
Half an hour later, Fugaku returned to the Uchiha tent after attending a meeting in the command center. Under the gaze of the clan members, he slowly said, "We just received news from the front lines: the Kirigakure forces are retreating en masse from the Land of Fire. This war might end soon."
"The war is ending?"
The Uchiha ninjas were momentarily stunned before one said, "The war has only been going on for a few months, and we haven't even fully engaged. Why is it ending so suddenly?"
"We didn't expect it either," Fugaku replied. "But according to Choza Akimichi (a member of Tobirama's guard platoon), it seems there's an issue with Kirigakure's Three-Tails, leaving them with only one jinchuriki. Combined with the recent disastrous defeat of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and the arrival of the Yellow Flash, Kirigakure appears to be in chaos and unable to continue the war."
After hearing Fugaku's explanation, some Uchiha felt happy while others were disappointed.
The Uchiha cherished peace, but their battle-hardened blood made them crave war. Moreover, without earning significant merit on the battlefield, it would be incredibly difficult for the Uchiha to become Hokage.
However, the sense of regret didn't last long as the Uchiha ninjas started a new round of discussions.
Even without the Naka Shrine, as long as there was a sufficiently large space, the Uchiha could gather and hold clan meetings.
The topic this time remained centered on how to campaign for the position of Hokage. Initially, Shisui listened with interest, but he soon grew bored. The clan meeting was filled with the same complaints repeated over and over, with no productive solutions ever being discussed.
The clan members never seemed to think about solving problems, always venting and complaining instead.
For some reason, Shisui felt that his clan members' image closely matched what Byakuya had described. Could Byakuya be right? Was it true that the Uchiha could never become Hokage?
A few days later, orders arrived at the front camp for the Uchiha to return to the village.
Although the Uchiha were somewhat dissatisfied with the orders, they still led the team back to Konoha. Only by returning to the village could Fugaku participate in the Hokage election.
On the way back, Shisui was approached by Itachi.
Among the many Uchiha, Shisui was the youngest, with less than a ten-year age difference from Itachi. Itachi was very curious about Shisui's demeanor, feeling that he, like himself, was out of sync with the world.
"Shisui-senpai, can I talk to you?"
Itachi asked cautiously, seemingly afraid of being rejected by Shisui.
Shisui nodded gently as he also wanted to talk to Itachi as well. "I also wanted to talk to you. What do you want to discuss? Are you looking for advice on ninjutsu or shuriken techniques?"
"No, it's not that..." Itachi shook his head.
Shisui became interested and looked at Itachi, asking, "Then what do you want to know? If it's about how to awaken the Sharingan, I can't tell you that. The Sharingan can only be awakened by oneself. No one else can help."
Itachi shook his head again and then said, "It's none of those. It's something else. Actually, I want to know what the meaning of life is. Why do ninjas kill each other? People die when they are killed, so why do we have to kill each other? Moreover, since people are destined to die after being born, why do we live at all? I can't seem to find any meaning in it. It feels like living and dying are the same, and sometimes I don't even know why I'm still alive."
Hearing Itachi's words, Shisui suddenly felt a bit scared and began to understand Byakuya.
Byakuya had shown a look of disdain and mockery upon hearing Shisui's responses, his eyes seeming to say that the Uchiha were all a bit insane.
At that time, Shisui had dismissed Byakuya's words, thinking he was merely demeaning the Uchiha.
But Itachi's doubts were indeed thoughts no four or five-year-old should have. The notion of suicide should never be mentioned lightly—living was already hard enough.
After contemplating for a while, Shisui spoke earnestly:
"Birth and death may hold no meaning, but experiencing life in between is the greatest significance. When you attend the Ninja Academy and understand the Will of Fire, you will find the meaning of your existence."
"Really?" Itachi asked with an innocent smile.
Faced with Itachi's question, Shisui hesitated a bit. Unlike when he faced Byakuya, he felt confident when addressing Itachi, who was still mentally immature.
With this in mind, Shisui nodded solemnly, "Itachi, I would never lie to you."
At the front of the group, Fugaku noticed Shisui and Itachi talking quietly but didn't pay much attention to their conversation.
Although Shisui was the clan's youngest three-tomoe Sharingan user, his experience was still that of a child. As for Itachi, he hadn't even attended the Ninja Academy yet and knew very little.
However, Fugaku was confident about Itachi's future. With his talent, Itachi was sure to become an elite jonin and might even surpass Madara Uchiha, becoming the strongest Uchiha and the village's future Hokage.
If possible, Fugaku hoped Itachi would become the son of a Hokage, creating a prestigious lineage of double Hokages.
Unfortunately, Fugaku's own luck wasn't great. Against the likes of the Sannin and Minato Namikaze, his chances of becoming Hokage were slim. If he lost to the Sannin or Minato, he wouldn't complain—it was true his abilities and credentials were inferior.
However, just having the experience of running for Hokage would make it easier for him to become an advisor elder in the future, thus entering the village's core leadership.
The position of Police Force Captain was respectable, but it was always limited by the Hokage's office. Gaining a position within the Hokage's office could improve the unfavorable circumstances for the Uchiha.