Chapter 16: The Prejudice in People's Hearts
At the Konoha Hospital.
"Is this your new student?"
With her arms crossed, Tsunade glanced at Uchiha Kagami, who was seated by the window, and directed her question at Jiraiya.
Kagami was dressed in the traditional Uchiha attire with the clan emblem, so Tsunade didn't need an introduction to recognize his lineage. Frankly, due to her grandfather's influence, she held a certain disdain for the Uchiha.
Having just finished Minato's surgery and seeing her beloved student stabilize, Jiraiya finally had time to focus on other matters.
By the window, Kakashi and Kagami were peeling oranges. Kakashi meticulously removed the stringy parts, while Kagami simply split the orange in half, eating one piece with the skin still on.
Oranges here were free from pesticides, so eating them with the peel added nutritional value, though the taste was a bit unusual. Kagami didn't mind.
"Haha, I haven't decided yet, but I must thank you, Kagami-kun! You were a big help!"
Kagami nodded politely. "I just felt I could assist, so I acted. Sorry for stepping in unannounced."
Kushina, who had been by Minato's bedside the whole time, shook her head and replied, "The Nine-Tails almost broke free this time. We owe you for helping out. When Minato wakes up, we'll thank you properly."
"Hahaha, you sound like husband and wife!" Jiraiya teased.
Noticing Kushina's hair starting to float up in annoyance, Jiraiya quickly stopped talking. A vexed Kushina wasn't something he could handle.
"Awakened to the three-tomoe Sharingan at such a young age… You're quite the remarkable kid," Tsunade remarked, watching Kagami with a meaningful look.
Kagami nodded confidently. "That's right, I am quite remarkable."
…
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, seemingly noticing something.
"You… You've killed someone, haven't you?"
With her battle-hardened experience, she could detect the subtle changes in someone who had taken a life.
Kagami paused momentarily, then replied, "Last year, one of the clan elders took me along to kill a bandit group."
To civilians, bandits seemed terrifying, but for newly trained ninjas, they were little more than practice targets. Konoha even kept small bandit groups alive for ninjas to gain experience, so they'd be ready to kill when facing enemies on the battlefield.
Eager to get used to it, Kagami had joined these missions as young as five.
The disdain in Tsunade's eyes intensified.
To think the Uchiha had him killing at such a young age...
She was even more suspicious because Kushina had told her of the Nine-Tails' last cry. That name had sounded familiar to Kushina, so she asked her cousin, Tsunade, about it: Madara.
To Tsunade—no, to the entire Leaf—that name was a nightmare.
Did the Nine-Tails really see this kid as similar to Madara?
And with his potential, he was arguably even more terrifying than how her great uncle described Madara Uchiha.
A seven-year-old at the three-tomoe Sharingan, Kagami was universally considered a candidate for the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Three-tomoe typically meant Jonin-level ability, and the Mangekyo… Well, its significance spoke for itself.
Not only that, but his spiritual power was extraordinary. Even now, he could influence the Nine-Tails.
Kagami could tell what she was thinking and didn't regret revealing his abilities. Konoha wasn't ready to sever ties with the Uchiha, not now. If they dared to target him, the clan would see it as a direct attack from Konoha's leadership.
Especially since, in front of many clan members, he had already displayed his superiority over Uchiha Fugaku.
He was seen as the future of the Uchiha.
Of course, there were risks. But avoiding risk wasn't in an Uchiha's nature.
He wasn't quite as arrogant as Sasuke Uchiha, but expecting Kagami to be humble was unrealistic.
Tsunade interrupted his thoughts, asking another question.
"Kid, does taking a life bring you satisfaction?"
She hoped this would reveal his true character.
Kagami frowned at her.
"I will become a ninja. Bandits or enemy shinobi, they're just adversaries to be eliminated."
"Killing enemies is just part of the job, so I don't understand why you're asking me that, Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade's expression darkened further.
"You… You have no respect for life, do you?!"
Kagami scoffed.
"What position are you in to judge me?"
"I don't see any reason to respect the lives of my enemies, nor do I think you're qualified to assess me!"
Boom!
The ground trembled as Tsunade released a surge of chakra, clenching her fists and glaring at Kagami, enunciating each word.
"What… did… you… say?!"
Three-tomoe Sharingan spinning in his eyes, Kagami's hand hovered over the hilt of his blade. He knew of Tsunade's critical weakness, so he wasn't worried.
…
"Enough! Is this really the time for this?!"
Jiraiya, unusually stern, shouted to stop them.
"Tsunade, get out!"
Tsunade gave Kagami a final look before retracting her chakra. She gestured to Kushina, and they left together.
With a long sigh, Jiraiya's face softened into a smile as he crouched down to Kagami's level, looking him straight in the eye.
"You're no ordinary child, so I'll be direct."
"Tsunade's grandfather died young because of your Uchiha ancestor…"
"Her grandfather was the First Hokage."
"So, well…"
…
"The prejudice in people's hearts is like a mountain," Kagami replied softly.
Jiraiya reflected on his words, chuckling. "That's a great line. Mind if I put it in my novel?"
"Yes, you're right. Many people in the village hold onto old grudges against your clan."
Jiraiya placed a hand on Kagami's shoulder. "I understand the Uchiha and the village have a divide. Healing it requires not only effort from the Uchiha but also change from the village itself."
"So… Would you be my student, Kagami?"
His gaze was sincere, filled with passion.
…
If he had been adopted by the Third Hokage, perhaps he might've truly sided with the village.
But Kagami understood all too well that the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha was unresolvable. The animosity traced back to Madara Uchiha, the Second Hokage, Indra, Asura, even Kaguya and Hagoromo.
If hatred were so easily erased, the world wouldn't be in endless turmoil.
This conflict would end only when one side was utterly defeated.
Even so…
Kagami put on a bright smile, the kind you'd expect from a child.
"Of course! I'd be honored, Jiraiya-sensei!"
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